Browse Month

March 2020

It’s Friday and the End of Another Week: Another MacDonalds Horror Story Surfaces

Here we are again, the end of another week and almost at the end of our second week of “house arrest”, which has now been extended for a further 15 days. Even with the current situation Inside Timeshare is still receiving emails from concerned owners, one email has certainly made tempers flare. This involves MacDonald Hotels and Resorts, who we already know from the ongoing story of Mrs B are one of the most disgusting timeshare companies in the world. Inside Timeshare is sure that our readers will also be disgusted with the latest story of intimidation and greed from MacDonalds.

Link to one Mrs B story

https://insidetimeshare.com/the-tale-of-mrs-b-and-macdonald-resorts-continues/

Yesterday afternoon, Inside Timeshare received an email from a gentleman who is trying to help an elderly and vulnerable friend regarding her two timeshares with MacDonalds, he is at a total loss as to what to do.

The details so far.

This lady is in her late 80’s, she and her husband own two timeshares with MacDonalds at different resorts and have owned them for many years. They have always paid their annual maintenance fees even when unable to use.

Her husband is now suffering from dementia and other illnesses, she receives help at home but this is not free and costs a lot of money for his daily care. It is now coming to the stage where he will have to go into a care home and we all know how much that costs.

She wants to give up the timeshares as they are no longer being used and the annual maintenance is now a financial burden which could be used for the care of her husband. MacDonalds refuse to allow her to hand it back without paying them £5000 for each of the timeshares, a total of £10,000 which as you the readers will agree would be better spent on health care.

In all my time doing this work I have never come across a timeshare company that treats people in this manner, I even think that the Mafia would be disgusted!

This is a blatant example of EXTORTION by MacDonalds, I use the term EXTORTION as that is what it is and if MacDonalds don’t like it then take me to court!

Another report has just been published in the press on the “liquidation” of Hermanos Santana Cazorla SL, the golden shareholders of Anfi.

This has been published in the German publication Info Canarias (see link).

https://infos-grancanaria.com/2020/santana-cazorla-sl-muss-wohl-in-die-insolvenz-gehen/

PDF of translation

Info Canarias TranslationDownload

Once again this article highlights that the liquidation has been brought by Isla Marina SL with a debt of around 47 million euros. It is also reported that IFA Canarias is also owed around 9.3 million euros.

Hermanos Santana Cazorla SL is certainly in trouble, the question now is what will happen to Anfi once the Cazorla’s company has been liquidated?

The only positive point in all of this is the fact that IFA Canarias owns the other 50% of Anfi and this may be a very good opportunity for them to take total control of the Anfi Group.

More on this subject as and when information becomes available.

Staying with Anfi, they have just published the following video and text on their Facebook page.

Santana Cazorla

What makes it a complete joke is the opening line, “The Anfi Group is and always will be a great family”. Yet as Inside Timeshare has been publishing, this is not borne out by their behaviour towards clients who have had to cancel bookings during the current situation. The charging for cancelling bookings, the charges to re-book at a later date. This along with the demand that the only way to receive the “accommodation voucher” in order to save the week is to sign the “new contract” is nothing short of “blackmail”.

Text of the Anfi Group post:

Anfi Group

The Anfi Group is and will always be a great family .

A week ago, half of it, our members & clients, had to leave the resort, forced by the quick coronavirus spreading all over the world and the emergency measures ordered by the Government of Spain. Today, because of these overwhelming times we are now facing, we are very sad to have to say “see you soon” to a substantial part of our #Anfiteam. This situation, as extraordinary as it is temporary , is nothing more than a stone in our path, which we will definitely overcome together . THANK YOU so much team! You are simply the heart of Anfi. Be assured soon we will open our doors together again, will welcome our Members and guests with our arms open , a warm smile , our hard work, which will translate in superb and unforgettable holidays at Anfi.

Meanwhile, we will keep your “home-away-from-home” spotless and, reiterate that, both Anfi Vacation Club and Customer Services department teams are, as always, at your service, for any assistance you may require in the regular work days and timetables.

#StaySafe #StayAtHome and remember: “There was never a night that could stop the sun to rise and never ever a problem could silence and beat hope” See you soon!

#AnfiGroup #AnfidelMar #iloveanfi #GreatDestination #GranCanaria #HolidaysInTheSun See less

The link to the Facebook video.

So there we have it, two examples of the lengths these unscrupulous timeshare companies will go to screw their own members, both of these examples show that you the member/owner mean absolutely nothing to them apart from how much they can squeeze out of you.

Have you had problems with MacDonald Hotels and Resorts and trying to exit?

If so, use our contact page and tell us your story, Inside Timeshare, is working with a freelance journalist who is investigating the timeshare industry and has already been informed of this latest case. He has told Inside Timeshare that he has already started his research and will do all he can to ensure this gets the widest publicity possible.

As for Anfi, no matter what you think of the resort itself and we do have to agree that it is a great resort, it is the way in which members are being treated which is the problem. If you are disgusted with the methods used by Anfi and would like to know your rights and legal options, once again use our contact page and Inside Timeshare will get back to you.

Have a great weekend even if you are on “house arrest” and stay safe.

News on Thursday: Day 12 of Lockdown

Welcome to you all from our “house arrest” in Spain, we are now on day 12 (I think?), with the distinct possibility of another 15 days “lockdown” being implemented. Here in Gran Canaria the vast majority of citizens are observing the rules and staying at home unless it is shopping for essentials. Now that all the hotels and resorts have closed with all the tourists returning home the streets and beaches are now empty.

The normally bustling Puerto Mogan

Staying on this particular subject, last week a video was shared around Facebook and other social media of a UK tourist on holiday in Tenerife. She was seen swimming in the pool at the Paradise Park Hotel and it can clearly be seen that the pool is cordoned off.

She was informed by hotel staff that she should get out as use of the pool is not allowed. She refused and the police were called, she ignored them. In the video, one of the police officers strips down and then drags her to the poolside where another officer pulls her out. She is then handcuffed and taken away to the cells while using the usual profanities against the police.

She was held for 24 hours and the hotel refused her back in, they then left the island, she is on bail pending court appearances.

There is only one problem here, she is Joanne Rust, 53, from King’s Lynn, Norfolk and was the Labour candidate at the last election also being photographed with Jeremy Corbyn.

Not what you would call a very good example from a person who would be a representative of your local area. Unfortunately, her escapade has not really made a very good impression to the citizens of Tenerife of her fellow countryman. (see the link below for the full story and video).

https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2020/03/24/selfish-tourist-who-defied-spains-covid-19-lockdown-to-swim-in-a-hotel-pool-in-tenerife-revealed-as-a-hard-left-union-rabble-rouser/?fbclid=IwAR1W8bzGtDLV-O2h5x8HJ8FwJCgBv-SdccYD8mqVuZ4M1HBXiNDx4ki1U6g#.Xnn2ZBvPkeZ.facebook

Although there is a nationwide lockdown, some court staff are still working albeit with smaller teams, so although trials may have been suspended, the courts and the judges are issuing sentences from cases previously heard. Hopefully, this will clear the backlog of judgement waiting to be issued.

The latest were issued in the past few days, the first was a High Court win for a Swedish client against Holiday Club Canaries Sales and Marketing SL and Holiday Club Finland. The client’s contract was declared null and void and the court has ordered the return of over 17,000€.

In another case, a Norwegian client who won their case at the Court of First Instance has now received their payment, even though Anfi as always appealed the judgement.

In this case, the client’s lawyers Canarian Legal Alliance did not wait and launched immediate “Provisional Enforcement and Execution of Sentence”, resulting in the freezing and embargo of Anfi accounts. The client has now received over 31,000€ back into their own account.

So we now have another two happy and timeshare free ex-owners.

As we have reported over the past week or so, all hotels and resorts including Anfi have been ordered to close, this officially came into force today. But, there are still many comments appearing on various social media sites and forums by Anfi members about the attitude of Anfi.

In one post, the member stated that by mistake they have paid double the yearly maintenance fees for 2020. They have been trying to get the overpayment back since January, but, to no avail.

Anfi’s answer, that’s you paid for next year.

Considering the news of the Cazorla’s being taken to court for compulsory liquidation by one of their creditors, this should not be of any surprise to any of the members. In this post, the member has asked the question “who to contact and what to do?” Simple answer: sue them, after all, you mean nothing to them, you are just a source of income.

Another question being asked on these forums is one we have highlighted previously, this regarding cancellation of bookings.

The poster asks why Anfi has not made any direct contact with members regarding this, once again the answer is simple.

As we have reported Anfi is not interested in you, the members, they want to charge you to cancel, then charge you yet again to re-book the week if banked. Then don’t forget that to use this week you will need a “voucher”, but you can only get this voucher if you sign the new contracts Anfi have been trying to introduce over the past couple of years.

For all those who still believe that Anfi is the greatest, this should be a wakeup call that you mean nothing to them apart from your bank accounts. So far Inside Timeshare has not received or found any similar complaints or comments from any other timeshare company, as usual Anfi still believes they can do whatever they like and screw the members.

For further information on your legal rights and options, please use our contact page and Inside Timeshare will get back to you.

That is all for today, remember, observe the lockdown, maintain social distancing and stay safe.

TCA Highlight CLC

Welcome to day number whatever it is of the lockdown or “house arrest”, we also welcome our friends and family in the UK who have now joined us in the lockdown, it’s not that bad, as our old friend Fletcher said in Porridge “stir, it’s a state of mind!” As we know, there is very little news emanating from the courts and even the number of emails being received by Inside Timeshare on the “fakes” has slowed down, the Timeshare Consumer Association yesterday published a very good piece on Club La Costa.

The title of the TCA article is “More woes for Club La Costa World”, it began with the news that due to the current COVID19 outbreak, CLC has begun the process of releasing the majority of their staff and are closing their sales decks in Mijas Costa.

Under the regulations in Spain, these staff will be temporarily placed on ERTE. This is a system which allows companies to suspend jobs until “normality” returns. Under this suspension of jobs, employees will be paid by the government 70% of their monthly salary. This now relieves CLC of the liability.

CLC Bosses?

The article then goes on to highlight some of the other “woes” CLC are going through, they begin with the headlines of the drowning of a guest at one of their resorts. This was a tragic event for the family as it happened on Christmas Eve last year, they recently won the right to “extend the investigation”. (full story on the link to TCA website).

They also highlight the BBC TV program Rip Off Britain, this episode focused on the “bullying” tactics used to coerce (force) consumers to purchase while attending a “presentation”. Well, for all you timeshare owners out there, you know those tactics only too well!

It should be pointed out that two of the presenters have been “ambassadors” to CLC.

On this occasion, Inside Timeshare will leave you the reader to see the full article on the TCA website, just follow the link below. What I can say on a personal note, it is a well-written piece and it certainly follows the old TCA we once knew.

https://timeshareconsumerassociation.org.uk/2020/03/23/more-woes-for-club-la-costa-world/

That is all for today, once again we welcome the UK to the club “house arrest”, get the old Vera Lynn records out and think of “blighty”!

Stay safe.