Timeshare owners who find their timeshare companies to be violating their rights can go to a state office, particularly one that manages tourism matters, to find assistance regarding their concerns. Such was proven by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) when it acknowledged the complaint that was raised by Gordon Lamont over a timeshare company.

Gordon Lamont and his wife purchased a three-year contract with Access2Leisure in 2007. He was so impressed with the service afforded him when he returned to Malta in 2008. This made him upgrade his package to a long-term contract. However, on his second holiday in October 2008, he was given a sub-standard room in a Sliema Hotel. He complained, but to no avail. He was offered an accommodation inside the holiday club’s showroom. But, he was instructed to vacate the place from 10am to 4pm every day. After the said incident, Lamont was offered with a booking for his next holiday in 2009 at St Julian’s hotel with a fee of €5,000 for a “premier membership.” He politely declined saying he will discuss it with his wife. He cancelled the cheque he paid to Access2Leisure the following day.

The said circumstance brought him to the MTA and the Consumer Division to report his complaints. Having done so, he was informed that Access2Leisure can be penalized for an offense of taking a deposit on the first day when no payment should have been made before a 10-day “cooling off” period while Lamont was still processing his contract.

Armed with that information, he just turned into an informed timeshare owner. And, whether he absolutely get rid of his timeshare or not, he has gained more confidence over his rights as a timeshare owner. And with the action of Malta on Lamont’s case, it shows that the state can indeed be of help to timeshare owners and probably to other consumers in general.