Hollywood Mirage Tenerife surcharge

[Robert Mairs Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Robert Mairs]

Has anybody been stung for a huge surcharge when exchanging into this resort?
When booking in at the resort recently we were told we had to pay 175 euros extra for a 2 bed apartment. We had no option but to pay or be turfed out onto the street. Is there any way of getting this back or do we just have to resign ourselves to the fact as timeshare owners we've been suckered once again. If so, how can they get away with this?

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Energy and other surcharges are becoming fairly common as a way of spreading expenses around. 175 Euros is certainly on the high side. If you exchanged into this resort, you should have been advised of the surcharge when you booked the exchange. If you were and you took it anyway, you agreed to it up front. If you were unaware of it and the exchange company misled or failed to notify you, I would take it up with the exchange company.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

Ditto, take it up with the exchange company.

We did pay for energy in Tenerife and it was only another E25 or so for a week. In Ireland it was E18. We knew in advance that we would be expected to pay for our usage, and I think in both cases it had to be cash.

[Mazza Mac Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mazza Mac]

we have also booked hollywood mirage for July 2011 as a cession week, we are with Club la Costa (who had no holidays available for dates we wanted) and were told before about this fee, I queried with with silverpoint and advised of the below - Regarding your query, please be advised that according to the owners Constitution if a third party via an exchange company - namely R.C.I. arrives at the Club, then the surcharge will be applied. In this case will be 178eur for a 2 bed apartment. WHAT A RIP OFF

[Robert Mairs Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Robert Mairs]

Hi Mazza

Ripoff is right! I've emailed the Mirage since I posted this and apparently this charge was voted for by the members. This means that these members can swap into my resort for free (excepting the admin charge of course) but if I swap into theirs I pay through the nose. This goes against the spirit of timeshare - don't we owners pay enough as it is? I also think that the exchange companies like RCI and Dial an Exchange should have something to say about this. If owners at all resorts thought like this and voted to charge, we'd all be the losers.