Timeshare victim

I have been to your beautiful islands many times - I adore the people and the easy lifestyle. Every time I sit above Grand Harbour I can imagine the battered remains of a wartime convoy struggling into port and the relief it must have brought to your wonderful people after the pounding they received from the Axis forces.

I shall never return now to Malta and I am so, so sad at the thought of never returning.

I feel I was ripped off by the RCI Timeshare Group a fortnight ago. I stupidly signed up with them at the Porto Azzurro Hotel. My wife became ill on our return to Scotland and I decided to cancel my contract within the legal 14-day cooling-off period. I then found out that, because after I signed they gave us an upgraded room for the rest of our stay, by accepting the room I invalidated my right to cancel my contract.

Nobody, nobody, at any time, told us of this - there is nothing in the small folder about it. It is a total rip-off. They are operating this scam on your own soil and I cannot imagine that you are aware of this rip-off.

I just cannot believe I could be so wrong about the moral fibre of the gentle Maltese people. There are not many people in the world I envy, but your people I certainly do. We are so used to being hassled and harassed at home, that coming to Malta was a pure delight. Now I have lost that.

I know the country relies heavily on tourists - you only have to look at the constant building work being done.

I work for a huge bus company back here in the UK and I now feel obliged to memo every depot in the company and warn them of this scam if they are coming to Malta.

Much as I loved Malta, I shall not let my fellow workers walk into this scam. It is not fair to them.

I cannot believe I would ever have done anything to harm your islands, but this cannot be allowed to continue.

My sincere apologies to you for any detrimental action I have to take to protect my fellow employees. I know there are more than a dozen couples due out this coming season and they need to be made aware of this scam.

Many thanks for the warm welcome I received on each visit - I looked forward to it. Unfortunately I cannot return; I feel ashamed that I allowed this to happen to us in Malta.