A fully paid-off timeshare came into my possession about six years ago. I no longer want it nor can afford it. I have tried for the past three years, in vain, to sell it, donate it and straight out give it away. I have contacted the home resort (Vacation Village at Parkway) for the past three years explaining that I can not afford it (I am disabled and have a hard enough time getting by). I asked them if I could relinquish ownership, but they refused, citing that they will report me to a credit collection agency if I do not stay current on the yearly (exorbitant) maintenance fees. Is there any recourse at all that will allow me to get out of this horrible timeshare trap? I was told that I am "married" to it…but even with marriages, we can get divorced! There has to be something somewhere that can be done. All the agencies that claim they want to "help" end up charging from 2k-5k to "Take it off my hands." I mean, come on! I am getting rid of it *because* I can’t afford it…where am I supposed to get 2k to give it away?

I have owned some timeshares (UDI points) with Wyndham/Fairfield that I purchased through resale a few years ago. I was recently invited by a sales agent that told me that soon, everybody with resale purchases woud only be allowed to use them for their home resort and not be able to use their points in the other resorts (even though they are Wyndham resorts). In the past, I’ve always been able been able to use them with no problems at all Wyndham/Fairfield resorts, so I am wondering if this is a scam to get me to puchase more points directly from them (because this is what the agent is trying to get me to do). Does anyone know if this is true or are they just talking me into throwing them some money? After all, aren’t points just points?
By the way, the agent also told me that he would help me cover my maintenance fees by taking some of my points and helping me use them to rent out properties? Yet this seems like something in the gray area and on the side (since there really is no contract stating this commitment nor how much is guaranteed that I will get back), this appears sort of shaky. Is this legal and has anyone experienced this before?

They said the original purchaser’s name would remain on it & therefore would be liable for it if the "new owner" did not pay the yearly maintenance fees.

We own a timeshare at a resort in FL. Should we have insurance (fire/flood/hurricane) to cover our interests, or does the resort carry adequate insurance which might be included in the annual maintenance fees we pay?

We did something really dumb last summer, now looking back and bought a 10,000 timeshare in florida near disney. We want to sell it because it is a drain on our finances as far as being able to save. It’s 200.00 a month that could go into paying another bill off. what is the best way to get rid of it or are we stuck? we tried ebay and sell my timeshare now and had no luck they are offering way less than what we owe. don’t want money out of it just someone else to take it over.its a 2bdrm lockoff unit in florida, deeded and about 500-700 in maintenance fees our years are even. and the timeshare company has the first right of refusal when it comes to the new buyer. it’s 5 mins from all the disney theme parks. I want to be done with it we just got it last june and still owe quite a bit of money. How can i legally unload this????

I joined global resorts then found ytb.

YTB seems to be an excellent business, but for last minute travel. It concentrates on hotel vacations, has an upfront cost & monthly fee. But I loved their owner’s speech on the travel biz, & their site is excellent.

Global Resorts Network is very new on the net, started dec 06. Its affiliated with a company that has been in business 20 years.. its the marketing arm. It has a onetime fee only, no monthly fees.

Plus their market is different … grn concentrates on luxury travel to 4 & 5 star resorts worldwide (though it covers hotels & does cruises & travel same as YTB)

But you can book in advance with GRN (as well as up to 72 hours before a trip).They encourage you to call them for special arrangements. Their prices are better

GRN owners setup Global Resorts because of timeshare experiences, as owners & sellers.Timeshares have maintenance fees & no travel choice

Which biz do U like?

http://www.globalresortsnetwork.shorturl.com

I want to buy a timeshare affiliated to the RCI system, but first I want to know if I will have to pay each year maintenance fees for that timeshare, either I use that week (resort) or not… So, if in one year I don’t go to my timeshare property (I don’t use my week to stay there), I still have to pay the maintenance fees or not?
I remember I saw a bidding on ebay, and the guy who wanted to sell his timeshare was pretending that you only have to pay those fees only when you use the resort. Maybe there are such cases?

My ex and I have a timeshare we paid in full about 10 years ago. Now neither of us no longer use it nor care to pay the maintenance fees. We want to sell it and do not want to get scammed with paying up front fees. Has anyone actually had success in selling their timeshare? How did you do it? Also, how long did it take to sell?

We own a deeded timeshare in Branson Missouri, its a 2 bedroom lockout, pay maintenance fees every other year. Is there a legitiment place out their to sell this? We have been ripped off once already by a timeshare selling place.

I’ve always been curious about this. I’ve been to just one timeshare presentation (when I was in fresh out of college, and I didn’t know that my coworker lured me to attend a timeshare presentation). I’m curious to go to another, as 8 years have lapsed since then.

Now, I’ve been to many car dealerships (because I have been interested in buying a used car), but haven’t really been subjected to such high pressure sales tactics–at least not the ones described to me that timeshare people use. For instance, no car sales person has ever said to me "well, you can always gift your car to your heirs when you’re done using it" or "buying cars are a great investment instrument!"

I’ve been to many blogs and websites on timeshares (Tug2.net, saveoneresorts, igougo.com, tripadvisor, stayhereplayhere.com, consumeraffairs.com, complaints.com, bbb.org, to name just a few) to get both sides of the story. I’ve seen some standard responses (I can’t afford it, it’s not for me, I don’t want to make a decision now, let me ask my wife, I don’t have kids) but those are easily answered by most timeshare salespeople. What other excuses have worked for you in the past that are truly ingenious?
Thanks Steph, for your answer!
Actually, I also read somewhere that the salespeople say that you can avoid your yearly maintenance fees by referring *just* 20 people to come and take a tour. I think that is how my coworker got me to go in the first place. She made no mention of a timeshare presentation–she basically had an ad in our work intranet bulletin board of a free vacation. I guess that’s how she paid for her maintenance fees, and I guess she also got to keep any of the extra perks, since I wasn’t offered any money or tickets after the presentation either! All of that for a 3 day/2 night stay in Charleston, SC.
To NCCMSS: Excellent post! That is one of the sites I’ve never been to myself. Thanks for the info.