Getting into a timeshare is easy. You sit through an hours-long sales presentation with a pushy salesperson who seems desperate for you to close on a timeshare purchase agreement. Then, once you sign that contract, you’re stuck. Stuck with big mortgage payments for timeshare property you can’t use. Stuck with annual maintenance fees stretching into forever. So now, you ask, “What is the best way to get out of a timeshare?”
There’s no one answer to that question because situations differ, but you will be glad to know that you can get out of that timeshare contract. The main things that you are going to need are patience and the expertise of people who know how to deal with timeshare companies — people like the professionals at Centerstone Group.
This article will walk you through some of the types of solutions that Centerstone Group uses to help its clients break free from timeshare developers and their onerous contracts. From timeshare cancellations to deed-back programs and beyond, we’ll give you an idea of the possibilities for your timeshare exit strategy.
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The best way to get out of a timeshare will depend on your specific situation, how long ago you signed your contract, and where your timeshare is located. For example, if you just signed yesterday, you should still be within your “cooling-off period,” so a rescission is your best option.Â
However, if you have a timeshare in Mexico, you’ll need a specialized exit strategy involving pressure and negotiations carried out by experts. (In that case, you should know that Centerstone Group is the only U.S.-based timeshare exit company with the capabilities and connections to do what’s necessary to get you out of a timeshare in Mexico.)
The most direct way to get out of a timeshare agreement is to cancel it using the right of rescission that will be contained in almost every contract. Nearly every state has laws mandating a rescission period — also known as a “cooling-off period” — for all timeshare purchases. That means that, within that time, you can cancel the contract for any reason, or no reason at all, and the timeshare company has to refund all the money you paid them!
Keep in mind that, of all the options, rescission is the only exit method that guarantees you will be refunded all of the money you have paid to the timeshare company.
It will vary between companies and contracts, but generally speaking, your timeshare contract will have a paragraph telling you exactly how much time you have to rescind the contract. In order to rescind, you must send a cancellation letter to the company at the address specified in the contract, and the letter might need to have specific language.
The contract won’t tell you this, but you will also need to be able to prove that you sent the letter to the right place at the right time. You should also be able to prove that it was received by the timeshare company. The best way to do this is to send your letter by certified mail or a similar service, so you can show exactly when the letter was sent and received.
The reason for this is simple: If timeshare company employees can lie about not receiving a letter, they will. And if you can’t prove that you canceled, you will be stuck. The delicate nature of a rescission, and the consequences of getting it wrong, make it a good idea to get an expert on your side. Centerstone Group can advise you on what needs to be done under the laws applying to your timeshare and answer any questions you have about the process.
Yes, timeshares are hard to cancel, even though they shouldn’t be. The timeshare industry makes cancellation as difficult as possible because if developers just let timeshare owners out of contracts easily, soon there won’t be any timeshare owners left. This is exactly the reason that Centerstone Group was formed — to help owners take control of their legal rights and free themselves from oppressive and unfair contracts.
While a contract rescission might sound nice, it’s a very limited option in that you don’t have much time to get done. So most timeshare owners won’t be able to take advantage of that option. For them, a more creative and intensive approach is needed: making the timeshare company take it back.
Several of the larger timeshare companies — like Marriott Vacation Club, Hilton, or Club Wyndham — often profess to offer their own exit or deed-back programs under which owners can just give their interests back to the company and walk away.Â
Unfortunately, timeshare developers get the final say on who can and can’t go through their own programs, and they don’t want to let a lot of owners leave. Plus, the only people who even have a chance to qualify will be owners who have already paid off their mortgages with the timeshare company. Otherwise, you will simply be out of luck.
For example, Hilton’s Transitions program has had a lot of applicants this year. They have had so many, in fact, that they announced on July 12, 2024, that they would not process any more owners through the program until 2025 at the earliest. That announcement, though, was made only to employees (on a need-to-know basis), not to owners hoping to get through the program.
Therefore, the people that were already mid-program will be stuck there for at least the rest of 2024, and they will be paying fees the whole time they’re waiting. And they probably don’t even know they have no chance of getting out.
That’s where a timeshare exit company like Centerstone Group can help. Through our years of experience in the industry, we have developed a proprietary pressure campaign that we have used to free thousands of timeshare owners from their contracts. It can be a tough process, but it’s one we are uniquely experienced with.
These aren’t the only options for a successful timeshare exit strategy. A timeshare resale is often nearly impossible — given the lack of a real estate market for timeshares and timeshare developer restrictions on transfers. But in some special cases, you might have that extremely rare unit that may have some chance of being sold, though likely not at a profit.Â
Though reselling may be possible in some limited cases, so-called “timeshare sales companies” should be avoided at all costs. These timeshare scams involve fraudsters — who are often not even licensed real estate agents — insisting that they have buyers waiting, taking an upfront fee, and then disappearing with the money. The moral of the story is: If people can’t give away their timeshares on eBay, there is likely no resale market for yours.
But instead of selling it, you may be able to transfer ownership. Centerstone Group helps thousands of people each year with transferable timeshares. Call Centerstone Group and ask whether your timeshare qualifies for the money-back-guaranteed transfer program.Â
If your timeshare ownership is the result of a legal problem, like fraud or mistake of fact, you might need the help of a timeshare cancellation attorney. Because legal problems can quickly become expensive though, many people treat going to court as an option of last resort.
If you do need the help of a lawyer, Centerstone Group has relationships with lawyers and law firms all over the country who can help you with those kinds of problems and at significant discounts on legal fees, too.
As the premier timeshare exit company, Centerstone Group is the expert in all kinds of timeshare exit procedures, even those outside of the United States in Mexico. But don’t just take our word for it. We are an accredited, A+-rated company with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and our clients have given us an average rating of 4.77 out of 5 stars. We know this business, and we have a track record of getting results.
What is the best way to get out of a timeshare? There isn’t just one that will work for all situations. You need a team of professionals by your side who can guide you to a successful result, while making the process as easy as possible on you and your finances. Contact Centerstone Group today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
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