how to get rid of a timeshare without a lawyer

by Crystel Reilly 9 min read

The proven ways to exit a timeshare without a lawyer.

  • 1. Don’t miss a rescission period. The rescission period is determined when you can take your purchasing decision back and return your money. This ...
  • 2. Ask a timeshare company to take the property back.
  • 3. Use services of timeshare exit teams.

To get out of a timeshare legally, consider these options:
  1. Use the rescission period.
  2. Call the timeshare developer.
  3. Rent your timeshare out.
  4. Sell your timeshare on the resale market (but expect to take a hit).
  5. Gift your timeshare to a friend, family member or stranger.
•
Apr 21, 2022

Full Answer

How long do I have to rescind my timeshare?

How to Legally Cancel a Timeshare Contract

  • Timeshare Rescission Period. Whether the rescission period is three days or two weeks, it’s up to you to beat the deadline. ...
  • Grounds for Cancellation. If the rescission period has ended and you want out of the contract, timeshare companies will usually respond with two words – too bad!
  • Sell the Timeshare. ...

How do I get Out of my paid off timeshare?

  • Get an unsecured personal loan to refinance at a lower rate. ...
  • Refi your home or get a HELOC. ...
  • Borrow from your 401k or TSP. ...
  • If you get a personal loan, HELOC or another way to pay off the Wyndham loan, there will not be a lean on your timeshare, so you are free to ...
  • Stick with what you have and do your best to pay it down as fast as you can. ...

More items...

How to get out of your timeshare without selling?

Your timeshare exit letter must include the following information:

  • The current date
  • Name of the timeshare company
  • Names on the timeshare contract
  • Your address, phone number, and email address
  • Contract number
  • Date of purchase
  • Brief description of the timeshare
  • A clear and concise statement of cancellation

How to get rid of timeshare without ruining credit?

How to Get out of a Timeshare without Ruining Your Credit

  • Vacation ownership is a lifestyle purchase that can provide years of happy travel memories and a happy ownership exit is one that leaves your credit score smiling too. ...
  • The Key to Getting out of a Timeshare without Ruining Your Credit. ...
  • Work with a Pro. ...
  • Be Aware of Fraud. ...
  • Support During Your Sales Process. ...

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What is the average cost to get out of a timeshare?

about $5,000 to $6,000Costs to Get Out of a Timeshare On average, it costs about $5,000 to $6,000 and takes 12–18 months to get out of your timeshare contract using a timeshare exit company. But the cost and the timeframe can vary depending on a number of factors including, how many contracts are attached to your timeshare.

Can I cancel a timeshare by myself?

While it's usually not necessary to provide a reason for canceling the timeshare contract, you do need to explicitly state that the purpose of the letter is to rescind the contract. A statement like "I am contacting you within the rescission period to cancel this timeshare contract" will usually work.

How can I legally cancel my timeshare?

The Do's: How to Write a Timeshare Cancellation LetterGet your cancellation request in writing. ... Include a clear request to cancel your timeshare. ... List all the important details. ... Set expectations. ... Send all correspondence by certified mail. ... Don't get emotional or long-winded. ... Don't use passive or hesitant language.More items...•

Can I give my timeshare back to the resort?

If you can't sell your timeshare on the open market, one option is to offer it back to the resort. As long as the unit is paid off and you are an owner in good standing, there's a chance that the resort will take the unit back from you.

Can I just walk away from my timeshare?

You can't just walk away from a timeshare. That's because they often come with an obligation to pay maintenance fees for as long as you own them.

How hard is it to get out of a timeshare?

Canceling your timeshare can also be difficult due to financial reasons. Resorts are notorious for encouraging people to make a down payment on a credit card. Putting a substantial investment on your credit card is never a wise idea. Your interest rates will skyrocket, and it'll take you a while to pay it down.

Does a timeshare cancellation letter need to be notarized?

The note should include your personal information as well as the name of the resort. Writers should also acknowledge the grace period and state their reason for canceling. Finally, make sure that the letter is certified before you send it off. You'll have to contact a notary to do this for you.

Can a timeshare put a lien on your house?

If a repayment plan isn't negotiated, the timeshare company might go the route of taking you to court for breach of contract to get a judgment against you and place a lien against the property. Ultimately, they will foreclose on the property.

What happens if you stop paying timeshare?

If you stop paying on your timeshare loan, you face foreclosure. Foreclosure is the process whereby the lender files to take possession of the property and sell it at auction to recover the money you owe.

How do I sell my timeshare myself?

How to Sell a TimeshareStep 1: Revisit Your Contract. To start with, dig your original contract—and any other paperwork about the timeshare—out of your files to see exactly what you signed way back when. ... Step 2: Research Your Timeshare's Value. ... Step 3: Try to Sell Your Timeshare. ... Step 4: Contact a Timeshare Exit Company.

What happens if I let my timeshare go into foreclosure?

A timeshare foreclosure, much like a residential foreclosure, could potentially result in serious consequences, like a lower credit score, a deficiency judgment, or tax ramifications.

How long does it take to cancel a timeshare?

5-7 daysKnown as rescission, the period for timeshare cancellation varies by state, but averages only 5-7 days. Not a lot of time when you're in full vacation mode, or in the process of traveling home.

How much does it cost to get out of a timeshare?

Costs to Get Out of a Timeshare. On average, it costs about $5,000 to $6,000 and takes 12–18 months to get out of your timeshare contract using a timeshare exit company. But the cost and the timeframe can vary depending on a number of factors including, how many contracts are attached to your timeshare.

Can you have multiple contracts on a timeshare?

Believe it or not, your one timeshare can have multiple contracts on it. Each time you upgraded your timeshare, or made changes to your vacation dates, the timeshare company slapped another new contract on top of the old one. Those contracts add up over time.

Is it worth hiring a timeshare exit company?

But even if you’ve been in your timeshare for years and years, it might still be worth it to hire a timeshare exit company.

Can you sell a timeshare if you still have a loan?

The first step is seeing if you can sell your timeshare. If you still have a loan on it, your timeshare will be listed as “encumbered.” Unfortunately, there’s really no going forward with a sale until the loan’s paid off.

Do timeshares increase fees?

Yes! And you’ll be happy you did. While you’re likely to pay a few thousand dollars to get out of your timeshare contracts, you’ll recoup your costs and save money in the long run. Let’s break it down: In 2019, the average timeshare maintenance fees were $1,000 per year. 4 Fees increase by 5% each year, on average.

Do timeshares give you extra time?

Other states know how shady timeshares are, and they’re willing to give you extra time if you meet certain requirements. Review your timeshare documents and compare your recission period to the timeshare laws in your state or country to know if you still qualify.

How long does it take to rescind a timeshare?

Most states in the USA grant you the right to “rescind” your timeshare purchase within a certain number of days after purchase. Sometimes this time frame is as short as five days, so you’ll need to move quickly if you’d like to rescind.

What does it mean to rescind a timeshare?

Rescinding a timeshare means legally canceling the timeshare, no questions asked, for a full refund. In most states, resort developers are required by law to include instructions on how to rescind the timeshare within the documents you received when purchasing the timeshare.

What is a timeshare contract?

A timeshare is a legally binding contract that can be hard to get out of. If you own timeshare with a resort developer that offers a exit program, consider yourself lucky as many other timeshare owners have no choice but to try and sell the timeshare on the resale market. If you are forced to try and sell the timeshare, make sure not to pay a high up-front fee more than a few hundred dollars to do so. If you work with a timeshare exit attorney, again, make sure not to pay a fee up-front to stay safe.

What is a "take back" timeshare?

Many resorts have opened “take-back” or “deed back” programs that allow distressed timeshare owners to give their timeshare back to the resort developer. These programs are not available to all, but they are a good start.

How to rescind a resort purchase?

In general, you’ll need to send the resort, via certified or registered mail, a letter stating that you’d like to rescind your purchase for a full refund. You will usually want to include your name and owner number if you have one.

Is Dave Ramsey against timeshares?

Dave Ramsey is completely against the idea of owning any timeshares. He advises his followers to get rid of their timeshares as soon as possible no matter the circumstance because they are nothing but a black hole. He talks a lot about paying your “stupid tax” in life and considers a timeshare one of these taxes.

Can you sell a timeshare if you still owe?

If you still owe on your timeshare, it’s going to be hard, if not impossible, to sell it someone else.

How long does it take to cancel a timeshare?

This is also why a rescission period typically (depending on the state in which you purchase) 3 – 7 days to cancel the sale before its final is put into place. Most timeshare owners either never were told or were handed a travel drive inside a flashlight or a big book of paperwork and never thought to read or open the travel drive on ...

Can you cancel a timeshare contract?

The resort is not going to willingly tell you on a phone call that you can cancel your timeshare contract. If the resort went that far in most cases to get people into a contract in which the salesperson makes anywhere from 8% to 18% commission they are not going to willingly let you out. Let’s continue now that you are locked into a perpetuity contract one of two things happened

How to stop paying on a timeshare?

1. Stop paying. Before you do this, take stock of your situation. If you took a loan to buy the property and you still have a balance, stopping payment will have an impact on your credit. “The creditor doesn't care that you bought a timeshare,” Rogers says. “You borrowed money and didn't pay it back.”.

How much does it cost to exit a timeshare company?

Pretty much the only reason to even consider the exit company route is if you absolutely can't bear to deal with the timeshare company yourself, and you're willing to pay a lot — prices vary widely, but around $4,500 is common — for someone else to deal with it.

How many people own timeshares?

Almost 10 million households own some sort of timeshare, according to the American Resort Development Association. About 850,000 of them (based on a pre-pandemic estimate) would like to sell within two years. Some, like Seney's mother, Joann Johnson, 85, can't travel anymore.

Do you get money for a timeshare?

You'll get little or no money, except perhaps for a premium timeshare in a higher-end chain like Disney, Marriott or Hilton. But if you do find a buyer, you deed that person the property, who will then be responsible for the fees.

Can you deed back a property?

To qualify, you generally can't be behind on your dues and you can't have a loan balance. Some will let you deed back the property only if you have a financial hardship. Smaller resorts and developers that don't have official deed-back programs may relent anyway.

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