We sell your timeshare nightmare

[myangelchristine Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close myangelchristine]

We paid a company $590 to sell our timeshare 3 years ago and haven't heard another word for them. They claimed to be able to sell it within 90 days for $21000.00 because we have owned it for about 8 years and never used it! It was a phone scam it appears by some company was located in Florida. Our timeshare is in Sadona Arizona by Fairshare or Wyndam Resorts as it is now. Any suggestions?

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

I sure wish you had checked here first. Never , ever, pay an upfront fee. Hang around and learn about tsing. We are here to help. shaggy

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

They always claim to be able to sell you timeshare and some even offer money back guarentee's but, when you check the fine print, about all you get for your money is a listing service. All they really promise to do is list your timeshare for sale on their website. Savy resale buyers know that you can purchase the same week your attempting to sell for much less. Actually, THOUSANDS less that you're price. DOn't beat yourself up. A lot of us on this and other sites have been swindled or made bad deals in the past. That's why we're here.

You have a couple of options.

1. Stick around here and learn what you week is really worth, then sell it. You'll likely be stunned at the loss you'll take on the deal but, you'll eventually come to understand that the resale market for timeshares is very poor despite what the salesman might have told you when you purchased.

2. Stick around here and learn how to use your week and gain maximum value from it.

Most of use on this site have gone with the second option. There are a lot of us that own multiple weeks. There's many tricks to the game in how to get the most out of you timeshare. Everything from planning in advance to last minute exchanges.

If you choose to go with the first option. Be prepared to essentially bail out and get nothing in return on you initial investment. Most timeshare's resell for less than $1,000. Some timeshares such as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Disney will sell for a few thousand dollars but most timeshares sell for well under $1,000. That last week I purchased I bought for $285. That same week in todays market is going for $1 if (and that's a big if) you can find someone to take it off your hands.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

Another sad fact about ts ownership.

Charge too much to start with.
Charge too much to keep it.
Then you get screwed when you try to git rid of it.

Seems that profit from people that own ts is well thought out.

[myangelchristine Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close myangelchristine]

A big thanks to all helpful tips

We originally were bent over when this company came to town and we recieved a phone call that we were invited to a great investment meeting in town and would recieve free gas and a trip if "WE BOTH ATTEND". We did like a couple of suckers and yes, too good to pass up!! We fell for the timeshare hook, line, and sinker not to sound too cliche'. After all, we paid cash up front and the only thing left to deal with are the monthly maintenance fees. Like I said before, we have owned it for approximately 8 years and have never used it, pay $25.00 maintenance fees automatic checking account draft only, and receive nothing by mail on point accumulation or anything. We don't even know what it is really worth or how many points we really have to this day! As I said the final straw was when the skam artists in Florida called up and told us they could sell it! By the way I did report that company to the BBB in Florida! What do you all think, use it or dump it for $0 to keep from paying any more maintenance fees on this giant investment ripoff? Thanks to all of you ahead of time for your suggestions!

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

We originally were bent over when this company came to town and we recieved a phone call that we were invited to a great investment meeting in town and would recieve free gas and a trip if "WE BOTH ATTEND". We did like a couple of suckers and yes, too good to pass up!! We fell for the timeshare hook, line, and sinker not to sound too cliche'. After all, we paid cash up front and the only thing left to deal with are the monthly maintenance fees. Like I said before, we have owned it for approximately 8 years and have never used it, pay $25.00 maintenance fees automatic checking account draft only, and receive nothing by mail on point accumulation or anything. We don't even know what it is really worth or how many points we really have to this day! As I said the final straw was when the skam artists in Florida called up and told us they could sell it! By the way I did report that company to the BBB in Florida! What do you all think, use it or dump it for $0 to keep from paying any more maintenance fees on this giant investment ripoff? Thanks to all of you ahead of time for your suggestions!

Do you take vacations? If yes, let us know what you own and we'll help you learn how to trade it for something you would enjoy. If you can't take vacations, then figure out what it is really worth and sell it (won't be much, but should be something). Do you know if you own a deeded week or Wyndham points? If a deeded week, which week or season do you own? If points, how many? You mention points and $25 automatic deduction from your checking. If monthly, it sounds like a small points account. Please elaborate.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

We originally were bent over when this company came to town and we recieved a phone call that we were invited to a great investment meeting in town and would recieve free gas and a trip if "WE BOTH ATTEND". We did like a couple of suckers and yes, too good to pass up!! We fell for the timeshare hook, line, and sinker not to sound too cliche'. After all, we paid cash up front and the only thing left to deal with are the monthly maintenance fees. Like I said before, we have owned it for approximately 8 years and have never used it, pay $25.00 maintenance fees automatic checking account draft only, and receive nothing by mail on point accumulation or anything. We don't even know what it is really worth or how many points we really have to this day! As I said the final straw was when the skam artists in Florida called up and told us they could sell it! By the way I did report that company to the BBB in Florida! What do you all think, use it or dump it for $0 to keep from paying any more maintenance fees on this giant investment ripoff? Thanks to all of you ahead of time for your suggestions!

Be careful because there are other scam artists that charge a lot more like between 3 and 4 thousand dollars! They claim they take the timeshare off your back and they make you sign a power of attorney. If they don't get rid of it one way or the other, guess who will get the maintenance bill and has to pay it? You do because it is still in your name. You paid them dearly for them trying to sell your timeshare and they are not real estate brokers. Most likely there are several parties involved so they can continue scamming the public. When they get closed down, they start up again under a new company name so it's hard to keep track of them.

These companies are called post card companies because you get them in the mail and you call them and then they tell you to bring your deed or other paperwork with you and they go from there. They have a list of timeshares now that are not accepted right from the start.

Both the post card companies and the companies who charge you a big upfront fee for advertising are scam artists. You can advertise yourself on many web pages which do not charge much or are even free and you can sell on eBay for a small fee too or give it to a reputable broker who sells timeshares re-sale for a living. There are also some charity web sites that may take if off your back but only if they can make some money for their good cause or they won't take it.

Why did you never use your timeshare? Glitter asked you for more information so we can help you making the best of your timeshare and use it and enjoy your vacations. You must like the area or you wouldn't have bought there.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

For your $25,000 investment I think I'd learn how to use it.

Most of us on these forums bought from the developer with our first purchase. Many of us have bought more than one unit from the developer. It's not a crime IMHO but, you have to understand what you're buying and that you'll never get your original purchase back if you need to sell it.

We LOVE our timeshare vacations and prefer not to travel any other way unless it's a cruise vacation. It's so much nicer to stay in a condo with all the amenities of home rather than cramped up in a hotel room where you have to sit on the bed to watch TV. If I want to fix a meal, I have a full kitchen. If I don't want to pack dirty clothes and do laundry when I get home, most TS's have washer/dryer's in the units. There are seperate rooms for the kids which is nice if you want a little privacy without the kids being compeltely seperated. Most timeshares have nicer amenities that a lot of the hotels we use to stay at.

Right now, all it appears to be costing you is $25/month. What do you have to lose if you spend 3 or 4 months here learning about what you own and how to use it? Since you've bought it, I think you owe it to yourself to discover what you own and what you can do with it. This will take a little effort because you'll need to let us know what company you own with, what resort you own with, what size unit you purchased (or number of yearly points) and how you typically vacation. With a few details those of us that post on this website can probably get you going in the right direction. There is such a variety here that most of the timeshare sytems can be cover by someone on this website to some extent. There are several experts here that represent a great cross section of the different timeshare management companies.

Give it a chance and see what happens. After all, at this point you really don't have anything to lose.

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

Wyndham is a great program to use, with plenty of resorts within driving range for you. Even if you simply used a few days in Vegas at the Grand Desert every once in a while, you'd be able to get some value from you purchase.

Based on your m. fee number, you have a small contract of probably 154,000 biennial if you underquoted by a few monthly dollars. There isn't really any kind of a resale market for that contract type currently, so I'd echo the recommendations to simply learn and use the system.

If you decide you simply aren't the type of person to ever use the ownership, then simply post it as a giveaway in the classifieds here, and you'll find someone to take it off your hands for the closing costs!

[WhiteShepherd Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close WhiteShepherd]

TS Renting

I have a horror story that worked out good for me. Listed my TS in Branson, MO last spring for RENT/SALE with an online outfit found via a search. Listing was approximately 6 weeks out prior to my week. (MY BAD) Fee was $150 I believe.

They contacted me within 2 weeks with an offer. The rep apologized that in such short notice he could only get $250 for the week. Since I was into it for a $500 MF, and it WAS short notice, I relented to some money is better than none, so I agreed.

They emailed me a contract, repleat with the renters name address and email. (a HUGE MISTAKE) It also listed rental fee of $600. I contacted the renter- nice lady and confirmed she was told $600. When I told her what they told me she was agast! Since she already gave them her CC, she was committed. She wanted to cancel out.

I contacted the rental agency and informed them .... HOW DARE YOU!!!!!!! They came back with-- oh we have advertising fees and blah blah fees... and I simply said--- either you send me $600 or I go to the AG in MO and see what THEY have to say of this unorthodox practice...

End of story... I got my $600 and the lady had a great time.

[LBTRS Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LBTRS]

Our timeshare is in Sadona Arizona by Fairshare or Wyndam Resorts as it is now.

I sent you an email with some questions about the ownership you're trying to get rid of. I own at Wyndham Sedona and have considered a different points package that would work better for me.

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

We originally were bent over when this company came to town and we recieved a phone call that we were invited to a great investment meeting in town and would recieve free gas and a trip if "WE BOTH ATTEND". We did like a couple of suckers and yes, too good to pass up!! We fell for the timeshare hook, line, and sinker not to sound too cliche'. After all, we paid cash up front and the only thing left to deal with are the monthly maintenance fees. Like I said before, we have owned it for approximately 8 years and have never used it, pay $25.00 maintenance fees automatic checking account draft only, and receive nothing by mail on point accumulation or anything. We don't even know what it is really worth or how many points we really have to this day! As I said the final straw was when the skam artists in Florida called up and told us they could sell it! By the way I did report that company to the BBB in Florida! What do you all think, use it or dump it for $0 to keep from paying any more maintenance fees on this giant investment ripoff? Thanks to all of you ahead of time for your suggestions!

If you are only paying $25/month MF, count your blessings. For most of us the MFs on our TS are well over $1000/year. Let us know what you have. There are many other owners of your TS group on this site who will help you make the best of what you own. Perhaps if you can't use it, you can find a friend or relative who would be willing to rent from you to cover the cost of your MFs. I wish you all the best. I too bought from a developer intially. Never again. Resale is the best way to go. Yet, in spite of the costs, I still love my TS and the flexibility and convenience it gives me for vacations.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

I have a horror story that worked out good for me. Listed my TS in Branson, MO last spring for RENT/SALE with an online outfit found via a search. Listing was approximately 6 weeks out prior to my week. (MY BAD) Fee was $150 I believe.

They contacted me within 2 weeks with an offer. The rep apologized that in such short notice he could only get $250 for the week. Since I was into it for a $500 MF, and it WAS short notice, I relented to some money is better than none, so I agreed.

They emailed me a contract, repleat with the renters name address and email. (a HUGE MISTAKE) It also listed rental fee of $600. I contacted the renter- nice lady and confirmed she was told $600. When I told her what they told me she was agast! Since she already gave them her CC, she was committed. She wanted to cancel out.

I contacted the rental agency and informed them .... HOW DARE YOU!!!!!!! They came back with-- oh we have advertising fees and blah blah fees... and I simply said--- either you send me $600 or I go to the AG in MO and see what THEY have to say of this unorthodox practice...

End of story... I got my $600 and the lady had a great time.

Cool! Good job!