Timeshare Law
Timeshare
Cancellation
For over a decade, the most common request I receive involves the cancellation of a timeshare ownership. Reasons include:
Misrepresentation at the time of sale,
Failure by the timeshare company to disclose information required by law,
Medical or age-related hardship making travel difficult,
Personal financial hardship (job-loss, medical costs, etc.),
Extreme pressure to sign the purchase agreement, or
Inability to make reservations.
And the list goes on.
Having assisted hundreds of clients and even published on this topic, my process is straightforward.
After an initial and free consultation to establish that I can help with your specific situation, I will send you an engagement letter, authorizing me to review your legal documents, advise you, and if requested, represent you in negotiating cancellation of the timeshare contract.
Warning:
As you may be aware, hundreds of timeshare scams prey on desperate timeshare owners looking to cancel their timeshare contracts.
Beware of any company that:
Requests an upfront fee. A number of timeshare exit companies require a large fee (often in excess of $5000) before they agree to assist. As you might imagine, this is a major red flag, signaling that the company does not have confidence in their services.
Guarantees a specific result or has a “money back guarantee.” This one may seem counter-intuitive, but it's a common scam tactic. Many exit companies claim that they will return your upfront fee if they are unsuccessful, but never or rarely do so. Often, these companies will simply require that you stop paying annual timeshare maintenance fees which will trigger a foreclosure. They will then claim victory when in fact they have done nothing to help.
Promises to sell a timeshare. As you are likely aware, the number of individuals willing to buy a timeshare is dwarfed by those seeking to sell their timeshares. Beware of any company offering to list or market your timeshare, especially when they want money upfront to list the property for sale.
Is not an attorney. Your timeshare ownership contract is legal in nature. Ensure that you have a licensed attorney review your contract and advise you on the legal rights and obligations regarding your ownership.
Timeshare Scams
Since 2019, I’ve seen a massive increase in the number of, and sophistication in, timeshare scams. The details vary, but the underlying scenario is remarkably similar.
It begins when you are contacted, usually unsolicited, from someone claiming to have a buyer for your timeshare. The offer price is high, usually much more than you originally paid for the timeshare.
The timeshare scammers then have you sign documents purporting to sell the timeshare, but before you receive any money, they demand that you send, via wire transfer, hundreds or thousands of dollars. They reassure you that once you send the money, you will then receive payment for your timeshare.
But you don’t receive your money.
They request more money, and then more, and even more. They will continue to request money until you stop paying. Even then, they may attempt to scare you by threatening legal action. Their whole purpose is to squeeze every penny they can get out of you.
If you or a loved one has been contacted about selling your timeshare, talk with a timeshare attorney to ensure that the transaction is valid. I have advised hundreds of clients in such situations to ensure that they are protected and don’t fall for this insidious fraud.
