Vistana, Westin & Sheraton Deedback program

[DannyTS]

It doesn’t take much to add the minimum requirements. Instead they are having ppl send in inquiries and then cherry picking.

I suspected all along the buyback programs are all about picking up valuable inventory for free

 

[jabberwocky]

why would they not take EOY contracts back? They put all contracts into a trust so what difference does it make? To me it sounds like a lame excuse not to take your contract. I bet if you had an OF Hawaii they would take it back (not that you would give it to them)

This is probably true - although they don't put the OF deeds into Flex. WFlex has a huge amount of WDW Weeks that have been added to the trust already (3422 WDW weeks vs total 6221 Hawaii weeks over 4 resorts). Given most demand for weeks from Flexers is for Hawaii weeks I suspect they will snap up more Hawaii contracts if offered for free.

 

[Monterey sunshine]

According to ARDA, vistana resorts (including sheraton and westin) have an official deedback/surrender program with info available here:

https://www.vistana.com/exit

adding this as a sticky for this forum for those who might be in these situations (and hope to funnel away some from upfront fee scammers)

I’m new to this site so bear with me. I contacted Vistana and they are willing to take my two flex weeks back, at no cost to me (we won’t mention the $$$$$$$ I spent to buy the two weeks). They immediately started the process. Now I’m nervous. What am I missing?

 

[dioxide45]

I’m new to this site so bear with me. I contacted Vistana and they are willing to take my two flex weeks back, at no cost to me (we won’t mention the $$$$$$$ I spent to buy the two weeks). They immediately started the process. Now I’m nervous. What am I missing?

They already got your money, they will turn it around and get someone else's next. They are getting cheap inventory to sell. The sad thing is that you likely didn't buy that long ago since Sheraton Flex isn't that old. So what you spent for what you got isn't a great deal. Not trying to rub salt in the wound, but if they got paid once and are getting it back basically for free, it is cheaper than building new resorts.

 

[Monterey sunshine]

They already got your money, they will turn it around and get someone else's next. They are getting cheap inventory to sell. The sad thing is that you likely didn't buy that long ago since Sheraton Flex isn't that old. So what you spent for what you got isn't a great deal. Not trying to rub salt in the wound, but if they got paid once and are getting it back basically for free, it is cheaper than building new resorts.

We drank the koolaid and originally bought two weeks in Hawaii. Never used it so traded Hawaii for Flex. Tired of paying maintenance fees for something we never use. Feel like we are cutting our losses by giving it back so we won’t have to pay maintenance anymore

 

[jabberwocky]

We drank the koolaid and originally bought two weeks in Hawaii. Never used it so traded Hawaii for Flex. Tired of paying maintenance fees for something we never use. Feel like we are cutting our losses by giving it back so we won’t have to pay maintenance anymore

Did you buy Sheraton Flex or Westin Flex?

 

[Monterey sunshine]

Sheraton flex

 

[durrod]

I have an EOY too and they said they were not taken my type of ownership at this time.
SBP resort gold plus.

 

[AbelowDS]

Got the paperwork on Thursday. Already notarized an back in the mail to them. Woo hoo. Bye bye 2 of my timeshare weeks

 

[PcflEZFlng]

Got the paperwork on Thursday. Already notarized an back in the mail to them. Woo hoo. Bye bye 2 of my timeshare weeks

That's encouraging news for those of us hoping/waiting for them to take back EOY contracts as well!

 

[Fredflintstone]

I don't believe ARDA - I have never heard of someone deeding back their Vistana TS.

Isn’t ARDA a lobby group FOR the resorts and timeshare companies? I know they try to fee owners in efforts to get a donation. However, from what I see, their interests and lobby is mainly for resorts and timeshare developers.




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[AbelowDS]

Isn’t ARDA a lobby group FOR the resorts and timeshare companies? I know they try to fee owners in efforts to get a donation. However, from what I see, their interests and lobby is mainly for resorts and timeshare developers.

Hi. There were no fees to me for giving back my 2 timeshares. Financial disclosure was included with the paperwork and it showed them as picking up the fees for transfer and recording of the deed. Also,
These are deeded back to Marriott according to the contract.

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[TUGBrian]

Had a very positive phone call today with a number of Marriott executives relating to the deedback program.

The goal is indeed to work towards a solution that provides vse owners an exit strategy for all vse timeshares, but given the scope of this merger it is going to be a long process (not just deedback related), and that is perfectly understandable.

as it is now, there should be a solution for north american vse owners to surrender unwanted (non delinquent/paid off) ownerships using the link in the original thread. so for anyone that is still being told no whos ownership fits that description, please email the details and the reply to tugadmin@tug2.net and I will see what I can do.

 

[PcflEZFlng]

Had a very positive phone call today with a number of Marriott executives relating to the deedback program.
...as it is now, there should be a solution for north american vse owners to surrender unwanted (non delinquent/paid off) ownerships using the link in the original thread. so for anyone that is still being told no whos ownership fits that description, please email the details and the reply to tugadmin@tug2.net and I will see what I can do.

Thanks Brian. I sent an email to them yesterday using the link, and when they reply, I'll let you know. I was already told "no" for my EOY contract last month when I called them on the phone. Hoping their answer will be different this time, but to say that I am not optimistic would be an understatement!

 

[BeckyLane]

I have a one premium bedroom gold plus that l’m trying to give away and wil be calling them about the deedback program.

. Could you clarify “deedback” for me? We own at the Lagunamar-1bd float annual. Haven’t been able to really use it...not totally paid off. Probably looking to get rid of it sooner rather than later unless someone can help us figure out the best use for it.

 

[dioxide45]

. Could you clarify “deedback” for me? We own at the Lagunamar-1bd float annual. Haven’t been able to really use it...not totally paid off. Probably looking to get rid of it sooner rather than later unless someone can help us figure out the best use for it.

What season do you own? It could have some resale value regardless of the season. If you want to get rid of it, you could also offer it up for free in the Free Timeshare Givaways forum.

 

[BeckyLane]

What season do you own? It could have some resale value regardless of the season. If you want to get rid of it, you could also offer it up for free in the Free Timeshare Givaways forum.

According to my deed, Gold plus. Week 43 (but that’s just for their inventory purposes- on the contract). I haven’t paid it off yet so not sure if giving it away is the best idea. The thing I’m trying to understand is that when we purchased we have 44k points to use based on our contract and full weeks. However, we can’t do that anymore because the values for each day (for an entire week) exceed the total number of points our 1bd is worth. So...is this legit for a deeded property? I didn’t receive any docs stating this change nor do i know where to find a disclaimer for changing ownership/rules in the contract. Someone please help point me in the right direction!

 

[VacationForever]

According to my deed, Gold plus. Week 43 (but that’s just for their inventory purposes- on the contract). I haven’t paid it off yet so not sure if giving it away is the best idea. The thing I’m trying to understand is that when we purchased we have 44k points to use based on our contract and full weeks. However, we can’t do that anymore because the values for each day (for an entire week) exceed the total number of points our 1bd is worth. So...is this legit for a deeded property? I didn’t receive any docs stating this change nor do i know where to find a disclaimer for changing ownership/rules in the contract. Someone please help point me in the right direction!

What you bought was a week in the Gold Plus season. The points value, i.e. Staroptions has not changed. You can still book a week in the same unit type within the season. If you want to book during Platinum season week at WLR you won't have enough. You can bank your staroptions to extend use for 2 years and that way you have more staroptions. You need to look at the Staroption chart by resort, size and week to figure out how many Staroptions are required.

Here is the chart: https://vistana-web-static.s3.amazo...assets/pdf/charts/staroptions_value_chart.pdf

Westin Lagunamar chart is on page 8.

 

[Monterey sunshine]

What you bought was a week in the Gold Plus season. The points value, i.e. Staroptions has not changed. You can still book a week in the same unit type within the season. If you want to book during Platinum season week at WLR you won't have enough. You can bank your staroptions to extend use for 2 years and that way you have more staroptions. You need to look at the Staroption chart by resort, size and week to figure out how many Staroptions are required.

Here is the chart: https://vistana-web-static.s3.amazo...assets/pdf/charts/staroptions_value_chart.pdf

Westin Lagunamar chart is on page 8.

Please explain EOY.

 

[VacationForever]

Please explain EOY.

What about EOY? If you own an every other year week, you can bank your Staroptions and you have 2 years from the current use year to use them.

 

[PcflEZFlng]

Please explain EOY.

Acronym for Every Other Year. Simply put, it means you have use of the timeshare every other year (otherwise known as biennial use). In the case of maintenance fees (MF), with EOY use even though still you pay them every year, you pay only half of what you would otherwise pay with an annual timeshare. In the case of Vistana, you would receive your StarOptions once every other year instead of every year.

 

[PcflEZFlng]

Thanks Brian. I sent an email to them yesterday using the link, and when they reply, I'll let you know. I was already told "no" for my EOY contract last month when I called them on the phone. Hoping their answer will be different this time, but to say that I am not optimistic would be an understatement!

I received a reply from them today. As expected, no deedback was offered. Their reply included the following language summarizing my options:

"...If you choose to wait and sell through Marriott Vacation Club, please advise us in your response and we will register your interest. All owners are registered in date order and are contacted once an option to sell becomes available. While waiting to sell, continue using your ownership and maintain current account balances. Be aware that the sale of your timeshare is similar to a real estate transaction, it is subject to market demand and therefore, it is difficult to predict a timeframe to sell.

Sell on the Open Market:

This option affords you the opportunity to set your own price and to begin the resale process at any time. We recommend that you avoid companies that ask for upfront fees..."

 

[AbelowDS]

Happy to say that the deedback of 2 of my units is complete. Thank you to everyone who helped. This is a real blessing

 

[TUGBrian]

I received a reply from them today. As expected, no deedback was offered. Their reply included the following language summarizing my options:

"...If you choose to wait and sell through Marriott Vacation Club, please advise us in your response and we will register your interest. All owners are registered in date order and are contacted once an option to sell becomes available. While waiting to sell, continue using your ownership and maintain current account balances. Be aware that the sale of your timeshare is similar to a real estate transaction, it is subject to market demand and therefore, it is difficult to predict a timeframe to sell.

Sell on the Open Market:

This option affords you the opportunity to set your own price and to begin the resale process at any time. We recommend that you avoid companies that ask for upfront fees..."

please email me the details at tug@tug2.net if you have not already done so if this was a us based paid off ownership.

 

[PcflEZFlng]

please email me the details at tug@tug2.net if you have not already done so if this was a us based paid off ownership.

I did earlier, but it's been awhile so I'll send it to you again. Thanks.

Edited to add: Just sent.