[2023] Success with getting rid of an Exploria timeshare?

[TUGBrian]

this can happen if the powers that be have plans to close/sell/convert/etc the resort itself, or something along those lines... not saying its the case here...but one can research similar situations where this has happened in the past.

even if nothing like that were planned, levying such a huge assessment in a single year had to include plans or expectations for a far larger than typical default rate just given the amount itself.

 

[Mcguirejazz]

Yesterday I found a thread yesterday on the TUG Facebook group titled "Are people really paying an additional assessment fee of $6,000 for RCI for 2024? Seems outrageous." Disregard the likely misinformed reference to RCI, but in it I found some potentially encouraging advice from a user. He said he phoned Exploria (the phone number on your statement 800-371-8335) and simply told them you want to deed it back, surrender it, whatever. And that the person on line line very quickly took note, said she would pass it to "legal" and they would get the paperwork back in 5-6 weeks. Today I did just that, gave them my information and said I would like to deed back or surrender it saying that the cost is beyond my means and we’re not getting any benefit out of it. Janyla, who I spoke with, said she is sending through my request and to expect an email in 3-4 weeks. I don’t know what the terms will be, but we will see…. Warily hopeful.

I was told the same thing by Exploria's finance dept. I asked for a copy of the form to look it over before I agreed and was told that if I asked for the forms, that was considered my request for termination. I want to see what I am agreeing to in writing before I agree to it. They told me that they could not give me a contact number for legal. Has anyone successfully completed the process?

 

[Mcguirejazz]

Thanks for the response and resoruces

Another thing to add is that the timeshare is paid-off and she is only stuck with maintenance fee. Is that something we can leverage?

I will look into posting ads as you suggested and add benefits to the listing

I read a member here managed to get hold of someone from exploria and they offered a inventory surrender so I will ask her to look into that :: crosses fingers ::

Does anyone have contact information for either the Tugger who got hold of someone from Exploria who offered an inventory surrender or the contact at Exploria who made the offer?

 

[TUGBrian]

the only owners ive seen report this were owners at the resorts that recently levied large special assessments to its owners (poconos for example) and when they called to ask, they were offered the option to surrender.

ive never heard of an exploria owner at any of their other resorts being offered that option, or any useful option for that matter.

 

[oxifine]

Another Exploria Poconos owner who wants out. Not trusting the timeshare exit groups out there, though don't know what else to do. Are ANY of them legit? Newton? Wesley?

Like another poster, I'm also disabled and unable to use it to make it worth the maintenance fee. Currently using it for airfare and hotel for my medical appointments out of state.

The maintenance fees have skyrocketed since Exploria took over in the Poconos. Mortgage is paid off, it's just the maintenance fees. I'm going to contact them at the emails that were posted above and will call them as well.

Anything else I should do?

 

[LannyPC]

Anything else I should do?

Yes. Avoid the so-called cancel companies that you mentioned. Even if they are legit, they will charge you thousands of dollars to do something you can do yourself.

You will have to get your MFs up to date if you want to give it away or get the resort's Homeowners' Association to take it back. Otherwise, your only other option would be to stop making payments and let the resort foreclose on you.

 

[oxifine]

Yes. Avoid the so-called cancel companies that you mentioned. Even if they are legit, they will charge you thousands of dollars to do something you can do yourself.

You will have to get your MFs up to date if you want to give it away or get the resort's Homeowners' Association to take it back. Otherwise, your only other option would be to stop making payments and let the resort foreclose on you.

By "give it away" do you mean that someone would assume ownership and take over the maintenance fees? How do you go about transferring the deed? Does that take a lawyer?

If I stop paying maintenance fees and it goes to collections, do timeshares not take people to court to recoup the money? That is the biggest fear when it comes to stopping payment.

 

[oxifine]

Oh, and yes. I was quoted $10K from one of the companies I listed.

 

[LannyPC]

By "give it away" do you mean that someone would assume ownership and take over the maintenance fees? How do you go about transferring the deed? Does that take a lawyer?

If I stop paying maintenance fees and it goes to collections, do timeshares not take people to court to recoup the money? That is the biggest fear when it comes to stopping payment.

You can give it away as long as the mortgage and MFs are paid up to date. No one is going to want to take on this with money still owing.

To transfer the deed, you do not need a lawyer. Once you find a taker, you can use a good transfer company. One that's often recommended here on TUG is Legal Timeshare Transfers.

As for stopping payments, there have been various outcomes reported here on TUG. We have yet to hear of anyone being taken to court to recoup the money. You might face a bunch of annoying collection calls and letters. You might also face a hit to your credit score and history, but that is rare that that happens.

 

[oxifine]

Exploria said they don't do take backs. They suggested a site called Timeshares Only to get rid of it. I guess my options are to attempt to give it away or just stop payments.

It's good to hear that people normally don't get taken to court. That makes the decision to stop payments a lot easier when the new year rolls around.

 

[LannyPC]

Exploria said they don't do take backs. They suggested a site called Timeshares Only to get rid of it. I guess my options are to attempt to give it away or just stop payments.

It's good to hear that people normally don't get taken to court. That makes the decision to stop payments a lot easier when the new year rolls around.

Whom did you contact at Exploria? When asking certain resorts if they will take a TS back, we suggest contacting the resort's Homeowners' Association rather than someone at the front desk or the parent company. Tell the HOA that you are not going to pay any more money in MFs so the HOA has two choices. Either take the TS back amicably (with you perhaps paying the transfer cost) or let the HOA go through the hassle and expense of foreclosure.

 

[TUGBrian]

Exploria said they don't do take backs. They suggested a site called Timeshares Only to get rid of it. I guess my options are to attempt to give it away or just stop payments.

It's good to hear that people normally don't get taken to court. That makes the decision to stop payments a lot easier when the new year rolls around.

yep, thats the same utterly terrible advice they have been throwing back to owners for quite some time now...its despicable

 

[oxifine]

Whom did you contact at Exploria? When asking certain resorts if they will take a TS back, we suggest contacting the resort's Homeowners' Association rather than someone at the front desk or the parent company. Tell the HOA that you are not going to pay any more money in MFs so the HOA has two choices. Either take the TS back amicably (with you perhaps paying the transfer cost) or let the HOA go through the hassle and expense of foreclosure.

I emailed member services as well as the HOA, though only member services responded. I'll email the HOA again and included what you've suggested. Thanks.

yep, thats the same utterly terrible advice they have been throwing back to owners for quite some time now...its despicable

Yeah. I checked out the site and was SHOCKED to see people listing timeshares for thousands of dollars. I knew when I bought it there was no resale value. I just wasn't expecting for my health to make it impossible for me to use it. If I could use it like I had planned, I would keep it. Unfortunately, life happens.

 

[oxifine]

Quick response from HOA, but literally the exact same response. It's just a cut and copy.

So try to give it away it is!

 

[TUGBrian]

yea, thats pretty sad.

hard not to believe there isnt some sort of financial relationship between those two entities to have them refer all their desperate owners there knowing full well the results they are going to get.

 

[oxifine]

yea, thats pretty sad.

hard not to believe there isnt some sort of financial relationship between those two entities to have them refer all their desperate owners there knowing full well the results they are going to get.

When they name dropped, my first thought was that they would get a kickback of some sort. Maybe I'm just cynical.

 

[VacationLuv]

Quick response from HOA, but literally the exact same response. It's just a cut and copy.

So try to give it away it is!

Am very interested in seeing if you are successful in giving it away. Keep us posted.

 

[abcdefg]

I was told the same thing by Exploria's finance dept. I asked for a copy of the form to look it over before I agreed and was told that if I asked for the forms, that was considered my request for termination. I want to see what I am agreeing to in writing before I agree to it. They told me that they could not give me a contact number for legal. Has anyone successfully completed the process?

 

[Mcguirejazz]

I asked Exploria to release me and they did.

 

[LannyPC]

I asked Exploria to release me and they did.

Did you have to pay any fees?

Also, just to clarify, did you own deeded property or was this just a membership/right-to-use?

 

[TUGBrian]

I asked Exploria to release me and they did.

when was this? what resort?

 

[Mcguirejazz]

Did you have to pay any fees?

Also, just to clarify, did you own deeded property or was this just a membership/right-to-use?

There were no fees. It was RCI Points, but I believe it was deeded.

 

[Mcguirejazz]

when was this? what resort?

It was very recently. They sent a Maintenance Fee statement with an assessment of several thousand dollars. I think they wanted people to just give them back. It was in the Poconos. It was called Treetops when I bought it, but Exploria got it from Vacation Villages and changed the name.

 

[TUGBrian]

ah yes, I recall that particular resort had a special sort of situation going on with it and its owners regarding that hefty assessment!

unfortunately owners at the other exploria resorts get a much different experience when asking to exit!

 

[oxifine]

It was very recently. They sent a Maintenance Fee statement with an assessment of several thousand dollars. I think they wanted people to just give them back. It was in the Poconos. It was called Treetops when I bought it, but Exploria got it from Vacation Villages and changed the name.

Who did you contact? Do you have the number/email? I tried emailing member services as well as the HOA member services and they both said they don't do take backs.

I own in Poconos and I need out as well. It was Tree Tops when I bought also.