Anyone ever heard of a TS suing for collection of maintenance fees?

[C. Evans]

Has anyone ever heard of a TS company (in this case, not deeded, just a dumb "club") suing for maintenance fees, ever? I know the credit score will drop, but is that the end of it? It seems unlikely they'd sue for $1500 or whatnot, but if they just keep compounding it year after year (does anyone know if they do that???), it may eventually become an enticing sum for them to come after. I checked the collection agency and it has never sued anyone in my state, and not even in their own state. Maybe they sell it off to another agency for that sort of thing? Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Statute of limitations is 3 years. Check with a lawyer.

 

[Carolinian]

I have heard of a few cases, but very rare. Collection agencies like to threaten lawsuits but rarely go through with them. They often have attorneys not even licensed in the proper state send threatening letters. Heck, some states like North Carolina require the collection agency to be licensed in this state. A good friend of mine is a consumer lawyer in NC and represents clients on these issues all the time. Some of the stories I have heard from him are amazing. When he finds a collection agency or collection law firm not properly licensed in NC, he is all over them, and says it amazes him how often that happens.

When I served on an HOA board, our board actually discussed it but decided against it. It was brought up by one of our board members because he became aware of another timeshare resort doing it. As I recall, the way that other resort's process went was that they foreclosed for the delinquency, and since almost never does someone ever show up to bid on these foreclosed weeks, they resort would bid in one dollar. Then they would seek a deficiency judgment for the amount in arrears less the one dollar. I suspect they assumed most people would not answer the complaint and they would get default judgments. A judgment is a whole lot easier to collect on than just an arrearage. For HOAs that let these things go on for several years before foreclosing, I could see how that might be tempted, but we never let deadbeat cases linger like that.

We were a member-controlled HOA, but I could see a developer doing this enough to put a scare into others who were delinquent into paying up. Many developers join credit agencies so they can use that as leverage to collect from delinquent members, but very few member-run HOAs did that in my area. The concern of the resort going full throttle after delinquent members, in my judgement, would be greater from a developer-controlled resort than a member-controlled resort.

There are a lot of games played with timeshare foreclosures. One former OBX developer apparently thought it looked bad to have weeks foreclosed at the courthouse door for a lot less than they were selling the weeks for on timeshare tours. They always bid in the weeks to get them back themselves, but they bid the sort of prices they sold them for to itmeshare tours. Their attorney obviously did not collect and disburse that money, and the problem was that the sale price over and above the deliquent m/f by law should have been collected and disbursed to the owner being foreclosed upon. The developer and their lawyer were both playing a dangerous game but they seem to have gotten away with it.

 

[C. Evans]

Statute of limitations is 3 years. Check with a lawyer.

It's 4 years in my state, but I have to wonder if the statue of limitations is kinda limitless, if they have a new unpaid maintenance fee every year to come after me on. I'm trying to figure out how likely it is: I've never heard of TS suing for maintenance fees, not ever.

 

[C. Evans]

I have heard of a few cases, but very rare. Collection agencies like to threaten lawsuits but rarely go through with them. They often have attorneys not even licensed in the proper state send threatening letters. Heck, some states like North Carolina require the collection agency to be licensed in this state. A good friend of mine is a consumer lawyer in NC and represents clients on these issues all the time. Some of the stories I have heard from him are amazing. When he finds a collection agency or collection law firm not properly licensed in NC, he is all over them, and says it amazes him how often that happens.

When I served on an HOA board, our board actually discussed it but decided against it. It was brought up by one of our board members because he became aware of another timeshare resort doing it. As I recall, the way that other resort's process went was that they foreclosed for the delinquency, and since almost never does someone ever show up to bid on these foreclosed weeks, they resort would bid in one dollar. Then they would seek a deficiency judgment for the amount in arrears less the one dollar. I suspect they assumed most people would not answer the complaint and they would get default judgments. A judgment is a whole lot easier to collect on than just an arrearage. For HOAs that let these things go on for several years before foreclosing, I could see how that might be tempted, but we never let deadbeat cases linger like that.

We were a member-controlled HOA, but I could see a developer doing this enough to put a scare into others who were delinquent into paying up. Many developers join credit agencies so they can use that as leverage to collect from delinquent members, but very few member-run HOAs did that in my area. The concern of the resort going full throttle after delinquent members, in my judgement, would be greater from a developer-controlled resort than a member-controlled resort.

There are a lot of games played with timeshare foreclosures. One former OBX developer apparently thought it looked bad to have weeks foreclosed at the courthouse door for a lot less than they were selling the weeks for on timeshare tours. They always bid in the weeks to get them back themselves, but they bid the sort of prices they sold them for to itmeshare tours. Their attorney obviously did not collect and disburse that money, and the problem was that the sale price over and above the deliquent m/f by law should have been collected and disbursed to the owner being foreclosed upon. The developer and their lawyer were both playing a dangerous game but they seem to have gotten away with it.

Thanks!! It does seem odd that people weren't even answering the complaint in your example. I wonder if they were dead and the estate just ignored it? In my case there's nothing to foreclose on, it's a mexican RTU "club." It seems like that could make it easier/simpler to sue me (fewer steps?) but also less likely. They can pursue me from a US collection agency, but again, I'm thinking the chances of my consequences being greater than 7 years of a collection account on my report is probably the worst of it.

 

[andre10056]

From my understanding, any ongoing periodic debt will "renew" your debt (and therefore not ever become subject to the statute of limitations). That's why credit card companies can sue you for even very old charges that you failed to pay because there's, at a minimum, a new interest rate charge every month.

Obviously doesn't apply to credit cards that the credit card company terminated as that ends the credit card contractual arrangement. The account is closed. Then they have to sue within the statute of limitations period...and they most certainly do.

I suspect that timeshare debt is similar. A new annual maintenance fee that's charged renews the entire debt. Hence, no statute of limitations issue.

There are multitudes of law firms in every state that accept the files of debtors and mass file lawsuits of all descriptions. I've been in district courts where a single attorney from one law firm stayed at the plaintiff's desk for more than an hour as she worked her way through "deadbeat" debt file after file.

I'm not an attorney but I think it's dangerous to fantasize that "they'll never sue me" because of this alleged reason or that alleged reason. All it takes is for the creditor to take a few minutes to send the file to the appropriate local law firm who will do the service of the complaint, obtain the judgment, and presumably then attach your assets (where possible) to collect that judgment (which, of course, will also appear on your credit record).

I sure as heck don't know how the creditor being from Mexico might affect things. No opinion whatsoever on that one.

 

[Carolinian]

It's 4 years in my state, but I have to wonder if the statue of limitations is kinda limitless, if they have a new unpaid maintenance fee every year to come after me on. I'm trying to figure out how likely it is: I've never heard of TS suing for maintenance fees, not ever.

Thanks!! It does seem odd that people weren't even answering the complaint in your example. I wonder if they were dead and the estate just ignored it? In my case there's nothing to foreclose on, it's a mexican RTU "club." It seems like that could make it easier/simpler to sue me (fewer steps?) but also less likely. They can pursue me from a US collection agency, but again, I'm thinking the chances of my consequences being greater than 7 years of a collection account on my report is probably the worst of it.

I suspect in many cases, people may think it is like small claims court where you just show up and tell your side when you get a court date. But filed as a regular civil action, if you do not file a written response in 30 days, the plaintiff can get a default judgment so you never do get a court date.

My friend who does defense work on consumer collections says one common mistake of his clients is to fail to dispute the claim and demand proof of their claim. Apparently at some point in the process a letter is sent out to that effect and should not be ignored. He says that many of these claims get passed from one collection agency to another before someone gets serious, and by that point their documents often get scrambled. From what he says, most creditors sell their claims for pennies on the dollar to collection agencies who then own them, and often get sold on to other agencies, sometimes multiple times.

There are factors that can extend a statute of limitations, so you should talk to an attorney who does the debtor side of collections work in your state to get a clearer picture. Also, some states have laws that are stricter than others on collections matters. It is good to get the proper info that is state specific to your state.

 

[C. Evans]

From my understanding, any ongoing periodic debt will "renew" your debt (and therefore not ever become subject to the statute of limitations). That's why credit card companies can sue you for even very old charges that you failed to pay because there's, at a minimum, a new interest rate charge every month.

Obviously doesn't apply to credit cards that the credit card company terminated as that ends the credit card contractual arrangement. The account is closed. Then they have to sue within the statute of limitations period...and they most certainly do.

I suspect that timeshare debt is similar. A new annual maintenance fee that's charged renews the entire debt. Hence, no statute of limitations issue.

There are multitudes of law firms in every state that accept the files of debtors and mass file lawsuits of all descriptions. I've been in district courts where a single attorney from one law firm stayed at the plaintiff's desk for more than an hour as she worked her way through "deadbeat" debt file after file.

I'm not an attorney but I think it's dangerous to fantasize that "they'll never sue me" because of this alleged reason or that alleged reason. All it takes is for the creditor to take a few minutes to send the file to the appropriate local law firm who will do the service of the complaint, obtain the judgment, and presumably then attach your assets (where possible) to collect that judgment (which, of course, will also appear on your credit record).

I sure as heck don't know how the creditor being from Mexico might affect things. No opinion whatsoever on that one.

When the attorney was just working the way through the long deadbeat file, was it all just "you signed it" and no mitigating factors were considered? My timeshare has skirted the edge of legality repeatedly; I've reported it all to Profeco and a couple of other agencies, so I have a documentation trail of sorts. Now they're trying to corral me into different terms altogether, hence the consideration of walking away. But, that still doesn't give me the limited level of confidence I have. What does is the TUG credit monitoring post, which talks about credit score drops, but nothing about litigation. So I'm just wondering if anyone, anywhere, has ever encountered a TS suing over maintenance fees: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/2020-timeshare-default-credit-report-collection-tracking.304138/

 

[andre10056]

When the attorney was just working the way through the long deadbeat file, was it all just "you signed it" and no mitigating factors were considered? My timeshare has skirted the edge of legality repeatedly; I've reported it all to Profeco and a couple of other agencies, so I have a documentation trail of sorts. Now they're trying to corral me into different terms altogether, hence the consideration of walking away. But, that still doesn't give me the limited level of confidence I have. What does is the TUG credit monitoring post, which talks about credit score drops, but nothing about litigation. So I'm just wondering if anyone, anywhere, has ever encountered a TS suing over maintenance fees: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/2020-timeshare-default-credit-report-collection-tracking.304138/

So I'm just wondering if anyone, anywhere, has ever encountered a TS suing over maintenance fees

In response to that, I'll just answer a question with a question:

Has anyone, anywhere encountered a credit card company suing over unpaid credit card debt?

I bet most people have never encountered that. Had never heard of a single person facing such a lawsuit.

I would certainly have said, "No" prior to sitting in that district court courtroom that day. And on that day, there must have been forty, fifty such suits.

So the fact that people haven't encountered credit card debt suits just means they don't sit in a courtroom every day, all year. Doesn't mean they don't happen.

I haven't heard of a single timeshare foreclosure or maintenance fee collection lawsuit, either.

And, indeed, have never met a single person who had their year round home foreclosed upon by the bank. And yet see the results of those foreclosure lawsuits via hubzu, FHLMC, FNMA, and VA post-foreclosure listings. So they apparently happen despite my not "encountering" even one instance of them.

 

[andre10056]

When the attorney was just working the way through the long deadbeat file, was it all just "you signed it" and no mitigating factors were considered?

Of course, if you're the defendant in a lawsuit, you can put forth whatever defenses you may have. And if it's a well thought out, intellectually compelling defense perhaps you may prevail in whole or in part. But the day I was in court, that debtor plaintiff's attorney had it pretty easy as about 60%, 70% of the suits were unopposed (in that the defendants didn't show up), hence resulted in default judgments, which were thereafter immediately collectible

Of the defendants who showed up, few had compelling defenses. Some were absurd and stupid. But a few prevailed by proving they weren't properly served. So they won that day, but the plaintiff's attorney could thereafter simply attempt to properly serve.

As for a theoretical timeshare lawsuit, if I were a judge, I would have a presumption that the timeshare seller's salespeople were the most demonically evil people on earth (because that's what I believe). So, if I were the judge, you'd win 100% of the time. Let's hope that all timeshare litigation judges have that kind of presumption of who's in the right and who's in the wrong.

 

[dioxide45]

They can sue, but it would be for a foreclosure judgement. First they would place a lien against the deed. If still unpaid, they would file foreclosure notice. Then it would later go to foreclosure sale. The foreclosure may or may not go through the court system and they may or may not have recourse on the difference between the loan amount and what they sell the property for.

Generally when you hear about being sued for debt, this is for unsecured debt like a credit card or personal loan. For debt that is secured, they sue to reclaim the property to fulfil the debts.

 

[andre10056]

They can sue, but it would be for a foreclosure judgement. First they would place a lien against the deed. If still unpaid, they would file foreclosure notice. Then it would later go to foreclosure sale. The foreclosure may or may not go through the court system and they may or may not have recourse on the difference between the loan amount and what they sell the property for.

Generally when you hear about being sued for debt, this is for unsecured debt like a credit card or personal loan. For debt that is secured, they sue to reclaim the property to fulfil the debts.

I think the OP had identified his "membership" in a Mexican timeshare "club" so my interpretation was that there was no deed and the theoretical suit would be just for unpaid maintenance fees. Would they, could they, should they sue in the US courts (of course, with the appropriate jurisdictional attorney)? No clue on my part.

Indeed, would it be a matter for a state court? A federal court? An international trade court? Way above my pay grade as a non-attorney. And I bet the average plaintiff's creditor's attorney would have no clue and would have to do some serious LEXIS/NEXUS research as to what the appropriate court system would be so that they don't immediately lose due to a pretrial Motion to Dismiss. And if they'd have to file in a different court system than the one where they usually mass file multiple suits, and have to make a separate trip to another court for just this one case, their fees would be through the roof.

So, bottom line, it may not be worth pursuing by the "aggrieved" Mexican timeshare club. But I don't know that.

 

[Carolinian]

They can sue, but it would be for a foreclosure judgement. First they would place a lien against the deed. If still unpaid, they would file foreclosure notice. Then it would later go to foreclosure sale. The foreclosure may or may not go through the court system and they may or may not have recourse on the difference between the loan amount and what they sell the property for.

Generally when you hear about being sued for debt, this is for unsecured debt like a credit card or personal loan. For debt that is secured, they sue to reclaim the property to fulfil the debts.

With any foreclosure, the first thing is to sell the property. When I was on an HOA board, we bid in the amount owed, so there was no deficiency, and then got the week back, but that was a member controlled board. Developers may act differently. If they bid in a nominal amount, say one dollar, then that would leave a deficiancy for the rest of it, and they could get a deficiency judgment on that amount. I never heard of any OBX timeshare resort either member-controlled or developer controlled doing that, but one of our board members had become aware of a timeshare elsewhere doing it that way. I talked with board members at other resorts enough that I would have heard about it if anyone on the OBX was doing it.

One practical matter is that while the resort could sue in their local court and obtain a judgment, most timeshare owners would probably not have any property there, other than the timeshare, to collect out of. So what the resort would have to do is file a second lawsuit in the local court of the debtor to get "a judgment on a judgment", which is usually pretty simple, but involves local attorney fees, court costs, etc. in each debtor's local jurisdiction. That judgment could then be levied against their property. This additional complexity and the costs and time involved are a big reason resorts tend not to do this, but that does not mean they can't or won't.

My friend who practices consumer law says that many collection agencies are so sloppy that often one can avoid even getting to the lawsuit stage by challenging a debt claim at the letter stage and demanding copies of their proof of debt. If you get to the lawsuit stage, you can use discovery for the same purpose, but it is easier and cheaper if you can see them off at the letter stage. I suspect a Mexican organization would be a particular mess in their documentation.

 

[SueDonJ]

I'll never understand timeshare owners encouraging their fellow owners to just stop paying the MF's and other obligations, when most every timeshare is set up in such a way that Bad Debt liabilities are assumed by the owners who do pay their MF's. Sure, eventually the develop/manager might step in and foreclose such that the interval's fees become the responsibility of the developer/manager, but until that happens the expense is shouldered by the other owners.

It's one thing to fall on financial hard times and simply not have the money to pay timeshare obligations (along with other personal expenses/responsiblities,) but IMO it's another thing entirely to just decide that you want out and will simply stop paying MF's. That hurts no one but the other owners.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Not sure if this covers Mexico, but there may be some nuggets here.

[ 2022 ] Timeshare Default Credit Report/Collection Tracking

Two more data points

tugbbs.com

 

[dioxide45]

With any foreclosure, the first thing is to sell the property. When I was on an HOA board, we bid in the amount owed, so there was no deficiency, and then got the week back, but that was a member controlled board. Developers may act differently. If they bid in a nominal amount, say one dollar, then that would leave a deficiancy for the rest of it, and they could get a deficiency judgment on that amount. I never heard of any OBX timeshare resort either member-controlled or developer controlled doing that, but one of our board members had become aware of a timeshare elsewhere doing it that way. I talked with board members at other resorts enough that I would have heard about it if anyone on the OBX was doing it.

One practical matter is that while the resort could sue in their local court and obtain a judgment, most timeshare owners would probably not have any property there, other than the timeshare, to collect out of. So what the resort would have to do is file a second lawsuit in the local court of the debtor to get "a judgment on a judgment", which is usually pretty simple, but involves local attorney fees, court costs, etc. in each debtor's local jurisdiction. That judgment could then be levied against their property. This additional complexity and the costs and time involved are a big reason resorts tend not to do this, but that does not mean they can't or won't.

My friend who practices consumer law says that many collection agencies are so sloppy that often one can avoid even getting to the lawsuit stage by challenging a debt claim at the letter stage and demanding copies of their proof of debt. If you get to the lawsuit stage, you can use discovery for the same purpose, but it is easier and cheaper if you can see them off at the letter stage. I suspect a Mexican organization would be a particular mess in their documentation.

Deficiency judgements depend on the state. Some states are considered recourse states meaning the debtor can come after the deficiency judgement. Other states are non recourse. In Florida, as long as you don't dispute non judicial foreclosure, the only thing they can take is the timeshare. Any deficiency between the debt owed and the foreclosure sale price is simply gone and not the responsibility of the timeshare owner.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Same for Calif, S. Carolina.

Unsure how this would apply to clubs. multi state trusts and single unit trusts with a holiday certificate? Which jurisdiction applies?

Do non-deeded RTU vacation clubs file foreclosure? What are they foreclosing on if no deed?

 

[Carolinian]

Same for Calif, S. Carolina.

Unsure how this would apply to clubs. multi state trusts and single unit trusts with a holiday certificate? Which jurisdiction applies?

Do non-deeded RTU vacation clubs file foreclosure? What are they foreclosing on if no deed?

Ownership overseas can get complicated. The resorts I owned at in South Africa and Australia, members owned shares of stock, which could be foreclosed upon. In the Netherlands, my timeshare ownership was a membership in a cooperative.

 

[bobpark56]

So I'm just wondering if anyone, anywhere, has ever encountered a TS suing over maintenance fees

In response to that, I'll just answer a question with a question:

Has anyone, anywhere encountered a credit card company suing over unpaid credit card debt?

I bet most people have never encountered that. Had never heard of a single person facing such a lawsuit.

I would certainly have said, "No" prior to sitting in that district court courtroom that day. And on that day, there must have been forty, fifty such suits.

So the fact that people haven't encountered credit card debt suits just means they don't sit in a courtroom every day, all year. Doesn't mean they don't happen.

I haven't heard of a single timeshare foreclosure or maintenance fee collection lawsuit, either.

And, indeed, have never met a single person who had their year round home foreclosed upon by the bank. And yet see the results of those foreclosure lawsuits via hubzu, FHLMC, FNMA, and VA post-foreclosure listings. So they apparently happen despite my not "encountering" even one instance of them.

But isn't there a difference here. With credit card debt, you have already obtained something of value. With timeshares, you have yet to obtain your annual stay.
Suppose you send them a registered letter relinquishing all future use of your timeshare and authorizing them to resell or rent out all your future points. What then would be their grounds for suing you, as you have taken nothing of value from them?

 

[geist1223]

... My friend who practices consumer law says that many collection agencies are so sloppy that often one can avoid even getting to the lawsuit stage by challenging a debt claim at the letter stage and demanding copies of their proof of debt. If you get to the lawsuit stage, you can use discovery for the same purpose, but it is easier and cheaper if you can see them off at the letter stage. I suspect a Mexican organization would be a particular mess in their documentation.

This also became a Defensive Tactic used during the last big Recession when many Home Owners had Actions filed against them concerning a Home Loan in Default. As was and is the custom Home Loans are sold among Financial Institutions. Sometimes several times. Quite often the Original Loan Documents were not transferred upon the sell/resell of the Loan. Nor could they be found. So the Attorney representing the In Default Home Owner would demand copies of the Original Loan Documents to prove there was a Debt Obligation by the Home Owner. When they could not be produced the Attorney would move for Dismissal of the Action. At this point the Financial Institution would simply take a release of the Deed from the Home Owner with a canceling of the Debt without the Financial Institution filing a 1099 showing the financial benefit to the Home Owner.

 

[LannyPC]

It's one thing to fall on financial hard times and simply not have the money to pay timeshare obligations (along with other personal expenses/responsiblities,) but IMO it's another thing entirely to just decide that you want out and will simply stop paying MF's. That hurts no one but the other owners.

I don't think that people who default worry whether or not it affects other owners. They are worried only about their own bottom line. And looking at this from the standpoint of an owner who wants out, it does not matter whether or not the owner is "[falling] on financial hard times and simply [does] not have the money to pay...", it's a matter of making a shrewd financial decision. In some cases, it might be financially more advantageous to the owner to just stop paying MFs and let the TS go into default.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not defending or condoning such actions. I'm just saying that, from the standpoint of an owner who wants out, his best financial move, everything considered, would be to just let the property go into default.

I'll also play the devil's advocate here. Keep in mind that this is not my thinking but possibly an owner's thinking who desperately wants out and feels that default is the best way to go. If another owner at that resort is upset that his MFs are going up because of my defaulting, then he should get rid of his or absorb the cost of defaults. I'm not paying for something that I'm not using so that others can have lower MFs.

 

[GTLINZ]

GEIST1223 (or MODERATOR) - How on earth did that quote get attributed to me? I did not post it.

[Moderator Note: I have no idea how that happened but it's been fixed. ] <-- SueDonJ

 

[C. Evans]

I don't think that people who default worry whether or not it affects other owners. They are worried only about their own bottom line. And looking at this from the standpoint of an owner who wants out, it does not matter whether or not the owner is "[falling] on financial hard times and simply [does] not have the money to pay...", it's a matter of making a shrewd financial decision. In some cases, it might be financially more advantageous to the owner to just stop paying MFs and let the TS go into default.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not defending or condoning such actions. I'm just saying that, from the standpoint of an owner who wants out, his best financial move, everything considered, would be to just let the property go into default.

I'll also play the devil's advocate here. Keep in mind that this is not my thinking but possibly an owner's thinking who desperately wants out and feels that default is the best way to go. If another owner at that resort is upset that his MFs are going up because of my defaulting, then he should get rid of his or absorb the cost of defaults. I'm not paying for something that I'm not using so that others can have lower MFs.

In my case, this entity has already "legally defrauded" me of ~ 50k, which sounds insane, and is quite honestly the most embarrassing thing in my life. Almost everything said during the session was a lie. But they're legally allowed to lie. I don't know how it's not an organized crime issue, tbh, but they seemingly hold all of the cards because I signed a contract. Every year, I struggle to simply get the benefit value of maintenance fees, so every year, they get more free money from me. Now they are trying to force a change in terms. It never seems to end with them.

 

[C. Evans]

I'll never understand timeshare owners encouraging their fellow owners to just stop paying the MF's and other obligations, when most every timeshare is set up in such a way that Bad Debt liabilities are assumed by the owners who do pay their MF's. Sure, eventually the develop/manager might step in and foreclose such that the interval's fees become the responsibility of the developer/manager, but until that happens the expense is shouldered by the other owners.

It's one thing to fall on financial hard times and simply not have the money to pay timeshare obligations (along with other personal expenses/responsiblities,) but IMO it's another thing entirely to just decide that you want out and will simply stop paying MF's. That hurts no one but the other owners.

I think this is an honorable and high-minded comment. But I also don't think it applies to TS, given the standard level of ethics observed. In this case, "owners" have difficulty even getting rooms at the resort, whereas users on Expedia, etc., can find them readily. The resort is making plenty of money, LOL. And there is a huge assumption here, that if I don't pay, they'll come down on the other existing club owners even harder: the assumption is that they're not already coming down as hard as hard as they possibly can. I feel pretty confident they already are! At no point do they think, "oh, things are going well, we can take it easier on the owners." The greed is seemingly bottomless.

 

[C. Evans]

I'll never understand timeshare owners encouraging their fellow owners to just stop paying the MF's and other obligations, when most every timeshare is set up in such a way that Bad Debt liabilities are assumed by the owners who do pay their MF's.

I wanted to say something else about this: Other owners encourage fellow owners because of empathy. They know the pain and embarrassment of what happened to clueless people in a manipulative, untruthful timeshare presentation. I see really nice people on this forum. They've been there. They know the pain. They want to help others to the extent that they can. For my part, I'm vocal with others about "hey: don't go to a timeshare presentation" and I let them know about the horrible experience that I had, because I want others to NOT go through it, I want them to learn from my bad example. At no point do I ever think, "hey, if more people buy timeshares, maybe my MFs will go down." First, that's not how the math works. Secondly, even if I did see some sort of break (which again, would never happen), I wouldn't share something unethical with unsuspecting people. THAT-- not the non-payment of MFs--would make me as bad as the TS.