Are you thinking of using an exit company?

[RX8]

Don't do it!

New exit companies keep popping up all the time. There is no regulation so anyone, even criminals, can call themselves an exit company and begin soliciting for money. They all start off the same - glitzy website, no complaints on the web, big promises, some companies with glowing reviews the day their website is created (fake reviews), some using shills to promote their company on TUG and elsewhere, and lots of cold calling, most without regard to DNC rules. In most cases you will simply be scammed of your money. In the best cases, you will be free of your timeshare but would have paid them thousands of dollars for them to simply utilize a deed-back program on your behalf that is available to owners at a fraction of the cost. Paying any exit company an upfront fee is a gamble and a bet that you are certain to lose.

Here are just a few examples of the types of companies/people you will be dealing with:

Square One - Lots of complaints, an "F" BBB rating, an owner on the sex offender registry who has now been charged with PPP fraud - (1) Timeshare exit- Square One | Timeshare Users Group Discussion Forums (tugbbs.com)

Timeshare Exit Team - Proudly endorsed by Dave Ramsey, state of Washington filed a lawsuit against them, lots of complaints, "F" BBB rating and now out of business taking with them money from hundreds or thousands of customers. - The end of timshare exit team | Timeshare Users Group Discussion Forums (tugbbs.com)

Timeshare Termination Team - They blasted ads across the country using deceptive tactics ("news story type ads"). They solicited money right up to the day they locked their doors. As with many of these exit companies, their "money back guarantee" was worthless. - Denver local story of a woman who used Timeshare Termination Team to "exit" her timeshare, advertised on that local channel | Timeshare Users Group Discussion Forums (tugbbs.com)

You could throw away thousands of dollars signing up with an exit company or you could seek free advice on TUG on how to give away your timeshare - How can I give away my timeshare on TUG? | Timeshare Users Group Discussion Forums (tugbbs.com)

 

[AwayWeGo]

I would not touch any of those timeshare "exit" or timeshare "disposal" or timeshare "cancellation" operations with a 10-foot pole.

Shux upon them.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[rickandcindy23]

Yes, I am looking for some weeks. If you are feeling stuck with your great weeks, post them for free, and we will all jump on them. No need to pay anything to these awful companies.

 

[dioxide45]

Getting the word out is important. Sadly, most of the people going to these shysters don't know about TUG, don't know about Facebook groups and do the same amount of research into getting out of their timeshare as they did getting into it. NONE. They are lured in by slick sales presentations and offers of something free and fall for the pitch. That list of timeshare exit companies posted from the BBB in another thread had me shocked. I had no idea there were so many.

I often see their ads show up on YouTube. Wesley Financial is one of the big ones. Timeshare Exit Team was also another big advertiser there until early last year. From what I know, they are still there trying to save their hides and prevent future lawsuits. They are just not taking in new customers.

 

[LannyPC]

Don't do it!...In the best cases, you will be free of your timeshare but would have paid them thousands of dollars for them to simply utilize a deed-back program on your behalf that is available to owners at a fraction of the cost.

...or they just tell you to stop paying MFs and let it foreclose. That's something you definitely don't need an exit company to do for you.

 

[escanoe]

To me, the worst part of owning deeded timeshares is there is a public record you own one. Every huckster KNOWS timeshare owners are the best people on Eart to target for scams .... because they were stupid and malleable enough to buy a timeshare.

I know scams have exponential growth all the time, but I swear since there has been a public record of me owning a timeshare there has been no end to the phone call and email scams .... with so many related to timeshares.

Buying a timeshare to me is almost the same as painting a big target on your forehead.

 

[kanerf]

Part of the problem is that many people own really terrible timeshares that no one wants. The first problem is not to get suckered in to buying garbage in the first place. Do the research. Talk to other owners, post questions here on TUG. If you don't know, don't buy and then you will not need to get rid of a timeshare you don't want.

 

[LannyPC]

To me, the worst part of owning deeded timeshares is there is a public record you own one. Every huckster KNOWS timeshare owners are the best people on Eart to target for scams .... because they were stupid and malleable enough to buy a timeshare.

I know scams have exponential growth all the time, but I swear since there has been a public record of me owning a timeshare there has been no end to the phone call and email scams .... with so many related to timeshares.

Buying a timeshare to me is almost the same as painting a big target on your forehead.

I won't disagree with what you're saying. However, the matter of a person owning a timeshare being of public record is not what brings on these scam phone calls. AFAIK, people who "own" TSs in Mexico are not of public record yet they are some of the biggest targets. TS owners' personal information is usually obtained either from employees at the resorts or at the exchange companies and then sold on the side to these scammers.

 

[dioxide45]

I won't disagree with what you're saying. However, the matter of a person owning a timeshare being of public record is not what brings on these scam phone calls. AFAIK, people who "own" TSs in Mexico are not of public record yet they are some of the biggest targets. TS owners' personal information is usually obtained either from employees at the resorts or at the exchange companies and then sold on the side to these scammers.

Public records also only have names and addresses. Usually won't have email or phone number. I suspect most email spam for timeshare exit is just sent out on blast to everyone with no regard to if they own timeshare or not.