Chris Elliott report about what happens when you default on your timeshare

[WBP]

https://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/help-my-hilton-downgrade-has-left-me-in-limbo/?utm_source=www.elliottconfidential.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=elliott-confidential-may-6-2026&_bhlid=5a71ba39a4180a34e5006a87094333cbaf753136

 

[rickandcindy23]

Okay, so this guy who bought Hilton didn't send the rescission letter? Follow up phone calls to the sales' department is a disastrous mistake.

I love this quote from the article:

Before I go any further, and for the benefit of everyone reading this, let me say that you could have avoided this problem by running the numbers before you upgraded your membership, not afterwards. Timeshares are easy to get into, but harder (and sometimes impossible) to get out of.

The advice is spot on. Never buy anything until you know what you are buying.

My sister is a perfect example. If I wasn't on Maui with her at the time she went to a timeshare presentation, she would have paid an outrageous price for a measly 1,500 Marriott points that the salesperson was saying would get her a week. The salesperson didn't show her any point charts. The lies are not just what they say, it's what they leave out.

So much deception in a timeshare presentation.

 

[TUGBrian]

man that article is hard to read with all the ads...

 

[TolmiePeak]

Follow up phone calls to the sales' department is a disastrous mistake.

Absolutely correct. I wonder how many people who have second thoughts end up rescinding by walking into or calling the sales center. I would guess most are not sucessful. They either get talked out of canceling or their cancelation forms are "lost"

The advice is spot on. Never buy anything until you know what you are buying.

Agreed. Although when I bought HGVC I understood what I was buying but not how easy it would be to make reservations. The availability was much better than I was expecting.

 

[Snazzylass]

Who is this guy, Chris Elliot? He was able to help this consumer. It's a Miracle! The consumer did not want to default. So, the Subject Line seems misleading to me.

 

[dioxide45]

Who is this guy, Chris Elliot? He was able to help this consumer. It's a Miracle! The consumer did not want to default. So, the Subject Line seems misleading to me.

He's a consumer advocate of sorts. There have been a few stories posted here over the years where he has helped several timeshare buyers get out of a deal after the rescission period was over.

 

[WBP]

In my opinion, Chris Elliott is a consummate “Consumer Advocate.” Chris’s consumer advocacy goes beyond travel. His website has an excellent list of Key Contacts at businesses that may cause consumers duress.

In the travel space, I believe that Michelle Couch-Friedman, at Consumer Rescue, is another very effective consumer advocate.

 

[easyrider]

I thought this article statement was funny. " Our community is calling timeshares “financial herpes,”.

Bill

 

[easyrider]

Okay, so this guy who bought Hilton didn't send the rescission letter? Follow up phone calls to the sales' department is a disastrous mistake.

I love this quote from the article:

Before I go any further, and for the benefit of everyone reading this, let me say that you could have avoided this problem by running the numbers before you upgraded your membership, not afterwards. Timeshares are easy to get into, but harder (and sometimes impossible) to get out of.

The advice is spot on. Never buy anything until you know what you are buying.

My sister is a perfect example. If I wasn't on Maui with her at the time she went to a timeshare presentation, she would have paid an outrageous price for a measly 1,500 Marriott points that the salesperson was saying would get her a week. The salesperson didn't show her any point charts. The lies are not just what they say, it's what they leave out.

So much deception in a timeshare presentation.

My son in laws cousin and cousins wife went to a Mexican resort when we were there. We all told this couple not to go to the presentation and if they did not to buy anything. They ended up buying a studio. We told them to cancel and we would help them get a one bed unit for nothing. The wife didn't believe us so they kept it.

Bill

 

[Snazzylass]

He's a consumer advocate of sorts. There have been a few stories posted here over the years where he has helped several timeshare buyers get out of a deal after the rescission period was over.

Thank you! It's the first time I've seen his name. I'm still impressed he was able to help this guy. WTG Hilton, too.

 

[WorldT]

My son in laws cousin and cousins wife went to a Mexican resort when we were there. We all told this couple not to go to the presentation and if they did not to buy anything. They ended up buying a studio. We told them to cancel and we would help them get a one bed unit for nothing. The wife didn't believe us so they kept it.

Bill

Sometimes you can't help people who do not want to be helped. I know the feeling. Been there with a friend and a Mexican timeshare purchase.

 

[Dean]

Sometimes you can't help people who do not want to be helped. I know the feeling. Been there with a friend and a Mexican timeshare purchase.

Same here. Gave a friend a Bluegreen timeshare visit. I forgot to warn him about the sales and he bought but I was able to make him aware in such a way he could have cancelled. He chose not to even though at the time he could have gotten EXACTLY the same thing resale for pennies on the dollar.

 

[geist1223]

We have had numerous friends travel with us to Mexicon Timeshares. One is Royal Solaris an AI. They go down as prospective Members. That way they get treated as a Member for their Week. They have to attend the Show. We always schedule it the morning before we leave. We brief them ahead of time. We tell them to be polite and listen. Try not to ask questions. We explain the process. The first Sales Person is their Concierge. After the initial pitch ending in a no a full time Sales Person will step in. Again be polite and listen. Try not to ask questions. They will make a better offer. After a no at the end of the 2nd pitch a Sales Manager will step in and offer an even better deal. Again be polite and listen. Ask no questions. Recommend not buying because they can always travel there on our Membership.

We purchased during the big recession. Few people traveling or buying. I have never seen such great offers again. They were deaperate for Sales. There are definite advantages to being a Member. We love spending the first of our 3 to 4 weeks in San Jose del Cabo at Royal Solaris. We pay no Maintenance Fees.

 

[OutAndAbout]

We pay no Maintenance Fees.

You do not pay maintenance fees on your timeshare weeks?

 

[geist1223]

You do not pay maintenance fees on your timeshare weeks?

Not on our Royal Solaris.

 

[Hindsite]

You do not pay maintenance fees on your timeshare weeks?

Many vacation clubs work this way, especially in MX. Finding the right resale purchases for these can be a great plan as people just want out. Buying direct you usually pay the equivalent of maint fees in the purchase cost over the contract duration. e.g ($600/week for 20 weeks over 10 years) Then there can be fees for things like depositing to an exchange, so overall it can work out no different to a more traditional timeshare, but with the upside of an end date, which you can simulate with a deeded week by giving it away or abandoning it.

If you use these vacation club products to go to the home resort(s) they can be great value.

 

[OutAndAbout]

Many vacation clubs work this way, especially in MX. Finding the right resale purchases for these can be a great plan as people just want out. Buying direct you usually pay the equivalent of maint fees in the purchase cost over the contract duration. e.g ($600/week for 20 weeks over 10 years) Then there can be fees for things like depositing to an exchange, so overall it can work out no different to a more traditional timeshare, but with the upside of an end date, which you can simulate with a deeded week by giving it away or abandoning it.

If you use these vacation club products to go to the home resort(s) they can be great value.

Ah, so you are effectively pre-paying maintenance fees on those instances.

Having an expiration/exit date also makes sense as I think a lot more sales would happen if owners are just committed for 10-20 years (when kids are under roof).

 

[dioxide45]

Not on our Royal Solaris.

Would this be considered true timeshare or more like an all-inclsive resort travel club? We recently went to Palladium Costa Mujeres and sat through their pitch. I think the buy in was about $12,500 for 10 weeks and with 10 external weeks (Interval International). No ongoing maintenance fees but it only covered the cost of the room, you still had to pay the AI fee. Based on what we were told by the salesperson, it was about a 50% discount off advertised prices. So in the end it was really just an expensive discount/coupon program. Perhaps a good deal for someone who frequents all-inclusive resorts at least ever year. Not so much for us as it was our very first time to an all-inclusive property.

 

[Dean]

Not on our Royal Solaris.

Is the AI fee mandatory and how much is it for owners? Do you have to pay a maintenance fee is you use a week and if so, how much? Basically what are the hidden costs?

 

[claraj]

I show friends the ads for free timeshares and they tell me it's a scam.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I show friends the ads for free timeshares and they tell me it's a scam.

That is funny! People want out, and others call it a scam to give away a timeshare.

The WorldMark credits on eBay right now are making me tempted to buy, and I should probably just let them go to someone else. $2.00 buy it now on the best product for National Parks and Disneyland resorts.

 

[geist1223]

There are never any MF's for us. The AI Fee depends on the Season. It is lower for Members. Additionall Members get 10% off if they pay several months in advance. As Member you get 1 free outside Activity (snorkel trip, dinner cruise, whale watching, etc) if you are staying at least 7 days, free pickup at airport, free return trip to the Airport, Members only Beach Bar with the high quality liquors, Members only night Bar again with the high quality liquors, special items on the Menus in the several Restaurants for Members only, better wine with Dinner, Personal Concierge to make Dinner Reservations, schedule activities, 3 bottles of high quality liquor in the Room, etc. There is a large Palapa Restaurant between the Pool and Beach. For Breakfast it is for Members only. A Surf and Turf Dinner 1 night for Members only. An outdoor sit down dinner with table service and entertainment 1 night per week.

Our Membership is officially 1 week every other year 50 weeks of the year. But we also get 3 additional weeks every year. So every even year we can go for 3 weeks and for 4 weeks every odd year. More RCI Weeks than we can ever use that do not affect our weeks to stay at the Resort. Our Unit Size is a Double Room with a connecting door. 2 King's beds in the main room and 3 queen beds in the 2nd bedroom. We seldom Reserve the 2nd bedroom.

We originally bought a temporary Membership for 3 years. The cost was so low we dropped it on our Costco Card Card and paid if off. We did the temporary Membership because Patti did not think she would like an AI. Patti discovered she did like AI'S. So after the 3 years we bought a 30 year Membership in Low Season (May to November). We got full Credit for what we paid for the 3 year membership. But they said we could come anytime if there were Units available. After several years of only going in High Season (for us January and February) they said their Memberships were starting to fill up and if we wanted to continue coming in High Season we needed to buy in to the 50 Week a Year Memberahip. It was only a small amount of money and so we did. When we did this all the Benefits from the original Membership carried over, the 30 year term started anew, and the number of free RCI Weeks were refreshed.

We could buy in to be in an Ocean Front Unit. But we are happy with our Ocean View Rooms. It is a very family oriented Resort. They have a large children's only play area separate from the Main Pool area. They will pick up your kids once they reach a certain age after Breakfast and return them just before Dinner Time. So Mom and Dad can have some time off from Kids.