Inheriting Shell time share... have no idea where to begin.

[mszimm]

Hello - My FIL recently passed away and my MIL no longer wants/will use their Shell timeshare, so she is gifting it to us. I know nothing about timeshares - I didn't realize how much of nothing I know until I started to try to figure this out. I searched the internet, and now I completely freaked out with all the bad reviews of Shell. I have been reading through the box of paperwork she sent. Based on some other things I've read on here, these are some key points as I understand them:
- They purchased whatever it is that is purchased outright. There is no financing.
- It looks like there is still a monthly payment - but I can't find a breakdown of what that is.
- They haven't used points in 5 years or so, and it looks like they've accumulated. She sent me directions to log in to a website and find vacations.

Is there some kind of starting guide to all of this? I'm worried if I call Shell I'll get sales answers... Some basic questions that I have:
- How do I know what the "home" property is? I don't see it on statements, title, closing paperwork or anything else. All that I have from my MIL is "Hawaii".
- Is the nutshell of what I need in the website where I book properties? I just pay points to stay wherever? Or is there more to it than that?
- If she gifts this to us, and we end up not needing/wanting, is there a way out?

I assume there are more questions I should be asking, but that's where I'm at right now... Thanks for any input/advice/suggestions!

 

[chellej]

I haven't owned shell for several years but really enjoyed it when I did. I found the most effective use of the points is to book in Hawaii. the maintenance fees are pretty high so I really did not like to deposit into Interval or RCI ( I think they are in RCI now) The monthly fees are probably the maintenance fees. For example, I owned in their Hawaii club and the maintenance fees for 8200 points was about $200 per month. I could generally get 2 weeks of vacation out of the 8200 points. If you get into the shell account you should be able to find what club you are in. It determines when you can book properties in your club. Home resort is 12 months out, non home resorts I believe is 9 months. You can also deposit to an exchange company and trade to many other locations/resorts.

They did have an exit program when I got out...I just gave it back to them...not sure if that is still in place. Benefits also depends on whether it was bought from the developer or resale.

I would suggest you go to the Wyndham sub forum and ask questions there..... you will find someone who currently owns and can help you more.

 

[mszimm]

Thank you! This makes sense. The fees are about $180/month for 7000 points. That lines up with your example. I'll go check out the sub-forum.

 

[Patri]

Make sure you really want to get into timesharing. You don't have to accept the gift. Many people would not burden the next generation with it. Your MIL can tell Shell they can have it back. If they won't take it, she can essentially give it away. Tuggers would help out with how. Or she can just stop paying if she doesn't care about her credit score.
If you start using it, you probably can't just quit in the future if you don't like it. It will depend on who's name is on the deed.
To timeshare, you have to be willing to plan in advance. Fees go up, likely annually. Sometimes you get better deals just renting from others.
Go into this with eyes wide open. But take vacations! There are just many ways to do that.

 

[mszimm]

Thank you! We love to vacation - trying to take the kids to see all 50 states I'm not sure this is not the right fit for us long term. I'm trying to learn more, to make an educated decision. They have banked what look like years of points as they haven't been traveling for some time. I'm trying to decide if it's worth the headache to use those points over the next year or two... Thanks for the heads up - not sure yet what we will do here!

 

[rickandcindy23]

Shell can be a good product. Your parents probably paid way too much for it.

We own a lot of Shell points, and it was good for trading into Disney with RCI, but that is no longer an option. Right now the website is awful, and I tried to cancel a reservation, I could not cancel online and would have to call, but they were closed. I will lose 20% of my points from 15-60 days out, so I am going to continue to try to rent and then cancel the reservation at the last minute. I am sick of the website not working.

I would ask your mom to see if she can give it back. If you want to start with timesharing, there are better products than Shell.

 

[mszimm]

Thank you! If she gives it back, do you know if she loses all the accumulated points? Or is there a period of time she could still use them?

 

[chellej]

She loses them. If you have ever wanted to go to Hawaii I would book the Kauai coast oceanfront.. It is my favorite resort and if you have Hawaii points you can book at 12 months and get oceanfront. They also have 2 resorts on the big island. Maybe use up the points she has and then decide if you want to keep it. I can't recall if you have to pay for a guest certificate for her to put the reservation in your name.

 

[Bill4728]

Here is the link to give away your MIL Shell TS

Certified Exit – backed by Wyndham™

Certified Exit – backed by Wyndham™ is your trusted source for your ownership options.

www.wyndhamdestinations.com

Please note you can just use your MIL shell points to book vacations for your family and not transfer the ownership into your name. When your MIL passes, tell shell no one wants the shell ownership and shell has no choice but to take it back. It's like using her car, you don't have to take ownership of her car to use it a couple times a year.

Note Shell Vacations is one of three TS companies run by "Wyndham". The others are Wyndham Vacations and Worldmark

 

[Bill4728]

FYI "Certified Exit" does not take back all Shell ownerships. Since my Shell ownership is just a week we bought at a Shell-run resort in Whistler and not true Shell Vacation points , Shell will not take back our week. This is another reason you may wish to just use your MIL points to book vacations for your family and not take over ownership.

 

[HudsHut]

@mszimm

Welcome to TUG.

Keep ownership in your Mother In Law's name for now (unless the name change has already occurred). You may decide who pays the maintenance fees for 2022 - 2023, until the points are used up.

Assuming you have the funds to take your family to Hawaii, use up the accumulated points. How many kids (i.e. what size unit would you need.) Calculate the points required for a week. Where do you live - what part of the country? Is Hawaii a reasonable destination for you. If you live on East coast, it's a 10+ hour flight.

Call Shell, pretend you are her
Ask:
how to make a reservation? are there any costs for making a reservation? (some systems charge a fee)
what is the first date that you may reserve X resort in Hawaii (don't reserve on that phone call, just gather information.)
are any points in danger of expiring? if so, how can you "save" them? when will the points in your account expire (may have several years worth of points)
what is the reservation cancellation policy? (your plans may change)
Is there a fee to cancel a reservation?
what the cost is for a guest certificate? (If ownership stays in her name, you would need a guest certificate to check in.)
Is the name on guest certificate changeable (maybe you can't go, but someone else can. Typically, do not put the guest name on reservation until week before to avoid any problems).

Just to be informed, Call Certified Exit to get their rules, ask whether any points have to be in the account to give it back to them. If keeping the timeshare would be a hardship, call Certified Exit now and just give it back. (This may upset your mother in law, but explain that you do not want to go into debt to pay for something you are unable to use at this time.)

Continue to Save. Stick around here to get a timeshare that will best meet your needs.

 

[JohnPaul]

Some things to find out.

Which Shell Club do they own? Choices are Hawaii, West and Canada (it’s called something else)?

What are there accumulated points? Unless you save your points, they are lost. If you save you get one more year.

Like all timeshares, the sooner you book the better the odds are of getting what you want.

You can book in you home club (see first question) at 13 months and anywhere at 9 months.

More than 307 days out you must book 7 days. After that it’s 2.

Maintenance fees are relatively high with Shell but they are generally in high cost areas like Hawaii, Napa and San Francisco.

We like our ownership. The properties are generally quite good.