Welk Branson Resort biennial timeshare since 2015 and never use it! We are timeshare ignorant. Should we release it back to Welk?

[tsiebert]

Hello.... We bought our Welk Branson timeshare back in 2015 and we've basically never used it. It's been a complete waste of money for us. We paid the loan off years ago just to get out from under their horribly high interest rate, which they lied to us and told us if we had good payment history for 6 mos they'd refinance it into a lower rate. Liars. We have 120,000 points about to expire on 12/31/21 plus we had been told by previous sales reps that they'd help us recoup some points from the past that we let expire. We never took that any further, so we've never had any expired points given back to us. Help me understand it better. We have biennial dues that are now due on 1/1/22. We have no idea if our week that we can use our Timber Lodge resort in Branson is in the odd or even years. I believe it's the odd years because our dues are due in the even years. Is that how that usually works? We have no idea if we are automatically reserved to stay in our Branson resort for a certain "week". We just don't know what we even bought into 6 years ago! I think I've read that Wyndham or Hyatt has bought out Welk Resort, so we're not sure how things will shake up due to that. I also read that RCI will be no longer.... again. We've even thought about trying to quickly see if someone else could make use out of the 120,000 points about to expire on 12/31/2021, but we don't even know what to do on that!! So.... convince me to keep this durn timeshare. Or should we attempt the Welk VOA Ownership Release Program (have to pay our 1/2022 dues of $1375 PLUS an $800 fee and then "apply" for release between 3/1/22 and 3/31/22, and then hope we are chosen to be released -- NO guarantee you get "chosen" out of all the other "eligible" owners wanting out).

 

[tsiebert]

Also...what about these options I see where we could possibly bank our points that expire on 12/31/21? RCI? Interval International? I thought I read somewhere that an RCI membership is automatic w Well but we have to join II on our own. But I've never received anything saying we are RCI members. ??

 

[RunCat]

IMO, you are better off using it. If you have points that are about to expire, call Owner Services and inquire about options: likely accrue (but past the cutoff) or RCI. And then plan for your first trip. You have points, so there are more options for you to travel to than you might know.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

You've never used it before so why would you suddenly start using it now?

Seems to me the best thing would be for you to unload it and get rid of the expense once and for all. TUG does have a free "Giveaway" section where you could post it and see if there are any takers. Also, you could check with Welk directly (or whoever has bought them out) and see if they will allow a Deed back and take it off your hands.

Most timeshares are worth little or nothing, so be grateful if you can easily unload it.

Keep reading TUG, and best of luck!




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[RunCat]

You've never used it before so why would you suddenly start using it now?

...because he spent a lot of money on it ($25K-ish). With that expense, I believe that rather than giving it away, he should figure out how to use it at least once.

 

[natn27]

If you can travel, I would suggest you reading all the Tug on trading and call Welk and RCI. If you decide that you don't want to deal with timeshares and points trading, I am interested in taking over your Welk timeshare points if all fees are up-to-date. Let me know. Good luck.

 

[Danielle1124]

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