Vacation Swapping can be a Good Source of Timeshare Relief

Timesharing became popular since its introduction in the late 1960s. And since then, this means of vacationing became a part of the lifestyle of most people, particularly those who availed of the package. If you are a timeshare owner, you can select a suitable time for your vacation in a certain resort. However, there are several owners who want to find timeshare relief because of the many disadvantages associated with it. Eager vacationers look for other wise and cheaper alternatives to timesharing to be able to enjoy a vacation every year. Vacation swapping can be one of these alternatives.

Some timeshare resorts allow its owners to swap their units with others within the same hotel group or with resorts belonging to other groups who have special arrangements with them. This system allows two parties to take a vacation on each other’s properties as long as they agree on their terms. They can stay at each other’s house or property for a given period of time. However, certain precautions must be taken to ensure that the swapping will not in any way jeopardize both parties. A written agreement must be established to ascertain that the parties would exercise caution not to intentionally damage anything in each other’s property.

These days, some timeshare owners are already bored with their properties and they are trying to get rid of their timeshares. Going to the same timeshare resort every year is one of the disadvantages of owning a timeshare. It is good then to have a great vacation by opting for other alternatives of timeshare such as the vacation swapping. This means of going on a vacation is much cheaper and it also offers more flexibility.

List of TATOC Accredited Resorts Released for the Relief of Vacation Enthusiasts

The Association for Timeshare Owners Committees (TATOC) released the list of accredited timeshare resorts for the Resort Accreditation Programme (RAP) of the year. These timeshares may not be owned by some timeshare owners seeking for timeshare relief but it is with hope that the timeshare industry will continue to bounce back from the unfortunate crisis it is suffering. This list may invite more vacation enthusiasts to check out timeshare resorts and once they realize that the prices of these resorts are way above the rates they can afford, they may try other timeshare options. And the easiest to acquire would be timeshares from resellers.

The TATOC list includes Club Las Calas in Lanzarote, Villacana Club in Malaga, Sunset Bay Club in Tenerife and Pine Lake, all located in northern England. Being part of the list this year, these timeshare companies can opt to use the TATOC Accredited Resort Logo in their company advertising, publications and websites. Having this logo is a seal of good timeshare standing that most timeshare knowledgeable individuals can identify. It can therefore help in the advertising of the timeshare properties being managed by these timeshare companies.

Timeshare owners who want to get rid of their timeshares should be aware of such information. Knowing these aspects of timeshares may help them to strategically dispose their timeshares. It can also encourage them to be intent in their efforts to seek for ways to be free of the timeshare especially if their timeshares do not have the similar seal.

Do Not Mess with Vermont Consumers: Timeshare Repurchaser’s Relief

Attorney General William Sorrell stated a reminder to companies, "If out-of-state companies offering an economic benefit to consumers in Vermont violate the state's consumer laws, they can expect strong enforcement and serious consequences." Such government enforcement is a relief to timeshare owners seeking for timeshare relief.

Most timeshare owners who are looking for ways to be free of their timeshares get victimized by fraudulent companies promising these owners to free them of their timeshares. These companies take advantage of the desperate situation of these owners knowing they will bite any bait just to be free from their timeshare contracts.

Apex Professionals, LLC met several timeshare owners last spring of 2009. The company promised these owners to transfer their timeshare contracts to free them of their timeshares. They also stated that they will pay the owners for their timeshares. However, the company charged them of several thousand dollars to transfer the ownership. They were consoled with the information that they can offset their payments by filing federal income tax deduction for investment looses.

The state of Vermont charged Apex $120,000 for restitution and penalties to settle the claims because of their violation of Vermont’s consumer law. Fifteen Vermont consumers will be paid more than $64,000 while $65,000 will be allocated for penalties and refund for state expenses over the case.

Such circumstance should open the eyes of timeshare companies, especially the fraudulent ones that violations have its certain fee. Timeshare owners who want to get rid of their timeshares should be vigilant to catch fraudulent timeshare companies to cut down the numbers of their victims.

Timeshare Promotions Can Provide Relief for Vacationers

Invitations to timeshare promotions are once again on the rise as the holiday season is fast approaching. This increase may not benefit timeshare owners trying to find timeshare relief but it spells relief to people without timeshares but would want to go on vacation in a timeshare resort.

The increase in invitations to timeshare presentations can be a benefit to people who want to go on vacation in a timeshare resort but it comes with danger though. Timeshare companies with timeshare presentations for prospective buyers usually give out freebies, and one of which is a couple of nights stay in a timeshare resort. This is a good opportunity for adventurous people.

Only adventurous people should be present at these timeshare presentations. Going to such events can be very dangerous, especially if you are going to avail the free timeshare resort visit. Most timeshare sales agents consider people who attend these events a captured market. That is because these agents do not usually allow attendees to go out of the event without purchasing a timeshare package. They do all strategies to ensure that you will buy one. If you will not be strong in your resolve not to purchase the package, you might end up going home with one.

So you should know at least one strategy to get out of the presentation without the package. Don’t bring your credit card to the presentation. Don’t bring anything valuable. That will ensure you from being tempted to leave your credit card details just to be free from the sales agents. If it is hard to get away from these presentations, imagine how difficult it would be to get rid of a timeshare.

Another Fraudulent Company Investigated for Relief of Timeshare Owners

A timeshare marketing company gets an F rating from the Better Business Bureau because of their doubtful and fraudulent transactions. Creative Vacation Solutions of West Palm Beach targets timeshare owners seeking for timeshare relief.

The company hires telemarketers to contact timeshare owners wanting to get out of their timeshare contracts. They inform the prospective clients that they already have a buyer for the timeshare of the client but needs a deposit for the processing of the transaction. Once the client deposits the payment, nothing happens because Creative Vacation Solutions does not actually have any buyers. This system was disclosed by company employees who are disgruntled with the company for not paying them their salaries for several weeks.

This is not the first time that Creative Vacation Solutions is being investigated for its operations. The first time they were investigated was for hiring unregistered sales agents and operating in an undisclosed address. They were fined $17,000 for the violation.

This fraudulent company will surely pay more for this second violation. A number of timeshare owners are already calling Contact Five Investigators to help them pin down this company. And Contact Five is already doing their investigation. If you are a timeshare owner who was hoping to get rid of his timeshare through Creative Vacation Solutions, it would be best to also Contact Five Investigators to inform them of your case, and receive any financial remuneration that the company will be asked to provide their victims.

Imprisonment for Timeshare Fraud Grants Relief to Owners

Have you experienced being deceived in a transaction? Usually we fall to such situation when we do not pay attention to suspicious statements or what they call ‘too-good-to-be-true’ promises. Lack of knowledge can lead to these situations. Unfortunately, despite a lot of information or warnings in the internet, there are still timeshare owners who fall for these scams since there are so eager to get rid of their timeshares.

Here is a recent happening in the timeshare industry that you might want to keep in mind so you will know what to do when faced with similar situations. Two men were sent to jail by committing a £460,000 timeshare holiday scam. There were sentenced to spend two-and-a-half years in jail by deceiving 50 people. And they were demanded to pay the damages.

Initially, those people were invited to a sales presentation by offering a free mini-break. Regrettably, they found themselves under severe pressure to sign up to timeshares on holiday lodges. In this very situation, Timeshare Act of 1992 was defied. Those people were not told that they have the right to stop the agreement. And worse, they were required to pay a deposit of £1,000 on the spot.

By simply reading through this you can tell that whatever promises given to those victims did not materialize. One good thing about this is the reminder that timeshare owners have rights and are protected through the timeshare act. So be careful and know your rights. Go ahead and find your timeshare relief and avoid those fraudulent acts that may come your way.

Timeshare Relief up for Grabs

Studying the market is the best way to play with the game. Timeshare market is very dynamic, requiring a thorough research beneficial for owners seeking timeshare relief. The escalating offers from buyers and sellers make timeshare property pricey to maintain.

And so, before you make that first step to rid your timeshare, you must determine your worth. Nobody wants to settle for less. Even desperate people hope for something fair. Nonetheless, whenever you are ready to sell your timeshare you must price it right. Pricing will tell you whether it is fair for you to sell or to keep your property.

The American Resort Developers Association says that timeshare usually sell for 50 to 75 percent of a retail price. Simply put, timeshares sell at a 25 percent to 50 percent discount to retail. Another report says that thousands of timeshares are being sold in the secondary market nowadays. Even though average prices apply, this report shows that resales value increases overtime, that is comparing years 2003 and 2007. It further says that the average retail price of a two bedroom high season timeshare grew from $7,505 to $11,031 respectively for the years mentioned above. And this is a very good indication for owners.

By simply looking at this market trend, apparently, now is the best time to get rid of your timeshare. This great news says it all for those contemplating selling their timeshare. Use the power of your fingertips to look for the sites to advertise your timeshare. The internet will be your main weapon to have a head start in realizing the relief that you wanted.

State’s Awareness Ensures Timeshare Relief for Owners

Several means are being employed by a number of vacation package owners who are seeking for timeshare relief and one of which is selling. And since getting out of a timeshare contract is not easy, these owners have the tendency to grab any opportunity that come their way to be free of the vacation package. This circumstance makes most of these owners prone victims of scams.

The awareness and concern of several states to the rights of its constituents surely provide relief for timeshare owners. In the case of Florida, the existence of its Deceptive and Unfair Practices Act and the Telemarketing Act shields timeshare owners from deceptive companies. Just recently, Florida’s Attorney General Bill McCollum has filed an injunction and a lawsuit against Universal Marketing Solutions and Creative Vacation Solutions, both Palm Beach County-based timeshare resale companies. These companies are collecting marketing fees without making any efforts to sell the units of it’s supposedly clients. The collection of these companies is estimated to be at around $4 million from a total of 400 people.

The manager of these companies, Jennifer Kirk, reportedly charged marketing fees for timeshare resale advertisements. They are doing so through online marketing and telemarketing. And since Florida prohibits the collection of advance fees for timeshare sales, the said companies are being blocked from reselling timeshares. They are also being demanded to provide restitution to customers, pay civil penalties, and reimburse fees and expenses being spent for the investigation.

It is only with the state’s power that timeshare owners are provided with beneficial means to get rid of their timeshares. Without the state’s concern for their constituents, fraudulent companies can continue on the scam schemes they plot against timeshare owners.

Internet Technology Provides Relief for Timeshare Owners

The advent of Internet technology has drastically revolutionized the timeshare industry. This has caused convenience and travails for both satisfied timeshare consumer and those owners who want to get rid of their timeshares. The world has practical shrunk in this Age of Information with the dissolution of geographical barriers due to increased communication levels. Timeshare owners of today are blessedly more fortunate compared to timeshare owners of the last decade or so. This goes the same to both contented and disgruntled timeshare owner alike.

Online communications have greatly simplified the process of facilitating vacation getaways. Communications technology during the last decade posed extreme hassles for would-be vacationers. Timeshare reservations, flight schedules, even last minute calls are all sources of extreme annoyance for vacationers 10 years ago. Today, all vacation itineraries and essentials may be previously reserved or availed of from the convenience of one’s computer terminal. Reservations can be easily achieved months before the actual date through the online reservation services of a timeshare company.

Dissatisfied timeshare owners is also greatly benefited by advantages of current Internet technology. Lately, the World Wide Web has been the prime business area of a lot of timeshare relief companies. A casual search online will turn up a huge number of companies all offering some of form of timeshare relief for discontented timeshare owners. Ten years ago, owners had a hell of a difficult time finding capable timeshare relief companies. Today, Internet technology allows owners access to the services of premium companies such as Timeshare Relief Inc. right from their very homes.

Timeshare Promotional Videos Reveals Relief for New Timeshare Patrons

A lot of promotional videos for timeshares proliferating in the internet contain allegedly unscripted favorable remarks of timeshare owners over their vacation packages. However, a casual search on luxury vacation forums and discussion boards will turn up hundreds of owners who are getting rid of their timeshares. A growing number of timeshare owners today can no longer continue to financially support their timeshares with its costly maintenance fees and other special assessment charges. Hence, there is a veritable movement among timeshare owners who want to be free from their periodic timeshare woes.

Most timeshare promotional videos include interviews with timeshare owners giving approving comments on their timeshare vacation packages. However, most of these owners, if not all, are just recent timeshare patrons who have not yet the experienced the tedium of the same old vacation spot each year not to mention the financial distresses of periodic timeshare bills. Hence, timeshare promotional videos are partly biased over that fact. Furthermore, timeshare promotional videos never mention the interest on any outstanding loan acquired for the purchase of the timeshare.

The majority of the funds involved in most timeshare purchases today are financed by loans from a credit institution or from the timeshare developer himself. Full upfront cash payments for timeshares are unheard of these days; hence, most timeshare bills also include loan interests. It is worthy of note that credit institutions charge higher interest rates for timeshare loans compared to more traditional housing loans. Thus, the presence of these bills has caused a lot of timeshare owners today to seek timeshare relief for their financial woes which is never mentioned in timeshare promotional videos.

Special Assessment Fees are not a Relief for Timeshare Owners

A lot of timeshare owners today are desperate for any form of timeshare relief. Most of these owners are displeased with the accompanying financial liabilities associated with timeshare ownership. This is because of the sad fact that timeshare ownership also inevitably means the payment of perpetual maintenance fees for the whole duration of the timeshare contractual obligation. Worse, maintenance fees are not the only unending financial responsibilities in relation to timeshare ownership.

Timeshare companies also charge owners with sporadic bills for special assessment fees. Special assessment fees are a form of a contingent fund for timeshare companies for the refurbishment of the timeshare property itself. This type of fee is solicited from the owner in cases where the timeshare property is damaged beyond the effects of normal wear and tear though time.
Fortuitous events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or other such calamities may cause excessive damage to timeshare real estate properties. In the event of such calamities, timeshare companies may charge owners with special assessment fees for the restoration of the timeshare property itself. Hence, special assessment fees are sometimes very expensive. In fact, the onslaught of the hurricane season last year even caused Marriot Intl. to charge some of its timeshare patrons with up to $ 1,100 worth of special assessment fees, each.

Special assessment fees may also be charged by timeshare companies to owners whenever renovations of the timeshare property are underway. Hence, special assessment fees are also a perpetual financial liability for timeshare owners. It may be sporadic and intermittent, but owners have no guarantee about the costs of future special assessment fees to be billed to them: special assessment costs are wholly based on the discretion of the timeshare company as is evident on most timeshare contracts. Although only a minor nuisance compared to recurring maintenance fees, special assessment fees also adds to the disgruntlement of many timeshare owners prompting them to get rid of their timeshares.