Original Message:
Re: Has anyone had dealing with ARC American Resort Collection? (by Lance C.):
pennyw102 wrote:How do we get out of this
Get out of what? Timeshare ownership? If that is the case, there are a few suggestions and a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost, never, ever pay anyone a large, upfront fee to sell, rent out, market, or "cancel" your timeshare. those are usually scams.
The next thing to determine is what you own? Is it deeded property or a Right-to-use (RTU)? If it is an RTU (something that you will likely find in Mexico or the Caribbean), then the method that is usually easiest is to just stop any maintenance fee payments and the company will just end your membership. You might face a barrage of threatening collection calls or letters and perhaps a negative mark on your credit score, but, in the end, they will just likely end your "ownership" and try to sell to someone else.
If you own deeded property, then there are some factors to consider. Is the mortgage or loan paid off? Are your maintenance fees up to date? If so, the next thing to determine would be with what timeshare company you own. If it is with Wyndham, Diamond, or Westgate, you can check out each company's individual program for taking back certain properties. For instance, Wyndham currently has the Ovation program. More information can be seen in the thread under the forum Timeshare Companies.
Other options would be to advertise your unit for sale or giveaway here on RedWeek. You can also try My Resort Network, E-Bay, Craigslist, or Timeshare Users Group (aka "TUG"; tugbbs.com) where they have a Bargain Deals section that allows owners to advertise for free that they want to give their unit away. If you're serious about giving your unit away, offer to pay closing costs and maybe even the next maintenance fee as an incentive for a new owner.
Also, you could try asking the resort if it will take your unit back. Make sure you contact the correct people there about this. Mention in no uncertain terms that you are not going to pay another penny in maintenance fees so it will be best for everyone involved if the resort amicably takes the unit back. This will save the resort the rigors and expense of foreclosure.