Gilbert and Stacy’s timeshare experience wasn’t as dreadful as most, but the effects of timeshare ownership have very much caused some sleepless nights and forced the couple to put their retirement and dream home’s construction on hold, among other things.
Below is a firsthand, written account about Gilbert and Stacy B.’s continuously frustrating timeshare experience. We hope their story will help shed a light on the deceptive practices of the timeshare sales industry. Names have been changed or redacted due to privacy concerns.
Although their timeshare sales meeting was full of peer pressure, excessive time spent there and some false promises, Gilbert and Stacy recall more of their timeshare ownership being the apparent issue in their overall experience.
They 'd been able to make reservations sometimes, but as time went on they began having more difficulties even doing this. The couple bought into an actual timeshare unit a couple of decades ago, but the resort company informed them that they would have to switch to the new points system in order to fully utilize their timeshare program.
“After the first 2 years it became almost impossible to book either on points or “bonus time” (where you have to pay money), and so we could only stay maybe once or twice a year. Their points have also gotten less and less valuable over time, which forces us to have to buy more points to be able to stay. I did that for a couple of years, but gave up after a while because it was so hard to book.”
This type of transition to a different ownership system for timeshare companies has resulted in lining their own pockets while further neglecting the needs of the timeshare owners themselves. Owners, who had previously been satisfied with the use of their timeshare, now find themselves just as lost in the “points system” as newer owners. This points system only allows the timeshare companies to further manipulate an already less-than-transparent ownership system.
On top of these frustrations, Gilbert and Stacy faced unwavering sales pressure every time they were able to even book their timeshare during availability. They were anything but fond of this new ‘points’ system into which they were forced.
“Every time we use our points and go back to the resort, they try to pressure us into ‘reviewing’ our file. We always decline. At least four times per year, they call our house and try to get us to come back and/or buy more points and we always decline.”
The couple has tried several options related to selling or renting out the timeshare, but they have all been unsuccessful. As they near retirement, Gilbert and Stacy have tried several different options to rid themselves of this timeshare that they haven’t been able to use in years.
“We have tried to call [the timeshare company] and ask that they ‘take it back’ and they just kept giving us the runaround. We're also in the process of building our dream home, and we don’t want to have this extra expense when we don’t even use it. I was afraid to spend any more money with anything related to them, so I contacted WFG.”
With some assistance from Wesley Financial Group, LLC (WFG),and hard work on their part, Gilbert and Stacy are now timeshare-free!* They are now free to take vacations whenever they are able, while also able to save for retirement on THEIR terms.
If you know anyone with a similar timeshare experience, please feel free to pass our phone number along to them. We’d love to see if they qualify for our timeshare termination services.
*Wesley Financial Group, LLC (“WFG”) develops individualized programs for each client, terminates over 97% of their client’s timeshare relationships, and, in certain circumstances, obtains a refund of some or all of the timeshare purchase price. Actual results depend on each client’s distinct case and no specific outcome is guaranteed (although WFG does offer a 100% money-back guarantee if the timeshare is not canceled within the time specified in the WFG Enrollment Agreement).
Wesley Financial Group, LLC, and/or its affiliates, successors, or assigns are not lawyers and/or a law firm and do not engage in the practice of law or provide legal advice or legal representation. All information, software, services, and comments provided on this site are for informational and self-help purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, legal or otherwise.
