The Truths About How to Cancel a Timeshare
The common belief of most timeshare owners is that you cannot legally cancel a timeshare unless you either sell it, give it away, or die. Some even believe that children of deceased timeshare owners must inherit their unwanted timeshares. These beliefs have built a one-story office into a multimillion-dollar industry.
Furthermore, timeshare cancellations eventually created what we now know as “timeshare attorneys” that specialize in cancelling timeshares. Media, resorts, and owners believe you must keep a timeshare forever unless sold or given away, perpetuating financial commitments.
Why would you believe the people who sold you the timeshare when they tell you that you must keep it?
I clarify: Legally cancel any timeshare in the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean without credit impact or legal complications.
As a retired timeshare professional, I held licenses in the U.S. as a dedicated salesperson for both timeshares and real estate. I also worked in Canada, the Dominican Republic, and throughout Mexico in sales and in legal contracts.
At the peak of my career, I led sales and marketing, mastering timeshares and vacation clubs to effectively promote and sell.
I’ve personally observed both unethical and illegal activities in the timeshare industry, actions that could lead companies to prison.
The Truth About Cancelling a U.S. Timeshares
Fully paid U.S. timeshare? Cancel anytime, no credit impact, legal hassle, or need for a cancellation service. You can cancel it without paying them one dollar. Nobody can make you keep something that you own and no longer desire. You just need to know how to cancel it. If this were not true, then explain to me how the timeshare cancellation industry has become a multimillion-dollar business overnight. I have communicated and even offered to pay timeshare cancellation attorneys to inform me how they manage to cancel timeshares. None of them would share with me their secrets. So, I did my own research in addition to what I already knew and showed owners how to legally cancel without paying anyone. All of them have been cancelled without any issues.
The Truths About Cancelling a Mexico and Most Caribbean Timeshares
If you own a vacation club membership (As Mexico and most Caribbean countries do not sell timeshares, and most Mexico companies own Caribbean Island vacation club memberships.), you can easily cancel it and will not affect your credit or cause any legal issues. And here is why…
- If you read the contracts, the jurisdiction for those timeshares is either in those countries or in other countries, i.e. Panama. This alone should be a red flag. Therefore, any legal issues must remain in those countries. They cannot cross the border and sue you because the contract is under their jurisdiction alone. They cannot LEGALLY hire an American attorney because they cannot represent a foreign contract for a vacation club membership.
- None of the contracts in Mexico and in most Caribbean countries are EVER signed by the company. It is a one signature agreement. NONE of the salespeople, marketing staff or legal representatives either are employed by or are agents of the company that is selling the timeshares. They will simply scribble what looks like a signature without a printed name under the scribble.
- All Mexico vacation clubs, and most Caribbean vacation clubs DO NOT have business licenses to sell memberships. They merely set up shop in a brand name hotel or resort and can sell as many memberships as they like because they DO NOT own ANY of the units in these resorts. For example, Unlimited Vacation Club sells vacation clubs in branded resorts, i.e., SECRETS, DREAMS, BREATHLESS, ZOETRY, and SUNSCAPE. They do not own the units. They simply make reservations for their members and collect the downpayment, closing costs, and all-inclusive costs which are higher than what the public is paying.
- Mexico and the Caribbean islands DO NOT have a credit reporting industry, nor do they have access to American credit reporting agencies. Therefore, they cannot affect your credit rating. The only way they can affect your credit is to hire an American collection agency to attempt to collect any unpaid balance, and this is illegal.
A Simple Letter Can Cancel a Timeshare
To cancel a vacation club membership in these areas, take nothing more than a letter of cancellation and a cease-and-desist letter to stop any harassment. Keep in mind that your cancelling does not bother them as they made their profits, the moment consumers place a deposit and closing costs.
There you have it. It is quite easy to cancel a timeshare in the U.S. if it is paid in full or in Mexico and the Caribbean whether you own them or not.
Rather than focus on hiring a timeshare cancellation company, frustrated owners can now google “timeshare cancellation courses” or on Amazon, and discover a plethora of resources towards the legal cancellation process.
You can choose who to believe. It is your money, your timeshare, and your life.