Comments for RCIVIP Timeshare Help Resource

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by Dorothy

Dorothy — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:18:54 +0000

I finally gave in and stopped paying Wyndham in October 2009. Of course the calls have begun 5-6 times a day 7 days a week. I’m getting letters with my past due amount. No collection agency yet. I was brave and answered the phone once to let them know I was unable to pay and all I got was “i need to make a payment by whatever date”. I checked my credit score expecting to see it it flat-lined at 300 but it was down in the 600. I tell myself I can always rebuild my credit and or write a statement for the credit bureau (my other debts are spotless) as opposed to the financial stress over trying to pay what I don’t have. I have started getting calls and correspondance from companies and people about timeshare relief and renting my points. Probably referred to me by those snakes, WYNDHAM. My timeshare payment was $887 and maintenance fee $202. I’m not worried about my residential home because it is paid for and I have homestead exemption. I spoke to a lawyer regarding a previous matter and he said that homestead property can’t be touched. I agree I can pay IRS in installments easier than I can Wyndham for a never-ending debt. And I refuse to settle my children with this insanity.

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by Lorraine

Lorraine — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:07:06 +0000

Has anyone ever had any positive experiences with unloading their TS? I can’t agree more with melham, sounds like a sweet deal until you get caught in the trap. Ever try exchanging your week and not been able to do it and losing the week? Talk about pi**ing money away …. with all I’ve lost on situations like this I could have taken a really nice vacation for myself.

Comment on Grandview Las Vegas – Is It Worth It? by Shiva

Shiva — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:13:22 +0000

Hey lenor i think i had purchased the same deal as u have…. so cn u pls pass me thr number???

Comment on Grandview Las Vegas – Is It Worth It? by Shiva

Shiva — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:09:29 +0000

Can anyone pls pass me the number to call them for the deal i bought with them… I have lost the paper and want to go bk to Vegas and stay in Luxor for 3 nights… Vch i guess will be fre…

Pls pass me the customer service number for the same!!

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by melham

melham — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:43:45 +0000

TS system is really an evil thing, its fun in the beginning but life change.

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by melham

melham — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:41:25 +0000

Hi Stacy ,same here Im one month late, but you know what? I think till 6 months of threatening they will end up forclosing it. Me I dont have a choice I cant afford anymore,Im ready , I also receive letters, but I just put them in a folder, but maybe Ill write them a letter,but of course it wont help just to inform them and for their record .But when the collection agencies turn to call us expect the worst threat and they are so nasty, that’s their style to stress us and be freight., but they cant get something that we dont have. also we should expect if ever an IRS form (1099) for the amt of debt cancelled which is taxable (but we can pay it installment to the IRS and that’s it! , unlike in TS its FOREVER!! up to our heirs.

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by Stacy J

Stacy J — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:37:12 +0000

Hi Melham. Nothing new has happened. Just been getting about 3 phone calls daily. And a letter every month saying how much I owe (have not paid in three months) and if I don’t pay they are sending me to collections. They have been threatening me since I skipped the first payment. I have a load of stress off my shoulders since I stopped paying them. I have been keeping all the letters in a folder and ignoring all the calls.

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by Lorraine

Lorraine — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:13:21 +0000

Does anyone know how to transfer title of ownership to another party without it costing a fortune to do? I thought it could be done by a quitclaim deed. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Thanks

Comment on List of Pet Friendly RCI Resorts – International and US by laura and jerry barkalow

laura and jerry barkalow — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:08:45 +0000

looking for i week during christmas and new years to take our shi-tzuh with us somewhere in florida, HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he’s a good boy.

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by Erica

Erica — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 03:55:40 +0000

@Jason. When I spoke with TS and told them I can’t afford it anymore they told me if I pay just a little it won’t go on my credit report. They won’t send it to your credit unless it’s 90 days overdue. Well, I haven’t paid since November…I haven’t checked my credit report yet. I’ll check it within a month or so.

So far I’m just getting mail and phone calls on my cell phone and I hit ignore and than they call my landline and leave a message on both phones. I receive phones calls like 2 to 3x a week. I just let the voicemail answer it.

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by melham

melham — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:05:08 +0000

Jason,

same here, I receive phone calls from Wyndham but unfortunately its in my workplace ,its good that my office mate understand that its TS and they know and they do believe also that I shld stop paying it too, but my reason is I cant afford anymore, I had a good time with it its just that too expensive $600/mo plus for 2 yrs I had only 4x used of it…and its really stupid now to continue it, I have to pay first my credit card and some more important things,I am ready to what will happen to my credit if they ruin it, 2 mos ago I had decided to file bankcruptcy because of TS, but I realized Ill try to default first. As I have researched they can only foreclose it and can even give us IRS form-100-c (debt cancellation)as Income and pay taxes on that.

Jaso,Erica,Stacy,Lorraine hoping for more feed backs from time to time.

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by Jason

Jason — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:44:12 +0000

Hi all,
Stopped paying Wyndham TS in January. I receive phone calls every day, sometimes 3 or 4 per day, from them. The phone number they have on file is a cell phone, and on the cell phone there is a block call feature that has come in very handy. They never leave any messages. I have only received normal snail mail from them, saying I owe for two months mortgage payments and maint fees, no nasty grams yet. I am us citizen. Have not seen anything pop up on credit file yet.

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by Lorraine

Lorraine — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:53:38 +0000

Hi Linda, like you I love this site. Don’t have an answer for you but hope that other people will continue to post their stories whether they be positive or negative (horror). I’m dealing with more than my share of headaches with ts and doing whatever I can to get rid of them. Will keep everyone posted with any of my encounters. Have tried several charities with no luck whatsoever and now going to try listing one of them on eBay and Craig’s list. Good luck

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by LINDA M

LINDA M — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:40:33 +0000

Hi, love this site! Have a paid up grand beach ts in orlando. (weeks). only pay maintenance and taxes now, running about 850/yr. Have traded every year through rci and have been happy with my ts. Now I get freq calls from diamond resorts trying to talk me into going to points system–listened once for laughs, would have cost me thousands of $ to switch with fewer places to trade to. told them they were nuts to think I’d put out more money on a ts I’d had paid for years ago. They said this was my only chance==guess what, they call every month with an offer to listen to their spiel for free Branson visits. lol. I have their number on my phone contact list with ‘no ring’ as the ringtone choice. I’m going to a SMART TRANSFER seminar in two days to see about getting rid of my ts cause I plan to quit work end of this year. have researched all I can online about this outfit and see pros and cons. will post my experience later. my question is why would they take my ts off my hands when other people can’t give one away for a $1 on ebay? How did I get on their mailing list to get this seminar offer? Maybe diamond resorts are trying to get at me another way through this transfer smart outfit.lol. I won’t burden my kids with this ts. I’ll go into default first. I’d like to see more USA people commenting.

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by Lorraine

Lorraine — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:15:37 +0000

Hi Mandie – I agree and hope more people come on this site and share their experiences whether it be negative, positive or just horror stories. I have tried several places looking to donate Lagonita Lodge without much success. One listed on this site said they aren’t taking any more timeshares, Property Donation Group said that their brokers didn’t feel Lagonita Lodge was in a desirable location. However, the recommended Timeshare Relinquishment Program but of course there is a catch and not sure if it is just another scam. The fee for this program is around $900. If I knew for sure that would resolve the issue I would pay it just to be rid of this timeshare. Sure would love to hear from anyone that has had any positive experience on donating their TS. Hope to hear from more people on this site. Certainly has been an eye opener for me and since we are all in this same horrible situation, it does help to be able to talk with other people.

Comment on Timesharing and the Economy – The Good and The Bad by Allan @ Many things

Allan @ Many things — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:41:35 +0000

i own a timeshare, but do not understand how renting it out can be of any use … If I want to trade the week with someone, or let a guest in, I have to be an RCI member at over $100 per year PLUS the maintenance fees of close to $200, and I think there is some cost in transferring the week to someone else too … With only 7 days in a week .. how can I compete with casinos giving away rooms for $25 a night ?

Comment on RCI Class Action Lawsuit, Murillo vs. R.C.I. by Debbie L. Allen

Debbie L. Allen — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:10:16 +0000

I did receive the post card and do agree with the Class Action Suit. This is just ridiculous. I have been on so many vacations that I scheduled on my own because of the continuous lack of availability. I try and schedule my vacations for latter summer in January after I have made this continuously increasing maintenance fee for 17 years and the place still hasn’t met gold crown status. I don’t ever recall getting any place that was my first selection. In fact I have gone places that I had no interest. Well, then again, I was successful once and that was in 2009. I can’t schedule 2-3 years in advance. It was not until I purchased that then I hear about land vs water exchange and the difficulty so I’m told. I am for this law suit and wish to be included. If I can’t sell it and come out reasonably okay then at least I could benefit from better opportunities for exchanging and stop spending my money on other vacations because RCI can never locate a preferred selection.

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by mandie

mandie — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:52:47 +0000

Hi Lorraine,

I am still around – working on upgrading the site and getting more content out there for everyone!

As for donating, have you tried the places listed in this post? – http://rcivip.com/2008/charities-accepting-timeshare-donations/ Someone also told me recently their local NPR station accepted their timeshare as a donation, so that is something worth looking into as well.

It is so nice to see everyone working together on this site and sharing information. Hopefully in the next few weeks I will have the new site up and we can get even more people involved.

Keep up the good conversation everyone!

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by Lorraine

Lorraine — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:41:39 +0000

Mandie – miss your input on things – hope to see you back on line soon. Trying to donate but can’t find anyone that is interested. Anyone have any suggestions?

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by Darren

Darren — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:41:47 +0000

Anyone owning or is a member of WESTGATE TRAVEL CLUB? I do, and I want to know what will happen if I stop making my monthly payments. I don’t live in the US nor do I plan to. I have not tied in any mortgate to it. All I made was a $300.00 downpayment and signed a document stating I will pay pay $99.00/mth for 1yr. After reading all these bad testiments about WESTGATE, I want no part of it. I want to cut my loses now.
Does anyone have any idea what are the consequences?

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by Lorraine

Lorraine — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:23:26 +0000

Thanks to everyone that post comments. I now check this site every morning and helps me with the stress of dealing with TS. I am writing my last letter to Cape Cod today and that is t until I begin the harrassment. I have another one I’m going to try and donate – Lagonita Lodge in Bear Bear. Maintenance is paid until the end of the year but I want to just be rid of it. Anyone interested, will gladly turn it over to you – 1 bedroom, floating week and maintenance is less than $500. Any interest – email me at rainer1019@sbcglobal.net — Once again thanks everyone and keep posting your experiences, it does really help.

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by melham

melham — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:07:27 +0000

Bill,

thank you so much as Ive read and heared it can be done, though we should be prepared for their calls, but that’s their job.

Any one that got rid of their TS please post their experiences in this site, it is a big help for us who are having stress and agonies while in the process of getting away of TS.

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by bill

bill — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:55:00 +0000

we bought a wyndham in Newport on ebay, so it did not have a mortgage, just maintenance fees in about 2004. We stopped paying maintenance in Fall 2007. We got collection letters, and finally an attorney letter in Fall 2009 that if we paid a $250 fee, we could get a deed in lieu or pay no fee and it would be foreclosed. We said we could not afford $250 and they asked for a smaller amount, which we paid.

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by bill

bill — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:51:53 +0000

We had a Marriott TS in Las Vegas with a mortgage. We stopped paying in January, were harassed beginning in March, got black marks on our credit in June, they offered a deed in lieu which we signed in November. Be sure to watch out for the unexpected w-something for taxes, since they report the written off part of the mortgage principle as income. (Get a phone with caller ID and donm’t answer — even better et a phone that allows selective call blocking and the phone doesn’t even ring)

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by bill

bill — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:48:39 +0000

We are in the process of getting rid of several TS that we have owned. My first piece of advice is to look at ebay and see what timeshares like yours are currently selling for. After shock, you should ask yourself if you really want to keep paying a mortgage. My second comment relates to stopping the payments. At other sights, they talk about what can happen if you stop. A key part of the discussion is the statute of limitations on debt — there is a different number of years for each state, but basically, if you stop paying, and make no more payments, the clock starts. After so many years, e.g. 4 years in PA, a court case cannot be brought to collect anything owed. Just make sure that you make no payments of any amount to collectors or the TS or to anyone. If you pay the collectors even a dollar, the clock restarts.

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by Lorraine

Lorraine — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:21:48 +0000

Thanks Melham – this is an awesome sight and it certainly helps to chat with others that are going through this same hassle. I have until the 1st to pay and decided it just isn’t worth it anymore and getting myself geared for the hassle of a collection agency. Hope I can lean on anyone out there for support. Much thanks.

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by Melham

Melham — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:24:05 +0000

Lorraine,Ivy others,

I have read in some postings that if you are ready to ruin the credit (if it ruin) or expect the harassment of collection agency (so be it!)it will stop eventually and they will foreclose it. Harassment of collectiona gency is to be expected that’s their job, so dont mind them, buying TS we feel we are stupid It was really very hard to go during the sale, If only I could surf first in the middle of the sale I shld have not sign, I found this website but its too late ,I paid for 2 yrs, and now I have no more to pay.

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by Lorraine

Lorraine — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:16:47 +0000

I have really been stupid over these past several years and didn’t learn my lesson, until now. Sure wish I was smart enough to read websites like this before hand. I now own 3 separate timeshares, one of which I will be paying for another 5 yrs. Everything they told me was a lie and I unfortunately bought into it. I actually believed that by buyng this third one they would sell my first two. What a mistake that was. My first timeshare is up in Cape Cod, Mass. and this year they are hitting us with a special assessment of $2,100 on top of $650 maintenace. This is crazy in this economical situation so I am going to gamble and just not pay it anymore. I’ve tried selling it, donating it to charity and even surrendering it to Cape Cod but they won’t take it back. Any suggestions from anyone … this is stressing me out so much – just isn’t worth it anymore. Thanks

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by ivi

ivi — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:09:28 +0000

me and my friends bought a ts thru shell vacation 3 years ago however we stopped paying september of last year 2009. now we recd a letter from collection agency. how do we handle this?

Comment on What Happens if I Stop Paying My Timeshare? by Lorraine

Lorraine — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:05:37 +0000

for J-dog or anyone in a similar situation. Curious – how have you made out with not paying your maintenance any longer.