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Re: How can I rent a timeshare? (by John F.):

I certainly can see Joel's position that he owns it and he pays his fees, why not rent it?

The issue is not one of morality and fairness, just one of capitalism. These are just the rules that the two 800 lb gorillas which dominate the exchange market have.

Some resorts, like Disney, question folks in detail upon checkin if they have a guest certificate. The downside is they tell the truth, get denied accomodations and now need to pay a lot more to walk in somewhere else of go home and swallow their airfare, rental car, etc.

The resorts do not like the "pros" who do stuff like trade South African timeshares which are high demand but low fees for great US/Caribbean unit weeks. Cuts into their rental action and floods the rental market ( a true exchanger does not because they use it themselves). Again, capitalists protecting their own money supply.

The person who rents an exchange week faces a lot of exposure if they do not completely disclose all the issues with the rental being outside the rules. Why? Each state has a statute of frauds and real estate related frauds are not dealt with lightly. Failure to disclose "material"information is legally a fraud, nothing less is in the letter of the law. Do I expect the attorney general of a state to come after some little guy, absolutely not.

However, the person who was denied accomodation, even if they were the "bigmouth" can then go to small claims court, show the lack of disclosure (the burden of proof that disclosure occured is upon the person renting the exchange), and then get a judgement for the rental price plus damages (airfare, transportation costs, price difference of alternate lodging, etc.)

Would I personally rent out an exchange. Definitely! But only to a friend or relative I trusted to be cool after knowing all the facts.

I do think advertising them, when knowing the risks, is foolish at best.

It reminds me of the ads you see on Craigslist that say "420 wanted". (420 is slang for pot). Those ads are either posted by the local police or the dumbest people in our society.

As to why people care so much sometimes. Don't forget most timeshares were deceived when they got into their ownership, they hate seeing others get ripped off too.

I was lucky, bought resale for every one I own. It still kills me when I'm sitting at a pool bar and see some young couple being led around by a timeshare salesman. I know I paid $1,500 for my week and they may sign up for $12,000 for the same thing.

My favorite quote is "There are a bunch of Popes, a handful of lawyers, and NO timeshare salesmen in Heaven" Lets expand the definition of salesmen to included the resale scammers and the exchange companies for this thread.

John