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National Timeshare Owners Association (by Don P.):

I have been a member of the National Timeshare Owners Association ( NTOA ) for about five years now. I have owned timeshares for over twenty years and have had many great vacations. Over the years I have seen dramatic changes in the industry. I remember exchanging my weeks with no trouble through RCI before they were taken over by Cendant and began to sell the prime weeks on the open market depriving owners of desired exchanges. I saw maintenace fees and assessments increase due to properties deteriorating over the years. I saw developer controlled boards that treat owners unfairly. These are a few of the reasons I joined the NTOA. It's a non profit organization that represents timeshare owners. With my membership I also receive a subscription to Timesharing Today. One article I read in one of their issues helped me get rid of two timeshares just months ago by using deed backs to the home resorts. I only had to pay for the next years taxes and a small fee for processing. I didn't have to pay a post card company or a phony charity upfront fees to get rid of them.

The NTOA also lobbies for timeshare owners. The timesahre industry spends millions of dollars to promote their products and I find my membership is a small price to pay to protect my interests. Through advice I received in Timesharing Today I was able to unburden myself of two timesahres without spending thousands of dollars and many sleepless nights worrying if I did the right thing.

February 12th I attended an annual NTOA meeting in The Villages in Florida. It was the third annual meeting I have attended down here. The meetings are informative and interesting. This last meeting they had two representitives from the Florida Attorney Generals Office there to speak and answer questions. The publisher of Timesaharing Today spoke about the publication. There were reps from a few exchange companies that explained their systems. Some don't require advanced fees or depositing your week before you get your exchange. Peter Emery was there to speak. His company sells, rents and donates timeshares. He doesn't require an upfront fee and will honestly assess your property and advise you if it is marketable. Lisa Ann Schreier, the Timeshare Crusader, was there to answer anyone's questions. I now have signed copies of her books.

I could go on and on about the benefits of joining the NTOA but you will have to decide that yourself. I am not affiliatied in any way with the organization. I am just a member and am grateful for their help representing timeshare owners interests. Anyone interested in joining the NTOA or inquiring about their group can contact them at www.nationaltimeshareownersassoc.com or contact the president, Ed Hastry, at hastry@aol.com. A well informed timeshare owner is a happy timeshare owner.