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Re: Is Getting Rid of Timeshares a Problem? (by Den):

My view is that owners should absolutely continue to pay maintenance fees so long as they own the timeshare. Otherwise, the maintenance fee burden shifts to other timeshare owners as bad debt expense - The developer doesn't suffer any consequence.

I believe there should be an orderly and defined way for owners to sell or abandon their timeshares/points and that the current system is weighted "too heavily" in favor of the developer. No doubt the developer extracts a heavy premium upon sale and there should be an incentive for the developer to support the ongoing value of the buyer's investment. Would the abandonment of the ROFR compel fairer treatment with the threat of ownership by someone unfriendly to the developer? What if the developer was on the hook to buy back at just 25% or even 50% of the purchase price for 10 years? What if the developer was compelled to take back timeshares/points at even $0 cost? And an extreme, what if the developer rented points to you for a 5, 10, or 15 year period?

The "forever nature" of timeshare must be eliminated and the developer should share the cost of a failed ownership experience. Other maintenance fee payers should not be on the hook for this.

jlb wrote:

That is sorta in line with why I started this thread, that the organizations I have been involved with, or have learned about, that purport to be an independent voice, do not appear to be in reality.

I have not come across a group that is a true advocate for owners, that does not at least somewhat cow-tow to the industry.

Of course, there is not unanimity among owners on important topics. From your wording, I might draw the conclusion that you believe all owners should pay maintenance fees, even when they are done using their timeshares, whereas I believe forcing owners to do so with ugliness and hate and threats is detrimental to owners who wish to continue with their ownerships.

It costs money to take those actions and just prolongs the inevitable, which would be to do something positive to make unproductive weeks productive again. In addition, ugliness further tarnishes the image of timesharing with the general public.

It's enough of an insult already when owners discover that their timeshares are worth nothing, contrary to what they were told when they bought.

I believe there is a common ground somewhere between forcing blood out of a turnip and allowing people to simply walk away from their obligations.