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

I'm doing a little housecleaning, combining some thoughts contained in several previous posts, which I have now deleted. I also see that what I have added to the petition, from ARDA/ROC was alluded to by Tracey.

Would you agree to a petition saying this?

“We, the undersigned owners, members, and participants of timeshares, vacation intervals, vacation points systems, travel clubs, vacation clubs and similar organizations acknowledge that at some time we, and all those so involved, will no longer want to be. All at some time, for a variety of reasons, will want or need to end their involvements, ownerships, and memberships.

We further acknowledge that some of the companies, resorts, and associations that market, administrate and operate resorts and other owner/member organizations in those industries have failed to provide for the fair and amenable termination of ownerships and memberships.

We further acknowledge that forcing owners and members who do not want to, need to, or cannot continue the use of those vacation plans to continue against their wishes by threats of legal or punitive actions, without providing any assistance, is not healthy for the vacation ownership industry, and in the long run is detrimental to those who desire to be involved in vacation ownership.

What we are asking is that resorts do what their own organization suggests they do:

http://www.ardaroc.org/roc/get-involved/default.aspx?id=3610

'Help Owners Resell: One way to thwart fraudulent transfer company activity is to provide your owners with timeshare resale assistance. It is obvious that many owners are looking for this kind of assistance or transfer companies wouldn’t exist. This could be as simple as giving owners the name of a licensed real estate broker that sells timeshare. Other resorts have in-house resale programs for owners. If you can’t handle an internal resale program on your own, establish a partnership with other resorts in your area that are similarly situated.

Expand Your Rental Program: Owners wanting to resell would certainly appreciate some rental income going toward paying their annual assessments. Be sure owners get the maximum benefits from rentals. In addition, rental of association-owned inventory should help bolster annual income for the association budget and help off-set delinquencies.

Create Exit Programs: While most resorts may not be able to "take back" all of the inventory that owners might wish, providing options for the most desperate owners may help. For example, if owners will pay a stranger thousands of dollars, they will probably pay the resort two or three years of maintenance fees to have their timeshare deeded back to the resort. The resort can then use the inventory as income-producing rental property, allowing time to sell it to a dues-paying buyer. There are many models available from other resorts that have exit programs. Don’t, however, go into an exit program without properly vetting its effect on your resort, the legal requirements, and your ability to resell it.'

Therefore, we ask that the industry take steps to develop and provide fair and amenable policies and procedures for an orderly termination for those who desire it. If they do not do so, we ask that regulatory agencies take action to require it.