Have You Tried to Donate Timeshares?

Should you donate your timeshare?

The idea of donating a timeshare to a charity has definitely been trending lately within the timeshare industry. Not too long ago it was common knowledge that nearly all legitimate charities would not accept a timeshare donation. This was almost entirely due to the fact that timeshares can be extremely difficult to get rid of. This fact is still true today and many organizations will not accept a timeshare as a donation because of the financial responsibility that owning a timeshare comes with. Most charities are focused on the work they do to help others and do not have the resources to effectively manage and benefit from a donated timeshare, which is why the simply will not accept a timeshare.

If anyone has attempted to donate a timeshare please do share your stories with us here on the blog. Post your comments about successful or failed attempts and getting rid of a timeshare through donation. There are a lot of timeshare owners out there that are trying to get rid of their timeshare ownership, the problem is that there are so many false solutions out there that do not provide true timeshare relief. If you have been able to successfully donate your timeshare property please let us know so that other timeshare owners can learn of ways to get out once and for all!

Timeshare Relief Celebrates 4th of July!

Timeshare Relief is celebrating the 2010 July 4^th holiday and reminding people how they can get their very own timeshare freedom. If you own a timeshare you may have noticed that your maintenance fees have gone up at some point over the years. This is something that has the potential to occur every year and can cause a timeshare to be far more trouble and cost than it could ever be worth. It would be a shame to let your 4^th of July barbeque to be on a budget because of timeshare related fees when you aren’t even using your timeshare. It is problems just like this that cause so many unsatisfied timeshare owners to use the services at Timeshare Relief. The timeshare experts at Timeshare Relief are dedicated to helping out timeshare owners who are unhappy with their timeshare property for whatever reason.

As any timeshare owner knows all too well the timeshare contracts that you enter into when you first get your timeshare are very iron clad and restrictive. This makes it extremely difficult to get out of your timeshare and stop paying all the maintenance fees and other costs that come along with owning a timeshare. Because you cannot simply stop paying and lose the timeshare and selling or renting will most likely end up costing you more than you will get, the Timeshare Relief exit solution is very useful. So this 4^th of July check out what the timeshare professionals can offer you to help relieve any timeshare headaches you may have. Because no timeshare should give you more trouble and frustration than it does relief and relaxation, especially on the 4^th of July.

1 Million Views For RCI Timeshare Information TV

Less than six months ago RCI launched their RCI TV and already over one million viewers have tuned in. RCI TV provides high-definition footage of the over 4,000 timeshare resorts that RCI promotes. This new method for informing vacationers about RCI accommodations and options has been an amazingly successful way to reach their audience. RCI invented the concept of a timeshare exchange more than 35 years ago and has since been devoted to providing its customers with the best services and accommodations to accompany their vacation plans.

RCI realized how unfamiliar many potential timeshare owners are with the whole idea of a timeshare. This new media venue allows them to educate and formally inform their viewers about all the wonders of an RCI timeshare vacation and show in full detail the sort of accommodations you will find at these resorts.

RCI has also just entered into the mobile marketing world with applications for the iPhone®, iPod touch®, and iPad™. These new methods for making timeshare information available will provide immediate access to RCI features that consumers are interested in. In addition to mobile marketing RCI has launched a YouTube channel, these combined resources will allow travelers to share their vacations through social networks.

What Timeshare Owners Need to Know About the BBB

If you have a question or a concern about a company you have had dealings with, or are considering using, whether it’s a contractor for your home or a company that you are buying a timeshare from, check out what the Better Business Bureau has to say about them first.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued a reminder this week to remind anyone who is a timeshare owner to be aware of brokers who call out of the blue, ask for a fee and say they have prospective buyers.  Many of these are scams and remember, you can always check out a company with your local BBB.

In addition, Steven Cole, president of the Council of Better Business Bureaus says consumers are encouraged to obtain the names, addresses and telephone numbers for the lodgings, airlines and cruise ships advertised in a vacation promotion.

“Armed with that information, you can check with the BBB or a recognized travel organization to find out whether the business has been the subject of customer complaints. BBBs offer reports on travel-related businesses in both the U.S. and Canada,” said Cole.

The BBB defines its mission as “ensuring that high standards for trust are set and maintained. We exist so consumers and businesses alike have an unbiased source to guide them on matters of trust. We provide educational information and expert advice that is free of charge and easily accessible. “

For more information on the Better Business Bureau, go to http://www.bbb.org

Timeshares: When an Investment is Not an Investment

We know that some timeshare owners enjoy their timeshares immensely — especially those with disposable income and want to know where they are going to vacation every year.  But, if you are not an owner and are considering to “invest” in a timeshare, you really need to consider the costs involved.

Many timeshare owners finance their timeshare purchase.  The interest payments and the total cost of repaying the loan can make the timeshare enormously unprofitable.  Timeshare loans are not like “normal” real estate mortgage loans on a primary residence or vacation home.  The interest rates are typically much higher and can go above 15%.

Even if you pay in full at the time of purchase, you lose the opportunity to invest that money into other financial interest-bearing instruments like CD, bonds, and money market accounts.  Imagine if you took $20,000 (the average amount of a timeshare in 2008) and put it into a modest CD that could net a small interest gain.  Over time, that could be hundreds or thousands of dollars that could be given to your children, instead of passing along a timeshare that continuously requires more fees.

The American Bar Association Family Legal Guide reminds potential owners that the investment is less of an investment when you consider that “your time-share contract will make you responsible to pay any increases in taxes, maintenance, or repairs. If you think any of these amounts are going to decrease, you’re in for a big surprise.”

A true investment in real estate means you can one day sell it and see a return on that investment.  With upwards of millions of timeshares up for resale, that will not be the case.