Getting into a timeshare is easy. The salesperson who convinced you to attend a meeting in exchange for a free gift of some kind will make it sound like being an owner is a transformative experience. You eventually agree to a purchase, settle on a price, and look forward to many wonderful trips to come.
Then, slowly, the experience wears on you. The costs add up higher than you expected, and you don’t get to travel as much as you would like. When you do have time to book a trip, the best properties are often full. Soon enough, you wish you never made this purchase, and are desperate to find a way out.
It could be this general process that has led you to Consumer Protection Networks. You are looking for a partner to help you get out of the timeshare life and are wondering if Consumer Protection Networks is the right fit. Let’s take a closer look below.
Exploring the Consumer Protection Networks Website
We’ll first turn our attention to the website for Consumer Protection Networks to see what it has to say. This is an easy way to get a feel for a business before trying to dive deeper into what they are all about.
My first impression is that minimal effort has been put into the design of the site. It appears to be a basic WordPress site without much time or money invested into the layout or customization of the pages. That doesn’t necessarily mean bad things about what the service could offer you, but it’s something to note right off the bat.
Similarly, the content is pretty basic and generic. It talks about the matters that a timeshare owner will be concerned about, but there is nothing that differentiates it from countless other sites across the web. You aren’t going to learn anything meaningful about the business or how it works when you read the site copy. Even the “Process” page, which should deliver some specifics, comes up short. It’s not that the content is inaccurate or wrong in some way, it’s just that it is so general as to not really say anything at all.
One other thing that I don’t love seeing on these sites is the anonymous “About” page. Most businesses use this page to introduce you to the people behind the company, usually with some photos and a short bio. There is none of that here. While the “About” page claims that the company has “40+ Years of Combined Timeshare Exit Experience”, there are no names or faces put behind that claim.
Are Any Reviews Available?
It’s always a good idea to look beyond a company’s website to see what people are saying in general around the web. In this case, you can quickly find some reviews for Consumer Protection Networks by landing on Google.
Overall, the review profile looks pretty good. There is a decent sample of reviews and most of them are positive. Of course, you can never take anything on the web at face value, and looking a little closer does reveal some reasons to be concerned. For example, there is this review from one unhappy individual –
In fairness to the company, this was not a company, but someone who attended a presentation about their exit services. There are other reviews from customers that state they are happy with the service and that they got out of their timeshare successfully.
Ultimately, it’s up to you how much stock to put in any of the reviews that are left for Consumer Protection Networks. With something like Google reviews, there really isn’t any way to authenticate any of the reviews – good or bad – so it’s hard to say what is real and what isn’t. If you decide to contact this exit company or any others, it’s always important to proceed with caution, gather as much information as possible, and keep your money safe along the way. I’ll talk more about that last point a little later on this page.
Understanding the Basics of Leaving a Timeshare
There are many hurdles that exist with regard to leaving a timeshare. One of them is simply a lack of information. When people don’t understand how to get out, they are more likely to be frozen and simply do nothing at all.
First, understand that you do have the right to sell your timeshare. This is something that you own – for better or worse – and you can choose to sell it if you wish. It can be hard to find a buyer, however. Not very many people are excited about the prospect of taking over the financial burden that you are trying to get rid of, after all. So, feel free to list your timeshare for sale somewhere and see what happens, but don’t necessarily have high hopes for this type of exit.
I always recommend that you start this process by dealing directly with the timeshare company. If you place a phone call or send an email, you can connect with them and explain your situation. Too many timeshare owners skip this step and may wind up missing a good opportunity. It’s possible that the developer will simply take back your timeshare so they can sell it to someone else. That’s far from a guaranteed outcome, but it’s a good enough prospect to make it worth your time to explore.
Other types of exits are also possible, such as giving your timeshare to a charity or a family member. Again, you’ll need to find someone willing to take over the responsibilities that come with it, so be upfront about those obligations while trying to work out an agreement.
Always Proceed with Caution
I’m not here to tell you to avoid timeshare exit companies. In fact, just the opposite – if you find the right one to partner with, this can be an excellent way to get out of your contract and move on. For many people who have been frustrated by the process and the whole timeshare experience, exit companies have been able to come through in a big way.
But you do have to be careful. They aren’t all good, and they can’t all be trusted. If you hand over your money upfront with no way to recover it if things go wrong, you’ll be in a vulnerable spot. It’s great to be optimistic that things are going to work out, but you also want to be careful and avoid losing any more money in this whole venture.
Escrow services are a great way to get around this problem. When your chosen exit company agrees to use escrow, you can put your money in that account and know that it is being held while the exit company works on your case. They are motivated to get results because they won’t get paid until that happens. And, you have the peace of mind that comes with having some recourse if you are still stuck in your timeshare at the end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want to learn more about what it takes to exit a timeshare and what traps you might need to watch for along the way? These FAQs should help further your education in this area.
Q: When does my timeshare contract expire?
A: Most timeshare contracts do not have an expiration. A typical contract will just continue with no end until you are able to leave through one means or another. So, if you don’t act, you’ll continue to be responsible for your timeshare fees for the long run.
Q: How much does it cost to use a timeshare exit company?
A: The fees charged by exit companies can vary wildly. Be sure to get an exact quote from any company you are considering so you aren’t surprised by their fees later on.
Q: Can’t I just stop paying on my timeshare?
A: Well, you can, but it’s not a particularly good idea. If you stop paying your timeshare fees and assessments, you’ll harm your credit and only make your problems worse. It’s best, if at all possible, to keep up with payments while you look for a way to get out.
The Best Time to Start is Right Now
When facing something that feels like an uphill battle – such as exiting a timeshare – it’s easy to just keep putting it off. Why deal with the frustration today when you can confront it at another time? The problem, of course, is that you never get anywhere with this thinking. Time just keeps passing and you keep spending money on a timeshare you no longer want to own.
Make a change today. Give us a call at 833-416-8796 and let’s chat about your situation. This could be the first step toward the kind of progress that you’ve been hoping to make for years. Don’t wait another second!