Getting legal help is not a decision that anyone takes lightly. Most of the time, you will pursue a variety of other resolutions before you resort to hiring a lawyer and escalating the matter at hand. If you are at the point with your timeshare that you feel like getting legal help is your best bet, this page will take a closer look at the services offered in this area by Hamilton Law.
It’s not my goal on this page to tell you whether or not you should hire Hamilton Law for your timeshare case. Rather, I just want to share some observations and help you make an informed decision with confidence. I know that many timeshare owners are overwhelmed by the situation they face and just want to find the easiest path out. It is my hope that this page will bring you at least a little bit closer to that ultimate goal.
What Does Hamilton Law Have to Say?
First, to be clear, the review here is regarding the Hamilton Law Group located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. There are plenty of practices by that or similar names around the U.S., as well.
It’s clear immediately that timeshare cancellations are a main part of what this business provides. They make claims about having canceled timeshares in many different places around the world, and name some of the biggest players in the timeshare industry as entities that their lawyers have dealt with. So, at least on the surface, they do seem to be experienced and capable in this space.
I do find it a little surprising that there isn’t more lawyer information readily available on the site. Most of these sites shine a light on the lawyer behind the firm, where they went to school, when they became licensed to practice law, etc. It does mention on the homepage that the lawyer behind the practice is Kellie Hamilton, but I wasn’t able to find any more detailed information about her qualifications.
There are also a few issues with the quality of the website that might give you cause for concern. For example, the “Legal Practice Areas” link in the top menu takes you to a page with a collection of blog posts, rather than a list of practice areas. It’s a bit confusing and not particularly polished. Whether or not that matters is up to you to decide.
Have Any Past Clients Shared Their Experiences?
It’s awfully easy to find reviews online today about virtually any business. Most of the time, if a business has customers or clients, at least some of those people are going to take to the web to share their experiences. That’s good news for us, as we can use those comments to get a better idea of how a business is performing and where it might be coming up short.
There have been a number of reviews left for Hamilton Law Group on Google, and most of them are positive in nature. Overall, the practice has a pretty solid score, and reading through the reviews makes it clear that plenty of clients have been happy with the services rendered.
Specifically, there are several reviews that highlight the timeshare exit services that were provided by this practice. That’s good to see, as it indicates that they are actually working in timeshare cancellations – which is not the case for every firm that advertises such services. Multiple people indicated that they were able to leave their timeshare successfully thanks to the help they received.
Overall, I would say that there isn’t anything here to discount Hamilton Law Group from receiving consideration on this project. That doesn’t mean you should automatically run out and hire them, but if you are trying to compile a list of services to explore further and narrow down to a winner, this one might be worthy of staying in the running.
A Primer on Leaving a Timeshare Contract
Quick – do you know how to get out of a timeshare contract? Sure, you’ve probably thought plenty about leaving, but you might not have stopped to really get clear on what tactics are available to make your way out and move on with your life.
For anyone who has owned a timeshare for some time, there are two primary ways to leave that timeshare behind. The first is to work with the timeshare company directly to get out of the deal. It is sometimes the case that a timeshare company will just let you leave so they can take back the contract and sell it to someone else. That’s not always an option, to be sure, but I recommend that people start there and then move on to the next idea if that comes up short.
The other idea is to sell your timeshare to another party. Many people find this to be an appealing idea because they have visions of getting back at least some of the money that they spent on the timeshare initially. Unfortunately, that part of the picture doesn’t tend to work out that way – if you do manage to sell it at all, it probably won’t be for much money.
You are going to run into a supply and demand issue with this sale. Plenty of people want to sell their timeshares and a relative few are interested in buying. So, there isn’t any reason for a buyer to make you a big offer. With that said, it’s still worth trying to sell, and even if you had to exit for just $1, that could still be considered a win.
Don’t Let Another Penny Go to Waste
The goal of exiting your timeshare is to save money. You probably have grown tired of watching the money leave your bank account for things like maintenance fees and assessments, and you want to get out of your contract so those payments can stop. In your hurry to make that happen, however, be sure not to make a mistake that will wind up costing you more money in the end.
A big mistake that I want to see you avoid is handing over a large sum of money to a timeshare exit company that may or may not be able to get results. If you hand over your money from the start, you won’t have much recourse if they don’t deliver. In that case, you could lose the money and still be stuck in your timeshare – that would be a worst-case scenario. Instead, make sure to work with a company that offers escrow services so you can hold your payment in that account while they deal with your timeshare situation. Only when you are free from the timeshare officially should the money be released.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are so many unknowns in the timeshare world for so many owners. The industry doesn’t want you to know everything when you first make your purchase, so only the positives are highlighted. I’m here to tell you the truth, however, including in the questions and answers below.
Q: Did my timeshare lose value since I purchased it?
A: Almost certainly. In fact, your timeshare likely never had the value that it was assigned when you purchased it. That might be a hard reality to hear or accept, but it’s the truth. As you look toward an exit, you can forget about the initial purchase price and just determine how you are going to move on.
Q: Can I just give back my timeshare contract and move on?
A: Maybe, but probably not. In some cases, a timeshare company may be willing to take back your timeshare contract so they can sell it to a new owner. So, it’s worth asking, but don’t expect much. There is a good chance you will need to explore other avenues to leave the timeshare life.
Q: Will there be any damage to my credit score if I stop making payments on my timeshare?
A: Yes – falling behind on timeshare payments will hurt your credit and won’t get you any closer to actually legally leaving the timeshare. Do your best to keep up with payments while trying to exit.
The Timeshare Drama Ends Now
Many timeshare owners fall into a state of frustration and basically throw their hands up in the air to give up. They feel like there is nothing they can do to resolve this problem. But that’s not the case. Sure, it can be frustrating – and expensive – but it’s not hopeless. Call us today at 833-416-8796 to talk about your timeshare issue and we can figure out what the next steps should be. You’ll feel better as soon as you make the call, knowing that you have taken action and the wheels are in motion. Do this today to give yourself a brighter future!