The reasons to travel to California need no introduction. As a huge state with a diverse set of attractions, you could have just about any possible experience when coming here for vacation. Perhaps you live in California and like to vacation in another part of the state, or maybe you live elsewhere and look forward to your trips to soak up the sunshine and see the sights. Whatever the case, California’s status as a tourist destination isn’t changing anytime soon.
It’s this ongoing draw that has caused many people to purchase a timeshare in one part of the state or another. Timeshares are everywhere in California, from the beaches to the deserts to the mountains and beyond. If you own one of these timeshares and you have grown tired of the financial burden that it places on your family, now is the time to make a change. This article will discuss the various options for attempting to cancel or otherwise get rid of your timeshare.
Know the Laws in California
Let’s start off with some good news – if you have just purchased a timeshare within the last few days and are having second thoughts about your purchase, it might not be too late to get out. In the state of California, along with most other states, there is a recission period that protects buyers in this kind of purchase. Often, this is known as a “cooling-off” period, and it gives people time to think about their decision and go back on it, if desired.
In California, that period stretches for seven business days. So, if you agreed to purchase a timeshare a couple of days ago and are now reading this page, you can act quickly to cancel that contract before it becomes official and you are stuck. The path toward doing so involves reaching out directly to the timeshare developer or resort and informing them of your change of heart. To be sure, you won’t be the first person to have changed your mind and used the cooling-off period to cancel. They might try to talk you out of it, and might even make you an extra offer to stay, but the law is on your side and you get to decide how to proceed.
We can’t stress enough how important using this legal cancellation period is, if it is still available to you. Getting rid of your timeshare is going to become much more difficult after these seven days have passed, so think carefully about what you want to do and contact the developer directly if you decide that cancellation is in your best interest.
You Might Be Able to Cancel Directly
Believe it or not, canceling your timeshare could potentially be as easy as just reaching out to the developer and asking about leaving right away. You might be assuming that this won’t be an option – and it might not be in the end – but you should definitely ask about it before you do anything else. Some timeshares will have programs available to help owners who want to leave, so it’s worth a phone call to see what your resort might be offering and if it would apply to your situation.
Given the number of people who usually want to get out of a timeshare, it is sometimes easiest for a developer to offer a way out rather than fighting with lawsuits and other issues. And, timeshares that they take back are more that they can sell to others. It might be possible to just hand in your ownership and move on, or you might be able to pay a fee to get out of the contract. Take your time to weigh the options but be aware of any limitations that might be in place on how long the offers will be valid, so you don’t miss a chance.
You can reach out to the developer to ask about this possibility in any manner that you wish. A phone call might be the fastest way to get an answer and see what the situation looks like, but an email will give you a record of what was said by both parties and when. See what kind of contact information is provided by the developer and decide how you’d like to reach out accordingly.
Think About Putting Your Timeshare Up for Sale
In the modern world, it tends to be pretty easy to sell just about anything. You just put up whatever you want to sell on the internet and there will often be a potential buyer who comes along to make you an offer. This concept somewhat applies to timeshares, but sadly, it will usually be a lot more difficult than you expect to actually close a sale.
The problem just comes down to supply and demand. If someone wants to buy a timeshare, they are not limited for options – timeshares are available from countless current owners across the country, and they are of course still available for purchase directly from a developer. So, it’s not hard to take ownership of a timeshare if that is something you want to do.
Given the abundant availability, the potential buyers have all the power in this situation. They can be picky, both in terms of what they buy and how much they spend. So, if you do manage to find a buyer, don’t expect to get much in return – just be happy to get away from the ongoing fees and the legal responsibilities that come with being an owner.
Collect Proof Along the Way
We mentioned this concept a little bit earlier, but it’s important enough to touch on again here. As you are dealing with the developer in the process of trying to cancel your timeshare in California, do what you can to collect documentation – evidence, in other words – so you can call on those documents later if there are any disagreements.
This is why we highlighted that it might be useful to email with the developer rather than just talking on the phone. But that’s only one way to get proof of communications back and forth. You could still talk on the phone and then simply ask that anything that is being offered or noted on your account be delivered in writing. You’ll feel much better about the process knowing that you can always go back to show the timeshare developer what you were offered or told previously. This simple step could help you manage to win a disagreement or debate and may be the difference in getting your timeshare canceled successfully.
Specialized Help is Available, and Might Be Necessary
Sometimes, things just aren’t going to go well in this process. You’ll run into one wall after the other and you will feel like there is no way out. The timeshare won’t offer you any way to just cancel, you won’t be able to find a buyer, and no other options will be obvious. So, what do you do?
Reach out to professionals in this space for help. Just like you would call a plumber if you had a broken pipe, you can call in a timeshare exit company to figure out a way to cancel as quickly as possible. These businesses have been created in response to the massive demand by many people to finally get away from their timeshare. Often, these companies use not only lawyers but also people who are experienced in the timeshare industry to work through the contracts and figure out the best way to cancel your account and free you from this obligation.
If you decide to contact a timeshare exit company, one of the questions you should be asking is whether or not that company offers escrow to hold your money while they are working on the project. Rather than paying them directly upfront for the service, you should work with someone who is going to use escrow to keep your money safe while their efforts are underway. This option protects you from a failure to deliver results in the end, so you’ll only wind up paying if you get what you expected. You’ve already been put in a difficult financial position by the timeshare, so you don’t need to lose even more money by not getting what you deserve from a timeshare exit company.
Ready to End Your California Timeshare Experience?
Canceling a timeshare in California can be a challenging task, but don’t mistake challenging for impossible. It can be done, and in many cases, it’s getting the right help that will be the key difference-maker in the process. So, with that in mind, use our live chat feature today to get more information about leaving your timeshare, or call us at
833-416-8796. Either way, you’ll be moving a big step closer to finally getting away from the California timeshare that may have caused you and your family a great deal of stress and pain. We’d be proud to help!