Canadian Snowbirds Timeshare Stuck – Ours Vacation Village

February 4, 2021

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Karl Hillyard in Nova Scotia, a Vacation Village owner denied a responsible exit

If timeshare resorts would plan ahead, they could allow voluntary surrenders in a structured inventory recycle program. New and younger people could purchase timeshares turned in by aging owners seeking release. Unfortunately, common sense seems lacking in timeshare.

Not allowing a responsible exit could quite possibly lead to the demise of the timeshare industry. We were all sold these timeshares as being “just like real estate” because they did bear some resemblance to real estate. By refusing to take back units, parents and grandparents warn their offspring to not to buy a timeshare. Why would anyone buy something you can never sell or give away? Licensed timeshare brokers I contacted don’t even want to accept a listing for my Vacation Village timeshare. They say there is a glut and it is a sinking ship. Other timeshare companies work with owners to provide a responsible exit.

I reached out to other Canadians who found themselves stuck, left with no choice but to default, or pay for the rest of their lives for an unwanted timeshare. Vacation Village timeshare has a policy that states they will only accept a Vacation Village timeshare back on a case by case basis, if you can prove a medical or financial hardship. I don’t have to prove medical or financial hardship to sell my house. Lifestyles change. If the kids move out and I don’t need five bedrooms, I don’t have to prove financial or medical hardship to downsize to a smaller house. Now in our 60s, we no longer want to travel to Florida every year.

We enjoyed our Vacation Village timeshare, but will not pay for a timeshare we don’t want. We maintained a lifelong high credit score, so being forced to default is unsettling. However, agreeing to pay maintenance fees for the rest of our lives rewards what I feel is an unfair practice. Timeshares in general are hard to sell, but Vacation Village seems especially hard to sell. There are many Vacation Village listings on EBay advertised for $1.

Owners are reaching out to other owners through Social Media. I connected with a U.K. Vacation Village owner in the same situation as we are. Their kids are in Australia and the E.U. They no longer want to travel to the U.S.

Instead of being left with great vacation memories, we leave timeshare with nothing but anger and frustration. I hope the industry looks for a solution to avoid holding seniors who have faithfully paid maintenance fees for decades, timeshare hostage.