How To Get Rid of a Vistana Timeshare
Searching for a way to get rid of a Vistana timeshare? You’re not alone. Unfortunately, several owners are fed up with Vistana Signature Experiences.
Either they felt misled, pressured, or had no clue what they were signing up for! And just like you, they want a way out. As time passes, being a timeshare owner just may not be a priority for you and your family anymore. Let’s not forget how fees tend to increase every year. But if you haven’t read through your Vistana Timeshare Cancellation Policy, what you find may shock you.
If you felt like you were misled or sold something that is not beneficial to you or your family, we suggest you immediately initiate a Live Chat or fill out the free informational form on the right. Our team can assess your case and determine the best available option for you to exit your contract. To get started, click here.
Vistana Signature Experiences
Vistana Signature Experiences dates back to the year 1980, just when vacation ownership sales started to boom. First established in Orlando, Florida, this made for a beneficial location since it was so close to Disney. Eventually, Vistana’s first timeshare property was located here.
Two Chicago bankers by the names Raymond “Rip” Gellein Jr. and Jeffrey Adler would be the ones to expand the company. Raymond eventually became CEO, and Jeffery his Executive VP. They had a couple of different marketing strategies for their timeshare. But the one that took the organization to new lengths was their idea to host a PGA branded championship golf tournament in 1996.
An entire Vistana World Golf Village was created, including a Golf Hall of Fame and PGA Tour Golf Academy. The golfing community now had a resort full of attractions that they could visit. All it would cost was a purchase of a vacation package Vistana offered, of course.
Vistana next made a public offer to the New York Stock Exchange in 1997. It was two years later that Resorts Worldwide and Starwood Hotels would purchase Vistana for $400 million. Raymond Gellien remained the company’s director until he retired in 2008. Around this time, Vistana’s timeshare sector accumulated a value worth $1 billion.
Vistana next released the Sheraton Flex program in 2014. This was their point-based timeshare network for owners that would like to exchange their vacation points. And as the company continued to succeed, an industry competitor turned its attention towards Vistana. Two years later was all it took for Interval Leisure Group (ILG) to purchase Vistana from Starwood. 2016 was such an enormous transition for Vistana. This merger partnered them with companies like the Sheraton, Westin, and Hyatt brands.
Marriott Vacations Worldwide then purchased Interval Leisure Group in 2018 for $4.7 billion. This made Marriott the biggest luxury timeshare resort brand, becoming Vistana Signature Experiences’ new parent company.
Vistana Timeshare Cancellation Policy
If you signed up for a Vistana timeshare, the smartest way to cancel your contract is by using your “right of rescission.”
Rescission laws allow you to cancel your contract typically a few days after your purchase. A typical rescission period lasts 3-10 days. But sometimes 30 days, depending on where you made your purchase. If you have purchased your timeshare in that time frame, we suggest you contact Vistana Signature Experiences immediately to see what your rescission period is on your contract.
Typically, timeshare developers require you to submit a written cancellation letter by mail. If you still qualify, we recommend you send everything in immediately! Any documents submitted past your deadline will automatically disqualify you. This is why we suggest you purchase overnight mail. Those few extra dollars are worth it. We recommend you read through your contract as well and look for the Vistana Timeshare Cancellation Policy. This is typically located at the beginning or end of your contract. Click here to learn more about rescission.
Vistana Signature Experiences has quite the collection with timeshares in the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean. But at what cost did the company pay for this ring of vacation destinations?
Our team has read many online reviews of Vistana timeshare owners who are upset with the company. Many mention how they signed up for their timeshares under the wrong impression. Others were promised many things that did not turn out to be true. This is the reality of the timeshare industry. If your head is not on a swivel, you could be signing up for something you wish you hadn’t.
Vistana has had multiple complaints on platforms like the Better Business Bureau. The good news is Vistana is under the Marriott, so you can always call them and mention what’s going on. But there is no guarantee they will be able to help. They might only help owners who have a timeshare with Marriott Bonvoy. You must meet specific requirements first to qualify for Marriott’s buy-back program. Contact us through Live Chat, or fill out the form on the right side of the page to learn more.
Can I Sell My Vistana Timeshare?
If you missed your opportunity to rescind, you’re probably next thinking, “can I sell my Vistana timeshare?” Well, there are a couple of things we believe you should know first.
The problem with selling is that everyone thinks their timeshares are worth thousands. We hate to break it to you. If someone told you your timeshare was a “good investment,” they lied.
Almost every timeshare depreciates immediately once purchased. Just like cars, if not worse, we’ve seen timeshares drop by more than half their original value. This has led many timeshare owners down the wrong road.
Because of the lack of timeshare resale value, many owners have gone years without finding a buyer. Not only are they paying their ongoing maintenance fees. They’ve now added resale fees for listing their timeshares for sale. This has caused what we know as “timeshare resale scams.” These scammers have fed owners lies with “buyers” that are “ready now” to purchase their timeshare—all this in exchange for listing fees on their website. We can’t say this enough. Never pay anyone up-front fees. To learn more about timeshare resale scams, click here.
Vistana Timeshare Cancellation
Selling a Vistana timeshare can be challenging. And we understand your rescission period is such a time-sensitive task. Anyone could miss it if no one explained this to you! So, what’s next?
If you want to cancel your Vistana timeshare contract, we always say the best way is always legally. This is why we recommend you hire a timeshare exit company that works alongside attorneys.
Reputable timeshare exit companies typically have attorneys that look for misrepresentations or loopholes in your contract. Usually, they will ask you various questions on what was said to you and how you were treated during the timeshare presentation. Other exit companies will charge you up-front, and very few timeshare exit companies have an escrow option.
We suggest hiring a company that has no up-front fees and offers an escrow payment option, so you stay protected. The FTC and the BBB have warned timeshare owners against paying up-front to exit their timeshare contracts. We recommend escrow because this eliminates all upfront fees paid directly to the exit company. By doing this, you remove all the risk of becoming a victim of a timeshare exit scam. Learn more about why escrow is essential by clicking here.
Final Thoughts
We are a team that was in your shoes. We understand the struggle of paying yearly maintenance fees that never seem to end. With ridiculously high interest rates, we realized timeshares are not beneficial. A Vistana timeshare is no exception. With an abundance of timeshare scams and complaints reported, it’s no wonder so many owners want to get rid of a Vistana timeshare. The good news is you do have options.
We started this review site to give you insight into how timeshare developers and exit companies work. When it comes to the timeshare industry, unfortunately, you have to prepare for the worst. Too many scams are reported every year. This is why we only recommend timeshare exit companies that have no up-front fees and offer an escrow payment option, so you stay protected.
Read over our website and fill out the form on the right or contact us through Live Chat for a free personalized exit consultation. Our team will help connect you with a timeshare exit company with no up-front fees until your timeshare contract is cancelled. There are hundreds of timeshare scams every year. Protect yourself from becoming another victim! Click here to begin.
