Please Do Not Buy a Timeshare

Lied to by a timeshare salesperson? Already made a horrible mistake? Or do you know someone at risk?

Please Do Not Buy a Timeshare has more than 60 coloring pages designed to explain timeshares, and to help protect people against them.

One of the most common ways people get ensnared into timeshare presentations is through the "fishbowl" raffle drawing for a "free vacation." The secret is that nearly everyone usually "wins." Be cautious of dropping your info into these things.

Arguably the biggest problem with timeshare presentations is that they are, essentially, able to verbally lie without consequences. What matters is what you actually signed. If they verbally promise unicorns in the pool, and the contract doesn't mention unicorns, but you sign on the pretense of that verbal promise, you're likely out of luck. "You signed the contract" is what matters.

Most timeshares are in perpetuity. This means that long past the time you may want to, or be able to, travel, you'll be forced to pay the almost certainly increasing annual maintenance fees. It won't matter if this fee is for nothing. And if you don't pay, your credit score will likely suffer.

The most important thing to remember in a timeshare presentation--or any high-pressure sales presentation--are these words: "I can't sign anything without my lawyer reviewing it first." Even if your lawyer is an imaginary one-eyed bunny.

Getting rid of a timeshare is usually very difficult, if not seemingly impossible. In the worst cases, contracts can even be loaded with "poison pills" making a transfer to someone else strongly uncompelling.

There are so many better ways to invest your family's resources than a timeshare. Vacation options will expand, not contract, by not owning a timeshare.