The allure of timeshares is still fresh for any customer who wants a good deal on travel. On paper, it looks like the best investment you can ever make. But without a careful mindset, any good investment could be a trap to take your money.
The Game
Before you get scammed, you should start off by researching https://acagroup.org/how-do-i-get-out-of-a-timeshare. Getting invaluable information before jumping feet first into timeshares is highly recommended. For legitimate timeshares, the money comes from a good deal that benefits both sides.
For timeshare exit scams, the money comes from customers who give up in frustration. It is a true exercise in patience when a scammer knows that you will blink long before they do. Many people have the mindset that they don’t have the resources to fight back when scammed. This is simply not true, and one of the many things that makes it easier for scammers to get away with your money.
Your Rules
Instead of playing the game by their rules, dictate the terms in your favor. That means even if you fail to recognize it is a scam, the actual damage is minimized. As the person making the purchase, you are not obligated to accept the first contract given.
Go through the contract with a lawyer, and then ask for revisions where necessary. If these changes are denied, then the timeshare is a risk. Once you choose to move forward with a risky timeshare contract, all bets are off. That means any possible exit will put you at the mercy of the person who created the contract.
Reviews Vs. Testimonials
Context is needed in a situation when weighing the power of reviews versus testimonials. Testimonials for a professional service are good. But testimonials for a timeshare are suspect, and here’s why. Reviews are given from the perspective of a person who has purchased or experienced the actual service or product. Although a review can be fabricated, the fake reviews will be drowned out by the actual bad ones.
A testimonial for a timeshare can be written by the owner, or even created by an AI. There are no checks, and testimonials will never include any from an unhappy timeshare owner. That means you will never get a whiff of exit scam shenanigans when reading any testimonial.
A Simple Search
Searching any timeshare in a search engine can reveal a lot of useful information. Some individuals who were interested in buying a timeshare were able to avoid the scam by finding a random BBB complaint.
Social media can also help when searching for a specific timeshare that is labeled as a scam. Unhappy customers are always happy to vent their frustration when time or money is lost. When you’re unwilling to do a little bit of legwork before the purchase, the scammer will always win.
Protect Your Time
Exiting a timeshare is designed to waste as much of the customer’s time as possible. It is an avoidable mistake, but no one will fault you for getting sucked in. Exit a timeshare with grace, and come out of the disaster smelling like roses.
Photos courtesy of Pixabay.
