[WSBARP] Timeshare Attorney Referrals?

[Wheeler, Doug]

Unfortunately, I am not aware of any attorney in Washington who regularly handles this type of work.  However, I would be extremely wary of referring a client to any timeshare exit company - most of them are scams.  A common outcome is that they will purport to transfer the timeshare, but never get the transfer recorded on the books of the timeshare association or club, with the result that the original owner is still on the hook for annual maintenance fees.

As for Timeshare Exit Team/Reed Hein and Associates, they apparently charge around $3,500 and, as far as we can tell, all they do is refer the matter out to an out-of-state attorney, who sends a letter threatening legal action due to alleged fraudulent conduct in the original sale of the timeshare.  After receiving multiple letters that are exactly the same, it is obvious that it is a form letter, and equally obvious that more often than not, the attorneys have not even talked to their reputed clients.  In our opinion Timeshare Exit Team is a predatory company that engages in scam-like transactions with vulnerable consumers.

Rather than going to a timeshare exit company, I would suggest having your client look into giving it back to the original seller/developer, or the current owners association or timeshare program.  They may or may not be willing to take it back, or they might require payment of all current assessments and fees before they are willing to accept the timeshare.

At Vacation Internationale, if one of our owners can no longer use their timeshare and they want out, we let them relinquish their membership without any fee or charge.  We understand that other timeshare clubs/organizations may also let the owners out.  They may charge fairly significant fees, but is worth exploring.

If all else fails, your client could try simply mailing a deed for the timeshare to the owners association or timeshare program conveying it to them.  They might still try to collect any unpaid dues, fees or assessments, but if your client owes only a relatively small amount, it might not be worth their while to try to collect (especially if it is a Canadian company that would have to try to enforce a foreign judgment in Washington).  Of course, however, they could bring legal action and/or file a negative report with the credit reporting agencies.  Accordingly, this should not be undertaken lightly, and make sure your client understands all the risks before doing so.

Doug Wheeler
General Counsel
Vacation Internationale, Inc.
(425) 454-3065 (Ext 1208)
(206) 356-8350 (Cell)
DWheeler at VIResorts.com<mailto:DWheeler at VIResorts.com>

From: wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com] On Behalf Of Grifan Cayce
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2017 2:16 PM
To: wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com
Subject: [WSBARP] Timeshare Attorney Referrals?

Good Afternoon, Listmates: Clients are in need of a referral to get out of a timeshare up in Whistler, BC. I would appreciate any referrals for proven firms/attorneys who handle such matters. I know of Timeshare Exit Team, however am nervous to send the client that way - would also appreciate any insight there either pro or con. Feel free to respond offline to grifan at caycegrove.com<mailto:grifan at caycegrove.com>.

Much appreciated!

Grifan Cayce, M. Ed. | ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY
ESTATE PLANNING * PROBATE * REAL ESTATE * BUSINESS
cayce|grove LAW OFFICES
grifan at caycegrove.com<mailto:grifan at caycegrove.com>
www.caycegrove.com<http://www.caycegrove.com/>
425.255.0603 ext. 3

PLEASE NOTE: Cayce & Grove Law Offices is excited to announce we have moved our main office  to Maple Valley. We are now located at 22443 SE 240th Street | Suite 101,  Maple Valley, WA 98038.  Our telephone number remains the same.



This message (including any attachments) is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is non-public, proprietary, privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law or may constitute as attorney work product. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, notify us immediately by telephone and (i) destroy this message if a facsimile or (ii) delete this message immediately if this is an electronic communication.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/wsbarp/attachments/20170504/6b648c23/attachment.html>