"PREDATORY" SCAMS-FRAUDS-CONS

• All documents that require a signature or an initial must have been fully explained by the closing agent or it's a violation of timeshare regulations.

• Read the contract and have it reviewed by an attorney. If the sales person promised you something that's not in the contract, don't sign the contract!

• Don't ever, ever, buy (or sell) on the spot without taking time to evaluate whether you are getting a good deal.

• Timeshare tours over 90 minutes are probably coercion.

• Foreign based Timeshare contracts tend to be confusing if you are not fluent in the language.

• Any meeting other than a prescribed sales presentation is against timeshare regulations.

• Understand what an exchange is, how it works, and the associated fees.

• Look carefully at a company's web site and make sure it is legitimate and not just a landing page for a a secondary broker.

• An upgraded to a Timeshare is usually a scam

• Never give your credit card number to anyone unless you really intend to make a payment.

• If the promise is not in writing - then it won't happen!

• Be careful of a phantom accommodation where you pay for a password to access an Internet site listing or timeshares available for rent, but they may not exist.

• Holiday Clubs are now the "In Thing" with every scammer

• Reps indicate they can get you a discount, but has quoted your fee higher than usual to allow for the discount.

• A company may be more interested on the sale and maintenance fees then the booking time you want.

• Timeshare is not real estate. The more years that go by it's probably worth less.

• To hurry you into a sale you may handed off to an "inventory manager" who tells you how much they need your property in their inventory for later sale, and offer you a deal if you get this property listed today (NOT true).

• Lets you pay half now and defer the other half until after the sale. This is another tactic to hurry you into the sale.

• Resort has relationships with major banks that will offer an annuity program (Steer clear).

• Pay an an outside organization an additional 5% of the purchase price to be guaranteed you will receive the entire purchase price back when you want to sell the property.

• Don't be fooled by promises of unrealistic selling prices

• Always get the agreement that states you have a  # of days cooling off period.

• Contracts for a timeshare period of less than 36 months may not provide for a cooling-off period.

• Experts say. typically time shares are not a good investment

• If you really want a Timeshare, you can get the same for half the price on the open market.

• You can  lose 50% or more when you sell

• It may be cheaper to rent a Timeshare then buy

• Timeshares come with multiple hidden risks

• Miss one year of using the Timeshare and financially you're better off without one.

• Trading isn't near as easy as they claim.

• If you can't pay in full, it's a terrible deal

• Travel is not calculated when comparisons of different programs are made

• Hotel prices are increasing as are time share fees.

• If for any reason you are not happy or can't afford it, the company will buy it back for a profit next year, This is NOT true.

• Studies show that there are many more sellers than buyers.

• Do not pay a fee to list the property

• Never give an exclusive listing.

• Never, ever, pay even a dime, for anything to a resale broker before a contract is signed

• Appraisal Fees are totally unnecessary

• Don't be fooled by familiar Timeshare names. Many of the reputable ones are closely copied

• When you choose a resale company make sure they guarantee the timeshare will be transferred and recorded out of your name before you do business with them.

• Some timeshare companies make you think you can deduct more money than you actually can from your income tax in return when you donate a timeshare property.

• Companies that charge an upfront fee say then can sell your timeshare for prices comparable to what the resort is selling them for (NOT true).

• Purchasing your timeshare weeks for the executives of a large, nationally-known company, but you must reserve your spot with a small fee.

• No company can guarantee the sale of your timeshare.

• Promises to send you potential buyer information for a fee is a clear scam.

• The only time you should pay a fee for an appraisal for a timeshare is NEVER.

• Closing costs are paid at time of closing not before.

• All commission should be paid when the sale closes NEVER before.

• Title companies do not collect their fees prior to closing.

• Don't pay anything to just sell your timeshare.

• Don't send anyone your Ownership Certificate.