Scams within the timeshare industry run rampant, and RCI has become the latest focus of a large group of angry consumers. One of the most common complaints received are not about a specific timeshare resort at all, but rather the RCI timeshare exchange program.

This latest movement has consumers up in arms against what they call the RCI timeshare scam. Customers must pay an annual fee, but are also charged bloated hidden fees and ridiculous exchange rates for any amount of “decent” service from RCI. The perfect paradigm for the entire timeshare industry, RCI apparently sells a scam to customers with deceitful tactics and misleading information. RCI is preying on a group of people who are already weak from their current  timeshare scams. 

RCI boasts “3.7 million members worldwide and over 4,000 affiliated resorts in countries around the world.” The key to the RCI timeshare scam is in numbers, which fools unsuspecting consumers into believing that a large number of subscribers and resorts equals quality service. In reality, the RCI timeshare scam is well documented and has a very bad reputation within the timeshare community.

One very important thing to note about the RCI timeshare scam is that this company is not looking to help you sell or get out of your timeshare. Many customers have reported that they were led to believe that RCI could help them list their timeshare to find potential buyers. In fact, the RCI timeshare scam is centered around the idea of a “timeshare exchange program,” which does little to help consumers.

The basic premise behind the RCI timeshare exchange service is, by paying an annual membership fee, consumers can trade their timeshare to other members with other timeshare resorts around the world. The RCI timeshare program sounds like a low-risk opportunity to make some use out of a likely unwanted timeshare.

However, members soon learn that the fraudulent tactics of timeshare companies are present in the RCI timeshare scam as well. Customers are locked into RCI and forced to pay large hidden fees, just like their timeshare contract. Massive deposits have to be put down for exchanges, unbeknown to customers until it is too late. Immense fees are also tacked on for each exchange, especially for heavily sought weeks and locations.

The most frustrating aspect of the RCI timeshare scam seems to be customer “service.” Many consumers complain about the difficulty of reaching anyone in RCI capable of meeting basic needs. Consumers are given the run-around in RCI until more fees are tacked on and are forced on customers. Rude agents, unanswered calls, and nonexistent responsiveness have frustrated many consumers into finding legal help with ending the RCI timeshare scam. 

In understanding the timeshare industry as a whole, there are many expert sources that provide valuable advice such as timeshare attorneys and consumer advocacy groups. However, to understand a particular resort, timeshare reviews are a valuable tool in deciding whether or not the timeshare is right for you.

Timeshare customers that have experienced timeshare resorts firsthand are the experts of the locations and policies of particular companies. Marriott timeshare resorts have become the largest and most widely reviewed in the industry. After hours of researching Marriott timeshare reviews, there is a general consensus. While Marriott timeshares offer nice facilities and better customer service than most, timeshare reviews are still overwhelmingly negative. 

Let’s begin with the positive attributes commonly found in Marriott timeshare reviews. Customers who review Marriott seem to be very pleasantly surprised with the quality of their timeshare resorts. Marriott offers beautiful locations with sensational amenities, such as resorts in Orlando and Singer Island, Florida. Marriott timeshare units are also very well reviewed, noted for their friendly staff, clean rooms, and quality service. However, all of these positives still do not make up for the Marriott timeshare reviews that contain great customer frustration.

While customer service in the Marriott timeshare resort may be positively reviewed, the corporate timeshare machine remains the same. Difficulty reserving rooms even far in advance, inability to reach anyone for help, and extreme hidden fees are still replete throughout Marriott timeshare reviews. A notable Marriott reviewer claims to have reserved and paid for an oceanfront view that he did not receive. When he attempted to call corporate to alleviate the situation, no one in Marriott corporate could be reached and he was stuck, without any legal recourse.

The main problems outlined in the Marriott timeshare reviews deal with the way the timeshare industry works as a whole. Because Marriott timeshare resorts are much nicer than most, the annual cost plus the maintenance fees seem astronomical. These fees can, and according to most Marriott timeshare reviews, will increase rapidly over the years. A vacation is not guaranteed, either, especially with floating time agreements. Reviewers often find themselves stuck paying large fees to simply keep up with their Marriott timeshare contract, even when they are unable to reserve the week they need to use for their vacation.

The general conclusion from most Marriott timeshare reviews: while the locations and facilities are superior to most timeshare resorts, the negative aspects of the timeshare industry still far outweighs the resorts themselves. This does not alleviate the Marriott company from any wrongdoing whatsoever. Marriott timeshare reviews have still made it abundantly clear that this company takes part in a business practice designed to dupe consumers into signing a binding contract that does harm to the consumer. Most reviewers of the Marriott timeshare company heavily advise you to stay as far away from their timeshares as possible.

When attending a timeshare presentation, it is a very smart idea to be prepared beforehand with advice and knowledge about the industry and what you should expect. Timeshare salesmen are very good at what they do, and you have likely heard many stories about misleading and fraudulent tactics.

If you attend a timeshare presentation, it is likely under the pretense of receiving a gift or prize for attending the meeting. While likely you will receive your gift, as much firsthand timeshare advice should be sought out so you will not be pressured or worn down into making a very costly mistake. I have provided three simple tips to take as valuable advice when attending these meetings.

1) Be prepared to stay longer than advertised

The way timeshare salesmen lure consumers to sales presentations is by offering a prize for a hearing a relatively short sales pitch. At a glace, the time required for these prizes is well worth attending the presentation. A great piece of advice when attending the timeshare meeting, or deciding to attend at all is understanding that the actual time of the meeting will be much longer than originally advertised.

This is one of the main ways in which timeshare contracts are sold to unsuspecting consumers. Once the attendees realize the meeting is taking too long, too much time is invested for the gift so they simply have to sit through it. An advertisement for a 90 minute presentation can easily turn into multiple hours. A cautionary word of timeshare advice: do not let the time wear you down. If you are doing this simply for the prize, do not let hours of exhaustion pressure you and wear you down to the point that you will blindly sign the timeshare contract, which is the very purpose of the length of time.

2) Ask for details and question their claims

Timeshare salesmen make all kinds of wild and enticing claims at any timeshare meeting. They act as if they are providing valuable advice, a great opportunity that you just have to get in on. However, these claims are often completely false, if not at the very least over-exaggerated. You will be told a timeshare is a great investment, you can rent out your timeshare, and they will even help you sell your timeshare if you decide to.

The next great piece of timeshare advice: question everything they say with great cynicism. Timeshares are typically a very bad investment with high fixed payments. Renting a timeshare is a difficult process, and selling a timeshare is even more difficult. Never blindly accept their timeshare “advice.”

3) READ the contract carefully

This piece of timeshare advice seems like a no-brainer, but you would be shocked to know how many consumers sign a timeshare contract without reading the details. In fact, timeshare salesmen count on it. Very few timeshare contracts would actually be signed if consumers followed this basic advice, because they would learn how bad of an obligation they are agreeing to.

Timeshare salesmen know they are making wild and deceiving claims, and thoroughly protect themselves in the timeshare contract. People conned into signing will likely decide that it was a bad decision in the first place and want out. The timeshare contract is precisely what makes this extremely difficult. Furthermore, the payments are inflexible and the timeshare company can take legal action if the buyer cannot pay. It is good advice to read anything before signing it, but this is especially true of timeshare contracts. You will likely find that timeshares are a very bad decision for you and your family.

Remember, if you follow this timeshare advice and keep all three tips in mind when attending the timeshare meeting, you will likely come out of the presentation with only a nice gift as compensation for your time, instead of a costly, binding timeshare contract. 

To many consumers who have little experience with the timeshare industry, the concept seems fresh and exciting. The chance to have a vacation property in the meantime, with the opportunity of selling at a later date to make a profit may sound enticing. Those in the business of selling timeshares will try to convince the consumer that it is a sound business investment and a glamorous purchase. However, this is often very far from the truth.

Selling a timeshare is an extremely difficult process with little probability of success. Consumers are lured in by exotic promises with the reassurance that if they ever tire of “owning” a timeshare, they can sell at a profit. The first problem is the illusion of ownership. Timeshare holders do not own a property in the traditional sense, which is why the process of selling timeshares is so complicated. However, consumers will have to bear the burden of many negatives of actual ownership. This includes:

1) A high annual fee
2) Property taxes
3) Upfront fees
4) Inability to sell timeshare

Furthermore, owning a timeshare is much like simply booking a hotel room. However, while the timeshare service is very similar to hotel reservations, there are many negatives associated with the ownership when compared with the hotel industry, including:

1) Fixed schedule
2) Interest and fees
3) Fixed payment
4) Set location

Why would the consumer pay for what is essentially a hotel reservation with all of these extra burdens and restrictions? Because they are promised a return on the investment. Timeshare consumers are told selling timeshares is a great way to make money. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

The main reason the timeshare industry has become so synonymous with fraud and scam artistry is the misleading way sellers represent the process of selling timeshares. The inflexibility of a timeshare contract is the very root of this problem. Consumers are subjected to upfront costs, fixed payments, and fixed locations. Once timeshare buyers realize they are locked in, there is very little they can do on their own to break the chains.

The primary reasons for the difficulty in selling a timeshare comes from the loopholes the buyer must jump through and the depressed market for timeshares. There are often many small technicalities in timeshare contracts that make it very difficult to sell without legal representation. Without this representation, the seller must pay a fee for a listing to be posted for another party to buy their timeshare. This is where the fundamental problem occurs. The great market for timeshares that consumers were sold on is in reality extremely depressed. The listing is posted, but the potential buyers never materialize, and the seller is stuck with their unwanted timeshare.

The arduous process for selling timeshares should halt potential buyers until all the facts are gathered. Those who are stuck in a contract and are looking to sell their timeshare are best served by enlisting the help of a third party. Legal representation and companies who specialize in breaking timeshare contracts or selling timeshares are a consumers best bet. Furthermore, timeshare forums are a great place to get firsthand advice for any timeshare seller or potential buyer.