Timeshare owners seeking relief in 2026 face a difficult landscape. Rising maintenance fees, special assessments, and increasingly complicated vacation club systems have pushed more consumers to ask a fair question:
“Why is getting out so hard even when the developer claims to offer an exit program?”
Attorney Chad Cummings, real estate attorney and law professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, recently offered a candid answer in Forbes Magazine:
“Most developer-sponsored ‘exit programs’ are predatory delay tactics designed to preserve cash flow.”
At Finn Law Group, we’ve seen the same patterns Cummings describes. Developer exit or “relief” programs may look helpful on the surface, but many are often designed to slow timeshare owners down, keep them paying, and ultimately protect the developer’s financial interests, not yours. Here’s what that really means, and how consumers can protect themselves.
Why Developers Control the Timeshare Exit Door
It’s important to remember how the timeshare business model works:
- Annual timeshare maintenance fees fund ongoing developer revenue.
- Special assessments inject significant capital into resort projects.
- Interest payments from financed purchases add long-term profit.
From a business standpoint, every timeshare owner who leaves creates a revenue loss. That’s why many developers try to keep exit routes tightly controlled. If you can’t freely transfer, sell, or surrender your timeshare without going through the developer, then the developer decides when you get out and on what terms.
Cummings’ warning points to this fundamental imbalance: the party with the most financial incentive to keep you tied in is the same party controlling the exit process.
How Developer Exit Programs Can Work Against Consumers
While some timeshare developer programs offer legitimate relief in limited circumstances, many owners experience the following systemic issues:
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Strict Eligibility Rules That Keep Owners Paying Longer
Most developer-controlled timeshare exit programs require:
- A fully paid-off mortgage
- All maintenance fees current
- No disputes or pending claims with developer
- Ownership of a “desirable” week or point package
This “good standing” requirement forces many owners to bring past-due fees and payments current before the developer will even review their request—effectively turning the exit pathway into a final round of revenue collection.
As Cummings explains, “The fine print usually strips owners of leverage, especially those with claims for fraud, misrepresentation, or unconscionability.” He notes that some agreements go even further: “I’ve reviewed multiple agreements where the resort retains the right to revoke the release if the owner speaks publicly or posts online.”
For owners already facing financial pressure, the supposed “exit program” starts looking less like a relief option and more like a last-chance cash extraction tool for the developer.
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Delayed Processing That Extends Fee Obligations
Many owners who enter a timeshare exit pipeline hear phrases like:
- “We’ll review your file.”
- “The committee meets quarterly.”
- “Your request is pending internal evaluation.”
Meanwhile, maintenance fees and assessments continue.
This is the “delay tactic” Cummings describes, is an exit process designed to stretch out obligations while providing the illusion of help.
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Exit Meetings That Turn Into High-Pressure Retention Sales
Timeshare owners often report:
- Being told their problems can be “solved” by upgrading
- Pressure to convert to a different points system
- Being shown new “limited-time” offers instead of being guided toward termination
When an exit conversation becomes a sales retention conversation, the goal is clear:
reduce cancellations, increase revenue, and keep owners inside the system.
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Lack of Written Guarantees
A major red flag and one of the most common occurs when a developer refuses to put timeshare exit terms, timelines or promises in writing.
Owners are told:
- “Trust us.”
- “Your fees won’t increase.”
- “Your exit will be processed soon.”
But without written confirmation, timeshare owners have no protection if the process stalls.
Why Independent Legal Counsel Matters More Than Ever
Cummings’ assessment reinforces something our firm has long understood:
Timeshare exit is a legal matter, not just an administrative one.
Developers write the contracts.
Developers enforce the contracts.
Developers control the exit pathways.
Without independent legal guidance, consumers are navigating a system designed to benefit the other party.
The Finn Law Group helps owners by:
Reviewing the contract for potential legal issues
Misrepresentations, deceptive sales tactics, and oral promises contradicted by the contract can all create grounds for relief.
✔ Protecting owners from pressure and misinformation
You deserve unbiased advice from someone who is not financially tied to the developer.
✔ Negotiating or pursuing remedies the developer won’t offer voluntarily
Developers can deny or delay exits indefinitely, unless compelled by legal leverage.
If You’re Considering a Developer Exit Program, Watch for These Red Flags
- No written timeline for completion
- Pressure to buy more or “upgrade” instead of exit
- Requirements to bring all fees current before they’ll even review your case
- Representatives who refuse to provide written confirmation
- Long periods of silence or unexplained delays
- Confusing or one-sided release documents
These conditions aren’t just inconvenient; they’re part of the “predatory delay tactics” Cummings warns about.
A Real Exit Requires Real Advocacy
Developer exit programs protect the developer.
Legal representation protects you.
If you feel stuck in a cycle of rising fees, broken promises, or endless delays, you’re not alone and you’re not without options. Our firm is dedicated to helping consumers cut through the confusion, understand their rights, and pursue a clear, enforceable path out of timeshare contracts.
You Deserve a Truthful, Transparent Exit, and Not Another Delay
If you’re evaluating your exit options or feeling frustrated with a developer-controlled process, we can help you understand:
- What’s real
- What’s risky
- What’s in your best legal interest
Schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your situation and get a clear plan forward.
Disclosure: This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Images included are used for illustrative and artistic purposes only and do not depict actual individuals, events, or specific locations.
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Led by timeshare attorneys J. Andrew Meyer and Michael D. Finn with over 75 years of combined legal experience. The Finn Law Group is a national consumer protection firm that specializes in Timeshare Law. If you feel you need the services of a timeshare attorney, contact our law firm today at 855-FINN-LAW. Want to learn more on timeshare related issues? Follow us on X, formally Twitter.
