Can You Afford an Unexpected Hospital Bill? Preparing Your Family for Unforeseen Costs

Friday, March 1, 2019

Coal jon VowsTo Reform Dark Underbelly Of Timeshare Industry (NAPSA)—Thetimeshare industry is infamousfor perceived high-pressure sales techniques, for locking millions of people in perpetuity with noncancelable contracts, and for practices that can makeit difficult for owners to vacation where and when they want. Dozens of lawsuits have alleged that consumers are subject to fraud, deception, preying on theelderly, and violations of numerous local, state and federalregulations. Now, the Coalition to Reform Timeshare (CRT) has been launched to advocate forthe rights ofover 9 million timeshare ownersin the U.S. “The timeshare industry has a dark underbelly and it is time for reform, said Brandon Reed,a founding member of the Coalition. “The Coalition to Reform Timeshare will be forcefully advocatingfora strict codeofethics for timeshare companies, transparency in their sales techniques, andforthe rights ofall timeshare owners.” Frank and Betty Lusk were stuck with a timeshare they didn’t want. would the company notlet them opt out, but they were shocked when they receivedthebill for their annualfees. “I mean, we got that notice and we about fell over, said Mrs. Lusk. “Nineteen thousand-plus dollars for oneyear. Just maintenancefees.” Mr. Lusk agreed, “We really lost sleep over that” ‘And the Lusk family is not alone. According to an August 2017 survey, 47 maintenance fees that average almost percentof timeshare owners wantoutof their contract because of money-related issues. However, the resale market for timesharesis virtually nonexistent. A quick search onthe Internet showsthat hundreds of timeshares are listed on financing, a virtually nonexistent resale market, and the inability for owners to “Together, we are going to change the way the timeshare industry works Large numbers oftimeshare owners regret their purchases. Contributing to this dissatisfaction are the financial burdens ofsteadily growing $1,000 a year, high interest rates on ever cancel their timeshares, according to recentindustry reports. Betty Lusk, 88, from Sun City West, Ariz., recently tried to get out of a timeshare contract that she and her husband Frank Lusk, 89, were sold, but found it would be nearly impossible. ‘After a high-pressure sales pitch, the couple soon learned the contract they signed was totally different than what they understood it to be. Then,not only eBayfor aslittle as a penny. by finally holding the big developers’ feetto thefire of honesty and consumer fairness,’ said Reed. ‘The Coalition to Reform Timeshare is inviting individual timeshare owners and organizations to become members to share personal stories of problems with timeshare ownership and bring change to the industry. To join the Coalition or share your story, go to www.ReformTimeshare.org.

--- PHOTOS ---

File: 20190801-074006-20190801-074004-86654.pdf.jpg

--- FILES ---

File: 20190801-074004-86654.pdf