Got a collection letter for past due maintenance fees.

[Mary Irene]

Has anyone ever heard of a time share selling the debt? I have owned a timeshare free and clear for over 10 years. I am about $1300 behind on my maintenance fees and was being called a lot by an insider collection firm. I told themI can't pay and don't even want the timeshare anymore, but it's impossible to get rid of it. So today I get a letter from a law firm (which I googled and they do family law so it makes no sense) saying that they were collecting on behalf of the other collection agency. This sounds strange to me and I've nenver heard of anything like this. Any suggestions? Anyone ever have this happen?

[Flamingo]

Law firms may advertise that they specialize in family law but most also indicate in the advertisement (if they want) that they may do general practice, Wills/Estate Planning, personal injury, BK, etc., etc. So they can have more than one area of practice but specialize in one area and do more work in that area. IF you owe a debt, a lawyer or collection agency eventually will be contacting you if you don't respond at first to the creditor in paying the amount owed, that is if the creditor retains the lawyer or agency to go after you.

[Mary Irene]

What I don't understand is that I don't owe anything on the timeshare itself, it's just the maintenance fees. Are those considered debt?

[justbroke]

What I don't understand is that I don't owe anything on the timeshare itself, it's just the maintenance fees. Are those considered debt?

Yes, that's debt by definition. Depending on how your contract is written, it may be secured debt as well. In some instances, Timeshare fees and assessments are no different than homeowner fees and assessments.

[epiphany]

What I don't understand is that I don't owe anything on the timeshare itself, it's just the maintenance fees. Are those considered debt?

Yes.

Anything you owe on a written or verbal contract is debt, whether the goods/services are tangible or not.

ep

[allavdj]

Have you offered just giving up your share on the time share in lieu of paying the maintenance fees?

[Mary Irene]

Have you offered just giving up your share on the time share in lieu of paying the maintenance fees?

Yes I have. They said no. It's impossible to get out of owning a timeshare. I may just save and pay the fees and then put it on ebay for free. I can't really afford to go anywhere anymore. Anyone want a timeshare?

[BKOnce]

Timeshare is a total waste of money$ hard earned.

[Mary Irene]

Ok. Update. I spoke with the 'lawfirm' that is representing my timeshare people and explained to him what was going on. He was actually really nice. We made a deal. I would pay back the past due maintenance fees in 2 equal payments starting in January in exchange for the Timeshare people to take back their damn timeshare. He said he could do that. So he's going to call me tomorrow to tell me they said yes, and I will ask him to fax me a letter stating that payment would mean no future interest in the timeshare for me and I'll be done with this horrid thing. I did ask him since he is a lawyer why you can never give back a timeshare and he said that it is written into the contract that way so anyone who is even thinking of getting one, DON'T! You can rent them for next to nothing from all the folks trying to get rid of them. I am SO happy to be getting rid of this stupid thing. Hallelujiah!