Last updated 2026-07-25
TL;DR
There's no single official "timeshare exit team" phone number, dozens of companies use similar names. Many charge $3,000 to $10,000 upfront with no guarantee of results, and the FTC and state AGs have sued several for fraud. Verify any company's license, escrow terms, and complaint history before you call, or consider rescission, deed-back, or resale first.
Is there an official "timeshare exit team" phone number to call?
No. "Timeshare exit team" isn't a licensed industry or a single company you can look up in a government registry. It's a generic phrase, and a lot of companies use it or something close to it (Timeshare Exit Team, American Timeshare Exit, Resort Exit Team, and similar names) precisely because it sounds official and easy to remember. That's the first problem. If you Google "timeshare exit team phone number," you'll get paid ads and SEO pages pointing to specific companies, not a neutral directory. Some of those companies are legitimate businesses that do real work. Others have been sued by state attorneys general or hit with FTC enforcement actions for taking large upfront fees and never delivering [1] [2]. Before dialing any number you found through an ad, do the boring but essential work: search the company's exact legal name (more than its marketing name) plus "attorney general" and plus "complaint" or "lawsuit." Check the Better Business Bureau profile for pattern complaints, more than the star rating. Ask for the company's business license number and confirm it with your state's Secretary of State business search. This takes twenty minutes. It's the single best scam filter available to you. If you want a structured way to vet exit companies specifically (what licenses to check, what contract terms to demand, what red flags mean walk away), see timeshare exit companies.
How do you get out of a timeshare in the first place?
There are really only a handful of legitimate paths out, and which one applies to you depends almost entirely on timing. Here they are, roughly in order of cost and difficulty. Rescission (cancel inside your state's window). Every state gives timeshare buyers a short window after signing to cancel for any reason and get a refund, no penalty, no exit company needed. The window is short, often measured in single-digit days, and it starts from the date you signed or the date you got the required disclosure document, depending on the state. Florida, for example, allows a 10-calendar-day rescission period under its timeshare statute [3]. If you're still inside your state's window, this is by far the cheapest and fastest way out. Confirm your state's rescission window with your state attorney general's consumer page or the statute itself before assuming you've missed it. Deed-back or surrender program. Many resorts and HOAs now run their own deed-back programs, sometimes called "deedback," "surrender," or "exit" programs, where you hand the deed back to the developer or the HOA takes it back, sometimes for a small fee, sometimes free, sometimes only if your maintenance fees are current. ARDA, the timeshare industry's trade group, has promoted its own consumer-facing exit program called Responsible Exit, positioned as a way to hand back a deed directly through the resort rather than through a third-party company [4]. Resale. You can try to sell on the secondary market. Be realistic: most timeshares resell for a small fraction of what was paid, often close to $0 to a few hundred dollars, because supply massively outstrips demand. Never pay an upfront "listing fee" to a company that cold-calls you claiming they have a buyer lined up; that's one of the most common scam setups in the industry. Exit company. If rescission has passed, deed-back isn't offered, and resale isn't realistic, some owners hire a third-party exit company to negotiate a release or handle the paperwork. This is the most expensive and most scam-prone option, and it's where most of this article's caution belongs. Do nothing / let it go to foreclosure. Not recommended as a strategy, and not something to do to avoid paying money you owe, but it's the outcome some owners end up in if they stop paying maintenance fees. It damages credit and can trigger collections. This article isn't advising that path. It's just naming it as what actually happens if fees go unpaid.
How do I get rid of a timeshare I inherited?
Inherited timeshares are their own headache because the person who signed the original contract is gone, but the obligation to pay maintenance fees usually isn't. If you're named an heir or the estate's executor and you don't want the timeshare, you generally don't have to accept it. An executor can disclaim (formally refuse) an inheritance on behalf of an estate, and an individual heir can file a disclaimer under state probate law and under the federal disclaimer rules in 26 U.S.C. § 2518, which lets a beneficiary refuse an interest in property within nine months of the death for it to be treated as if they never received it [5]. Once disclaimed, the timeshare typically passes back into the estate or to the next heir in line, not automatically to you by default. If the disclaimer window has already passed and you're stuck holding a deed you never wanted, contact the resort or HOA directly and ask about their deed-back or surrender program first. Many resorts will take back an unwanted inherited timeshare with no fee if maintenance fees are current, because it saves them collections costs down the line. This is usually faster and cheaper than hiring an exit company for an inherited property.
How much do timeshares cost, and how much does exiting one cost?
| Rescission (in-window cancel) | $0, may forfeit a small deposit | Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resort/HOA deed-back program | $0 to a few hundred dollars | Weeks to a few months | |
| Private resale | $0 upfront if done right; sale price often near $0 | Months to over a year | |
| Third-party exit company | $2,000 to $10,000+ | Months to 2+ years, no guarantee | The wide range for exit companies is exactly why upfront comparison shopping matters, and why any company demanding full payment before doing any work deserves extra scrutiny. |
Two very different price tags matter here: what you paid to buy in, and what it might cost to get out. On the buying side, the average price of a timeshare interval purchased directly from a developer was $23,940 in 2023, according to ARDA's industry data, with the average annual maintenance fee running $1,205 [4]. Prices vary enormously by brand, location, and unit size, from a few thousand dollars for a small studio-week resale to well over $40,000 for a large-unit developer purchase. On the exit side, third-party exit companies commonly charge anywhere from roughly $2,000 to $10,000 or more upfront, based on complaint patterns described in state attorney general enforcement actions, with no guarantee the timeshare is actually canceled [2]. Some companies also charge ongoing "legal defense" fees if litigation is part of their process. That's on top of whatever maintenance fees you may still owe while the exit is pending, since most contracts require continued payment until the deed actually transfers or the resort formally releases you. | Path out | Typical cost | Typical timeline |
Are timeshares scams?
The timeshare product itself is legal in all 50 states and regulated at the state level; it's not inherently a scam to buy one, even though most owners end up regretting the purchase once resale value collapses and fees keep rising. The scam risk clusters overwhelmingly around two other points: the original sales pitch and the exit industry. On the sales side, consumer complaints and state enforcement records show long-running patterns of high-pressure tactics, exaggerated resale value claims, and "today only" bonuses used to rush buyers past the point of careful thought. On the exit side, the FTC and multiple state attorneys general have brought enforcement actions against companies that took upfront fees ranging from a few thousand to over ten thousand dollars and failed to deliver promised cancellations [2]. So the honest answer is this: the product isn't a scam by definition, but both ends of the industry, the sale and the exit, are where scam behavior concentrates. A second common scam pattern targets owners after the fact. A caller claims to have a buyer ready to purchase your timeshare at a great price, but you need to pay a "transfer fee" or "closing fee" first. The buyer never materializes. Report any version of this to the FTC directly.
How do you sell a timeshare, and does it actually work?
Selling is legal and sometimes possible, but go in with correct expectations. The resale market for timeshares is flooded, because far more owners want out than want in, and that supply glut crushes resale prices. It's common to see identical timeshare weeks listed for $1 on resale sites, and even that doesn't guarantee a buyer, because the buyer still has to take on the annual maintenance fee obligation. If you want to try: List through a reputable timeshare resale marketplace or licensed real estate broker in the state where the property sits (some states require a real estate license to broker timeshare sales; check with your state's real estate commission). Price realistically, meaning near $0 to a few hundred dollars for most weeks-based products, higher only for rare high-demand fixed weeks in peak season at desirable resorts. Never pay an upfront fee to a company that contacts you first claiming they have a buyer waiting; this is one of the most reported timeshare resale scam patterns. Expect the process to take months, not days, and expect that you may end up giving the timeshare away rather than truly "selling" it. If a fast resale doesn't happen and you're current on fees, ask the resort directly about its deed-back or surrender program before hiring anyone. It's often free or near-free and skips the resale market entirely.
What should I do before calling any exit company's phone number?
Do these five things first, in this order, before you ever pick up the phone with an exit company. Check your rescission window. If you bought recently, this might make the whole exit-company question moot. Confirm your state's specific rescission period and required cancellation method (usually written notice, sometimes certified mail) through your state attorney general's consumer protection page. Read your contract's deed-back or exit clause. Some contracts already spell out a surrender process. Some HOAs and developers have quietly rolled out their own free or low-cost deed-back programs in the last several years specifically to reduce delinquencies [4]. Verify any company's license and complaint history. Search the exact business name (check for DBAs) on your state's Secretary of State site, then search that name plus "attorney general" and "lawsuit." Get the fee structure in writing, including whether any money is held in escrow until the exit is complete, and whether there's a cancellation clause if the company doesn't deliver. Escrow-style payment, where funds release only after documented performance, is one of the clearer signs of a more consumer-protective setup, though it's not a universal guarantee against a bad outcome. Compare the actual cost of doing nothing, doing it yourself through the resort's deed-back program, or hiring help, side by side. For a structured breakdown of what "doing it yourself" actually involves, see how to get out of a timeshare and timeshare cancellation.
What are the red flags of a timeshare exit scam?
State attorneys general and the FTC have flagged a recurring set of warning signs across enforcement actions. If you hear any of these on a call, treat it as a serious red flag, more than mild caution. Demands for full payment upfront, before any work has started, with no escrow protection. Legitimate escrow arrangements exist specifically so a company only gets paid once it delivers. Guarantees that your timeshare will be canceled or that you'll get a refund. No legitimate company can guarantee a court outcome, a developer's discretionary release, or a resale sale price. Guarantee language is one of the clearest scam markers regulators cite in enforcement complaints [2]. High-pressure, time-limited offers ("this discount expires today") mirroring the exact tactics used in the original timeshare sales pitch. Unsolicited calls claiming to have "a buyer already lined up" who needs a fee paid before the sale closes. Requests to route payment through wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency instead of a traceable method with consumer protections. Refusal to put fee terms, timeline, and refund conditions in a written contract you can take home and review before signing. For a running list of companies and patterns other owners have flagged, see timeshare call list.
How long does a legitimate timeshare exit actually take?
Longer than most phone pitches suggest. Rescission, if you're still in the window, can be done in days: you send written cancellation notice per your state's statute and it's over. Everything past rescission takes real time. Deed-back and surrender programs through the resort or HOA typically take a few weeks to a few months, depending on whether fees are current and whether the HOA has a backlog. Third-party exit company timelines, based on patterns described in state AG complaints, commonly stretch from several months to two years or longer, and some cases never resolve at all, which is exactly the complaint pattern that has driven AG enforcement [2]. During any of these processes, you're typically still contractually obligated to keep paying maintenance fees and any special assessments until the deed formally transfers or the resort issues a written release. Don't stop payments based on a company's promise that "it's being handled." Unpaid fees can still go to collections or affect your credit even mid-process.
Where does a self-directed exit kit fit into this?
If you've confirmed your rescission window has closed, checked for a resort deed-back program, and you still want a structured way to organize the paperwork, documentation, and letters yourself rather than paying a company thousands of dollars to do it, that's the gap a self-serve option like ExitHonest's $149 one-time Timeshare Exit Kit is built for. It's not a guarantee of exit and it doesn't contact the resort or developer on your behalf; it's a structured toolkit and letter templates so you can pursue deed-back requests, document your ownership history, and organize your own case without paying a $5,000 upfront exit-company fee for work you may be able to do yourself. You can build one at /exit-kit-builder. Whatever route you take, the same rule applies: verify before you pay, and never send a large upfront fee to a company you haven't independently checked against your state attorney general's complaint database and the FTC's fraud reporting site.
Who do I actually call or contact if I think I've been scammed?
If you've already paid an exit company and suspect fraud, or you're being pressured right now, here's where to go, in order. File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, which feeds directly into federal enforcement patterns used in FTC actions against exit and resale scammers. File a complaint with your state attorney general's consumer protection division; many maintain timeshare-specific complaint pages given how common this fraud pattern has become. Contact your state's Secretary of State or real estate commission if you suspect the company is operating without a required business or broker license. If money was wired or paid by card, contact your bank or card issuer immediately; card networks have chargeback windows that shrink the longer you wait. None of this guarantees your money back. But it creates a paper trail regulators use to build cases, and it's the single most useful thing an already-scammed owner can do next.
Frequently asked questions
What is the real timeshare exit team phone number?
There isn't one official number. "Timeshare exit team" is a generic industry phrase used by many different companies, some legitimate, some sued by state attorneys general or the FTC for fraud. Before calling any number from an ad, verify the exact legal business name against your state's Secretary of State database and search for complaints or lawsuits first.
How do I get out of a timeshare fast?
The fastest legal exit is canceling inside your state's rescission window, often a matter of days after signing, using written notice per your state's statute. If that window has passed, ask the resort about a deed-back or surrender program next; it's usually faster than a third-party exit company, which can take months to years.
How much does it cost to get out of a timeshare?
Rescission costs $0 if you're still in your state's window. Resort deed-back programs often cost $0 to a few hundred dollars. Third-party exit companies commonly charge $2,000 to $10,000 or more upfront, based on patterns described in state attorney general enforcement actions, with no guarantee of results.
Are timeshare exit companies legitimate?
Some are, some aren't. The business model itself is legal, but the FTC and multiple state attorneys general have sued specific companies for taking large upfront fees and failing to deliver cancellations. Verify licensing, check complaint history, and avoid any company that guarantees results or demands full payment before starting work.
Are timeshares scams?
The product itself is legal and regulated at the state level, so owning one isn't automatically a scam. Scam risk concentrates in high-pressure original sales pitches and in the resale/exit industry, where state AGs have documented repeated patterns of upfront fees paid with no delivery.
How much is a timeshare, on average?
The average developer-purchased timeshare interval cost $23,940 in 2023, with an average annual maintenance fee of $1,205, according to ARDA industry data. Resale prices are dramatically lower, often near $0 to a few hundred dollars, because resale supply far exceeds buyer demand.
How do I sell my timeshare?
List through a reputable resale marketplace or a licensed broker in the property's state, price realistically (often near $0 for weeks-based products), and never pay an upfront fee to anyone who contacts you first claiming to have a buyer lined up, a pattern regulators warn about repeatedly.
How do I get rid of an inherited timeshare I don't want?
An heir or executor can disclaim an inheritance, including a timeshare, generally within nine months of death under federal disclaimer rules (26 U.S.C. § 2518) and applicable state probate law. If that window passed, contact the resort about its deed-back program before hiring an exit company.
What's the difference between rescission and a deed-back program?
Rescission cancels the entire contract within a short window after signing, as if you never bought, and is governed by state statute. A deed-back or surrender program happens later, after rescission has passed, and involves voluntarily transferring your deed back to the resort or HOA, sometimes for a small fee.
Can I just stop paying my timeshare maintenance fees to force an exit?
This isn't a strategy any consumer protection agency recommends. Stopping payments you contractually owe can trigger collections, credit damage, and in some cases foreclosure on the timeshare interest. Pursue rescission, deed-back, resale, or a vetted exit path instead of simply defaulting.
How do I know if a timeshare exit company is a scam?
Red flags include demanding full payment upfront with no escrow, guaranteeing cancellation or a refund, high-pressure time-limited offers, requests for wire transfer or gift card payment, and refusal to provide a written contract. State AG complaint patterns consistently cite these same warning signs.
How long does a timeshare exit company take to cancel a contract?
Based on patterns in state AG enforcement records, third-party exit processes commonly run from several months to two years, and some never resolve. Compare that to rescission (days) or a resort deed-back program (weeks to a few months) before committing to a paid exit company.
Sources
- Federal Trade Commission, "Reporting on the Timeshare Resales Rule" (16 CFR Part 310 related consumer guidance): FTC warnings on timeshare resale fee scams and high-pressure sales tactics
- Federal Trade Commission v. Resort Release, LLC, et al., Case No. 2:19-cv-00546 (D. Ariz.): State and federal enforcement actions against timeshare exit companies for upfront-fee fraud
- Florida Statutes § 721.10, Cancellation of contract: Florida's 10-day timeshare rescission period
- American Resort Development Association (ARDA), Responsible Exit program overview: Average timeshare purchase price and average annual maintenance fee figures; ARDA Responsible Exit program
- 26 U.S.C. § 2518, Cornell Legal Information Institute: Federal rule allowing a beneficiary to disclaim an inherited interest within nine months