How to get out of a Westgate timeshare, honestly

Last updated 2026-07-26

Can you actually get out of a Westgate timeshare?

Yes, but there's no single button for it. Anyone who tells you it's quick and painless is usually selling something. Westgate Resorts is a large, privately held timeshare developer based in Orlando, with resorts across Florida, Tennessee, Nevada, Missouri, South Carolina, and Utah. It does not run a public buyback program the way some hotel-brand timeshare companies do, and it has a documented history of being sued by both the FTC and state attorneys general over sales practices. In 2023 the FTC and the Florida Attorney General jointly announced a settlement with Westgate Resorts resolving allegations of deceptive sales tactics targeting timeshare owners and misleading foreclosure-related mailers ^[1]. That doesn't mean every Westgate contract is invalid or that you're automatically owed a refund. It does mean regulators have taken the company's marketing and collection practices seriously enough to act on them, which matters when you're evaluating your own options. Realistically, your paths out fall into four buckets: rescission (if you're still in the window), a deed-back or surrender request directly to Westgate, resale on the secondary market, or a formal exit process (attorney-assisted, or DIY paperwork if your situation is simple). There is no fifth option where a company "negotiates" your contract away for a flat fee with no risk to you. If someone offers that, read the exit scam warning signs before you sign anything or wire a dollar.

How to get out of a timeshare during the rescission period

Every state that regulates timeshares gives buyers a rescission period, a short window after signing when you can cancel for any reason and get your money back, no explanation needed. This is your cleanest, fastest, cheapest exit if you're still inside it. The length varies by state and is genuinely short, often measured in days, not weeks. Florida, where most Westgate contracts are signed, sets this out in its timeshare statute, Chapter 721 of the Florida Statutes, which governs vacation and timeshare plans sold in the state ^[2]. Confirm your state's rescission window before doing anything else, because the clock usually starts at signing, not at your first maintenance fee bill, and it does not pause for holidays or your indecision. To rescind properly: put it in writing, follow the exact method your contract specifies (certified mail is standard and gives you proof), keep a copy of everything, and send it to the address listed in the rescission clause, more than to your sales rep. Do this even if a phone call felt like enough. Verbal cancellations get "lost" more often than paper trails do. If you're past the window, rescission is off the table. Full stop. Nobody can retroactively invoke it, no matter what a call center tells you. That's when you move to the other three buckets.

How do you get out of a timeshare after rescission has passed?

Once you're past your rescission window, the honest options narrow to deed-back, resale, or formal exit through counsel. There's no shortcut regulators recognize as legitimate. Deed-back means Westgate (or its parent entity) agrees to take the deed back from you, usually for free or a modest processing fee, releasing you from future maintenance fees. Westgate has not published a standing deed-back program the way some competitors advertise theirs, so availability depends on your resort, your loan status, and whether your account is current. If you're behind on fees or still financing the purchase through Westgate, expect them to require you to be current, or even pay off the loan, before they'll take a deed back. Resale means selling the timeshare, typically for very little money and often for nothing, given how saturated the secondary market is. Formal exit means working with a real estate attorney or a licensed exit process to review your deed, contract, and state law, then executing whichever path (deed-back negotiation, surrender, or in rare cases a legal challenge to the contract) actually fits your paperwork. Whichever path you pick, don't stop paying your maintenance fees or loan while you sort it out. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes that missed timeshare payments can lead to foreclosure and can be reported on your credit history like other debt obligations ^[3]. That's true whether or not you ever intended to keep using the week.

Does Westgate have a deed-back or surrender program?

Westgate doesn't advertise a formal, always-on deed-back program to the general public the way a few timeshare brands do. That doesn't mean surrender is impossible, it means it's handled case by case, usually through their owner services or loan servicing department, and it's more likely to succeed if your account is paid in full and current. If you want to pursue this yourself: call Westgate's owner services line (numbers are on your billing statement and closing documents), ask specifically for their "deed-back," "surrender," or "voluntary relinquishment" process by name, and get any offer in writing before you agree to anything. Ask what happens to unpaid fees, whether they'll report anything to credit bureaus, and whether they require a fee to process the surrender. Be skeptical of a verbal "sure, we'll take it back" with nothing in writing. Timeshare companies have been known to string owners along on informal surrender promises for months while fees keep accruing. If Westgate won't put a firm process in writing within a reasonable time, that's a signal to loop in an attorney rather than keep calling and hoping.

How to sell a timeshare (and why resale rarely pays off)

You can sell a Westgate timeshare, but expect to net little or nothing, and never pay a large upfront fee to a company promising a buyer. The timeshare resale market is famously oversupplied. ARDA, the timeshare industry's own trade group, and independent resale sites routinely show timeshare interests reselling for a small fraction of what owners originally paid, sometimes listed for $1 just to escape ongoing maintenance fees. To sell for real: list on a reputable timeshare resale marketplace (research fees carefully, legitimate resale brokers earn commission on a completed sale, they don't charge you thousands upfront), price honestly based on comparable recent sales rather than what you paid, and disclose the maintenance fee schedule clearly since that's what scares buyers off fastest. Watch for the classic resale scam pattern: an unsolicited call says a buyer is "already lined up" for your specific unit, but you have to pay a transfer fee, closing fee, or tax first. That buyer almost never exists.

Are timeshares scams?

The timeshare product itself isn't inherently a scam. Plenty of owners genuinely use and enjoy their weeks for years. But the sales process and the exit industry around it have both drawn serious, well-documented regulatory action for deceptive practices. On the sales side, Westgate specifically settled a related enforcement matter: in 2023, Westgate agreed to a settlement with the FTC and Florida AG resolving allegations that its foreclosure-notice mailers deceptively implied recipients faced imminent foreclosure to pressure them into new purchases ^[1]. That's a real settlement with real terms, not a rumor. On the exit side, the FTC has separately brought enforcement actions against timeshare exit companies that charged large upfront fees (sometimes thousands of dollars) and never delivered promised cancellations, in some cases leaving consumers both out the fee and still owning the timeshare ^[4]. So the honest answer is: the product is a real, if often overpriced, vacation contract, and the industry surrounding both selling and exiting it has a real scam problem that regulators actively police. That's exactly why our exit scam awareness guide exists, and why we built a flat-fee, no-promises alternative instead of a commission model.

How much do timeshares cost, and how much is a Westgate timeshare specifically?

Average U.S. timeshare purchase price (ARDA, 2023)	~$24,140 [5]
Average annual maintenance fee (ARDA, 2023)	~$1,170 [5]
Typical annual maintenance fee increase	3% to 5%+ per year, varies by resort
Special assessments	Unpredictable, can run several hundred to several thousand dollars
Resale value	Often near $0 to a few hundred dollars	If rising fees are your main problem rather than wanting out entirely, it's worth reading how maintenance fees actually get set and challenged before you assume your only move is a full exit.

Timeshare purchase prices and ongoing fees vary widely, but the industry-wide averages give you a real benchmark. According to ARDA's 2023 owner survey data, the average U.S. timeshare purchase price was about $24,140, and the average annual maintenance fee was about $1,170 ^[5]. Westgate units, especially larger or newer resorts in Orlando, Las Vegas, and Gatlinburg, commonly run higher than that average at the point of sale, with some multi-bedroom or presidential-tier units selling in the $30,000 to $50,000+ range depending on season and unit size, though exact pricing isn't publicly standardized and varies by resort and sales event. Maintenance fees are the part that catches most owners off guard, because they rise most years and there's no cap in most contracts. A fee that started at $800 a year can become $1,500 or more a decade later, and special assessments (for storm damage, renovations, or reserve shortfalls) come on top of that, unbudgeted. | Cost component | Typical range |

How to get rid of a timeshare you inherited

Inherited Westgate timeshares are common, and heirs are often surprised to learn the debt and the maintenance fee obligation transfer with the deed, more than the vacation benefit. You generally have three choices: accept the interest and start paying, disclaim the inheritance formally before you accept any benefit from it, or accept it and immediately pursue a deed-back or exit. Disclaiming means formally refusing the inheritance under your state's probate law, which usually must happen within a set time and before you've used or benefited from the property in any way; once you've called Westgate or booked a stay, you may have accepted it. Talk to a probate attorney in the deceased's state before doing anything, because disclaimer rules and deadlines are state-specific and unforgiving of paperwork mistakes. If you've already accepted the estate broadly and don't want to disclaim just the timeshare, contact Westgate's owner services with a copy of the death certificate and ask about their process for heirs, including whether they'll accept a deed-back given the circumstances. Some companies are more flexible with inherited interests than with owners simply trying to exit voluntarily, though this isn't a sure thing with Westgate specifically.

What happens if you just stop paying Westgate?

Don't do this as a strategy. Stopping payment without a plan doesn't erase the debt, it just adds late fees, damages your credit, and can trigger foreclosure on the timeshare interest, which stays on your credit report for years. Timeshare loans and maintenance fee obligations are enforceable debts, and Westgate, like other developers, can pursue collections or foreclosure depending on your state and contract terms. Some owners assume that because a timeshare interest is a small, low-value asset, the company won't bother collecting. That's a bad bet. Deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure and foreclosure processes on timeshares are administratively simpler than on a house, which sometimes makes companies more willing to pursue them, not less. If you genuinely cannot afford your payments, that's a real reason to move fast on a deed-back request or attorney consultation, not a reason to go silent. A missed-payment spiral is exactly the vulnerable moment predatory exit companies target with cold calls promising a fast fix for a big upfront fee. Keep a paper trail of every call and letter you send Westgate, and don't wire money to anyone who calls you first.

How do you spot a Westgate timeshare exit scam?

The pattern is consistent enough that regulators describe it the same way across dozens of enforcement cases: an unsolicited call or ad promises a specific cancellation outcome, demands a large fee upfront (often $2,000 to $10,000+), pressures you to stop paying Westgate immediately, and then goes silent or stalls for months once you've paid. The FTC has brought numerous cases against timeshare exit and relief companies for taking large upfront fees while failing to deliver the promised cancellation, and it recommends verifying any company through your state attorney general's consumer complaint database before paying anything ^[4]. Florida's Attorney General maintains a consumer protection division that accepts complaints against timeshare-related companies operating in the state. Red flags worth memorizing: a promise of a specific outcome ("we will cancel your timeshare, no matter what"), pressure to stop making payments to Westgate, demands for payment by wire transfer or gift card, no physical business address you can verify, and refusal to put fee structure and refund policy in writing before you pay. A legitimate attorney or exit service explains the actual legal mechanism (rescission, deed-back negotiation, or contract dispute) and never promises a specific result, because nobody honest can promise that. See our full exit scam awareness breakdown for the complete list.

What does a DIY or paid exit process actually involve?

Whether you go it alone or pay for help, the actual mechanics are the same: gather your documents, confirm what you owe and to whom, identify which exit path fits your situation, and execute the paperwork correctly. What a paid service adds is organization, document templates, and knowing which office to send what to, not a magic override of your contract. Documents to gather first: your original purchase contract, closing disclosures, the deed, current maintenance fee statements, any loan servicing statements if Westgate financed the purchase, and records of every payment you've made. Without these, both a deed-back request and a legal review take much longer. This is where ExitHonest's $149 one-time Exit Kit fits: it's a flat-fee document and process kit built for owners who want a structured, DIY-friendly path (rescission letter templates where applicable, deed-back request paperwork, and a scam-screening checklist) instead of paying a commission-based exit company thousands of dollars with no assurance of outcome. It doesn't contact Westgate for you, doesn't promise any particular result, and isn't legal advice; it's paperwork and process, priced like paperwork. If your situation is complicated (title disputes, multiple owners, an estate involved), a real estate attorney licensed in the resort's state is still worth the consult fee before you file anything.

How do rescission and exit rules differ by state Westgate operates in?

Florida	Florida timeshare statute, disclosed in your contract	[2]
Tennessee	Tennessee timeshare act, disclosed in your contract	Confirm with TN Attorney General consumer division
Nevada	Nevada timeshare statute, disclosed in your contract	Confirm with NV Attorney General consumer division
Missouri	Missouri timeshare regulation, disclosed in your contract	Confirm with MO Attorney General consumer division
South Carolina	SC timeshare act, disclosed in your contract	Confirm with SC Attorney General consumer division
Utah	Utah timeshare act, disclosed in your contract	Confirm with UT Attorney General consumer division	Your contract itself is required to state the rescission period for the state it was signed in; that clause is the fastest way to confirm your actual deadline rather than guessing based on a general number you saw online. For a full state-by-state breakdown of rescission periods and how to invoke them, our how to get out of a timeshare guide walks through each state's specific rule.

Because Westgate resorts sit in several states, the rescission and foreclosure rules that apply depend on where the contract was signed and where the resort sits, not where you live. A Florida-signed contract follows Florida's timeshare statute, a Tennessee-signed one follows Tennessee law, and so on. | State (Westgate resort locations) | What governs rescission | Where to confirm |

Frequently asked questions

How to get out of a timeshare with Westgate specifically?

Check your contract for the rescission clause first; if you're still inside that window, cancel in writing by certified mail. If it's passed, contact Westgate owner services about a deed-back or surrender, consider resale (expect little money back), or consult a real estate attorney. Never pay a large upfront fee to a company that cold-called you promising a guaranteed result.

How do you get out of a timeshare after the rescission period ends?

You're limited to deed-back (Westgate accepting the deed back, often requiring your account to be current), resale on the secondary market (usually for very little money), or formal legal review of your contract by a real estate attorney. There's no shortcut regulators recognize; the FTC has repeatedly sued exit companies that promised guaranteed results for an upfront fee.

How to sell a timeshare without getting scammed?

List through a resale broker paid on commission after closing, never one demanding a large fee upfront. Price based on comparable recent sales, not what you originally paid, since resale values are typically a small fraction of purchase price. Be suspicious of unsolicited calls claiming a buyer is already lined up for your unit.

How to get rid of a timeshare you no longer want or use?

Same paths as any exit: rescission if you're still in the window, deed-back if the company offers it, resale (expect low or no return), or attorney-assisted contract review. Keep paying maintenance fees while you pursue any of these, since stopping payment risks foreclosure and credit damage regardless of your intent to exit.

Are timeshares scams, or is the resale/exit industry the scam?

The timeshare product itself is a real, legally enforceable vacation contract, though often overpriced relative to resale value. The bigger documented scam risk sits in the exit and resale industry: the FTC has sued numerous exit companies for charging large upfront fees and never delivering promised cancellations.

How much is a timeshare, on average?

ARDA's 2023 owner survey put the average U.S. timeshare purchase price at about $24,140, with average annual maintenance fees around $1,170. Westgate units, particularly larger or newer resort units, often price above that average depending on location, size, and sales event.

How much do timeshares cost each year after purchase?

Beyond the purchase price, expect an annual maintenance fee (averaging about $1,170 industry-wide per ARDA's 2023 data) that typically rises 3% to 5% or more per year, plus occasional special assessments for repairs or reserve shortfalls that can add several hundred to several thousand dollars in a single year.

Does Westgate have an official deed-back or surrender program?

Westgate doesn't publicly advertise a standing deed-back program the way some competitors do. Deed-back or surrender requests are typically handled case by case through owner services, and success is more likely if your account is paid current. Get any agreement in writing before relying on it.

What happens if I stop paying my Westgate maintenance fees?

Unpaid fees accrue late charges, can be sent to collections, and can ultimately lead to foreclosure on the timeshare interest, which damages your credit for years. Stopping payment isn't a valid exit strategy; pursue a deed-back, resale, or legal consult instead of going silent on the account.

How do I know if a Westgate exit company is a scam?

Red flags include promises of a specific guaranteed outcome, upfront fees before any work is done, pressure to stop paying Westgate, wire-transfer or gift-card payment demands, and no verifiable business address. Check the company against your state attorney general's consumer complaint database before paying anything, per FTC guidance.

Can I get out of an inherited Westgate timeshare?

You can disclaim the inheritance formally under state probate law before accepting any benefit from it, or accept the estate and then pursue a deed-back or exit with Westgate directly. Disclaimer deadlines and rules are state-specific and unforgiving, so consult a probate attorney in the deceased's state quickly.

How to sell timeshare interests fast without losing money upfront?

Realistically, prioritize avoiding loss over speed: use a commission-based resale broker, disclose maintenance fees honestly to buyers, and price near recent comparable sales (often near $0). Paying an upfront fee to promise a fast sale is the single most common resale scam pattern the FTC warns about.

Sources

1. Federal Trade Commission, "Westgate Resorts to Pay $1.7 Million to Settle FTC, Florida Charges It Deceived Timeshare Owners with Foreclosure Rescue Tactics": FTC and Florida AG settlement with Westgate over deceptive foreclosure-related mailers, including a monetary payment
2. Florida Statutes, Chapter 721, Vacation and Timeshare Plans: Florida timeshare law requires rescission rights to be disclosed in the contract
3. Federal Trade Commission, "FTC Action Leads to Lifetime Ban for Timeshare Exit Company That Took Consumers' Money and Ran": FTC enforcement against timeshare exit companies that charged large upfront fees and failed to deliver promised cancellations
4. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, "What is a timeshare?": Timeshare loan defaults and foreclosures can be reported to credit bureaus and affect credit
5. American Resort Development Association (ARDA), State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry, 2023 edition: Average U.S. timeshare purchase price and average annual maintenance fee figures