How do i get out of an rci timeshare

Last updated 2026-07-26

is RCI the company that owns my timeshare?

No. RCI (Resort Condominiums International) is an exchange company. Your resort or developer pays to belong to the RCI network so owners can trade their week or points for stays at other member resorts. RCI doesn't hold your deed, doesn't collect your maintenance fees (your resort's HOA or the developer does that), and doesn't have the legal authority to cancel your ownership contract. This matters because a lot of owners call RCI first, hoping to "give back" their week, and get told there's nothing RCI can do. That's accurate. RCI can cancel your exchange membership (the separate subscription that lets you trade weeks), but that has nothing to do with getting out of the underlying deeded or right-to-use contract you signed with the resort or developer. So the real question isn't "how do I get out of RCI," it's "how do I get out of the timeshare that happens to use RCI for exchanges." Once you separate those two things, the path forward looks like any other timeshare exit: rescission if you're still in the window, then deed-back, resale, or a paid exit path if you're not. If you just want to stop paying RCI's exchange membership dues, that part is simple: don't renew it. It's a separate annual fee from your maintenance fee, and letting it lapse doesn't affect your resort ownership either way.

how do I cancel my RCI timeshare membership specifically?

If you mean the RCI exchange subscription itself, you cancel it by contacting RCI's member services and declining to renew, or by not paying the renewal invoice when it comes due. RCI membership is typically sold in multi-year terms (commonly 1, 3, or 5 years) and auto-renews unless you cancel before the term ends, so check your specific renewal date. If you mean the actual timeshare interest, RCI has no cancellation process for that at all, because RCI isn't a party to your purchase contract. You'll need to go back to the entity named on your deed or contract: usually the resort HOA, the management company, or the original developer. A common source of confusion: some RCI Points memberships blend the exchange product and the underlying timeshare interest into one contract (this happens with certain RCI Points-based developer programs). If that's your situation, read your specific purchase agreement to see who the seller of record actually is. That name, not "RCI," is who you need to contact about rescission or deed-back.

how do I get out of a timeshare if I'm still within my rescission period?

This is the fastest, cheapest, cleanest exit that exists, and it only works for a few days after signing. Every state has some form of a timeshare rescission (cooling-off) law that lets you cancel without penalty if you act inside the deadline, but the number of days varies a lot by state, and some states also require the developer to include specific cancellation language in the contract itself. Florida's timeshare statute, for example, gives buyers a specific window and spells out how notice must be given: "the purchaser may cancel the contract until midnight of the 10th calendar day following the date the purchaser signed the contract" and cancellation notice can be sent by "letter, telegram, or facsimile" ^[1]. Other states set their own day counts and rules, so don't assume Florida's 10 days applies to your contract. Pull your state's actual statute or check with your state attorney general's consumer protection office before assuming you've missed it. To rescind: send written notice (certified mail, return receipt, plus email if the contract allows it) to the seller of record named in your contract, not to RCI. State plainly that you're canceling under your state's rescission law, cite the statute if you can find it, and keep copies of everything, along with proof of the mailing date. Do this even if a salesperson tells you it's not necessary in writing; get it in writing anyway. For the specifics on how each state's window works, see how to get out of a timeshare and timeshare cancellation.

how do you get out of a timeshare once the rescission period has passed?

Once the window closes, you're a regular owner, and the exit options change. Broadly there are four real paths, in the order I'd usually try them: 1. Deed-back or surrender program run by the resort or developer, where they take the deed back (sometimes for a fee, sometimes free) and release you from future maintenance fee obligations. 2. Resale on the secondary market, where you sell to another buyer, usually for a small fraction of what you paid. 3. Donation or transfer, giving the timeshare away to someone else willing to take on the fees (rare to find a taker, but it happens). 4. A paid exit service or attorney, used when the developer won't take it back and resale isn't realistic, which is common for older or less desirable weeks. There's no fifth option where you just stop paying and nothing happens. Timeshare contracts are real estate or contract-law obligations. Stopping payment can lead to collections, credit damage, and in deeded-property states, foreclosure. Whatever exit path you choose, keep paying maintenance fees and any loan payments until the exit is actually complete and documented.

does RCI or my resort offer a deed-back program?

Some developers do, RCI itself does not (again, RCI isn't the deed holder). Whether your specific resort has a deed-back or surrender program depends entirely on that resort's current policy, which changes over time and isn't standardized across the industry. To find out: call the resort's homeowner association or the developer's owner services line directly (not RCI), and ask specifically whether they have a deed-back, surrender, or "exit program" for owners in good standing. Many developers only accept deed-backs from owners who are current on fees and own the property outright (no mortgage balance). If you still owe money on a timeshare loan, most deed-back programs won't take it until it's paid off. Some major timeshare brands have run formal exit or transfer programs in recent years, though details and eligibility change, so always confirm current terms directly with the resort rather than relying on old information. Get any deed-back agreement in writing before you sign anything, and confirm in writing that it releases you from all future maintenance fees and special assessments, more than the deed itself.

how do I sell my timeshare if deed-back isn't available?

Selling is legal and sometimes possible, but the math is rough. Resale prices for timeshares are typically a small fraction of original developer prices, and many timeshares resell for nominal amounts, because buyers know maintenance fees will keep rising regardless of what they pay for the interest itself. If you do try to sell: - List only through reputable timeshare resale marketplaces or licensed real estate brokers in the resort's state; never pay a big upfront "listing fee" to a company that cold-called you promising a fast sale.

• Price realistically. If similar weeks at your resort are listed for $500 to $2,000 on resale sites, that's your market, not what you paid.
• Expect to pay closing costs and possibly a small transfer fee to the resort, even in a sale.
• Never wire money to a buyer or broker you haven't independently verified; reselling timeshares is one of the most scam-saturated corners of consumer real estate. The FTC's guidance on timeshares warns owners directly about this market: the agency's consumer alert on timeshare resale offers cautions that "some companies charge high, upfront fees" for resale help "and may not deliver on their promises".

how much does a timeshare cost, and how much do I stand to lose?

Rescission (in-window)	$0, full refund	Days to a few weeks
Deed-back / surrender	$0 to a few hundred dollars in fees	1 to 6 months
Resale	Net loss vs. purchase price; may net $0 to low thousands	Weeks to over a year
Paid exit company	$2,000 to $8,000+ depending on the firm	Months to over a year
Do nothing / default	Collections, credit damage, possible foreclosure	Ongoing	Those paid-exit-company figures aren't from a single regulator study; they're the general range widely reported by state attorneys general and consumer complaints, and prices vary a lot by company and case complexity, so get a specific written quote before agreeing to anything.

This is the number that shapes every exit decision, so it's worth being precise. Industry-reported figures put the average price of a timeshare interval purchased from a developer at roughly $24,140 ^[2]. That's an average across all products tracked; individual resorts and weeks vary widely, from a few thousand dollars for older fixed weeks to well over $40,000 for newer points-based products at branded resorts. On top of the purchase price, annual maintenance fees average around $1,170 per interval per year according to the same industry data ^[2], and those fees typically rise faster than general inflation over time, plus resorts can levy special assessments for large repairs (a new roof, storm damage, renovation) on top of the regular annual fee. Here's the comparison that matters when you're deciding whether to fight for a deed-back versus just walk away from a resale attempt: | Path | Typical cost to you | Typical timeline |

are timeshares scams?

The ownership product itself usually isn't a scam in the legal sense; you get what the contract says (a deeded week, points, or right-to-use interval). The scam risk clusters around two other places: the original sales pitch, and the exit industry. On the sales side, high-pressure tactics, exaggerated resale value claims, and "today only" pricing are extremely common complaints to state attorneys general and the FTC, even if not every instance rises to fraud. On the exit side, the FTC has warned consumers directly about resale and exit offers, cautioning that some firms "charge high, upfront fees" and "may not deliver on their promises" once they've been paid. So the honest answer is: timeshares are a bad investment far more often than they're an outright scam, but the exit side of the industry has real scam density. Any company that asks for thousands of dollars upfront before doing any work, discourages you from talking to a lawyer, or tells you to stop paying your maintenance fees while they "work on it," is showing classic warning signs ^[3]. For a rundown on vetting exit help, see timeshare exit companies.

what red flags mean a timeshare exit company is a scam?

A few patterns show up over and over in state AG complaints and FTC actions against timeshare exit companies: - Large upfront payment demanded before any work starts, often framed as "attorney fees" or "escrow."

• Pressure to stop paying maintenance fees or mortgage payments during the process (this only damages your credit and can trigger foreclosure; keep paying until the exit is done).
• Guarantees of success ("we've never failed to get someone out"), which no legitimate firm can honestly promise since outcomes depend on your specific contract and resort's cooperation.
• Cold calls out of nowhere, especially from callers who already seem to know details about your specific timeshare (this data often comes from resold lead lists, sometimes tied to earlier scams).
• Refusal to give you a plain-English written contract describing exactly what services you're paying for and what happens if it doesn't work. Multiple state attorneys general, including Florida's and Missouri's, have brought or supported actions against timeshare exit and resale companies over these exact practices; check your own state AG's consumer protection page and the FTC's guidance before paying anyone ^{[3] [4]}. Also check the company against the timeshare call list for verified numbers and complaint patterns before you engage.

how do I get rid of a timeshare I inherited and never wanted?

Inherited timeshares are their own headache because you never signed anything, so rescission windows don't apply to you at all; those only cover the original buyer's purchase contract. Instead, an inherited timeshare passes through probate like other estate assets, and you generally have the option to disclaim (formally refuse) the inheritance if you act before accepting any benefit from it. Disclaiming is usually the cleanest move if the estate has no other reason for you to take the property. Under federal tax law (26 U.S.C. § 2518), a qualified disclaimer must generally be made in writing within nine months of the decedent's death and before you've accepted any interest or benefit from the property . If you miss that window or already started using it, you may be stuck negotiating a deed-back or resale like any other owner, except now you're also dealing with the resort's transfer-of-ownership paperwork and probate documentation. Talk to the estate's probate attorney before doing anything with an inherited timeshare; disclaimer rules are federal for tax purposes but the actual probate process is governed by your state's probate code, and missing procedural steps can lock you into ownership you never wanted.

what should I actually do this week if I want out of my RCI-affiliated timeshare?

Start by figuring out exactly where you stand, because the right move depends entirely on your timeline and paperwork. 1. Find your original purchase contract and check the signing date against your state's rescission deadline. If you're still inside it, send written cancellation notice today, by certified mail, to the resort or developer named in the contract, not to RCI. 2. If you're past rescission, call the resort's owner services line (find the number on your maintenance fee bill, not from a search ad) and ask directly whether they run a deed-back or surrender program. 3. If there's no deed-back option, get a realistic resale valuation from a licensed broker or a reputable timeshare resale marketplace before assuming it's worthless. 4. If none of that works and you want structured help organizing your documents, contract review, and a step-by-step exit plan, a flat-fee option like ExitHonest's $149 Timeshare Exit Kit is built for exactly this stage: it doesn't guarantee a cancellation (nobody honestly can) but it gives you the document package and process most owners are missing before they call anyone. Build one at /exit-kit-builder. 5. Whatever you choose, keep paying your maintenance fees and any loan balance until the exit is actually completed and documented in writing. Stopping payment early is the single most common mistake that turns a bad timeshare into a credit and foreclosure problem.

should I hire a lawyer instead of an exit company?

For straightforward cases (in-window rescission, or a resort with a known deed-back program) you often don't need one; the process is mostly paperwork and deadlines. For contested cases, complex points programs, or contracts you suspect involved fraud in the original sale, a real estate attorney licensed in the state where the resort sits is usually money better spent than an exit company's flat fee, because an attorney has actual legal accountability to you and can be checked through your state bar association. Before hiring anyone, check them against your state bar's attorney lookup tool and against your state attorney general's consumer complaint database for the specific exit company's name. If a company won't tell you which state it's licensed to practice law in, or claims it doesn't need a law license because it's "just consulting," that's a reason to slow down, not speed up.

Frequently asked questions

how do I get out of an RCI timeshare?

You don't go through RCI at all; RCI only runs the exchange network, it doesn't hold your deed. Contact the resort or developer named on your purchase contract. If you're still inside your state's rescission window, send written cancellation notice now. If not, ask about a deed-back program, then resale, then a paid exit service as a last resort.

how to get out of a timeshare?

Check your state's rescission deadline first; it's your fastest, cheapest exit if you haven't missed it. Past that window, ask the resort about a deed-back or surrender program, try resale through a licensed broker, or use a documented paid exit path. Never stop paying maintenance fees mid-process; unpaid fees can lead to foreclosure or collections.

how do you get out of a timeshare?

Four realistic paths exist: rescind within your state's cooling-off window, get the resort to accept a deed-back, sell it (usually for far less than you paid), or hire vetted exit help for complex cases. There's no legal path that involves simply stopping payment; that route leads to collections or foreclosure instead of a clean exit.

how to sell a timeshare?

List through a licensed real estate broker or a reputable timeshare resale marketplace, price it near what similar weeks at your resort actually sell for (often a few hundred to a few thousand dollars), and expect closing or transfer fees. Never pay a large upfront fee to a company that cold-called promising a fast sale; that's a common resale scam pattern the FTC has warned about.

how to sell timeshare?

Same process as any resale: get a realistic valuation first, list through a legitimate broker or marketplace, and budget for closing costs plus any resort transfer fee. Resale prices are typically a small fraction of the original developer price, so treat any offer near your purchase price as a red flag, not good luck.

how to get rid of a timeshare?

Rescind if you're still in the window, request a deed-back if the resort offers one, try resale through a licensed channel, or consider a paid exit service for complex contracts. Keep paying fees throughout the process. Confirm any exit in writing before you consider the timeshare gone; verbal promises from a salesperson or exit company aren't enough.

are timeshares scams?

The ownership product itself is usually legal, just a poor investment for most buyers, with resale values far below purchase price. The real scam risk clusters around high-pressure sales tactics and upfront-fee exit companies; the FTC has warned consumers that some resale and exit firms charge high upfront fees and don't deliver.

how much is a timeshare?

Industry-reported figures put the average developer purchase price at roughly $24,140 per interval, with annual maintenance fees averaging around $1,170. Individual prices vary widely by resort, brand, and product type, from a few thousand dollars for older fixed weeks to well over $40,000 for newer points-based programs.

how much do timeshares cost?

Beyond the purchase price (averaging about $24,140), owners pay annual maintenance fees averaging roughly $1,170, plus occasional special assessments for major repairs, plus exchange membership fees if they use a network like RCI. These recurring costs typically rise over time and are the main reason owners look to exit.

how much are timeshares?

Developer sale prices average around $24,140 per interval according to industry-reported figures, though resale prices run far lower, often a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, since buyers know maintenance fees will keep climbing regardless of the purchase price.

does canceling my RCI membership cancel my timeshare ownership?

No. RCI membership is a separate exchange subscription from your deeded or right-to-use timeshare contract. Canceling or letting your RCI membership lapse only stops your ability to trade weeks through their network; it has no effect on your ownership, your maintenance fee obligation, or your contract with the resort or developer.

what happens if I just stop paying my timeshare maintenance fees?

The resort's HOA can send your account to collections, report it to credit bureaus, and in deeded-property states, potentially foreclose on the timeshare interest, similar to a home foreclosure. This can damage your credit for years. Don't stop paying as an exit strategy; complete a documented exit (rescission, deed-back, resale, or transfer) first.

can I get out of an inherited timeshare I never wanted?

Yes, often by formally disclaiming the inheritance during probate rather than accepting it. Under 26 U.S.C. § 2518, a qualified disclaimer generally must be in writing within nine months of the decedent's death and before you've accepted any benefit. Talk to the estate's probate attorney promptly; missing that window can leave you owning it.

Sources

1. Florida Statutes § 721.10, Cancellation: Florida's 10-day rescission window and acceptable methods for sending cancellation notice
2. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Timeshare loans and consumer complaints: Average developer purchase price and average annual maintenance fee context drawn from complaint and industry reporting
3. Missouri Attorney General, Consumer Protection Complaints: Consumer complaint mechanism for timeshare exit company practices
4. 26 U.S.C. § 2518, Disclaimers: Qualified disclaimer of inherited property must be written and made within nine months, before accepting benefit
5. Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute / Florida Administrative Code: Florida timeshare rescission period rules and requirements
6. Florida Legislature: Florida statute governing the mandatory public offering statement and rescission rights for timeshare purchases
7. Nolo: state-by-state summary of timeshare rescission periods
8. U.S. Department of Justice: reports of prosecutions related to timeshare exit fraud schemes