How to cancel my Westgate timeshare: a real options guide

Last updated 2026-07-26

How do I cancel my Westgate timeshare right now, today?

If you bought within the last few days, your first move is to check your contract's rescission (cancellation) clause and your state's statutory rescission period, then send written cancellation notice before that window closes. This is the only truly reliable, fast, cost-free way out of a timeshare purchase. Florida is where most Westgate contracts are written and governed, and Florida law gives buyers 10 calendar days to cancel a timeshare purchase, starting the day after you sign or the day you get the public offering statement, whichever is later. The statute says a purchaser "has the right to void the contract by written notice to the seller... not later than 10 calendar days after the effective date" ^[1]. That's a hard deadline. It doesn't move for weekends or holidays under Florida's general computation rules, though you should still confirm with the actual contract language for how notice must be delivered. Other states have their own windows, and if your contract or closing happened in a different state (Westgate has resorts in Florida, Nevada, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, and elsewhere), that state's rule may control instead. Nevada gives 5 calendar days ^[2]. Missouri gives 5 business days for timeshare interval purchases ^[3]. Always confirm your state's rescission window before assuming Florida's 10-day rule applies, since the location of the sale, more than the resort's headquarters, often determines your rights. For a broader breakdown of how these windows work by state, see how to get out of a timeshare. Send your cancellation letter by a method that creates proof: certified mail with return receipt, plus a copy sent to whatever address or fax number the contract specifies for notices. Keep a copy of everything. Don't rely on a phone call or a verbal promise from a salesperson. If your rescission window has already closed, don't panic, but do stop looking for a fast, free undo button. The rest of this article covers what actually works after rescission expires.

What if my Westgate rescission period has already expired?

Once the statutory window closes, the contract is binding. Westgate's official position is that voluntary rescission after that period isn't something they're required to offer. That doesn't mean you're stuck forever. It means your remaining paths take longer and require more paperwork. Your realistic options at this point are: Westgate's own deed-back or surrender program if you meet their criteria, selling or giving away the timeshare on the resale market, working with a licensed attorney if there's a legitimate legal defect in the sale (misrepresentation, elder financial abuse, fraud), or in rare cases, simply outlasting the fees if the resort will accept a deed-back in lieu of foreclosure. Never stop paying maintenance fees or your loan as a strategy to force a resolution. Missed payments can lead to foreclosure, damage to your credit, and in some states, deficiency judgments for money still owed after foreclosure. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's consumer guidance explains that timeshare loans work like other secured debt, and that a lender can foreclose if you fall behind on payments ^[4]. That risk is real, and it doesn't go away because a timeshare is smaller than a house.

Does Westgate have a deed-back or exit program?

Westgate has offered deed-back arrangements on a case-by-case basis, generally for owners who are current on payments and fees, sometimes tied to age, health, or financial hardship. There's no public, standing "Westgate deed-back program" the way some other developers publish a formal one, so eligibility and terms vary by resort and by owner situation, and Westgate's own customer service line is the only reliable place to confirm current criteria (we don't contact resorts on a reader's behalf, this is something you or your attorney do directly). What tends to help your odds: your account is paid in full with no past-due fees, the deed is free of a mortgage (or the loan is paid off), and you're willing to simply hand back the deed for nothing, no cash refund. Developers accept deed-backs because it's cheaper for them than chasing a defaulted, resentful owner through foreclosure and fee collections for years. For how deed-back programs generally work across different timeshare brands, and what paperwork to expect, see timeshare cancellation.

How do you get out of a timeshare after the rescission period, step by step?

There's no single button, but there is a logical order of operations that avoids wasted money and false starts. 1. Get current on payments first. Being current is almost always a prerequisite for any voluntary deed-back, transfer, or negotiated exit. A delinquent account gets sent to collections or foreclosure, not customer retention. 2. Read your actual deed and loan documents. Know whether the timeshare is deeded real property (common with Westgate) or a right-to-use contract, whether there's a mortgage balance, and who else is on title (this matters a lot for inherited timeshares, covered below). 3. Call the developer and ask directly about deed-back, surrender, or exit programs. Get any offer in writing before signing anything. 4. If the developer won't take it back, try the secondary resale market or give it away through a licensed transfer, understanding that timeshares generally have little to no resale value. 5. If none of that works and you believe you were defrauded or misled at the point of sale (false statements about investment value, hidden fees, high-pressure tactics that violated state law), consult a licensed consumer protection attorney in your state. Some state deceptive trade practices statutes give real remedies here, but this is a legal claim, not an automatic refund. 6. Avoid any company that asks for a large upfront fee and promises to make your contract disappear. More on that below. For a side-by-side of these exit paths, see how do you get out of a timeshare and how to get out of timeshare.

How do I sell my Westgate timeshare, and is it worth trying?

You can sell a Westgate timeshare, but be honest with yourself about the market first: most timeshares resell for a tiny fraction of what owners paid, and some genuinely don't sell at all because buyers know maintenance fees only go up. Realistic paths to sell: list on a licensed timeshare resale marketplace (research licensing status in your state before paying any broker fee), sell peer-to-peer through owner forums specific to Westgate resorts, or work with a licensed real estate broker in the state where the property sits, since several states require a real estate license to broker timeshare resales. Florida, for instance, regulates timeshare resale service providers under Florida Statutes Chapter 721, including required disclosures before you pay any fee ^[1]. A hard truth: if a buyer or company contacts you first, out of nowhere, saying they have a buyer "ready to close" on your unit and just need an upfront fee to process the sale, that's one of the most common timeshare resale scams going. If selling isn't realistic, giving the timeshare away (sometimes for $1, sometimes for nothing) through a proper deed transfer can at least stop future fees, provided the recipient actually wants it and the transfer is done through a title company or attorney, not an informal handshake.

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

Upfront purchase price	Varies widely by resort	No fixed published price; ask for the public offering statement
Annual maintenance fee	Commonly four figures per interval	Tends to rise annually; ask your HOA for 3 years of statements
Special assessments	$0 to several thousand	Irregular, tied to repairs, storms, renovations
Financing interest rate	Often double digits	Developer financing is typically higher than mortgage rates	If you financed the purchase through Westgate itself rather than a bank, ask for your annual percentage rate directly off your loan documents. Developer-financed timeshare loans commonly carry double-digit interest rates, and that compounding is a big reason balances feel impossible to pay down. For a deeper look at fee trends and how to challenge or budget for them, see the maintenance-fees hub content or ask directly with your resort HOA for the last three years of fee statements before deciding your next move.

Timeshare purchase prices vary enormously by brand, location, season, and unit size, and Westgate doesn't publish a fixed price list. Get your resort's actual disclosure statement before assuming any industry-wide number applies to your contract. On top of the purchase price, annual maintenance fees are the number that actually drives owners to want out, and they reliably rise faster than general inflation over time in most owners' experience, plus periodic special assessments for repairs or storm damage that can run into the thousands in a single year. | Cost component | Typical range | Notes |

Are timeshares scams? What's real risk versus normal cost?

Timeshares themselves aren't illegal, and the underlying product (guaranteed vacation lodging) is real. But the sales process has a long, well-documented history of high-pressure tactics, and a large share of consumer complaints are about exactly that, not about the lodging itself. State attorneys general have pursued real enforcement actions against timeshare companies for deceptive sales practices over the years. That's the scam layer that sits on top of the legitimate industry: fake resale brokers, fake "attorney networks," and exit companies that take a large upfront fee (sometimes $3,000 to $10,000 or more) and then do little or nothing. So the honest answer is this: the timeshare product is a real, if often overpriced, vacation contract, and the bigger scam risk most owners actually face isn't the original purchase. It's the exit industry that grew up around desperate owners looking for a way out. Read timeshare exit companies before you hire anyone, and check any company against your state attorney general's consumer complaint database before paying a dime. Common red flags of an exit scam: a cold call claiming to already have a buyer for your unit, a demand for full payment before any work starts, pressure to wire money or pay with gift cards, and promises that sound absolute ("we can get your timeshare cancelled, no matter what"). No legitimate company can promise a developer will release you from a valid contract.

How do I get rid of a timeshare I inherited?

Inherited timeshares are one of the most common reasons people search for an exit, and the rules are different from a voluntary purchase decision. If you're named an heir or the estate's executor, you generally have to affirmatively accept the deed for the timeshare interest to transfer to you; in most states, an executor can disclaim (formally refuse) an inheritance, including a timeshare, within the process set out by that state's probate code, though you should confirm the exact procedure and deadline with a probate attorney in the decedent's state. If the timeshare has already transferred into your name through probate, you're in the same position as any other current owner: check whether the account is current on fees, then pursue deed-back, resale, or professional help, in that order. Some resorts will accept a hardship-based deed-back for a deceased owner's heirs who don't want the property, particularly when the account has no past-due balance. Don't assume you're automatically liable for a deceased relative's timeshare debt just because you're a family member. Liability generally runs to the estate first, and creditors typically have limited windows to make claims against an estate under state probate law. But if you've formally accepted the property (used it, tried to rent it, or paid fees on it), that acceptance can weaken your ability to walk away later. Talk to a probate attorney before you pay a single maintenance fee bill on an inherited unit if your goal is to disclaim it.

What should I never do when trying to cancel a Westgate timeshare?

Don't pay a large upfront fee to any company that contacts you promising to cancel your timeshare with certainty. This is the single most common way timeshare owners lose additional money on top of what they already spent. Don't stop paying your maintenance fees or loan as a pressure tactic. It feels like the only card you have to play, but it mainly damages your credit and can trigger foreclosure, and in judicial foreclosure states, potentially a deficiency judgment for the remaining balance owed. The CFPB's consumer guidance confirms timeshare loans function like other secured debt, with foreclosure as a real consequence of default ^[4]. Don't sign a new contract with a "timeshare transfer" company that promises to take over your deed and payments in exchange for an upfront fee, without verifying that company is licensed and the transfer is actually recorded with the county. Some of these transfer schemes leave the original owner still legally on the hook because the transfer was never properly completed. Don't wire money or pay in gift cards to anyone claiming to be from Westgate's legal department or a state agency demanding payment to "process" your cancellation. That's not how real cancellations or agency actions work, ever. For a running list of numbers and organizations worth calling instead of paying a stranger, see timeshare call list.

Where can I get real help instead of paying an exit company thousands upfront?

Start with free, official resources before paying anyone. Your state attorney general's consumer protection division can tell you whether a specific exit or resale company has complaints filed against it, and can sometimes mediate directly. The FTC accepts consumer complaints at reportfraud.ftc.gov and tracks patterns across companies nationally. If you want a structured, low-cost way to organize your own exit attempt (gathering the right documents, drafting your own deed-back request, understanding your state's specific rules) rather than paying a company thousands of dollars to do it for you, that's the gap ExitHonest's $149 one-time Exit Kit is built for: a self-directed toolkit, not a company that contacts the resort on your behalf or promises a specific result. You can build yours at /exit-kit-builder. If your situation involves a real legal claim (fraud at sale, elder financial abuse, a lender violation), a consumer protection attorney licensed in the state where you bought the timeshare is worth the consultation fee, and many offer free initial calls. Legal aid organizations in some states also take on timeshare fraud cases for qualifying low-income owners.

Frequently asked questions

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

After rescission, you generally need the developer's voluntary deed-back or surrender program (if you qualify and are current on fees), a resale or giveaway through a licensed transfer, or a legal claim if you were defrauded. There's no automatic legal right to cancel a valid contract after the window closes, so treat any company that promises otherwise with suspicion.

How do you get out of a timeshare if you're still within the cancellation window?

Send written cancellation notice to the seller before your state's statutory deadline, using certified mail or another method that proves delivery. Florida requires notice within 10 calendar days under Fla. Stat. 721.10; other states set their own shorter or longer windows, so confirm the rule for the state where you signed.

How to sell a timeshare when nobody seems to want it?

List with a licensed resale broker or marketplace in the state where the resort sits, try owner-to-owner forums specific to that brand, and be realistic that most timeshares resell for a small fraction of the purchase price. If it truly won't sell, a deed-back to the developer or a proper deed transfer (even for $0) may be your only path.

Are timeshares scams, or is the sales pitch just aggressive?

The underlying vacation product is generally real, but the sales process has a documented history of high-pressure tactics and misleading claims about resale value or investment potential. The bigger scam risk today is often the exit and resale industry around timeshares, where advance-fee schemes target owners desperate to cancel.

How much do timeshares cost on average?

Purchase prices vary widely by brand, resort, season, and unit size, commonly running into five figures, with annual maintenance fees typically in the four-figure range per interval on top of that, plus periodic special assessments. Actual Westgate pricing varies by resort and points package, so ask for a full disclosure statement before buying.

How much are timeshares if I buy resale instead of from the developer?

Resale prices are often dramatically lower, sometimes just a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, because the original buyer already absorbed most of the depreciation and the developer isn't collecting a sales commission. You'll still owe the same ongoing maintenance fees and any special assessments as any other owner on that deed.

How to get rid of a timeshare I inherited and never wanted?

If the estate hasn't finished probate, ask the probate attorney about formally disclaiming the inherited interest before you accept it. If it already transferred to your name, treat it like any owned timeshare: check the account is current, then pursue deed-back, resale, or attorney help, in that order.

Does Westgate charge a fee to cancel or deed back a timeshare?

Westgate's deed-back terms vary by resort and situation and aren't published as one fixed nationwide program, so any fee, if one applies, should come to you in writing before you agree to anything. Confirm current terms directly with Westgate or through your attorney; treat any third party who wants payment upfront to arrange it for you with real caution.

What happens if I just stop paying my Westgate maintenance fees?

Stopping payment can trigger late fees, collections calls, loss of usage rights, and eventually foreclosure on the timeshare interest, which the CFPB's guidance notes works much like other secured debt defaults. In some states, a deficiency judgment could leave you owing money even after foreclosure completes, so this isn't a shortcut to a clean exit.

How long is the rescission window to cancel a Westgate contract?

It depends on the state where you signed, more than where Westgate is headquartered. Florida requires cancellation notice within 10 calendar days under Fla. Stat. 721.10; Nevada requires 5 calendar days; Missouri requires 5 business days for timeshare interval contracts. Always confirm your specific state's rule before assuming a deadline.

Can a timeshare exit company guarantee they'll cancel my Westgate contract?

No legitimate company can guarantee a developer will release you from a valid, binding contract, since that outcome depends on the developer's own program eligibility, your account standing, and sometimes legal facts specific to your sale. Treat any absolute promise, especially paired with a large upfront fee, as a serious red flag.

Is it worth hiring a lawyer to get out of a Westgate timeshare?

It can be worth a consultation if you believe there was fraud, misrepresentation, or elder financial abuse in the original sale, since those can create real legal remedies beyond a simple deed-back. For a straightforward buyer's-remorse situation with no legal defect, a lawyer may cost more than the exit is worth, and a deed-back or resale attempt may make more sense first.

Sources

1. Online Sunshine (Florida Legislature), Florida Statutes Section 721.10 (Cancellation): Florida gives timeshare purchasers 10 calendar days to cancel a contract by written notice
2. Nevada Legislature, Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 119A (Time Shares): Nevada sets a rescission period for time share purchases
3. Missouri Revisor of Statutes, Chapter 407, Section 407.616 (Time-share disclosures and cancellation): Missouri sets a rescission window for time-share interval purchases
4. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, "What is a timeshare?" consumer guidance: Timeshare loan defaults and foreclosures are handled similarly to other secured debt
5. Florida Statutes Chapter 721 (Vacation and Timeshare Plans), Online Sunshine: Florida regulates timeshare resale service providers and requires disclosures before fees are collected
6. Internal Revenue Service: Tax treatment considerations relevant to inheriting a timeshare property, such as basis and rental income rules