How to get out of a Westgate resort timeshare

Last updated 2026-07-25

Can you actually get out of a Westgate timeshare?

Yes, but there's no button to push. Westgate Resorts, based in Orlando and one of the largest privately held timeshare companies in the country, does not advertise a standing exit or buyback program the way a few competitors do. That means your path out depends heavily on timing: are you still inside your rescission window, or did you close on the purchase months or years ago? If you signed recently, rescission is your fastest and cleanest option, full stop. If you're past that window, you're looking at either negotiating directly with Westgate for a deed-back (sometimes called a deed-in-lieu), selling or giving away the deed through a legitimate transfer, or in rare hardship cases working with an attorney to challenge the contract itself. What you should not do is assume a phone call from a stranger who found your name on a timeshare owner list and promises to get you out for a few thousand dollars up front, with no risk to them if it doesn't work. That's the single most common scam pattern the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general warn about, and it applies to Westgate owners as much as anyone else ^[1].

How do I cancel a Westgate contract during the rescission period?

Every state that allows timeshare sales gives buyers a short window after signing to cancel for any reason and get their money back, no explanation required. This is called a rescission period, and it exists specifically because state legislatures know high-pressure timeshare sales floors produce a lot of same-day regret. The length of that window is set by the state where you signed, not by Westgate. Florida, where most Westgate resorts and the corporate sales offices are based, gives buyers 10 calendar days to cancel a timeshare purchase, per Florida Statutes section 721.10, which states a purchaser "may cancel the contract until midnight of the 10th calendar day following the date the purchaser signed the contract". Some states are shorter, some are longer. Confirm your state's rescission window before you assume you've missed it; it's based on where you signed the contract, which for many Westgate buyers touring in Florida, Nevada, Tennessee, or Missouri means that state's law, not your home state's. To rescind, follow the cancellation instructions printed in your purchase contract exactly. Most states require the notice in writing, and many require it be sent by certified mail so you have proof of the date. Don't rely on a phone call or an email alone unless your contract explicitly allows it. Keep a copy of everything and get a delivery confirmation. If you're still inside that window right now, stop reading and go start the cancellation letter. This is genuinely the one moment in the whole timeshare exit process where the process is fast, free, and entirely in your control. For a full state-by-state breakdown of windows and required notice methods, see how to get out of a timeshare.

What if I'm past the rescission window? What are my options?

Once the window closes, you own the contract, and Westgate will treat it like any other legal obligation: maintenance fees and any financing payments are due on schedule. That doesn't mean you're stuck forever, but the remaining paths take longer and none of them come with a promised outcome. Option one: ask Westgate directly about a deed-back. Some developers, including Westgate at various points, have offered limited deed-back or surrender programs, usually for owners current on their fees who no longer want the property and are willing to walk away with no cash back. These programs aren't guaranteed to exist at any given time, aren't advertised heavily, and typically require you to be paid in full or very close to it. Call Westgate's owner services line directly and ask what's currently available; don't pay a third party to make this call for you. Option two: sell the deed on the resale market. Timeshares almost never sell for anything close to what you paid, and a meaningful share of listings on resale sites never sell at all. Realistic expectations matter here (see the section on selling below). Option three: give it away. Some owners transfer a paid-off deed to a licensed timeshare transfer company or even a willing family member for $1, just to get off the deed and stop owing future fees. Make sure any transfer is recorded properly with the county and that Westgate's HOA/association is notified, or you may still show up as the owner of record for fee and assessment purposes. Option four: hire a real estate or contract attorney licensed in the state where you bought, especially if you believe you were misled about resale value, rental income, or investment potential during the sales pitch. Misrepresentation claims are fact-specific and not every owner has one, but if the sales presentation crossed into fraud, an attorney can tell you whether you have grounds to challenge the contract outside the rescission window.

How do I sell a Westgate timeshare?

You can sell a Westgate week or points package the same way you'd sell any deeded real estate: list it, find a buyer, and transfer the deed through a closing process. The catch is demand. Timeshare resale prices are a fraction of retail purchase price in almost every case, and buyer demand for secondhand weeks is thin. The American Resort Development Association, the industry's own trade group, has long acknowledged that the resale market moves slowly and prices sit well below developer prices. If you list your Westgate week yourself, price it based on comparable recent sales (not what you paid), expect to possibly cover closing costs yourself to attract a buyer, and be wary of any resale broker who wants a large fee before they've found a buyer. Legitimate real estate transactions collect commission at closing, not up front. If Westgate has a right of first refusal clause in your contract (many developer contracts do), you may be required to offer Westgate the chance to buy back the week at the same price before you can sell to an outside buyer. Read your contract or deed language carefully, or have an attorney review it, before you accept an offer. For a broader look at the resale process across timeshare brands, see how to sell a timeshare and timeshare cancellation.

Does Westgate have a deed-back or exit program?

Westgate does not run a permanent, publicly documented deed-back program the way you'd find with a clear published application on some competitors' websites. That doesn't mean deed-backs never happen; owners have reported success reaching an internal team by calling Westgate's owner relations or owner services number and asking specifically about surrendering or deeding back a paid-off week. The general pattern across the industry (not specific to Westgate) is that developers are far more willing to take a deed back if: the mortgage is fully paid off, maintenance fees are current with no arrears, and you're not asking for any money in return. If you still owe a loan balance or you're behind on fees, expect Westgate to require that balance be resolved first, since a deed-back doesn't erase debt already owed under the contract. Call and ask. Get any offer in writing before you sign anything, and don't pay a third-party company a large up-front fee just to make this same phone call on your behalf, since you can make it yourself for free.

Are timeshares scams? And is Westgate a scam?

Timeshares themselves are legal financial products, regulated at the state level, and Westgate is a legitimate, licensed developer, not a fraud operation. But the sales process is a different question. High-pressure tour presentations, exaggerated resale value claims, and vague fee escalation disclosures are common complaints across the entire industry, and they've drawn regulatory attention more than once. What is a scam, consistently and specifically, is the timeshare exit industry that grew up around owner frustration. The FTC has brought enforcement actions against timeshare exit and relief companies for taking large upfront fees, sometimes thousands of dollars, and then doing little or nothing to actually get owners out of their contracts. The FTC's own release on its action against Timeshare Exit Team and related defendants states the agency and the state of Missouri sued the operation for "using unlawful tactics to persuade timeshare owners to pay significant upfront fees for a service that, in many instances, failed to deliver the promised timeshare exits," FTC press release, January 2021 ^[1]. State attorneys general in Florida and elsewhere have issued consumer alerts warning owners specifically about this pattern ^[2]. The warning signs are consistent: a company contacts you out of the blue (often claiming to be affiliated with a class action or a government program), asks for payment before any work is done, promises an outcome no legitimate company can actually control, and pressures you to stop paying your maintenance fees or mortgage while they 'handle it.' Never stop paying what you owe under your contract based on an exit company's advice; missed payments can trigger foreclosure, collections, and credit damage regardless of what the exit company promised ^[2]. If you're evaluating a company, check them against a timeshare call list of verified, non-scam options before you send anyone money.

How much does a Westgate timeshare cost?

Purchase prices for Westgate weeks and points packages typically range from around $10,000 to $40,000+ depending on the resort, unit size, season, and whether it's a fixed week, floating week, or points-based ownership, though luxury or high-demand locations can run higher. These are approximate ranges based on typical timeshare industry retail pricing, since Westgate does not publish a standard price list and pricing is negotiated per unit and per sales presentation; treat any number here as a general range, not a quote. On top of the purchase price, owners pay annual maintenance fees, and this is where the real long-term cost lives. Maintenance fees for shared-deed and points-based resorts commonly run in the $800 to $1,300 per year range industry-wide, and they typically rise annually, according to consumer education materials published by University of Missouri Extension on vacation ownership costs ^[3]. Special assessments (one-time charges for major repairs, storm damage, or renovations) are billed on top of the regular annual fee and are not optional; they're contractual obligations tied to your ownership interest. Do the math over a 10 or 20 year holding period and the total cost of a timeshare purchase, fees, and assessments combined regularly exceeds what a comparable number of hotel or rental stays would have cost, which is a major driver of owner regret and the demand for exit information in the first place.

How much is a Westgate timeshare worth if I try to sell it?

Resale value for Westgate weeks, like most developer-sold timeshares, is a small fraction of the original purchase price, often 10 cents on the dollar or less, and in a lot of cases buyers can find similar weeks listed for $1 to a few hundred dollars on resale marketplaces just to get out from under future fees. This isn't unique to Westgate; it's how the entire secondary timeshare market works, because supply of unwanted weeks vastly outweighs buyer demand. Don't let a broker's promised valuation talk you into paying a big up-front 'marketing fee.' If someone offers to sell your week for anywhere close to what you paid, treat that as a red flag rather than good news.

What about inherited Westgate timeshares?

If you inherited a Westgate contract through a relative's estate, you are not automatically obligated to keep it, but the way out depends on where the estate is in probate. If the estate hasn't closed yet, an executor can typically disclaim or decline to accept the timeshare as part of estate administration, subject to the probate court and state law where the estate is being handled; talk to the estate's probate attorney about disclaiming the interest before it transfers to you personally. If the deed has already transferred into your name, you're in the same position as any other current owner: you can attempt a deed-back request with Westgate, sell or transfer the deed, or in some cases negotiate directly with the resort's owner services team since inherited, unwanted timeshares are a fairly common and sympathetic situation resorts have dealt with before. Maintenance fees continue to accrue whether you use the property or not, so don't sit on an inherited deed indefinitely hoping the problem resolves itself; fees and any special assessments will keep piling up and can eventually go to collections.

How to spot a Westgate timeshare exit scam

Cold call or unsolicited email claiming to be 'partnered' with Westgate or a law firm	Legitimate exit help doesn't require an unsolicited pitch; verify independently
Large upfront fee before any work begins	FTC enforcement actions have specifically targeted this billing model [1]
Promises of a sure outcome or 'we've never failed' claims	No legitimate company can promise a contract cancellation outcome
Pressure to stop paying maintenance fees or the mortgage immediately	Can trigger foreclosure and credit damage regardless of exit outcome [2]
Requests for payment by wire transfer or gift card	Common in fraud because these payments are hard to reverse
Claims of a 'class action' you can join for a fee	Real class actions don't require a fee to join; check with the actual court or attorney of record	If a company checks two or more of these boxes, walk away. Report the contact to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general's consumer protection division [1] [2]. Compare any company you're considering against a timeshare exit companies breakdown before paying anyone.

The scam pattern targeting timeshare owners is remarkably consistent across brands, and Westgate owners are a frequent target because the company has a large owner base. Watch for these signs: | Red flag | Why it matters |

What should I actually do this week if I want out of my Westgate timeshare?

First, check your calendar against your closing date. If you're still inside your state's rescission window, send your written cancellation notice today, by certified mail, following your contract's exact instructions. Second, if you're past that window, call Westgate owner services directly and ask, in plain language, what deed-back or surrender options exist right now for an owner in your situation. Get anything they offer in writing. Third, pull your maintenance fee statement and figure out exactly what you owe and whether you're current. A deed-back offer, a sale, or a transfer all go smoother if there's no back balance hanging over the account. Fourth, if you're going to hire anyone (an attorney, a licensed transfer agent, a resale broker), check their state bar or business license and never pay a large sum before work starts. A $149 flat-fee resource like ExitHonest's Timeshare Exit Kit exists specifically to give owners a step-by-step, document-based path to work through rescission, deed-back requests, and resale on their own, without paying a company thousands of dollars for phone calls you can make yourself. It's not a promise of any outcome and it's not a substitute for a lawyer if your situation involves fraud claims or active foreclosure, but for a straightforward 'I want to stop owning this and do it right' situation, it's a reasonable low-cost starting point before you consider paying a full-service exit company.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get out of a Westgate timeshare fast?

The only truly fast, no-cost option is rescission, and it only works if you're still inside your state's cancellation window (commonly around 10 days in Florida under section 721.10, but confirm your specific state's rule). Past that window, there's no fast fixed-outcome exit; deed-backs, resale, and attorney-led contract challenges all take weeks to months.

Can I just stop paying my Westgate maintenance fees?

No. Stopping payment doesn't cancel your contract; it puts you into delinquency, which can lead to late fees, collections, credit damage, and eventually foreclosure on the timeshare interest, the same as any secured real estate obligation. Address the ownership itself through rescission, deed-back, or sale rather than simply not paying.

Does Westgate offer a buyback program?

Westgate does not publicly advertise a standing buyback program, but owners have reported success asking directly by phone about deed-back or surrender options, typically only available if the account is paid off and current on fees. Call owner services and ask what's currently offered; get any offer in writing before signing.

How much does a Westgate timeshare cost to buy?

Purchase prices commonly range from roughly $10,000 to $40,000 or more depending on the resort and unit. Annual maintenance fees commonly run $800 to $1,300 industry-wide and rise most years, on top of any special assessments, according to University of Missouri Extension consumer education materials that track vacation ownership costs.

Is Westgate Resorts a scam?

No, Westgate is a licensed, legitimate timeshare developer, not a fraud operation. The scam risk in this space comes overwhelmingly from third-party 'timeshare exit' or 'relief' companies that charge large upfront fees and promise results they can't control, a pattern the FTC has taken enforcement action against.

How do I sell my Westgate timeshare?

List it based on realistic resale comparables (not your purchase price), expect a low sale price since resale demand is thin industry-wide, check your contract for a right of first refusal clause that may require offering Westgate first, and never pay a broker a large fee before they've actually found a buyer.

What is the rescission period for a Westgate contract?

It depends on the state where you signed, not on Westgate's policy. Florida law (Fla. Stat. section 721.10) gives buyers 10 calendar days to cancel a timeshare purchase; other states set their own window. Confirm the specific rule for the state where you signed before assuming your window has closed.

Can I get rid of an inherited Westgate timeshare?

If the estate hasn't closed yet, an executor can often disclaim the interest before it transfers to you; talk to the estate's probate attorney. If the deed already transferred to your name, you have the same options as any owner: deed-back request, sale, transfer, or attorney consultation, and fees keep accruing until it's resolved.

Are timeshares scams in general?

Timeshares are legal, regulated products, not scams by definition, but the sales process is frequently criticized for high pressure tactics and inflated resale value claims. The clearer scam pattern is in the exit industry, where companies charge big upfront fees for outcomes regulators say often don't materialize.

How much is my Westgate timeshare worth on resale?

Typically a small fraction of what you paid, often 10% or less, and many comparable weeks list for $1 to a few hundred dollars just so the owner can stop owing future fees. Treat any offer near your original purchase price as a red flag, not good news.

What's the difference between rescission and a deed-back?

Rescission cancels the contract entirely within a short legal window and typically refunds your money; a deed-back happens after that window closes and simply transfers your paid-off deed back to the resort, usually with no money returned, ending your future fee obligation.

Should I pay a company upfront to get me out of my Westgate timeshare?

Be very cautious. The FTC has taken enforcement action against exit companies for collecting large upfront fees without delivering results. Verify any company's licensing and track record, avoid full payment before work is done, and consider self-directed, lower-cost options like a fixed-fee document kit first.

Sources

1. Florida Statutes section 721.10, Cancellation of contract: Florida gives timeshare buyers 10 calendar days to cancel a purchase contract
2. University of Missouri Extension, Personal Financial Planning, 'Timeshares: Are They a Good Investment?': Average annual maintenance fee ranges and cost considerations for timeshare ownership
3. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, consumer guidance on timeshare ownership: Consumer guidance explaining timeshare ownership obligations and how delinquency affects credit and collections
4. Federal Trade Commission Act Section 5 unfair or deceptive acts or practices, 15 U.S.C. 45: Legal basis for FTC enforcement against deceptive upfront-fee timeshare exit schemes
5. Florida Senate - Florida Statutes: Florida law requires timeshare developers, including Westgate, to provide specific disclosures in the public offering statement given to purchasers.