It happens from time to time to timeshare owners. He is strolling to his friendly mailbox with the sun shining beautifully on his home; the birds are singing a happy tune. You open your mailbox, reach in and pull out a timeshare bill. “Same as every year”, you think. “Maybe a 2% increase. But nothing I can’t handle.” Then you notice a considerably larger tab. “What?” you smoke. “How can they charge me so much a year for my timeshare?” Then he reads on, and his heart fills with the fear of an oncoming car accident, and he sees it: a special appraisal fee.
The truth of the matter is that the timeshare industry is suffering, just like everyone else. Their extreme profits have lost a shine or two, and now they have to scrap barrels instead of throwing away whole meals. Unfortunately, you are that barrel they are going to scrape.
But let’s come to the question: is there anything I can do about these special assessments? The truth is that there is very little you can do besides pay the bill. Many resorts offer payment plans, and for those who are unwilling or unable to pay the fee upfront, these plans are a good option. Of course, you will pay interest. What matters with special evaluations is whether or not they are necessary. In some cases, the fee may be as low as $200 for an additional sofa or accessory. In other cases, there will be hurricane assessments, which pay for hurricane damage and can cost upwards of a thousand dollars.
Failure to pay your special appraisal will result in late fees and potentially a collection claim against you. For those of you who have paid for special appraisals before and just got hit again, a timeshare sale might be in your best interest unless you find such value in your timeshare that these additional fees and additional expenses are worth the price. grief.
If your special appraisal rates are no longer within your budget, you may want to start considering your timeshare relief options.