My friend

[brenda]

about whom I have written many times previously has a problem.She is not in good health and her spouse is in a care homewith dementia.She makes a sizeable contribution towards his care each month.

Yesterday she told me that they had a timeshare week in France , and had had this for about 12 years. This was news to me although I kn ow they used to go to France a great deal.

Problem now seems to be that she can no longer afford the maintence fees for this week, about £450 a year, and she wants to dispose of the week she owns.

I know nothing about time share except that it does seem impossible to sell.
So -- if she doesn't pay these fees --what may happen to her.?
She is 80 years of age, and rather apprehensive.

Could she give the timeshare away -- say to a charity?

She is very worried and I feel unable to help because I have no idea of all the implications .So any advice would be more than welcome.Sincerely Brenda.

[boxtops]

It depends which timeshare company she's with - and those maintenance fees are fairly standard each year.

The one we're with won't buy them back routinely, but would do so under certain circumstances - really, she needs to get in touch with them a.s.a.p. and ask for leniency and whether, under the circumstances, she could surrender her ownership. She needs to emphasise her age and her reasons for no longer needing it.

One company I was with just let us surrender the timeshare week - another says I need to sell it, so I've got it for sale with a timeshare resale agency. However - I only know about my ownership, other timeshare companies may have different policies.

Does she have any family or friends who could buy the timeshare week from her, and use it? You're allowed (with mine) to do that, but the new owners do have to take on the maintenance fees etc.

[themas]

As boxtops says, it depends on the company. See if you can get hold of the documents - your friend should have the contract. Sometimes these say things such as that the week will be surrendered if you don't pay the fees for a certain number of years - for example, 3 years. In that case it i should be easy - just stop paying. However, others can chase you for the fees, including taking Court action.

I think there is some sort of timeshare users association - google & see if you can find anything that helps. A word of warning - don't get involved with any of the outfits which advertise that they will sell the week for you unless there is a written cast iron guarantee that nothing at all is paid unless/until the sale is finalised. Most of these outfits want an up front fee, & then continuing fees.

[brenda]

Thank you both so much -- will show her your comments in the morning and she can begin to sort out her papers, and get in touch with the company.

[EDDIE51]

If she is finding it hard to afford the fees there may be ways to get some or even all of it paid by the local authority. Get her to go to the CAB for advice and contact 'AgeUk' . AgeUk are the charity that is formed from Age Concern and Help the Aged they are specialists at this type of case and will give free helpful advice, they will at least check that your friend is not paying too much and look for a way to reduce her costs. All free , there is a help line , I will Google it in a moment and repost.

[boxtops]

Themas, good point about the resale company - the one I am using does charge a fee (but not large), but it is recouped from the buyer as and when the property sells.

[EDDIE51]

Here you are, it is astounding how many people struggle to pay fees when in many cases they do not need to, at least worth asking it will cost nothing to ask.
http://www.ageuk.org....ent-residential-care/

[brenda]

Thank you all again , have shown all your replies to my friend , will keep them for her as well. She has now toddled off home , to do as she said "to have a search in her drawers for her documents" .I shall expect her later in the day clutching a bag full of papers. Thanks again so much.Brenda.

[CatGirl4]

I wish your friend all the best,it must be nice to have a friend like you.x I too was going to suggest the CAB,

[brenda]

Will take her there next week cat girl -- thanks a lot

[EDDIE51]

Phone the CAB first and ask for an appointment with a specialist benefits claim adviser. They are really good but they get booked up in advance you will have to wait for an appointment.