TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Diamond Resorts Transfer Fee

Has anyone been able to avoid paying the $250 transfer fee when they have given their fixed week back to Diamond Resorts? Our contract dated May 1992 does not say anything about a transfer fee only that all amounts owed must be paid in full.

WHY would you pay a transfer fee if you are giving your week back? Can't you just walk away and be done?

Sometimes they want a title transfer fee.

To change the deed after divorce one was $300.

However, if you are walking away....I say drop it and be done with it.

Between family and friends we have returned multiple weeks and units to the Towers and we haven’t had to pay any fees to walk away. The only requirement was a letter, signed and notorized by ALL owners, had to be presented to them. Provided the unit is owned outright with no monies still owed towards the financing of same, i think the fee thing is wishful thinking on their part. Has anyone just walked and if so, do we know if they suffered any consequences?

I've spoken to many people who have walked away from timeshares since the annual fees began to escalate a number of years ago. Most mentioned transfer, exit, or termination fees. A few paid without bothering to re-read their original agreements. Some were threatened with a negative listing on their credit report. Only one actually had a claim posted on their credit report and it disappeared when they disputed the claim.
Things to remember:
1. Unless these fees are included on your original agreement, they are not valid. Take the time to read front and back of your timeshare agreement.
2. Your original timeshare agreement will tell you what country's laws govern your contract. Most are Netherland Antilles or France. This means no US timeshare laws apply (most timeshare companies are US based).
3. Lessor (resort owner) can establish policies to support additional fees but unless you (Lessee) have agreed to those policies you are not required to pay them.
4. By re-reading your lease you may notice that your resort has changed some of their guarantees (Check in /Check out times, maid service, length of stay). You have the right to challenge these changes.

Thanks Tom.

I also hear several different ads on the radio for service to get you out of your timeshare. I am sure they charge a handsome fee and there seems to be a lot more of them since the natural disasters.

I did a quick search of several different "timeshare exit" companies and they all seemed to have one thing in common. FREE consultation but a "FEE that will vary based on individual circumstances and factors". In other words, they will talk to you for FREE but will get as much $$$ out of you as possible in the end.

A timeshare bought in and owned by a US based company will have different laws governing the purchase/exit than one bought and owned by a non-US company.

My experience with Diamond Resorts is from Colorado, where our independent resort was purchased and improved by DRI. I had two reasons to relinquish my TS. Maintenance fees trippled and we bought second home about a mile from TS over two years ago. I was happy to be able to go thru official process established by DRI and let my week go for $250. It took four months, but I have not heard from DRI since.
If you decide to go this way, take in consideration timing of your transaction. Annual fee has to be paid and you should take advantage of your pre-paid week before you request the transfer. I used my July week and immediately started the process to avoid invoice for next year use. It worked for me. Good luck!

we gave our week back to diamond resorts two years ago
we wrote to them explaining why we would like to return our week because of hardship
they did ask for 250$ but we told them we could not afford it and they never asked again we got confirmation from them about month after that we no longer have week 11
but we did have our payments up to date when we requested to return our week