It’s a familiar nightmare scenario. 
 
Timeshare owners promised they could rent out their unused weeks, but then never could.  Often resulting in severe financial distress.  
 
Well, surprise!!
 
 Here’s a case where a Capital Vacations owner was actually able to rent out his timeshare!
 
What’s NOT surprising is that it still didn’t end well.
 
As Erik describes in the complaint he filed with the Better Business Bureau late last year, even though Capital Vacations was able to rent out his unused week, they won’t give him the rental money he’s due!
 
“I have a time share and Capital Vacations offers a service to sell you week if you are unable to use it.”
 
“Capital Vacations details its fees for doing so, which includes 30% commission, credit card processing fee and potentially a [additional] fee.”
 
Thirty percent! That’s a lot! 
 
But getting some of the rent is better than getting nothing for a week Erik couldn’t use, right?
 
“The unit was rented for 5 days per a discussion I had with a Capital Vacations representative.”
 
So far so good.
 
“Our week was mid-February. We did not receive the first invoice from Capital Vacations and instead paid the second invoice with a late fee in March 2024.” 
 
“In May/June I inquired why we did not receive the proceeds from the sale.”
 
“It was mentioned that Capital Vacations held on to the funds because we were late in paying the invoice, but it would come later.”
 
Well, maybe not so good.
 
“After numerous calls I was finally told that a ticket has been issued to pay the check. No check came.”
 
Even worse.
 
“After calling them again and again (they never called me back) I was told that it is their policy to keep the entire amount if you do not pay your invoice by the time it is rented.”
 
“I asked where that was stated and was told the rental agreement. I informed them it was not stated there.”
 
Good catch, Erik!
 
“Then they told me the yearly invoice. I informed them it is not stated there.”
 
Again, good catch…but this is getting ridiculous!
 
“No one calls me back after further inquiries.” 
 
“This is just a delay by Capital Vacations so I will eventually stop trying to get paid for my week, so they can keep the entire amount.”
 
“Very unethical.”
 
But, sadly, not surprising.
 
Turns out, paying Capital Vacations to rent your timeshare is NOT better than nothing…it IS nothing!
 
Fortunately, we know a person who can do something to help: Travis Bary, the co-president of Capital Vacations. Email him at tbary@capitalvacations.com and tell him it’s time for Capital Vacations to start surprising owners in a good way and pay them the money they are owed.
 
Let’s find out if Jason Gamel, the President and CEO of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA),which represents timeshare companies in Washington, DC, is surprised by Capital Vacations’ behavior. Ask him by emailing jgamel@arda.org.
 
Someone who WON’T be surprised by all this is Kenneth McKelvey, the chairman of ARDA’s Resort Owners Coalition, which claims to represent timeshare owners. Because he’s also an executive consultant to Capital Vacations. Let’s email him at consumer@arda-roc.org and see if he’s the one who recommended that Capital Vacations not pass on rents to owners. 
 
Are unpleasant surprises typical at your timeshare company? Use the contact information in this list of ARDA VIPs to contact your company’s leaders to ask why.
 
Has your timeshare company been unethical? Tell us how at info@timesharefacts.com. 
 
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