Timeshare availability poll reveals less than 1% of owners always able to book their preferred vacations

American Consumer Claims availability poll

In the wake of recent publicity about timeshare owners being unable to book into their preferred location or dates, American Consumer Claims (ACC) subsequently ran a poll (now closed) for owners to say whether or not they are satisfied with their ability to book the accommodation they have paid for. Participants could select between the main resorts affected (Wyndham, Marriott, Silverpoint, Diamond, MGM and "other".)

They were then given five options ranging from "I always find availability" to "I've given up trying to request availability."

Results

The final tallies were as follows:

• I always find availability: 0.48%
• I sometimes find availability: 2.12%
• I rarely find availability: 61.10%
• I never find availability: 30.56%
• I´ve given up trying to request availability: 5.74%

Conclusions

An overwhelming majority 91.66% of timeshare owners report that they rarely or never get the availability they want. A small but significant amount, 5.74%, have given up even trying to make the system work.

The amount of people who get exactly what they want, and for whom the system works as it was sold to them is tiny. Less than one in twenty respondents say they always find availability.

ACC comment

"Even the amount of people who say they 'sometimes' find the availability they want is telling," says Suzanne Stojanovic, spokesperson for American Consumer Claims. "Two percent say they sometimes get availability, compared to over sixty percent saying 'rarely'. There is not much difference between those two words except connotation. Describing your success rate as 'sometimes' denotes acceptance or ambivalence. Describing it as 'rarely' suggests discontent."

One thing is certain. The modern consumer is no longer satisfied with dated, expensive and clunky vacation timeshare memberships. Being able to visit the destination you want, on your preferred dates, is key to the contemporary vacation experience.

For help and advice about escaping your timeshare ownership, get in touch with ACC, for free, confidential advice.