The Better Business Bureau asked Gordon Newton the questions timeshare owners need answered.
Before hiring a timeshare exit company, owners need more than promises. They need clear answers about how timeshare exit works, what services they are actually receiving and who — if anyone — is legally obligated to protect their interests. The Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan sat down with Newton Group founder Gordon Newton for an in-depth educational interview titled Getting Out of a Timeshare.
Every year, timeshare owners encounter advertising that promises guaranteed cancellation, money-back guarantees, attorney-backed services, credit protection, resort refunds and fast, effortless exits. Those claims can sound reassuring — especially to an owner who feels trapped by rising maintenance fees and a legally binding contract. But marketing language does not always explain what service will actually be performed, who will perform it or whether an attorney personally represents the owner. In the interview, Gordon Newton explains what owners should understand before choosing an exit company — and why the service itself matters more than the promises used to sell it.
In the interview, Gordon Newton addresses the questions timeshare owners ask most.
A reputable timeshare exit process should begin with a careful review of the owner’s individual circumstances — the timeshare contract, the resort or developer, loan and account status, maintenance-fee obligations, previous exit attempts, the owner’s goals and concerns, and any potential legal issues. Owners should receive a clear explanation of the services being provided, who will perform the work and how they will be kept informed. Timeshare exit should not be treated as a vague, one-size-fits-all service. Owners deserve to understand what they are purchasing before they spend a dollar.
In the interview, Gordon urges owners to look past legal-sounding descriptions like “attorney-backed,” “attorney-led” or “in-house counsel” — phrases that do not necessarily mean the owner has an attorney-client relationship — and to ask three questions before hiring any exit company:
With Newton Group, the answer to all three questions is yes — every client enters a separate attorney-client relationship and receives a written Letter of Representation confirming the attorney represents the timeshare owner. That is the difference between attorney involvement and attorney representation. See how personal attorney representation works.
One of the questions the BBB put to Gordon: should owners simply stop paying? Stopping payments on a legally binding timeshare obligation is a serious decision. Depending on the owner’s circumstances, missed payments may result in late fees and additional charges, collection activity, negative credit reporting, foreclosure or other legal action, and increased financial exposure. Advice about stopping payments should not be presented by a salesperson as a routine strategy that applies to every owner. It should be discussed with an attorney who represents the owner, understands the individual circumstances and can explain the potential consequences. Read more about what could happen if you stop paying on your timeshare.
A written money-back guarantee may create a sense of security, but a guarantee is only as reliable as the company standing behind it. Before relying on one, owners should ask six questions:
A guarantee should never replace a clear service, meaningful accountability and a sound strategy. Understand the service first. Then compare the price and guarantee. See our scam alert on fake money-back guarantees.
Newton Group combines more than two decades of timeshare exit experience with personal legal representation for every client — a separate attorney-client relationship, a licensed attorney and a written Letter of Representation, made possible by founder Gordon Newton’s common ownership of a leading timeshare consumer-rights law firm. And because that structure removes middlemen and outside attorney markups, bring Newton Group a quote for comparable services from a standard timeshare exit company and we will beat it by 20% or more — guaranteed. Learn how the better model for timeshare exit works and the story behind it.
Gordon Newton founded Newton Group in 2003 and focused the company on helping timeshare owners in 2005. More than two decades later, he is widely recognized as a leading authority on timeshare exit and consumer protection. He is the author of The Consumer’s Guide to Timeshare Exit, downloaded more than 50,000 times, and led the ongoing Newton Group Timeshare Exit Study of more than 10,000 timeshare ownership experiences. He has been interviewed, featured or cited by Bloomberg Television, CNBC, Fox Business, Forbes, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, TravelMag, the Better Business Bureau, The Dave Ramsey Show, Valiant CEO, ABC, NBC and CBS. Learn more about Gordon Newton.
Straight answers about the interview, what it covered and what it does — and does not — mean.
The interview focused on how timeshare exit works, how owners can avoid scams, whether owners should stop making payments, how to evaluate money-back guarantees and what services an exit company should provide.
The interview is titled Getting Out of a Timeshare and appeared in the July 2023 edition of BBB Beacon Magazine, published by the Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan. It was the BBB’s first-ever interview with a timeshare exit expert.
Not necessarily. An attorney may advise or represent the exit company without personally representing its customers. Owners should ask whether they will sign a separate attorney-client agreement and receive written confirmation that the attorney represents them.
Yes. Every Newton Group client enters a separate attorney-client relationship with a licensed attorney and receives a written Letter of Representation confirming that the attorney represents the timeshare owner.
Ask what services will actually be performed, what conditions or exclusions apply, how long you must wait before requesting a refund, whether the refund money is protected or held in escrow, whether the company has the financial ability to honor it, and what happens if the company closes or files for bankruptcy. A guarantee is only as reliable as the company standing behind it.
No. The Better Business Bureau does not endorse any company, product or service. The interview is an educational discussion, and Newton Group’s BBB Accreditation and A+ rating are separate credentials.
Do not choose a company based solely on a guarantee, a low price or legal-sounding marketing. Ask what services will be provided. Ask who will perform the work. Ask whether an attorney legally represents you. Ask for everything in writing. And compare the complete service — not merely the sales promise.
Speak with a knowledgeable Newton Group advisor — not a call center — for an honest, no-pressure assessment of your situation and the options that may be available. We will answer your questions, explain what comes next and give you the information you need to make a confident, informed decision. No pressure. You decide what happens next.
Monday to Friday. Speak with a real advisor, not a call center.
