NEWS: Sens. Schiff, Curtis Introduce Bill to Protect Consumers from Predatory Timeshare Practices

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined Senator John Curtis (R-Utah.) in introducing the Timeshare Pricing Transparency Act (TPT), bipartisan legislation to protect consumers from confusing contracts, hidden fees, and unclear exit options in the timeshare industry.

"Americans deserve to have all of the information they need upfront, before entering any timeshare commitment, including any potential surprise fees or contract terms," said Senator Schiff. "I'm proud to partner with Senator Curtis to enhance consumer protections and ensure that Americans aren't saddled with hidden junk fees or are the victims of deceptive contracts."

"Our bill is about honesty, transparency, and basic consumer rights," said Senator Curtis. "Families deserve to know exactly what financial decisions they are making without predatory sales tactics that rely upon deception and manipulative time constraints. This bill ensures that Americans have clear and honest information before committing to a timeshare."

"For many older Americans, a timeshare purchase represents years of hard work and careful saving. Yet according to the FBI, timeshare fraud cost consumers more than $50 million in 2024. That's why this bill matters-it restores basic fairness by requiring clear, itemized cost disclosures and a 14-day cancellation window, giving people the transparency and time they need to protect their hard-earned dollars," said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at AARP.

Millions of Americans purchase timeshares each year, often while on vacation or under high-pressure sales conditions. Too often, buyers later report that they were not fully informed about long-term financial obligations, escalating maintenance fees, or the difficulty of exiting ownership. These practices have led to a surge in consumer complaints-with approximately 85% of timeshare owners regretting their purchase-and financial hardship for families across the country.

The TPT establishes clear, commonsense disclosure requirements to ensure consumers understand exactly what they are purchasing. Under the bill, all timeshare agreements must:

• Include a single document itemizing all acquisition and maintenance costs.
• Mandate disclosure of modifiable fees and the notice requirements for such changes.
• Provide clear, documented options to exit ownership.
• Grant buyers a 14-day penalty-free cancellation period.
• Allow buyers time to privately review the timeshare agreement.

The legislation also empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce these protections and issue additional regulations as needed. Importantly, the bill preserves states' rights to enact and enforce stronger consumer protections in the timeshare marketplace.

Click here for a full letter of support from AARP.

Full text of the bill is available here.

Bill one-pager here.

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