How to Cancel a Timeshare in Mexico: Laws and Resources

An annual getaway to Los Cabos, Cancun, or Puerto Vallarta can sound appealing while you’re sitting in a timeshare presentation. However, you might have second thoughts after signing on the dotted line.

Unlike the United States, where rules can vary by state, Mexico has a federal law regulating timeshares and guaranteeing the right to cancel within five business days. If you miss that rescission window, you may still have other options.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about how to cancel a timeshare in Mexico.

Table of Contents

1. Mexico timeshare laws
2. How to cancel a timeshare in Mexico
   1. If you’re in the 5-day window
   2. After 5 days
3. Avoid Mexican timeshare scams

Mexico timeshare laws

Article 65 of Mexico’s Federal Law on Consumer Protection regulates timeshare sales in the country. The law applies to all timeshares sold there, even if the buyer is not a Mexican citizen.

The law is enforced by Procuraduría Federal del Consumidor, which is Mexico’s federal consumer protection agency. The agency is commonly known as PROFECO.

By law, timeshare resorts must do the following:

• Register their timeshare contract, known as an adhesion contract, with the government. Any contract you receive from a Mexican timeshare company should include the PROFECO registration number.
• List the total cost in the contract, including the first year of timeshare fees and an explanation of how fees will be calculated in subsequent years.
• Accept cancellation for any reason made within five business days.

How to cancel a timeshare in Mexico

If you’re in the 5-day window

The process of cancelling a timeshare in Mexico can be different than that for U.S. resorts.

The easiest way to get out of a Mexican timeshare is to cancel within the five-day rescission window guaranteed by law. To do that, follow these steps.

1. Put your cancellation in writing

Don’t try to cancel your timeshare over the phone or in person. You must put your request in writing.

Date your letter, and note that you are cancelling the timeshare contract as allowed by law. Writing in English is fine, and be sure to keep a copy for your records.

2a. If you’re still at the resort, record yourself delivering the notice

If you’re still at the timeshare resort where you signed the contract, you can deliver your cancellation letter in person. Take it to the vacation club office and hand it to an employee rather than leaving it on a desk.

For an added layer of protection, take a video of yourself delivering the letter to the office. Be sure to say the date and time on the recording, and ask for the name of the employee who takes your letter, if possible.

2b. If you’re no longer at the resort, send your notice with delivery confirmation

If you are no longer at the resort, you’ll need to have your letter delivered by some other means. Since your cancellation must be received within five business days, it is generally not advisable to trust the Mexican postal service for prompt delivery.

Send your letter via a carrier such as DHL or FedEx, and be sure to select a service that includes delivery confirmation.

3. Watch for your refund

Once you have cancelled your Mexican timeshare contract, you should receive a full refund of anything you paid for the contact. The resort should provide this refund within 15 days.

4. File a complaint with PROFECO (if the resort doesn’t honor your request)

If the timeshare resort refuses to honor your cancellation request or refund your money, you can file a complaint with the PROFECO Department of Conciliation for Residents Abroad. Known as CARE, this office is focused on helping foreign consumers who have encountered difficulties with a service or good purchased from a Mexican provider.

Complaints may be emailed to CARE at [email protected]. Be sure to include the following:

• Your name, address, phone number, and email.
• The name and address of the Mexican provider.
• A description of the complaint, including dates and the amount paid.
• Documentation related to your claim, such as the timeshare contract and cancellation letter.

PROFECO also offers an online complaint form. This can be used for any purpose, not just timeshare complaints.

After 5 days

Once the five-day rescission window closes, it will be more difficult to cancel a timeshare in Mexico. It may still be done, but you’ll likely need professional help.

Reputable timeshare exit company

Timeshare exit companies can help navigate the process, which may include filing a complaint with PROFECO and attending hearings.

Not all timeshare exit companies are available to assist in Mexico. They may not be proficient in Spanish or have experience with the country’s laws.

Centerstone Group is different. It has a proprietary process to assist clients, and the firm partners with Mexican attorneys. For this reason, Centerstone Group is our top pick for those who need help cancelling a timeshare in Mexico.

Sell your timeshare

Another option is to sell your timeshare to someone else. You can either sell the timeshare yourself by listing it on a website for a small fee, or you can spend a little more and use a timeshare broker or resale company. These firms can take care of everything from marketing your timeshare to completing the transaction.

Don’t expect to recoup what you spent on your timeshare, though. Usually, timeshares sell for a fraction of their value, and in some cases, owners are willing to give away their timeshares for free to avoid future maintenance fees.

For more information, check out our guide on How to Sell a Timeshare Without Getting Scammed.

Avoid Mexican timeshare scams

Anyone who owns a timeshare needs to understand the latest scams revolving around vacation clubs. Those who own a timeshare in Mexico need to be especially aware of cartel-backed scams that target American citizens.

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel has been identified as behind some of this criminal activity, although other transnational criminal groups may run similar operations. Professional-sounding call centers are used to contact American timeshare owners and offer to sell, rent or cancel their timeshares. The caller may say they are:

• A real estate broker
• Timeshare resort representative
• Government official

Be wary of any unsolicited call about your timeshare, and never agree to wire money to Mexico. If someone is pressuring you to take action immediately or face legal action, that is usually a telltale sign of a scam.

A reputable timeshare exit company can help you sidestep scams. Check out our list of the best timeshare exit companies and get in touch with one today, so you can stop worrying about how to pay your future timeshare fees.