Can I use RCI points after relinquishing my timeshare? The truth is that many salespeople don't explain this to you.

Short answer:
No. In most cases, you cannot use RCI points after relinquishing or canceling your timeshare because access to RCI is directly tied to an active membership. When the contract ends, the points do too.

This confusion is one of the most common (and deceptive) promises used by timeshare and vacation club salespeople to minimize the impact of a cancellation and keep you paying unnecessary fees.

Key Takeaways

RCI is not independent: It depends on your timeshare being active.
When you relinquish or cancel your membership, you typically lose access to RCI points.
Many buyers were misinformed during the sale about "continuing to use RCI."
RCI points are not owned by the member; they are a conditional benefit.
Keeping a timeshare just for RCI is often more expensive than booking trips on your own.
Canceling the contract may be the best long-term financial decision.

What are RCI points really?
What happens to RCI when you relinquish your timeshare?
The deceptive promise: "You can keep using RCI without the resort"
Why RCI reinforces the negatives of the timeshare model
Hidden costs of using RCI points
Is it worth keeping a timeshare just for RCI?
What real options do you have if you no longer want your timeshare?
How to cancel a timeshare legally and definitively
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Cancel your timeshare with professional guidance

1. What are RCI points really?

RCI (Resort Condominiums International) is a vacation exchange company, not a resort or an independent club. It acts as an intermediary that allows timeshare owners to exchange weeks or points for stays at other destinations.
What many buyers don't know is that:

RCI does not belong to you.
Your access exists only while your timeshare contract is valid and in good standing.

RCI clearly states this in its terms: the exchange is conditional on an active membership with an affiliated resort and payment of annual fees.

2. What happens to RCI when you relinquish your timeshare?

When you relinquish, cancel, or rescind your contract:

The resort notifies about the termination of your membership.
RCI deactivates or restricts your account.
Accumulated points are lost, even if you already paid for them indirectly.

In practice, RCI does not function as an independent loyalty program but as an extension of the contract you want to leave behind.

3. The deceptive promise: "You can keep using RCI without the resort"

This phrase is a red flag.

Many owners report hearing claims like:

"Even if you cancel, RCI remains active."
"RCI is separate from the timeshare."
"Just pay RCI and travel whenever you want."

The reality is different. These promises:

Usually do not appear in writing in the contract.
Have no legal backing.
Are used to delay cancellation and continue collecting fees.

According to consumer reports in the U.S. and agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), undocumented verbal promises are a leading cause of timeshare disputes.

4. Why RCI reinforces the negatives of the timeshare model

Far from being a benefit, RCI often deepens the problems of the system:

Lack of real availability
The most attractive destinations:

Require more points than promised
Have blocked dates
They are released with very little notice.

Unequal exchanges
You give up a "premium" week and receive:

A lower-category hotel
Less desirable locations
Off-season dates.

Perpetual dependency
To use RCI you need:

Maintain the timeshare
Pay maintenance fees
Pay the RCI membership fee
Pay exchange fees.

This ties the owner down for years or decades.

5. Hidden costs of using RCI points

Many owners believe traveling with points is "cheaper." In reality, when adding up costs:

Annual maintenance fees
RCI membership fee
Exchange fees
Administrative costs
Non-negotiable annual increases

The cost per night is usually equal to or greater than booking directly on platforms like Expedia, Booking, or Airbnb, without long-term contracts.

6. Is it worth keeping a timeshare just for RCI?

In most cases, no.
Ask yourself honestly:

Do I travel enough to justify the annual expense?
Do I get the dates and destinations I want?
Am I paying just to "not lose" something I no longer use?

This phenomenon is known as the "sunk cost fallacy": continuing to pay out of fear of losing what has already been invested, even though the model no longer works for you.

7. What real options do you have if you no longer want your timeshare?

When RCI ceases to be attractive, owners usually look for:

Sale
Transfer
Donation
Simply stopping payments

These options rarely work and can lead to lawsuits, credit damage, and contractual penalties. Legal contract cancellation is often the only definitive way out.

8. How to cancel a timeshare legally and definitively

As a company with over 25 years of experience canceling timeshares, at Mexican Timeshare Solutions we have seen a clear pattern:
Well-structured cancellation:

Eliminates future obligations
Protects the consumer
Closes the contractual cycle

It should not involve:

Upfront payments
Unrealistic promises
"Guarantees" without a contract

Our approach is based on legal analysis, documentation, and strategy, not sales tactics.

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use RCI points after canceling my timeshare?

No. In most cases, RCI points are deactivated when your membership ends.

Is RCI independent of the timeshare?

No. RCI depends on your contract being active and in good standing.

Can I keep RCI by only paying the annual fee?

Generally, no. RCI requires a valid affiliation with a resort.

Do I lose my points if I cancel?

Yes. The points are not owned by the member; they are a conditional benefit.

Does canceling my timeshare affect my credit?

A well-managed cancellation seeks to avoid negative impacts and close obligations legally.

Does Mexican Timeshare Solutions charge upfront?

No. We do not charge anything upfront and offer a free consultation.

Cancel your timeshare and leave behind RCI and its false promises

If you've read this far, you've probably understood something key: RCI does not compensate for the structural problems of a timeshare.

If you're having trouble using your points, are tired of paying maintenance fees, or were promised benefits that never materialized, you don't have to remain trapped in the contract.

Schedule a free consultation today with a specialist from Mexican Timeshare Solutions

WhatsApp: +52 333 239 6589
Email: info@timesharescam.com
Mexico: +52 334 162 5467
USA: +1 714 277 3662
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We do not charge upfront.
We guide you with clear and realistic information.
Take the first step to reclaim your financial and travel freedom.