Timeshare..Love Em or Hate Em?

I've had a timeshare now since 1995. I've generally loved the timeshare and the fact that it forces you to have a vacation. I've been to places that I probably wouldn't have gone to without it, so I'm extremely lucky. What bothers me is their billing department.

Before a couple of years ago, I paid the dues on a quarterly basis. For about 5 payments straight, they would harass me with notices saying I hadn't paid it and I would call, give the check number and they would find that they've applied the payment to the original loan balance and have to move it. I would get apologies, but it doesn't stop the feelings you get when this happens. We paid off the loan and decided to add more credits to our account, which meant a new loan and increased dues. They changed their policy and now take the payments from your account monthly. I said that this was fine, as long as they don't send me any more notices.

Well, in trying to reserve the timeshare the other day, they said that I had an outstanding due payment of $400+. I asked how that was possible? They wanted to know what I meant. I said, You take the money out of my account every month, how could you manage to screw it up that much? And the fight ensued!

Turns out they said that when I increased my credits last year that one payment was missed for August. I told them my bank statement shows that it was made. Then they said that it didn't show the increase, I said that there's a separate payment for that one the statement. The other costs was penalties and interest. I had to fax in my bank statement showing otherwise. Still haven't heard from them.

What's the point of having a vacation timeshare when all it does is stress you out?