Renting a timeshare from an owner-how does it work?

[GAM]

I have been checking on timeshare ads on a couple of timeshare sites and was wondering how you can be sure that the person who is renting you a week really owns the week? Do you pay them upfront? Will they send you something to show you are entitled to use the unit? I am not sure how this works and I would like to know what to expect before getting in touch with an owner so if he is saying something that does not make sense I would know it. I wouldn't want to drive down to Florida and then find out I really did not have a reservation anywhere.

 

[spiceycat]

completely depends upon the owner and resort.

rented DVC and it is easy.

for offsite - the owner would have to fax or phone (I think they need a signature so faxing) to change your name on their reservations.

if they don't have one - then it is more iffy - but in this economy you probably won't have any problems.

you can look on the county property - but then you need the full name of the person.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

As a timeshare owner, I would be leary to rent to/from a stranger. Even if I could give something in writing to a renter, they would have to trust that I'm being honest. I'm not sure how you could find out any of your questions for sure.
We've only rented ours once (to my SIL, very low $.) Even then, they had problems checking in even though I told the resort when I made the ressie it wouldn't be us and gave the names of guests that would be checking in. SIL and niece were calling my cell phone while I was at ds's little league game, very upset that they were denied at check in. After a flurry of phone calls it was all straightened out. Had they been strangers, they would have surely been flipping out and thinking they'd been swindled. The only "proof" they had was a confirmation # and emails from me.
I was very angry at my resort for treating my guests this way and when I called they acted like, "What's the problem? Your guests are checked in."