Lodging Places (Hotels, Motels, Inns, B&Bs)
In Maine, short-term lodging places such as hotels, motels, inns, and bed and breakfast establishments must be licensed and must meet state health and safety standards. With respect to their policies and operations, they are subject to generally applicable consumer protection laws. One of the most common complaints consumers will have is about a lodging place’s reservation and cancellation policy. Generally, a lodging place is free to set its own reservation and cancellation policy, although it should honor the policy that was in place when the reservation was made. It’s up to you to find out about the lodging place’s reservation and cancellation policy before you book. If you are booking online, be sure to read the fine print.
Time Shares
When selling time shares, developers must make extensive disclosures about the services being provided and the expenses involved. Most importantly, the disclosure must include this cancellation statement:
- Within 10 calendar days after receipt of the current written statement or execution of a contract, whichever is later, a purchaser may cancel any conveyance or contract for purchase of a unit from the developer; and
- If the purchaser elects to cancel, the purchaser may do so by hand delivering a notice of cancellation or by mailing the notice by prepaid United States mail to the developer. The cancellation must be without penalty and any deposits made by the purchaser must be promptly refunded in its entirety.
A failure to make all required disclosures is a violation of the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act Maine has a similar disclosure law for membership shares in a campground, except that the cancellation period is seven calendar days after the contract date.