Timeshare Scams

[Timesharescams Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Timesharescams]

Hi to all Timeshare Owners.

I am writing an article on Timeshare Scams with hope of getting this information out to the 7million Timeshare owners world-wide. With these present economic circumstances, the thought of some quick easy cash for your Timeshare makes these scams easier to fall for and easier to believe.

I ask if any one of you have come into contact with a scam, received a phone call or letter and paid money under false promises that your Timeshare will be sold for substantial amounts more then you paid. This of course will be backed up with the guarantee that the cash will be with you in weeks, only to find months later you still own your Timeshare and are still out of product.

Please email your experience to *************@gmail.com I ask that no company names be mentioned I would like you to focus more on the experience, what was said, how much you paid and how you felt afterwards, and if you were still called with more promises about your Timeshare being sold. My article is not to slant any of these crooks but more to spread a message and to keep Timeshare owners aware. This article will be available world-wide for Owners to read. Please add your name, only last if you wish and where you are writing from.
*************@gmail.com

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

A reporter for the Kansas City Star recruited me from OY awhile back, to get information to do a timeshare story.

He misquoted me, turning what I said around to suit his purpose, which was, of course, to belittle timesharing. I was cited by name and location. I was not able to review or edit my words beforehand and his editor wouldn't do anything about it.

Anyone who wants to do a scam story, without naming names or being specific, can google all the information they want.

Probably the hardest part of this issue is that practices that would be considered questionable in other industries are standard practice in the timeshare industry, like why a person/company would sell something for $25000 when the same thing is on eBay and can't even get a buck bid.

[buff Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close buff]

JLB has spoken and I agree. Plenty of information on the web.

[Timesharescams Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Timesharescams]

JLB has spoken and I agree there is plenty of information on the web. I was hoping for some Testimonials from Timeshare owners that I could use with their permission.

I would like to add I am not a reporter and have been involved in the Timeshare industry for over 15years. I also own Timeshare and think it is a fantastic product. What concerns me is the way thousand of Timeshare owners are mislead every day with false promises. Timeshare Scams is a million dollar business.

I could easily make up some story's and say they are from Timeshare owners make them really scary and upsetting but then I would fall to the same level as these scammers. My article is ready to go but it is only my view.

I feel that to make it appeal to Timeshare owners world-wide it would be great to have 10 to 15 true from the heart testimonials from Timeshare owners who wish to share their experience with others.

Please do not put this post to bed, and help some who believes in best practices to sell an amazing product. This is a project I believe in and if it saves even one Timeshare owner from spending a few hundred dollars on a credit card then it has been worth while.
Please email *************@gmail.com

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I guess it was this thread, and one on a Branson forum currently, that prompted me to roll this over subconsciously while I was running around today.

I have been consumer-oriented and a relentless reporter of just about everything that's afoul in the TS industry for more than ten years. I have been repulsed by those who show no compassion for those who get pressured into buying through lying.

Then, it occurred to me today that since there is an abundance of evidence already present on the Internet and all anyone has to do is click and look, if they don't, then it is their fault for what they get themselves into. There are those who choose not to search, not to believe, and I don't feel much compassion for them.

I also don't feel much compassion toward those on the Internet, in charge of things, who manipulate the flow of information in order to distort it to their own purpose, or who choose to limit who can contribute truthful information, for selfish purposes. If that is being done, of course.

It's like with Wastegate, and all the folks that try to justify their sleazy conduct. Given the abundance of evidence . . . the guility verdict . . . I don't have any respect for those who continue to fund their sleaziness. We have the ability to make choices, including moral choices, with our expenditures.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

The slime and sleaze goes back further than the people who just want to get out of their ownership and sign up for trash deals. It goes back over 20 years when t/s salesmen first started this way of spending a vacation. They would lie and tell you anything to make a sale. The timeshare industry has always gotten into bed with the sleaze and the slime.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Oops, now you step over my line, unless this way of spending a vacation is not intended to be a slam against this way of spending a vacation.

It is a great way to vacation, the poor man's way of having beaucoup vacation homes.

The slime and sleaze goes back further than the people who just want to get out of their ownership and sign up for trash deals. It goes back over 20 years when t/s salesmen first started this way of spending a vacation. They would lie and tell you anything to make a sale. The timeshare industry has always gotten into bed with the sleaze and the slime.

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

There basically are three ways people try to take your money when you want to sell your TS.

1- They want an "up front fee" from you. They may tell you they have a buyer or they may not but they make their money from the listing fees and not from fees for selling your TS. Many will have huge websites with lots of listing. This doesn't mean they will sell your TS just that they will list it. IMHO, They rarely sell anyone's TS.

2- People who send you a postcard and say that they will be in your area buying TS and if you come to their presentation they will make you an offer to take your TS off your hands. These people are legit but slimey. They will ask you to pay them $3000-$4000 to have them "take your TS off your hands" ( yes you pay them!!) They then have a sister company sell the TS on Ebay and keep any money they get. If they can't sell it on Ebay (or someplace like that) they may or maynot transfer the deed into their name. If they don't transfer the deed, you're still the owner and still on the hook for all fees owed by the owner.

3- People who send you checks to buy your TS and want you to send them back a check for some kind of overpayment. NEVER ACCEPT A CHECK FOR MORE THAN THE AMOUNT OWED!! This is often called the "nigerian scam".


Be carefull with anyone of these people.

PS #1 & #2 are not illegal or a scam just really slimey. #3 is flat out an illegal scam.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Precisely our point, Bill, that all of those cautions are already all over the Internet, so if a person was inclined to look, they would find it.

That leaves those not inclined to look, not inclined to be on the Internet, not inclined to read your post.

Not that you aren't correct nor that there is any harm in saying again what has already been said.

You know, a lotta y'all are really down on postcard companies, but, along my same train of thought, warnings against them are prolific, as are caution against upfront fees and Nigerian scams. So, with all that information readily available, if people go the route of postcard companies, and are satisfied with the result, how is that the company who satisfied the customer to blame for anything?

& what alternative has anyone offered to those who just want to get away from their timeshare obligation? I mean real alternative that really does the job.

Should the real blame not go to the system that does not provide for the owner who wants out?

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Despite ample factual information on the Internet, there will always be some unwilling to look or to believe.

Someone on another forum is wanting to sell a Galveston week for what they have left on the loan, $13000, and doesn't seem inclined to face the facts.

I just sent them a link to an Ebay auction at the same resort, and suggested the keep their eye on it.

When the student's ready, the teacher will appear.

[IslandAnne Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close IslandAnne]

Another postcard scam

I received a postcard from Apex Professionals LLC from Reno. They were setting up appointments in my city this weekend to make an immediate 'offer' on timeshares that were on their list. I own 4 and was contemplating getting rid of 2, if the price was right. I was told it would be 30-40 minutes. 5 of us were ushered into a meeting room (all except me were VERY senior citizens). The presenter went on for over an hour on what a terrible mistake we made in buying a timeshare and how we owned it for life and can't get rid of it, even by filing bankruptcy and there's no market, there's special assessments, fast rising MFs, etc. It was an hour of scare tactics and hysteria on what a terrible burden we were stuck with and our children and grandchildren. He basically called us stupid and uninformed and said if we take their 'offer' we will immediately be free of our burden and can deduct any loss we take and even showed the IRS form on the screen. I was so mad at the insulting presentation that I almost left but wanted to hear their 'offer'. After the hour, we broke off into one-on-one meetings with another person. Bottom line: They will 'take' your timeshare to save you the MFs and you pay them $3495 for all closing documents to be free of this terrible purchase!!! I PAY them to take my timeshare - all Red Weeks, Gold Crowns in tropical areas???!! My concern was that seniors were the target and with the economy and the hour of scare tactics, that they would be scared into paying these scam artists to take their timeshare, which they then rent out. It was an immediate transaction with no time to think about it. We were told to bring our documents. I spoke to one senior in the parking lot afterwards and she also was insulted and said she'd never do it. Please be forewarned and don't waste your time unless you just want to go and hassle them or be entertained with the performance. I've reported them to Reno's BBB - I hope the word gets out.

[muranojo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close muranojo]

Careful--IMO, the OP does not have the writing skills you would usually see in a journalist or someone who writes for a living. Perhaps he/she has an editor who cleans up the writing, but the messages posted are littered with errors.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Island Anne, if you did not just duck in and duck out, how would you suggest a person go about disposing of an unwanted timeshare, stopping the perpetual fees, assuming a person has exhausted all means of doing so, assuming they could not even unload it for a buck on eBay?

[ccoope5 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ccoope5]

Timeshare Investors of America

Anyone ever hear of Timeshare Investors of America. It sounds like a scam but I can't find anything on the internet about them. They have several offices throughout the US. I checked the BBB and nothing reported against them. I'm being offered more than I paid in what they say is a bulk sell with a million points. Of course they want $1500 to do some leg work, fully refundable at closing.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

When a buyer wants the seller to pay for something upfront- a BIG RED flag should appear. If anyone really wanted to accumulate timeshares they could buy a bunch real cheap on EBAY every day.