www.centurytimesharegroup.com possible scam...

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

I saw this SEO article this morning.. Century Timeshare Group and Sister Company Century Properties Announces First Auction of 2010 - PR.com

I actually love these things! I almost always get a good laugh as they don't even pretend to be truthful... This part caught my eye..

"The auction is set to be held in Century Timeshare Group’s multi-million dollar showroom located in Hallandale, Florida, and will be open to investors wishing to buy properties. A major benefit of the auction is that properties will be available to investors that may not be listed in classified ads or internet sites, and investors will have the first opportunity to bid on the properties.

“We will be buying the deeds from sellers to relieve them of their timeshares and offering them at the auctions,” says Robert Johnson of Century Timeshare Group. “Following this first auction we expect to hold auctions every two or three months as new properties and opportunities become available.”

The article shows this person as the contact:
Century Timeshare Group
Chris Cella
973-588-7338
ccellapr@gmail.com

I figured- million dollar showroom, it's worth a look.. So I checked out the website. Imagine my surprise when I saw the logos at the bottom of the page.

I often work with Remax Town Centre, so I called them.. They were very surprised to see that their logo had been "stolen" and used without permission to try and create some credibility for this group.. The legal process is starting for a copyright violation, but who knows how long that will take!

The physical address shown for the company also shows up in directory listings as an Elite Timeshare Group..

I checked with the Florida Division of Corporations and found the LLC registered under :

Manager/Member Detail
Name & Address
Title MGRM
HERNANDEZ, JASON
4302 HOLLYWOOD BLVD. SUITE# 299
HOLLYWOOD FL 33021 US

I've never heard of any of these "gentlemen" before, so I guess it's just another group of scammers hoping for easy pickings..

At least this serves as a good reminder that we all have to really be careful and ensure we verify everything before any money changes hands..

Just because it's online and looks official- does not mean it is the truth!

[Jason Longo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jason Longo]

I have had good experience with Century Timeshare Group

For anyone considering Century Timeshare Group, please do not be deferred based on this user's (Rikkis Playpen) comment... it is clear that this user has gone out of his way to slander a company which he probably has no previous connection with.

I have worked with Century Timeshare in the past in assisting me with properties and can say in fact that they are indeed legitimate and very professional. It is sad that a company can obtain a bad online reputation due to the fact that anybody can post whatever they like.

Simply visit their website Century Timeshare Group or send them and email and find out for yourself!!!

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

You have got to be kidding. Your first post and you expect us to believe that you are not a shill for the company and that we should believe you over a respected member. Like you said-anyone can post on the internet, so what we do is look at the poster and judge which one is credible when they differ. And, like I've said before, any company in timesharing should be considered dishonest until proven otherwise.

[Jason Longo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jason Longo]

Sorry if I don't need to go out of my way every day to post on every possible forum out there. I googled Century Timeshare Group, saw that ridiculous post, and wanted to clarify...and unless you have dealt with a timeshare company first-hand, you have no credibility whatsoever in saying if they are legit or not!!!

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

Crooked until proven otherwise for resalers and shill until proven otherwise for anyone that promotes any of them.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Sorry if I don't need to go out of my way every day to post on every possible forum out there. I googled Century Timeshare Group, saw that ridiculous post, and wanted to clarify...and unless you have dealt with a timeshare company first-hand, you have no credibility whatsoever in saying if they are legit or not!!!

Would you care to guess how many times have we heard shills say that before?

If you truly don't want to come across like a shill, I suggest that you quit posting like a shill.

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

The Re/Max logo has now been removed from the site.. But it looks like it's just been replaced with other well known brands..

Current logos that show on the site now include Exit Realty, Group RCI, and Wachovia Bank. I wonder if they know?

I have a few contacts at RCI as well, so I'll see if I can check on that one!

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

I have been contacted by Century Timeshare Group with an too good to believe offer. I have been trying to determine if they are legit. My son contacted Group RCI. Here is their response:

Subject: RE: Group RCI Contact Center - email address confirmed

Dear XX,

Thank you for contacting Group RCI.

I have been researching this issue since you sent it, and thank you for
bringing it to our attention! This company is NOT associated with us and
does not have the right to use our logo on their Web site. I do not have
any information on this company, so I cannot speak to their credibility.

Best,
XXX

Sounds like note the company to work with if they are deceptive in their advertising.

[Jason Longo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jason Longo]

Century Timeshare Group

The Online Business Bureau has not received any complaints for this company, and I have personally contacted previous clients who had no issues with.

If you have such issues with the company how about going directly to the source to get the information you are looking for??? Contact Century Timeshare Group and find out for yourself!!!

And if you want to consider someone a shill for supporting a company they have previously dealt with, then call it what you want

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

The Online Business Bureau has not received any complaints for this company, and I have personally contacted previous clients who had no issues with.

If you have such issues with the company how about going directly to the source to get the information you are looking for??? Contact Century Timeshare Group and find out for yourself!!!

And if you want to consider someone a shill for supporting a company they have previously dealt with, then call it what you want

Anyone who has dealt with BBB ratings knows those ratings are useless. In fact one common tactic typically used by known and outed shills at this site is to reference to supposedly sterling BBB ratings. Referencing a BBB rating is hardly a legitimate means of creating credibility for a company.

On second thought, I retract what I just wrote. Referencing BBB ratings is what companies do when they it's hard to find legitimate means of creating credibility for their company.

++++++

Rikki's Playpen has a long history of participating at this site, providing helpful and unbiased information to any and all. RP (and others) upthread have documented unethical business practices used by this operation, including stealing and improperly using logos to try to create an aura of credibility.

You, on the other hand, are someone whose only purposes in posting on this site are to defend a company with shady business practices.

You look like a shill, you act like a shill, and your posts smell like shill.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Another couple of things to remember.

Jason mentions Online Business Bureau. As noted on the web page for Online Business Bureau, Online Business is not the Better Business Burieau. Do you suppose that OBB name might have been selected because it sounds an awful lot like an on-line form of the Better Business Bureau?

Readers stumbling across this thread might want to know that Century Timeshare Group is not BBB accredited.

Also, although Century Timeshare Group advertises itself a business entity operating of Hallendale, FL, no entity by that name is registered with the Florida Division of Corporations, either as a business name or as a fictitious name.

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

Century timeshare

I think that if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. I just saw on other forums the same thing as the call I got from them. I would say no way is this legit! That is just my opion however!

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

Posting these "scam alerts" obviously works...

I just saw a new blogger press release from this group, titled something like "Online Scam Alerts Don't Stop Us".. They are now trying to create new pages that will push down the Google rank of threads this- but the fact that they felt compelled to do so tells you that these posts have a big impact!

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

Beware of Century Timeshare Group

Learn from my mistake. I should have seen the warning signs but didn't pay attention.

Mark Marques from Century Timeshare Group contacted me in January of 2010 about selling my timeshare. All he needed was the general information about our unit which I provided. He said they would market the unit at no cost to me. When asked about that I was told they make their money through financing the purchase for the buyer. He said they would contact me when they had a buyer or renter lined up but not to worry it may take six months or longer to find a buyer.

The first week of February I was contacted again by Century Timeshare Group. This time they said they had found a buyer for my unit. The buyer has been approved for financing. He said the sale should close in 45-60 days depending on completion of the title search, setting up trust account and other paperwork. Then he said they would need $1,244.54 to complete these actions and that I would be reimbursed at closing. He would send the contracts for me to sign and return. He said that someone from their compliance team would call within a couple of hours to verify the transaction. About 45 minutes later I got this call. There was no reference to a buyer so I contacted Mark to question him about that. He reassured me they had a buyer and this was just the normal procedures.

On February 5th the contacts arrived, upon review I noticed they referenced advertising and not an offer for purchase. I contacted Century Timeshare Group about this and was told that “Yes we have a buyer lined up for your unit and that those are just the standard set of contracts they use.” I signed and returned the contracts.

Followed up in March to find out when closing would be scheduled. I was told the title search was taking longer than expected but I should hear something in a few weeks. I have never heard anything.

By the first week of May I figured I had given them enough time to complete the title search and other activities I was told were needed to complete the sale. I contacted Century Timeshare Group at the (866) 423-6887 and Mark’s (954) 404-7389 numbers. Left messages but no one has returned the call. Several more times in May I contacted Century Timeshare Group and left messages that are not being returned. The last time I tried to contact Century Timeshare Group was on the morning of May 27, 2010.

Called the credit card company this morning to dispute the charges. They contacted Century Timeshare Group who gave them another number (954) 391-7719 (Steve's) to call and cancel the transaction. Guess what , more messages left and no return calls.

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

Update on Century Timeshare Group

Wanted to provide an update on my earlier post.

Is it no surprise that every contact to Century Timeshare Group goes unanswered and not returned. Some 20 additional calls have not been answered.

Jason Longo (AKA: The Shill) There has been a complaint filed with the Online Business Bureau. I have filed it. Additional complaints are being filed with other organizations at this time.