www.centurytimesharegroup.com possible scam...

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

They did it to me, too

Stay away from Century Timeshare Group, for your own good! They gave me the same story and I fell for it, hook, line and sinker. Now I'm out $1688.32 and I feel like an idiot. I won't go into the details, but it's the same "we've got a buyer for your timeshare, buyer beeds more time to come up with downpayment, etc. After 6 months, I asked for my money back and now they never answer the phone. They probably have caller I.D. and know it's me calling. They don't respond to emails, either. Ilaina seemed so nice, but she's in on it just like Kevin, Stephanie and everyone else who works there. I've filed complaints with the Florida and Kentucky Attorney Generals. I don't know how they can ssleep at night knowing how they cheat people out of their money.

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

Century Timeshare Group Update

I file the complaint with the Online Business Bureau. Don't know if it led to their finally calling me back but they did. Shane called and he wanted to provide me an update on my property. They said the original buyer's loan didn't get approved. I told him that was a surprise since when they originally called me I was told they had been preapproved. He said they had another offer for my property. This time at $3,200. I told him no thanks and that I wanted the credit card tranaction reversed. Since the trancaction was for proving the property was clear to be sold and there was no sale the transaction should be voided. I told him I didn't want to deal with scammers and that, that's all they were. He took issue with being called a scammer so I told him he could prove they weren't, reverse the credit card transaction. If they were an above board company they would have returned my phone calls and reversed the transaction. He said they had no record that I ever called. His story changed when I asked him if he wanted copies of my home and cell phone call lists. I requested a refund again! He wasn't sure if I qualified for one or not, he would have to check with his supervisor and get back to me. I really didn't think I'd hear back.

I couple of days later Shane called again and said that my refund had been approved and I should see it on my credit card in 5-7 business days. I checked my credit card statement this morning and sure enough the transaction has been reversed. For the first time in dealing with these guys I was told the truth and they did what they said they would do. I do not trust them, but my issue has been resolved. I consider myself lucky and much wiser.

Blackasbs, I know how you feel. These guys are slick so stay on them. Keep notes on every contact you have with them. When you call, call every number you have for them. That way they can't say that the line you called wasn't working. File a complaint with the Online Business Bureau and the Florida Department that deals with timeshares. I don't have the name and address on this computer but I found it on these forums. Florida has a separate department that oversees telemarketing organizations, if you haven't filed a complaint there you need too. I really think the only way you'll get them to act is to become a big enough pain that it is easier to refund than try to hang on. Good Luck! Sorry they got you too but I hope others learn from our lessons. Who knows maybe you'll get lucky and get good results too.

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

UPdate

Yesterday, a Mr. Woods called me. A pleasant enough guy, with a sense of humor. When I asked him why it took two and a half weeks to call me back, he said "we suck". Blamed it on not having enough employees to handle the volume of calls they get. <big sigh on my part>. Long story short (about half an hours worth), he said, according to the contract I signed, I do not qualify for a refund. I reminded him again that Kevin Williams assured me that the signing of the contract was a formality just to get my info in their system since a buyer had already been procured and I was paying for costs related to the closing (which would be refunded to me). It did not phase him in the least. He offered to take my timeshare off my hands for a fee. <fat chance since it's paid for and maintenence fees are oinly $330 a YEAR>. I said: if my Wyndham timeshare is such a "sought after" property, why don't you guys buy it, at a little discount from me, and turn around and sell it and make some money? Oh, sometimes they do, he said, (bear in mind this was moments after offering to take the unit if I PAID them), and he'd have to check with his boss, but the price would be less than half the listing price ($10,150). I went ahead and mailed my complaint forms to the proper authorities in Kentucky and Florida, and I've filed a complaint with the Online BBB, and one lady from another website has already thanked me for steering her clear of Century, as they called her within the past two days. <lucky for her>. I will continue this. . . I'm NOT giving up, thanks to your words of encouragement.

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

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!!!

Heh. Out-of-the-blue first-time poster accuses forum stalwart of being fixated on a scam resale company no one else cares about (except their future victims). Straight out of the shilling playbook.

RThompinia: I'm very sorry for your experience. I hate these outfits.

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

So-o-o-o Excited!

I may be jumping the gun just a little, because I don't actually have it in my hands, but it sure does appear that Mr. Woods came through for me and I am one happy camper. Tomorrow when the UPS or Federal Express guy comes, I'll know for sure. My faith in humanity is being restored, and now if only those Chinese people who made my wedding vow renewal dress red instead of ivory would either send me the dress or my money back, I'd know for sure people will eventually do the right thing; however, I don't see that happening, so don't deal via EBay with anybody in China who can't understand the difference between red and ivory. Anyway, back to Century, there's a possibility I may let them rent out my timeshare in the future, but they pay for that priviledge upfront, so I'm not worried about any misunderstandings related to particular phrases being omitted from a contract. I'll make sure I talk to Mr. Woods at length and get the exact details before entering into any future agreements.

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

Perhaps that makes sense to some....

However, if I'd just reported that I'd been lied to, cheated out of my money, and then had to fight like hell to get a refund- I doubt very strongly I'd be willing to jump back into bed with that group for anything...

Color me skeptical- but something smells here!

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

Are you insinuating. . . .

that I'm one of those. . . shills, is that what they are called? You make valid points. But if someone tells you they will pay you up front to rent your timeshare, and you have no intention of using that timeshare, why not check out the details? I have not contacted Mr. Woods yet, but I'll let you know if I go through with this option.

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

Duh-h-h-h-h. . . .

Whew! I received a letter from the Florida Attorney General's office today and they cautioned me against doing business with the kind of people who promise you a sale once you list, they've already got a buyer, etc. I didin't realize that only licensed real estate agents can sell timeshares, and we all know who isn't licensed to sell timeshares because, well. . . they say they are a service for the owners to list their properties. I read the websites from the links they provided me; so many other people have been down this same road. Somebody knock some sense into me!

[johnsorg Member Find all posts View Profile Close johnsorg]

Run away

I am a retired federal agent and do volunteer work in the state of Florida helping people that have been scammed. I can guarantee you that anyone who calls and said they have a buyer for your timeshare and all they need is some sort of upfront money to complete the transaction is lying. Florida seems to be ground zero for these type of scams. I know Palm Beach County alone has 19 of these firms under investigation by The Florida Attorney General's office.

On a positive note, credit card companies are issuing refunds to some of the people that have been scammed. I would recommend that if anyone has lost money in this scam to contact their credit card company. If you did not pay by credit card you are probably out of luck.

Another twist to this is being contacted by some sort of recovery firm to get your money back. Most are outright frauds but some do actually work for you. However, all the legitimate ones just contact the credit card company. Any individual can also do this.

NEVER NEVER NEVER pay money up front.

[johnsorg Member Find all posts View Profile Close johnsorg]

Newspaper Article

Palm Beach County the focus of resale probe: Time shares replace mortgage fraud as #1 complaint in state

check out the newspaper article to see the type of individual that is involved with this fraud.

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

credit cards - not necessarily any help

I charged the up front fee I gave Century Timeshares on a credit card, and just within the past couple of days I received a letter from my credit card company and the jest was: sorry, can't help you recover your money. Verbal promises do not supercede a written agreement.

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

Fraud is what you need to say and you sometimes have to play hardball with the credit card companies. Was there a written agreement that you signed ?

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

There was

Yes, my husband and I signed a written agreement. It basically stated that they were acting on behalf of the owners as a way to advertise properties. My argument was the fact we were told that they had someone already signed up to purchase our property as part of a package deal, therefore any advertising wasn't needed, the way I saw it. All in all, I know now that was just a ploy, something they typically told people to get them to agree to an up-front fee. We were also told that the fee was for a title search and closing costs and all would be refundned at closing. Bottom line, as nice as Mr. Woods and the other people sounded over the phone, human nature is to respond positively to someone who is nice to you, and that's my biggest fault; I can't fathom purposefully cheating people out of their money, so it doesn't dawn on me that someone would do that to me.

[Sky Pilot Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sky Pilot]

Century Timeshare Group

I also am doing business with this company and have been in contact with them for the last 6 months. They rarely if ever call me and when they have they have not had access to the information which will tell me about the sale they said will happen. I sent them the $ even after I had told them I would not give them $ for upfront adversiting but they insisted that they had a buyer and this $ was for closing and would be refunded at the closing. Guess what, it has now been six months and they have not brought this to closing but have now put it back on the remarket to find a backup buyer. I was told by the credit card company that it is to late to get the money back and so I have learned a !,488.54 lesion not to believe in timeshare resale companies. there is now only one way they can change that and that is to close the sale they say they can do. FAT chance of that happening. If they do I will be happy to eat my words but am quite sure that will not happen. AVOID THIS COMPANY AND DO NOT BELIEVE ANY OF THE TRIX THEY TRY TO SELL YOU OR SAY. IT IS NOT FOR REAL. I have a great deal on audio from my conversations with them since I record the telephone calls. If I am wrong I'll be happy for someone to prove that to me.

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

Miracles DO happen

My recommendation would be to either tell them you are going to file a complaint with the Florida Attorney General's Consumer Protection Dept or actually go ahead and do it. They are very serious about stopping the scams involving the timeshare industry and have filed lawsuits against many of the people/companies who make a living scamming people with promises to sell their units. I got a response very quickly from them. Once Century refunded my money, I asked that my complaint be dropped, but at least Century Timeshare Group is on their radar. The online BBB forwarded me a reply from Shane at the Century office and he was quite "testy", saying they no longer are doing business with me and I should stop wasting everybody's time. I don't know why the BBB contacted them for a comment since I had asked them a full week earlier to drop the complaint, but maybe they just wanted something for their records. Nevertheless, Shane was not happy with me and the fact I had filed a complaint, so perhaps you could work something out with Century before you actually file.