Timeshare Donation Dirty Little Secrets

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Dr Ken,

It is material to know what type of Dr you are because you are labelling yourself as a doctor. If you are a Doctor of Astrology, then that tells us one thing. If you are a Medical Doctor, that tells us something else.

So, what type of doctor are you? Why are you not telling us?

You are a total joke. I am keeping my confidence level at 75% of your services being nothing more than a scam.

Anyone labelling themselves as a Doctor would not try to hide the type of doctor they are.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Ken,

I just checked out your website. You are basically saying that you will get the donor a tax deduction equal to the amount that the resort is selling timeshare for retail.

That is a recipe for disaster for the donor. We have an opinion on this rendered from Dave M who is a well known Timesharing expert on Marriott's and a CPA.

Anyone who claims that deduction will risk audit, penalties and late fees. By that time, you will be long gone.

So, why don't you save yourself some time and go to some other sites where the owners are not as well educated as us.

P.S. you claim to be a physician. Until I verify your credentials, I'll just call you Ken.

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

Ken,

I just checked out your website. You are basically saying that you will get the donor a tax deduction equal to the amount that the resort is selling timeshare for retail.

That is a recipe for disaster for the donor. We have an opinion on this rendered from Dave M who is a well known Timesharing expert on Marriott's and a CPA.

Anyone who claims that deduction will risk audit, penalties and late fees. By that time, you will be long gone.

So, why don't you save yourself some time and go to some other sites where the owners are not as well educated as us.

P.S. you claim to be a physician. Until I verify your credentials, I'll just call you Ken.

Since it is so much of a concern to all the experts here as to what my credentials are I'll list them for you. I hold two AA degrees, A BA in Psychology, a MBA and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. After thirteen years of university training I feel qualified to comment on those things I research deeply. As a licensed physician I practiced in Arizona, California and Australia until I retired. For those unfamiliar with chiropractic, it requires the same premed, medical school, and internship requirements and is looked upon as a primary physician role on a similar basis as a MD, DO, OD, DDS, and other top level health providers.

As to a spam your opinions are in error and indicate the lack of either review or understanding of what is offered. A service is provided and payment for that service is given. At no time do I or the NPO suggest that the donor should take the full resort price as their deduction. It is explained to the donor that by avoiding the 36 month resell of the timeshare, other means of valuation must be used which can be to their advantage and that the valuation from the resort sales plus the suggestion I gave as a method of gaining a higher dollar sale can all work to their benefit in using a higher donation claim than simply the secondary market when working above the $5,000 ceiling requiring a licensed appraiser.

Since no one seems to want to bother answering the question I posted let me give you the direct quote:

# Select a closing company and let us know who it is.
# Notify the closing company you will be working with us and send them the service fee of $500 (Yes we do require a service fee). They will hold it until closing.
# Include an additional personal check or money order to the closing company for payment of all closing costs

I believe that makes clear that whatever is paid by the donor is ONLY paid to us AFTER we have provided the service they want us to perform. Please tell me how this is different that someone taking a listing contract and agreeing to attempt to sell if for a commission if they can get it sold. The real difference here is that we don't attempt to sell it and delay the exit from ownership that such listing entail. We do it NOW. Ask different NPOs their lag time from initial contact, to actual sale, to taking title, to transferring title and then complain to me about how this is no good. If you bother to check, you'll even find that most NPOs have a black list of resorts they won't touch with a ten-foot pole. We even take those.

Excuse me for not thinking this is spam. If it is on this forum you have a few problems here you need to address such as spouting off before you bother to check what you're talking about. You don't like an idea, that's fine. Just take the time to check it out and get the facts before you bother to weigh in on the newbie that is trying to help others.

By the way, A simple question again. My purpose was to give information that took me days to dig out and was NOT available anywhere else on the Internet, including this site, on an easily found basis. I'm sorry a few of you were too concerned about either my credentials or the idea of roasting something you don't like the sound of. If you disagree, demonstrate it by providing counter information, not by shooting the messenger.

As to a typing error not caught by a spelling checker, I apologize. mistakes do happen.

Here is my real name. Are you willing to give us all your when you respond or do you hide behind an front?

Dr. Ken Rich

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

I still think you're a proctologist.

[gjw007 Member Find all posts View Profile Close gjw007]

Dr Ken,

I believe your strategy for selling a timeshare in front of the resort could work. But, 99.99% of owners will not be willing to use that approach. That's why they pay brokers.

Like you, I think the strategy of selling the timeshare on the streets outside the resort might work but I think most people would ignore it as a scam. Of course, the seller could also make a rough cardboard advertisement, go up and down the streets at the stoplights and achieve the same effect. As far as being on the resort property, since it is private property and as an owner, you have agreed to a series of rules and restrictions (whether you read all the materials given to you or not), one of which is I'm sure that you can sell on resort property, Rather than a policy that will allow the seller to sue the resort, it wouldn't be surprising if it were actually the other way around. Really, if a person is looking to sell their timeshare, do they really want the additional hassles?

The more I read on these firms, the more I think that Cindy had the right idea about them.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Here is my real name. Are you willing to give us all your when you respond or do you hide behind an front?

Dr. Ken Rich

Ken,

I aplaude you for coming back to explain yourself. If you provide legitimate services, you have no need to be concerned. We will figure it out and even recommend you if that turns out to be the case. If not, the opposite will be true.

You see. My real name doesn't matter. All that matters is whether or not I provide verifiably true statements that help people on this site and whether or not people trust what I post. Given that I have several thousand posts here and I have personally helped several hundred people on this and other timeshare sites, nobody has ever had the need to call me out like you just did. I have a good reputation. I have no need, nor desire to prove myself to you.

You, on the other hand, come out with a first post that is a blatant ad with a clear agenda. You didn't even spend one minute trying to build a reputation. So, it's no wonder people are coming after your claims. We are innundated on a daily basis with scam artists trying to capitalize on our readers. But, our readers know that we will help them ferret out the truth.

So, whether or not you are legit doesn't really matter to me. We will figure it out one way or another and inform our readers appropriately.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Like you, I think the strategy of selling the timeshare on the streets outside the resort might work but I think most people would ignore it as a scam. Of course, the seller could also make a rough cardboard advertisement, go up and down the streets at the stoplights and achieve the same effect. As far as being on the resort property, since it is private property and as an owner, you have agreed to a series of rules and restrictions (whether you read all the materials given to you or not), one of which is I'm sure that you can sell on resort property, Rather than a policy that will allow the seller to sue the resort, it wouldn't be surprising if it were actually the other way around. Really, if a person is looking to sell their timeshare, do they really want the additional hassles?

The more I read on these firms, the more I think that Cindy had the right idea about them.

Gary,

The lion share of people who buy from the Resort Developer don't even go to the Timeshare Resale outlet that is right across the street from the resort which has an established presence.

Why would they risk getting scammed for a mere savings of $1000? Most buyers finance. I don't imagine seller based financing will be made available from the car.

[gjw007 Member Find all posts View Profile Close gjw007]

Gary,

The lion share of people who buy from the Resort Developer don't even go to the Timeshare Resale outlet that is right across the street from the resort which has an established presence.

Why would they risk getting scammed for a mere savings of $1000? Most buyers finance. I don't imagine seller based financing will be made available from the car.

Agreed. And I think most purchases at developers are impulse and somebody with a sign on their car would scare most people off but it could attract some attention. Financing becomes a much more interesting aspect.

Is it just me or has there been an increase of these type of threads over the last year?

[brucecz Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close brucecz]

I think you might assited on some my ebay paperwork for Bryan who operated near Branson but not under the name of Midsouth. I think it was something called Brandywine or SumdayVacations. I think you were then working out of Hawaii. Am I correct? It's hard to keep track after buying about 50 differant ownerships the past 7 years. That is one off the 29 we still own.

It was a floating Christmas Mountain Wi Dells unit. I belive you helped reserve a summer week for us before the deed was in our name.

If I am wrong I am sure it is not my fault, its either Spence's, or Boca's or TonyG's or BigFranks or Johnny O's, etc fault.

Bruce

Hello Mr. Spence,

I thought that might be you, hope all is well. I am no longer with eMid and am not sure if you remember Leamon but both of us went out on our own some time back and are doing great. We have our own closing company that handles real estate and timeshare closings as well as coordinating timeshare donations for a wildlife refuge in Eureka Springs, AR. **Life is good**

Thanks for remembering me "Mr. Shenandoah"
Have a great day
Andria

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

In one of the posts here the author states to just deed back the title to the resort to get rid of a timeshare as if to say that all resorts allow that.
I asked to be allowed to do that at the place I used to own and was told they never do that.
Their question was, " we are already getting paid maintenance fees from you, so why would we want to let you out of that and then we would have to make up the money difference ? "

For Dr. Ken,

For the most part I have found that if the people here on this forum do not agree with your opinions they will turn ugly on you. Some will even call you names .( childish ) So, my advice to you is to get used to it. Some here act as if it is some sort of a good ole' boy club that only want the warm and fuzzies and only want one side heard. Keep posting.The more info., the better informed people will be.
Even after having been beaten up here many times I think this is a good forum for people who either own timeshares or are planning to purchase one.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

In one of the posts here the author states to just deed back the title to the resort to get rid of a timeshare as if to say that all resorts allow that.
I asked to be allowed to do that at the place I used to own and was told they never do that.
Their question was, " we are already getting paid maintenance fees from you, so why would we want to let you out of that and then we would have to make up the money difference ? "

For Dr. Ken,

For the most part I have found that if the people here on this forum do not agree with your opinions they will turn ugly on you. Some will even call you names .( childish ) So, my advice to you is to get used to it. Some here act as if it is some sort of a good ole' boy club that only want the warm and fuzzies and only want one side heard. Keep posting.The more info., the better informed people will be.
Even after having been beaten up here many times I think this is a good forum for people who either own timeshares or are planning to purchase one.

Bing,

I think the fact that you have not been banned or discouraged from posting on this website proves that this site is committed to open and free speech. The same is true for Dr. Ken. I don't mind you sharing your point of view. We can easily compare and contrast why you don't like timesharing and why others do. That dialog helps people to understand where they fit on the spectrum of travellers. In fact, I believe you have stated that timesharing can work if you know what you are doing. People can decide for themselves if they want to join given that information.

Here's the thing with free speech. If you say something lame, you will be called out for it. For the most part, you have some good points and I, for one, always acknowledge your good points. However, you do make some lame points as well. Those are what you are called out on.

This site was set up for timesharers who love timesharing. So, it's no wonder that someone who is so negative on timesharing such as yourself gets a lot of push back. When you are challenged, we are speaking from a position of knowledge so you can't just make broad and general statements that go without response. So, continue to hang around here if you like. I certainly don't know why you do hang around here. It must really tick you off that some people are making timesharing work when you, yourself couldn't.

Lastly, before you befriend Dr. Ken, you should probably do some research on him. Check out some of his stock scams. Let's see if you are looking for the truth or if you just have an anti-timeshare agenda and will support anyone who is negative on timeshares even if they, themselves are scam artists.

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

BocaBum99,
Thanks for your kind words. Kindness goes a long way.

I share my real life input here ( hang around if you will ) as a former timeshare owner. I know of many of the scams in the timeshare world and a lot of people end up spending thousands of dollars that they could use on vacation.
My purpose if to inform people who are considering a purchase.
A lot of people look to sites such as this to get information before purchasing a timeshare even though people here have told me different. How can anyone know why a person would click on any site?

I am here to help in hopes that they do not get taken in by some scam as I was big time. So many lies told to me that if I had known better I wouldn't never purchased the product. I had no chance to even make it work for me. I want to keep others from making the same big mistake. I have stated here before that not everyone should buy a timeshare and not everyone needs a timeshare as some timeshare salesmen think. Timeshares work for a lot of people and that is great!. I am not anti-timeshare. I am against people taking advantage of people when they know it is wrong in the name of timeshare vacations. I hope everyone has fun on vacation by whatever means they want to.I have NO problem with the people who make timeshares work for them, go for it, enjoy!

I also have helped several people through the selling process.My advice is free to all.

Scams are the main thing I want people to be aware of !!!

[Jim McLaren Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jim McLaren]

For the most part I have found that if the people here on this forum do not agree with your opinions they will turn ugly on you. Some will even call you names .( childish )

This forum is pretty tame compared to many others on the internet. If people really did turn ugly on me, I would not return.

Some here act as if it is some sort of a good ole' boy club that only want the warm and fuzzies and only want one side heard. Keep posting.The more info., the better informed people will be.

Bing,
This site was set up for timesharers who love timesharing. So, it's no wonder that someone who is so negative on timesharing such as yourself gets a lot of push back. When you are challenged, we are speaking from a position of knowledge so you can't just make broad and general statements that go without response. So, continue to hang around here if you like. I certainly don't know why you do hang around here. It must really tick you off that some people are making timesharing work when you, yourself couldn't.

What BB said about the purpose of this site is something you occasionally forget. I would have to say if you want to antagonize the lion, be prepared to be bitten.

Bing,
For the most part, you have some good points and I, for one, always acknowledge your good points. However, you do make some lame points as well. Those are what you are called out on.

I would agree here. Your point of view needs to be heard. Too many people buy timeshares without really considering some of the points you raise. Owning a timeshare is not for everyone. Sometimes hotels are better. Sometimes renting a timeshare is better. People need to consider all of this and you give a much need counterpoint to many of the opinions offered here. I was looking as some of your older posts (about a year ago) and your posts were very balanced with many of these points.

Hang in there Bing. We do want to hear from you. Some of us may be less than tactful in our criticism of your posts. But then sometimes we feel like you've just poked us in the eye with a sharp stick. Sometime you have (and should stop that) and sometimes we're just oversensitive.

Jim

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

Certainly another options

So let me see if I understand this correct
1) there will be a $500 process fee from your side. Which will be hold in a closing company until a point is reach where you consider the process of donation is completed
2) for the people that donate the TS, they will pay the closing company.
3) There is no immediately Tax Benefit until maybe sometime later?
4) the Tax Benefit maybe much bigger than if we sell on the open market?

I am not quite clear on
1) when the process of donation is completed (in other word, when you get paid).
2) when the Tax Benefit be actually assess? And what protect a donator to get that?
3) If IRS come to audit, what protect the donator? Why your Tax Value will be superior and accepted by IRS than other method?

Jya-Ning

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

about Bing

I first ran into Bing on another and rather obscure site and his negativity inspired suspicion that he might be in the secondary timesharing scam business like Timeshare Relief. In the months following I have seen no indication (and I looked closely) whatsoever that he is anything but what he says he is. I also like having the other view around on the site even if it just saves me from going negative on timesharing. I'm sure Bing's experience has been shared by thousands of others and perhaps if he had found us or another site sooner, we may have made him a bit less bitter by helping him to get the most from a very expensive purchasing error. It seems that timesharing draws in the quick buck salespeople and they migrate down to resale scams as well- knowing that those who have been duped in the past are likely to be duped again. Bing has an innocuous agenda, and he is not here to take advantage of owners trying to get rid of a timeshare like the con artists who want a fee for helping one to dispose of a timeshare. You won't see Bing having a website where claims of 10% a month profit can be had if you buy into his stock system and he's not carrying on about his reputation being ruined here like someone else here who now has no credibility.