Timeshare Closing Services Inc.-Asking for SSI number

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

I have purchased another week at LaCabana Beach and Racquet Club, Aruba
(This will be my 5th week purchased at this resort), and have received closing papers from Timeshare Closing Services Inc. in Orlando FL.

In reviewing closing documents several items are bothering me so I tried calling the person who is handling my closing, but every time I call I get someone else who all seem clueless at what I am telling them and just repeat the company line that is wrong, wrong, wrong?

1) thay ask for my SSI number which I refuse to give to them. When I ask why they need it their answer is " The resort management company requires it". When I tell them that that is not true as I have closed 4 times and as recently as last month and it has never been required. I also pointed out that there is no management company at LaCabana as it is run by the HOH with a Manager hired by the HOH. They say it is required and if I don't provide it and the resort rejects my closing I will have to pay another $50 re-processing fee.

2) They say " Resort requires photo ID which should be a copy of driver's license for both me and my wife" I again told them it is not required by the resort and has never been required in my 4 previous closings.

I told them that instead of driver's license I will provide copies of photo Id's that I have from LaCabana.

I may be wrong but I thought this was a well respected closing company recommended by many on TUG, but I am totaly frustrated by my experience with them so far. I have done more that 25 closings with other companies and have never had this type of experience.

Does anyone have a contact and direct phone number and or email address of someone at this closing company that I can speak with that actually knows what they are doing?

I will send all required documents tomorrow with notarized signatures where required, but I will not provide both of our driver's licenses and SSI numbers

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Being that you own so many weeks there can't La Cabana do it for you

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

They are the worst closing company I have ever dealt with. All 3 closings with them have been problematic. File a complaint about them requiring a SS # with the Florida attorney general and/or the Social Security Administration.

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

Being that you own so many weeks there can't La Cabana do it for you

No Franks. This is the closing company used by the Ebay seller that I purchased from.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

No Franks. This is the closing company used by the Ebay seller that I purchased from.

They are not the only closing company that says they require it. It is very aggravating, but I've given the info against my better judgement. With a notarized signature, it really shouldn't be necessary. When I bought/sold my SA property, CapeEscapes wanted a copy of my passport.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

when we bought bluegreen property, we all had to fill out W9s with live signatures and photo ids. those things don't fax well, and my children were not so happy to provide them. at christmas mountain, timeshare owners can send their 18 year olds to stay in the units, but home owners can't send their 30 something kids to pools without accompanying them. so i bought timeshare property there to stop the insanity.

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

I have been told also that the management company requires SSN to set up owner's account. I tell the closing company that I will provide the info directly to the resort - and then I call the resort and do it - and verify that I can provide it after closing.

You probably have resort contact info already due to your other ownerships. Call them and ask them what you can do (getting a name to provide the closing company as well). This will also help negate any possibility of a rejected deed and an additional fee.

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

I
You probably have resort contact info already due to your other ownerships. Call them and ask them what you can do (getting a name to provide the closing company as well). This will also help negate any possibility of a rejected deed and an additional fee.

That is correct i just want these clowns to forward my paperwork to resort and I know that it will go through since it isn't required. If they don't I know the manager in the transfer department at my resort and can email her to let the closing company know it is not required.

I want to know if anyone has a contact at the closing company because a couple of people I spoke to there said they would not forward the documents without all requested information.

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

You might get a response quicker by making a negative feedback on the seller at Ebay because of the closing problem.

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

That is correct i just want these clowns to forward my paperwork to resort and I know that it will go through since it isn't required. If they don't I know the manager in the transfer department at my resort and can email her to let the closing company know it is not required.

I want to know if anyone has a contact at the closing company because a couple of people I spoke to there said they would not forward the documents without all requested information.

Well, obviously they will as they are prepared to charge you $50 if it then gets rejected! they can't have it both ways - say they WON'T do it, but charge you $50 IF they do!

Call the resort, and make double sure they will accept the deed/ownership without your SSN being on the paperwork (policies do change). If they say yes they will, call the closing company, talk to the person in charge (hahaha!) and tell them you want the completed paperwork sent over, missing just your SSN, to XYZ's attention at the resort.

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

Well, obviously they will as they are prepared to charge you $50 if it then gets rejected! they can't have it both ways - say they WON'T do it, but charge you $50 IF they do!

Call the resort, and make double sure they will accept the deed/ownership without your SSN being on the paperwork (policies do change). If they say yes they will, call the closing company, talk to the person in charge (hahaha!) and tell them you want the completed paperwork sent over, missing just your SSN, to XYZ's attention at the resort.

I sent everything over yesterday without SSI number and without copies of driver's license. Instead of driver's license I sent copies of our LaCabana photo id's and sent a note that if resort needs SSI number ( I am sure they don't since their website details exactly what documents and forms are required for transfer of ownership) I would only send it directly to resort but since they had no legitimate need to know they would not receive it.

I have also prepared everything else including notarized documents that the resort does require.

I have no intention of paying them another $50 even if they request it, as this is a simple transfer and they have already been paid $399 for closing fees.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Good for you. Please let us know how it goes. And congrats on your purchase!

[Dave H Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dave H]

Social Security Numbers

Many resorts are now requiring that closing companies send in copies of the drivers licenses and social security numbers. The reason is very simple. They are setting up a financial account and are required to have those items in order to comply with Federal Laws.

Think of going into a bank to set up a new bank account. If you are not an existing customer, you provide all that information, why? Because it is required.

As an owner of a closing company, trust me I do not like it either, but it is what we have to comply with.

Also, be careful, if your asked for your SSN in the course of a financial transaction, there can be penalties if it is reported to the IRS that you did not comply.

Remember, in a sense, the resort especially US based resorts, are extending credit when they bill you for your maintenance fees. In many points clubs including Bluegreen, the Trust is actually paying those fees and being reimbursed by the account holder for the fees and that is a qualified finanacial transasaction. Since the extension of credit carries it's own rules, such as the compliance with the US Patriot Act, they may not have a choice on asking for it.

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

Many resorts are now requiring that closing companies send in copies of the drivers licenses and social security numbers. The reason is very simple. They are setting up a financial account and are required to have those items in order to comply with Federal Laws.

Think of going into a bank to set up a new bank account. If you are not an existing customer, you provide all that information, why? Because it is required.

As an owner of a closing company, trust me I do not like it either, but it is what we have to comply with.

Also, be careful, if your asked for your SSN in the course of a financial transaction, there can be penalties if it is reported to the IRS that you did not comply.

Remember, in a sense, the resort especially US based resorts, are extending credit when they bill you for your maintenance fees. In many points clubs including Bluegreen, the Trust is actually paying those fees and being reimbursed by the account holder for the fees and that is a qualified finanacial transasaction. Since the extension of credit carries it's own rules, such as the compliance with the US Patriot Act, they may not have a choice on asking for it.

With all due respect Dave you have totally missed my point.

I am well aware that some resorts do require SSI number and may also require my driver's license and if this were the case here, even if I wasn't happy about providing it I would comply.

However, that is not the case here. The closing company is blindly asking everyone for this sensitive and confidential information even when it is not required and when I have tried to speak to someone I get a different person each time and have been lied to since I was told the "management company at the resort requires this".

I am an owner at LaCabana and have purchased weeks as recently as last month and this is definitely not required. Their website lists everything that is needed to transfer ownership, which I have complied with but I did not provide SSI number or driver's licenses. The more times you give this out the more you are vulnerable to identity theft so why would I provide this to them and increase that risk when it is not required by the resort.

This is a partial and edited response that I gave over on the other timeshare site when someone else questioned why I did not want to provide it.


1)I went to my bank and had all required documents notarized.

2 Question regarding association wanting my SSI #. My response "that would be fine but my HOH does not require this and they have lied to me by stating "management company requires this" when in fact LaCabana does not even have a management company."

3) Lacabana has already given me and owner's ID's with photo for both me and my wife, which I am sending them copies of instead of drivers licenses.

4) I told timeshare closing that if LaCabana does need my SSI number and drivers license I would give it directly to them. so why does Timeshare closing need me to mail it to them so they can send it to resort???

I have already sent everything in that is required ( except for SSI and copies of drivers license) and will keep everyone posted on results.

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

Just a follow up on this thread I have received confirmation from LaCabana that the transfer is complete and ownership is officially in our names.

Timeshare Closing sent in all documents to LaCabana that I provided, but as I previously stated I did not provide SSI number or copy of our driver's licenses.

It is obvious that Timeshare closing simply asks for everything that might be needed by some management companies even if it is not required by your resort. I was at LaCabana for two weeks in January and again verified that SSI numbers and drivers licenses are not required by them, yet Timeshare Closing lied to me and said it was required.

My point in posting is simply to caution everyone that the more people that have this information the more chances there is of someone using it for identity theft.

If something confidential is not required why would I put myself at risk even if I think it is a low risk??????