Purchase Company Review/Feedback Request

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

There are at least two companies I'm looking at for taking the Diamond Polo Towers week off my hand. The first that I am looking at is "GoodBuy Timeshare"/"GoodBye Timeshare", which wants to charge about $2000.

The second the Florida Veterans Assistance Association, which wants to charge about $1350 but which would offer the added bonus of a charitable donation write-off instead of a capital loss write-off (something which, at the moment, is definitely worth noting...basically, I think it's 20% vs. about 35% on my taxes).

Has anybody had an experience, good or bad (or indifferent), with either of them?

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

Since both are asking for an upfront free, I would think neither. Once you have made payment, you can probably be sure that the transfer out of your name will never occur.

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

Well, IIRC on the second one, it's $250 or so out of that for closing costs and about $300 or so for Diamond's transfer fee; only $775 is going to be charged immediately. I think it's about the same for the first one as well (though in that case, I'm still liable if I get stuck with any fees assessed in the ensuing 180 days).

As a question, what is a normal cost/fee to pay for a deed assumption, and at what point should that be paid (i.e. all after-the-fact, etc.)?

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

What has your google search said about them?

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

Goodbye Timeshare doesn't seem to have generated any negative news, and I believe that (again, if I'm understanding things correctly) when I cut the check, they also do the deed transfer; the main reason it isn't "immediate" is that we all know how quick the timeshare companies are about handling paperwork.

With the Florida group, I've seen mixed reactions over on TUG (where I sense there is some sort of rivalry with y'all)...on the one hand, one or two people had problems (with several of them, it was in getting receipts for the donation, which I have no problem going down to pick up since I've got friends in central Florida, which basically makes for an "excuse trip"); on the other hand, several testimonials came across as positive (albeit I'm not going to exclude the possibility that those reviews were astroturfed in, either). Other than that, though, I can't find much of anything. One thing I'm going to consider as being somewhat indicative with them is a response to the "Nah, I'll come down there and take care of things in person...oh, and I've got a lawyer who will be in tow as well" reply I expect to give them.

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

In the absence of a lot of reviews, the only recommendation most can make is tread carefully, which it appears you already have. Your own intuition and due diligence will protect you. Have you considered using escrow so if the deed is NOT transferred you have some protection?

Goodbye Timeshare doesn't seem to have generated any negative news, and I believe that (again, if I'm understanding things correctly) when I cut the check, they also do the deed transfer; the main reason it isn't "immediate" is that we all know how quick the timeshare companies are about handling paperwork.

With the Florida group, I've seen mixed reactions over on TUG (where I sense there is some sort of rivalry with y'all)...on the one hand, one or two people had problems (with several of them, it was in getting receipts for the donation, which I have no problem going down to pick up since I've got friends in central Florida, which basically makes for an "excuse trip"); on the other hand, several testimonials came across as positive (albeit I'm not going to exclude the possibility that those reviews were astroturfed in, either). Other than that, though, I can't find much of anything. One thing I'm going to consider as being somewhat indicative with them is a response to the "Nah, I'll come down there and take care of things in person...oh, and I've got a lawyer who will be in tow as well" reply I expect to give them.

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

I agree . . . it sounds like you can handle it. Check back and let us know.

It's a shame timesharing has come to this, trying to figure out how to get out of them, and how much you have to pay to do it, and who you can trust to do it.

&, the fact that we accept that as being as it should be.

Sad.

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

There are several "relief" companies using this same name. You may simply want to research to try and find out who the principle is and if he has been involved in other similar ventures These companies often close their virtual doors and then reopen as a new identity repeatedly.

I've seen a number of Polo Tower sales and give aways over the last few months. The resort location still makes it a property with some demand. Have you tried giving it away, or are you simply resigned to paying someone to take it?

If you would have posted an ad on Tug, there is a guy right now who is spamming the classifieds offering to take timeshares from sellers. He asks for them to pay the transfer fee, and pay him an amount equal to the m. fee.

Of course, for some consumers who are liquidating it's more an issue of convenience than the cost. Good luck with whatever course you decide to take.

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

Sad.