Renting out my friends-family referral weeks... Is this for real?

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

So I just got a call from Wyndham, and was told that they want to rent out my referral weeks I never use, and pay me a minimum of $899 a week. Guaranteeing that they can rent 12 weeks in the next 180 days.

The only catch seems to be a "refundable" $99 a week deposit, for a grand total of $1188.00, payable up front, and they want my answer in 24 hours.

I clarified with the caller that the "refundable" deposit they want me to pay up front is 100% refunded to me if they can't rent my weeks, or is at least prorated for any un-rented weeks. The answer I got was, "yes", I would get all my deposit money back. He went on to say that the only way my 12 weeks won't be rented, is if there is some huge "blizzard" that makes stay impossible, or "the end of the world" occurs. Apparently they have already rented the rooms to "corporations" and and it's all said and done.

I told him I'd feel much more comfortable reading a contract prior to handing over my hard earned cash and he said they would send me a contract and I have the option to back out "for any reason", within seven days. I clarified that the 7 day grace period starts after I receive my contract.


So, ummmm, scam? I have yet to see this offered to me and I've been an owner since 2005. Sounds like a free $9600 to me, sans taxes of course. And being the eternal pessimist, It just seems too easy.

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

Welcome.

I'm curious how a stranger not privy to your conversation and agreement would know if it's for real.

Are you asking if there is a program like you are describing that lots of folks would know about?

Is there?

What did folks say to the other two posts asking the same thing?

[Airport11 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Airport11]

So I just got a call from Wyndham, and was told that they want to rent out my referral weeks I never use, and pay me a minimum of $899 a week. Guaranteeing that they can rent 12 weeks in the next 180 days.

The only catch seems to be a "refundable" $99 a week deposit, for a grand total of $1188.00, payable up front, and they want my answer in 24 hours.

I clarified with the caller that the "refundable" deposit they want me to pay up front is 100% refunded to me if they can't rent my weeks, or is at least prorated for any un-rented weeks. The answer I got was, "yes", I would get all my deposit money back. He went on to say that the only way my 12 weeks won't be rented, is if there is some huge "blizzard" that makes stay impossible, or "the end of the world" occurs. Apparently they have already rented the rooms to "corporations" and and it's all said and done.

I told him I'd feel much more comfortable reading a contract prior to handing over my hard earned cash and he said they would send me a contract and I have the option to back out "for any reason", within seven days. I clarified that the 7 day grace period starts after I receive my contract.


So, ummmm, scam? I have yet to see this offered to me and I've been an owner since 2005. Sounds like a free $9600 to me, sans taxes of course. And being the eternal pessimist, It just seems too easy.

Call your 800#. Sounds like a scam to me.

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

This is nothing but an $1188 scam.

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

Welcome.

I'm curious how a stranger not privy to your conversation and agreement would know if it's for real.

Are you asking if there is a program like you are describing that lots of folks would know about?

Is there?

What did folks say to the other two posts asking the same thing?

Ummm... I am asking if this is a common occurrence, an event that has occurred in the past with some regularity and resulted in a positive outcome for the owner. My apologies, as I thought it was a pretty black and white question. Thanks for the reply.

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

So I just got a call from Wyndham, and was told that they want to rent out my referral weeks I never use,

Which Wyndham? Fairfield one or WorldMark one?

What happen to refer credit that count toward MF?

Jya-Ning

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

Ummm... I am asking if this is a common occurrence, an event that has occurred in the past with some regularity and resulted in a positive outcome for the owner. My apologies, as I thought it was a pretty black and white question. Thanks for the reply.

If it is Fairfield Wyndham, than no, this is not. The refer usually count toward credit that toward MF. But most of the time, people don't get it, probably because sale's people take it and does not willing to give it.

As to rent, look at the Wyndham's own rent site, they have enough inventories for most of the places. They usually give about $2.3 or less per 1k worth of point. So, if the week can get you $899, they will need to get it rented over 2,000. Not many weeks worth that much. Certainly not some credit they give out when you refer friends, unless your friends are guarantee to purchase type of deal.

Jya-Ning

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

This doesn't sound like anything Wyndham I have ever heard of.

Wyndham doesn't have "referral weeks" that I know of and I've been an owner for over 10 years. Might be a Worldmark thing, I don't know.

My gut is it's a scam.

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

So I just got a call from Wyndham, and was told that they want to rent out my referral weeks I never use, and pay me a minimum of $899 a week. Guaranteeing that they can rent 12 weeks in the next 180 days.

The only catch seems to be a "refundable" $99 a week deposit, for a grand total of $1188.00, payable up front, and they want my answer in 24 hours.

Wait, you get 12 weeks you never use?

You claim THE Wyndham called you with this? Are you sure it wasn't Wind Damn! (got your $1188 sucker) con company from Nigeria?

They want you to pay them $1188 without a contract?

You have to answer in 24 hours?

--- Red flag, red flag, red flag, red flag ---

The Real Wyndham Corporation has PLENTY of capital - they wouldn't need your measly $1188 to make some rentals happen - and they certainly would want a contract that was LEGAL (ratified)!!!

--- My gut says scam, scam, scam, scam ---

But heck ...

Sounds like a free $9600 to me, sans taxes of course. And being the eternal pessimist, It just seems too easy.

... like you say maybe it's just a free $9600 --- try it out and let us know?

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

I'm an owner in Worldmark by Wyndham, or at least its what all my paperwork states. The caller said he was actually an employee of Wyndham, and it was all through them.

What I didn't do last night was put the call back number in to Google to see what popped up. So here is the result for "877-597-8538"

NEED MONEY?

and another...

Corporate Travel Concepts

Only two returns on Google for a number and both on Craig's List.... Laughable. This tells me right off that it's pure BS and probably illegal.

Had I Googled this last night, I wouldn't even of had to bother all of you with this question.

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

I'm an owner in Worldmark by Wyndham, or at least its what all my paperwork states. The caller said he was actually an employee of Wyndham, and it was all through them.

What I didn't do last night was put the call back number in to Google to see what popped up. So here is the result for "877-597-8538"

NEED MONEY?

and another...

Corporate Travel Concepts

Only two returns on Google for a number and both on Craig's List.... Laughable. This tells me right off that it's pure BS and probably illegal.

Had I Googled this last night, I wouldn't even of had to bother all of you with this question.

You didn't need to google it. The entire concept should have sent red flags up. It is a $1188 scam. I am 100% sure of it.

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

The first tip off to being scam; we are talking about referal weeks (weeks awarded to those who sick time share salemen on their firends) this is excess inventory in the first place, If the developer thought he could make money off them he would stop giving it away.

The second tip off; a large timeshare developer does not need our money to "front" a rental program.