Bouncing Back from a Timeshare Resale Scam

In the timeshare resale industry, there are few things that can be more damaging and devastating than timeshare resale scams. These are very real frauds that can cause very real and substantial problems for those who fall victim to their tactics. They are fast becoming one of the most common consumer scams in the country, and despite efforts from the Better Business Bureau and news groups to get the word out about these frauds thousands of people suffer their wrath each year. But what happens if you fall victim to one of these scams? How can you bounce back from them and still successfully get rid of your timeshare?

Despite their commonality, timeshare resale scams are a fairly new problem. As people start to reign in their spending, luxury items like vacations (and this timeshares) are often the first to go. However, getting rid of a timeshare can be a lengthy and complicated process. With so many people trying to sell their properties in order avoid paying costly fees on their property, scammers have stepped up to take advantage.

You may think it is the answer to your prayers – a company that will sell your property for you, and may even have buyers already interested! In a matter of days, maybe even hours, your timeshare can be a distant memory. All you have to do is pay upfront to cover administrative fees and sales costs, and some of it will be refunded once the property sells. Unfortunately, it is all a ruse. The property never sells and your money is gone, leaving you potentially out thousands of pounds and still in possession of your expensive timeshare. Now what?

In many cases, once you are hit with a timeshare resale scam you are at risk of getting scammed again. Recently, people who have were victim to scams have found themselves being contacted by companies offering recovery services to help them get their money back. Again, they just need some money up front. Unfortunately, these are often the same companies that scammed the money out of them in the first place and they find themselves facing the same situation a second time.

Many countries now are helping protect timeshare owners from these scams and those caught face tough prosecution, hefty fines, and restitution. A lot of times these criminals are caught, but the money may be gone and hope of ever getting it back is too. Because of this, the only real way to fight timeshare resale scams is to not fall for the schemes in the first place. Never pay upfront fees for any services and insist you do your own research first. By sticking to your guns and only working with companies you know are reputable you can successfully sell your timeshare quickly without falling victim to and having to deal with the fallout from timeshare resale scams.

Any question contact us: yourtimeshare@hush.com

Avoiding Timeshare Scams

When trying to sell your timeshare it can be a confusing time. There are several options to choose from, but many of them can take a long time and be extremely frustrating. Add to this the fact that timeshare resale scams are some of the most common business frauds as reported by the Better Business Bureau, and getting rid of your timeshare can seem nearly impossible. So what is the best way to avoid timeshare scams and successfully sell your timeshare in a timely and affordable manner.

The easiest and most effective way to avoid these scams is to arm yourself with knowledge and follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Research Your Options

You generally have four options – giving it away, giving it back to your developer, donating to a charity, or selling. Most people choose to sell, since other options are often extremely complicated and difficult. If you choose to sell, you can do this on your own or with the help of a timeshare resale company. Many choose to bring in the professionals, which presents its own list of challenges in the form of timeshare resale scams.

Step 2: Ask the Tough Questions

If you do decide to use a timeshare resale company, be sure to ask the company plenty of questions. How long does it usually take to sell a timeshare? Who do they sell to? What is their sales process? How many other timeshare owners have they helped? What happens if they can’t sell your timeshare? Asking these and other relevant questions will allow you to get a feel for the company and feel out whether or not they are a timeshare scam.

Step 3: Be Assertive

Many of these companies use high pressure tactics to get customers to agree to commit to their services. No matter how much they hassle you, it is important to stand your ground until your are absolutely positive this is the company you want to work with. If they begin to harass you, it is probably time to tell them that you won’t be working with them and move on.

Step 4: Get It In Writing

Whatever they tell you, make sure you get their answers as well as the terms of their agreement in writing before you make any commitment. Read it over and address any concerns you have before you sign anything. This will allow you to cover yourself in the event that they turn out to be a timeshare resale scam.

Step 5: Never Pay Upfront Fees

Charging upfront fees is how these timeshare scams make money. They require their customers to pay them upfront, and these fees can range from a few hundred pounds to several thousand. When they are unable to sell your timeshare they often are able to keep the money through contractual loopholes or by outright stealing the money and disappearing. They will make it seem like these fees are a normal part of the industry, but this is not true. There are timeshare resale companies that do not charge upfront fees and guarantee your satisfaction before you pay them anything. Upfront fees are now illegal in the United Kingdom.

By following these simple steps and relying on trusted resources you can protect yourself from timeshare resale scams and successfully get rid of your timeshare once and for all!

For more info please email us or place a comment on our blog: yourtimeshare@hush.com

Typical Scams

One of the current scams that yourtimeshare has received a significant number of complaints about is the resale scam. Timeshare owners are being targeted by fraudsters who are offering to sell their weeks for them.

The victims are being asked to pay upfront fees for any number of reasons and then hear nothing more from the scammers – no sales, no refunds. Others are duped into parting with upfront cash – often hundreds or even thousands of pounds – only to find that the supposed buyer has dropped out of the deal. They are then lured to a foreign country to meet a “corporate buyer” who is interested in buying their week. However, when the owners arrive at their destination they usually find that the corporate buyer is really a sales person who subjects them to a hard-sell presentation for a bogus Holiday Pack.

If there are any questions regarding this please email us, confidentially at: yourtimeshare@hush.com

Kelly Consultants

Another cold caller for our lists: Kelly Consultants from Ireland. They have started their campaign not so long ago and are keen to offer their help with a reclaim.

No explanation on how they obtained the details from the timeshare consumer of course!

Kelly Consultants is actually a UK Companies House registered entity and the registration number is NI055159

Their address Drummore Road, Kilkeel, Co Down, BT34 4LU, Ireland

Contact number 003453 14428617

The person calling Kelly Consultants is Ann Connor, who explains that they are duly registered as a tax consultancy and is very insisting on the fact that the consumer can verify that they are a “Bona Fide” company. The consumer can do this by calling another number and speak to a so called “Legal Advisor”. The name of this legal advisor is Lucy Alexander and the number to call 03300010329

After calling the legal consultant, Kelly Consultants calls back the consumer and continues the previous story about the reclaim and the fact that they have recovered money from the Spanish Government to be paid out to the victims of the scam.

For them to process the claim the consumer has to purchase £500 worth of UKASH Vouchers, give them part of the numbers but hold on to the vouchers until they have completed the claim.

Oops, that sounds familiar and rather worrying!

Did we not see this story already on this blog? Indeed we did!

There are two more companies that actually use or used the same method to convince consumers that they would recover money for them through a claim.

Asset Accounting Services Ltd
Financial Associates Ltd

We appreciate the fact that Kelly Consultants is registered as a company, but the fact that they cold call a timeshare consumer, have his personal details and membership details, claims to recover money from a claim nobody knew about and ask for UKASH vouchers to be purchased..Well it sounds very worrying!

Have you been called by Kelly Consultants from 00345314428617 ?

Please let us know: yourtimeshare@hush.com

Asociados de Hacienda, Málaga

We don’t use a lot the word fraudulent but in this case we have no problem to put it as clear as it is, Asociados de Hacienda is a fraudulent cold caller!

This company which supposedly is based in Calle Puerto 9 – 12, 29601 Malaga, Spain, cold calls timeshare consumers to notify them of the sale of their timeshare and the fact they need to pay an 8% tax over the sales price.

Explanation is once again the “famous” NIE number, the Tax Registration number which they claim is necessary for this transaction.

Asociados de Hacienda even spent time on elaborating a website where they display logos of the Spanish Tax Office and pretend to be genuine lawyers dealing with real estate sales and tax declarations.

The website http://www.asociadosdehacienda.com was registered on the 29th of March 2012 and lacks all information required for a website.

As contact number they have a Spanish mobile +34 602 155 609

The timeshare owners, who informed us about this scam, did luckily their research and realized that the supposed Tax payment form 214 that was sent to them has not been in use for over 3 years now. Neither did they find it logical that the tax payment was to be done to an individual with a British name; Paul Robert Strickland on a different address; Senorio De Aloha, Avda Manolete, 29660 Nueva, Andalucia, Malaga

Please be extremely cautious when companies like Asociados de Hacienda or any other claiming to be working on behalf of the Spanish Government or Tax Offices, as these companies are not for real!

DO NOT pay ever money by bank transfer, Western Union or Money Gram in names of individuals that supposedly work for Lawyers offices, notaries or other official institutions in Spain.

Have you been called by Asociados de Hacienda from 0034602155609 ? Please let us know!

You can place a comment or write to us at:

yourtimeshare@hush.com

Favila Arenas

A Spanish company under the name Favila Arenas is cold calling consumers pretending to be the liquidators of Reclaim.

They inform the consumer that he needs to fill in a form and then they will assess how much money they will receive back. Money set aside by the Spanish government.

Once the consumer fills in the form that is send over by email, they are informed that a certain amount has been awarded. The amounts are actually too good to be true and will be transferred over to the consumers in a time period of 10 days.

After waiting the 10 days the consumer does not see any movement and neither does the long awaited cheque arrive.

A quick call to Favila Arenas clarifies what has happened. Favila Arenas kindly explains that as the consumer has not declared his “investment” with the Tax Office in Spain, the Government has blocked the money.

That’s bad luck! But thanks god we have Favila Arenas to help out! They send a long winded 2 page document by email explaining how to solve this situation. From all the options they give such as travelling to Spain and request a Tax Identification Number and numerous trips to pick up this paperwork, of course taking on the services from Favila Arenas is the most confortable option and cheapest! Shame none of it is true!

Favila Arenas does not have a website. Their contact details as appear on their letter headed documents are: Telephone 0034 800 80 89 41 and Fax 0034 956 92 19 40 Email address; favela_arenas@spainmail.com

Their office is based in Avenida Alcalde Manuel de la Pinta 18 – 24, Cadiz 11011, Spain

Upon checking the Spanish companies house there is no such company registered. Neither is there any liquidator appointed for Reclaim, no money is held in Spanish accounts to be paid out to the victims and the Spanish Government would certainly not appoint a dubious company for their official dealings!

Have you been cold called by Favila Arenas with telephone number 0034800808941 ? Please do let us know!

You can place a comment on the blog or send us a direct email to:
yourtimeshare@hush.com

Universal Travel Market or UTM

A new company has been brought to our attention, Universal Travel Market or UTM as they state on their website.

This website http://www.universaltravelmarket.com was registered on the 5th of March 2012, so “hot from the press” but with a large listing of timeshare memberships for sale.

Surprisingly this listing is mainly DWVC and Club Class membership packages, are they really selling these on?

Universal Travel market cold calls consumers with the usual pitch on how successful they are in selling and they certainly have a buyer waiting already.

No mention though of where they obtained these personal details of the timeshare owner.

The telephone number is 0845 557 7297 and their email info@universaltravelmarket.com

As address they provide on their web: St. Nicholas House , 31-34 High Street , Bristol ,BS1 2AW

Checking out UK Companies House there is no such company as UTM – Universal Travel Market registered.

They have only just started and the consumers that have alerted us didn’t get that far as an upfront fee as they didn’t trust it straight away.

But with the fact that they cold call, guarantee sales for worthless memberships and their website which was created recently does not really provide the information it should do…well extreme caution is in place!

Have you been contacted by UTM – Universal Travel Market from 08455577297 ? Please let us know.

You can place a comment on the blog or send us a direct email to:
yourtimeshare@hush.com

Timeshare Scams Are on the Rise – Protect Yourself from Fraud

As a timeshare owners who is trying to get rid of a property, it is important for you to be aware of what is fast becoming the most common consumer scam in the country – timeshare resale scams. Yourtimeshare has consistently ranked these frauds high on their annual list of scams to watch out for, and in recent years it has become an increasing problem, even surpassing credit card and insurance fraud as the number one consumer complaint of some states in the USA. So how can you protect yourself from these scams and successfully sell your timeshare at the same time? It is a delicate dance and takes some knowledge, but it can be done.

The first step to avoiding these scams is to educate yourself. Learn how these scams operate and what their biggest red flags are. Some tell-tale signs you may be walking into a timeshare resale scam include:

Unsolicited contact
High-pressure sales tactics
Vague details about the company or who they are
Upfront fees (Which are illegal)

If you find yourself in contact with a company that is making you feel uncomfortable, decline their services or ask that they give you a little time to do some research and get back to them. Any reputable company will happily allow you the time to feel comfortable with their business and will provide you with any information you need upfront.

Stick to your guns. The easiest way to avoid these scams is to refuse to pay upfront fees. Not all timeshare resale companies charge upfront, despite what these scams would have you think, so it is important to stand your ground and refuse to work with companies who pressure you into making a commitment to work with them. You can successfully sell your timeshare without falling victim to timeshare resale scams. You just have to stay firm, know what you are talking about, and refuse to fall into their games.

If you have been scammed or have been called by a company offering dubious things.

Please do not hesitate to contact us: yourtimeshare@hush.com

Trip Traps at Sales Presentations

BBB complaints reveal that consumers aren’t always satisfied with the authenticity and usability of these incentives. Some complainants say giveaways are misrepresented during unwanted presentation solicitations. While other complainants allege issues redeeming travel vouchers due to restrictions, terms and conditions.

Though the company has been responsive to complaints, BBB detected a pattern of similar allegations on Vacation Internationale, or VI Resorts, of Bellevue and Vancouver, Washington. Within the last 36 months, the company accrued 55 complaints. Based on 16 factors, the company has a “C-” rating.

BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington offers free advice:

· Be cautious of free travel offers by phone or mail. There’s usually a catch.

· Avoid misleading “free” offers. Read the fine print and be aware of asterisks.

· Don’t go just for a freebie. Avoid attending presentations if there is no interest in the advertised product, service or membership.

· Look out for freewheelers. Is it a traveling seminar based out-of-state? Research businesses on the Internet, consider their complaint volume and see how they respond to complaints; visit bbb.org for free BBB Business Reviews.

· Don’t waste free time. Some seminars are marketed to last a short period of time—an hour—but end up lasting two, three or four hours.

· Free yourself from the hard sell. Sales representatives may use aggressive or high-pressure tactics to convince consumers to buy products or services they don’t need or want. If bullied, walk away.

· Make decisions on free will. If it’s an enticing offer, take time to think it over. Any company that forces an immediate decision may not be worth doing business with. Review contracts and purchase agreements carefully.

· Freely report problems. Contact: yourtimeshare@hush.com

Timeshare Owners: Beware of “City Resorts”

Timeshare Owners Warning

CITY RESORTS OF NV Not Responsive to BBB Complaints

Nationwide, BBBs processed 2,804 complaints on timeshare resale services in 2010

September 15, 2011 – The Better Business Bureau is warning timeshare owners who are trying to sell or rent their timeshares to beware of Las Vegas based company, City Resorts.

City Resorts has been the subject of 23 complaints from around the country since March 2011 and holds an F rating with the BBB for failing to respond to complaints.

Complainants allege that City Resorts contacts consumers stating they’ve found a buyer for their timeshare. Complainants are then told to send a cashier’s check between $2,000-$6,000 for closing costs or processing fees. Complainants report that no buyers or renters emerged, and customers were unable to get responses to calls or their money back.

“After City Resorts got my money, I never heard from them again,” bemoaned a consumer from Massachusetts who lost $2,000. “They completely fooled me into believing I had a buyer for my timeshare.”

BBB representatives confirm that the phone number, website, and email have been disconnected and the current address is a mail-drop. Nationwide, BBBs processed 2,804 complaints on timeshare resale services in 2010.

Best advice? States Katie Robison of Vegas BBB, “Timeshare owners who want to sell or rent their timeshare should be wary of timeshare resale services that pressure customers to pay thousands of dollars up front, claiming that buyers are at hand. Too often, the services don’t deliver and customers can’t get refunds.”

BBB offers the following advice to timeshare owners who are looking for help in selling their timeshare:

· Check out the business – You can check out a business at http://www.bbb.org/ BBB Business Reviews include basic information, complaint overview, and BBB ratings from A+ to F, along with the reasons for the rating.

· Confirm location and licensing –Confirm where the company is located and in what states it does business. Ask if the company’s salespeople are licensed to sell real estate where your timeshare is located and verify this with the state licensing board.

· Get the facts on the figures – Find out if the business charges a commission. Do they handle the entire closing and provide escrow services? Do they charge an up-front listing or advertising fee? What does it cover and is it refundable?

· Be wary of upfront fees –Consider opting for a company that offers to sell for a fee only after the timeshare is sold.

· Don’t fall for the hard sell or an offer that sounds too good to be true – Don’t agree to anything over the phone but instead ask the salesperson to send you written materials; take the time to think it over and don’t be pressured.

For more consumer tips or to check out a business or file a complaint with BBB, start at http://www.bbb.org

BBB REVIEWS ON CITY RESORTS

Vegas Review:
http://www.bbb.org/southern-nevada/business-reviews/timeshare-resale-and-rental-marketing/city-resorts-in-las-vegas-nv-90005747

Orlando Review:
http://www.bbb.org/central-florida/business-reviews/timeshare-resale-and-rental-marketing/red-solutions-in-orlando-fl-205146772

For any more info please contact us: yourtimeshare@hush.com