Do Not Be Swindled by a Timeshare Scam!

10/31/2012

Arm yourself with Knowledge

The entire timeshare industry can be considered one huge scam. While this may seem like a very biased and overly exaggerated opinion, this statement has a very real element of truth to it. Timeshare resorts rope consumers into signing timeshare contracts through the alluring timeshare presentation. Once the timeshare contract is signed, there is no going back, and cancelling a timeshare can be a lengthy and hard-fought battle with the resort. While the hidden payments seem sleazy, and financial coercion is a horrible thing to endure, the timeshare contract is a legal document. So how exactly are timeshare companies conducting a scam on consumers?

The key to the huge timeshare scam is how the presentations are conducted. First of all, these presentations are scam in and of themselves, because they lure consumers in by offering a wonderful prize for attending a simple presentation. This seems innocent enough,but these meetings can be absolutely horrific. Often running much longer than promised, these timeshare presentations are filled with high-pressure sales tactics, misleading statements, and downright lies. Signing a legal document that can haunt you for years under false information can only be described as a scam. This timeshare scam perpetuates the entire industry, because if consumers truly knew how financially destructive the contracts actually are, very few would be signed. The entire thing can be classified as a timeshare scam, and one would be advised to avoid it altogether.

Getting out of the Timeshare Scam

Timeshare Scam

The global timeshare scam is not an easy thing to escape from, but it can be done, and you have justice on your side. Because the contract was likely signed under false pretenses, the timeshare scam should be able to be undone. If this scam can be proven through explicit promises and fraudulent information received at the timeshare presentation, there is a way. With a strong will and a little help from a qualified company, you can defeat the timeshare scam.

While we are not one of these companies, we know a few that have great reputations and a long history of success in fighting timeshare scams. If you need some help in choosing the right company, please leave a comment or file a complaint about your own timeshare scam experience. It is time to fight back!

8 Comments

Kelly Baptista

3/11/2013 03:49:39 pm

I need to know if a company that I am considering signing a contract with to help me with a timeshare scam is legitimate. They are requesting money upfront to help me fight a battle to get out of my timeshare contract. They are called Timeshare Answers and the gentleman I spoke with is named Charles Delph. Thank you for any info you can provide me.

Gary Husbands

3/14/2013 01:47:39 am

I've just learned, the hard way, of the deceptive practices and statements made by Starwood representatives at the Westin Lagunamar. It all began when a friend of mine wanted to buy one of my 2 bedroom units at Lagunamar. He had been traveling with our group for two years, every January, and decided he wanted to be an owner.

He went to a presentation with one of my other friend while we were in Cancun this past January. He had said he wouldn't buy he just wanted to know about the program first hand. He was loooking to buy two units.

Well, when he brings up the option of buying one of my units, the sales rep tells him that Starwood has first right of refusal on any resale, plus he wouldn't get all the benefits of full ownership. So, of course, the pressure is turned up and he eventually buys a unit.

When he later explains all this to me, it's really fresh news for my wife and I since we were never told there were restrictions on resales. So I book a meeting with the sales manager to discuss this. She confirms that Starwood has first right of refusal, but adds that if my friend had purchased my unit, and then bought a unit from Starwood, they would retroactively upgrade his first unit to full ownership status.

Well, my friend and I discussed this and we tried to get dispensation from Starwood, but they refused. Therefore he cancelled his contract within the review period and it was left up to me to navigate head office to be sure we handled the resale properly.

This is where everything went south as far as I am concerned. Two different HO representatives told me that the Lagunamar property did not have first right of refusal. So I moved on to discuss handling the sale to make sure there were no hidden traps. As I told the representative, we both felt that we need to ask the same questions 2-3 different ways to get the truth. Plus we were concerned about what we were not being told. When I got to the final step of the deed transfer, the rep told me there was no deed because "Mexican law forbids non-Mexicans from owning property".

This took my breath away because as part of our purchase of two units in January 2012, I traded my unit in Orlando for one in Cancun as part of the deal. When the salesman proposed this, we jumped at the chance because Florida is never guaranteed good weather in January and that's the only time we can travel. We have spent 3-4 weeks at Lagunamar each January over the past 3 years. We remember specifically asking the sales rep about the trade. I remember asking - "It's a one for one exchange, no difference, correct?" He replied, exactly the same.

So now I ask myself what do we own? Well we are part of a club and that membership lasts 50 years and they promise to renew it after 50 years. So I transferred a deeded unit for a club membership. Non of this was ever explained to us, or I would never a bought.

My wife and I feel like we were really taken advantage of and deceived bot about the difference in the unit classification and resales options.

I contacted head office and explained that I was not paying them another dime because of the misleading practices and wanted out of the transaction on January 2012. Their only response was I signed the contract. Well I told them I challenge anyone to read and comprehend anything in the pressure sales presentation, plus we put our faith in the representations sales rep. They said, but you signed off on the review that a separate official made with you. Again, I said, "That was just form, he didn't explain anything. In fact he apologized for keeping us so long and said the process was just a formality required by their head office." He gave us the form and simple asked for our initials next to each line.

I offered to turn back the clock to what I had before the January 2012 deal, but again they refused. I feel that we were cheated and I don't want to roll over. I want to fight this.

Tammy Turney

7/5/2013 12:15:34 pm

I wish I had never bought a timeshare. I bought from Shell Vacations Club. I feel trapped because the timeshare is paid off, but the yearly maintenance fees are very high (over $1000 per year), and if the fees aren't paid in full within 45 days, they add on 33% additional fees. The supervisors there are so smug and unhelpful, simply stating there is nothing they can do about it, and that I signed a contract.
When I do try to use the timeshare, there is never any availability and I have to "trade" for a substandard hotel that I would not choose to stay in if I were booking one myself. I would advise people to steer clear of timeshares and just stay in nice hotels that they have booked themselves. It is less expensive in the long run, and much more pleasant as there is no mercenary business practices, such as with Shell Vacations Club.

cecil banks

7/14/2014 11:27:46 pm

Time for us to rise up against these creeps. Rebel against the Resorts and HOA'S they're responsible for all the TS scammers and swine.

Yaneli Roberts link

8/18/2014 03:46:52 am

Timeshares have been a boom over the last twenty years, however it has changed and evolved to give a better service, as it has, the name of this type of memberships were changed for “Vacation Club”.
Importantly, these memberships are not an investment because they are not real estate; you are buying a service to enjoy leisure time with family and not to do business, and it is how it should be seen. In some countries, these types of memberships are for life (deeded) and can be inherited to the relatives of the owner of the membership.

Jesus Jose Guardiola

10/19/2015 06:20:08 am

On July 2, 2015, My wife and myself obtained a Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Club (Membership Agreement), at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. What We were explained on this day, was not true about, at the Lifestyle Holiday Vacation Club, that you can stay in any resort or Five Star Hotels in the the United States to just communicate via telephone to Customer Service and they will make ALL reservation for us. My wife tested this Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Club Agreement because We wanted to stay on their Holidays Vacation Club location in the United States. On October 10, 2015, My wife tried several time to communicate with Customer Service via telephone , if they will make arrangement for reservations to stay at a Hotel with the family in Texas. NO Live Person answer the Telephone at the Customer Service on the business card that was provide to our by the Sale person: VLO Officer: Bavaro, for the Agreement No: 02-2708, it appear this sale agreement was done and signed under false pretenses and the timeshare presentations are filled with high-pressure sales tactics, misleading statements, and downright lies.

Matt

3/19/2016 01:21:57 pm

What can they do if I just stop payment on my Wyndham Timeshare?

sara link

6/22/2017 12:01:40 pm

It's not as hard to get out of these contracts as consumers think. Most companies are putting it in their budget to pay for cancellations now. I know my old site budgeted for a few million because they know there are MANY companies now that are assisting with cancellations.

The reason many companies often collect fees upfront is because no one wants to pay someone to get them out of their contract...... a lot of people feel as though they lost twice if they have to pay ANOTHER fee just to cancel something they have paid a ton of money into. Once the consumer is free and clear of their deed or contract they fail to pay the company that helped cancel their contract. Just being honest of how it works and why some companies ask to be paid upfront.

Whats even more sad is when we get calls that people want help SELLING their timeshare. That's like selling someone a lemon car. Many timeshares are for list for sale for $1 on eBay because they just want relief from MF.

Timeshares aren't necessarily bad, it's just people aren't properly taught how to purchase them.

Call 704-800-6742 if you would like help or advice