Timeshare ownership and timeshare vacations have proven to be a great way to spend quality time with family and friends. But, as time goes on some owners have found they may be using their timeshare less, their vacation habits may have changed or their financial situation may require them to sell their timeshare interest.
Timeshare owners who want to sell their properties often become easy targets for scammers.
One such company, Transfer Smart is doing a mass mailing to timeshare owners across the United States with promises to “get you out of your timeshare forever!” The mail scam letter doesn’t mention the thousands of dollars they require upfront to transfer title and resell your timeshare interval to their company, nor do they mention other fees and taxes necessary for the resale of your unit.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center has issued a warning to timeshare owners about a scam that’s stealing millions of dollars from owners across the country. These timeshare resale scammers are promising to rent or sell the timeshare interest for the owner for fees ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Once the victims pay an upfront fee, the company disappears without a trace. According to the victims, company agents begin ignoring their calls and disconnect company sites and other operating lines.
The ICCC says that companies that offer you timeshare resale services need to be validated through appropriate regulators, like the Better Business Bureau. Always check the company background before you perform any transactions.
Denver’s District Attorney, Mitch Morrisey, recently issued a warning about escalating timeshare scams.
“Victims, particularly those eager to sell their interests in timeshare properties, are being contacted by people claiming to be timeshare buyers – who are making sizable offers that may or may not require an upfront fee”, said Morrisey .
Morrisey offers the following tips to avoid becoming a victim of a timeshare scam:
Unless you initiated the contact, never agree to anything over the phone or thru an email contact.
If you want to sell your timeshare interest, contact a licensed timeshare real estate agent/broker to handle the sale.
Always request a contract in writing which includes refund and cancellation policy.
At Advantage Vacation, we never charge an upfront fee for clients who want to sell a timeshare and only receive a commission, paid from escrow, when the transaction is closed.
Always remember, if a resale offer sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true!
Advantage Vacation is a member of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) and offers the best buys on the timeshare re sales market today. We never charge an upfront fee for clients who want to sell a timeshare and only receive a commission, paid from escrow, when the transaction is closed.
We have been in the timeshare industry for over 30 years and are Accredited Members of the BBB with an A+ Rating.
Advantage Vacation is using Twitter and Facebook to help educate people on the changes in the timeshare industry along with current timeshare tips, up to date timeshare news and timeshare FAQ’s.
We hope you will follow us and our blog, Timeshare Blogging by Advantage Vacation for the latest news and reviews. If our site does not answer your question or questions, please email us your question and we will answer it and add it to our library. Make your voice heard – what questions do you have?
At Advantage Vacation you can be assured you are working with professionals who believe that honesty and integrity are the most important aspects of the business they are in – timeshare re sales. Our business has been built on relationships and we pride ourselves on providing excellent service to our clients.
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