In today’s world, unscrupulous business conduct can be found in government and business. Unfortunately, the timesharing industry and vacation clubs are not immune.
On a daily basis, tens of thousands of time share owners are telemarketed by organizations who do not have their best interest at heart. They use slick, calculated techniques as a means to extract “upfront fees” from timeshare owners who wish to sell their timeshare interests, on the empty promise that there is a buyer waiting in the wings. Unfortunately, the telemarketers have been quite successful in convincing timeshare owners to give them money upfront. The timeshare owner later learns that they’ve been scammed, and the organization they paid upfront money to doesn’t even hold a valid real estate license.
In recent months, however, timeshare owners have not been as gullible as they’ve been in the past. They are becoming more educated, through the media and word-of-mouth and know that paying an upfront fee to anyone who says they can sell their timeshare, is a scam.
The biggest problem the scammers are now facing is they have no credibility of their own; they do not hold a real estate brokers license, and with their shoddy past, are often unable to obtain a business license.
This has caused the timeshare scammers to take their efforts to new heights: They are now posing as imposters. They use the names of reputable, licensed timeshare resale brokers from the Licensed Timeshare Resale Brokers Association and represent themselves as a particular licensed broker or agent in the LTRBA.
The imposter will encourage the timeshare owner, while on the phone, to check the internet for the validity of the broker they say they are. The imposter wins the trust of the timeshare owner, convincing the timeshare owner it is safe and necessary to pay the upfront fee in order to get the timeshare sold.
Beware of the imposters. The best advice for timeshare owners is never, ever pay an upfront fee to anyone, no matter how convincing they are.
Timeshare Owners who are interested in speaking with a legitimate, licensed timeshare resale broker, can refer to the Member Directory of the Licensed Timeshare Resale Brokers Association. Karen Phelan, Charter Member, Licensed Timeshare Resale Brokers Association
Licensed Timeshare Resale Brokers Association.
Advantage Vacation is a member of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) and The Licensed Timeshare Resale Brokers Association (LTRBA) 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 and 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 resales. Our business has been built on relationships and we pride ourselves on providing excellent service to our clients.
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