Timeshare Aid

Here are some of the tricks that scammers use to sell fraudulent timeshares:

1. The “Show Apartment” scam – with this technique a salesperson asks you to visit a prospective apartment in a resort that you like. On the day of your visit the salesperson will tell you that the apartment you like is occupied and would gladly show you a different but identical apartment. An apartment that has all the luxuries you want. With a little sweet talk and convincing power you choose to buy the apartment shown to you. It is only after making the payment that you discover that you have bought  a dingy apartment in some unknown place instead of the apartment shown to you.

2. “No Way Out Scam” – This scam is usually done during timeshare presentations. Usually during a presentation salesmen would want you to sign documents regarding the timeshares they are selling but since people who attend these presentations are more careful when it comes to signing any documents they have devised a way to trick you into signing. A salesperson would ask for your credit card just to check if it is ok but by the time you want your credit card back they won’t release it until you sign some papers and before you know it you have purchased a timeshare already.

There are also existing scams for timeshare owners who want to get rid of their timeshares:

1. Stolen Ownership Certificate- You are very eager to get rid of your timeshare when someone suddenly calls you saying that they already sold your timeshare for four times the amount when you originally purchased it. All you have to do is send to them your ownership certificate so that they can deposit the payment to you but when you have already sent the ownership certificate and you call the one who claimed to sell it for an update all you get is a dead phone.

2. Converting your timeshare to a money back guaranteed bond- Knowing that you have an existing timeshare that you don’t use, these scammers would call you and tell you that they can help you get your money back from the timeshare you bought. All you need to do is hand them your timeshare and payment for their services and they guarantee to give you twice the amount of your timeshare. They promise to send you the payment as soon as they “process” your timeshare but that payment never arrives.

There’s a better solution then being scammed by these swindlers. If you want to get rid of your unwanted timeshare then let a trusted company like Groupwiseinc.com.

Groupwiseinc.com is a company that was formed in 1995 by an expert team of resort industry professionals with a goal of providing assistance to timeshare owners who need solutions for their difficult-to-sell or unwanted resort properties. At Groupwiseinc.com, they focus on one thing: acquiring unwanted timeshares. Groupwiseinc.com offer assistance to resort property owners through a unique program in which their obligations are removed through financially-sound business practices. Groupwiseinc.com., targets

To learn more about Groupwise, please visit our “About us.” page

LeadPro DataSystems has recently acquired massive ammounts of timeshare owner data by resort name and sales price ammount. “These timeshare leads are absolute gold in the right marketing companies hands” says Wendy O’Donald of the New York Times.

LeadPro has been in the business of compiling, purchasing and selling of timeshare owner leads for quite some time. “our Timeshare Owner List is fantastic” says CEO Randy. In fact he claims the entire database of Resorts is current and up to date showing timeshare sales price, timeshare unit number, timeshare date of purchase, timeshare purchase ammount and timeshare membership number along with timeshare points.

LeadPro sells this data in units of 5,000 records for around $1000. You can find out more on how to buy timeshare leads at one of the company websites listed below.

Timeshare Leads

Wyndham Timeshare Owner Leads

Timeshare owner leads, timeshare owner lists, timeshare leads, or timeshare lists. We have over 2 million timeshare owners data. Regardless if you are looking for timeshare owners phone numbers, email addresses, or timeshare owners mailing addresses we have it. We get monthly updates so our data is always new and its always not on current but fresh. You can buy by state, resort, or age of the actual lead. We offer the best prices in the industry and will beat anyones price or match anyones offer with an additional 50% of the deal on top of that if you provide receipts of purchase for the last 3 months you have done business with you timeshare date owner supplier data. We have the hottest leads in the industry.

Timeshares are increasingly becoming an attractive option to owning a vacation home. This fact is evidenced in the growing number of buyers who are entering the market, despite the negative signs that todays residential real estate market is showing. So what makes timeshare industry click with consumers?

First of all, the term timesharing had its origins in the sixties. Back then, many European families found taxes too high that they decided to share vacation homes. The next decade saw the practice spread to America, in the form of one-week stays at resorts or condominiums. Another rationale for the birth of timesharing was the fact that maintaining a vacation property, which was used only once a year, was too expensive.

In recent years, the practice of timesharing has shown great benefits for many consumers. New research has showed that some Americans spend $5,000 and up for regular holidays, which is hardly affordable for most families. Maxing out credit cards can probably solve it. However, it is most likely that families would spend the next two years paying off for a No-Expense-Spared vacation just so they could do it again.

This has led some people to consider purchasing a timeshare. Basically, timeshares are vacation condos that are used for a certain period of time each year. They are patronized by many families because of their cost saving features. In 2006, consumers spent an average $17,620 to buy a timeshare week. That does not include the yearly maintenance charges that frequently add up to as high as $1,000, which has to be paid whether the property is used or not.

Despite that, many people consider timeshares a good investment into their vacations and their health. Here are the reasons why timeshares are becoming an appealing option to owning a vacation:

Affordability. Many former vacation home owners and would-be second home investors are buying timeshares at a fraction of the costs of a vacation property. In timesharing, no mortgage is often necessary and funds are not tied up in one big investment.

No vacancy concerns. Timeshare owners do not need to make their homes available as vacation rentals. There is no need for them to be concerned about maintenance issues with tenants, nor is there a need for them to maintain the property long-distance. They also have no such concerns when they sign out of their timeshares.

Reasonable maintenance fees. Compared to second home ownership maintenance charges, the annual expenses are inexpensive. Fees normally include property insurance, maintaining the premises, future furniture replacements and other updates, resort management and personnel, maid service, and other operational expenses involved in running the property.

With the varied features that timeshares offer, such as flexibility and different vacation lifestyle experience, families now have wider choices when it comes to location, time and length of stay. What is more, timeshares are not prone to blackout dates, so traveling anytime is possible. Thanks to the concept of timesharing, families now do not have to put up with vacations that demand thousands of dollars upfront.

Timeshare Advocacy International, LLC has been working on our image in the market by ensuring that we give quality and timely service to our clients. We are a timeshare assistance company that focuses on assisting owners in canceling their timeshare contracts if they have been victims of any type of fraud, misrepresentation, or coercion.Recently we had a client who has been drug through the ringer and is very cautious. Prior to working with us he called the Tennessee Attorney General’s office to inquire about TAI. We are pleased, but not surprised that the Tennessee AG gave us a glowing recommendation. They not only spoke with our client and did their research of our company, but also called our client back to give him the information they had attained.

Just to let you know how huge that is, the AG office never returns calls. They always communicate via snail mail. We want to thank the Tennessee Attorney General’s office in their due diligence.

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TAI & The Tennessee AG

As far as sales are concerned, the timeshare industry is like any other industry. The sales department is going to quickly find something that will give them the edge over the customer. It is simple, the better equipped the sales rep, the harder it is for the customer to say no. Additionally, the sales reps are very well trained in that the sale starts when the first “no” comes out.For many years I have conducted sales training for Navy recruiters across the country and the same theory stands true in recruiting, the sale starts with the first “no”. Here is a list of my top 10 sales scams that are currently being used in the timeshare industry.

1. Sales reps stating that they are not in sales and they get paid a straight salary. They are there to ensure that all the owners who are assigned to them are taken care of. They call themselves “advisors, counselors, or advocates”. This is to soften you up and get you to come in and meet with them. At the end of the presentation, if you do not purchase anything, they will tell you that they cannot be your advisor unless you purchase more points, or upgrade into something new. I need everyone to hear this, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN ADVISOR IN TIMESHARES! Sorry to yell, but this is their best hook.
2. If you own a fixed or floating week, you will be told that you NEED to change to points because everyone will soon be on points and you will no longer be able to exchange your week. They will tell you that both RCI and II are on a full court press to get every owner to make the shift. Although this part is true, the reason is purely from a revenue generation basis. They cannot get rid of your week or make it less valuable. You still own that specific week and that cannot change, and the reason they are an exchange company is to make exchanges. According to ARDA data, there are more fixed and floating week owners then there are pints owners. So, relax and do not get caught up in the hype of points. Now, if you have done your homework and are itching to get into points, you need to really shop around for the best price and really consider the resale option.
3. The good old “dinner party”. This was my favorite because it really made the owners think that they missed something. For those who have not read my blog article covering this topic, here is a snap shot. Developers in good times will go on the road and market to existing owners and have them come into a local hotel for dinner and a very IMPORTANT owner’s update. What happens is you receive a great meal, then get assigned to an “advisor” (remember number 1, no such thing), and then you will sit through a podium presentation that will confuse the most knowledgeable owners. After the podium is over you go and sit with your “advisor” who will then go over your account. This is a sales presentation with smoke and mirrors. You will be told of all the great things that you are missing out on because you have not upgraded in the last so many years. Owners beware!
4. Rental income. Many sales reps are using this as a way to get you to justify making a purchase. New and experienced owners have been falling for this in droves. Here is the deal, you make a purchase for more points and take the points that you are not using and the company will rent them out. Although they do have rental, the odds of you ever getting your weeks rented and make a profit are slim because you still have to cover your cost, maintenance fees, and interest on the loan. Additionally, the developers will rent the unsold inventory every time before an owner’s inventory. They will promise that they will assist you in this because they are your “advisor”. Due to the recent economy, AAA even stated that there are far less people taking vacations now. They are taking staycations. Most of the rental companies will not even take a request for your weeks.
5. Tax incentives. This is a big no-no in the timeshare industry. There are clear and concise rules and regulations governing this. Yet, most timeshare sales reps fall back on this. They will tell you that owning a timeshare is like owning a second home and you qualify for tax incentives. Additionally, you can write of the interest that you are paying, just like your home. Well, this is a complete and utter lie. You cannot get tax advice from a sales person; they are too invested in the process. TIMESHARES do not qualify as a second home, and in the majority of the US do not hold any tax breaks. If you own a business, you cannot purchase a timeshare for DBA purposes except in a very specific circumstance that most do not qualify.
6. If you do not like it, you can always sell it. This is a load of hogwash and you need to know that timeshares are not a financial investment; they are a quality of live investment only. The majority of timeshares are worthless as soon as you get outside of the rescission period, which we will cover tomorrow. Dave Ramsey, and many other financial gurus’ all agree that they are not only a bad investment, they are not worth the paper the deed comes on. There are too many other ways to take vacations and have the same quality stays. There are more timeshares for sale on ebay and craiglist than you can even imagine. Take a look for yourself. It is such a great business, there are hundreds of companies that offer to list and sell your timeshare for a fee. That is for a later time.
7. Exchanges, they will tell you that you can exchange your timeshare anywhere in the world for little and you can do it anytime you like. If you want to go to Hawaii, just put in the exchange request and bam, your there. For all you who own timeshares, you know this to be a real stretch of the truth. Sales reps do not sit down with owners to teach them how to properly understand and use the exchange system and they never tell you the truth about price and timing. Some locations take at least two years of advanced planning. They are not for free and sometimes can cost more than your annual maintenance fees. Which leads me to number 8.
8. Maintenance fees are always a topic that savvy sales reps will tap dance around. They will even tell you that you can offset your maintenance fees by providing referrals. Just give use names and numbers, or addresses and we can eliminate you maintenance fees altogether. Another way to eliminate maintenance fees is to use our Master Card and every dollar spent gains you points that convert to maintenance fee dollars. This is all a load of crap! You would have to spend tens of thousands of dollars every month to even come close. Additionally, you still need someone to come into the resort and take a sales presentation. Then, when they do not buy, the sales rep normally will not do the required paperwork to ensure the owner gets credit. This is a biggie!
9. The old table bump. This is when the sales rep is having difficulty with the sale. The customer has said no and actually meant it. What happens is another sales rep will come to the table pretending to be a manager and find something that may seem to be wrong with your account and will create a diversion to bring the intensity level up. This person will then go away to fix the problem. It may be that you said you could not afford that specific amount. This person will always come back with the best deal of the day that you will never be able to get again. A one-time special that must be taken now. Alas, this too is a lie and you can always walk away and come back and get that deal.
10. The last one deals with your cancellation period. Many timeshare companies will skirt around this issue and not give you the real information concerning your rescission period. They have to tell you how long you have to change your mind, they must counsel you on this, and they must provide you with proper documentation that clearly outlines this. Some companies hide the information in your owner’s kit so you cannot find it when you get home. Here is the deal, if you have second thoughts after you buy, cancel and do some research to see if owning a timeshare is right for you and your family. If it is, you can always go back and repurchase or do what I recommend and buy resale.

I hope that this has been helpful information for you. Please give me some feedback on what you think and let me know of other topics you would like to see. For more information, go to www.timeshareaide.com. Additionally, we are on twitter, facebook, myspace, and linkedin.

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Top 10 Timeshare Scams

For those of you who have made a purchase with Consolidated Resorts, Inc., also known as Tahiti Village Vacation Club, also known as Soleil LV, LLC you may want to be very careful and research what your next step is. According to various online publications, owners are being told that these companies, that are all tied together, have filed for Bankruptcy Protection.Here is the problem that I want to address. Any owners who have purchased within the last year who have fallen victim to fraud, misrepresentation, or coercion are not being let out of their timeshare contracts. The company’s stance is that they cannot let anyone out because they are in the middle of the bankruptcy process. When you call Tahiti Village, they pass the buck to Soleil LV, LLC who in turn passes it to Consolidated Resorts, Inc. Then once you call Consolidated, they pass it right back to Tahiti Village.

This is a classic circle jerk and you do not have to take no for an answer. If you are having these issues and you want results go to our website at www.timeshareaide.com and fill out our free initial consultation. We have gotten the attention of the BBB, The Federal Trade Commission, the Real Estate Commission, and the Attorney Generals.

Again, if you feel you have been lied to and are within one year of your contract, contact us immediately. The way these orgaizations are handling themselves while filing for bankruptcy is unethical and is in no way taking care of their customers.

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Timeshare Company Goes Bankrupt

I have been in communication with the Founder of Timeshare Relief, Inc and I want to inform those of you who own a timeshare and feel like there is no way out, Timeshare Relief can help. I know that many of you have been lied to, scammed, and taken advantage of, but I want you to know that I have really checked them out and I believe they have the same ethics and solid business practices that I always preach about.David MacMillan and his wife Cindy founded Timeshare Relief 5 years ago have assisted over 40,000 timeshare owners get relief from their timeshare ownership hardships and have some sort of peace in their lives. Both David and Cindy are timeshare owners and can easily relate to anyone struggling with their timeshare. They take each timeshare owner that they assist personally, and they are committed to providing sound ethical advice that best suits each owner.

During my conversation with David and some of his staff, their passion to help comes out in every word that they speak. Listen, everyone needs help at some point in their lives, and I believe that many timeshare owners get to a level of dispair and that is why they fall for the scams that Timeshare Relief’s competitors run. Many of those companies are no longer in business becuase of those bad business practices. Timeshare Relief has stood the test of time and are looking to help more owners this year than any prior year. That is a testament of thier skills and knowledge of the industry. Please do not just take my word for it, check them out for yourselves at www.timesharerelief.com.

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Timeshare Relief can Help!

Due to the tightening economy and recent news concerning timeshare developers going bankrupt, timeshare owners are looking for any reason possible to get out of their timeshare contract(s). I want to give you a realistic view from someone who is in the business of canceling timeshares.There are many timeshare assistance companies that claim they will get you out of your timeshare contract no matter how long you have been in it. All you have to do is pay anywhere from $500.00 to $2500.00 and they “guarantee” to get you out. I wish that was really the case. In order to get out of a timeshare contract, you have to prove that there was misrepresentation, fraud, coercion, or some type of misinformation. That part is pretty simple. The following are reasons that can justify a reason for cancellation:

1. Not informing the customer that they have the right to cancel within the states/country rescission period.
2. Not conducting a proper sales presentation, i.e. not showing you the models, not gifting you at the end of the presentation.
3. Using misleading information to get you to make a decision. Telling you that you will earn a certain amount of cash $$ for your rental, giving tax advice, or that the timeshare is an investment and you can make money when you go to sell it.
4. Not showing and disclosing the Public Offering Statement.
5. Using coercion as a sales tactic. Keeping you on the tour for an extended period of time without letting you leave with your gifts. Some will not sign your hotel voucher, while others will not give you the cash or other gifts that you were guaranteed prior to the tour.
6. Not conducting a proper closing of the timeshare contract and other documents.
7. If the sales rep misrepresents themselves, like stating they do not get paid a commission and are only there to ensure you get the proper information. They normally will state that you are not on a sales presentation. This is more for existing owners.
8. Making any promises other than what is in writing to get you to buy.
9. Making bribes of any type to get you to buy.
10. Giving false information on pricing, financing, maintenance fees, and exchanges.

This is not an all inclusive list, but just 10 of many. Here is the other piece of the puzzle. You need to make these issues known and make formal complaints in a reasonable amount of time. I will tell you that if you are over 6 months, it is difficult to cancel, but depending on the reason(s) it definitely can be done. If you are over a year, you better have a rock solid case, and there are few. You might be able to get the contract canceled but you will not recoup all your money. Anything over 2 years is a waste of time. Now, there may be the exception to the rule. but normally you have used the timeshare, and have made numerous payments. It is almost impossible to prove any type of fraud, misrepresentation, or coercion that far out. Think about it. If you purchased a used car from a slick, smooth talking salesman and you try to go back two years later, you are going to get laughed at. Additionally, no judge in this country is going to allow that to come across their bench.

I genuinely feel for anyone who has been a victim to anything other than legitimate sales practices, but that does not give you a reason to cancel after a reasonable period of time. After two years, you have to make a decision to either keep it and learn how to make it work; stop paying and let it go into foreclosure; or find someone to buy it. The last option is the least likely to happen.

Again, I want to help anyone who has been a victim. The bottom line is that if you have owned for over a year and have not brought the issue up to the timeshare company or any other agency, you really do not have a chance of winning your claim. If you do, you are the exception and not the rule. Please, do not fall for the scams of companies telling you that they specialize in anyone in this range. The facts are the facts.

If you have any questions visit Timeshare Advocacy International for more information. I still will answer any questions from those who are over a year from purchase, but I will most likely not take your case.

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Timeshare Cancellation News

Many travelers who go on vacation and take timeshare presentations often make the mistake of purchasing a timeshare based off the emotional high they are getting while on vacation. They normally go on the presentations because of a free gift that they are promised. The timeshare presentation was supposed to last 90 minutes, but end up lasting over 4 hours. They are never told they can cancel and when they get home and are having that feeling of buyers remorse, they find out that they could have canceled, but are now past the cancellation period. Does this sound like you?Timeshare Advocacy International, LLC has helped many who have fallen victim to poor sales tactics and were lied to, coerced, misinformed, or misrepresented. You need to know that you can cancel your timeshare contract even if you are past the cancellation period. There are timeshare assistance companies that claim to have a 100 percent success rate, even though the BBB says other wise. There are companies out there that claim the BBB is a ripoff and are not to be trusted. That makes no sense whatsoever. I use the BBB before I ever make a decision to do business with a company and have always gotten the best insight possible. You can even call if you are still unsure and they will give you all the information that you may need. For anyone to call the BBB crooks and say that they are not a useful organization is trying to hide something if you ask me.

One thing I have learned after serving 21 years in the Navy is that everyone has a different definition of integrity. Integrity is not claiming that you can help anyone when you cannot. Integrity is not claiming that you have credentials with the Federal Trade Commission, US Attorney General, and Profeco when you do not! Integrity is not claiming that you are the FIRST and only professional consumer advocacy group to successfully effect the termination of hundreds of Timeshare and Vacation Ownership contracts nationally and globally when you are not. There are documented companies that have been around longer and that have better results. This company claims that they had to use alias’ because they were afraid for their families. What a load of rubbage. I am running off on a tangent, there is integrity, then there is everything else period.

Now, to get back on track, if you have a timeshare that you purchased within the last year and feel that you have been lied to, corced, or misrepresented go to Timeshare Advocacy International and request a free initial consultation. It costs you nothing and if we cannot help you, we will tell you up front. WE WILL NOT TAKE YOUR MONEY AND RUN! There is a company out there who has that reputation. You can make all the new and creative websites and claim to be there for the people, but once a shark, always a shark!

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How to Cancel Your Timeshare Contract

Today we are going to discuss the reasons why you might want to consider canceling your timeshare contract. Many have been inquiring into whether or not they should cancel their timeshares and most are not sure of the reasons, and resources that are available out there. If you have doubted your timeshare purchase, you might want to read further.According to ARDA, American Resort Development Association, timeshare sales increased from 2006 to 2007 by 10.3 percent and total sales in 2007 was $6.1 billion. That’s right, BILLION! In 2007 there were more fixed and floating weeks sold than points. This puts to rest the scam of sales reps stating that within a certain amount of time points will be the only product developers will sell. That is simply not true and not supported by any statistics. The average price in $2007 for a week was $19,247. Remember that was in 2007. This price was on average 14 percent higher than in 2006. In 2008 the average price for a timeshare in the United States was $20,152, an increase of over $900.00. In 2008 sold $9.7 billion, an increase of over $3 billion in one year. The majority of timeshares are in the state of Florida and on or in close proximity to a beach.

What does all this mean? Well, it tells you that timeshares are a popular thing in our culture. It tells you that sales are increasing and because of that, prices are increasing as well. Does this say that timeshares are a bad thing? Not at all. this tells you that anything that has value like this is going to have a huge sales campaign and strategy to get the consumers to the product and hungry for the product. Now that we have all the statistics, let’s get to the meat of this blog article.

What are the reasons that one might consider canceling their timeshare? Here is a simple list of 10 items that if happened, you should investigate canceling the deal.

1. A very long and aggressive sales presentation. Timeshare presentations/tours are supposed to last anywhere from 60 – 90 minutes before the people touring can get their gifts that were promised to them. During this process the sales representative is supposed to build rapport, gather information, and create desire for the customer. They will take you to the models, and ask questions about how you vacation and what you are currently spending. This process should last approximately 45 minutes, which will give them time to show you two options based on how you travel and what you spend. Once that is done and you “puke” at the cost, they will bring in their manager to attempt to get a better deal. You know the one that they bent over backwards for and that is so low that you can never return to get again. I have heard of timeshare tours lasting as long as 10 to 12 hours. That is not a tour, that is being held hostage. If you told them no several times and were there over 4 hours, you might want to really look further into what you have done.
2. If you took a timeshare tour and did not get the gifts that were promised to you, that is completely against every states timeshare regulations and you need to really consider canceling the deal. Any timeshare company that would do business on the front end like this is not a credible company. Just the same as starting a relationship off on a lie. The normal person would not stand for that, and it is a reason to really believe that this is just the start of more bad things to come.
3. If at any time the sales representative starts discussing timeshare ownership would be an investment, they are crossing an ethical line. If this has happened to you, this is a huge red flag and is totally illegal in the US, Canada, and Mexico. This goes against the Federal Trade Commission’s regulations concerning timeshare sales.
4. If you were promised to make a certain amount of money off of rental, your sales rep has crossed the ethical line. They can tell you that you can rent your timeshare out, but they cannot tell you that you can make a certain amount and they should not tell you that they can show you secrets to do this. This is probably the number one breech in ethics that we see. If this has happened to you, get advice.
5. If you were told that you can write trips off on your taxes, or owning will give you a tax break, get assistance. This is completely illegal and timeshare sales reps know that they are not allowed to provide any tax advice. They are allowed to say that you need to seek advice from a tax professional.
6. If you were never told that you have a right under state law to cancel your timeshare and what the cancellation period is, you want to seek advice. This is the consumers right and has to be given.
7. If you were told that because of a certain reason, no matter what the reason is, that you cannot cancel and all sales are final, get advice. Again, you have a right to cancel within the states cancellation period.
8. If you were told not to read the documents and to just sign them and read them later, that is a red flag. Any credible timeshare closing agent will want to take the extra 30 minutes and ensure that you completely understand what you are signing and what your rights are. If you did not get this, seek advice.
9. If you were told that you will never have to pay maintenance fees because of their referral program, or that maintenance fees will never go up, get advice. Many timeshare sales reps will short cut and state this instead of taking the time to explain how maintenance fees work and why they are needed. If you were told this, you might want to investigate.
10. If you were told that you will never have to pay exchange fees, and that you can exchange anywhere without any constraints, seek advice. This is another tactic that the weak sales rep will take instead of taking the time to explain how the exchange program works. You have some places because of location and size that are very difficult to get to and can take up to 2 years in advance to make the reservation.

This is not an all inclusive list. There are other areas that sales reps use to get you to think that you are getting more than what you actually are, but these are the most common. If you have 3 or more and have purchased within the last year you need to contact a timeshare assistance company for advice. As far as timeshare assistance companies are concerned, click here for more information.

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Why Should I Cancel My Timeshare