US Property Luxury Group

Mayor · May 4, 2010

Anybody know anything about a company named "U.S. Luxury Property Group"?

DeniseM · May 4, 2010

Hi and welcome to TUG! :hi:

What terms are they offering you?

There are a lot of scammers out there taking advantage of desperate timeshare owners these days. Most timeshares are selling for 0-10% of retail, but that's a bitter pill to swallow, so owners grasp as shady offers, hoping they are for real. Legitimate resellers charge a commission after the sale, but the scammers all ask for a large upfront payment.

Here are some warnings signs with these kinds of companies:

1) Do they say that they already have a renter/buyer for your timeshare? (or an established market like people attending conventions.)

2) Do they want you to pay hundreds/thousands of dollars for a title search and transfer fees, or taxes, or a closing fee, UPFRONT?

3) Are they offering to rent/sell it for far more than the market value?

4) Do they want you to pay a large up front fee that supposedly you will get back?

5) Do they want your credit card number before they send you a contract?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, then this is the usual scenario:

Once you pay the fee and receive the contract, you discover that the company has only promised to advertise your resort, not to rent/sell it, and they don't mention having a renter/buyer in the contract.

Then, you won't hear anything from them for a long time, and when you contact them, they will tell you that the renter/buyer backed out, but they will advertise your timeshare on their over-priced website.

Finally, when you try to get your money back, they will point out that you signed a contract, and it's only for advertising.

When you try to challenge it with your credit card company, they will tell you that you only had 60 days to dispute the charge, and that it's too late to do anything.

Bottom line - never pay a large upfront fee!

Mayor · May 4, 2010

Supposedly they have a buyer for each of my 2 timeshares. Upfront money to set up an escrow accout of which I will get all of it back except for $675 each. Total for the two timeshares in upfront money is $4350.

Talent312 · May 4, 2010

These fine folks will take your money and head for the hills. The mythical buyer will "back out," and you'll find that the $$ you gave them was for for some laughable "maketing" service. IOW, its totally bogus, dude.

Lem'me ask you, if some guy comes to your door and offers to rake your yard if you give him $20 up front so he can go get a rake, will he be back with a rake?

DeniseM · May 4, 2010

Mayor said:
Supposedly they have a buyer for each of my 2 timeshares. Upfront money to set up an escrow accout of which I will get all of it back except for $675 each. Total for the two timeshares in upfront money is $4350.

It's a scam - don't do it!

Stefa · May 4, 2010

Mayor said:
Supposedly they have a buyer for each of my 2 timeshares. Upfront money to set up an escrow accout of which I will get all of it back except for $675 each. Total for the two timeshares in upfront money is $4350.

Definitely a scam. Once they have your money the buyer will back out. They will keep your money because you agreed to pay them to set up an escrow and/or perform other services which they will claim they did.

There are dozens of reputable companies that will handle a closing including title search and escrow for $500 or less. Normally the buyer pays these fees, but the scammers want YOU to pay because there is no buyer.

MikeMarriott · May 4, 2010

State of Florida is currently investigating this company according to the Florida Attorney General's website

deedman · May 4, 2010

Talent312 said:
Lem'me ask you, if some guy comes to your door and offers to rake your yard if you give him $20 up front so he can go get a rake, will he be back with a rake?

Yes, if you take his driver's license.

edit: and don't tell me he'll give you a fake one, because a decent fake is more then $20

Talent312 · May 4, 2010

deedman said:
Yes, if you take his driver's license.
edit: and don't tell me he'll give you a fake one, because a decent fake is more then $20

He won't fork over a DL, not even a fake one, he'll just mosy down the street to another mark.

Hawaiibarb · May 10, 2010

How interesting!

I got a call from this company just this morning. supposedly they are in a position to complete the sale of my TS which had been handled by Premier Property Management. anyone hear of them? Premier Property Management definitely did scam me, so this feels more like the same. They want 1987.24 toward closing costs, courier fees, etc which, of course, they promise I will get back. Now I've already lost money to Premier Property Management, and I really don't want to lose more. Are costs like this ever legitimate in closing on a sale?

Talent312 · May 10, 2010

Hawaiibarb said:
Are costs like this ever legitimate in closing on a sale?

Are you selling a 4-BR, 3-BTH split-level house on a a golf course?
Do you believe in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny?
Would you like to buy some winning lotto numbers... cheap?

Hawaiibarb · May 10, 2010

Duh....

Talent312 said:
Are you selling a 4-BR, 3-BTH split-level house on a a golf course?
Do you believe in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny?
Would you like to buy some winning lotto numbers... cheap?

I was gullible the first time around, but for any others who are tiempted, remember that they will sound very plausible, and many different ways, plus, of course, you want it to be true! But no, I haven't believed in the tooth fairy for quite a while.

By the way, another warning .....even if you post the question "did you have any luck with XYZ company", and you get a positive reply, that reply isn't necessarily from a helpful TUG'er (although I thought it was).....remember the company could post a reply as a guest.

T_R_Oglodyte · May 10, 2010

Hawaiibarb said:
By the way, another warning .....even if you post the question "did you have any luck with XYZ company", and you get a positive reply, that reply isn't necessarily from a helpful TUG'er (although I thought it was).....remember the company could post a reply as a guest.

And that's why many of raise the shill alert when someone with no posting history suddenly appears, creating such a post.

It's always seemed implausible to me that someone, having struggled for years to get rid of an unwanted timeshare, would suddenly register at a site that is specifically for timeshare owners and users.

Mayor · May 17, 2010

Anybody know anything about either
1. Meridian Media Group or
2. ITA International Timeshare Association

DeniseM · May 17, 2010

There is one cardinal rule that applies to all these types of companies:

Is there a large upfront fee?

Reputable resellers do not charge an upfront fee.

Found in another thread - Meridian Media Group - $799 upfront fee

US Property Luxury Group

Mayor

DeniseM

Mayor

Talent312

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

DeniseM

Stefa

MikeMarriott

deedman

Talent312

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

Hawaiibarb

Talent312

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

Hawaiibarb

T_R_Oglodyte

Mayor

DeniseM