Exit Attorneys are they legit

[mfred]

We want out of our Sheraton Vistana Cascades odd/even year timeshare. It was purchased in mid 90's. Heard an ad on exit attorney Solomon Cross in Winter Park FL that they would be able to get us out of the contract as they deal directly with Sheraton. First thing is of course they want an upfront fee and from reading other forums is an absolute NO! Second they said it would take 3-12 months with a cost of about $3500.00. Are these attorneys legit? Can we get out of the contract or should we continue to try to find SOMEONE who would like this timeshare? Seems most young people are just not interested. Any help would be appreciated

 

[theo]

We want out of our Sheraton Vistana Cascades odd/even year timeshare. It was purchased in mid 90's. Heard an ad on exit attorney Solomon Cross in Winter Park FL that they would be able to get us out of the contract as they deal directly with Sheraton. First thing is of course they want an upfront fee and from reading other forums is an absolute NO! Second they said it would take 3-12 months with a cost of about $3500.00. Are these attorneys legit? Can we get out of the contract or should we continue to try to find SOMEONE who would like this timeshare?

Don't bite. Attorneys are not magicians, no matter how competent they may be. Moreover, these people may not even be attorneys at all in the first place.

You have a binding contractual obligation and no attorney has any magic beans, fairy dust or secret processes that can somehow magically make that binding contractual obligation just disappear into thin air.

You can surely part company with the ownership on your own --- with a little effort and patience (and for a whole lot less money).
Have you asked the resort HOA about "deedback"? Have you attempted to give it away for free, via TUG "Bargain Deals" or elsewhere?

I recommend that you put the checkbook away and leave that $3,500 in your bank account. An old saying is that "a fool and his money are soon parted".
I sincerely hope that you will not become someone who chooses to prove that saying to be absolutely true.

Even if you pay not another dime and accept inevitable foreclosure down the road, you won't have tossed away that $3,500. It's your choice, your decision.

 

[TUGBrian]

you should avoid any outfit that asks for large fees upfront...period

what efforts have you made thusfar to offer it for sale for free to a willing buyer? Using the suggestions on TUG, you should have little problem giving away a sheraton vistana timeshare especially if you were already considering paying $3500 to do so!

http://www.tug2.net/timeshare_advice/timeshare_abandonment.html

 

[Passepartout]

In a word, no. They aren't legit. But you can list it yourself in the Bargain Deals section of this forum. Just follow the basic outline of other ads you'll see there. You may have to sweeten the deal, like pre-pay a year's MF, or even throw in a gift card or book a vacation for the new owner, but hundreds of people have successfully given away their timeshares without using those shyster upfront fee outfits.

Jim

 

[DeniseM]

They aren't Legit - and most of them aren't even attorneys - they are SCAMMERS!

How to give your timeshare away on TUG: https://www.tugbbs.com/forums/index.php?threads/how-can-i-give-away-my-timeshare-on-tug.132509/

 

[Saintsfanfl]

Solomon Cross is the name of a company and not the name of an attorney. They do not list timeshare exits as one of their services but they do list related services like contracts, bankruptcy, and real estate. The two attorneys that supposedly work there are William Saliba and Thomas Pratt. Saliba has not been a licensed attorney long.

Obviously the pitch is a scam whether it is really this outfit or someone using their name. My guess is they are not even at the supposed address. I'll drive by there and see since it is down the street from where I work. Either way on no planet is the upfront fee legitimate and if it is these guys they could lose their licenses to practice if they are dabbling in this nonsense.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

The business was registered by Saliba back in 2009 but not sure what business it was since he was not an attorney. The domain was not registered until 2013 but I have a feeling the actual website started last year.

The other guy, Pratt, does not list Solomon Cross as his place of employment on his linked in. The picture of him on the Solomon site and his linked in are identical.

Saliba lists him self as a legal consultant working there since Jan 2016, even though he owns the company. He is trying to make the company appear to be bigger than himself.

 

[bogey21]

You can surely part company with the ownership on your own --- with a little effort and patience (and for a whole lot less money). Have you asked the resort HOA about "deedback"? Have you attempted to give it away for free, via TUG "Bargain Deals" or elsewhere?

Agree with the above. Do it yourself. It will not be easy. It will take time and persistence. In the end it may end up costing you a few dollars but the cost will be way less than $3,500 spent on a wing and a prayer.

George

 

[ronparise]

I don’t know Solomon cross but I do know an attorney that specializes in timeshares

Like all attorneys he wants to be paid for his work. And like all attorneys they make their money on the backs of people in trouble

Some here dont think a lawyers advice is legitimate or that lawyers offer a legitimate service.

What the guy I know does is to negotiate with the timeshare company on your behalf. Negotiating an end to your contractural obligations can be done. It’s usually just a matter of convincing the decision makers at your resort that they would be money ahead by taking back the timeshare and forgiving the loan.

Like so many things it’s something you can do yourself. I have. But it’s said that a lawyer that represents himself has a fool for a client. In my case that’s certainly true, but things worked out for this fool

The hardest thing to do I think is to find the decision maker and get them to listen. A lawyer in your corner gives you a better chance

Having said that my advice is to put the resort on notice that you intend to default. And then do it. They will get to you. Some resorts will report it to the credit bureaus, some won’t. Assume they will and get approved for any loans you might need first

There will be consequences. Foreclosure and a lousy credit report is likely but not the end of the world. I’ve been there and lived to tell about it

 

[Saintsfanfl]

The Solomon Cross Inc name is at the address reported. It shares a suite with a real estate company owned by a very prominent local business woman. My guess is Saliba works as the "in-house" lightweight legal arm for the real estate business while also trying to generate work on his own.

Even if the offer is legitimate and you want an attorney to aid you I would not go with someone with less than two years as a licensed attorney and no reported experience in dealing with timeshares.

 

[theo]

Newly registered OP does not identify his location, but has asked about a heretofore completely unknown alleged "exit"entity located in Florida.

While I stand by my position and belief that no attorney possesses any magic beans, I have personally met and spoken with a FL attorney named Michael Finn whose practice (Finn Law Group) is in Largo, Florida. I have never engaged his services, nor have I ever had any need to even consider doing so, but I have listened to him speak at some length at Florida Timeshare Owners Group (FTOG) meetings, at which he was certainly not peddling his services (he would have just been "preaching to the choir" there). I can honestly say that Finn knows as much or more about "behind the curtain" practices of timeshare developers than anyone I have personally ever met, with or without legal credentials. He currently has a number of actions in progress against some of the big players, representing a significant number of plaintiffs with developer "beefs", but it's not my place to elaborate further on any of those actions or proceedings.

ARDA despises Finn, which is certainly a compliment and a credential in and of itself, at least in my book. I am not endorsing Finn and I do not know anything about the costs of his legal services. All I know with certainty is that I am no stranger to timeshares nor to dealing with attorneys and if I ever wanted or needed legal representation on a timeshare matter in or involving Florida that I couldn't (or shouldn't) handle myself, Finn would definitely be my "go to" guy.

All that said, I repeat my belief that no attorney posses any magic beans, fairy dust or secret processes or elixirs that can make the contractually binding legal obligations of timeshare ownership just magically disappear into thin air. Represent and negotiate? Certainly. Perform a magic act? That's not going to happen.

 

[davidvel]

These escape artists, other than the outright scammers, are about as legit as the developers, if you read the fine print and ignore the verbal promises.

TET, as an example "guarantees" your "exit" from your timeshare, or you get your money back. That alone, sounds awesome, and is entirely true.

BUT, there is no deadline for the exit, you have to follow their advice, and exit includes if they tell you to stop payment and you are eventully foreclosed upon (or you file bankruptcy ). Yep, they got you an exit all right. And the fee is about 2-5 years of MF per reports in reviews.

 

[TUGBrian]

the major point being missed here is that the OP has not yet made any effort to sell/give away their timeshare using existing successful methods...and instead is interested in paying large upfront fees to an "attorney".

 

[ace2000]

I'm going to say that both Ron's and Brian's advice is sound. I recently checked into the transfer of my timeshare and the resort wanted $1300 in fees. That was $1300 for just the exchange only, they did not perform the closing. Add the fact that most people are clueless on the exchange process, and the fact that many are having to throw in a year of maintenance fees as incentive, is it any wonder that people are just letting these things go into foreclosure on a massive level? IMO, the next downturn in the economy is going to provide the tipping point for many, and they will only have themselves to blame.

I think $3500 is way too high though, so let me be clear about that point. But, I don't think Ron was commenting on the price level (could be wrong about that).

 

[TUGBrian]

dont see any reason to jump into foreclosure without at least making an effort to give it away to a willing taker.

 

[ace2000]

dont see any reason to jump into foreclosure without at least making an effort to give it away to a willing taker.

I think EVERYONE agrees with this. Will anyone who feels otherwise, please step forward and state your case?

 

[ronparise]

I'm going to say that both Ron's and Brian's advice is sound. I recently checked into the transfer of my timeshare and the resort wanted $1300 in fees. That was $1300 for just the exchange only, they did not perform the closing. Add the fact that most people are clueless on the exchange process, and the fact that many are having to throw in a year of maintenance fees as incentive, is it any wonder that people are just letting these things go into foreclosure on a massive level? IMO, the next downturn in the economy is going to provide the tipping point for many, and they will only have themselves to blame.

I think $3500 is way too high though, so let me be clear about that point. But, I don't think Ron was commenting on the price level (could be wrong about that).

The guy I know is the guy that Theo mentioned in his post. I spoke with him at length about my situation and ultimately decided to represent myself. I wanted a quick resolution and I felt bringing in an attorney that is (as Theo said) hated by the industry, would, in spite of his fee, probably get me a much better settlement but it would take much longer.

As I said, I was happy with the outcome, which goes to my comment above... you can do this yourself

And by the way, I’m not commenting on Mike’s fees. He does (or at least did) offer a money back guarantee and I don’t believe it was a scam. If he can’t work his magic, you get your money back.

 

[theo]

The guy I know is the guy that Theo mentioned in his post. I spoke with him at length about my situation and ultimately decided to represent myself. I wanted a quick resolution and I felt bringing in an attorney that is (as Theo said) hated by the industry, would, in spite of his fee, probably get me a much better settlement but it would take much longer.

As I said, I was happy with the outcome, which goes to my comment above... you can do this yourself

And by the way, I’m not commenting on Mike’s fees. He does (or at least did) offer a money back guarantee and I don’t believe it was a scam. If he can’t work his magic, you get your money back.

Let the record reflect that on this date Ron Parise and I may have almost agreed on something. Don't wait for that to happen again anytime soon.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

I have given away 5 or so timeshare in the last few years and I have found it surprisingly easy to give away a unit that is completely free with nothing out of pocket. Granted the ones I have given away are not "undesirable" but what I found odd was that I could give away a timeshare with nothing out of pocket but fees would come due with no usage but I could not give away the same unit to the same person charging $500 total but no fees coming due in a few months even though the fees in the first scenario were higher than $500.

People are blinded to the coming and rising annual fees but they are very aware of how much they have to pay right now for the timeshare. Even spelled out very clearly to them it doesn't seem to matter. It makes it fairly easy to give away a timeshare and this is without offering a $1k or higher "rebate" on the back end.

I am convinced that any timeshare can be given away although if enough rebate is offered the taker might be pocketing the money and "disposing" or letting the timeshare go to bad debt and foreclosure. I don't have anything that worthless but the point is any unit can get gotten rid of without paying an unknown with money at risk of no action.

 

[ronparise]

Let the record reflect that on this date Ron Parise and I may have almost agreed on something. Don't wait for that to happen again anytime soon.

Oh my. I may have to rethink this

 

[ronparise]

I have given away 5 or so timeshare in the last few years and I have found it surprisingly easy to give away a unit that is completely free with nothing out of pocket. Granted the ones I have given away are not "undesirable" but what I found odd was that I could give away a timeshare with nothing out of pocket but fees would come due with no usage but I could not give away the same unit to the same person charging $500 total but no fees coming due in a few months even though the fees in the first scenario were higher than $500.

People are blinded to the coming and rising annual fees but they are very aware of how much they have to pay right now for the timeshare. Even spelled out very clearly to them it doesn't seem to matter. It makes it fairly easy to give away a timeshare and this is without offering a $1k or higher "rebate" on the back end.

I am convinced that any timeshare can be given away although if enough rebate is offered the taker might be pocketing the money and "disposing" or letting the timeshare go to bad debt and foreclosure. I don't have anything that worthless but the point is any unit can get gotten rid of without paying an unknown with money at risk of no action.

You can’t give away the ones encumbered by debt. You can only default

 

[TUGBrian]

the OP mentioned they bought in the 90s...that would be a very impressive loan if it still had a significant balance!

 

[Saintsfanfl]

You can’t give away the ones encumbered by debt. You can only default

Agreed but the exit attorney or timeshare rescue specialist can't either. I am comparing offering up a clear title timeshare for free and possibly with incentive and letting a known closing company do all the work vs forking over a few grand that would be at risk.

 

[md8287]

Agreed but the exit attorney or timeshare rescue specialist can't either. I am comparing offering up a clear title timeshare for free and possibly with incentive and letting a known closing company do all the work vs forking over a few grand that would be at risk.

I wonder if there is a business opportunity in here. Lots of us could do this ourselves but MANY people pay to have someone try to get them out. What if there was a service that one would give their timeshare details to and then they get a price to get out. Fixed price and you are out. The price would vary based on property but if you agree then you’re done.

 

[ronparise]

Agreed but the exit attorney or timeshare rescue specialist can't either. I am comparing offering up a clear title timeshare for free and possibly with incentive and letting a known closing company do all the work vs forking over a few grand that would be at risk.

Thats what they claim to be able to do.. cancel the contract.

The point of hiring someone like Mike Finn would be to negotiate a deedback and forgive the loan... call it a deed in lieu of foreclosure