WFTV9 Orlando Investigation story on Timeshare Exit Company TS Relief Group!

[TUGBrian]

This was the actual original story my interview was for with Jeff Deal of WFTV, though clips of my interview have been used in a number of stories since!

happy to see more media stories warning owners against exit companies (though I wish they would have elaborated on what they do, and that you can default on your own)...

Action 9: Timeshare exit nightmare. Local couple stuck with timeshare after spending thousands

A Volusia County couple has been trying to get rid of their timeshare since 2017. They got desperate and hired a timeshare cancellation company, but instead of getting help they got burned. “We wound up doing it. To this day I regret it,” Jeff Lamey told Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal...

www.wftv.com

 

[dioxide45]

While the Westgate exit option costs $3000, it seems that is cheaper than what it seems they plan to do. Continue paying maintenance fees for years will be more expensive than the $3000. I get it, $3000 sucks. The alternative is to default which is free.

 

[Cyberc]

@TUGBrian
Unfortunately the link you provided is not accessible for foreigners only for those located in the U.S.

Would it be possible to upload a pdf of the article?

 

[TUGBrian]

here is the youtube video

 

[rickandcindy23]

I feel badly for those people. Westgate for $50K, then almost $11K to get out of the timeshare? This is why timeshare has such a bad reputation.

 

[RX8]

Previous thread on the lawsuit:

TS Relief Group and TS Holding Unlimited Sued by Ohio Attorney General for running Exit/Cancellation scams

https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/ohio-to-sue-timeshare-exit-companies-for-failing-to-deliver-68k-in-services/56AFTQGIGJCCZPZESIWN5UUYSA/ The lawsuit targets TS Relief Group and TS Holding Unlimited, which are companies that claim to offer “timeshare exit” services, where they assist...

tugbbs.com

I don’t know if this is bad investigation by the state of Ohio but the lawsuit states that both TS Relief Group, LLC and TS Holdings Unlimited are NJ based operations. While there is an entity by the name of TS Holdings Unlimited, LLC in the state of NJ, there is no legal entity by the name of TS Relief Group so that LLC doesn’t even exist.

There is a BBB profile for TS Holdings Unlimited (though a different NJ address than the lawsuit filing). The only BBB profile for a TS Relief Group is one with an address is Los Angeles. Like NJ, the state of California has no legal filing with the name of TS Relief Group. There is no doubt in my mind that it is the same TS Relief Group but this confusion is one reason why these scammers succeed at fooling victims and help keep them one step ahead of the law. Both of the BBB profiles do not mention the Ohio lawsuit (I’m sending an email to the BBB).

https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Briefing-Room/News-Releases/2025-06-30-TS-Relief-Time-Stamped-Complaint-1.aspx

TS Holdings Unlimited | BBB Business Profile | Better Business Bureau

Not BBB Accredited. Timeshare Resale and Rental Marketing in West Berlin, NJ. See BBB rating, reviews, complaints, and more.

www.bbb.org

TS Relief Group | BBB Complaints | Better Business Bureau

View complaints of TS Relief Group filed with BBB. BBB helps resolve disputes with the services or products a business provides.

www.bbb.org

 

[LannyPC]

While the Westgate exit option costs $3000, it seems that is cheaper than what it seems they plan to do. Continue paying maintenance fees for years will be more expensive than the $3000. I get it, $3000 sucks. The alternative is to default which is free.

Unfortunately, some of these exit companies use what you just said as a selling point or counter point. Or they try to use a scare tactic (eg., "Your credit will be ruined.") to justify the $3000 charge.

 

[ellie1951]

I got to the point where I could not afford my three Marriott timeshares. The fees doulbed and there was special assessments for plumbing. I informed Marriott that I could not pay anymore and they gave me options that were unaffordable. I let them default, it does NOT hurt your credit ( I actually went through a wonderful lawyer with Marriott that gave me this advice. I had three of them and it broke my heart to let them go as I loved going. They end up putting a notice in the city it was recorded in and that was it. These timeshare relief companies are a scam.

 

[Cyberc]

I got to the point where I could not afford my three Marriott timeshares. The fees doulbed and there was special assessments for plumbing. I informed Marriott that I could not pay anymore and they gave me options that were unaffordable. I let them default, it does NOT hurt your credit ( I actually went through a wonderful lawyer with Marriott that gave me this advice. I had three of them and it broke my heart to let them go as I loved going. They end up putting a notice in the city it was recorded in and that was it. These timeshare relief companies are a scam.

Sorry you lost your timeshares.

What would have happened if you also had owned other TS in other systems in Florida would they have been lost too?

 

[dioxide45]

Sorry you lost your timeshares.

What would have happened if you also had owned other TS in other systems in Florida would they have been lost too?

I think the timeshare they owned and are referring to is Maui Ocean Club in Hawaii. It is the property that needed an assessment to cover plumbing work.

 

[Cyberc]

I think the timeshare they owned and are referring to is Maui Ocean Club in Hawaii. It is the property that needed an assessment to cover plumbing work.

Thanks for clarifying

 

[Brerrabbit]

While the Westgate exit option costs $3000, it seems that is cheaper than what it seems they plan to do. Continue paying maintenance fees for years will be more expensive than the $3000. I get it, $3000 sucks. The alternative is to default which is free.

I defaulted on mine, and they foreclosed on it, and it is gone. That was back in about 2007.

I would like to see these rip-off timeshare exit scam operators get nice long vacations in a government operated room and board facility. Or maybe see somebody start putting contracts out on them.

I think if it was up to me, I would outlaw timeshares completely.

 

[LannyPC]

I think if it was up to me, I would outlaw timeshares completely.

I get what you are saying but, remember, this forum is called Timeshare Users Group. There are a number of contented TS owners out there and love their TSs. The many scams that abound in this industry shouldn't take away the enjoyment many owners have. Besides, if TSs were to be outlawed, whatever replaces them as vacation accommodations would probably end up with a lot of scams.

 

[billymach4]

I defaulted on mine, and they foreclosed on it, and it is gone. That was back in about 2007.

I would like to see these rip-off timeshare exit scam operators get nice long vacations in a government operated room and board facility. Or maybe see somebody start putting contracts out on them.

I think if it was up to me, I would outlaw timeshares completely.

There are scams of everything these days. If not timeshare then crypto, Microsoft, Google, pig butcher, cat fishing. And the beat goes on.