Scam or real service?

[CaptDave]

Hi. I'm new here and may not be posting this in the right place, but... I recieved a call from a company called Timeshare Financial Services, offering to help get money back from companies that scammed me for timeshare resales. They SOUND legit (but so did all the scammers) and they want a fee upfront, which raises a red flag. Has anyone had any experience with them? Thanks in advance!

Dave

 

[ricoba]

SCAM - SCAM - SCAM

NEVER EVER PAY AN UPFRONT FEE TO SELL YOUR TIMESHARE

"Be afraid, be very afraid!"

By the way, welcome to TUG.

 

[CaptDave]

In this case it is not a fee to sell the timeshare, rather a fee to attempt to recover money already spent on a resale scam. Maybe the same thing, maybe not.

 

[DeniseM]

Welcome to TUG!

Your instincts are good! ANY company that charges a large upfront fee is a scam.

Please consider giving it away to a private individual who can use it, before you spend a cent with a company like this.

There are two places on TUG where you can give away your TS's for free (no charge for the Ads.) There are other cheap and free sites on the internet, as well.

TUG Marketplace - the only cost is your TUG membership - $15 (List it for $1 and it will automatically go in the Bargain Basement Ads.)

Bargain Deals - Totally FREE! - just write a simple post with all the pertinent info. In your post, include the following info.:

-resort name
-unit size
-season owned
-maintenance fee
-current reservations​

To make it more attractive I would:

1) Pay 2010 maintenance fees

2) Pay for the title transfer (you can get a simple professional transfer for about $100) I've used this licensed document Prep. company and the owner is a Tugger. - Note, this is my personal recommendation, not as a representative of TUG.

3) Reserve a popular holiday week in 2010 for the new owner​

Good luck!

 

[CaptDave]

OK, I guess my original message wasn't clear. Over the past two years, I have been the victim of several timeshare resale scams for total of about $4000. I have subsequently disposed of my timeshare (I actually gave it back to Vistana). This company has offered services to try to recover some of the $4000 I have paid to the resale scams. They charge a fee of 20% of the original amount, but apparently want it up from to cover their costs. So far I have not found anything negative about them in my search, but I'm not sure that means anything, so I am looking for anyone with experience with Timesdhare Financial Recovery, good or bad. Thanks!

Dave

 

[Kola29]

OK, I guess my original message wasn't clear. Over the past two years, I have been the victim of several timeshare resale scams for total of about $4000. I have subsequently disposed of my timeshare (I actually gave it back to Vistana).
Dave

What is very strange is how could they possibly recover anything if you legally gave your week back to Vistana ? You must have signed off your rights, period. Case closed.

K.

 

[timeos2]

Once paid all incentive to do the work is gone

OK, I guess my original message wasn't clear. Over the past two years, I have been the victim of several timeshare resale scams for total of about $4000. I have subsequently disposed of my timeshare (I actually gave it back to Vistana). This company has offered services to try to recover some of the $4000 I have paid to the resale scams. They charge a fee of 20% of the original amount, but apparently want it up from to cover their costs. So far I have not found anything negative about them in my search, but I'm not sure that means anything, so I am looking for anyone with experience with Timesdhare Financial Recovery, good or bad. Thanks!

Dave

Even IF they did the service they claim to offer it is not a good deal for you. Unlike most cases where a law firm takes on a client they have no risk - you are paying them upfront on the chance they will obtain something back. Usually the firm takes the risk by putting the time in and only getting paid if they successfully recover. The only guarantee here is YOU would be out the upfront fee while they have little to no incentive to actually put much effort into it as they already got paid (just like the upfront fee sales companies they claim to be going after).

Don't get taken again. Do not give them any money. If they are willing to work on contingency then the risk is shared and success would get you all money back. That's the ONLY way I'd even consider it. You should not have to shoulder all the risk and fund the "project".

 

[CaptDave]

What is very strange is how could they possibly recover anything if you legally gave your week back to Vistana ? You must have signed off your rights, period. Case closed.

K.

One more try: I am NOT trying to get anything back from Vistana. I am trying to recover the listing fee that I paid to several marketing companies to sell my timeshare (before I gave it back). They would, in theory, try to get money back form (for example) Creative Vacation Solutions, who charged me for a service that was never provided.

 

[esk444]

These recovery firms are just former listing fee scammers getting a second bite of the apple. Don't expect them to anything more than write a letter to resale company demanding a refund and maybe a letter to the FTC or state attorney general, if that. Then say good by to your $500 or more.

 

[glypnirsgirl]

It occurs to me that this firm is attempting to practice law without a license to do so. Did anyone say that they are a law firm? That they hire attorneys?

Attorneys DO HAVE AN INCENTIVE to do what they charge for, they can lose their license for doing the activity for which they are paid.

So, if it is a law firm attempting to recover funds, to me, it is reasonable that they would want a small retainer for their services. If they are not a law firm, FORGET IT!

elaine

 

[DeniseM]

One more try: I am NOT trying to get anything back from Vistana. I am trying to recover the listing fee that I paid to several marketing companies to sell my timeshare (before I gave it back). They would, in theory, try to get money back form (for example) Creative Vacation Solutions, who charged me for a service that was never provided.

Take a step back and think about this - you have already lost several thousand dollars to people who called you on the phone and made empty promises. Do you really want to throw good money after bad?

These companies spring up overnight like mushrooms on a dung pile - just because you can't find out anything bad about them, doesn't make this a legitimate offer - Don't do it!

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

This is just the latest twist concocted by these upfront fee folks to scam people out of money.

Many of these companies are operated by people who previously were upfront fee scammers. They take the list of names of people who were scammed the first time, then call those people asking for a fee to recover money that they themselves collected originally!!!

IIRC - in one recent cast investigated by a state attorney generals office, somebody was running an upfront fee listing operation and an upfront fee recovery service from the same offices!

 

[theo]

Same answer, slightly different perspective...

I am NOT trying to get anything back from Vistana. I am trying to recover the listing fee that I paid to several marketing companies to sell my timeshare (before I gave it back). They would, in theory, try to get money back form (for example) Creative Vacation Solutions, who charged me for a service that was never provided.

I understand the distinction you're making, but I've never (i.e., not once) heard of anyone successfully recovering fees paid out to any of these opportunistic "upfront fee" marketing / advertising parasites.

Fyi, Creative Vacation Solutions is one of the entities currently in the crosshairs of the Florida Attorney General investigations. Rather than paying some upfront parasite money, to no productive end, why not instead file a (no cost to you) complaint with the Florida AG? Frankly, I'd be willing to bet that the chances of financial recovery are slim even via the AG investigations, but who knows? On the other hand, the chances of recovery are exactly ZERO via any upfront fee (alleged) "recovery" outfit.