[2009] ? about Transfer Smart

[hal5rita]

I have 3 TS units, of which I am wanting to sell 2. I have just been contacted by a company named "Transfer Smart, Inc." Has anyone heard of them and what do you know about them? Most anxious.

 

[arc918]

if they want you to pay them lots of money up front, DON'T DO IT...

 

[Bill4728]

Here is some great general advice about companies which want to sell your TS for you:

Originally Posted by DeniseM
If they are asking you for an upfront fee - RUN, don't walk away from this deal!

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) Are they offering to rent/sell it for far more than the market value?
3) Do they want you to pay a large up front fee?
4) Are they refusing to send you a contract until you pay their fee?

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 the 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 and they no longer have a renter/buyer, 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 challenge it with your credit card company, they will tell you the same thing.

Please see the article at the top of the Buying, Selling, Renting page entitled "How to Sell Your Timeshare," for more info.

Good luck!

 

[uuwhale]

I have 3 TS units, of which I am wanting to sell 2. I have just been contacted by a company named "Transfer Smart, Inc." Has anyone heard of them and what do you know about them? Most anxious.

I received a piece of mail from Transfer Smart today (Sept. 23) saying they can get me out of the timeshares I don't want--guaranteed--no listing fee, no advertising fee, no appraisal fee. They say they are not a listing agency, but have gotten 40,000 people out of their timeshares in the last 10 years. They have an "approved" list of timeshares that you have to be on. I am going to a meeting with them on October 5 in Morrisville, NC and will report back afterwards, but I'd like to know if anyone has any experience with them.

uuwhale

 

[BevL]

Here's some good advice in a thread that asked exactly the same question:

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105717&highlight="Transfer+Smart"

No harm in going but be prepared that they will offer to take your week off your hands for a fee. Likely they have a list of resorts and weeks they will accept because they want stuff they can flip on Ebay for a profit - they win both ways.

I could certainly be wrong, but I haven't really heard of that many altruistic timeshare salesmen - resale or retail.

 

[Rent_Share]

Googling

This thread is number 1 under the paid ads - Which is why it is good encourage these threads by business name


Here is the URL

Looks like the typical PCC type operation


http: //transfersmartnow.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=39&Itemid=129

 

[carl2591]

THIS IS SCAM to steal your money.

Here's a bit of info from the website..


<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
After eight years of failing to sell her mom’s Timeshares through the different outlets, Linda finally figured it out. That is when she decided to start Transfer Smart. The goal is to provide a hassle free way to help people get rid of their Timeshares. “I knew that I could help people because I understand the challenges people go through with their Timeshares. Our clients will never receive another Timeshare assessment or maintenance fee bill.”

Transfer Smart has the expertise and credibility in freeing families of the obligation of their Timeshare contracts. Along with our affiliated company, we have helped over 40,000 families get out of their timeshare contracts in the past 5 years. Our affiliated company is the undisputed industry leader.

Transfer Smart guarantees results. We are ready to help you Transfer Smart!

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


here's About Us, info on the website. the website has only been up for 2 months.. ???? they been in business for 5 yrs.. not under this name. SCAM..

Registered through: OnlineOnlandDomains.com
Domain Name: TRANSFERSMARTNOW.COM
Created on: 04-Aug-09
Expires on: 04-Aug-11
Last Updated on: 05-Aug-09


they are lying from the get go it look like..

just another POS post card company trying to steal money from hurting timeshare owners.. the world is full of this type of low life scum sucking companies..

If you go to the cattle call be prepared to get a lot of pressure to transfer your timeshare and there will a fee somewhere.. mark my words they are not in this to pickup you worthless timeshare, they only want to get your money./..


UPDATE...

Just did a bit of searching and what did I find..
1. Terry Reece of TransferSmartNow.com
and
2 Bill Bunning of TransferSmartNow.com
and
3. Dianna Walls of TransferSmartNow.com

and maybe others are also listing on
TimeShareRelief website as well..
http://www.timesharerelief.com/ourteam/8/

Seems like TransferSmartNow is a pocket company for timeshare relief which as everyone knows is a BIG SCAM company

So the morel of this story is STAY AWAY ITS A SCAM COMPANY.. just under a different name or with a different front end .. formed in aug due to fact timeshare relief has such a bad rap and easy to find online..

SPREAD THE WORD..

 

[houzaizi]

i findsomegood advice here

 

[Chris Rose]

Timeshare Relief - Reality Check

Hi,

I went to the Better Business Bureau and searched for Timeshare Relief Inc.

Timeshare Relief, Inc. has an 'A' Excellent Rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Here is a link to the report
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Timeshare-Relief-Inc-100008554

Scam companies are not rated excellent with the Better Business Bureau.

I think this forum is full of timeshare salesmen pretending to be timeshare owners. It's hard to know what to believe.

 

[carl2591]

just crawl out from under a rock to tell us that..

WOW.. they are "A" rated at BBB.. that a oxymoron

I rate the BBB on the same level as timeshare salesman.. worthless

been there done that... they are a waste of money.

 

[Rent_Share]

Hi,
I think this forum is full of timeshare salesmen pretending to be timeshare owners. It's hard to know what to believe.

Could you be:

Chris Bodig, Transfer Smart Executive Consultant

BTW why are you listed on the Timeshare Relief Website ?
​

Yah your probably right

Everyone on this forum advocates buying developer sales and advises against purchasing in the secondary market

You have exposed a gaggle of Shills for the developer

 

[dap08]

Carl, I am not affiliated with timeshare relief, nor do i speak for them.

From what i understand this is what you say it is, an offbranch of timeshare relief.
The statement that they have been in business for 5 yrs simply means they have 5 yrs experience in this business. Call them and ask, i dont think they are hiding the fact.

I take it personally when someone calls someone i know a scam.

I would challenge you to find someone who would tell you in person that timeshare relief is a scam company and have something to back it up with. You can believe all the hype you want on the internet. But its people like you who fly off the cuff and say things that give companies a bad name in the first place. You said you know that timeshare relief is a scam, I say put up the facts!

They provide a service for people who need to get out of a timeshare. If you provide a service for someone, wouldnt you expect to get paid?

I totally understand why anyone would be concerned about a company that is in the timeshare industry. First they feel like they were conned into the timeshare and then they think everyone in the industry is crooked.

If you would like to message me, i would be willing to talk to you in person about the character and integrity of some of the people who work there.

I hope that i have not offended you, i understand people's frustration, these are trying times. Sometimes you have to trust people, and that is a hard thing to do in the timeshare industry.



Also Carl i noticed in one of your other posts the following.

we used to "poach" all the time in Myrtle Beach.. This was during the early 80's when I was in OPC (off property contact) business for a couple of timeshare resorts in MB. We had locations at various places in MB like restaurants, pancake house, tourist attractions and t-shirt sale places on the strip..


So you are quite aware of how people get roped into these things in the first place.
By People such as yourself!

 

[Bill4728]

Carl, I am not affiliated with timeshare relief, nor do i speak for them.

From what i understand this is what you say it is, an offbranch of timeshare relief.
The statement that they have been in business for 5 yrs simply means they have 5 yrs experience in this business. Call them and ask, i dont think they are hiding the fact.

I take it personally when someone calls someone i know a scam.

I would challenge you to find someone who would tell you in person that timeshare relief is a scam company and have something to back it up with. You can believe all the hype you want on the internet. But its people like you who fly off the cuff and say things that give companies a bad name in the first place. You said you know that timeshare relief is a scam, I say put up the facts!

They provide a service for people who need to get out of a timeshare. If you provide a service for someone, wouldnt you expect to get paid?

I totally understand why anyone would be concerned about a company that is in the timeshare industry. First they feel like they were conned into the timeshare and then they think everyone in the industry is crooked.

If you would like to message me, i would be willing to talk to you in person about the character and integrity of some of the people who work there.

I hope that i have not offended you, i understand people's frustration, these are trying times. Sometimes you have to trust people, and that is a hard thing to do in the timeshare industry.

On this website, you'll find tons of posters who will call the PostCard Companies (PCC) like Timeshare Relief (TR) a "scam company" Not because they are the classic "Scam Company" BUT IMHO because PCC do their business in a way that is full of half truths/lies.

The PCC in general, tell people that
-The PCC say "they'll take your TS off your hands" when in fact, they just get you to sign a power of attorney so they can sell it. (Often at a huge profit). If they can't sell it quickly, some of the PCC will take title to the TS ( I believe that TR is one PCC that does take title) but many of the PCC don't ever take title. They keep trying to sell the TS, and if it takes 1 year to find a seller, your TS is still your TS and has not been "taken off your hands"
-the PCC says "you can't sell your TS", when in fact, they do just that. (But often through a "sister" company.) In fact, the PCC may be the biggest sellers of TS on Ebay

So your friend at TR isn't a classic "scam company", but their business practices are based almost completely on half truths that they tell at their "sales presentations" are, IMHO, completely slimy.

 

[Rent_Share]

So your friend at TR isn't a classic "scam company", but their business practices are based almost completely on half truths that they tell at their "sales presentations" are, IMHO, completely slimy.

Perhaps the moderators can correct the future posts to anther S word

Slimey
Sleazy
Suspect
Shady
Shifty
Sinister
Slippery
Sneaky
Swindling

We should all make a point to be more precise in our responses and not use the SCAM term but a more accurate description such as one of the selection listed above

 

[pappy123]

Transfer Smart, Inc.

I have an appointment tomorrow but am thinking that this is another way to get $. I went to the BBB in Nevada and they said the business start date for Transfer Smart was in 2008 SO how have they helped 40,000 folks? Not sure if I will actually go to this or not.

 

[pappy123]

Transfer Smart

I looked on the Time Share Relief web page and saw that Chris Bodig is an employee and listed as a "consultant" for Transfer Smart. I WILL NOT be attending the meeting-Again, when you can't get any information up-front from a company about what they do, it makes me suspicious.

 

[Dave H]

The statement that they have been in business for 5 yrs simply means they have 5 yrs experience in this business. Call them and ask, i dont think they are hiding the fact.

Wow, I never would have thought that being in business for 5 years meant that I had 5 years experience. So using that logic, my staff has about 50 or 60 years experience in the timeshare industry, so that would mean my company could advertise it has been in business 50 years, which would be longer than timeshares have been around..... interesting concept

Dave

 

[Kauai Kid]

Got their envelope (not a postcard) with presorted standard postage on it with a return address of 2241 W. 190th Street Suite 100 Torrance, CA 90504

Wow, they will pay my 2011 maintenance fees and want me to bring my spouse, deed, and maintenance fee bill is possible.

I think it is a front for the California Governor trying to bail out the State Bankruptcy.

Sterling

:hysterical:

 

[TigerTitan]

I went to their seminar in Nashville about a month ago (Aug. 2010) and after checking them on on the BBB website and reading numerous testimonials, checking other articles in news magazines and message boards, I found mostly positive and INFORMED comments. I met Linda Skidmore and her husband personally, who started this company. They shared their personal stories of how both of them and even her own mother were unable to get rid of their unwanted timeshare condos and were victims of scams that promised a quick sale and nice profits. In no way did I ever feel any pressure to agree to anything right then and there. In fact, they encouraged me to do all the investigative work I wanted on them and that regardless of how long I choose to wait, their offer (and charges) will stand.

This is what I learned at the meeting: They use Timeshare Relief as the Transfer Agent to transfer my name off the deed of trust. The resort where the unit is will charge a Developer Transfer Fee that must be paid. There also also closing and legal fees. A Third Party Acceptance corporation will take ownership of the property upon court approval. They say right up front that, in reality, you are paying them to take your timeshare property. They know how to get rid of it and make money on it better than you do. They can capitalize on the large quantities of resort units they own and negotiate with resorts to buy them back. It's a win-win-win situation, the way I see it.

They are listed with the BBB as having started in 2008. Transfer Smart is their new company name for which they began marketing their services nationwide when they Timeshare Relief began to enjoy success locally and primarily in California and Florida. Timeshare Relief (also rated A-), started in 2005.

I did not make a decision at the meeting to pay the four-digit sum for them to remove me from my ownership of my timeshare unit. Instead, I sat down and did my own research online. I submitted all the documents and agreements to my lawyer and he reviewed and gave me confidence that they are doing what they say they are going do in the correct and legal way. I will, in fact, be removed from the deed of trust for my unit once the legal work is filed. Thus, I am no longer responsible for my annual maintenance fee. (I use Pre-Paid Legal Services and they are familiar with this organization. The local attorney said they have not had to pursue any legal action against this company for clients in my area.)

I plan to proceed with this agreement and pay them the equivalent of about 6.5 years of maintenance fees by credit card, which I can reverse if they fail to perform the services agreed.

I have confidence that this service will serve my purposes and remove me as the owner and absolve me of any legal or financial obligations attached to my unit, which I have owned for 24 years.

I will share my experience here on this thread after the work is hopefully done and done properly and to my satisfaction.

I couldn't care less HOW MUCH MONEY the new owner makes (if any) if and when they can re-sell it again. I will have the pleasure of not having to worry about paying the outrageous maintenance fee starting this January 2011!

Riley

 

[DeniseM]

Tigertitan - Have you made a concerted effort to give this week away for free and save yourself a lot of money? I would not pay anyone a cent to "take it off your hands," until you try to give it away to some individual who may want it.

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 (not ask for reimbursement]

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 or 2011 for the new owner​

Good luck!

 

[TigerTitan]

Thank you, Denise.

No, I have not considered nor did I realize this was possible. I only found this website recently and probably should have spent more time looking for information on this.

I haven't spent a dime just yet, but I will take your advice and look into those links you recommended.

Many thanks!

 

[Rent_Share]

A Third Party Acceptance corporation will take ownership of the property upon court approval.
Riley

This seems ambiguous - the only reason court approval would be needed would be if the ownership property being sold (held week) was in propate or bankruptcy.

Be very carefull of the type of transfer document - If it as not a grant deed to the "acceptance coporation" run

a Power of Attorney will not berecorded until the property is resold.

IMHO - "Prepaid Legal" is another Multi Level Marketing Scam perpetuated by the Amway clones

6.5 Times the maintenance fee seem outrageous - you should be able to find a taker for a fraction of that cost

 

[LannyPC]

Tiger Titan, you do realize that, when someone comes on these boards with only 1 or two posts touting the benefits of one of these suspected post card companies (PCCs), others on these forums suspect that person as a shill.

Anyway, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for now that your actively looking for a legitimate company to sell and/or relieve you of your timeshare. As for 6.5 years' maintenance fees, why not just pay those fees over the next 6 years instead of all of it now? During those 6+ years, you can try to give it away as Moderator Denise suggested.

Also, if you can't give it away, try renting it out for some money to try to alleviate your MFs. Who knows, in 6+ years, you may even want to take a vacation yourself. There are free exchange options on TUG.

Do you have special friends or relatives for whom you're looking to buy a gift? How about giving them a week's vacation at your TS unit?

Simply put, there are more practical ways to spend 6+ years of MFs than handing the money over to some PCC that may not even do what you're paying them to do.

 

[TigerTitan]

Here's my update since my last post. I apologize to those who offered some great advice on this thread and am happy to announce that I did not 'pull the trigger' with Transfer Smart back in August 2010. I got so incredibly busy with my work the last four months of the year, that I never had time to pursue any other option other than pay the MF for another year!

Denise and Lanny, I appreciate your input and advice. I can assure you that I am a real individual timeshare owner and have no hidden agenda. The frustrating thing for me is I own a Blue week (2nd week of Jan.) in a remote resort in middle Tennessee. I own pretty much THE worst week of the year for anyone to want to take a vacation. I fully intended to 'buy up' to a better week and maybe a larger unit, but never did. Finances were difficult in the early years and now after going thru a divorce, I still can't substantiate paying the member fees with RCI to bank and use the week somewhere else for my own personal use.

A lawyer friend of mine offered to help me do all the things Transfer Smart does and save money. I will pursue Denise's suggestion and try to find someone to give this to and go from there.

 

[wwilber]

transfer smart ????

In July of 2010 I paid Time share Smart approximately $4500.00 ( less $908.00 which I had to pay to Wyndham for the yearly charges) to get out of this timeshare. Wyndham are liars etc. I was told that in approximately 3 months I would be out of it. IT IS NOW A YEAR LATER AND I STILL HAVE IT. Originally I gave them all required documents etc. and CHICAGO TITLE was supposed to handle the transfer. Chicago Title gave me more stories than Grimms Fairly Tales. I have now been turned over to a new outfit.
I have on occasion tried to contact transfer smart but no reply.