Anyone with Experience Renting RCI Weeks Through Corporate Travel Agencies? (Specifically VacationsNearMe.com)

[srib]

Hi everyone,

I'm seeking information about VacationsNearMe.com, a company claiming to specialize in renting RCI weeks to corporate clients. They cold-called me recently with a surprising offer: they claim they can rent my available weeks for over $1600 each! However, they require a $500 per week upfront advertising fee. What's strange is they seemed to know almost exactly how many weeks I have available.

This upfront fee structure, combined with their limited online presence (they say it's due to their focus on corporate sales), has me feeling cautious. I'm having trouble finding any reviews or independent information about their services.

If you have experience with corporate travel or RCI rentals, especially if you've worked with VacationsNearMe.com or a similar agency, I'd greatly appreciate your insights.

Here are some specific questions I have:

• Have you used VacationsNearMe.com or a similar corporate-focused travel agency to rent your RCI weeks?
• What were your experiences with their services, including their fee structure?
• Did they achieve the promised rental rates?
• Were there any issues with fees, contracts, or communication?
• Did they also contact you via cold call?

Any information you can provide would be very helpful!

Thanks,
Sri

 

[Janann]

There are two big red flags:
1. It is a violation of RCI's rules to rent out an exchange. That being said, many people do it anyway without getting caught.
2. The rental agency requires an upfront fee of $500.

If this company provided a real service, we would all be signing up.

 

[DeniseM]

This is a common SCAM!

 

[SmithOp]

Run Forest Run, it's a scam.

 

[stmartinfan]

This is a scam that's been around a while. My husband and I both worked for several large companies in our careers and I can't think of an example of the kind of corporate event or travel situation that would have a company turning to a timeshare rental agency. It's just not a practical approach they would take for business trips, corporate retreats or even prize trips for top employees.

 

[RX8]

SCAM!

An old scam, they keep popping up because people keep falling for them. It is all lies. They are not renting to corporations. They do not attend corporate events. They do nothing but collect upfront fees to steal your money. Below is a thread that is similar to your scam.

[ 2012 ] RCI Bonus Weeks [ Cannot be rented - this is a scam ]

I just got a call from Mike at Premium Timeshare Exchange asking if I was interested in renting out any of my 3 RCI bonus weeks that I have that expire at the end of the year. I am not aware that I have any bonus weeks in RCI. I certainly can't see them in my account. I suspect that this is some...

tugbbs.com

By the way, their website was created about two years ago. One thing scammers will do, and it is a shock, is that they will lie about things on their website. Note their website below and a similar scam website (they may be the same scammer). Check out “Shannon’s” testimonial at the bottom of the pages. They are exact except for the name of the company, obviously a fake and made up testimonial. Edited: In looking at the other testimonials (googling the verbiage), they too were originally for My Points Unlimited. It appears that these two scammers are related.

Vacations Near Me - Find your perfect stay

A trusted industry leader, Vacations Near Me provides our clients with immediate access to the world’s best resorts and exclusive incentives

vacationsnearme.com

Points Unlimited

mypointsunlimited.com

https://www.bbb.org/us/fl/deland/profile/point-of-sale-systems/my-points-unlimited-0733-235963296

 

[srib]

I am not aware that RCI weeks can’t be rented out. Good to know. Can we give them away to friends, or donate them for a charity?

 

[Janann]

I am not aware that RCI weeks can’t be rented out. Good to know. Can we give them away to friends, or donate them for a charity?

Yes.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Scamma Ramma Ding Dong.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA​

 

[TUGBrian]

one of the most common scams today. noone legitimate makes cold calls to owners. just scammers.

 

[Jorgy55]

I think we were just taken by some scammers ("Priority Vacation Rentals") for almost $2400! They "guarantee" we'll get our money back in "60-90" days or get even more when they rent it out . (we're on day 75!). I hope it's not true (that they are scammers) but I'm getting REALLY nervous about this whole situation!

 

[WorldT]

I think we were just taken by some scammers ("Priority Vacation Rentals") for almost $2400! They "guarantee" we'll get our money back or get even more if they rent out in "60-90" days. (we're on day 75!). I hope it's not true (that they are scammers) but I'm getting REALLY nervous about this whole situation!

Scam @Jorgy55 . Nothing else

 

[WorldT]

I am not aware that RCI weeks can’t be rented out. Good to know. Can we give them away to friends, or donate them for a charity?

You can give it to a friend or family member. Donating to charity is a little murky.

 

[Jorgy55]

Scam @Jorgy55 . Nothing else

So has ANYBODY ever gotten their money back/out of a deal like this? If not, then what they are doing is ILLEGAL and we could pursue a lawsuit, right?

 

[Hindsite]

I think we were just taken by some scammers ("Priority Vacation Rentals") for almost $2400! They "guarantee" we'll get our money back in "60-90" days or get even more when they rent it out . (we're on day 75!). I hope it's not true (that they are scammers) but I'm getting REALLY nervous about this whole situation!

If you paid by credit card, see if you can dispute the charge. All the best

 

[Hindsite]

So has ANYBODY ever gotten their money back/out of a deal like this? If not, then what they are doing is ILLEGAL and we could pursue a lawsuit, right?

Did you read the documentation they provided, it could be that you agreed to them marketing for you and there was no guarantee actually provided under the contract.
You could contact your state Attorney General office to see if they can help or at least report the issue.

 

[Janann]

So has ANYBODY ever gotten their money back/out of a deal like this? If not, then what they are doing is ILLEGAL and we could pursue a lawsuit, right?

Sure, you can pursue a lawsuit. The hard part is finding an attorney who will work for only a small payout on contingency. To make things worse, the "rental" company will probably be dissolved by the time the lawsuit is filed.

 

[VacationForever]

You won't find them. Most of these timeshare scams are run by Mexican drug cartels.

 

[Passepartout]

You won't find them. Most of these timeshare scams are run by Mexican drug cartels.

So has ANYBODY ever gotten their money back/out of a deal like this? If not, then what they are doing is ILLEGAL and we could pursue a lawsuit, right?

Nobody that we ever heard of or from. We hope that the money you paid these shysters doesn't wreck your Christmas or retirement like so many timeshare scams have. Feel free to report them to your state's Attorney General, but don't expect to see any refund or jail for the perps. By now, they've changed their name and scammed more TS owners.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

So has ANYBODY ever gotten their money back/out of a deal like this? If not, then what they are doing is ILLEGAL and we could pursue a lawsuit, right?

Sadly the money is likely no longer in the USA......







.

 

[RX8]

I think we were just taken by some scammers ("Priority Vacation Rentals") for almost $2400! They "guarantee" we'll get our money back in "60-90" days or get even more when they rent it out . (we're on day 75!). I hope it's not true (that they are scammers) but I'm getting REALLY nervous about this whole situation!

So sorry that you did not ask TUG before paying them money. The sad news is that they are a scam. They are using one of the oldest tricks by cold calling and claiming they will rent your “unused” or getaway timeshare weeks for a profit. They may have told you too that they have corporations looking to rent those weeks. There are no legitimate timeshare companies that will cold call and promise to make you money.

Their website is full of lies too. They claim to be 25 years in business, that they have 600 corporate clients they do business with, that they have 2500 properties marketed, and have 18,000 successful rentals…all lies. Fact is their website was created July 2022 and were incorporated in Florida in February 2023. The incorporator is Abel Ortega.

As another has posted, your best option at this time is to file a complaint with the Florida Attorney General. The link is below. I suggest also filing a complaint with your own state’s Attorney General office. Also, file a dispute with your credit card even if it is past the deadline to do so. If it were me, I would file a police report too.

They are rated an F with the BBB. https://www.bbb.org/us/fl/longwood/.../priority-vacation-rentals-inc-0733-235961406

File the Florida AG complaint here

File A Complaint | My Florida Legal

www.myfloridalegal.com

 

[ashwinbijani]

So sorry that you did not ask TUG before paying them money. The sad news is that they are a scam. They are using one of the oldest tricks by cold calling and claiming they will rent your “unused” or getaway timeshare weeks for a profit. They may have told you too that they have corporations looking to rent those weeks. There are no legitimate timeshare companies that will cold call and promise to make you money.

Their website is full of lies too. They claim to be 25 years in business, that they have 600 corporate clients they do business with, that they have 2500 properties marketed, and have 18,000 successful rentals…all lies. Fact is their website was created July 2022 and were incorporated in Florida in February 2023. The incorporator is Abel Ortega.

As another has posted, your best option at this time is to file a complaint with the Florida Attorney General. The link is below. I suggest also filing a complaint with your own state’s Attorney General office. Also, file a dispute with your credit card even if it is past the deadline to do so. If it were me, I would file a police report too.

They are rated an F with the BBB. https://www.bbb.org/us/fl/longwood/.../priority-vacation-rentals-inc-0733-235961406

File the Florida AG complaint here

File A Complaint | My Florida Legal

www.myfloridalegal.com

Hi. We also got scammed with Priority Vacation Rental. We tried to cancel it within 10 days and asked for refund, but their sales tactics were so bad, we got into it.
Already filed with BBB, Florida State Attorney general. We live in CA, so should we also file anything in California?
Also, where to file a police complaint?
I will request a fraud on my credit card charge.
In all honesty - Is the money gone and no way to recover?

 

[Janann]

I will request a fraud on my credit card charge.

How long has it been since the transaction posted? If it has been more than 60 days since your credit card statement was issued, then it is too late to request a charge reversal.

I doubt if it is worth the trouble to file a complaint with the local police department in either California or Florida.

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

I will request a fraud on my credit card charge.
In all honesty - Is the money gone and no way to recover?

Depending on your CC, they will most likely refund the $. But, it depends on how long the CC reporting period is.

TS

 

[WorldT]

Hi. We also got scammed with Priority Vacation Rental. We tried to cancel it within 10 days and asked for refund, but their sales tactics were so bad, we got into it.
Already filed with BBB, Florida State Attorney general. We live in CA, so should we also file anything in California?
Also, where to file a police complaint?
I will request a fraud on my credit card charge.
In all honesty - Is the money gone and no way to recover?

Some credit cards go up to 90 days to request a charge back. Check to see if you are within the window. Even if you are outside the window, you can still try to request a reversal especially if you can show evidence of fraud.