Cold Call Story

[Bwolf]

Yesterday, someone from Bradenton, Florida, left a message asking about selling my timeshare. The person didn't say which one. Also, I'm not sure how he got my home number when I use my cell for timeshare related matters.

I called, thinking I'd hear the spiel and then say no. I did, and I did, and he swore at me and hung-up. My wife heard it thirty feet away. Apparently, telling him I wouldn't pay an up-front fee company upset him.

I called back and asked to speak to his supervisor. The lady who answered the phone said she couldn't find his supervisor, but she was a supervisor, could she help? So, I told her what he told me. She said, "Excuse me?" and I told her that was exactly what he told me and my wife heard it. She said she'd have someone call me right back. The "owner" called back and asked what I wanted him to do. I said firing the guy sounded good to me.

Long story short, the guy is supposed to call tomorrow and apologize. I'm not holding my breath.

I did ask the "owner" if he had heard of TUG. He said yes and they'd probably taken my money and I never heard back from them. I said no, it is a group of Timeshare owners and their advice is never to pay an up-front fee company. He had no response.

Lesson: Don't return cold calls, especially if they originate in Bradenton, Florida.

 

[aka Julie]

A couple weeks ago I got a cold call from Bradenton also. Asked if I was interested in selling or renting my timeshares. Thought I'd play along for a bit and asked which ones since I own 3 weeks. He said Marriotts, and I said which ones again. Ultimately I told him I have no interest and ended the conversation.

I too wonder where he got my number, although which so much information public, it's probably not hard to get this kind of info.

 

[Kola]

I have had at least one such cold call every month asking if I wanted to sell or rent my timeshares. My answer was always short and simple : NO. Most calls, but not all, originate from Florida. As to where did they get my phone number my guess is that one way or another they get the names of owners from resort developers. One can only speculate how some underpaid staff members with access to resort ownership records may use this information to maximize their income. Is such practice illegal ? I don't know, but it would be very hard to prove if you wanted to dispute it.

K.