Is there anyone experienced SMTN's Maintenance fee protection program?

[Jason Lee]

Did SMTN really provide a valuation of the OPs timeshare by just agreeing to list it at the price the OP stated?

There were several phone calls and the conversations were so pleasant and smooth, but I think I was naive and too greedy about my Timeshare value. I was easily hooked up by words I really wanted to listen.

 

[Jason Lee]

I had to look up the "maintenance fee protection program". In return for the use of your annual points, SMTN will pay your annual fees. This sounds great but in reality, SMTN will simply take all of the 23,000 points of your very desirable timeshare (but not worth $69,000) and use those points to likely double their money by renting those points. This is a win-win for them because they have your $6600 upfront fee, and they have your 23,000 points to rent out for profit while just paying what an owner pays. They would love to do this year after year, and they will because the timeshare will not sell for $69,000.

Yes that is exactly what I felt. In the end, I just bought the travel cash and then rent my points to the company too. They say they paid for my 2023 2024 2025 points, This year my account has 46000points and next year I will get another 23000. I love traveling US and as I have two children I thought I would travel more with them but reality is after the pandemic years, it has become much more expensive to buy flight tickets to the US than before. After I bought the HGVC, I've never used one point..

 

[Jason Lee]

@Jason Lee I have previously shared my thoughts about timeshare marketing companies before, so I am repeating myself to others. These marketing companies provide unrealistic resale valuations because they know the higher it is, the more likely the timeshare owner will pay the large upfront fee. It doesn't matter to them that the timeshare valuation is grossly overstated or that it will not sell or that the timeshare owner just threw thousands of dollars out the window.

There are two kinds of timeshare marketing companies. The first is the true scammer. Those companies will lie on the phone, usually about claims that they want to rent your RCI or II getaway weeks. They will also lie about the true value of your timeshare and possibly lie that they market to corporations or attend events. This type of marketing company will just lie and do nothing else to market your timeshare with the only exception being a cheap ad on their hard-to-find website. These companies come and go daily looking to cash in on easy money with very little investment, or legal consequences. My guess is that this is 95% of the market. The other type is like Sell My Timeshare Now (SMTN). They have been around a long time, and they do have individualized ads. However, they are still a waste of money. Charging you $6,600 to create a simple timeshare ad that probably takes 10 minutes of their time should be criminal (but it is not). This is just an ad that is lost in the hundreds of other similar ads, an ad that people skip over because the true value is only a fraction of $69,000. It absolutely will not sell.

I am starting to think that all marketing companies, including SMTN, may be on the scam side. I say that because Florida has statutes that marketing companies must comply with. That statute is 721-205. SMTN is an Orlando, Florida based company. What I do not know, and it isn't clear from the statutes, is who exactly must comply with these statutes. It could be all Florida based marketing companies. It could be only those companies soliciting Florida timeshare owners. I do understand that the state of Florida has no authority over out of state companies but I would think that they have power over Florida companies and those that do business with Florida residents. The fact is though that I simply do not know who must comply. This is important because the Florida statute is clear that these marketing companies cannot provide resale valuations. Statute 721-205 section (d) states that the resale marketing company cannot "(d) State or imply to a consumer timeshare reseller that the timeshare interest has a specific resale value." That is exactly what Florida based SMTN has done with you. I have just sent an email to the state of Florida asking for clarification on who must comply with this statute. I will update this thread with the answer. If SMTN is in violation of the Florida statute that would also, in my mind at least, move SMTN directly to the scam category.

Chapter 721 - 2023 Florida Statutes - The Florida Senate

www.flsenate.gov

In the meantime, I would recommend contacting Judy Kozlowski, a respected and longtime HGVC timeshare reseller/broker. She can provide you with a REAL market valuation and discuss your options.

Home | Timeshare Professionals Resale United States

Timeshare Professionals, Inc. has been helping clients purchase timeshare resales for almost 30 years. Licensed real estate professionals helping you with the resale of your timeshare, buying timeshare or renting timeshare. Specializing in Hilton Grand Vacation Club - HGVC.

www.timeshareprofessionals.com

Thank you so much! I really appreciate!

 

[RX8]

Yes that is exactly what I felt. In the end, I just bought the travel cash and then rent my points to the company too. They say they paid for my 2023 2024 2025 points, This year my account has 46000points and next year I will get another 23000. I love traveling US and as I have two children I thought I would travel more with them but reality is after the pandemic years, it has become much more expensive to buy flight tickets to the US than before. After I bought the HGVC, I've never used one point..

SMTN BBB profile is relatively new, which is surprising. I was going to recommend filing a BBB complaint. However, while it won't hurt, I don't think it will result in any positive action as they are rated "F" by the BBB, and they may just not care as they already have the worst rating. Here is one complaint from the BBB that sounds similar to your situation. It seems as if SMTN may be trying to use the owner's reservations under the program they got you to agree too.

I paid this company ******* to sell my timeshare and advertise it but after talking to the Hilton vacation club they told me that they can not get me out of the contract and the reservations they made on my account they cannot use so what they are doing is a scam or illegal they tell you one thing and tell you how much it is worth but it is so inflated that there is no way they could ever sell it

Sellmytimesharenow, LLC | Better Business Bureau® Profile

This organization is not BBB accredited. Timeshare Resale and Rental Marketing in Orlando, FL. See BBB rating, reviews, complaints, & more.

www.bbb.org

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Ah... For me but the problem is I can't expect any protection from US organizations or governmental programs as I am not a citizen of US..

Your citizenship status doesn’t matter if you’re the victim of a crime. That said, prosecutions for this type of thing are unlikely regardless.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

2weeks ago, I made an inquiry of how much my timeshare values to SMTN.com.
I was so happy to hear that and I made a huge mistake to sign the contract of so called 'Maintenance fee reimbursement program'
and paid 6600 USD by credit card. [ corrected amount paid ] The program gives ..... travel cash which can only be used in their online booking system.
In return, they withdraw my point of 2024 and 2025.They uploaded the travel cash into my account .......

And regarding the maintenance fee protection program, is there anyone who experienced this?
I want to know that if getting refund is a hard task, should I just rent my timeshare to them until the end of 2025 and spending the travel cash?

Hi @Jason Lee,@TUGBrian ,@RX8 . and other readers,

I am familiar with a similar program offered by a sister company of SMTN and have used that program .

SMTN is a legitimate company ** and is owned by Vacation Innovations - both have been in business for over 20 years
I am a member of HSI - Advantage Plan [ Holiday Systems International] which was bought by Vacation Innovations in 2020.

I can deposit my Timeshare Week into HSI-Advantage Program and received Travel Cash. I did this 3 times between 2018 and 2022.
The travel cash does not expire ; and can also be used to pay the annual $149 dues of HSI- Advantage Program .

The program has parallels to how exchange companies like RCI - Intervals International - SFX etc, function.
and I chose use them because [ at the time ] I had more TPU's in RCI than I could use within 2 years ; and did not wish to add more and incur additional combine and extend fees.

** [added] This is not an endorsement of some of their business models or practices .

 

[Jason Lee]

Hi @Jason Lee

I am familiar with a similar program offered by a sister company of SMTN and have used that program .

SMTN is a legitimate company and is owned by Vacation Innovations - both have been in business for over 20 years
I am a member of HSI - Advantage Plan [ Holiday Systems International] which was bought by Vacation Innovations in 2020.

I can deposit my Timeshare Week into HSI-Advantage Program and received Travel Cash. I did this 3 times between 2018 and 2022.
The travel cash does not expire ; and can also be used to pay the annual $149 dues of HSI- Advantage Program .

The program has parallels to how exchange companies like RCI - Intervals International - SFX etc, function.
and I choose use them because at the time I had more TPU's in RCI than I could use.

Holiday Systems is the company I wrote the contract for giving my points and receiving the travel cash.

Problem is if I give away my 2025 points to them, who's gonna buy my ownership this year or next year?
I have to wait until 2026, and I paid 6600USD for the program and this is the biggest problem.
Nothing is guaranteed about selling my ownership and I have to pay maintenance fee until 2025, and will have to give my account to SMTN and don't know what they will do with my account.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Holiday Systems is the company I wrote the contract for giving my points and receiving the travel cash.

OK -

Problem is if I give away my 2025 points to them, who's gonna buy my ownership this year or next year?

This is true.

I have to wait until 2026, and I paid 6600USD for the program and this is the biggest problem.
Nothing is guaranteed about selling my ownership and I have to pay maintenance fee until 2025, and will have to give my account to SMTN and don't know what they will do with my account.

Your $6600 is likely "spent money".
In My Opinion - you were not scammed ; but you paid full retail price to a smooth talking salesperson.

I think you would be best to contact Judy Kowslowski as @RX8 suggested.
This will get you real information on the resale value of what you own.
That should help you to evaluate whether to sell - learn how to use or keep depositing into HSI / Holiday Systems. [ You could also deposit into other exchanges ]

 

[WorldT]

Hi @Jason Lee,@TUGBrian ,@RX8 . and other readers,

I am familiar with a similar program offered by a sister company of SMTN and have used that program .

SMTN is a legitimate company and is owned by Vacation Innovations - both have been in business for over 20 years
I am a member of HSI - Advantage Plan [ Holiday Systems International] which was bought by Vacation Innovations in 2020.

I can deposit my Timeshare Week into HSI-Advantage Program and received Travel Cash. I did this 3 times between 2018 and 2022.
The travel cash does not expire ; and can also be used to pay the annual $149 dues of HSI- Advantage Program .

The program has parallels to how exchange companies like RCI - Intervals International - SFX etc, function.
and I choose use them because [ at the time ] I had more TPU's in RCI than I could use within 2 years ; and did not wish to add more and incur
additional combine and extend fees.

While there are some similarities in your case and his case, I am afraid there are some glaring differences.
1. He did not chose to deposit his week. He was trying to get rid of his timeshare. Instead SMTN lied to him, got him to prepay his MF (I am hoping they will actually use the 6600 to pay the MF), and then roped him to deposit his week for an exchange.
2. In order to work him over to be more receptive to the scheme, they lied to him about the value of his timeshare.

If they offered him what you are describing, I wouldn't have a problem with that. RCI and II are not the only exchange systems available. I just have a problem with people being lied to and taken advantage of.

 

[RX8]

@Jason Lee Sorry to say that the state of Florida AG office would not assist me in trying to interpret the Florida statute 721-205. They said I would need to consult an attorney to interpret.

Here are the steps I would take if I was in your shoes and SMTN refused to refund.

(1) file a BBB complaint.
(2) file a complaint with the Florida Attorney General.
(3) File a complaint with Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (they deal with timeshares). Number is (850) 410-3800.
(4) file a complaint with the FTC. Number is (202) 326-2222.

Good luck.

 

[rickandcindy23]

If they are claiming to be experts and told the OP that the TS was worth about $70K, which is patently false, this could amount to criminal fraud, regardless of any contract they signed. It could also amount to financial elder abuse in many states.

I agree.

Too bad we cannot do a thing about all of these lies told via cold calls and let's not forget the lies told at timeshare presentations.

Apparently, the timeshare salespeople do not have to be truthful, as long as they sell. Lie as much as you want, and you will never lose your job.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I just got a call from Holiday something, saying because I stayed at Hilton in the past, I am entitled to a vacation for no cost. I politely said, "No, thank you." The grandkids are here, so I was polite.

 

[TUGBrian]

I agree.

Too bad we cannot do a thing about all of these lies told via cold calls and let's not forget the lies told at timeshare presentations.

Apparently, the timeshare salespeople do not have to be truthful, as long as they sell. Lie as much as you want, and you will never lose your job.

not enough people report their experiences for anyone to do anything about it. and with that specific company being based in new hampshire doesnt help given the known "business friendly" nature of that and other states in the northeast (they were also based in delaware at one point too)....though the parent company exists in orlando i doubt many (if any) victims would ever realize that and submit complaints to the florida AGs office.

if you truly were a victim id urge you to report it to both AGs offices.

 

[Jason Lee]

@Jason Lee Sorry to say that the state of Florida AG office would not assist me in trying to interpret the Florida statute 721-205. They said I would need to consult an attorney to interpret.

Here are the steps I would take if I was in your shoes and SMTN refused to refund.

(1) file a BBB complaint.
(2) file a complaint with the Florida Attorney General.
(3) File a complaint with Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (they deal with timeshares). Number is (850) 410-3800.
(4) file a complaint with the FTC. Number is (202) 326-2222.

Good luck.

Thank you so much. I wish I had known better expression than thank you to use now.


I asked for the refund and I got an email from a new person from different company and he says he is going to deal with me.

And of course, there is no reply from the sales guy who were so nice, gentle, but told me my ownership value would be 69000USD.


I will follow those steps and do my best to find my way to get things fixed.


Whether it will work or not, thank you so much for the people who gave me feedbacks.

Well, I don't know if this goes well to this but I want to say god bless America.

I was hooked up by American company but here, I could realize that there are so many good people and good will in your country too.


Thank you again!

 

[Jason Lee]

not enough people report their experiences for anyone to do anything about it. and with that specific company being based in new hampshire doesnt help given the known "business friendly" nature of that and other states in the northeast (they were also based in delaware at one point too)....though the parent company exists in orlando i doubt many (if any) victims would ever realize that and submit complaints to the florida AGs office.

if you truly were a victim id urge you to report it to both AGs offices.

That was why I got calls from different regional numbers.. Thank you so much.

Currently they try to maintain the service in a different way.

I got an email and it says they need additional info about my account and will proceed what is called 'maintenance fee protection' program..

BTW thank you so much.

I got much help from this community for sure.

 

[tomvc]

Hi @Jason Lee I'm sorry this happened to you. In the meantime, I recommend reading the HGVC forum to learn how best to use your points if they haven't used them. There are HGVC locations in Japan. for example, for club reservations. You can also exchange in RCI. It might not be the best value to use the points compared to going to your home resort in Hawaii, but it's better than losing them.

 

[Jason Lee]

OK -

This is true.

Your $6600 is likely "spent money".
In My Opinion - you were not scammed ; but you paid full retail price to a smooth talking salesperson.

I think you would be best to contact Judy Kowslowski as @RX8 suggested.
This will get you real information on the resale value of what you own.
That should help you to evaluate whether to sell - learn how to use or keep depositing into HSI / Holiday Systems. [ You could also deposit into other exchanges ]

Haha, yeah I think it is sad but true.
I appreciate your advice, thank you.

 

[Jason Lee]

Hi @Jason Lee I'm sorry this happened to you. In the meantime, I recommend reading the HGVC forum to learn how best to use your points if they haven't used them. There are HGVC locations in Japan. for example, for club reservations. You can also exchange in RCI. It might not be the best value to use the points compared to going to your home resort in Hawaii, but it's better than losing them.

Thank you I am learning a lot from there.