Timeshare donation to National Youth Society

[gadii2]

This orgnization has contacted me about donating my time share, does anyone have experience dealing with them ?

http://nationalyouthsociety.org/

 

[DeniseM]

What terms did they offer you?

Are they going to charge you a large upfront fee? If so, it may be a scam.

This is a brand new website - I'd be very suspicious - this website isn't even a month old.

My guess - an old scammer has just set up a new website.

 

[fishingguy]

In addition, the "National Youth Society" just registered with the BBB about 3 weeks ago. So there hasn't been enough operating history for complaints to be received, posted, etc. about that related name. However, the BBB has already determined that the organization does not meet one or more of it's requirements for a credible charity -- which might be open invitation for the IRS to puruse/pursue any donations.

The webname was issued 3 weeks ago to a company that specializes in keeping website ownership and names from public records. So it is not possible to see who the actual owners/registers of the web name are; that should make you wonder about being a recognized and credibile charity?

The site talks about taking ownership of your property, but the agreement you sign and send them with $550 talks about finding you a buyer. Worse yet, you sign a Power of Attorney which doesn't transfer ownership until later if at all; according to the agreement, when they find a buyer. There are many cases on where a Power of Attorney is never used to transfer a property to a new owner, and the donating owner finds out about it when the annual maintenance fees came due later.

Many resorts have notices on their owner websites that talk about recent "donate for charity" scams -- it's the latest way that timeshare owners are getting scammed right now.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

This has got to be just another scam. If this were truly a charity set up to help youth, you would think that when you visited the website the primary focus would be on the missions. Instead, almost all of the web page is devoted to their timeshare donation pitch.

This wasn't set up to help youth; it was set up as a mechanism for getting people out of timeshares. Most likely there is going to be a significant "donation fee", paid by the donor, as part of the transfer process.

 

[jl2010]

It's probably just a front for a PCC or a company that creates and sells lists to them.

My favorite part is in the FAQS...Refund of what exactly? This is a donation right? I also like that "A Refunds will be issued"

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Refund Policy
A Refunds will be issued if THE NATIONAL YOUTH SOCIETY is unable to transfer the ownership of your timeshare with in the time frame that is stated on the contract.


...oooh another flag - What professional company has a yahoo address. This guy is a joker.

"the Consent and Donation Agreement from the Forms section of our website, fill out and fax to us at (888) 315-1743 (or scan and email back to society4youth@yahoo.com"

And heres the kicker (reminds me of Sally's text haha):

NYS AGREES TO TAKE OVER OWNERSHIP OF SAID OWNERS TIMESHARE. OWNER MUST NOT OWE ANY LOANS, AND MUST BE CURRENT WITH MAINTENANCE FEES. THIS PROCESS WILL TAKE NO MORE THAN 45 TO DAYS TO COMPLETE FROM THE TIME THE TRANSFER DOCUMENTS ARE RECEIVED FROM THE OWNER. OWNER WILL HAVE DOCUMENTS SIGNED AND NOTARIZED AND THESE DOCUMENTS WILL BE SENT TO THE OWNER ONCE PROOF OF OWNERSHIP OR MEMBERSHIP IS RECEIVED FROM THE OWNER. A FEE OF $550 WILL BE CHARGED TO SAID OWNER BEFORE THIS PROCESS IS STARTED AND OWNER WILL RECEIVE A FULL REFUND UP TO SEVEN DAYS AFTER OWNER HAS PAID THE $550 FEE IF DONOR CHOOSE TO DISCONTINUE SERVICES FOR ANY REASON. IF NCA HAS A BUYER BEFORE THE TRANSFER PROCESS IS COMPLETED, BUYER WILL PAY NCA DIRECTLY, ALTHOUGH DONOR IS STILL LEGAL OWNER OF TIMESHARE. SAID OWNER HAS THE RIGHT TO USE THEIR TIMESHARE FOR THE 2009 YEAR AND WILL RECEIVE 20% OF ANY RENTALS OR SALE OF THE TIMESHARE WITH IN THE FIRST YEAR OF DONATION IN ADDITION TO THE TAX BENEFITS. THIS IS A BINDING AGREEMENT WITH SAID OWNER AND NCA. BY SIGNING, PAYING THE $550 FEE, AND HAVING THIS DOCUMENT NOTARIZED, OWNER UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO ALL STATEMENTS WRITTEN IN THIS CONTRACT.

 

[DeniseM]

This website is nearly identical to other websites registered to "IrmaVep Inc."

There are 3 websites are all using the same basic text & either the same owners, or same address:

http://www.lifeoasis.us/
AKA "Life Oasis for Children"
-Original Business Start Date: May 2009
-Steven Clark listed as "owner" by the BBB
-Type of Business License: Timeshare Marketers - not charity

http://nationalchildrens.webs.com/ -
BBB: F rating
-Original Business Start Date: October 2009
-Lots of scam reports on the net
-Steven Clark listed as President by BBB
-Type of Business License: Timeshare Marketers, Non Profit
-Address: 8715 N 37th St
Tampa, FL 33604

http://nationalyouthsociety.org/
-Original Business Start Date: October 2010
-Type of Business: Non Profit
-BBB: "This charity does not meet one or more of the 20 standards for Charity Accountability."
-Address: 8715 N 37th St
Tampa, FL 33604-2403

So, it looks like these scammers just keep moving from one website and one business license to the next...

 

[gadii2]

Thanks everyone for replying, I will stay away from these guys.

 

[Dave H]

This website is nearly identical to other websites registered to "IrmaVep Inc."

There are 3 websites are all using the same basic text & either the same owners, or same address:

http://www.lifeoasis.us/
AKA "Life Oasis for Children"
-Original Business Start Date: May 2009
-Steven Clark listed as "owner" by the BBB
-Type of Business License: Timeshare Marketers - not charity

http://nationalchildrens.webs.com/ -
BBB: F rating
-Original Business Start Date: October 2009
-Lots of scam reports on the net
-Steven Clark listed as President by BBB
-Type of Business License: Timeshare Marketers, Non Profit
-Address: 8715 N 37th St
Tampa, FL 33604

http://nationalyouthsociety.org/
-Original Business Start Date: October 2010
-Type of Business: Non Profit
-BBB: "This charity does not meet one or more of the 20 standards for Charity Accountability."
-Address: 8715 N 37th St
Tampa, FL 33604-2403

So, it looks like these scammers just keep moving from one website and one business license to the next...

I remember the Life Oasis for Children. I believe at one time they were sponsors on here. Just to follow up with Denise's post, here is the current information on the status of their "life Oasis Company" from the Florida Corporations webiste.

I wonder how many people paid for their "donation" to find out it never occured or worse, how many they transferred into the "shell" company that we as owners just absorbed into the foreclosure numbers in our Associations.

Florida Limited Liability Company
LIFE OASIS FOR CHILDREN LLC
Filing Information
Document Number L09000061500
FEI/EIN Number 264805530
Date Filed 06/24/2009
State FL
Status INACTIVE
Last Event ADMIN DISSOLUTION FOR REGISTERED AGENT
Event Date Filed 06/24/2010
Event Effective Date NONE