If you've been scammed by Sell My Timeshare Now ....

They are all SCAMS !! NEVER pay anyone money upfront that claims they can get you out of your contract. Don't fall for a shill coming in the forum and posting a website under the disguise of asking if they are legit. They troll the forums looking for victims to lure to their website.

kenl261 wrote:

What about timeshareexitteam.com?.... BTW - it's a Marriott timeshare property if that makes any difference. Thanks.

Timeshare Exit Team likely just negotiates with the resort to take your unit back. That is something you can do yourself for a lot less money.

Marriott properties usually have some resale value so you might want to list it for sale here on RedWeek or other reputable websites such as My Resort Network, Timeshare Users Group, or E-Bay. You might even want to consult with a licensed timeshare broker on ltrba.com. They do not charge an upfront fee but will charge you a huge commission upon the sale (minimum $1000).

Can you explain to me how the timeshares work?

margiep9 wrote:

Can you explain to me how the timeshares work?

Here are the basics in a nutshell. Of course, there are some variations but this is how most work:

There is a resort usually in an area that's popular for vacationing with a lot of units, kind of like a condominium or townhouse complex. Instead of one person buying a whole unit, he buys one week of use in that unit. So he's basically buying 1/52 of a unit. And instead of him paying the maintenance fees and strata fees for the whole unit, he just pays 1/52. So it's like having a vacation home for just one week of the year.

Of course, discussing all the pros and cons would take us into next month but those are the basics. So if you like the idea of vacationing in a certain, favored place one week per year in a resort with amenities and full bathrooms, bedrooms, and kitchen in each unit without spending a lot of time and money to maintain it, then owning a timeshare might be right for you. However, many will come on these boards and complain (understandably) about the many pitfalls of owning a timeshare.

So before buying one (or even acquiring one for free of which there are many out there) do a lot of research and carefully analyze your travel needs, preferences, and financial situation. Most people will say avoid buying one but there are a number of owners who are very happy with their purchase.

There is a fellow named Tom Tubbs who is a licensed real estate broker in Sarasota, Florida. I met him at a timeshare owner's meeting in Sarasota this past Sunday, where he was on a panel participant among several other speakers. His brokerage is called Island Consulting Realty and he is very knowledgeable, experienced and completely honest about resale timeshares. He does NOT charge ANY upfront fees and receiveds a commission UPON ACTUAL SALE. This is not an endorsement of Tubbs or his business and I am not "advertising" for him; I have never personally utilized his services, but I spent some time talking to and listening to him and he certainly knows his business and is obviously an honest guy. The key here is NO UPFRONT FEES. If a timeshare is worthless in the resale market and he cannot possibly sell it for you, he will just bluntly tell you so, but (in response to the above post by kenl261) I cannot imagine any Marriott timeshare actually being "worthless". Tubbs is also a founding member of an organization of LICENSED brokers dealing with resale timeshares ONLY on commission upon sale (again, no upfront fees). The abbreviation for this group is LRTBA or LTBRA, I'm not sure which, but if you're sufficiently interested you can easily find him and his business via Internet search using the information contained within this post.

I paid 1 000 $ but i was asked 1 454 $ I had an account number but it does not work (2397313)

We signed with them in 3/2018, & paid this company almost $1800.00 to sell a fully paid off $32,000 timeshare. In less than a week, we had one "offer" that ended up being bogus. We were never told details about the offer, etc. It just went away. I spoke w/customer service again in April, lowering the price $10,000 & paying the maintenance fees for the year. We've heard nothing. I did get a response from a customer service email telling me even Disney got/gets bad reviews. How they can talk about them in the same breath is beyond me. They told me to contact them if I still had questions. I did, & I do. I've sent 2 additional emails & heard nothing. But it was a long weekend, so maybe she was just off 😐. It may seem earky in the game for me to be complaining; However, in reviewing all I can find on this company, I am learning that it is the same for everybody. They take about $1800, telling you they will "list and aggressively market" your timeshare. Within a few days, you remarkably get an offer, which is B.S. & meant only to keep you on the hook. After asking several times, I was finally told it was a "bogus offer." I give him credit for being honest. So should you pay them?? In my opinion, no. All I want to know is how long are we bound SMTSN, and/or can we try & sell this on our own, which they won't answer. I just hate the thought of my husband's pension. Thirty-two yrs of sacrifice & hard work, but Wyndham & everything associated with the shady timeshare business managed to drain 32K of it, since we already paid it off. And the HOA's, all paid for this year, will just continue to increase. We thought we would use this ourselves & then leave it to our kids, then theirs, etc. Now? I will tell everyone I know what a shady, just skating above the law, business this is. I would be thrilled to join a classic action lawsuit against people in the entire industry. They are just sitting there collecting money from hard working, retired, fun loving people, who want more family time, who believe their lies, or will do anything just to get away from their highly aggressive sales techniques!

There will be no "class action lawsuit". SMTN has been around for a long time and they will remain alive and well. What they do is entirely lawful (although nearly useless). They are a "listing service" --- nothing more --- and they don't claim otherwise. The fact that people voluntarily choose to pay them far too much money for a (usually unrealistically priced) "listing" on a somewhat obscure web site is sad and unfortunate, but certainly no basis for legal action with any chance of success.

Unless you signed an exclusive listing agreement (highly unlikely), you can still advertise and try to sell the timeshare entirely on your own. The money that you paid to SMTN is gone and is not coming back. RedWeek is a great site on which to advertise, but your pricing must be competitive and realistic. It may be hard to accept, but whatever amount you previously overpaid to a developer is completely irrelevant. The resale value of any timeshare in the secondary (resale) market simply "is what it is". You can get a rough idea of the range of "asking" prices for your particular timeshare by perusing various timeshare sites (and eBay) for listings comparable to yours. Ignore SMTN listing prices; they are usually absurdly high and very unlikely to ever result in a sale at anywhere near those unrealistic figures.

Please don't shoot the messenger. I'm telling you the straightforward, unvarnished truth, although it may be difficult to hear. Good luck.

They keep calling and calling and all i did was answer a few auestions online. Not once have i spoken or made any contact eith them personally. Guess i will have to tell them to lay off.

We really do need to unload out timeshare though. We cannot continue to keep it.

donnar583 wrote:

We really do need to unload out timeshare though. We cannot continue to keep it.

Well you're off to a good start by not using Sell My Timeshare Now. Another piece of advice is to not use any other company that claims it can "cancel" your timeshare. Is the mortgage paid off? If so, then you have a good chance to get rid of it if you're willing to put in a little time and effort.

If your unit is with Wyndham, Diamond, or Westgate, then check their respective deed back programs. For instance Wyndham has Ovation. These companies might/will charge you a fee to give back but it will be well worth it.

If your unit is not with either of these companies, then try asking the resort if it will take your unit back. Even if the resort charges you closing costs and/or the next maintenance fee, it will be a clean, reasonably cost-effective exit. You might want to state, in no uncertain terms, that you are not going to pay another nickel in maintenance fees and it would be in the best interests of all for the resort to take your unit back. You could also try advertising here on RedWeek or other reputable web sites (My Resort Network, TUG, E-Bay, etc.) that you want to give your unit away. Maybe volunteer to pay closing costs and, if really serious about giving it away, paying the next maintenance fee.

I lost a huge sum of money to the nasty scum sales people at Wyndham timeshare plans.

brandys82 wrote:

I lost a huge sum of money to the nasty scum sales people at Wyndham timeshare plans .Out of sheer desperation i came across an honest agent, who manged to end my contract and all my money was returned to me.Ever so grateful and if you need assistance contact : {who cares?} AT G-mail Dot Comm. Big thanks to all concerned.

Sounds like just a (very lame and completely unconvincing and surely false) shill claim to me --- and one that is not likely to remain posted for long after being reported.

Big thanks right back at you --- for disappearing as rapidly as you have (briefly) appeared here.

Ken... I reported her to Redweek .

Claimstimeshare also helped me end my contract and get my fund back .. so greatful .. they are reliable and honest

ken1193 wrote:

brandys82 wrote:

I lost a huge sum of money to the nasty scum sales people at Wyndham timeshare plans .Out of sheer desperation i came across an honest agent, who manged to end my contract and all my money was returned to me.Ever so grateful and if you need assistance contact : {who cares?} AT G-mail Dot Comm. Big thanks to all concerned.

Sounds like just a (very lame and completely unconvincing and surely false) shill claim to me --- and one that is not likely to remain posted for long after being reported.

Big thanks right back at you --- for disappearing as rapidly as you have (briefly) appeared here.

Claimstimeshare are genuine and real

Either DRE23 is working together with Brandy or it's Brandy using another screen name . They are trying to get this SCAM company's name out there in this forum . Both have been reported to Redweek . Anyone who contacts this company after reading about their scam deserves to lose their hard earned money .

NEVER pay anyone money upfront that claims they can get you out of your contract !!!

dre23 wrote:

BogusClaimstimeshare are genuine and real

They are neither one --- and you are quite obviously just another semi-literate shill (or maybe just the same one, back with a new user name). Go away --- you're stinking up the discussion forums.

hey Ken I am trying to buy a Marriott timeshare on BMTN. I came here to see if the website is legit.

It is a joke to say that you are only paying 1/52 of the initial cost of the condo OR the maintenance fee. 1. A condo has resale value. (99.9% of the time) 2. A timeshare does not. (92% of the time.) 3. A condo APPRECIATES in value at 10% per year. (Historically) 4. A Timeshare DEPRECIATES in value as fast as a tuna fish sandwich. 5. If 52 people chipped in to by a CONDO you’d be getting one in SanDiego, not BrAnson, MO for the same price AND you’d be selling it for double your money in 12 yrs (historically) rather than BURNING your money and PAYing a company to f*cking take it from you. IF you like staying in a 2 bd 2 bath with a full kitchen then just go to Craigslist and call the owners. I live in Honolulu and I regularly rent timeshares from owners for under $500 per week for a room that should cost $400 per night.

I am from Australia trying to sell my timeshare in Orlando. I wish I have checked this website last year then I wouldn’t have wasted my money. This guy Stanley responded to my email and gave me the site to checked that SMTSN are legit. I did that and they seems to be legit so I signed up and then there’s the problem start. I paid him more to have my maintenance fee reimbursed extra US$1000. I asked him whether I have to pay more and he told me no nothing else to pay accept relax and let them sell my timeshare for it is the right time to sell. He didn’t tell us that the amount of maintenance fee written on the contract is what they will pay us not the current one. Another thing I have to pay a yearly subscription if I want my maintenance fee reimbursed. I email him several times and no reply. I have recorded the conversation when he first talk to us and took our money. I only recorded it so that I can replay them just in case I missed something not to catch him up. I was so tempted to sue him for fraud !!! Anyway seems like I have to kiss my hard earned money goodbye

I am truly sorry that you ever got yourself involved at all with SMTN. They have been around for a long time and while nothing they do is actually unlawful, everything they do seems designed primarily to collect money from people (and then more money), not to successfully sell timeshares. Overpriced listings there with overpriced closing costs don’t exactly attract informed buyers either, so I have to believe that SMTN actually sells very few timeshares — but that’s not really their goal in the first place.