RCI Innovations Inc.

richardi32 wrote:

Membership in BBB, Chambers of Commerce and ARDA are NOT proof they are legitimate!

However, all of these entities know that to the clueless and uninformed, "membership" in these organizations carries the APPEARANCE of some measure of legitimacy and / or credibility. Unfortunately, it just ain't so...

Has anyone had any experience with RCI Innovations? The person who called me, Charolette Bailey, really put down all the companies out there that are scamming people. She said it is unconsciousable that they could do this to innocent people. One of the big-time scammers has been Creative Vacation Solutions and she blasted them. Well, I just found out that RCI Innovations has the SAME address and suite number as Creative Vacations!!!! I find this unbelievable! Haven't been able to get a hold of her to call her on the carpet on that!

RCI Innovations, inc., seems to be one of the few companies actually accomplishes resales for Timeshare owners..I have an uncle who sold his through them and they actually raised the price enough to obtain a partial refund for him from two companies that scammed him... It seems that resales of Timeshare units are very soft right now so many complaints from sellers signing up for even the legit companies begin complaining and blaming the resellers for poor performance....there are always some scammers, but the whole industry is experiencing the downturn along with many other businesses..

stephenk148 wrote:

....resales of Timeshare units are very soft right now so many complaints from sellers signing up for even the legit companies begin complaining and blaming the resellers for poor performance....there are always some scammers, but the whole industry is experiencing the downturn along with many other businesses..

While I certainly agree that timeshare resales are (not surprisingly) currently quite "soft" in a down "economy", the simple fact remains that there ARE NO "legit companies" who charge an "upfront fee" for timeshare resales --- NONE! This fact is indisputable and is completely independent of any past, present or future economic climates.

It would be most interesting to see the details of the (alleged) success which your "uncle" experienced. If you wish to provide the grantor (your uncle) name, resort, state and county and the year of the (alleged) transaction, I would be more than happy to research the appropriate official records (i.e., recorded deeds) to confirm (or disprove) the legitimacy of your claim for all readers here to see.

Remember folks, when it comes to paying your hard earned money to ANY useless upfront fee "reseller" (more accurately and appropriately described as an "ineffective listing service"), you are NOT a "victim" if you CHOOSE to willingly give these people your money in blind faith.

There are no victims in these matters --- only unwise volunteers. So, DON'T VOLUNTEER!l

StephenK,

I find it extremely difficult to believe that anyone - your uncle for example - having been scammed twice by unfront fee companies would actually pay an unfront fee to a third company to list a timeshare on an obscure web site. I am not aware of your uncle's cognitive ability but this type of behavior should raise some issues for his care givers. Do you think your uncle would be interested in some ocean front property in Iowa? An upfront fee will be required but the view is great!

Even more unbelievable is your assertion that "they actually raised the price enough to obtain a partial refund for him from two companies that scammed him". This may be a sentence construction issue (syntax) but in any case a little clarification would be helpful. Are you saying that your uncle not only recovered the original timeshare sales price and in addition made a sufficient profit that enabled him to offset the losses to the previous scammers or are you saying that RCI Inovations provides an additional service of confronting upfront fee scammers (a quaisi legal activity) and recovering upfront fees for their customers? A successful recovery from the prior scammers would seemingly be an admission of fraud by them.

Frankly, I think filtering your name through various data bases would reveal that you are an employee or are married to an employee of RCI Innovations Inc. Possibly I am wrong and your uncle is like the proverbial blind hog that got lucky and actually found an acorn. Rare indeed!

One of the things that raises flags for me with this company is that they seemingly know details of past upfront fees collected by "other companies." And sometimes these details are quite precise.

I do agree that wise consumers should not volunteer to be victims of these type of organizations.

Furthermore, this company is making first contact, which should be a warning flag.

Keep writing in...the more information we gather the better the end result will be.

I had a call today from Midwest Timeshare out of Green Bay, WI. "Kim" said they had moved there to get away from the bad reputation of Florida sellers. They "don't ask for any upfront fees to list a property" but there is a charge of $650 once they find a prospect. I've had a couple more calls today from her saying she has found a buyer interested in paying $20,000 for a White Time floating week in Branson. Sadly, I fear that is too good to be true!

She indicated they get names of prospects from salesmen who failed to sell at developer prices at the resorts. The "no sale" folks are sometimes interested in buying into the same location on the Resale market for a lower price. Well, that may be true as far as it goes. Still...........! MD

adahiscout wrote:

I had a call today from Midwest Timeshare out of Green Bay, WI. "Kim" said they had moved there to get away from the bad reputation of Florida sellers.

I have yet to see a reported sales percentage from ANY FL "upfront fee" reseller which states anything except "...less than 1/10 of 1%".

By my math, that means "LESS than one in a thousand" (and it probably actually means ZERO, without stating ZERO). If I had to openly admit that revealing fact of abysmal performance in writing (by law), I would want to move my operation somewhere else too! ;-)

Where will they hide if this idea ever becomes a FEDERAL law???

Here's my update for yesterday:

27-May-10 David McLaughlin 561-856-6003 long winded person “explaining” the legal document and closing process when all I want is to have the verbiage changed in the contract they sent me. He agreed to revise the item 2 containing the rental clause in the guarantee so the guarantee only applies to selling and not renting. I’m not certain how much he’s going to revise (I requested a specific re-wording including a reference to the offer price as the minimum sales price referenced in the email. He said Chicago Title or Sunshine Title are probably going to be used. Then he attempted to get my credit card info.

This is what was in the original e-mail they sent me on May 24

RCI INNOVATIONS, INC 777 S. Flagler Drive Suite 800 WPB FL 33401 CUSTOMER SERVICE: (561)201-0663 FAX: (561)686-1838 Inventory Supervisor: James Ware Contact Phone Number: 305-896-2345 Customer: Peter Chocholak 　 #1. RCI INNOVATIONS, INC is guaranteeing no less than $ 106,340. at closing, or will refund 100% of your $ 2,896. #2. RCI INNOVATIONS, INS will also guarantee the successful marketing of your unit within 90 days or again we will refund 100% of your $ 2,896. This is a copy of the information you have gone over with your representative, if you have any questions or concerns regarding any of this please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you again for choosing RCI INNOVATIONS, INC, we look forward to doing business with you. Website : www.rciinovations.com  PLEASE NOTE: *attached to the email is the sample contract*

This is what was in the original contract, item 2 is of most concern to me

RCI Innovations, Inc. 777 S. Flagler Dr. Suite 800 West Palm Beach, F.L. 33401 Customer Service: (561) 201-0633 Fax: (561) 683-9599 Deed Owner Information: Owner Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Country: USA Home Phone: Cell Phone: Email: Fax: _________________________________________________________________________ Resort Information: Resort Name: City: State: Points: Deeded: Week #: Unit #: Bedrooms: Bathrooms: Occupancy: Annual: Bi-Annual: Maintenance Fee: Asking Price: $ Rental Price: __________________________________________________________________________ Acknowledgements: I, the undersigned, authorize RCI Innovations Inc., to contact my resort for any information regarding my unit and to allow RCI Innovations Inc. to register my unit on their website. I also authorize RCI Innovations Inc. to make the information, I, the seller, have provided available to interested buyers, renters and real estate brokers. Although, any updates or changes will be at the expense of RCI Innovations Inc. I agree to the following terms and conditions: 1. RCI Innovations Inc., will forward all inquiries on my timeshare, on the sale or rental of my unit, directly to me. This will allow me, the seller, to accept or decline any offers, without any broker, and without any commissions. 2. RCI Innovations Inc., will guarantee to successfully market your timeshare unit on the sale and/or rental, within a 90 day period, or RCI Innovations Inc. will fully refund 100% of the initial fee. 3. I, the seller, understand that according to Florida Statue 501.615, I may within 7 days of the receipt of this contract, cancel by phone or in writing. We will issue a full refund. 4. I, the seller, also understand the initial fee is a one-time, non-recurring fee. No other fees will apply now, at closing, or at any other time throughout the process. _____________________________________________________________________________________ I authorize RCI Innovations Inc. to charge my credit card the initial fee of $ Initial fee information: One-time non-recurring fee is $ Name (as it appears on credit card): Billing Address: City: State: Zip: Country: Card Number: XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Exp Date: _____________________ Owner Signature:_________________________ Date: _____________________ President of RCI INNOVATIONS INC Signature____________________________ Date: ___________

This is the revised contract on May 27. They did remove the rental portion of the guarantee but did not make the contract specific to the guaranteed minimum price as stated in the e-mail.

RCI Innovations,Inc. 777 S. Flagler Dr. Suite 800 West Palm Beach, F.L. 33401 Customer Service: (561)201-0633 Fax: (561)-683-9599 Deed Owner Information: Owner Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Country: USA Home Phone: Cell Phone: Email: Fax: _________________________________________________________________________ Resort Information: Resort Name: City: State: Points: Deeded: Week #: Unit #: Bedrooms: Bathrooms: Occupancy: Annual: Bi-Annual: Maintenance Fee: Asking Price: $ Rental Price: __________________________________________________________________________ Acknowledgements: I, the undersigned, authorize RCI Innovations Inc., to contact my resort for any information regarding my unit and to allow RCI Innovations Inc. to register my unit on their website. I also authorize RCI Innovations Inc. to make the information, I, the seller, have provided available to interested buyers, renters and real estate brokers. Although, any updates or changes will be at the expense of RCI Innovations Inc. I agree to the following terms and conditions: 1. RCI Innovations Inc., will forward all inquiries on my timeshare, on the sale of my unit, directly to me. This will allow me, the seller, to accept or decline any offers, without any broker, and without any commissions. 2. RCI Innovations Inc., will guarantee to successfully market your timeshare unit on the sale, within a 90 day period, or RCI Innovations Inc. will fully refund 100% of the initial fee. 3. I, the seller, understand that according to Florida Statue 501.615, I may within 7 days of the receipt of this contract, cancel by phone or in writing. We will issue a full refund. 4. I, the seller, also understand the initial fee is a one-time, non-recurring fee. No other fees will apply now, at closing, or at any other time throughout the process. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ I authorize RCI Innovations Inc. to charge my credit card the initial fee of $ Initial fee information: One-time non-recurring fee is $ Name on credit card as it appears: Billing Address: City: State: Zip: Country: Card Number: XXXX XXXX XXXX Exp Date: Deed Owner Signature:_________________ 2nd deed owner signature Date: President of RCI INNOVATIONS INC Signature___________________ Date:

peterp151 wrote:

He said Chicago Title or Sunshine Title are probably going to be used. Then he attempted to get my credit card info.

I further recommend that you then offer them an ADDITIONAL $1,000 to be added to their expected fee, as a sincere expression of your gratitude for their willingness to cooperate with your request to use your own closing company and to have them collect their fee UPON (i.e., not before) actual closing, from buyer funds being held in escrow by the closing company.

My bet, here and now, is that there will just be a deadly silence on the other end of the phone and your proposal will immediately close the door on this alleged (...probably entirely fictitious) "transaction".

And by the way, when a "title search" is sought or required by the buyer, it's the buyer's (...not the seller's) responsibility to pay for that exercise.

Finally, why on earth would you believe for one second that ANYONE is going to pay you $106,000.00 for a few timeshares when any literate person with a computer could pick up a DOZEN timeshares on eBay right now, today for fifty to one hundred dollars total. It simply makes no sense --- they are merely appealing to greed in order to put stars (and dollar signs) in your eyes...

This is all clearly and obviously just a scam, plain and simple --- but I hope that you already know that.

Good luck.. Unlike far too many people who do otherwise, you are apparently NOT choosing and volunteering (...so far, at least) to part with your money FIRST, then ask the right questions only LATER, when it's already too late, futiley hoping and / or believing against all odds that they wi'll ever get a dime of their money back (...which they won't).

I tire of saying it, but there are no "victims" in these matters, only willing volunteers. DON'T VOLUNTEER!

I just got off the phone with a Stephanie Davis with an obvious foreign dialect with very broken english. She said she had a certified check for $24,585 which I would receive in 45 to 60 days and gave me a Certified check # of K-937642 but first I would have to put $489 on my credit card to proceed. She had the last 4 numbers of my credit card (don't know where they got that infor). I asked to speak with someone that could speak English I could understand and then a Michael Anthony got on the phone. He gave me the phone # of 561-201-6420. When I asked him for a web site he gave me rci innovatons. I asked him why they didn't have a toll free number and he said they did but I would only get a recording. The number he gave was 888-683-9599. When I asked him where he was located he said Orlando. I have been stung twice by these jerks, once I got my deposit back. What's even funnier, I haven't owned the timeshare for two years so I don't know where they are getting the informtin. Good luck stopping these creeps.

kayek7 wrote:

Good luck stopping these creeps.

There are no "victims" in these matters --- only unwise, willing VOLUNTEERS!

I was also contacted by RCI Innovations and they told me they have a buyer for my timeshare. They wants an upfront refundable fee of $2,896 to cover title search etc. at first I thought it was RCI the timeshare company and then I found out it was another company. I told Michael Wagner 954 882-0893 that I am not interested and they keep calling me and telling that they have notorized paperwork from the buyer for my timeshare.

nataliem38 wrote:

I was also contacted by RCI Innovations and they told me they have a buyer for my timeshare. They wants an upfront refundable fee of $2,896 to cover title search etc. at first I thought it was RCI the timeshare company and then I found out it was another company. I told Michael Wagner 954 882-0893 that I am not interested and they keep calling me and telling that they have notorized paperwork from the buyer for my timeshare.

Everyone that's been scammed by this company needs to call RCI and tell them that they're using RCI in their name .... don't just talk to a guide .... ask for someone in management.

nataliem38 wrote:

I was also contacted by RCI Innovations and they told me they have a buyer for my timeshare. They wants an upfront refundable fee of $2,896 to cover title search etc. at first I thought it was RCI the timeshare company and then I found out it was another company. I told Michael Wagner 954 882-0893 that I am not interested and they keep calling me and telling that they have notorized paperwork from the buyer for my timeshare.

They DO NOT have a buyer .... when they get your upfront fee the buyer will have suddently disappeared but the scammers keep your upfront fee.

How can we report them to the Florida State Attorney's office?

How to Protect Yourself: Timeshare Sales & Resales Source: The Florida Attorney General's Office

Vacation timeshares give you the right to use a vacation home for a limited, pre-planned period. Timeshare scams occur both on the front-end, the time of the original purchase, and at the back-end, when you try to resell the timeshare. Victims of timeshare sales companies are contacted either over the phone or are mailed a postcard asking the victim to call a toll-free phone number. Before you decide to either purchase or resell a timeshare, consider the following:

Be Wary Of The Hard Sales Pitch When it comes to purchasing a new timeshare, the salesman may try to give you the impression that the papers have to be signed that same day. Remember that you always have the right to leave the sales office, and come back later. Read your contract to determine what cancellation rights you have after you have signed the papers. Before buying a timeshare, you should consider whether you will want to return to the same vacation spot each year. Remember that once you buy it, you may not be able to sell it due to a depressed resale market.

Be Wary Of Too-Good-To-Be-True Claims When It Comes To Resales The company's salespeople are likely to claim that the market in the area where your resort is located is "hot" and that they are being overwhelmed with buyer requests for your resort. In some cases, the salespeople may even tell you that they have a buyer waiting in the wings who wants to buy your timeshare. Be skeptical of these types of claims. Remember the timeshare market is not "hot" and it is unlikely that there is a buyer ready and willing to buy your timeshare.

Question Why You Have To Pay The Fee Up Front Most resale companies require you to pay a $300-500 advance listing fee, before the sale of your timeshare can take place. In a typical real estate transaction the fee is paid from the proceeds of the sale, at the time of the sale. You may want to opt for a company which will wait for its fee until the sale goes through. You should also find out if the salespeople are licensed real estate brokers and whether there are any complaints lodged against the broker.

Consider Other Options When It Comes To Resale You may want to try selling your timeshare "by owner", by placing an advertisement in a newsletter or magazine read by potential timeshare buyers. Or you may want to list your timeshare with a licensed real estate broker in the area where your resort is located. As an alternative, you could contract with a company which allows you to exchange your timeshare for a unit in a different area.

Additional Information You may contact the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Florida Land Sales, Condominiums, and Mobile Homes, Bureau of Timeshares at (850) 488-1122 for additional information.