Did you ever wonder what these timeshare liquidators do with the properties that they collect?

There are dozens of companies that claim to have successfully transferred thousands of timeshares by offering to “Get Rid of Your Timeshare Obligation”. Did you ever wonder what all these companies do with the properties that they collect? I owned a 2 bedroom lock-off at the WKORV in Maui since April 2004. After the recent (Nov 2009) 25% increase in maintenance fees, I reached my breaking point and decided to try to sell my property. At the same time, I began receiving unsolicited ads in the mail to dispose of my timeshare. Was this a coincidence or are these companies working together with the resort to co-ordinate their activities? I found a company called “Time Share Closing Services” http://timeshareclosingservices.com/ through another company called “Timeshare Luxury” http://timeshareluxury.com/ that connected with a third one called “Vacation Innovations” http://vininc.com/ and they offered to purchase my timeshare for $6000 and also pay the maintenance fees ($2351) that were due in January. I agreed, and after signing a contract and waiting 6 weeks, I received and cashed the check. This company is in business to obtain properties from disgruntled individuals or from those who can no longer afford to own them. They provide a medium for resort developers to re-sell the same property OVER and OVER. Their website http://vininc.com/ provides a description of their programs. After thinking about this 5 year episode in my life, I was motivated to document my experience (more for therapeutic reasons than any other) and came to the conclusion that Starwood has perpetrated a deliberate and methodical scam. It’s a very long and detailed story, probably similar to that of most timeshare owners, which shows from start to finish how Starwood has been able to propagate this scheme on the unsuspecting public. I’m providing it here and welcome your comments. http://timesharebuyer-beware.blogspot.com/

My comment .... SHILL ALERT !!!!!

jayjay wrote:

My comment .... SHILL ALERT !!!!!

Did you ever sell your Westin timeshare in Hawaii? Did they really give you some money or did it cost you something?

Hi, I'm trying to sell my timeshare because I can no longer pay my credit card the one I used to pay the timeshare. I have been talking to someone from timeshareluxury.com and they told me that the value of my timeshare is $18,000 and asked me how much do I wish to start the price. Then they told me that I have to pay an up front fee of $1,500 and told me that I can pay with a Visa or mastercard. I didn't feel very confortable since it was our first conversation and the were ready to charge. Anyways I just dont want to get ripoff. I am willing to sell it for less. I owe 14,000 but I can take $10,000. What do you think? do you think its possible?

I have said this before on Redweek and not trying to hurt anyone's feelings or be mean! How can anyone in timesharing keep asking these same questions about these rip-off scam companies? The names change but the game plans stay the same. Take your upfront money and move on to next victim.

You can not go to a timeshare forum where owners give advice without hearing DO NOT USE UPFRONT COMPANIES! This is simple and to the point but yet people everyday come on here and ask same ridiculous question because it is a new name. We old timers understand that many of these questions being posted are from company shills just to get the name out there but by now there shouldn't be one timeshare owner on these forums that doesn't understand this. We even asked Redweek to start a new topic of reading the forums about many of these worn out topics that have been ask and answered thousands of times. It is near the top of the forum pages and called PLEASE READ FIRST! Redweek started this in June 09 so people's questions could be answered without everyone just posting same topics over and over just to get same answers over and over again.This is why we understand that many are not clueless owners but shills just wanting their scamming company name talked about.

Anyone having a question about timesharing on almost any subject could find their answer with just reading some of these post if they really want to know about a issue important to them.

PHILL12

jackies225 wrote:

Hi, I'm trying to sell my timeshare because I can no longer pay my credit card the one I used to pay the timeshare. I have been talking to someone from timeshareluxury.com and they told me that the value of my timeshare is $18,000 and asked me how much do I wish to start the price. Then they told me that I have to pay an up front fee of $1,500 and told me that I can pay with a Visa or mastercard. I didn't feel very confortable since it was our first conversation and the were ready to charge. Anyways I just dont want to get ripoff. I am willing to sell it for less. I owe 14,000 but I can take $10,000. What do you think? do you think its possible?

Not trying to burst your bubble, but if you owe money on your timeshare it will be impossible to sell it. Many timeshares that are free and clear of any liens can't even be given away in the economy.

NEVER, EVER pay a large upfront fee for any entity to list your timeshare for sale .... they are all SCAMS.

BTW, the value of your timeshare is NOT $18,000 .... that's a lie to get your credit card #. They'll tell you anything to get that number.

I have been contacted by Timeshareluxury.com to purchase my unit. Are they a scam company or will I really receive a check?

jimh462 wrote:

There are dozens of companies that claim to have successfully transferred thousands of timeshares by offering to “Get Rid of Your Timeshare Obligation”. Did you ever wonder what all these companies do with the properties that they collect? I owned a 2 bedroom lock-off at the WKORV in Maui since April 2004. After the recent (Nov 2009) 25% increase in maintenance fees, I reached my breaking point and decided to try to sell my property. At the same time, I began receiving unsolicited ads in the mail to dispose of my timeshare. Was this a coincidence or are these companies working together with the resort to co-ordinate their activities? I found a company called “Time Share Closing Services” http://timeshareclosingservices.com/ through another company called “Timeshare Luxury” http://timeshareluxury.com/ that connected with a third one called “Vacation Innovations” http://vininc.com/ and they offered to purchase my timeshare for $6000 and also pay the maintenance fees ($2351) that were due in January. I agreed, and after signing a contract and waiting 6 weeks, I received and cashed the check. This company is in business to obtain properties from disgruntled individuals or from those who can no longer afford to own them. They provide a medium for resort developers to re-sell the same property OVER and OVER. Their website http://vininc.com/ provides a description of their programs. After thinking about this 5 year episode in my life, I was motivated to document my experience (more for therapeutic reasons than any other) and came to the conclusion that Starwood has perpetrated a deliberate and methodical scam. It’s a very long and detailed story, probably similar to that of most timeshare owners, which shows from start to finish how Starwood has been able to propagate this scheme on the unsuspecting public. I’m providing it here and welcome your comments. http://timesharebuyer-beware.blogspot.com/

It's probably a scam especially if they made contact with you. They make you an unrealistic offer to buy your timeshare and claim there is a " fee " that has to be paid before they can complete the paperwork. If you are dumb enough to send them money they will wait a little while and claim they need more money for another " fee ". They will continue bleeding you until you stop sending them money. Don't get involved with the scammers.

I did receive a check ($6000) from them and did not pay any up front money. Although it was much less than I paid, it was worth it to me to get rid of the yearly fee obligation.

jimh221 wrote:

I did receive a check ($6000) from them and did not pay any up front money. Although it was much less than I paid, it was worth it to me to get rid of the yearly fee obligation.

Yeah right, and I guess you think we all believe in the tooth fairy and Santa Claus = you're a shill.

You can call me a liar if it makes you feel good, but everything I've written about my time share nightmare is true.

jimh221 wrote:

You can call me a liar if it makes you feel good, but everything I've written about my time share nightmare is true.

I didn't call you a liar .... I called you a 'shill'.

I wrote "I did receive a check ($6000) from them and did not pay any up front money. " You said "Yeah right, and I guess you think we all believe in the tooth fairy and Santa Claus" Sounds to me like you don't think I'm being truthful. Whom do you think I'm shilling for? Why would I write a 3000 word document describing my ordeal if I was advocating for something?

jimh221 wrote:

Why would I write a 3000 word document describing my ordeal if I was advocating for something?

Because why would you, the only person in this thread, that was paid by a timeshare liquidator?

jimh462 wrote:

At the same time, I began receiving unsolicited ads in the mail to dispose of my timeshare.

This raises a red flag with all timeshare knowledgeable people .... unsolicited email from a timeshare entity.

You took this statement out of context. "After the recent (Nov 2009) 25% increase in maintenance fees, I reached my breaking point and decided to try to sell my property. At the same time, I began receiving unsolicited ads in the mail to dispose of my timeshare. Was this a coincidence or are these companies working together with the resort to co-ordinate their activities?

There is a link at the end of my posting that accesses the full text of my story. http://timesharebuyer-beware.blogspot.com/

jimh221 wrote:

Why would I write a 3000 word document describing my ordeal if I was advocating for something?

Duh! To convince more and more victims to fall for this scam!

At the end you only receive 6000.00 USD so which company you used to sell your time share, because I am looking forward to sell mine and I would like a "serious" company for this transaction.

There is a link at the end of my posting that accesses the full text of my story. The company that paid me is listed there. http://timesharebuyer-beware.blogspot.com/