Phase 4. Predatory Agencies and Advocacy Groups
As you’ve been able to see, getting out of timeshares can be a lot more difficult than expected. After multiple attempts to work things out with the timeshare company, vacation owners are typically tired of the “run around.” The disillusion has left them with an urge to immediately find an effective solution. What most of them aren’t aware of is that fraudulent organizations and scam artists feed on this desperation. Similar to the sales strategies of resorts, they know exactly what to say to persuade timeshare owners quickly. Although we’ll discuss the warning signs of predatory agencies in another article, we want to provide you with an overview of what to expect once you move on from the timeshare company.
“I encountered Vacation Ownership Consultants here in Tucson in October of 2016. I was skeptical as I had wanted to be rid of my timeshare for a number of years but found only “fake” businesses. I was impressed with what they had to say and, in the long run, they did exactly what they said would. By October of 2017 we were free and clear of our timeshare.”
– Reno B.
Listing Companies and Platforms Make Claims
One of the more popular ways to get out of timeshare agreements is to sell it. It’s easy for most timeshare owners to believe selling is easiest solution. But, this couldn’t be further from the truth. If you weren’t gullible enough to accept a referral program (like the program we mentioned in part 2 of this blog series), then why would you take a step back and attempt to sell on your own? The persuasion of most resale companies overshadows the benefits of getting out of timeshares for good. The first thing you need to realize is that the timeshare resale market is basically non-existent. When you make the decision to sell the timeshare, you need to understand that you’ll be lucky to recoup 5% of your initial investment. If you factor in upfront fees and selling costs, the margin is minimal, if not in the red.
Timeshare owners that are willing to risk the loss just to get rid of the timeshare have desperation written all over their faces. Resellers know they want to get out of the timeshare contract fast and will say anything to persuade consumers that their platform will help them reach this goal. What they fail to tell you is that your property will probably sit on the market for a long time, like most do. They prey on your desperation and offer you advertising packages to increase the exposure. All the while, you’re still paying the contract and maintenance fees.
The same can be said when you list the timeshare as a rental. There is absolutely no guarantee that someone will take interest. The empty guarantees you received on the front end vanish. Conditional statements are scapegoats and the appeal of your property is to blame. Resellers know they have no obligation to make you money on the property. In the meantime, the timeshare company is ecstatic that you continued making payments while failing to sell the timeshare. Now they’re just waiting for you to call them back about the upgrade options they offered you a few months back. After all the time and money you put into reselling programs, you can easily end up right back where you started.
Transfer Companies Are Sneaky
Some timeshare owners get to a certain point where they simply despise the timeshare company. Once they realize they can’t sell or get rid of their obligations, they normally consider solving all of their problems by transferring the property. They contact an agency to help them with the transfer and eagerly await an opportunity to start fresh. But, many transfer companies are no different than any of the other predatory agencies. They know exactly how to use your desperation against you in order to get what they want – cash.
They’re able to scam timeshare owners by refusing to process a refund when the timeshare company rejects the transfer request. It’s one minor detail they forget to mention when processing your payment. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do in this case. That’s why it’s so important that you invest in researching your options once you realize there’s a common trend in the timeshare industry. No matter how good or different something might sound, you have to be smart and know how to recognize a bogus offer.
Timeshare Advocacy Groups and Phony Cancellation Companies
Intimidated by the thought of legal counsel or the cost of representation, many timeshare owners begin to look into “advocacy groups” for relief. Similar to resale options, these agencies easily set up a website and BBB profile to convey competence. They’re able to gain the trust of timeshare owners by offering “money back guarantees” and other false promises. You would think guarantees would be red flags at this point. But, many timeshare owners simply believe it’s impossible to be burned so many times. They want to eliminate this burden from their lives so bad that they’re willing to take a chance. It probably feels good to have someone on their side for once. All an advocacy group needs in return is the your patience during negotiations and a credit card on file.
Over the next few months, these agencies provide updates in order to manipulate “progress.” The timeshare owner doesn’t blink because they were already briefed that things may take time. After multiple attempts to contact the company, timeshare owners finally realize the company no longer exists. It’s really a shame because you could have seen this coming. Any company that’s only been around for a short period of time has no right earning your trust. Like we’ve seen throughout this article, every single solution comes back to over promising, deflecting, then under-delivering. Advocacy groups have no intention of bucking the trend here.
Getting Out of Timeshares Requires Understanding
Before we set out to provide an effective solution for people with unwanted timeshares, we made it a priority to understand every phase of the timeshare cycle. In order to gain the trust of timeshare owners and avoid being viewed as a scam ourselves, we knew we had to relate to their situation. There’s no need for us to oversell you on our exit strategy or genuine consultations. You’re not going to buy into legal resolution until you’re ready. This is why we’ve decided to take more of an educational approach when it comes to promoting our services.
Knowing what each timeshare owner goes through allows us to enlighten them on what’s been transpiring and effectively help them find them the best solution. Our ability to break down the sales tactics that timeshare companies and predatory agencies use helps us build rapport and credibility. It also gives us an opportunity to reiterate how getting them out of their timeshare contract is just as important to us as it is to them.
We want you to avoid any setbacks so you’re able to navigate your way towards an ideal outcome that’s ideal for your unique situation. If you’re not quite ready to “waive the white flag” and walk away from your timeshare, we totally get it. But, if you’re tired of the never-ending cycle that leads you right back to where you started, give us a call. We’d be happy to review your contract and help you find the best way to legally cancel your timeshare contract today.
View our eligibility form below to inquire about our qualifying for our timeshare cancellation program. We’re not your typically relief company and provide clients with ZERO money down and 0% financing for 6 months!
