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Exit By Owner Review

Table of Contents

Exit By Owner Website Review

Exit By Owner Reviews

Exit By Owner Cost

Summary

Exit By Owner is a timeshare exit company based in Ormond Beach, Florida that has been in business since 2018. They claim to have a team of experts that have the combined experience to make their three years in business mean that much more. While they have a plethora of reviews for their meager three years, does that mean they will be successful in getting you out of your timeshare? 

Exit By Owner Website Review

 

The immediate impression the website gives is unprofessional. The logo at the top left to represent the company should be clear and well-made, but instead it is fuzzy and squished. It barely fits into the spot that has been designated for it and looks incredibly unprofessional. You want your website to make a good initial impression and unfortunately a poorly designed logo won’t do that for your company. 

The website design itself looks cheap and a little cheesy, not giving the professional air that you’re looking for in a company that’s supposed to help you legally get out of your timeshare. They claim they pride themselves on being a viable solution for exiting your timeshare, but it seems they don’t even take pride in providing a well-made website to potential clients. These days, your website is the first thing your clients will see to represent you and the design is not going to make clients feel very secure in their choices. 

The further you go on their website, the more unimpressive it becomes. They have a section labeled Exit Options, where they barely describe what options are available to those seeking release from their timeshares. They offer a reversal of the contract, a reversal of the mortgage, or an outright cancellation. The wording of this section is also weak and doesn’t seem like the company really knows what they are talking about, or they are trying to be vague on purpose. 

They have a section detailing their process, which is something you don’t see from a lot of exit companies. They have it separated into six steps, starting with contract signage and copies being made. They will then get a call confirming details and ensuring they have everything needed to help get you out of your contract. You will stay in communication with your case manager as they send copies and negotiate on your behalf. As soon as things are taken care of you’ll be released finally from your contract so you don’t have to live with the burden anymore. 

While this is a fairly concise list and promises plenty of communication and advocacy on your behalf, there is no guarantee they hold up to these promises. There is also no mention of payment, which we don’t recommend trusting right off the bat. There is no obligation when you initiate contact with them, which means no payment upfront, but that still doesn’t give us a solid idea of how much it is going to cost when you get into business with them. 

We also recommend you go with companies that offer escrow payment so your money stays with you until your contract has been handled properly. If you want to know why escrow payments are so important, take a look at our blog for more information. 

Their team member page is succinct and to the point as well as their contact page. All in all the website is fine as far as content goes but the design leaves much to be desired. It doesn’t come across as the website of a professional company and that doesn’t make us very confident in their abilities as a timeshare exit solution.

Exit By Owner Reviews

 

The reviews for this company are surprisingly plentiful for a company that has only been in practice since 2018. On their Better Business Bureau page alone they have 51 reviews and 4 complaints against them, which while that doesn’t seem like a lot, is pretty concerning for a company only in practice for three years. They also have a hefty reviews section on their website that has about forty reviews, from what we can see are mostly unique to the website. The two sets of reviews don’t share many similarities. 

One of the reasons we think they might have so many reviews is based upon two negative reviews that claim they spam you with phone calls. They apparently have local telephone numbers so you’ll pick up, not thinking that it is a cold call, and you get sucked in. Two negative reviews listed at one-star back this up by claiming that they were called even though they are on the do not call list. 

Exit By Owner does respond back, stating that they are not a scam company and they have put the individuals on the do not call list for their own business rather than the national registry. While there is a bit of back and forth here on whether or not they constitute as telemarketers, we were far more interested in the four complaints filed against them to the BBB. 

The first upset client claims that Exit By Owner said they would get them out of their timeshare in a year but asked for an upfront fee of $3,190. This was not completed and they were given another year to do so allegedly before the client would be refunded but there has apparently been no communication and their maintenance fees are coming up again. The company fired back, claiming the client was offered a settlement but that she never responded. 

Another two claim they paid nearly $3,000 but there was no communication on whether the task of exiting the timeshare was completed or not. There is subsequent back and forth on both about refunds and whether or not it was the responsibility of the client or the exit company to follow up and do paperwork. The last complaint echoes what we saw in some of the 1-star reviews about spam calls. 

It seems that Exit By Owner conducts a lot of their business through cold calling which is something that scams typically engage in. The company gets very aggressive in their last statement against this complaint, claiming this is defamation and libel and that the posts should be removed. While we don’t know which is in the wrong without proper proof, the three posts that talk about cold calling are enough to make us assume it is Exit By Owner. 

The business is also not considered accredited by the Better Business Bureau even though they hold a 4.8 out of 5 ratings.

Exit By Owner Cost

 

While we aren’t given much to go on from their website to tell how much they will cost you upfront, from the reviews we can take a guess that it is typically in the ballpark of $2,800+. This is a hefty sum to pay upfront and especially if you aren’t sure the work is actually going to get done. This is why escrow payments are so important in these cases as it saves you from being one of these individuals who is waiting on a refund they may never get. 

We are given the guarantee that they offer a no-obligation consultation but once they have your contact information it may only encourage them to keep contacting you even if you don’t want to utilize their services. We don’t like when companies are vague about how much they’ll cost you, so it is important to ask upfront questions in your consultation and try to ensure they won’t dodge them. 

We do recommend you try and find a company that offers escrow payments so you don’t end up in the same boat as some of their dissatisfied customers. But barring that you should look for an honest company with testimonials that back up what they seem to be portraying.

Summary

 

Exit By Owner is not the timeshare exit company that can do it all. From the reports we’ve seen it seems more like a company that is mainly focused on gaining clients by conducting cold calls rather than collecting them organically. We prefer to recommend companies that have a defined mission and work ethic that speaks for themselves, along with a professional online presence. 

Clients should not be submitting multiple complaints to the BBB in the process of getting their timeshare contract canceled. Not to mention the company itself isn’t even considered accredited by them. Save yourself some time and some heartache and look for a company with a deeper online presence that can back up its claims with cold, hard, facts.

You’ll also want to keep an eye on any company that doesn’t offer up pricing, but there are mentions of hefty upfront fees in their reviews. You’ll want to vet the company carefully before you enter into any contract with them and put money down on their services. All in all, you just need to be smart and safe when it comes to choosing the exit company for you. 

It is hard to go from one scam to another, so don’t let yourself be taken in by companies that don’t offer the information you’re looking for to get started.

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GeniusExit Review

Table of Contents

GeniusExit Website

GeniusExit Cost

GeniusExit Reviews

General Advice: Working with an Attorney for Timeshare Cancellations

Summary

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    GeniusExit is a timeshare exit company located in West Hollywood, California, that may be able to help you cancel your timeshare. They are part of the law firm GeniusLaw, also located in the greater Los Angeles area, and have been in operation since December 2020. 

    The company appears to be a joint effort primarily between the founding attorney of GeniusLaw, Adela Ulloa, and attorney Austin Shufelt. The former’s law office is cited on the company’s Open Corporates page as the establishing agent.

    GeniusExit Website

     

    The website for GeniusExit is overall very professional and clean-looking, as well as easy to navigate. It’s not only accessible in those terms, but also in terms of content: the company provides extensive information about the process of exiting a timeshare in plain language that makes it easy to understand for the average reader. There isn’t a great deal of hyperbole or advertiser-type language here, which is refreshing.

    The Who We Are page has light background information about the founding attorneys Adela Ulloa and Austin Shufelt and director of resolutions Diane Cassidy, who was originally a staff member with Ulloa’s solo practice. It also includes information about GeniusLaw’s main practice areas, which are primarily foreclosure defense and estate planning. This seems to be a decent background for attorneys that work with canceling timeshares as well.

    GeniusExit does rely a little too heavily on language that focuses on their legality and transparency — if they need to say so, that’s somewhat of a reason to be wary. But overall they do follow through on their words in providing, as noted, detailed information about timeshares and their company’s processes.

    There is, true to form, an entire page dedicated to their process (Our Process under GeniusExit Difference drop-down).

    They also provide an interesting comparison page (Compare Exit Companies under GeniusExit Difference). The main information here that you might find helpful is the general length of time that they take with timeshare exits — nine months on average. They also note a few other timeshare companies that have been sued as a scam or for fraud, which is something you would probably find helpful while you research which company you want to work with in the long run.

    GeniusExit Cost

     

    We did not find information about specific costs for working with GeniusExit. They do offer free consultations, and like many other timeshare exit companies, claim to offer a money-back guarantee. It is a very specific kind of guarantee — they frame it in terms of how long it will take to cancel your timeshare. The website’s claim is that you will be released from your timeshare between nine and 18 months total. 

    As we’ve noted elsewhere, we typically do not recommend going with a timeshare exit company solely on this basis, as it implies that they require some kind of upfront payment. It is far better for you to work with a company that uses escrow for payments instead. You can learn more about why escrow is important on this page.

    GeniusExit Reviews

     

    There are not many reviews for GeniusExit yet, nor do they have a presence on the Better Business Bureau, perhaps because they have not been around for more than six months. GeniusLaw, however, does have a handful available on TrustPilot.  Some of these reviews speak to working with GeniusExit, so for the sake of this article we are considering this channel as applicable to both companies. Generally, the feedback is positive, and paints a picture of a straightforward and steady process in handling cases. Even slightly lower ratings are overall positive.

    As far as the attorneys’ backgrounds go, we were able to find a few reviews of Adela Ulloa, as well as her past firm, The Law Offices of Adela Z. Ulloa, APC. Ulloa has a very good rating of 7.0 on Avvo, as well as several positive reviews on Google and a couple of additional five-star ratings on Yelp. Austin Shufelt has fewer reviews available, but we did find that he has a good rating of 6.1 on Avvo as well.

    On the whole, the reviews are supportive of GeniusExit and GeniusLaw. Both entities seem to consistently come through on their timeshare exit claims and do so with a solid foundation of legal expertise.

    General Advice: Working with an Attorney for Timeshare Cancellations

     

    As we’ve written about previously, working with an attorney or legal firm to exit your timeshare is generally rather effective, but it typically will run you a higher cost, especially if you owe a mortgage on the property. In addition, it will most likely be a more collaborative process, so it can require more time and effort on your part.

    As we’ve written about previously, working with an attorney or legal firm to exit your timeshare is generally rather effective, but it typically will run you a higher cost, especially if you owe a mortgage on the property. In addition, it will most likely be a more collaborative process, so it can require more time and effort on your part. 

    GeniusExit does speak to this caveat about mortgages on their website. But because they are in essence part of a law firm, it is worth considering whether you have the resources and time to go this route to exit your timeshare. Hiring GeniusExit would most likely put you in close contact with someone who has extensive legal knowledge about property ownership, and it’s certainly important to have that background and knowledge when you’re doing something as challenging as trying to get out of a timeshare. But if you have other reputable and trustworthy options available, it might save you a lot of our time, money, and effort to look into them. 

    Of course, that said, if you have already exhausted other options, working with an attorney or attorney-run company might be the most optimal way forward for your situation. But remember, as we’ve noted before, if an attorney is offering to work with you at a rate that fits your budget or a fixed rate, you should not expect to pay upfront.

    Summary

     

    While GeniusExit appears to be a professional operation, we would suggest being careful before choosing to work with them. Their upfront payment policy, reliance on a money-back guarantee, and few years of experience in the timeshare exit industry are all reasons to be wary about this company. Having a staff with legal experience is certainly a major boon to any timeshare exit operation, and they definitely seem to have provided solid results in the past, but it can also cost you a lot more money in the long run to go this route.

    If you are in the greater Los Angeles area and trying to cancel a timeshare, they could be a company to keep in mind. But that said, if you are considering working with GeniusExit, we would encourage taking advantage of the free consultation first. That way, you can ask questions and get clear on what would be required of you before committing to taking any next steps with them.

    Keep in mind, too, that there are several timeshare exit companies that do not require initial payments and are just as — if not more so — professional as GeniusExit appears to be. We’d encourage you to have a look at our list of recommended exit companies to see what other options you have. If you have further questions about any of these companies, or anything else related to cancelling your timeshare, please feel free to get in touch. You can do so by calling 833-416-8796, filling out the contact form on the right side of the page, or initiating the live chat.

    GeniusExit Review Read More »

    Client Protection Group Review

    Table of Contents

    Client Protection Group Website

    Client Protection Group Reviews

    Client Protection Group Cost

    What to Look for in a Timeshare Exit Company

    Summary

    Client Protection Group is another timeshare exit company founded in 2013 that may be able to help you exit your timeshare. They are located in Costa Mesa, California, and owned by Michael Cromie, Jr. They also have a second office in Deland, Florida.

     

    Client Protection Group Website

    One of the first things we noticed upon exploring Client Protection Group’s website was their use of the tagline Timeshare Elimination Team as a sort of secondary business name or qualifier. While looking into this, we came upon a now-defunct LLC and website under the same name and with the same owner, also based in Costa Mesa, CA.

    While this is not to be confused with the similarly-named timeshare exit company TS Elimination, LLC, based in Las Vegas, NV, it is interesting that there are other websites that indicate Client Protection Group has some basis in the Las Vegas area.

    Cromie was at one point employed by a company called Litigation Services in Las Vegas, which is interesting, but again, not necessarily indicative of anything illegitimate at face value. Aside from that, we were not able to find a great deal of background information about the owner or directors, and thus could not make a connection between the Client Protection Group and TS Elimination, LLC. It is possible that Client Protection Group was a name chosen to better differentiate the company from TS Elimination, LLC, which is often referred to as TS Elimination Team.

    With all of that said, while there aren’t any solid conclusions we could draw from finding this potentially related information, TS Elimination, LLC, has several negative reviews from past clients regarding activity that appears to be fraudulent.

    Please be aware of this distinction if you choose to look into Client Protection Group for help with exiting your timeshare, and be sure you aren’t looking into working with TS Elimination by mistake.

    Our impression of the website is that, overall, it is mostly clear and navigable. That said, there are a few pages that are clunkier than others and a few noticeable textual and spelling issues. It also does not include a great deal of specific information about the processes Client Protection Group uses to help clients exit their timeshares, aside from saying that they are “transparent” and “legal.” Typically, it is something of a red flag if a company has to outright say this but does not give a transparent picture of what it is they do that is legal.

    Regarding the About page, as noted, the website does not have much information about the owners or staff, and there is not any indication of their having a background in law, or having lawyers on the Client Protection Group staff.

    On the Services page, there is slightly more information about what Client Protection Group can offer you. But again, it does not present a very detailed picture of how their process works. The areas they say they address overall are Timeshare Elimination, Mortgage Cancellation, Credit Protection, and Fraud Recovery. There is a bit of misleading information here, as they state outright that it is “impossible” to sell a timeshare, which is not exactly true, though it is extremely difficult to do so. Disney timeshares and many timeshares on Hawaii and Aruba do tend to hold their value quite well. As such, though, there seems to be an understanding of the overall challenges a client would face in trying to cancel a timeshare, including issues with protecting their credit and being weighed down with mortgage payments.

    Under Fraud Recovery, Client Protection Group does address the typical practices of shady timeshare exit companies that approach people claiming they can sell their timeshare for them, which is something of a reassuring point. However, they also claim to have been licensed with the Secretary of State as a “Consumer Advocate Timeshare Relief Service,” which is not something we could verify.

    Client Protection Group Reviews

    Client Protection Group has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and several positive reviews from past clients. While we didn’t find any Google reviews for Client Protection Group, they do have one five-star review on Yelp. The reviews appear to be legitimate and their consensus seems to be that, while they may take a while with their process, Client Protection Group ultimately tends to enact timeshare exits successfully and completely.

    Client Protection Group Cost

    Client Protection Group does not provide cost information on their website. They do say they offer free consultations to potential clients. Client Protection Group also claims to offer a money-back guarantee, which is not something we approve of, because it typically goes hand-in-hand with upfront payments.

    On the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, you can find that this holds true, and that Client Protection Group does require an upfront retainer payment. It does not go into detail about whether or not this means they use escrow for this payment, but we would not say it’s likely. Should you choose to get in touch with this company, we would recommend asking if that is part of the initial payment.

    Overall, though, we do not suggest getting involved with a timeshare exit company who does not use escrow payments or a no up-front fee payment option. Even with a money-back guarantee, it is easy for them to take your payment and never fully cancel your timeshare and never refund your money. You can learn more here about what escrow is, and why it is important to work with a company that uses it.

    What to Look for in a Timeshare Exit Company

    There are several qualities that indicate a company is one you want to get involved with for cancelling your timeshare. A low up-front fee escrow payment option is just one of them. Companies that either work with attorneys or have industry connections are typically going to be more efficient at working with the timeshare or resort itself and will get you more for what you ultimately pay. If you owe a mortgage, this might not be an option for you, but you can still look for a timeshare exit company that consults with lawyers and uses a reputable payment method. You can find out more about the costs you can expect for the different methods of exiting a timeshare here.

    Summary

    Client Protection Group is a timeshare exit company with which you should tread carefully. While Client Protection Group appears to have solid reviews, we are not inclined to use this as a basis for a recommendation, given what little information we could find on their website about either their timeshare cancellation processes or the foundation of the company itself.

    This is not only because of the lack of clarity surrounding the company’s process for cancelling your timeshare, but also because of their request for upfront payments. Upfront payments, while common, are not a timeshare exit company practice that we like to see, and you have options aside from any company that requires them. That is why we prefer to recommend companies that use escrow for payments. You can explore the companies that we strongly recommend on this page, and look into which would be the best fit for your location and situation.

    If you still have questions or want to learn more about this or another company, you can contact us using the form on the right side of the page or initiate the live chat feature. You can also give us a call at 833-416-8796

    Client Protection Group Review Read More »

    Owners Financial Services Review

    Table of Contents

    Owners Financial Services Website

    When Exiting Your Timeshare Comes Into the Picture

    Owners Financial Services Reviews

    Owners Financial Services Cost

    Summary

    Owners Financial Services is a consulting firm that specializes in asset management, and may be able to help you exit a timeshare. They have two locations; the main headquarters are in Norfolk, Virginia, and another satellite office is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The firm offers multiple services and areas of practice and was founded by Michael H. Michaud, Esq., an attorney located in Duluth, Georgia, in 2015. While it has been in operation for six years, Michaud has been licensed for 22 years, and he actively practices, among other areas, business, real estate, and property law.

    Owners Financial Services Website

    The website for Owners Financial Services is clear and easy to navigate, and looks quite professional both in terms of design and content. Regarding the content, there is a great deal of rich information about asset management in general, as well as what to do in different situations of dealing with what the firm calls “toxic assets.” This includes not only timeshares but also second homes, underwater mortgages, and other forms of corporate and personal real estate. In spite of a few dense paragraphs on the Services page, it is mostly easy to read and digest, particularly if you are focused on a very specific problem with a toxic asset.

    A “toxic asset,” in the terms Owners Financial Services outlines on their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, is any asset whose cost of keeping it majorly outweighs the benefits its owner or manager receives. A few key patterns to look out for include required interest payments that do not help build equity, or being unable to mitigate rising management or maintenance costs. Timeshares tend to fall into this category, and as such can be considered a toxic asset that you may be able to get help cancelling through this or another company.

    We found that both the Services page and the FAQ page presented most of the information a potential client would need to make a decision about working with this consulting firm. True to their being consultants, Owners Financial Services uses these pages to delve into the details of specific situations and analyze what your options might be.

    Most promisingly, Owners Financial Services starts off their FAQ with insights on how to spot predatory sales tactics when it comes to assets and properties. These tactics are important to be aware of, as they are typically what lead to people investing in timeshares and vacation properties when they are not truly qualified or do not have the resources to manage them.

    Where Exiting Your Timeshare Comes Into the Picture

    Beyond the issue of sales tactics, Owners Financial Services’ FAQ outlines a few other important details regarding timeshares and exiting them. Most notably, they state that anyone who solicits you to help you sell your timeshare does not have your best interest in mind, as it’s likely that they cannot actually do so. While it is not impossible to sell a timeshare, it is not wise to do so through a party who approaches you first. Not to mention, such companies or parties typically ask for upfront fees, which almost guarantees that they are not truly looking to help you sell. We have pointed this out on our website in several places as well, and it is refreshing to see a consulting firm privy to this truth and willing to provide that information to clients on an initial basis.

    Other situations that they address on their Services page include the following:

    • Regular payments and maintenance fees for businesses and timeshares
    • HOA fees connected with a second home or fractional real estate
    • The effects of timeshares or fractional ownership on credit

    The points about credit that the firm makes here are particularly interesting. We found on their Services page that Owners Financial Services is interested in debunking myths about credit, and helping you figure out how your timeshare investment has affected your credit score. What they present is a contrast between credit score and personal net worth. If a timeshare or similar property does not carry any intrinsic value, a high credit score is virtually insignificant, especially in comparison to the lowered personal net worth that comes from overinvesting in such a property. This aligns with what we’ve presented as well regarding how to exit a timeshare without ruining your credit, and most significantly that it is possible to do so. Working with a reputable timeshare company can mean recovering both your net worth and credit, and it is certainly a positive sign that Owners Financial Services, without making any outright promises, emphasizes the importance of both of these values and speaks to their being reparable.

    The details on this website are backed up by the kinds of experience listed on the About page for the founder. Michaud is noted to have a background in real estate transactions, corporate governance and litigation. Before becoming a solo practitioner, he also practiced litigation and foreclosure defense as part of a firm he opened with colleague H. Scott Basham, Basham & Michaud, LLP.

    Given these areas of expertise, we would be willing to conclude that Owners Financial Services is a firm with a solid foundation for working with people on exiting timeshares, as well as dealing with other difficult situations related to properties and assets.

    Owners Financial Services Reviews

    Owners Financial Services has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and several solely positive reviews from past clients on that page. We found a handful of Google reviews that gave similar feedback to the firm as well. Most of them are from the past few weeks, which may indicate that they are becoming more active and available to more cases.

    Regarding the founding attorney, Michael H. Michaud, Esq., we also found largely positive reviews for his practice, and he has a relatively strong rating on Avvo. He does have one negative review, though it appears to be from a client who actually had a positive experience with Michaud and could not get in touch after the case ended. Since Michaud’s response was professional and reasonable, we would ultimately say this is not a major cause for concern.

    Owners Financial Services Cost

    We did not find any information about consulting fees on the Owners Financial Services website. However, they do note on their Services page that they do not require upfront fees, which is encouraging and a great place to start if you are seeking to work with a consulting firm. We always encourage people to make sure, when looking into exiting a timeshare, that they work with a company that does not require upfront payments and uses escrow. You can learn more about why escrow is important on this page.

    Summary

    Overall, Owners Financial Services seems to be a solid and professional consulting firm, and beyond that, a good source of information about not only timeshares, but other properties and assets as well. Because they are so keyed into what predatory practices look like, encourage mediation rather than litigation when it comes to serious or escalating situations, and are considered a nationwide firm, we would recommend exploring them as an option should you find yourself in any of the circumstances that they outline.

    If you’re interested in discussing whether this or another timeshare exit company could help you in your current situation, feel free to get in touch with us using the live chat option, calling 833-416-8796, or submitting a contact form on the right side of the page.

    Owners Financial Services Review Read More »

    Linx Legal Review

    Table of Contents

    Linx Legal Website Review

    Linx Legal Reviews

    Linx Legal Cost

    Summary

    Linx Legal is a timeshare exit company located in Charlotte, North Carolina, Myrtle Beach South Carolina, and Scottsdale Arizona. They also work remotely and have been in business for eleven years. Their slogan is that “Only the Best is Good Enough”, making hefty claims that they will not stop until they can release you from your unwanted timeshare without the hassle that other companies may put you through. But is Linx Legal the best or are they just good enough? 

    Linx Legal Website Review

    We were immediately impressed by the appearance of the website. The landing page is incredibly professional and in neat colors that won’t distract the eye too much or make the client feel overwhelmed. They make the immediate claim that they are the industry’s premier timeshare debt cancellation company, which is your immediate first impression.

    The more you scroll, you’ll find a small quiz you can take. This part of the landing page does feel a little out of place, but it is at least neatly incorporated into the overall appearance of the website. It seems to be a playful way to initiate contact with them but the contact information below it is in font that doesn’t quite match the rest of the website. It isn’t enough to detract from the rest of the landing page, but it doesn’t quite fit everything else. 

    They have some sections positioned underneath boasting their A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau’s website, as well as their 100% money-back guarantee should you not be released from your contract. Although a money-back guarantee sounds nice, we prefer to work with companies that offer an escrow payment option instead. When you pay with escrow, the exit company does not get paid in full until after the timeshare issue has been resolved. Learn more about escrow and why it’s important here.

    You can also book a consultation or review career opportunities and view testimonials through these links. They also ensure that you will not be foreclosed upon and that they will do whatever they can to take care of you to get the refund you deserve. This is good news because exit companies that simply tell you to stop paying your maintenance fees and let the timeshare go into foreclosure don’t actually do anything at all. You could have stopped payment on your timeshare all on your own.

    Something we don’t often see on many of these sites either is a section specifically dedicated to those who help run and manage the business. There is a detailed description of the Vice President of Linx Legal and what his experience in the industry is so you can get an idea of who you’ll be working with. This information is done in further detail if you click on their ‘Who We Are’ tab. 

    This is a truly unique addition as many of the typical websites we see for timeshare legal aid or exit companies don’t give you a rundown of who you’ll be working with. We get to see a full roster of sixteen individuals who handle everything from marketing to case managing and are given an idea of who they are and what their experience is. This helps potential clients get a feel for the people they’ll be working with and adds credibility, so you don’t feel like you’re simply working with a corporation but more individual people.

    Although it’s nice that this company display’s its employees on its website, we find it suspicious that the company owner is not shown. Upon further research, we found that the company CEO is Rosario Craig Musumeci. A quick Google search for this individual shows that he previously worked as a VP of Sales at Wyndham. This is probably why Mr. Musumeci doesn’t want to appear on his website. It’s not a good look to sell people timeshares and then charge them thousands of dollars to get out of those timeshares later.

    The company also includes a video below their roster that showcases who they are and what they do. It is an animated video that is supposed to give you a basic rundown on what Linx Legal is and how they are going to help you get what you need. It can come across a little cheesy but it does get the point across and is relatively informative. 

    What we also like about their website is their fully-packed ‘What We Do’ section, which on a lot of websites seems to be just filler text. Linx Legal has jam-packed this section with plenty of helpful links to further explain subjects like Timeshare 101, The Five Biggest Lies in Timeshare, Statistics, Scams, and further information on lawyers and cancelling your fees or contract completely. This way potential clients can go and poke around those pages with their questions before they ever have to contact Linx Legal. 

    They even give you access to a step by step process of cancelling your timeshare with multiple vacation rental companies. They don’t seem to want to keep any information from potential clients and are dedicated to answering questions and guiding you through the process before you decide to contact them. They have a separate page to let you know where they work and that they service remotely throughout the United States, but also have three brick and mortar offices so you can come in if you are close by. 

    They assure clients they won’t lie or scam you and that they aren’t a law firm, but they do have attorneys on retainer should they be needed in a legal capacity. It is a bit deceiving that they’d call themselves “Linx Legal” when they’re not actually attorneys though. This will likely get them in trouble with the law down the road.

    You can also look up a good portion of their employees so you can be sure of who you are working with and know that their credentials are legitimate. 

    Overall this seems like a solid website for a solid company, but we don’t like how the company owner hides himself on the website and how the company calls themselves “Linx Legal” when they aren’t actually attorneys.

    Linx Legal Reviews

    The company itself has a 4.9 out of 5 rating on their Better Business Bureau profile and they have 59 total reviews, so there are a solid number of individuals who have given Linx Legal 5 stars. Out of their 59 reviews, only three of them are below 5 stars. 

    One concern is that they have had two complaints filed against them in the last three years, though you can only view one of them on the BBB website. We also see several reviews mention that Linx Legal called them out of the blue (cold called) without them asking to be called. We typically do not like to recommend companies that call you out of the blue. 

    The complaint comes from an unnamed individual who claims that one of the company’s representatives has been spam calling him to try and get him to use their services even though he’s already allegedly refused. He claims he was called ignorant by one of the managers who called back when he asked to be removed from their calling list. One of the representatives of the company responded to this claim with profuse apologies and assured the individual that this employee had allegedly been terminated. 

    The other complaints have not been published in detail on the BBB website so we do not know what they entailed. All that’s known is that the complaints have been dealt with. As for their positive reviews they have a plethora on the BBB website that you can peruse, as even their 4,3, and even 2 star reviews still appear to be professional and positive. 

    All in all it seems Linx Legal handles all of their cases with grace, dignity, and professionalism. 

    Linx Legal Cost

    You can book an initial consultation with them, but it doesn’t mention if this consultation costs or not. The only mildly disappointing thing about Linx Legal’s website is that there are few mentions of payment, which leaves the customer guessing until they can contact one of the company’s representatives. Giving the potential client a run down of what they can expect as far as payment plans and costs go. 

    We do like to recommend that clients go for a company that offers escrow payments as they are the most secure way to ensure your transaction reaches completion without any money being released beforehand. This is the best way to keep your company working for you without charging along the way and making things more expensive. Learn more about escrow and why it’s important here.

    Summary

    If you’re looking for a reliable timeshare exit company with staff you can trust, Linx Legal may certainly be what you’ve been searching for. They have upfront and honest information available on their landing page and give every potential client access to a majority of if not all of who they have on staff. This is a real game-changer as it gives Linx more credibility in comparison to companies that make it hard to track down their employees. 

    You are also given access to a plethora of information on how to be released from contracts held by different resorts and how to avoid being scammed by your timeshare or your exit company. They offer trustworthy and helpful advice to those who are struggling to end contracts and find someone who is willing to advocate for them.

    While it is a little concerning that they’ve had three complaints filed against them to the BBB, they have made efforts to resolve at least one of these issues and are consistently getting positive reviews for their hard work. We also don’t like the use of “Legal” in their brand name or that they don’t seem to offer an escrow payment option.  Other than that, Linx Legal seems to have what we’re looking for in a timeshare exit company as they are upfront, credible, and offer plenty of information so you don’t go into this process blindly. 

    Overall they seem to be a solid company with good values that is simply trying to help timeshare owners reach some form of relief with their contracts. Don’t hesitate to look up their staff on LinkedIn if you’re wanting to see more detailed information about their credentials. 

    Looking for an exit company that offers an escrow payment option? Take a look at our recommended timeshare exit companies here. 

    Linx Legal Review Read More »

    Cavalry Financial Services Review

    Table of Contents

    Cavalry Financial Services Website Review

    Cavalry Financial Services Reviews

    Cavalry Financial Services Cost

    Summary

    Cavalry Financial Services is a timeshare exit company based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They have been in business since late 2019 and are considered a Consumer Advocacy Group that is dedicated to providing customers with solutions to their timeshare problems. They claim to be a leader in the Consumer Advocacy industry but there is little to be seen that backs up those claims. Are they telling the truth, or are they just desperate for a customer base? 

    Cavalry Financial Services Website Review

    Immediately the website leaves little to be desired. Most companies these days will either employ a web designer to craft their site for them, or they’ll use a hosting template like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace to create a site for them. If this site was designed by a web designer, they didn’t work very hard on it.

    The logo and landing page both look cheap and the landing page itself is organized in color blocks with stock photos intermixed. Their contact information is in a font that doesn’t match the rest of the theme or the fonts of the website and it is in bold so it detracts the eye away from everything else. This could be because they want you to call them immediately and the larger and bolder font choice shows you where to look first, but it takes away from the overall appearance of the website more than anything else.

    Another annoying addition to this bolded contact information is shown when you first load the web page and the phone number spins into view as a little effect. This approach may make sense for older folks as they would prefer something more simplistic in design where they can easily locate the contact information and navigate the layout. Even though it may be simplistic for a functional reason, it can also lower the credibility of the company and lead individuals to navigate away. 

    For a company so new in the game, the design is outdated and the information provided isn’t thorough enough to give potential clients an idea of what their credentials are. They make a claim in their ‘About Us’ section to be a leader in consumer advocacy, but with only a year of business under their belts that seems to be a lofty statement. Googling doesn’t give you much more information about who runs Cavalry Financial and their BBB page doesn’t provide anything in the way of who owns the LLC or runs the service. 

    The only bit of information we get about who runs this exit company is on their FAQ page, where they confirm they are not attorneys. So all we really know about them at all is that they are a Consumer Advocacy Group that has been in business since 2019, and there are no testimonials to guide potential clients. 

    They claim that they are a proud member of the U.S Chamber of Commerce but aren’t even accredited by the Better Business Bureau. This definitely raises some immediate red flags that this company is not what they say they are. They do have a contact page where you can fill out a contact form, call them, email them, or even fax them if that’s your preference. 

    Their ‘Services’ page provides some information on how they conduct their business so it is worth a read if clients get that far. They claim that their goal is to completely release their clients from their timeshare contracts and eradicate their back mortgage and maintenance or membership fees. They also offer a free consultation so that you can talk with them about your issues before you hire them. 

    They also claim they tailor-make their solutions for every individual account, but that’s not something that can really be backed up by their website unless you contact them first. We want to warn you against potential scams as this is one of the ways that scammers can lure in unsuspecting victims. The website does not have much to it and urges you to contact them rather than providing any concrete information.

    This is a great way for scammers to get ahold of you and masquerade as a timeshare exit company in order to get your information. You need to be careful every time you contact one of these companies, but especially if there is nothing online to lead you to believe the company is legitimate. Cavalry Financial Services raises those red flags more than once having no LinkedIn presence, BBB profile, or much of anything else to assure the potential client that they aren’t handing their information over to a business that isn’t accredited. 

    This as well as a website that is unpolished and devoid of definitive information or credentials leaves this service lacking.

    Cavalry Financial Services Reviews

    One of the things that really isn’t giving Cavalry Financial Services a gold star, is their startling lack of credentials and testimonials. They have essentially laid out plenty of claims that they are a leader and will be able to get you out of any contract with a timeshare company without any credentials to back them up. When you search Cavalry Financial Services, their office in New Mexico shows up with two google reviews. Further than that, there is little information regarding this service to fully confirm if they are a reliable resource. 

    Googling doesn’t even tell us who owns the company, though they do respond to a single review on their Google Reviews. Both reviews are overall positive, giving the business 5 stars and claiming that they were professional and got them out of their timeshare troubles quickly and efficiently. One of the reviews is from 11 months ago, while the other is just from a month ago so there isn’t any consistent or ongoing knowledge about this company. 

    One individual under the name MomTheBomb1 on Google Reviews claimed he was incredibly grateful to the team at Cavalry Financial for their hard work and dedication to getting him out of his timeshare and clearing his outstanding balances. This is the comment that received the response from supposedly the owner of the business, thanking them for their kind words. This is incredibly odd as it is difficult to get even the smallest hint of who is on staff or who owns this business from simple research. 

    The more recent review under the name of Rick Powell claims they were skeptical at first because they had been mistreated by Timeshare Exit Companies before. Allegedly Cavalry Financial managed to do what every company thus far hadn’t been able to accomplish and got them out of their timeshare quickly and efficiently. 

    Overall this spread of reviews speaks positively of the company but it seems so out of place for a company that has so little known about them online. 

    Cavalry Financial Services Cost

    It isn’t mentioned on their website how much their services cost, or how they conduct their payment. This is another red flag as you want details about if your exit company is going to do upfront payment or escrow payment. We highly recommend going with a company that offers escrow payment so you don’t have to worry about being scammed out of your money.

    They do offer that initial free consultation so if you do decide to inquire, you’ll want to ask about their costs and payment plans upfront so there are no surprises once you get involved. If you are really concerned and aren’t sure you want to go with a company that doesn’t offer their fees and payment information initially, you may want to keep searching. 

    Summary

    If we are going to be really honest about how much faith we have in this company, it isn’t much. The website leaves a lot to be desired and hasn’t been crafted in a way that will draw in potential clients. With the lack of information about the team or the owner of the group, you aren’t given the appearance that this company is legitimate. 

    The copy of their website also offers very little in the way of actual information on what they do to help you get out of your timeshare contracts and waive outstanding balances. You get a little information, essentially stating that they’ll work with you as soon as you contact them, meaning you open yourself up to possible repeated contact even if you don’t want to work with them after the initial consultation. This doesn’t bode well for timeshare owners who are already struggling to deal with their shady timeshare management. 

    If you’re looking for trustworthiness and reliability there are no guarantees here that can be backed up by more than two Google reviews and the claims they make on their website. We recommend looking into a service that ensures the client there are dedicated and knowledgeable individuals that will handle each case. If you’re not going with an attorney, or an attorney-based service, an exit company that has solid reviews and more official information from the Better Business Bureau will certainly offer more to those struggling with a timeshare than Cavalry Financial Services.

    Cavalry Financial Services Review Read More »

    America’s Consumer Advocacy Group Review

    Table of Contents

    Website Review

    ACA Group Reviews

    ACA Group Cost

    Summary

    America’s Consumer Advocacy Group is a nonprofit attorney based service that claims to help Americans release themselves from their timeshare contracts. They have been in this business for eleven years and operate out of Glendale California, but do offer remote services. They claim their mission is to help their clients achieve complete freedom from the binds of their timeshares, but can they really hold up to that mission statement? 

    Website Review

    Right away their website gives you a sense of trustworthiness. Immediately you’re met with calming colors and well-placed and edited photographs that move well with the rest of the landing page. They mention right off the bat that they are an attorney-based service so you know what you’re getting immediately. All of their tabs are neatly placed at the top of the screen and they minimize but don’t disappear entirely as you continue to scroll, so you can access them at any time. 

    The landing page offers up a free consultation as well as a promise of transparency and 24/7 service so you can ask questions whenever you have them. If you scroll further down, you’ll find their mission which claims the group is A+ rated by the BBB and that they have canceled over $30 million in debt related to timeshares for their customers in 2019 alone. They continue to offer links and lead aways to call or message them so you can do so at your leisure. 

    You also don’t have to hunt for customer testimonials as they offer a few upfront from satisfied clients that claim real lawyers helped them cancel their timeshare debt quickly and efficiently. While these claims cannot be fully validated, they certainly set the tone for the landing page and add to the group’s credibility in doing what they say they’re going to do. These testimonials are also honest, claiming the group is not cheap to work with, but they are far more affordable and trustworthy than other company’s offering exit help. 

    Their “About Us” page is a little lacking, essentially restating his mission statement and making claims that client satisfaction is their top priority. We would have liked to see more about the lawyers who allegedly work for the group and more about their founder, but you won’t find that on this page. They do claim that you won’t have to pay them anything if in their consultation they find you aren’t eligible for cancellation, which is a bit more comforting. 

    You’ll also find their FAQ page, which is nice to see on a timeshare exit website as it helps with education and tackles those questions that timeshare owners might have but have no way to access. Their Testimonials page is short and sweet and only has a handful of happy customer reviews as they had some longer ones available on their landing page. 

    A refreshing addition to this group’s website is their “How it Works” page that details how exactly they go about their process of releasing you from your timeshare obligation. They make a point to assure every potential client that they won’t waste your time or money and will ensure you are pre-qualified and eligible for cancellation before they take your case. They then state you can schedule a free consultation to discuss your individual case and discuss your options. If you’re sure you want to work with them, you’ll be updated monthly on their progress. They want to minimize your stress and maximize the chances for your financial freedom from your timeshare contract. 

    After laying out all of that information you can look further to their privacy policy page so you know everything they collect and what to expect. Overall their website was helpful and the only thing we found lacking was any mention of Escrow payment options. We do highly recommend working with a team that provides Escrow payment for your safety and comfort, but they do promise that they won’t take any money unless they are sure you qualify for cancellation. 

    ACA Group Reviews

    You won’t find their testimonials lacking in any way as you can find them in a multitude of places. They offer up consumer testimonials immediately on their landing page and you can also find them on the Great Nonprofits website, the BBB website, and Google Reviews. In all of our searching, we were only able to find a single one-star review from Robert who claims that the group contacts him frequently asking about helping him exit his timeshare when he never contacted them in the first place. 

    Gail gives a 5-star testimonial claiming she is free at last and that her attorneys were top-notch. Every review on the BBB website has similar claims that the group was attentive, transparent, and able to get the job done in a timely manner. Communication is important when it comes to choosing the right timeshare exit company, and ACA Group seems to really follow through on their mission statement that the client comes first.

    If you’re looking for more in-depth reviews, you’ll want to look at the Great Nonprofits website, where you’ll find 47 detailed accounts of the ACA Group’s advocacy efforts for timeshare exit relief. Every claim details that they are reliable, honest, and reputable so you don’t have to worry about who you’re working with. They want to help you work on your financial future, so they work hard to give you that freedom and relief from your timeshare contracts. 

    A little bit of extra googling will come up with nothing but positive reviews as well, so it can be difficult to know where this group might be lacking or if they have any specific issues that clients may have found troubling or frustrating. 

    These testimonials, while largely all positive, are not without their flaws. They do sometimes get repetitive or can be a bit generic, so you aren’t sure whether they are entirely trustworthy. Overall though they seem to be a trustworthy and honest company that’s the main goal is to help give you financial freedom. 

    ACA Group Cost

    This is where it can get a little bit frustrating. The only clues we are given to how much this service will cost you are in a few little reviews that claim they aren’t cheap but they are worth the price, or more affordable than most comparable services out there. They do claim that they won’t take any money upfront unless they can establish that you have a case for cancellation. 

    This can be comforting if you’re worried about handing off a large down payment and then not hearing anything back from your exit company about progress. We truly advocate for those seeking relief from their timeshare contracts to consult every exit company before they commit. Thankfully the ACA Group offers a free consultation so you should be able to get an upfront answer about costs and what you can expect as far as results. 

    Summary

    The ACA Group seems overwhelmingly positive with their dozens of 5-star reviews and well put together website. You won’t have any trouble navigating their site and getting a hold of a team member who can help you start your journey to financial freedom. While they don’t have any upfront information about costs, they do offer free consultations and a guarantee of no money spent before they can be sure you qualify for cancellation. 

    If you’re looking for an exit company that is also fronted by trustworthy individuals, you’ll find their promise of being an attorney-run service to be a strong identifier of their credibility. The only issue we can really find with their credit status is an alert on the BBB website that they may be missing proper licensing by the State Bar of California, but that was as of 2017. Things have possibly been updated in that time so it is important to do your research and check with the BBB and the group for any further information. 

    It can be hard to find a company you can trust to help you free yourself from the binding ties of your timeshare, but the ACA Group looks like a top contender for the job. They have glowing reviews from satisfied clients and available contact information so you can get all the information you need from wherever you are in the country. 

    It also helps that in times like these where we are still struggling with COVID-19 that they offer remote services so you aren’t limited to California residency in order to utilize their services. The ACA Group is overall an incredibly viable option to help you exit your timeshare commitments. If you’re looking for further information you can feel free to contact them or keep up to date with their website for any changes. 

    Not only do they have 11 years in the business, but they have enough satisfactory reviews to buoy them to the top of the heap for timeshare exit companies to consider. You aren’t likely to be disappointed with this choice. 

    America’s Consumer Advocacy Group Review Read More »

    Aaronson Law Firm Review

    Table of Contents

    Website Review

    Aaronson Law Firm Reviews

    Aaronson Cost

    Summary

    The Aaronson Law Firm is based in Longwood Florida, and they’ve been in business since 2005 helping clients get out of their timeshare commitments. The Aaronson firm claims to have over twenty-five years of collective experience handling all manner of cases, including timeshare disputes. But do they actually handle business like they say they will? 

    Website Review

    The general design of the website is easy to navigate. Everything is explicitly labeled and you can find your way to the information without having to hunt for it. That said, the landing page is a little bit cluttered and loud with so many photos, colors, and contrasting fonts. The wording of the subject matter is also clunky and while it is packed with information, it doesn’t flow well for concise reading. 

    There is no concise answer to be found on the website on if they offer escrow payments, which isn’t very comforting. A company that offers escrow payments is far preferable to one offering 100% money-back guarantees because it ensures that your exit company or the firm handling your case is held accountable. Having your money in escrow assures that your timeshare will be completely cancelled before any payment is released to the company or firm. 

    From what can be found on the website there is no concise answer as to if they offer either option. They say they do offer credit protection and the initial consultation is free, so those are some added benefits. 

    They claim they file an RPC and attach it to a civil complaint so the timeshare developer will be more willing to cancel your timeshare agreement rather than draw it out into a full legal case. They do not mention that you should contact the timeshare developer yourself before contacting the firm, which is highly recommended. Talking to the developer first may possibly help as they might be willing to let you go from the agreement without the need to get an exit company or firm involved at all. 

    One of the benefits of Aaronson Law Firm is that they use trained lawyers to help get you out of your agreement. Some exit companies will just write letters and send complaints on your behalf, but having a lawyer on your side while trying to negotiate the cancellation of your timeshare can make the process so much easier. 

    Aaronson also earns points in the trustworthy category as they are run by legitimate lawyers. The firm was started and is operated by Austin N. Aaronson, Esq., Kay Yi Aaronson, Thomas Acey, Esq., and Daniel F. Chwalisz II. A quick Google search will let you know that they are respected in the industry and have no criminal background. Some of these companies or firms will be made up of ex-cons so you have to be careful not to let yourself be drawn in by them without doing your research first. 

    Thankfully every lawyer employed by the Aaronson firm has been thoroughly vetted and they all have impressive credentials under their belts. The only individual on staff who is not a lawyer is Kay Yi Aaronson and she helps manage the firm as her experience in owning and managing is extensive. The other three lawyers on staff have years of experience as practicing lawyers and law clerks. 

    Aaronson Law Firm Reviews

    There have been complaints filed about the firm in the past three years according to the Better Business Bureau. The initial complaint details that the firm allegedly falsely advertised their services, stating that the client’s money was taken but nothing was done to get them out of their timeshare. The client claims that they had attempted to reach out for further resolution to their case but were met with unanswered emails and a statement that the firm could not “force” the timeshare company to let them out of their contract. 

    The firm responded with apologies on the public forum about their lapse in communication with the client. They mentioned they are specifically a law office and not a timeshare exit team but that they wanted to advocate for the couple as they were tricked into signing legal documentation. 

    Another complaint was posted from a client who claims that the law firm has allegedly been working with them for two years to exit their timeshare contract and no progress has been made. They claimed they paid over $6,000 to work with the firm and have their contracts with the timeshare company terminated but communication from the firm has been poor and the contracts remain open. The firm responded with a poor apology and the client responded that they were contacted privately about the matter and asked to rescind the post on the BBB website in exchange for reimbursement of half of the legal costs. 

    This is not the kind of review we want to see from clients so we can see that this firm has some issues with client satisfaction. Though we cannot verify any of these claims. This could largely be due to the fact that they are a law firm that specializes in multiple forms of litigation and not a timeshare exit company proper. Like most law firms and companies, they do have reviews posted up on their website, but they are only positive ones. 

    They frame each of these reviews with a positive standout phrase from each of the reviews like very trustworthy, honest from the beginning, and outstanding service. The Aaronson Law Firm wants to drive home that they are an honest group that gets the job done when others might not be able to. If you want to go digging for some more honest customer reviews you’ll have to search a little deeper. 

    A site called LawyerRatingz had a review of the Aaronson Law Firm from a client who came to them for real estate law help. They claim that Aaronson allegedly did not know what he was doing and tried to ask for more money without handling the problem. Lawyers.com, however, has nothing but 5-star reviews that claim Aaronson and his team are the lawyers to trust when it comes to getting out of a timeshare. 

    If you search through their google reviews you’ll find they have 4.7 stars as most of their reviews are 5 stars rated with a few 1-star reviews sprinkled in. The complaints from those are mostly pertaining to their firm being ineffective in releasing them from their timeshare contracts as well as lack of communication. 

    All in all the reviews of this firm seem to be generally positive, but the few poor reviews do show you have to be wary upon hiring. 

    Aaronson Law Firm Cost

    Nothing is specifically mentioned on their website to give you an idea of their pricing, but that seems to be the run of the mill for most firms and exit companies. Most firms won’t talk about their pricing upfront, but you can get a little bit of an idea of how steep or affordable they are from their client testimonials. 

    One testimonial in particular mentions that the fees are fair and that the knowledge and help the firm will give you is worth the price of hiring them. Another says that they had spoken with a different company who said that it would cost them $30,000 for consulting upfront, but that The Aaronson Law Firm was more akin to what they had budgeted for. This gives us an idea that their firm is reasonable and won’t bleed you dry for consulting or further help. 

    Summary

    If you’re looking for a law firm instead of an exit company, the Aaronson Law Firm isn’t a bad choice. They specialize in timeshare exit litigation and they have a team of accredited lawyers so you know they have experience behind them. They are also well-placed as they are in the absolute centerfold of timeshare properties in Longwood so they have focused their business around helping individuals get out of their contracts. 

    Clients claim they are brutally honest but they are trustworthy and forceful when it comes to working with the companies that are trapping you in a timeshare. When negotiating with timeshare companies you need to be forceful and dedicated to getting the job done. It is hard to get individuals released from these contracts so it is important that your exit company or law firm has your back. 

    The Aaronson Firm has client testimonials that confirm they are friendly and helpful and have the drive to do the right thing for their clients. While there are some worrying reviews that say they lack effective communication and they make claims upfront to help but don’t follow through, the positive reviews outweigh the negative. As with any firm or exit company you should thoroughly vet them before going forward with your case. 

    Though the negative reviews mention that they take a lot of time with your case, others say their contracts were rescinded in less than six months so it looks like it goes by individual case.

    Overall they seem to be a trustworthy firm that has been doing this for years so you aren’t likely to be disappointed. 

    Aaronson Law Firm Review Read More »

    Resort Advisory Group Review

    Table of Contents

    7 Step Process

    Diamond Lawsuit vs Resort Advisory Group

    Resort Advisory Group Reviews

    Resort Advisory Group Cost

    Resort Advisory Group Process Time

    Concluding Thoughts

    Resort Advisory Group located in Irvine, California advertises as a full-service advocacy group that claims to have a proven track record of resolving unwanted timeshare contracts legally and quickly.

    Once past the business’s website’s flashy intro video which shows a very active, bustling office, a visitor can find the necessary information about the company and the services offered. Additionally, the company provides a brief FAQ section which elaborates on some of the specifics of their services.

    Another feature of the website is a calculator with a headline asking if you were informed of your timeshare’s actual cost which alludes to their business model of helping timeshare owners cancel their timeshares based on fraudulent misrepresentations during the sales process.

    7 Step Process

    Resort Advisory Groups explains the lifecycle of consultation through the final step of asking clients for an honest testimonial in their “7- step process”.

    Step 1

    The first step is completing a form to start the initial free no-obligation consultation which is industry standard.

    Step 2

    An advisor will contact the potential client to review their timeshare contract. During this step, Resort Advisory Group will begin to gather all necessary information to help them understand the contract and any uniqueness of the case. The company will also provide a booklet explaining the process and what would be needed to complete a proper assessment. This shows a goodwill effort on behalf of Resort Advisory Group to carefully review each potential client’s case in detail before working with a potential client, which appears a favorable sign towards their legitimacy and credibility.

    Step 3

    Next, the advisor will prepare a file for your case advisor. We are assuming the case advisor is a timeshare attorney, although this is not clearly stated on their website. While Resort Advisory Group does not claim to be a law firm, the company states that a timeshare Attorney and a Resort Advisory Group representative will contact a potential client to understand more about their case.

    In other sections of the site, the company only mentions an “advisory” or “case advisor”, so this can be confusing for the average visitor to their site.

    It is a possibility that the attorneys are part of their professional staff or a third-party relationship, however this is not made clear on the website.

    Step 4

    Step 4 is when the actual “case advisor” contacts you to review your case and discuss the exit plan.

    Step 5

    Step 5 is considered complete once your case advisory sends you a service agreement that allows their team of professional to start the process of resolving your unwanted time share contract. The service agreement will describe any fees required to resolve your case.

    The company also offers “fee escrow services” which means Resort Advisory Group will not get paid unless the company successfully relieves the client of all timeshare liability.

    In other words, the company is not paid in full until services are successfully rendered.

    Step 6

    Step 6 is concluded upon successful resolution which Resort Advisory Group will provide a letter to the client from the developer that relieves them of all further liability.

    Step 7

    The final step is when the Resort Advisory Group will ask for an honest testimonial.

    Diamond Lawsuit vs Resort Advisory Group

    Through our search, we were able to locate a news story dated January 21, 2021 about a pending lawsuit involving Diamond Resorts and Resort Advisory Group alleging false advertising. During Diamond’s discovery process it looks like the company was able to dig up a concerning note in the Resort Advisory Group customer relationship management system. See “Figure 1” below:

    We here at TimeshareExitCompanies.com never recommend working with exit companies that simply tell you to stop paying your maintenance fees in order to achieve a successful “exit” from your timeshare. If you stop paying your maintenance fees, your timeshare will likely go into foreclosure and your credit score will likely drop significantly.

    Telling a timeshare owner to stop paying their maintenance fees to achieve an exit from their timeshare isn’t a service. You could have done that all on your own without the help of a timeshare exit company. This is the same technique that Timeshare Exit Team was using that we have criticized in the past.

    Resort Advisory Group Reviews

    Customer testimonials are not easily found on the website.

    There is a list of written customer testimonials on the home page in the form of a sliding banner which could be easily missed while reviewing other content on their website.

    Like most companies, you would not expect to find any negative reviews posted on the company website, so we reviewed other sites including the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to gain more information about this company’s practices and services.

    As stated on the website, the company has a BBB rating of A+ which is obviously, favorable.

    Resort Advisory Group had 8 complaints between the years of 2018 and 2021 and a total of 22 reviews.

    Here is a recent review from January, 2021:

    Five of the complaints were specific to the products and services provided by Resort Advisory Group.

    The Resort Advisory Group team appears to be very involved in the customer complaint resolution process as you will see the company responded via the BBB to any customer complaint. Of course, this is a requirement to maintain a good BBB rating however we have seen other timeshare exit companies completely ignore their current and former client posts on the BBB.

    At the time of our review, Google has provided a 4.3-star rating, out of 5 stars with 32 reviews. Overall positive comments were related to transparency, quick communication, and no pushy sales techniques.

    One of their reviews was allegedly written by a former employee who called the environment toxic and that Google reviews are mostly positive as the company provides gift cards to client’s for positive reviews. We of course, are not able to verify this claim.

    Most former employees will use a site called Glassdoor.com to air their workplace grievances so we found it to be odd that a former employee would use Google. Resort Advisory Group does not seem to have a profile Glassdoor.com so are not able to find any additional reviews about the company’s workplace practices, company size or reviews.

    Resort Advisory Group Cost

    Resort Advisory Group does not provide a flat cost since each case is unique which is in line with other timeshare exit companies.

    Instead, the company conducts due diligence to understand all aspects of the potential client’s contract and other facts before determining a cost which is a fair practice.

    In the news article we located regarding Diamond Resorts, the article mentions costs of up to $70,000 and beyond. See “Figure 2” below:

    Resort Advisory Group Process Time

    The company website mentions a timeframe of 6 and 12 months. We could not locate any reviews that clearly mentioned a time frame.

    We encourage all our readers to read through reviews posted about their potential timeshare exit company so you can learn more about their practices.

    Concluding Thoughts

    It is fair to assume that someone who is trying to dissolve their timeshare contract would be a skeptic of any company, so this is the mindset we adopt when conducting a review of a timeshare cancellation company.

    Overall, while their steps seemed to be clearly outlined, the full story of Resort Advisory Group is not fully depicted.

    According to the Better Business Bureau, Resort Advisory Group was formed in 2011 and has been accredited since 2016.

    Resort Advisory Group does not seem to have a large web presence like most companies that have been in business for almost a decade, so it is difficult to learn more about this company and who are the people behind the bustling office scene as depicted on their business website.

    Since we were not able to easily locate an “About Us” section on their website, we thought we would find more information on LinkedIn. The Resort Advisory Group’s LinkedIn profile shows a company size of 15 employees with only a few of the employees with full profiles including pictures. It is hard to know who exactly works for the company and what type of experience the team has. Do they truly have the “more than 50 years of combined experience of working in the timeshare industry” as their site states?

    The Resort Advisory Group’s website also provides a dedicated section to “Credit Advocacy” which advertises “US Credit Bureau”, a credit repair service. At first, this seems like it would make sense to use this type of service especially if the timeshare owner is experiencing financial duress due to their timeshare commitments and perhaps a goodwill gesture offered by Resort Advisory Group. However, if Resort Advisory Group will be getting you out of your timeshare, why would a credit repair service be needed?

    If you decide to explore working with this company, we would encourage you to educate yourself as much as possible and be prepared with questions when you contact them for your free “no-obligation” consultation.

    We review timeshare cancellation companies and help owners avoid scams.

    We like to recommend working with a timeshare exit company that uses a low up-front fee escrow payment option that allows service charges to first be paid to a third-party holding account rather than the timeshare exit company

    With a low up-front fee escrow payment option, the payment is only released to the timeshare exit business upon the successful cancellation of the client’s timeshare contract, preventing the company from disappearing with a customer’s money.

    Using such a payment option is the best way to ensure protection from scams

    Learn more about escrow and why you should care here.

    If you still have questions about getting rid of your timeshare, contact us through live chat, submit a contact form on the right side of the page or give us a call at 833-416-8796.

    Resort Advisory Group Review Read More »

    Newton Group Transfers Review

    Table of Contents

    An Analysis of Newton Group’s Website

    Newton Group Transfer Reviews

    How Long is the Newton Group Process?

    Newton Group Transfers Cost for Services

    Newton Group Transfers Connection with Wyndham

    Summary

    Newton Group or sometimes referred to as Newton Group Transfers is a timeshare exit company that first started providing exit services in 2005. From 2005 and until it became a fully independent in 2013, the company operated under the umbrella of The Newton Group ESA which is a software company that specializes in customer relationship management (CRM) software.

    Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Newton Group also has a location in Chandler, Arizona. As a third “part” of this company, Newton Group also co-founded a law firm called DC Law Firm which only focuses on timeshare exits legal issues. Gordon Newton is the president and co-founder while Theo Panopoulos is the CEO of Newton Group.

    An Analysis of Newton Group’s Website

    First impression of the Newton Group’s website is that it is full of information and activity. The main visual on the homepage is a montage of client testimonial videos that slowly zooms out as the number of video testimonials increase. The montage is complimented by a moving ticker at the bottom of the home page which displays several (positive) news headlines involving the company.

    Along the top of the page, there are various claims such as “#1 Trusted Name in Timeshare Exit” and “The Nation’s Longest Standing Timeshare Exit Company Helping Thousands over 15 Years”. Scrolling down the page, we see additional statements supporting these two claims including a carousel of clickable customer testimonials and links to off-site reviews such as Google, BBB, TrustPilot, SoTellUs and even Glassdoor.

    For our readers who are not familiar with Glassdoor, Glassdoor is a website that publishes jobs, employee reviews and other information about companies that are specifically employee related, not customer related. We like to read through Glassdoor reviews when we are not able to find much about the people or the company as the reviews help provide insight as to how the company treats their employees and sometimes customers. We find it refreshing to see Newton Group provide the link which shows transparency.

    Following the customer testimonial section, we see a block of logos belonging to AARP, FOX, CBS and other news sites along with a video titled “Newton Group Media Highlight Reel” which is a 7.5-minute video interview with Gordon Newton on “Tampa Bay’s Morning Blend”.

    The home page was certainly designed to establish instant credibility and trust with potential clients. Some may also view it as “brag sheet” of sorts. Newton Group understands that most visitors to the company website are potential victims of scams, so the company has taken extra steps to alleviate any concerns about the company.

    After the “Home Page”, we toured the “Company” page accessible under the top navigation and under “About” to see if we can learn more about who works on the Newton Group Team. We did not find the standard page that lists faces, titles, and names like we prefer. What we did find was a video that highlighted a couple of employees including Gordan and Theo and others discussing some of their core values and company culture. It is also reinforced that the people who work for the company truly wants clients to trust them. While we did not see the standard “list”, we did get to see and hear a few of the company’s employees speak.

    There are additional pages under the “About” navigation that provides information on the law firm, consumer guide, newsroom, blog, a page dedicated to credentials and a page describing the company’s services which we summarized and outlined below:

    • You receive a personalized, no obligation timeshare exit plan
    • The company offers 2 services but one flat fee. The two services are exit service(s) and personal legal representation.
    • Constant honest, communication
    • A safe and legal end to your timeshare meaning attorneys will work on your behalf acting solely in your best interest.

    An interesting website feature that caught our eye was a “guest login” link that appears to provide access to a webinar in which you would enter a code to view and a way to safely and securely review and sign documents that the company has prepared for you.

    Lastly, we explored the “Reviews” section which include customer and employee testimonials. Both pages are great especially the “customer testimonials” as the reviews appear to populate in real time, so you do not have to leave the company website to read reviews.

    Except, they are not populated in real time but are instead, screen grabs of the reviews from the various platforms. Many are not current although the timestamp of the review may state, “an hour ago”.…regardless, we did verify that the reviews are actual reviews.

    The company also added a few video testimonials to the page. The other section under “Reviews” is the “employee testimonial” page which features a video and block quotes from actual employees. This is not something we normally see on a timeshare exit company website.

    Overall, the website is great. Informative and utilizes a modern design.

    Regarding overall web presence, Newton Group has a well populated YouTube Channel, an active Facebook page. We did a “spot check” on Gordon and Theo and other than locating a LinkedIn profile for them, we did not find anything of significance that wasn’t already listed within the company website.

    Newton Group Transfers Reviews

    While you can read many of the reviews on the company website, we also explored “off-site” reviews to discover additional information about Newton Group.

    As of 3/4/2021, Google shows a 4.5 star out of 5 rating for their Chandler location based on 72 reviews. We did not locate a set of Google reviews for Michigan. We looked at their lowest ratings first which are rated 1 star each and do appear to be fake just as Newton Group stated. The lowest ratings also happen to be the most recent.

    One of the company’s highest rating was provided by Tom Rinker who also shared a picture and shared the same review on another reviewing site, “SoTellUs”.

    The Newton Group holds a 4.8 star rating out of 5 on TrustPilot and has 393 reviews where 84% of those reviews are positive. We reviewed the negative reviews first and did not find too many where the company responded to the reviews. Not sure why as most timeshare exit companies make every effort to respond to clients especially when the review is negative.

    The review below is from August 2020 and implies that Newton Group may not have been fully transparent about the company’s services.

    It appears Mark was trading his timeshare for vacation ownership and then paid a fee upfront to another company to list his timeshare. We are not sure which other company he is referring to and we did not see any other reviews that mentioned transferring and listing of timeshares. Newton Group clearly states on the website that the company is not a listing or exchange company. Unfortunately, Newton Group has not responded to the review as of 3/4/2021 so we do not have more information to share.

    The Better Business Bureau (BBB) which accredited the company in 2011, currently shows Newton Group has a 4.75 star rating out of 5 with 233 review and 32 complaints closed in the past 3 years.

    Here is a 5-star review from 11/2020 where it seems like Newton Group reached out to the customer to discuss exiting their timeshare.

    We wonder if the seminar Yasmin mentions is the “webinar” which can be viewed after logging into the website? Sounds like whatever was discussed in the seminar (or webinar) eased Yasmin’s suspicions about Newton Group and Yasmin was able to successfully exit her timeshare.

    While the company does have a Facebook page for the business, the Facebook page is not configured to collect reviews.

    As you can see, ratings are overall good.

    How Long is the Newton Group Process?

    Like many other timeshare exit companies, the company does not post a specific timeframe on the website so we scoured some reviews to see if we can discover additional information that we can offer as a guideline. You may have noticed that Yasmin in the BBB review above mentioned a time frame of a year and half. Other reviews mention that Newton Group worked in a “timely manner” while others mentioned time frames between 3 months to 2 years.

    Every case is different so it would be difficult for any timeshare exit company to provide a time range for the client. Be wary of any timeshare exit company that does so.

    Newton Group Transfers Cost for Services

    There is no mention of cost on the company website, but some former client reviews mention the costs of “4 years of maintenance fees” and refer to payments as “initial” which equates to “up front” costs.

    We encourage you to read through the reviews to gain more insight and understand that every case is different so while you may see mentions of specific costs, use the information as a guideline only.

    Newton Group Transfers Connection with Wyndham

    Back on 3/1/2021 we spoke with a Wyndham timeshare owner on Live Chat that was asking questions about Newton Group Transfers’ services. This customer mentioned that they had spoken to the Wyndham Ovation department and was referred to Newton Group Transfers from Wyndham. This struck as odd because the Wyndham Ovation department is supposed to be how Wyndham owners can “deed back” or “give back” their timeshare directly to Wyndham.

    At this time, we’re unable to clarify why Wyndham was referring its timeshare owners to Newton Group, but it could be a good sign that Newton Group has some sort of inventory recovery program set up with Wyndham. If this is true, it would mean that Newton Group may be a good option for Wyndham timeshare owners who are unable to give back their timeshare to Wyndham for one reason or another.

    Newton Group Concluding Thoughts

    While Newton Group appears legitimate and provide great services to the company’s clients, we see in the multiple reviews that the company does ask for fees up-front.  In all fairness, we do not see any language on the company website that implies a “satisfaction guarantee” or “a refund of money”.

    We like to recommend timeshare exit companies that offer an escrow payment option, so the exit company is not paid in full until after the timeshare is cancelled. No money is released to the timeshare exit company until the successful termination of the client’s timeshare contract. Learn more about escrow and why you should care here.

    If you want to find out more about low up-front fee escrow payment options or timeshare exit companies, engage in our live chat or fill out our contact form.

    Newton Group Transfers Review Read More »

    OUR GOAL

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    Always contact your resort or timeshare developer first before contacting a timeshare exit company. Some have exit programs of their own that can assist you with a timeshare cancellation

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