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Search Results for: timeshare scam

Can You Get Rid of an El Cid Timeshare?

Table of Contents

El Cid Reviews and Compaints

El Cid Reviews Exit Program

Selling El Cid Timeshare on the Resale Market

Avoiding Timesahre Resale Scams

Summary

El Cid Vacations Club and El Cid Resorts are timeshare companies located in Mexico and owned by RCI, the biggest timeshare company in the world. They own several properties in Mazatlán, Cancún-Riviera Maya, and Cozumel. 

Owning a timeshare in any one of these storied locations can be satisfying for a little while, but you still may be wondering if it’s possible to get rid of El Cid timeshare. There are several reasons you could be in this position. Many people who want to sell or cancel their timeshares do so because of high fees, unexpected property maintenance needs, or consistent bookings that keep them from ever really getting to take a vacation. 

This is often the case when it comes to El Cid Vacations Club and El Cid Resorts. In fact, when we looked into this timeshare company, we actually found more serious complaints and concerns. 

A quick Google search will show you that people seek to cancel El Cid timeshare because it is very much a bait-and-switch operation. Most of these unsatisfied customers have called El Cid Vacations Club and El Cid Resorts a scam. There aren’t Google reviews to speak of, nor do they have a BBB page, but their 3 stars on ComplaintsBoard with 41% of all claims remaining unresolved is just a snapshot of what these issues are like. In addition, their parent company RCI has 1.5 stars out of 5 on ConsumerAffairs, which speaks to their management overall.

El Cid Reviews and Complaints

 

One standout review from ComplaintsBoard said: 

  • “Many, many times over the last weeks and months we have spoken with, written to, and sent tracked letters to, various people who have not been able or willing to be truthful and take responsibility for the lies, misrepresentations, omissions of the salesmen who induced us to make this purchase. Stories have changed the further away we got from the date of purchase. … You are dishonest and lie about the benefits available to owners. We don’t imagine that we are the only ones to have been scammed by you in the past. The sale was done fraudulently and as such is invalid.”

Here are a few others from a website called Pissed Consumer, where El Cid has a 2-star rating: 

  • “They take away your points you obviously can’t use during the pandemic but still harass you for your maintenance fee.” 
  • “This is the 3rd email to this company who refuses to even response [sic] about it and continue to try to collect: We are going to Profeco in Mexico with this scam. … I have sent your company multiple emails and a Letter, and you guys refuse to respond and continue to ignore me and my problem. YOUR COMPANY ILLEGALLY LIED TO US to GET US TO PURCHASE THIS. Not only is this illegal in the United States, but it is also unlawful in Mexico. You guys did not buy our other timeshare as promised in order for us to be able to afford this. You lied. This is an invalid contract, and we demand you to return our funds you illegally retained. You guys have practically stolen $30,000 US dollars from us for NO VACATIONS.” 

Reviews from a website called Defaulters and comments on the forum for Elliott.org speak to similar relationships between customers and the company. Essentially, El Cid sales representatives use high-pressure sales tactics to push people into putting down deposits or making large payments that they promise will get them points, perks, and time at supposedly gorgeous properties. They then find that they cannot access these benefits without paying even more, or that the properties are not nearly what they were told they’d be. 

So if you’re trying to get rid of El Cid timeshare you’re definitely not alone. There are a few things you can do to try and exit this property you’ve been unfairly saddled with.

El Cid Official Exit Program

 

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, El Cid Resorts (but not Vacations Club) developed a new cancellation policy, which is available on their website. They claim that these are more flexible than they were previously. They are fairly limited, though, in that these guidelines don’t necessarily speak to timeshare cancellation or deedback programs. 

As far as an official exit program, we found a few comments on the Elliot.org board that spoke to the terms of their contracts: “We understand we can exchange our El Cid Vacations Club Points with RCI Affiliated Resorts Worldwide.” Of course, if you check that RCI ConsumerAffairs page that we noted above, you’ll find that this is not typically the case.

Selling El Cid Timeshare on the Resale Market

 

Since El Cid Resorts and El Cid Vacations Club do not appear to hold true to their contractual claims in most cases, looking into different avenues to exit your timeshare is probably the best idea in your situation. You may be able to try selling your El Cid timeshare on the resale market. Typically this is more feasible if you do not owe a mortgage. Our recommendations are the following low-cost resale platforms for anyone looking to get out of El Cid timeshare:

  • Craigslist (free)
  • Ebay ($50)
  • Myresortnetwork.com ($34.95)
  • tug2.com ($15/year membership)
  • Redweek.com ($59.99 – $125)

Finding a buyer on one of these platforms on your own can save you the cost of hiring a timeshare resale broker. That said, you will have to figure out how to transfer the timeshare to the buyer on your own, which can be challenging. 

Using a licensed timeshare broker instead can be an easier and less stressful option. A broker will do the work of finding a buyer for you. However, they will likely take about 50% of the final sales price as commission.

Avoiding Timeshare Resalae Scams

 

Before going down the road of selling your timeshare, be sure to look out for companies that say they will charge you an upfront fee of any kind. Generally, companies like this will say they will post your timeshare on their website and “advertise” it until they find a buyer. This is little more than a scam, because once your timeshare gets posted on their website, it’ll just be lumped in with hundreds or thousands of other properties that get little to no views or clicks, and certainly have no interested buyers. 

Either a licensed timeshare broker, one of the websites we linked to above, or a reputable timeshare exit company will be a far better option when you want to cancel El Cid timeshare. Always be sure to check a timeshare broker’s licensing before you start working them, though.

Summary

 

While it may seem impossible to break free from a timeshare company with fraudulent practices like El Cid, it isn’t — there are reputable exit companies out there that can help you sort out your situation. We created this website with this in mind, and prioritize reviewing timeshare exit companies that treat people fairly and do not charge them until they’ve actually helped them recover their investments. This is one of the main reasons we only recommend exit companies that don’t require upfront payments and use escrow. You can learn more about why escrow is important on this page. 

Still have questions or want to learn more about one of our recommended companies? Feel free to get in touch. You can give us a call at 833-416-8796, submit the contact form on the right side of the page, or initiate the live chat to do so.

Can You Get Rid of an El Cid Timeshare? Read More »

Can You Get Rid of a Welk Timeshare?

Table of Contents

Welk Resorts Major Class Acition Lawsuit 

Welk Resorts Exit Program

What Timeshare Exit Companies Can Do

Summary

Welk Resorts is one of the largest timeshare companies in the U.S., and based in San Diego, CA. Marriott Vacations Worldwide recently acquired Welk Resorts for $485 million and is now the owner.  

Welk timeshares are located in several desirable areas, including Missouri; Baja California Sur; the San Diego, Tahoe, and Palm Springs areas in California; and Breckenridge, Colorado. However, if you’re trying to get out of Welk timeshare in one of these places, you are certainly in good company. Many people end up wanting to exit a timeshare after running into problems with booking, financial add-ons, or the properties in themselves. 

We did a great deal of research on Welk Resorts and Welk Vacations, and found that there were several reasons why people sought to cancel Welk timeshare. Among the most common reasons were the following: 

  • High-pressure sales tactics and false promises during presentations
  • Poor or no customer service 
  • Nonfunctional points program (i.e. more false promises)
  • Badgering past customers after they’ve cancelled
  • Ill-kempt properties with high APRs
  • Overall responsibility from the company and its property managers

These are serious issues, and we found them cited on a number of reviews websites multiple times. Some of their ratings and complaints included:

  • 1.03 out of 5 stars with the Better Business Bureau, based on
    • 218 complaints closed in last 3 years
    • 84 complaints closed in last 12 months
  • 2.5 stars on Yelp 
  • 388 reviews on ConsumerAffairs that aggregated to a 3.1 out of 5 star rating
    • Most recent reviews were 1-star ratings 

You can review some of the reasons for these negative reviews and low ratings in these excerpts from the following reviews that we found online.

From ConsumerAffairs:

  • “While at a baseball game with my husband, I was approached by a Welk rep who was offering a free stay in Las Vegas if we attended their presentation. At the presentation, I was told that this membership would give us the best and cheapest options available to vacation and that we could travel internationally at no additional cost. This all sounded amazing… There is so much that the salespeople left out during the presentation that we did not learn until after the fact. For example, we were told that this was a tax write-off, yet we have never been able to do so. These employees have never been truthful with us and now that we are in this situation of their making, they will not help us resolve it! What kind of customer service is that?”
  • “I wasn’t going to write a review because they processed my timeshare cancellation without any issues. BUT I think it’s sad that they have the nerve to leave me on their call list AFTER I got out of my timeshare. … They were quick to process my request and gave me my deposit back within a couple weeks so I figured good riddance. All of this was in July. But then on Aug 11 I received a voicemail from a Jennifer who was apparently trying to schedule us for a tour? I ignored it. Since August I have gotten a couple of missed calls from their number; in fact I got one today. I don’t even bother to answer or request that they remove me because I’m kinda curious how long the apparent lack of recordkeeping on their end will continue … I am shocked this business model still exists!”

From the BBB:

  • “Where do I start? First, we were told that just by attending the seminar in Breckenridge, whether we signed up or not, that we’d receive a three night stay in either Cabo or Hawaii. We did end up signing the contact [sic], however, we never received the vacation package that was promised for attending. I talked with multiple staff at Welk OVER THE LAST YEAR to resolve this issue and here we are today, still not resolved. … I’ve honestly never felt worse about giving my money to a company that was supposed to make my life easier in planning and booking vacations. I’ve experienced nothing but one issue after another. The customer service reps literally read off a screen and will sit there on repeat until you decide you’ve had enough. I had to cancel my reservation at a Chicago hotel in the beginning of March and am STILL WAITING on my refund. I will never use this service that I have paid for again. … Everything that was promised was a lie.”

The recent 1-star reviews on ConsumerAffairs were very telling, as they mostly spoke to the high-pressure sales tactics that Welk Resorts used to push people into buying timeshares. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon, and can lead to buyers’ regret in the long run.

Welk Resorts Major Class Action Lawsuit

 

It’s notable that these tactics and promises were the foundation for a major class action lawsuit between San Diego County and Welk Resorts. It’s not difficult to find information about this case if you look up “San Diego vs Welk class action lawsuit.” 

You should be aware that, in June 2020, they were relegated to paying up to $3.5 million in penalties and restitution to those who suffered from their false promises. 

There are also a handful of other class action lawsuits involving Welk Resorts, including:

  • Welk Resort Sales, Inc. v. Bryant – Case No. 17-03197-CV-S-SWH, United States District Court For The Western District Of Missouri Southern Division
  • Lopez v. Welk Resort Grp., Inc. – Court Of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District Division One State Of California
  • Chavez v. Welk Resort Grp., Inc. – Court Of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District Division One State Of California

Not only is there a page on the Welk Resorts website about the resolution of the San Diego County lawsuit, there is a website called Welk Restitution for those who could be considered claimants. While you typically do not need to do anything to receive compensation from a class action lawsuit of this nature, it is worth looking into, as there is a good amount of information there about the case in general and what you can do to recover what you’ve lost.

Welk Resorts Exit Program

 

There does appear to be an official Welk Resorts exit program. It is not exactly easy to find, as it isn’t located on their website, but if you look up that search term you can find it through Responsible Exit. The exit program runs through Experiences Vacation Ownership by Welk Resorts. 

On the website for this program, they claim to work with both “deeded and points-based properties,” and handle sales directly without any upfront fees. If you are trying to cancel Welk timeshare, this is one route you can look into using. Oftentimes, though, whether or not you can actually sell back a timeshare depends on the value of your property, or the amount of mortgage you have left to pay, so it’s wise to have another plan in mind as you explore this option.

What Timeshare Exit Companies Can Do

 

Some of the other options for getting out of your Welk timeshare are resale with another platform or working with a licensed timeshare broker. We tend to recommend these after exhausting what you can do directly with the company, since they can save you time and money in the long run. 

It’s also worth exploring what timeshare exit companies can do for you in case you need another option. We created this website in order to help timeshare owners like you resolve issues with timeshares, and we have several companies we recommend that can help.

Our recommended companies are only those who are legitimate and reputable, and we tend to parse this by those who offer escrow payment as an option. When you pay through escrow, that the timeshare exit company does not get paid in full until after you have successfully cancelled your timeshare. You can learn more about why escrow payments are important on this page. 

Making sure you go by this rule of thumb is a good way to avoid scams and make sure you’re actually getting relief from your timeshare struggle. 

Summary

 

If you’re one of the many people who’s suffered the consequences of Welk Resorts’s false promises, there’s still more than one way to get out of Welk timeshare. Have a look into our recommended timeshare exit companies to figure out what might be best for your situation. All of these companies are reputable in that they use escrow for payments, and have many positive reviews from clients they’ve helped in the past. 

And if you have other questions about cancelling a timeshare, or want to ask about one of these companies, feel free to get in touch with us. You can give us a call at 833-416-8796, fill out the contact form on the right side of this page, or initiate the live chat to get started.

Can You Get Rid of a Welk Timeshare? Read More »

Can You Get Rid of a Velas Vallarta Timeshare?

Table of Contents

Vellas Vallarta Timeshare Exit Program

Avoid Timeshare Exit Company Scams

Cancel Your Timeshare with a Trustworthy Company

Summary

Velas Vallarta, also called Club Velas Vallarta, is a timeshare program that’s part of Velas Resorts. It is located in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and is part of RCI, the largest timeshare company in the world. 

If you are one of the many people trying to get rid of Velas Vallarta timeshare, you may have one or several reasons for wanting to do so. When we looked into this timeshare program and resort, we found that most people wanted to exit their Velas Vallarta timeshare because of:

  • Hidden fees when it came time to book
  • High-pressure sales presentations
  • Bait-and-switch practices and negative marketing tactics 
  • Borderline or potentially illegal practices
  • Unresolved complaints

While Velas Vallarta did not have many aggregate ratings to speak to these negative experiences, or a BBB page, we found that they have 3 stars and 17 reviews with ComplaintsBoard, as well as several 1-star and 2-star TripAdvisor reviews that spoke more specifically to the timeshare program’s faults. 

From ComplaintsBoard:

  • “The 90 minute presentation we attended turned out to be between five to six hours. Once we got down to signing the contract we were rushed through to ‘get us back on vacation.’ We were told the timeshare we were buying was previously owned and therefore we wouldn’t have the right to rescind. Violation of Mexican law. The sale of our existing timeshare was a condition of purchase at Velas Vallarta. The salesperson misled us about the guarantee to sell our existing timeshare for $60,850. We didn’t get the guarantee until we were leaving after signing the contract. The guarantee was for no more than to list the property for sale for $60,850. We talked about the RCI bonus weeks we were getting. We talked about the cost of $169 or $189 a week. Nothing was said about having to pay maintenance fees first. ”

From TripAdvisor:

  • “We were told because we were purchasing a unit that had previously been foreclosed on we had to give up the 5 day cancellation rights. They can not do this. But the HUGE fraud came to us from there [sic] trade in manager Mr. Ken Waller who arranged for a broker to purchase a timeshare we owned in Minnesota… He gave us a fax from the broker confirming the deal that he had negotiated for us. When we returned home and spoke with the broker that was purchasing our Minnesota timeshare we learned that they DID NOT send this confirmation fax to Mr. Ken Waller. … All our letters to them have gone unanswered and we still are pursuing them for a refund of our down payment. … VelasVallarta is a lovely resort, but one has to wonder about an organization that allows there [sic] salespeople to represent them in such a fraudulent way and that resorts to illegal tactics to complete a sale.”

There are also a few independent blog posts out there that go more in-depth. One in particular, hosted on blogspot.com, goes by VelasResortScam and picks apart these dishonest tendencies and the aforementioned (illegal) backpedaling on the five-day right of rescission. 

As you can tell, most of these problems have more to do with the nature of the timeshare program and the people who run it than with the resort itself. Unfortunately, these problems and complaints are highly indicative of a timeshare scam. So if you are trying to cancel Velas Vallarta timeshare, it will probably be difficult to do so, but you do have options.

Velas Vallarta Timeshare Exit Program

 

Unsurprisingly, we did not find anything in the way of an official timeshare exit program through Velas Resorts or RCI. Usually RCI properties come with a claim of being able to exchange points and use them elsewhere, and that was the case when we checked this resort on RCI’s website. That said, we tend to find, based on others’ experiences, that RCI does not hold fast to these promises. 

If you are interested in attempting to contact the resort directly, there are a few places you can do so. The timeshare hub for Velas Resorts — also called the “Club” or “All-Inclusive” page — goes under the name “Grand Velas.” Searching these terms should bring you to the landing page, and from there you can navigate to the Club Velas Vallarta section, where they have a Contact subsection.

Avoid Timeshare Exit Company Scams

 

In our research of Velas Vallarta, we found that on a few different message boards — specifically, ComplaintsBoard — a timeshare exit company called Mexican Timeshare Solutions posted to get business from unsatisfied timeshare buyers. Unfortunately, this timeshare exit company appears to have jumped upon the opportunity to be about as fraudulent as Velas Vallarta. They have been shown to request upfront fees in exchange for their services right off the bat, and researching them further shows several related complaints. 

Both of these behaviors — approaching people first and demanding prior payments — are massive red flags when it comes to timeshare exit companies. A quick Google search shows Mexican Timeshare Solutions’s practices fit right into those that we consider shady and less than trustworthy. 

While working with a timeshare exit company is typically a good idea in a situation like this one, there are several practices similar to this company’s to be aware of when you’re looking to get out of Velas Vallarta timeshare. Here are a few other tips to keep in mind so you avoid scams like theirs in the future:

  • Avoid companies with no online presence, and especially those that don’t have their own website at all. Online ratings and reviews of the timeshare exit company in question will help you research this more thoroughly.
  • Avoid companies that don’t have a BBB rating or boast a very low grade (Fs are especially glaring). 
  • Avoid companies that do not have a successful track record of releasing clients from their timeshare contracts. 
  • Get everything in writing, and make sure you have a contract with the company. If they try to avoid using a contract, that is a major red flag.

Cancel Your Timeshare with a Trustworthy Company

 

We created this website because there are so many companies out there like Mexican Timeshare Solutions, and we wanted to make it easier to find better, more legitimate options. It is definitely possible to find a reputable timeshare exit company that has a solid record of successfully releasing people from their contracts. 

You can look for the following “green flags” to make sure you’ve chosen to work with a more reputable company:

  • A strong rating with the BBB and few (if any) complaints
  • Having been in business for several years
  • A physical office address, as opposed to a PO box
  • A professional-looking website
  • Use of written contracts for services 

All of the companies that we recommend use escrow for payment, which means they don’t get paid until they’ve helped you get out of your timeshare. You can learn more about why escrow is important on this page.

Summary

 

When you’re ready to get out of a timeshare that hasn’t been what you expected it to be, have a look at the companies we recommend. All of these companies are well-rated, use escrow for payment, and have a solid record of helping other timeshare owners to get out of their contracts. 

If you have further questions about any of these companies or about timeshare exit in general, please feel free to get in touch with us. You can give us a call at 833-416-8796, fill out the contact form on the right side of the page, or initiate the live chat to get started.

Can You Get Rid of a Velas Vallarta Timeshare? Read More »

Can You Get Rid of a Sunset Group Timeshare?

Table of Contents

Official Sunset Group Exit Programs

Sunset Group Class Action Lawsuit

Avoiding Timeshare Exit Company Scams

Cancel Your Timeshare with a Trustworthy Company

Summary

Sunset Group, which also goes by Sunset Hotel Group and Sunset World, is a timeshare company with properties throughout Cancun and Riviera Maya in Mexico. Sunset Royal Beach Resort is one of this company’s properties as well. Their headquarters are in Miami, FL, and they appear to be owned by RCI, the biggest timeshare company in the world.  

If you’re looking to get rid of Sunset Group timeshare, you are not alone. While these properties appear to be luxurious and perfect for a getaway, many people are in a similar situation and seeking to get out of what they have purchased with this company. The reasons for this range between the following:

  • Bait-and-switch practices with contracts
  • Undisclosed and hidden fees 
  • Poor to no customer service and unresponsiveness 
  • Inability to use timeshares as promised

Sunset Group’s ratings and reviews reflect all of these issues and complaints. These ratings include:

  • No accreditation and an F grade with the BBB
    • 21 total complaints in the last 3 years 
  • 3 out of 5 stars on ComplaintsBoard based on 43 complaints overall 
    • 42% of these complaints remaining unresolved

Some of the specific complaints are particularly disheartening. Here are just a few of the standout comments that we noticed.

From the BBB:

  • “Signed a contract and they issue [sic] a totally different contract through email. They used our names to finance a down payment with out our consent! Scam! … All the information that was given to us was misrepresented and all lies. We are very disappointed because we loved our stay at Hacienda Tres Rios and had actually recommended it to many of family members and friends but we were lied to and we were made to sign a contract under under duress and false pretense.”
  • “As soon as we attempted to use the timeshare, we found the undisclosed fees and misrepresentations. When calling to make a reservation, we would be required to pay an all-inclusive fee of $89 per person. This brought us to compare the cost of timeshare vacations with traditional vacations, leading to the understanding that we had been scammed. … We were never told that the maintenance fees would increase. … we were told that we could not cancel our contract.”

From ComplaintsBoard:

  • “After further review of our contract, we decided to cancel since we did not feel very comfortable about the whole business transaction. Therefore, we used the five day right of rescission as stipulated in the contract. … We wrote up a cancellation document and presented it to Sunset Fishermen (which was easy since we were staying there). They accepted this and said they would process the paper work and credit our accounts. … The problem we encountered was our credit card charges were never reversed so we wrote the Sunset group and requested refunds. They wanted us to send them a copy of our cancellation letter since they claimed they didn’t seem to have it. … We decided to fight this through our credit card companies. We did so and provided proof of our claim. … Now the Sunset Group threatens us with a collection agency and is attempting to ruin our credit. Un-believable, this firm must be put out of business. We are seeking total resolution.”

Overall, there is a great deal of information in these reviews and complaints that indicate Sunset Group is a fraudulent timeshare company that delivers false promises and makes it difficult, if not impossible, for customers to get out of their contracts.

Official Sunset Group Exit Programs

 

We did not find any evidence of an official exit program with Sunset Group, but most timeshare companies do have such programs set up. If you are seeking to get out of Sunset Group timeshare, checking on their website and getting in touch with customer service is the first place you’d want to start.

Sunset Group Class Action Lawsuits

 

In terms of why it’s difficult to find an advertised exit program, sometimes class action lawsuits are the reason for this. However, we did not find anything online about pending lawsuits with Sunset Group. There was one indication of a potential case that might be filed by an attorney named Mitchell Sussman; you can find out more by searching “Promotoria Sunset Group Timeshare Owners Lawsuit.” 

That said, until there is any official news of a class action lawsuit, we would encourage you to seek out alternative routes to getting compensated for the time and money you’ve invested in your timeshare with Sunset Group.

Avoid Timeshare Exit Company Scams

 

In our research of Sunset Group, we found that many unsatisfied customers on different message boards, especially ComplaintsBoard and RedWeek, were approached by a timeshare exit company called Mexican Timeshare Solutions. This company appears to have jumped upon the opportunity to be about as fraudulent as Sunset Group has been. They have been shown to request upfront fees in exchange for their services right off the bat. 

Both of these behaviors — approaching people first and demanding prior payments — are massive red flags when it comes to timeshare exit companies. A quick Google search shows Mexican Timeshare Solutions’s practices fit right into those that we consider shady and less than trustworthy. 

There are several such practices to be aware of when you’re looking to cancel Sunset Group timeshare. Here are some other tips to keep in mind so you avoid similar scams in the future:

  • Avoid companies that lack an online presence, especially those that don’t have their own website at all. Online ratings and reviews of the timeshare exit company in question will help you research this more thoroughly.
  • Avoid companies that don’t have a BBB rating or boast a very low grade (Fs are especially glaring). 
  • Avoid companies that do not have a successful track record of releasing clients from their timeshare contracts. 
  • Get everything in writing, and make sure you have a contract with the company. If they try to avoid using a contract, that is a major red flag.

Cancel Your Timeshare with a Trustworthy Company

 

This website exists because there are so many companies out there just like Mexican Timeshare Solutions, and we wanted to make it easier to find other options. In spite of practices like theirs, it is possible to find a legitimate timeshare exit company that has a track record of success in releasing people from their contracts. 

In contrast to what indicates a timeshare exit scam company, you can look for the following to be sure you’re working with a more reputable company:

  • A strong rating with the BBB and few (if any) complaints
  • Having been in business for several years
  • A physical office address, as opposed to a PO box
  • A professional-looking website
  • Use of written contracts for services 

Most of the companies that we recommend are notable in that they use escrow for payment, which means they don’t get paid until they’ve helped you get out of your timeshare. You can learn more about why escrow is important on this page.

Summary

 

While timeshare exit companies are definitely not your only option, working with a reputable one could end up being what helps you recover your investment. When you’re ready to find a timeshare exit company that can help you, visit our list of recommended companies. And if you still have questions about getting out of your timeshare, feel free to get in touch with us. You can give us a call at 833-416-8796, submit the contact form on the right side of the page, or initiate the live chat to get started.

Can You Get Rid of a Sunset Group Timeshare? Read More »

Can You Get Rid of a Royal Elite Sandos Resorts Timeshare?

Table of Contents

Royal Elite Sandos Resorts Official Exit Programs

Avoid Timeshare Exit Scams

Summary

Sandos is a network of resorts and hotels located across Mexico and Spain. They are owned by RCI, the biggest timeshare company in the world, and have properties in several locations including Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Los Cabos. The Royal Elite Vacation Club is their official timeshare program. Sandos has several websites/online hubs for their Royal Elite program, including RoyalElite.com, RoyalEliteWeeksRental.com, and Sandos.com/Royal-Elite. You can visit any one of these pages to learn more about the program. 

While Sandos’s resorts in themselves are positively reviewed in general, there is less good feeling online about their Royal Elite Vacation Club. Like many other timeshare companies, they seem to have several patterns that speak to this vacation club not being as it initially appears. We found that several people wanted to cancel Royal Elite Sandos Resorts timeshare for the following reasons: 

  • Use of high-pressure sales tactics in the buying phase
  • Unfulfilled claims and false promises
  • Little to no customer service in attempts to resolve problems or acquire refunds
  • Constantly booked properties
  • Overall bait-and-switch practices and fraudulent-seeming behavior

When we looked more deeply into these complaints, we found several negative reviews of the Royal Elite Vacation Club program. These were not with the BBB, as Sandos Resorts has an inactive page and Royal Elite doesn’t have a page with them at all, but we were able to find a few TripAdvisor reviews that spoke to the sales practices behind the timeshare program at a few different Sandos properties. 

From one, entitled “Beware of Royal Elite sales persons”: 

  • “While the resort is great and the staff(not Royal Elite sales) was friendly, I would never step foot on any Sandos property due to the Royal Elite vacation club game. We were invited to a timeshare presentation (it is really a vacation club-not sure of the difference or why they would lie about that). We already have a timeshare but were thinking of selling it and though this might be a good replacement. We knew the sales person was most likely misrepresenting information. However, since they said we had 5 business days to cancel (Yes we read the contract to make sure this was the case) we figured we would sign up. Well, that is what the scam is. … We canceled within 5 business days. They acknowledge that we canceled within 5 business days. It has been a few weeks and still no refund. No written confirmation that our contract was canceled.”

Similarly, the Royal Elite Vacation Club Complaint Board and ComplaintsBoard pages do not have aggregate ratings, but there are several noteworthy reviews and complaints that we thought were worth investigating: 

From Complaint Board: 

  • ““Salesperson claims that the all-inclusive fee is per couple, but in reality it is per person per night. Clients can often book the vacation cheaper online without using their timeshare, than with booking their timeshare and paying the maintenance fees and all-inclusive fees. … claims that they can trade their weeks to RCI points, and use the points to pay for 100% of an airline ticket, when in reality RCI only allows for clients to use points for 33% of the cost of the ticket.”
  • “We have had our membership for 4 years and have had nothing but difficulty in making reservations. The staff seem to work hard at being as obstructive as possible. We wish to accelerate the use of our weeks but the resort refuses to confirm our access to the Royal Elite section and services. In addition at our last holiday the resort was crowded and noisy. Staff did nothing to curtail the noisy, screaming, rude guests. We would never recommend this again.”

From ComplaintsBoard: 

  • “They are absolute scammers! Be aware!!! Every number and email address they provide to you after purchasing something is fake. There is NO way to get into contact with these cowards after they completely RIP you off. Disgraceful company.”
  • “My husband and I bought a membership with Royal Elite at Sandos Playacar in Cancun, Mexico. We were promised all sorts of services and amenities. Nothing about the membership that was represented to us has been true. We were scammed out of thousands of dollars and have nothing to show for it but heartache. When you contract with Royal Elite you also are enrolled with RCI and Holiday Systems International (HSI), which assists with cash exchanges for your Royal Elite weeks you don’t use and other travel services, such as 50% discount hotels, airfare, etc. None of it is true…HSI advertisements are also false.”

Finally, we found a well-written post on a blog called CreativIndie, “BEWARE: The Sandos Mexican Timeshare Scam” that went in-depth as to the entire Royal Elite experience, the kinds of problems that typically arise, and why they are such significant problems. 

Its conclusion was:

  • “The main aim of this post is to warn others away from signing with Sandos Royal Elite or Priority Exchange Timeshare. They use proven sales tactics, and somehow everything sounds pretty good, but their claims were never realized. … a blatant discrepancy like this would be given a clean refund; the inability to refund is a giveaway that something is very fishy.”

Overall, these reviews are highly indicative of fraudulent business practices within the Royal Elite Vacation Club. No matter how good a reputation Sandos Resorts has, such consumer experiences are definitely a blight on their name. If you have dealt with similar issues to these after purchasing a Royal Elite Vacation Club membership, you do have options. It is possible to get rid of Royal Elite Sandos Resorts timeshare.

Royal Elite Sandos Resorts Official Exit Programs

 

When looking into whether Royal Elite Vacation Club had an official timeshare exit program, we found a page connected to their guest portal with tips on avoiding timeshare resale scams. While all details up to this point highlight that it’s incredibly difficult to get out of Royal Elite Sandos Resorts timeshare solely through customer service, this may indicate the opposite, and that it’s possible to go a more direct route. However, we did not find any pages on their various websites for an official exit program. 

As far as working through customer service goes, we did see that a customer service representative posted on ComplaintsBoard so that people seeking refunds and to exit their timeshares could get in touch more easily. Of course, the fact that the Royal Elite Vacation Club felt the need to post online like that isn’t a good sign — to us, it says that it’s far too difficult to contact customer service, which is another scam red flag.

Avoiding Timeshare Scams

 

Unfortunately, Royal Elite Vacation Club is not unique in its practices. Timeshare scams are increasingly common in the industry. But the good news is that they are avoidable. As with any other kind of company that you do business with, there are red flags that you can look out for in the early phases. That way you can save yourself a serious amount of time, money, and heartache getting involved any further. 

Keep an eye out for the following to avoid timeshare scams:

  • Promises that sound too good to be true, including incentives for making an initial purchase that don’t seem to have strings attached (because they probably do)
  • Upfront fees, including high-dollar deposits or “administrative” fees that are far more than you’d expect them to be 
  • Pushy sales presentations, especially those that don’t encourage you to take your time in making a decision

Whenever you make a purchase, especially when it comes to vacation properties, always read the fine print, and don’t fall for any high-pressure sales tactics. Taking it slow and knowing what you want — not what someone else convinces you that you want — is the best way to avoid any kind of scam.

Summary

 

When you’re ready to cancel Royal Elite Sandos Resorts timeshare, we’d love to help you find a reputable timeshare exit company who can help. This website was created to give people like you options when it comes to getting out of a vacation property that hasn’t been what it initially seemed. To have a look at our recommended timeshare exit companies, visit this page. And always look for a timeshare exit company that allows you to pay using escrow, so that they don’t get paid until you are completely satisfied. You can learn more about why escrow is important here.

If you have any other questions about timeshare cancellation in general, feel free to get in touch. You can call us at 833-416-8796, submit the contact form on the right side of this page, or initiate the live chat to get started.

Can You Get Rid of a Royal Elite Sandos Resorts Timeshare? Read More »

Can You Get Rid of a Reef Playacar Resort & Spa Timeshare?

Table of Contents

Reef Playacar Resort & Spa Timeshare Exit Program

Avoiding  Timeshare Scams

Choosing a Timeshare Exit Company to Get Out of Playacar Resort & Spa Timeshare

Summary

Reef Playacar Resort & Spa is part of a larger company called The Reef Resorts, whose three locations are in Mexico. Reef Playacar Resort & Spa is in Playacar, Playa del Carmen, and like many similar resorts, has its own timeshare program. This program is called the Leading Vacation Club. 

Maybe you are one of the many people that purchased a timeshare with Reef Playacar Resort & Spa and are now seeking to get out of it. Maybe it’s because of the resort itself not being what you pictured, or because of the sales tactics that were used to get you to buy. Whatever your reason for seeking to cancel Reef Playacar Resort & Spa timeshare, you are definitely not alone. 

When we researched Reef Playacar Resort & Spa online, we found several negative reviews and complaints, including an aggregate 2.5 stars on Yelp, several 1- and 2-star TripAdvisor reviews, and some glaringly low ratings on Orbitz and Travelocity as well. Reef Playacar Resort & Spa does not have a BBB page, nor does the Leading Vacation Club. Guests and timeshare buyers cited poorly maintained properties, high-pressure sales tactics, false promises, unexpected fees, and shoddy customer service as their reasons for their complaints. 

The following are a few of the most noteworthy reviews that we found online. 

From Yelp:

  • “They give you wristband [sic] to wear the entire time you’re staying there! Not as classy as it looks. We didn’t like the wristbands because when we went into town, we were targeted as tourists. We took the wristbands off the next morning after breakfast and went to the hotel’s beach for about an hour before our taxi to the airport arrived. When entering back onto the hotel property, the security treated us like criminals who were trespassing. We were not informed that we needed to have our wristbands on the entire time. The security was very rude and disrespectful. Also the way the resort is presented online does not reflect the way it looks in person. We will never stay here again.”
  • “I love Mexico and the people are very kind but this resort i will never come back to, first of all they need to get their head out their ass and take care of their customers instead of preasuring [sic] their customers to purchase a timeshare. … Beware of false advertisements my friends.”

From TripAdvisor:

  • “I am so glad that my nightmare is over. After months of fighting with the Reef Club my credit card provider was finally able to retrieve my money. I was also lured in by Jerry from Georgia and a hippy-like 40something old Gary also from the east coast who kept ensuring us that we will be making money each year and have access to all these great travel discounts on hotels and flights. He actually never referred to this as a timeshare and kept feeding us lies. Sadly, my hubby and I have never experienced anything like this and we were lured in. I felt somewhat embarrassed by the whole thing now and utterly disgusted by this resort and the people. Do not support them! Dont stay here. They prey on people and then ignore you completely once you begin asking questions. If only I had access to the internet while we were there then google would have informed me of this scam. Well it was a learning experience. Be aware people. If you get sucked into buying the diamond traveler club membership, take quick steps to contact your credit card, the resort to cancel in writing, PROFECO-the mexican better business bureau.”

Ultimately, it appears that the timeshare program and the resort alike leave much to be desired. They operate on what seems to be a fairly fraudulent basis and we do have to evaluate them as such since we did not find evidence to the contrary.

Reef Playacar Resort & Spa Timeshare Exit Program

 

To access a more direct route in trying to get rid of Reef Playacar Resort & Spa timeshare, you can go to the Reef Playacar website and navigate to their footer, where the link to Leading Vacation Club can be found (“LVC Access”). On this landing page, all you need to do is go to the Contact page to find where, “if you are looking to buy, sell, or rent a vacation ownership, or want more information on your options,” you can get in touch. 

We would encourage you to note, however, that many people also posted warnings about their buyback program on Timeshare Marketplace. If you search for “timeshare marketplace Reef Playacar” on Google, you’ll find complaints about their timeshare exit program. Even this program, set up in tandem with Royal Diamond Resorts and Resort Marketing Solutions, is a scam — one that cheated several people out of their money. 

With this in mind, you should know that the best of your other options is working with a reputable timeshare exit company, one that works directly with the resort but is not actually a part of it.

Avoiding Timeshare Scams

 

Sadly, Reef Playacar Resort & Spa is not unique in its practices. Timeshare scams are incredibly common. But the good news is that they are also entirely avoidable. As with any other kind of business, there are several red flags you can look out for in the early phases to avoid getting involved any deeper. That way you can save yourself a serious amount of time and money.

Keep an eye out for the following to avoid timeshare scams:

  • Promises that sound too good to be true, including incentives for making an initial purchase that don’t seem to have strings attached (because, in all likelihood, they do)
  • Upfront fees, including high deposits or “administrative” fees that are far more than you’d expect them to be 
  • Pushy sales presentations, especially those that don’t encourage you to take your time in making a decision or offer gifts and alcohol to influence your decision-making

Whenever you make any purchase, and especially any major one like a vacation property, always be sure to read the fine print, take it slow, and know what you want — not what someone else convinces you that you want.

Choosing a Timeshare Exit Company to Get Out of Reef Playacar Resort & Spa Timeshare

 

While the same red flags with timeshares can apply to timeshare exit companies, there are also several exit companies out there who use honest business practices. A reputable timeshare exit company will, first and foremost, not expect upfront payments, and instead will use escrow. This means, in essence, that they do not get paid until your contract is canceled and you’re satisfied with their work. You can learn more about why escrow is important here.

Some of the other signs of a legitimate timeshare exit company to look out for include the following: 

  • A strong rating with the BBB and few (if any) complaints
  • Having been in business for several years
  • A physical office address, as opposed to a PO box
  • A professional-looking website
  • Use of written contracts for services 

Again, while they are not the norm, there are many companies like this that exist. You can explore our list of recommended companies to look into which one could be right for your situation.

Summary

 

When you’re ready to get out of Reef Playacar Resort & Spa timeshare, we’d love to help you find the right timeshare exit company. This website was created to give people like you more options when it comes to getting out of a vacation property that hasn’t been what it initially seemed at best, and at worst has turned out to be a complete scam. As a reminder, you can have a look at our recommended timeshare exit companies on this page. 

And if you have any other questions about timeshare cancellation in general, feel free to get in touch. You can call us at 833-416-8796, submit the contact form on the right side of this page, or initiate the live chat to get started.

Can You Get Rid of a Reef Playacar Resort & Spa Timeshare? Read More »

Can You Get Rid of a Real Club timeshare?

Table of Contents

Real Club Exit Program

Avoiding Timeshare and Timeshare Exit Company Scams

Cancel Your Timeshare with a Trustworthy Company

Summary

Real Club, or The Real Club Playa Resorts, is a resort company whose properties and timeshares are primarily located in Mexico. They have several destinations across Mexico, and a few in Jamaica. Real Club is owned by RCI, the biggest timeshare company in the world. 

If you are seeking to get out of Real Club timeshare, it could be for one of many reasons. Maybe you’ve turned out to not use your timeshare nearly as often as you hoped, or the property was different than you thought it would be — and not for the better. When we looked into this resort, we found a number of major complaints. Here are just a few of them.

From a Timeshare Forums post: 

  • “The real issue lies in the fact that they lied to us about rates and switched schedules in the contract on us. … We were told that we could sell up to 5 weeks per year for $1000 per week or more, it seemed like a good idea. We could use the money to pay for the plan and save for our next trip. When I called yesterday, I was told to call a person at Global Research. I was told by her that we had to pay a fee of $600 up front in order to sell. It was then I started to research and found out all the complaints. There are warnings against Global Research but to do with Secret Shoppers and paying people with phony cheques. The whole thing smelled bad. In light of the troubles we have had so far with Real Club, I’m not taking the chance of paying any more money up front. I’ve since heard that it’s not likely you’ll get back what you’ve paid for the week. … Now every time I call there, I get put on hold and eventually transferred to a message asking me to leave a voice mail. Also, Mr. Vallado provided my wife with a false e-mail address when she wanted to file a complaint and cancel the agreement. This is not how a respectable enterprise operates.”

From a TripAdvisor post: 

  • “Quite a good hotel BUT DO NOT BUY a Real Club Membership. It’s a SCAM. Basically, you end up paying TWICE for your stay when you can get great deals online instead like we did and save tens of thousands of dollars (which is what you’d pay if you got hooked into their very subtle and intense membership sell).”

From ComplaintsBoard:

  • “A few weeks after the purchased [sic] we realized that we were scammed by Real Club, we called the Hotel and tried to cancel but our efforts were useless. We called thousands of times asking for … the person in charge of the cancellations but she never was available. We just gave up when a guy just told us that: “[Her] job is to not answer the phone calls; in order to avoid any cancellation request”. It’s undeniable that the personnel of Real Club has a lack of honesty and an excess of cynicism. We have been in contact with Yessica Altamirano from Real Club we told her that we spoke with a PROFECO representative and he told us that this kind of dishonest practices are very common in the timeshare industry specially with American and Canadian people; but due to the tourism crisis that mexico is experiencing the hotels are lying to Mexicans as well. So far it’s very clear that she is not willing to help us. Our advice is do not even think of purchasing with Real Club.” 

In other words, the main issues people have with this resort resulting in their wanting to get rid of Real Club timeshare are bait-and-switch practices, unexpected charges and fees, and little to no help from customer service. 

While Real Club does not have a BBB rating or an aggregate on ComplaintsBoard, these reviews certainly speak to the nature of the resort’s timeshare program. Whatever your complaints or reasons for wanting to get out, you should know that it is possible to cancel Real Club timeshare.

Real Club Exit Program

 

We were not able to figure out if Real Club has an official timeshare exit program. It’s not possible to access the Real Club Resorts website without a user login, so it appears to be more of a guest or customer portal. That said, most resorts and timeshare companies have some form of customer service landing page that is a good place to start for sorting out your cancellation options.

Avoiding Timeshare and Timeshare Exit Scams

 

The sad reality is that Real Club’s lack of accessibility online is just another red flag on top of its numerous complaints. Like many timeshare companies, we have to evaluate Real Club as a fraudulent operation. 

In the future it’s important to keep these and other red flags in mind to avoid being scammed by a company like this or even a timeshare exit company. On this website, we are cautious about which companies we recommend because, just as with timeshares in general, there are plenty of scams in the timeshare exit industry. Many timeshare exit companies promise timeshare owners that they’ll cancel their timeshare with a money-back guarantee, but never deliver on their promises and keep the money that they were paid. 

To avoid scams in the future, make sure you pay attention to the following:

  • Resist pressure to act fast or pay for a service right away. A reputable company will never pressure you into working with them before you are ready to get started. High-pressure sales tactics and hounding potential clients are major warning signs, and point to a business you want to avoid.
  • Ask about licensing, insurance, and identification with all local businesses. It’s generally wise to work with a local business, but to get even more clear about which of those are trustworthy, it’s also a good call to ask about their licenses and insurance. Checking IDs is smart as well, especially with any business that will be dealing with your money and personal information. 
  • Check the fine print and don’t believe everything you read. Many fraudulent companies rely upon using common industry phrases, but only use them in a shallow way, and do not have information to back up their exaggerated claims. A responsible company will provide you with details on their services and not come across as outlandish in doing so. 

Watch out for high upfront payments and nontraditional payment methods. Requests to pay via wire transfers or prepaid money cards are common red flags, but so are requests for upfront fees that do not use escrow, as well as agreements that do not have legitimate contracts. There is no money-back guarantee or amount of lip service that is enough to promise that you’ll get a refund if a service doesn’t work as promised.

Cancel Real Club Timeshare with a Reputable Exit Company

 

As noted above, you do have several options to cancel Real Club timeshare, including resale on your own or hiring a broker. But depending on your situation, especially if you do not have an active mortgage, working with a timeshare exit company could be a great option. Timeshare exit companies do not usually try to sell your timeshare. Instead, they prefer working directly with timeshare developers and resorts in order to encourage them to take the timeshare back and cancel any remaining fees. 

Working with a timeshare exit company to get out of Real Club timeshare is something you should only do with a legitimate company. We typically only recommend timeshare exit companies who use escrow for payment, so you don’t have to invest in upfront fees and risk another fraudulent experience. You can learn more about why escrow is important here. And you can explore some of the companies that we recommend on this page.

Summary

 

While it’s difficult to get rid of Real Club timeshare, it’s not impossible. Getting in touch with a reputable timeshare exit company can help you get started on releasing yourself from this weighty and fee-laden situation. 

If you still have questions about our recommended companies, or anything else related to cancelling your timeshare, please feel free to get in touch to learn more. You can contact us using the contact form on the right side of the page, initiate the live chat, or give us a call at 833-416-8796.

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Timeshare Selling Team Review

Table of Contents

Timeshare Selling Team Website Review

Timeshare Selling Team Cost

Timeshare Selling Team Review

General Advice on Avoiding Online

Summary

Timeshare Selling Team is a timeshare exit company located in Grover, Missouri that may be able to help you cancel your timeshare. They have been in business since 2019, and have a secondary office in Orlando, Florida. 

Please note that this secondary office is not to be confused with Timeshare Sales Team, also located in Florida. They are a Gainesville operation that appears to have several negative reviews with the Better Business Bureau. Be sure not to get the two confused if you look into working with Timeshare Selling Team.

Timeshare Selling Team Website Review

 

At first glance, the Timeshare Selling Team website did not strike us as particularly strong, but it did not appear unprofessional, either. It was not a difficult experience navigating it, but the sections were not always easy to read, thanks to font choices and page colors. This isn’t necessarily a massive problem, though it does make it difficult to stay on the website and want to learn more about the company. 

This is unfortunate, as the navigation itself is fairly smooth and points to a few different helpful sections. Most notably, Timeshare Selling Team has a page called The Complete Guide that has several sections about the process of exiting a timeshare with the company, including information on what typically goes wrong with timeshares in the first place. They list out details about different reasons people need to exit timeshares, ways to exit or sell a timeshare, different scams to look out for, and steps to keep in mind during the exit process. It is more extensive than we expected it to be, and does not use shallow language to get their ideas across. So this is a good idea in theory, but again, it’s as hard to read as the rest of the website. This could keep you from really getting the bulk of the information that would be helpful in discerning whether you want to work with them. 

On the About Us page, Timeshare Selling Team has a long section on who their staff members are. While the details of each individual’s experience are not present, and there are not any staff members with specific legal experience, the page does note that Timeshare Selling Team works with attorneys at separate firms on an as-needed basis. 

The FAQ page reiterates this information. Their questions and answers are mostly related to the costs and details about working with Timeshare Selling Team, but they also speak to working with attorneys and law firms to expedite the process. As with the staff page, there aren’t many details about this part of the process, but it is something to keep in mind and potentially ask about should you decide to consult with this company. 

Overall, the website is decent, and speaks to the company’s knowledge of timeshare exit processes, but design and legibility issues persist. This could just be indicative of their being a newer company, but it would be preferable to see this spruced up so they could appear more trustworthy to new clients and differentiate themselves from more fraudulent operations.

Timeshare Selling Team Cost

 

We did not find much information about Timeshare Selling Team’s costs on their website. On their FAQ page, there is one question about the overall cost to exit a timeshare, but they write that:

“Unfortunately, this is not a one size fits all, every ownership has its own unique circumstances. There are a lot of variations from resort to resort on how the process works. Even if you own at the same resort the process can be slightly different depending on many variables (Amount of Point contracts, weeks contracts, mortgage balances, maintenance fees behind).”

On the same page we found, as you often see with timeshare exit companies, a money-back guarantee. This is not something we like seeing; in general, it is a far better decision to work with a timeshare exit company that uses escrow for payments. You can learn more about why we prioritize companies of that nature and prefer escrow here.

Timeshare Selling Team Review

 

Timeshare Selling Team is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau yet, but they have a high rating of 4.92 out of five stars. 

In the midst of the several positive reviews are two complaints, both from the same person, to which Timeshare Selling Team did respond. It is related to a complicated situation with a deceased person who was working with them to cancel a timeshare.

The company’s reply seems professional and legitimate, though it is hard to discern the entirety of the situation given the limited information we could get from this complaint alone.

 

Nevertheless, this does seem to line up with an overall willingness to remedy tricky situations with past and present clients. For example, while they do have several positive Google reviews that speak to good experiences working with them, there was one standout negative review about the length of the process that made it seem as if their case had been dropped. After the company responded and apparently continued to work with that client, she followed up with a newly positive take. While that’s something to take with a grain of salt, of course, it does appear to show consistency. 

Timeshare Selling Team seems to use more of a word-of-mouth marketing route, as they have a few PR pieces in smaller and local publications to speak to their work. We found online write-ups from both PR News Wire and Newstime Missouri. This is not something that seems to be very common with their contemporaries and competitors, but it is certainly preferable to posting artificially inflated reviews on sites like the BBB and TrustPilot. (In terms of TrustPilot, Timeshare Selling Team did not have any reviews posted there yet when we looked.)

General Advice on Avoiding Online Scams

 

We tend to have about companies like Timeshare Selling Team who have a less-than-remarkable online presence because that can be a red flag when it comes to online scams. While this isn’t to say that this company is one, it’s good to know what is indicative of a scam so you avoid the loss of time and money that owning a timeshare has cost you. 

Be sure to keep the following tips in mind to avoid scams and shady companies:

  • Resist any pressure to act fast or pay for a service right away. 
  • Inquire about licensing, insurance, and identification with all local businesses.
  • Check the fine print, and don’t believe everything you read. 
  • Watch out for high upfront payments and nontraditional payment methods. 

Summary

 

Overall, Timeshare Selling Team seems to be off to a decent start in the timeshare exit industry, and appear to not only know what they are talking about but to be willing to work with clients to remediate any misunderstandings.  However, they have some work to do to make it look like they are as legitimate as they most likely are, given that they have been around for two years now. While they are worth looking into, we would not say this is necessarily a robust recommendation, or a recommendation at all, since Timeshare Selling Team, like many other companies, asks for upfront payments. 

You should bear in mind, of course, that there are several timeshare exit companies that do not require initial payments, and are very professional and easy to work with. Please be sure to have a look at our list of recommended exit companies to see what other options you have. And should you have any 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 filling out the contact form on the right side of the page, initiating the live chat, or calling us at 833-416-8796.

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Timeshare Elimination Consultants Review

Table of Contents

Timeshare Elimination Consultants Website

Timeshare Elimination Consultants Reviews and Complaints

Timeshare Elimination Consultants Cost

General Advice on Avoiding Online Scams

Summary

Timeshare Elimination Consultants is another timeshare exit company that may be able to help you cancel your timeshare. They have been operating since 2019 and are located in Ormond Beach, Florida.

Timeshare Elimination Consultants Website

Timeshare Elimination Consultants’ website is very spare, simple, and navigable. However, we quickly found its simplicity and navigability to be related to its general lack of solid information about the company or its owners and staff. Beyond that, it is not very professional-looking in terms of either images and visuals or content. The copy on the homepage is difficult to read in several places, and when it is legible, it does not provide much, if any, information about the company’s processes and experience in the industry.

We found that there was also a massive use of typical industry phrases at the end of the site—a paragraph you can navigate to using the link for “Why Choose Us.” This paragraph talks a great deal about “the burden of a timeshare,” “buyers [sic] remorse,” and developing an “exit strategy.” Timeshare Elimination Consultants also claim they can perform forensic audits in their process of helping you exit your timeshare. However, there are no details saying how exactly they do this or what any of that would mean to you as a client. You should always come away from a timeshare exit company’s website knowing exactly how they are going to serve you and what steps they are capable of taking in order to do so.

Timeshare Elimination Consultants Reviews and Complaints

Timeshare Elimination Consultants’ reviews, like their website, seems to indicate an incredible lack of professionalism. Not only are they unaccredited with the Better Business Bureau and hold an F rating, but they also have zero reviews and several complaints.

These complaints all point to what we would unfortunately expect from their rating and the initial impression their website offers. That is, that Timeshare Elimination Consultants is quite frankly fraudulent: they are reported to take their clients’ money upfront, and then cannot be reached ever again. All of the BBB complaints are from past clients who faced this situation and are now seeking refunds from Timeshare Elimination Consultants. You can review some of the complaints below:

As you can see, these complaints all remain unanswered and unaddressed. It should go without saying that this is problematic.

Timeshare Elimination Consultants Cost

As with many timeshare exit companies, we could not find any information about costs on Timeshare Elimination Consultants’ website. They say they provide consultations, but do not note whether those are free or not.

On Timeshare Elimination Consultants’ BBB page, a few clients wrote that they paid $3,200 upfront for services, while a few others wrote they paid $9,000 to $9,850 upfront. If you were to do business with this company, we would say you could expect to pay within that range depending on what you needed. However, in this case, we would instead say you could expect to lose that much.

We absolutely do not recommend working with any timeshare exit company who requests money upfront, especially not a company like this one, and always advise that you seek out a reputable company who uses escrow for payments.  You can learn more about why it’s important to use escrow payments here.

General Advice on Avoiding Online Scams

Unfortunately, we have to evaluate companies like Timeshare Elimination Consultants as fraudulent operations. Knowing this ahead of time can help you to have a better idea of what red flags to look for, though, so you can avoid companies like this one or other kinds of online scams in the future. Companies such as Timeshare Elimination Consultants make lofty claims online, but do nothing for their clients offline except take their money.

We would suggest you keep the following tips in mind to avoid scams and shady companies:

  • Resist any pressure to act fast or pay for a service right away. A reputable company will never pressure you into working with them before you are ready to get started. High-pressure sales tactics and hounding potential clients are major warning signs, and they point to a business you want to avoid working with.
  • Inquire about licenses,insurance, and identification, with all local businesses. It’s typically a good idea to work with a local business, but to get even more clear about which of those are trustworthy, it’s also wise to ask them about their licensing and insurance. Checking all identification is smart to do, too, especially with any business that will be dealing with your money and personal information.
  • Check the fine print, and don’t believe everything you read. Many fraudulent companies rely upon using common industry phrases, but just like Timeshare Elimination Consultants, only use them in a shallow way, and do not have any information to back up their claims. They tend to exaggerate and make outlandish promises within those claims. A responsible company will not do this; rather, they will provide you with details on how they will cancel your timeshare for you.
  • Watch out for high upfront payments and nontraditional payment methods. Requests for you to pay via wire transfers or prepaid money cards are common red flags, but so are requests for upfront fees that do not use escrow, as well as agreements that do not have legitimate contracts. There is no money-back guarantee or amount of lip service that is sufficient to truly promise that you will get a refund should a service not go through as promised

When it comes to timeshare exit companies, while it can be tricky to find a business that does not use these methods, you do have better options. A timeshare exit company should not make any false statements or claims. They should be clear about how they will cancel your timeshare, be transparent about the length of time it could potentially take to do so, highlight their means of getting in touch with the resort or property owner, and discuss how they will use your state’s laws to enact their cancellation processes.

To find out more about what solid timeshare cancellation practices look like, please be sure to look into these companies that we recommend for their reputable practices and overall legitimacy. One of these companies would be a much better choice for what you need.

Summary

We maintain our previous points when it comes to Timeshare Elimination Consultants, and recommend that you do not work with this timeshare exit company. They are, for all intents and purposes, a scam, and will not help you cancel your timeshare in any way.

However, there are several other timeshare exit companies that we would recommend you look into. All of our recommended timeshare exit companies use escrow, have several positive reviews, and are overall reputable. Again, you can learn about these companies and find out how to get in touch with them here.

If you still have questions about our recommended companies, or anything else related to cancelling your timeshare, please feel free to get in touch to learn more. You can contact us using the contact form on the right side of the page, initiate the live chat, or give us a call at 833-416-8796.

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Granite Consulting/TimeshareRecover.com Review

Table of Contents

Granite Consulting Website

Granite Reviews and Complaints

Granite Consulting Cost

General Advice on Avoiding Online Scams

Summary

Granite Consulting, also known as TimeshareRecover.com (a website that redirects to GraniteConsulting.com), is a company that may be able to help you exit your timeshare. They have been in business since 2016, and are located in Dover, New Hampshire.

Granite Consulting Website

While looking into Granite Consulting, the first place we noticed problems was on their website. While an unprofessional-looking website or homepage can be a red flag in its own right, what is more troubling is that combined with the slapdash use of typical timeshare exit company language.

Granite Consulting does, at first glance, seem to use some of the “right” phrases that would speak to what you need to cancel a timeshare, and the negative experiences that may have led you to invest in one. However, reading more deeply into the copy showed us that they simply are rattling off the phrases that you would expect to see on a timeshare exit company website, without providing any backup information or past experiences that speak to those phrases.

For example, they detail how past clients “felt misled or pressured into purchasing the timeshare ownership,” “felt like they could not leave unless they purchased the timeshare,” or “were told the timeshare was an investment.” They also note that “most timeshares are very difficult to sell or even give away,” and appeal to those who “feel like you are stuck and have no options.” They then go on to mention a “guaranteed exit solution,” but they do not offer any details as to what that solution or process involves.

The Granite Consulting website’s design does not seem to have much thought put into it (aside some admittedly nice stock photos of what appears to be Hawaii) and seems to emphasize the lack of effort put into the content. This is not indicative of a company that would put a great deal of conscientious work into recovering your funds from a timeshare company or resort.

Beyond this, as noted above, there is very little information about the process Granite Consulting would actually use to help you exit a timeshare. The Owner Info and About pages also leave much to be desired, as they contain virtually no information about the owners or staff who presumably do the work to cancel a timeshare or recover your resources on your behalf.  There are only several paragraphs filled with clichéd language and run-on sentences that essentially tell a potential client nothing they don’t already know about what it feels like or looks like to be saddled with a timeshare.

Finally, there is the Timeshare Survey page, which we found to be interesting in that it baldly eggs on potential clients with emotional baiting, while asking about how they were baited into buying a timeshare in the first place.

This is incredibly unprofessional and egregious, and we would certainly not recommend any company that offers a survey that looks like this one.

Granite Consulting Reviews and Complaints

We found that the issues with Granite Consulting’s online presence were only exacerbated by the company’s reviews. They are not accredited with the Better Business Bureau and have no rating as such. While there are a few older positive reviews, there are mostly negative reviews and complaints. The main grievances are that Granite Consulting communicates poorly and erratically with clients, fails to issue refunds after failing to cancel timeshares, and hounds uninterested individuals or past clients who’ve stepped away from doing business with them.

Beyond the BBB, we discovered further complaints on ComplaintsBoard from several past clients. The general consensus of these complaints is that the owner and operator of Granite Consulting took materials from a previous employer and simply copied them over to this business without, apparently, copying over a habit of following through on contracts with clients.

Granite Consulting Cost

Granite Consulting’s website does not address costs. They do indicate that they provide free consultations to potential clients. Most of the complaints on ComplaintsBoard warn against paying upfront fees to this company, though, from which we inferred they most likely request this. As a reminder, when it comes to reputable timeshare exit companies, we recommend using those who use escrow for payments. You can learn more about why escrow payments are important here.

General Advice on Avoiding Scams Online

We unfortunately have to evaluate companies like Granite Consulting as little more than scams. It can help to have a model of what that looks like, though, as there are so many companies with online presences that do little to nothing for clients offline, aside take their money. It can help to keep the following in mind while browsing online to avoid scams and shady companies:

  • Read for detail and don’t believe everything you see. Many scams rely upon using common industry phrases, but like Granite Consulting, do not use them properly or have strong information to back up those phrases. They typically make outlandish or exaggerated promises as well. A reputable company will not overpromise in this way, and will provide you with details on how their process works.
  • Watch out for high upfront payments and nontraditional payment methods. Requests to pay via wire transfers or prepaid money cards are common red flags, but so are requests for upfront fees that do not use escrow, as well as agreements that do not have legitimate contracts. No money-back guarantee or amount of lip service is enough to actually promise that you will get a refund should a service not proceed as planned.
  • Resist any pressure to act fast or pay for a service right away. A legitimate company will not try to push you into anything before you are ready to move forward. High-pressure sales tactics and hounding potential clients are huge red flags and indicate a business you want to avoid.
  • Ask about licensing, identification, and insurance when it comes to local businesses. Working with a local company is typically a good idea, but to further pare down who is trustworthy or reputable, always be sure to ask about whether they are licensed and insured. Checking their identification is good to do as well, especially with any business dealing with your money or personal information.

Summary

We have absolutely no reason to recommend Granite Consulting/TimeshareRecover.com to anyone, and would caution you not only to steer clear of them, but also to keep an eye out for companies similar to this one when seeking to cancel your timeshare.

Fortunately, there are several other timeshare exit companies that, in great contrast to this one, are reputable and have several positive reviews. They also offer an escrow payment option which ensures that they have a solid incentive to cancel your timeshare completely. You can learn more about our recommended timeshare exit companies here and find out which one could be right for your situation.

If you still have questions, or are seeking input on how to find a creditable timeshare exit company, please feel free to get in touch. You can contact us using the contact form on the right side of the page, initiate the live chat, or give us a call at 833-416-8796

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OUR GOAL

Our goal is to help timeshare owners find a reputable timeshare exit company to work with. We like to recommend timeshare exit companies that offer a low up front fee escrow payment option, so you are protected from scams. Contact us to receive a free timeshare exit consultation.

TIP

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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