TIMESHARE RETAIL SCAMS
As you might already know, the scams involving the resale of timeshares in Florida is rampant and getting worse. Many of our owners are contacted by companies that claim if you are “tired” of owning your timeshare they can take it off your hands. Sounds inviting to some people. However, most, if not all, of the companies we have heard of are scams. They get you interested and then tell you that if you send them a sum of money, which is different for each company, they have a person to buy your timeshare.
PLEASE WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT COMMIT ANYTHING TO THESE PEOPLE BEFORE CONTACTING SAND AND SURF, THE BUREAU OF TIMESHARES, THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATIONS OR THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE. ANYONE OF THOSE LISTED CAN ALERT YOU IF THAT COMPANY HAS BEEN KNOWN TO SCAM OR IF THEY HAVE COMPLAINTS AGAINST THEM.
You can click on links below to read the law that was passed in Florida on July 1, 2013 regarding the resale of timeshare.
Protect yourself by checking the company out on the internet. You will see the comments “blogs” of other people that have dealt with that company and that information will let you know if their experience was positive or negative. Most of the companies we have heard of and checked out, the people outline all the problems they experienced.
Also, please know the law outlines brokers (real estate agents) that do timeshare re-sales be licensed in Florida. The law tells you who can operate without a license and who must have a license. Ask them to provide you with a copy of their license and check out the license on “myflorida.com” on internet to see if it is valid and if they in fact must be licensed.
THESE SCAMS HAVE HURT MANY TIMESHARES. THIS PAST YEAR (8) OF OUR OWNERS SIGNED OVER THEIR TIMESHARE WEEK TO THESE COMPANIES. THEY PAID THEM MONEY, THERE WAS NO BUYER OR THE BUYER WAS A FAKE NAME AND SAND AND SURF HAS TO HAVE OUR ATTORNEY FORECLOSE ON THE WEEK TO GET THE DEED BACK TO SAND AND SURF. THE COST OF HAVING OUR ATTORNEY FORECLOSE COSTS $850.00 TO $1,000 PER TIMESHARE WEEK. AS YOU CAN SEE THIS YEAR IT WILL COST OUR OWNERS APPROXIMATELY $8,000 TO GET THE DEEDS BACK.
LAW ENFORCEMENT IS WORKING HARD TO SHUT DOWN THE COMPANIES THAT ARE SCAMS, BUT THERE ARE STILL MANY OUT THERE. THEY CONTACT OWNERS OF TIMESHARES BY PHONE, POSTCARDS OR MAIL.
YOU CAN CHECK ON THE INTERNET AND SEE HOW MANY TELEMARKETING COMPANIES JUST IN ORLANDO HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN. RECENTLY ONE WAS SHUT DOWN AND 26 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED.
THE MESSAGE WE WANT OUR OWNERS TO HEAR IS:
THERE ARE LAWS
OWNERS CAN LOSE MONEY
THESE SCAMS COST THE TIMESHARE LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY
Please do your part to stop the scams.
STEVEN MANERS, INVESTIGATOR, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL REGULATION SUPPLIED SAND AND SURF WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SO OUR OWNERS WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN CONTACTED BY THE RESALE COMPANY.
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App mode=Display Statute&URL=700-0799/0721/0721ContentsIndex.html&StatueYear=2013&Title=%2D%3E2013%2D%3EChapter%20721
The resale service provider section, deals with advertising and broker re-sales.
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App mode=Display Statute & Search String=URL=0700-0799/0721/Sections/0721.205.html
THE FOLLOWING IS PART OF THE LETTER FOR INQUIRIES PROVIDED TO THE CONSUMER BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATIONS
1.Licensed Timeshare Resale Brokers; Real Estate agents that do not collect any fees other than a commission on the sale of a timeshare. www.LTRBA.com
2.You can find suggestions on how to try to safely sell your timeshare at: http://www.arda-roc.org/resales/
3.Florida Division of Consumer Services: Check www.800helpfla.com and click on “Business Complaint Look Up” to check on telemarketer individuals and/or companies to see if they possess a telemarketing license, and whether there have been any complaints filed against them with Consumer Services.
4.Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation: Check www.myfloridalicense.com for information on any person or business licensed by the State of Florida. Use this to verify whether an individual or company is a licensed real estate broker. Telemarketing licenses do not show up here, so be sure to check the Consumer Services web site as well.
5.Florida Division of Corporations: Check www.sunbiz.org to see if a company has filed with the State of Florida, how long they have been in business, who their corporate officers are, and where their primary business office is located.
6.Florida Attorney General's Office: Check www.myfloridalegal.com to see if the company or person is under investigation by the Office of the Florida Attorney General. Enter the name of the company or person in the search box located in right underneath the photograph of the Florida Attorney General.
7.Florida Better Business Bureau: Check htpp://www.bbb.org to see if the company is a member and whether there have been any complaints filed against them.
8.Licensed Timeshare Resale Brokers: www.LTRBA.com
WE HOPE THE ABOVE INFORMATION WILL GIVE YOU, OUR OWNERS, THE INFORMATION TO HELP YOU IF YOU ARE CALLED BY A TELEMARKETER OR IF YOU ARE CONTACTED BY ANY PERSON ASKING YOU ABOUT SELLING YOUR TIMESHARE WEEK.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL SAND AND SURF. 386-756-4662
