Transfer America’s ‘Get Rid of My Timeshare’ Seminars

Timeshare owners had never been so grateful to Transfer America for their complimentary seminars on ‘Get Rid of My Timeshare’ held in cities such as Alabama, North Carolina, Arizona, Tennessee, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Arkansas last June 11-14.

The seminar was intended for frustrated timeshare owners who wanted to cut their expenses badly through giving up their timeshares due to economic recession. The financial downfall urged these owners to surrender their properties since they no longer can sustain the fees associated with it. There is also an oversupply of timeshare resales with few potential buyers. Charities don’t easily accept timeshares for donations since it would also cause problems to them. Renting doesn’t work either since it is quite impossible too because of the lack of market. Escaping from paying the fees is never a solution as companies may sue and charge you with more additional fees and penalties as well as bring you before a court for criminal liabilities.

In the said seminar, the timeshare owners were able to know how the downfall of economy affected timeshare owners and resulted to the influx of timeshare secondary market. It also revealed the timeshare industry’s tactics and strategies to let you fall in that timeshare trap. Total calculation impact of keeping a timeshare, used or not, in one’s finances were discussed. Main-stream media, governmental agencies, and other print publication’s documented researches of timeshares were shown. And lastly, the seminar presented solutions on how to be 100% timeshare free for the rest of their lives.

These seminars were possible because of the many complaints of timeshare owners about their timeshares. Carolyn & Larry MCullen tried to sell their RV timeshare at a very low price of $295 yet still nobody wants to have it. John Payne questioned himself whether he needed a timeshare that is believed to be an investment but in the long run is considered a liability.

Timeshare owners who were invited across the U.S. that badly needed an exit solution strategy attended the complimentary seminars. A pre-registration was required before attending the event. The specified times and locations were only provided during the registration period.

In my point of view, the said seminar will also enlighten the owners, despite their desperation, not to go to an outside agency that might use their hard-earned money. Scammers have spread across the world and are surrounding these potential timeshare victims.

275 Salesmen Sue Timeshare Companies

Pennsylvania – 275 timeshare salesmen got together to sue timeshare developers they were working for before. According to them, the timeshare developers classified them as independent dealers instead of identifying them as employers to the companies. Their lawsuit was granted by a judge of Philadelphia County last week.

The salespeople want to be properly-compensated. They have sacrificed and gave all their time and effort to be able to sell timeshare properties but the timeshare developers and companies did not give them the benefits they deserved for more than 3 years of their service (June 2005 to December 2008). It is said that the timeshare companies ceased to give them benefits that are estimated to cost up to $2.1 million. The salespeople also have to be paid in compensation for being misclassified.

Among the timeshare developers that were sued are Vacation Charters Ltd. And Split Rock Resort. The two salesmen who are leading the lawsuit against the companies are Albert Whitehead and Austin Miller-Orteneau. Their cases have been filed since 2008 by 2 Elliot Greenleaf lawyers.

Despite his services, Miller-Orteneau was not paid by Vacation Charters because according to the company, he was not their official employer. Miller-Orteneau got confused with that, so he asked IRS if his status was really non-employee. IRS said that he should have been employed by the company.

After hearing about the first two complaints, several salespeople also joined their lawsuit. The other salespeople were hired as independent dealers. As a result, they got exploited. They were the ones who paid for their own federal income taxes. They also did not receive any benefits that they worthy of, like medical insurance.

After the allegations, Vacation Charters changed their terms and classified all salesmen as their official employees in early 2009.

Fraudulent Timeshare Company Faces Timeshare Charges

Another Nevada-based company was found guilty after asking the Vermont timeshare consumers to surrender their units to them.

Fifteen of the timeshare Vermont consumers were asked to exchange their units for cash. The consumers were asked to attend a meeting in March and May 2009 at Courtyard Burlington Harbor in Burlington and Capitol Plaza Hotel in Montpelier which were outside Vermont’s premises. The transfer of ownership promised the consumers a relief from paying their timeshare units’ financial obligations such as maintenance fees, taxes, and other rates. But instead of receiving cash, they were then asked to pay thousands of dollars in exchange of their timeshares.

Aside from the transfer of ownership, the owners were told to offset their payment to the company though filing a federal income tax deduction for their timeshare investment losses. It was said that the value of such were equal to or greater than the payment given to Apex. The said action was denied by the consumers since their timeshare units were bought for personal and not for investment purposes in which it exempted them for a tax deduction.
Also, Apex violated the state’s consumer law that states “the buyer must be given three days to cancel the transaction.

Aside from the 15 consumers, they also have to face the state of Vermont for having violated their laws. Attorney General William H. Sorrell said that any company that interferes with the state’s laws shall face serious consequences. With this, Apex was vowed to pay $65,000 to the state and $64,000 to the 15 consumers as penalties.

With this, consumers must be careful with their properties. Though, you wanted to get away with the financial obligations that you have, it is still advisable to look for agencies like Timeshare Relief that can solve your problems fast and safe.

Timeshare Relief is a company that helps timeshare owners legally and professionally transfers timeshare ownerships. It was founded in 2004 by Cindy MacMillan and David MacMillan, both were former owners of a timeshare unit. The said founders likewise felt the financial burdens timeshares have brought them.

Timeshare Relief was given the Torrance Award for two consecutive years because of its outstanding performance in building a positive image on small businesses through dedication in service and improvement in the over-all community. The Torrance Award is given by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

Tips for Timeshare Relief in Florida

We all know that Florida is one of the most popular and in demand vacations destinations in the world. It is also the reason why several companies and resort owners built several units in there for the concept of timeshare. A lot of people can enjoy what Florida has to offer while saving up a lot of money in their vacation through the timeshare concept.

Since Florida is perfect for summer because of its several beaches perfect for relaxation and sports, more and more people buy, trade, or rent timeshare properties in there. If you are one of those people who wants to experience all the benefits and enjoyment that Florida has to offer while saving a lot of money, here are tips for you to be able to find great timeshare deals and experience relief in owning, trading, or renting a property in Florida:

1. Aside from getting only real estate properties, you can also get timeshare properties for an automobile and vacation slots in Florida. Great deal right?

2. Choose what timeshare property is your number one: the automobile, real estate, or the vacation slot

3. If you want to save up more money, then you can rent timeshare properties instead.

4. If you already have a timeshare property in a different state and you want to enjoy Florida too, you can trade your timeshare property with a person who has a property in Florida. There are several companies that can help you with timeshare exchange.

5. Be wary of companies and independent dealers who approach you and offer you great deals. If they ask for an upfront fee right away, especially more than $100, then they are illegal and timeshare scammers.

6. Do your research. If you don’t want to regret in the end, you should look for great deals and resorts in Florida that fits well with your needs and budget.

The Return of the Timeshare

Timeshare has its share of good and bad news. When it just started, you could only hear positive news about it. But when recession has started, multiple numbers of malevolent news came out. However, nowadays, it seems like the European Union has regulations that could make using timeshare during vacation a wonderful option.

Usually, there is what we call the seasonal or shared ownership or holiday membership club type of owning timeshare. This is the practice of having a specific time in using their timeshare units every year. But then, this kind of ownership still requires us to pay somehow an average amount of between £4,000 to 10,000 every year. On the other hand, despite the price, we are assured that we can experience the lifestyle of owning a timeshare for the meantime. But what happens if you cannot use the timeshare for a year?

According to an article by Liz Rowlinson, entitled Are Timeshares making a comeback? , there are many people who can buy timeshare units as their second home. But on one second thought, they would love to buy it if the timeshare arrangement is flexible for both parties, especially with regards to the timeshare exchange programs. This is due to the fact that most owners would save money for the future then would want to change their timeshare units for another when it already gets boring to visit.

Though we know that holiday exchange programs in United States are already prevalent, Dimitris Manikis of RCI’s Business Development thinks otherwise for United Kingdom. Though people from UK also like the program, they prefer to look for timeshares in their country rather than to its outside boundaries. This is what they called staycation.

Dimitris said that this trend only started last year simply because of the heavy consequences of the recession. This trend has become more prevalent due to uncertainty issues of air travel. And at the present, in UK, RCI has 105 affiliated timeshare resorts with its 105 members who can use them. It is also offering cottages for rent with ski and beach resorts as well as golfing estates and health spas.

Some of the timeshares available there are the Hever Hotel & Country Club, which can give you the time of your life playing tennis and golf in its countryside; the five- star golfing resort of Gleneagles in Perthshire, Scotland with apartments that you can pass on to your other family members; and the Forest Holidays’ Membership Club which can give you an extravagant experience of staying in a luxurious big log cabin.

On the other hand, with regards to the problems facing the reselling of timeshare which is still prevalent, there is now what we call the existing regulated channels for guidance. No worries anymore because of this EU regulation.

Vermont Timeshare Owners Find Relief

Timeshare owners in Vermont are said to be one of the happiest timeshare customers as reported this year by the company, Timeshare Relief. Consumers from this place were considered among the wisest and well-informed clients about timeshare around the world.

Vermont timeshare owners find relief after getting rid of their timeshares successfully. This means no more worrying about maintenance fees, mortgage and other expenses brought by their timeshares. This is credited to a company that has been helping people around the world to get out of their timeshares since 2004. Timeshare Relief, Inc. Company has captured the trust of many timeshare consumers in helping them get rid of their timeshares. Unlike most of the companies promising to get you out of timeshare immediately, Timeshare Relief does not charge upfront fees. Vermont consumers are among the tens of thousands that the company has helped by providing guaranteed financial relief and peace of mind out of their timeshares.

Timeshare Relief believes one of the ways to prevent timeshare clients from getting victimized by dubious resale companies or getting tangled with paying timeshare expenses is proper information. The company conducts yearly a series of seminar that aims to educate consumers around the country of the essential information regarding their timeshare and the timeshare industry itself. Vermont is fortunately one of the States visited to conduct the seminar. It is with this kind of programs that the company is extending their hands to reach out in helping timeshare consumers get relief.

What also makes Vermont timeshare consumers successful in getting rid of their timeshare is how they are committed to it. According to the company for their help to be effective entails that the other party, its client, should also do its part in the process.

With the right source of help, proper attitude and proper information, Vermont timeshare owners find relief.

An Interview with the Wyndham CEO – USA Today

A business travel correspondent from USA Today, Barbara de Lollis, has interviewed the chief executive officer of Wyndham regarding the recent downswing in the timeshare business and how it has affected the company – Wyndham.

There was one particular question which was asked that gave away a striking answer. This question was about the reason why their company has laid-off about 4,000 employees. This interesting question was then answered by the CEO in that every business across the world felt the pressure of the recent turn-up of the macroeconomic environment. No company – or their company for that matter was even resistant to it. The event where the tightness of the capital markets became seeming, it has created an environment where they have to take the sales down. When they sell timeshare, they let people lend the people some money for 50% of the time to buy it. Then the company goes to the insurance companies and banks so that Wyndham could lend money. Unfortunately, the lenders shut down. Because of what happened, their company was left with no choice since it has narrowed down the amount of capital where they had to make available to the buyers, who their company sells timeshares to.

With this, now we know that half of the timeshare owners, who buy with Wyndham, buy the properties with corresponding loans. It seems like there is a very high number and points pointing to the fact that many timeshare owners might not know what they are purchasing. The paying interest on a timeshare is the same as paying someone to make more of the consumer’s money. With the existence of maintenance fees, special assessments on top of a mortgage, people who own a timeshare are not only paying a huge amount of money but also contractually compelled to pay for a long time. It could have been hassle-free for a lot of people not to buy time share properties and just pay for their vacations individually.

This may seem to be very unfortunate, but still a lot of time share owners believe that they are making a very good deal in investing their money in time share. After all, having the right to own a property and having all the fun and leisure just within reach despite their very frantic schedule seems to be really rewarding. This means, that paying a whole lot of fees is not really a big deal anymore.