Tuesday 24 April 2012

Tips on Avoiding Timeshare Fraud from International Timeshare Refund Action

International Timeshare Refund Action

There has been an increase in timeshare complaints. People are complaining of abuse, timeshare fraud such as shady collection firms like QVC or Quality Vacation Club, high interest rates by financiers recommended by marketers, complex Internet advertising scams, and being lured by timeshare representatives using bribes. Other complaints are escalating maintenance fees, problems with the transfer and disposal of points and weeks, and problems getting selected balanced exchanges from exchange companies.
International Timeshare Refund ActionYou could avoid seeking a timeshare refund in the first place by avoiding buying on the spot. Any company that pressures you into buying a timeshare on the spot is most likely up to no good. Companies or Resorts (such as Disney) will gladly give you a number to their sales office if they cannot get you to buy then and there, but scam companies are not likely to take no for an answer.

Have a lawyer review the contract. If you are going to be bothered into signing a contract, at least make sure the company allows you to have a lawyer review it before you give in and sign on the dotted line. A trained eye will be able to tell in a heartbeat whether a deal is legitimate, so do not leave it up to chance. If the company will not give you a copy for your lawyer to examine, odds are they are crooks.

Research the company. With the emergence of smart phones, this step has never been easier. While listening to the presentation, conduct an internet search on the company. Pay attention to any testimonials you come across. Odds are if this company scammed someone before, the victim will have made a public complaint online. If you are not at the presentation, and are speaking to a sales person over the phone, just use your home computer.

Always read the fine print. This tip even applies to legitimate companies, but it is especially important when you suspect the deal might be a scam. There might be hidden fees or other such traps in your contract, so be diligent when reading. Do not skip a single word, especially if it is in smaller print.

Never pay an up-front fee. If a timeshare resale company requires a payment up-front before the timeshare sale is final, walk away. The timeshare resale company may call the fee by any number of different names such as an appraisal fee, a market analysis fee, an initial advertising fee, or something similar. If there is any type of fee that requires a prepayment before the timeshare is sold, the consumer is likely to lose that money and never get their timeshare sold.
Check with consumer protection agencies. Another important tip is that you should not believe everything timeshare presentations promise. Always be sceptical, particularly avoiding anything that promises you too much too quickly.

International Timeshare Refund Action

If you feel you may have been scammed, you need not spend a fortune filing a timeshare law suit. With the increase in timeshare complaints, Owners Action and International Timeshare Refund Action (ITRA) are offering the opportunity for timeshare owners to participate in a timeshare class action.

To find out more, visit the ITRA website

1 comment:

  1. Timeshare industry has experienced a considerable growth over the last years. On the surface, it looks like it is a reliable market and an innovative way to vacation; on the other hand, timeshare frauds are happening on a daily basis, putting thousands of families in a critical financial situation and taking millions of dollars each year. Such conflict has created lots of misinformation about timeshares, and most timeshare myths come from timeshare salespeople. http://www.timesharescam.com/

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