If you’ve been scammed by a timeshare company, don’t despair – the law is on your side. The Consumer Watch Team at Finn Law Group has extensive experience helping timeshare owners fight back against unscrupulous timeshare business practices.
Timeshare scams are a growing threat to consumers. Everyday, people are scammed out of thousands of dollars by sophisticated timeshare schemes promising cheap vacation packages, resale or rental income. These offers come by way of telemarketers, direct mail and email advertisements that never seem to stop.
The Most Common Timeshare Scams That Impact Consumers.
– Bait and Switch: In this scam, a consumer is promised a free or low-cost vacation in exchange for attending a timeshare presentation. Once at the presentation, the consumer is often pressured into buying a timeshare or vacation package that is much more expensive than what was originally offered. This confuses consumers and leaves them feeling cheated.
Primary Timeshare Scams
Let’s look at the primary types of timeshare scams that impact consumers today:
– Timeshare Resale Scams: In a resale scam, a consumer is contacted by someone claiming to be interested in buying their timeshare. The buyer will then ask the consumer to pay upfront fees for closing costs, taxes, or other services related to the sale. Once the consumer pays the fees, the alleged buyer disappears with the seller’s money and is left with nothing to show for it.
– Timeshare Rental Scams: In a rental scam, a consumer is contacted by someone claiming to have rented out their timeshare unit but is now having difficulty collecting payment from the tenant. The consumer is asked to pay upfront fees to cover damages, taxes, or other expenses related to the rental. Once the consumer pays the fees, the renter disappears and is never heard from again.
– Timeshare Exit Scams: In a timeshare exit scam, a consumer is contacted by someone claiming to be able to help them cancel their timeshare contract. The consumer is asked to pay upfront fees for legal or cancellation services. Once the consumer pays the fees, the company disappears and is never heard from again.
This article is for information purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. Always consult with an attorney on any legal matter.
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Finn Law Group’s Consumer Watch Team utilizes social media to report on timeshare frauds. We share real time scam alerts and provide commentary on news impacting timeshare owners. With some regularity, we communicate with agencies, news organizations, and consumers who require assistance in either avoiding or pursuing a scammer who has taken advantage of them.
If you have been the victim of a timeshare scam, the first thing you should do is file a police report. Next, contact an experienced consumer protection attorney that understands timeshare law. The consumer protection attorneys at Finn Law Group have extensive experience helping timeshare owners with timeshare related issues. We can help you cancel your timeshare contract, or get out of your timeshare exit agreement, and help you recover your money. Contact us today for a free consultation.
