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Re: Important Update Affecting Resale Purchasers (by Ken T.):

Hi everyone. I just received this letter from the Florida Attorney General's Office. Just wanted to let people know I got a reply and pass on this information...

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum received your email regarding your concerns with Starwood Vacation Ownership. Attorney General McCollum asked that I respond. I apologize for the delay in responding to your email. Our office is experiencing a large increase in our phone calls and correspondence at this time.

Attorney General McCollum is concerned with all potentially unfair and deceptive trade practices that mislead consumers. By law, this office exercises statutory authority to address consumer fraud under Chapter 501, Part II, Florida Statutes, known as Florida's Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Our office focuses its enforcement efforts on business practices by companies which harm numerous consumers in more than one judicial circuit. We use complaints to develop information about patterns of business activity which may indicate the need for formal investigation or action by our office to protect the broad public interest. Please note that our office does not mediate individual consumer complaints.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides specific information about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, including what debt collectors can and cannot do, and instructions on how to dispute inaccurate debts. The information is available online at the website below, or you may contact the FTC by mail at FTC Correspondence Branch, Washington, D.C. 20580, toll-free telephone (877) 382-4357.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/credit/loans.shtm

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm

The Division of Florida Land Sales, Condominiums, and Mobile Homes, which is part of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), regulates the creation, sale, and operation of timeshare plans in the state of Florida pursuant to Chapter 721, Florida Statutes, the "Florida Vacation Plan and Timesharing Act."

For complaints or inquiries relating to timeshares, please contact DBPR. Contact information as well as frequently asked questions about timeshare plans, is available on DBPR's website at:

http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/lsc/timeshare.html

You may also wish to contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Consumer Services (DACS). DACS is the clearinghouse for consumer complaints and has a voluntary mediation program to assist individual consumers. You may contact DACS at:

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Consumer Services 2005 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Telephone: (850) 488-2221 Toll-free within FL: (800) 435-7352 Website: http://www.800helpfla.com/

Please consult a private attorney for any legal guidance you may need. An attorney can give you the legal advice which our office is precluded by law from giving to private individuals. The Florida Bar offers a Lawyer Referral Service which you may contact toll-free at (800) 342-8060. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for low cost or pro bono assistance through a local legal aid office. The Florida Bar can assist you with this process.

Thank you for contacting Attorney General McCollum's Office. I hope this information proves helpful to you.

Sincerely, Samantha Santana Office of Citizen Services