Dec 22, 2007

janeta81 wrote:
julieh18 wrote:
AVOID JRA

JRA services handled my first resale purchase. They didn't get the grant deed recorded correctly and after two years the tax bill is still in the previous owners name. I contacted Janet Amarrati to get this fixed. She has never called me back. I have no way to get ahold of the previous owner so I'm stuck. I wouldn't use JRA nor could I recommend them!!

Please do not avoid JRA Services, Inc. We have been in business for over a decade and have handled many many many timeshare closings sucessfully. I don't believe that the deed was recorded incorrectly, I believe that there was a problem with the tax assessor's office, not with the recording department. We don't normally get involved with the tax assessor's office. I would ask that the new owner please contact me at janet@timeshareresaleclosings.com, or 954-718-7076, and we can revisit the issue with this closed file. I am happy to try and assist and clear up any problems. Our customer satisfaction is our number one goal.


Joyce E.
Dec 22, 2007

I'm glad janeta81 was able to get her message from julieh18, because it included an email address of a company and phone number of the sender WOW. When I tried sending a message like that it was edited out and not allowed. Apparently janeta81 an exception has been made for you because you have been allowed to received some helpful information so if I were you, I would use it fully.


Joyce E.

Last edited by joycee31 on Dec 22, 2007 12:35 PM

Dec 22, 2007

ken1193 wrote:
joycee31 wrote:
I don't know if I am allowed to say this on this site, but I have been sent a list of no up front fee companies.
=================================================

Your posting has apparently been edited by the moderator, probably to delete actual company names, which I guess is RedWeek prerogative if posting that info is regarded as advertising.

However, aside from company names, a critically important point you have NOT addressed is......SENT BY WHOM???

Whenever the Internet and unknown sources are involved, do exactly as those street signs suggest: PROCEED WITH CAUTION!!

I did not post company names, I simply left my email address to those who were interested and and it was edited out. I found that really weird because I have seen several email addresses posted.


Joyce E.
Dec 22, 2007

joycee31 wrote:
ken1193 wrote:
joycee31 wrote:
I don't know if I am allowed to say this on this site, but I have been sent a list of no up front fee companies.
=================================================

Your posting has apparently been edited by the moderator, probably to delete actual company names, which I guess is RedWeek prerogative if posting that info is regarded as advertising.

However, aside from company names, a critically important point you have NOT addressed is......SENT BY WHOM???

Whenever the Internet and unknown sources are involved, do exactly as those street signs suggest: PROCEED WITH CAUTION!!

I did not post company names, I simply left my email address to those who were interested and and it was edited out. I found that really weird because I have seen several email addresses posted.

Joyce, it depends on the situation. If you have a list of no upfront companies we'd rather see them posted here rather then allowing people to email you.

Thanks, Marty


Marty F
Dec 23, 2007

marty8084 wrote:
Joyce, it depends on the situation. If you have a list of no upfront companies we'd rather see them posted here rather then allowing people to email you. Thanks, Marty

Marty is absolutely correct ... you don't need your email address in open view for every scammer and spammer out there to harvest. Youd be surprised at how many scammers surf the net phishing for email addreses.

Many months ago I started a thread entitled 'No Upfront Fee Timeshare Resale Companies in the Buying, Selling and Renting forum ... feel free to add your list to that thread.

The thread is here ... you can copy and paste the url:

http://www.redweek.com/forums/messages?thread_id=11977&message_id=15718&query=no%20upfront%20fee%20timeshare%20resale%20companies#15718


R P.

Last edited by jayjay on Dec 23, 2007 08:11 AM

Dec 24, 2007

marty8084

joycee31 wrote:
ken1193 wrote:
joycee31 wrote:
I don't know if I am allowed to say this on this site, but I have been sent a list of no up front fee companies.
=================================================

Your posting has apparently been edited by the moderator, probably to delete actual company names, which I guess is RedWeek

prerogative if posting that info is regarded as advertising.

However, aside from company names, a critically important point you have NOT addressed is......SENT BY WHOM???

Whenever the Internet and unknown sources are involved, do exactly as those street signs suggest: PROCEED WITH CAUTION!!

I did not post company names, I simply left my email address to those who were interested and and it was edited out. I found that really weird because I have seen several email addresses posted.

Joyce, it depends on the situation. If you have a list of no upfront companies we'd rather see them posted here rather then allowing people to email you.

Thanks, MARTY

OK, I wasn't sure how this worked. Meanwhile here is the list of no up front agencies that were sent to me. Hope this is helpful for those in need of selling their timeshare. I have not checked with BBB on these agencies.

Timeshare Resales Worldwide 888-696-8463 (multi states) www.timeshareresalesww.com

Island Consulting Timeshare Realty 800-809-6020 (multi states) www.timesharestogo.com

Preferred Timeshare Resales 800-299-5536 (multi states, Mexico and Caribbean) www.preferredtimeshare.com


Joyce E.

Last edited by joycee31 on Dec 25, 2007 04:30 PM

Dec 25, 2007

joycee31

marty8084 wrote:
joycee31 wrote:
ken1193 wrote:
joycee31 wrote:
I don't know if I am allowed to say this on this site, but I have been sent a list of no up front fee companies.
================================================= Before using any of the companies listed above, I suggest you read the hundeds of posts on this topic at the Timeshare Users Group web site. Start with this one: http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44 Your posting has apparently been edited by the moderator, probably to delete actual company names, which I guess is RedWeek prerogative if posting that info is regarded as advertising.

However, aside from company names, a critically important point you have NOT addressed is......SENT BY WHOM???

Whenever the Internet and unknown sources are involved, do exactly as those street signs suggest: PROCEED WITH CAUTION!!

I did not post company names, I simply left my email address to those who were interested and and it was edited out. I found that really weird because I have seen several email addresses posted.

Joyce, it depends on the situation. If you have a list of no upfront companies we'd rather see them posted here rather then allowing people to email you.

Thanks, MARTY

OK, I wasn't sure how this worked. Meanwhile here is the list of no up front agencies that was sent to me. Hope this is helpful for those in need of selling their timeshare. I have not checked with BBB on these agencies.

Timeshare Resales Worldwide 888-696-8463 (multi states) www.timeshareresalesww.com

Island Consulting Timeshare Realty 800-809-6020 (multi states) www.timesharestogo.com

Preferred Timeshare Resales 800-299-5536 (multi states, Mexico and Caribbean) www.preferredtimeshare.com


Marie M.
Dec 25, 2007

joycee31

marty8084 wrote:
joycee31 wrote:
ken1193 wrote:
joycee31 wrote:
I don't know if I am allowed to say this on this site, but I have been sent a list of no up front fee companies.
=================================================

Your posting has apparently been edited by the moderator, probably to delete actual company names, which I guess is RedWeek prerogative if posting that info is regarded as advertising.

However, aside from company names, a critically important point you have NOT addressed is......SENT BY WHOM???

Whenever the Internet and unknown sources are involved, do exactly as those street signs suggest: PROCEED WITH CAUTION!!

I did not post company names, I simply left my email address to those who were interested and and it was edited out. I found that really weird because I have seen several email addresses posted.

Joyce, it depends on the situation. If you have a list of no upfront companies we'd rather see them posted here rather then allowing people to email you.

Thanks, MARTY

OK, I wasn't sure how this worked. Meanwhile here is the list of no up front agencies that was sent to me. Hope this is helpful for those in need of selling their timeshare. I have not checked with BBB on these agencies.

Timeshare Resales Worldwide 888-696-8463 (multi states) www.timeshareresalesww.com

Island Consulting Timeshare Realty 800-809-6020 (multi states) www.timesharestogo.com

Preferred Timeshare Resales 800-299-5536 (multi states, Mexico and Caribbean) www.preferredtimeshare.com

If you would please add RE/Max Properties S.W. Timeshare Division 1-800-541-5666 ext 325 Judi Kozlowski or go to www.timesharexchangemls.com and see the member directory for all of the upfront fee companies.


Jay K.
Jan 08, 2008

From Forum: Timeshare Points vs. Weeks

charlest66 wrote: Sunterra Sun Options have more value and are much more flexible. A week at a Sunterra Resort in prime time any time full week is only 5,500 - 6,000 points. You get your exchange more readily with II (not through RCI - we always had bad luck with RCI and switched to II - they are more quality Resorts. No exchange fee through Sunterra and your free II Membership gives you the same choice to swap a week or a few days at a minimal amount of points. You always have too many points to use. It is the greatest way to go economically more sound for your money to stay in First Class Resorts$ You pay for what you get!

AGREED! Sunterra is now Diamond Resorts International with 120 resorts in their network of "The club" w/ NO exchange fees within the Club sytem. That was a huge value to us! We can stay at any of the 120 resorts around the world and they have the most gorgeous properties in Europe! The Club membership is only available through the developer and we purchased 10,000 pts and can get 3 weeks out of that amount of points. We can book short notice of 59 days or less and pay HALF the point values for any given resort within the system if its available. Studios' are almost always available and in Diamond Resorts the studios are equivalent to a luxury suite in a Hilton or Hyatt or Westin. We trade within Interval International and ALL of cream of the crop resorts are there. Westin's, Four Seasons, Hyatt, WorldMark, Disney and more... I personally loved Westin and Four Seasons, but did not want to pay that huge intial cost for those properties and and their maintenance fees, and did not want a fixed week! but now I can stay there anyway!! just pay the $139 fee when I want to stay there! I also loved Hyatt, but did not want their price tag for a peak season 2bdrm for two weeks at $54K! but with our Sunterra/Diamond points package! We took a Vacation at the Hyatt Highlands in Carmel exhanged through I.I. and the rack rates for the rooms were $785/night! We also stayed at the Hyatt in Tahoe also, it was fabulous! we stayed in a huge luxurious 1bdrm for 6500 pts and had 3500 points left over which will give us two weeks in a studio anywhere in the Diamond system if booked 59 days or less! often we are short notice travelers anyway and have found it fabulous and fun to find a few places we want to go and see what is available, book at half the point values and zip off to a 5 star $500-1200/ night resort for a week for 1650 points! I cannot say enough great things about it!! I personally like the ease and flexibility of the points!

<b> I have a friend who also purchased points and upgraded/converted her old RCI gold crown resort at Diamond with a 'Club Select" that turns their fixed weeks in to points in the Diamond system was rewarded back with up to 8000 pts for their week if it is a Gold Crown resort! My friend did this with her fixed week with her older time share fixed week that she purchased 10 yrs ago, and got 7000 pts back with a point package purchase of only 5000 pts. She actually got MORE value back in points than she originally paid for that product 10 yrs ago! it was fabulous, she flipped! She now has 12,000 pts, so she can take a trip to Europe in France which she was not able to get with her older product in an RCI exchange. Now she is planning a 3 week trip through Europe and she is using all the Diamond resorts to stay at and is thrilled to have no exchange fees, AND she is able to go this year! The xchange fees are not a huge amount, but she felt it "nickled and dimed" her too much! She said that alone saved her $600 on that one trip!</b> Love it!! she also was upgraded into Interval International which she felt had better selection of a much better quality of resorts and no banking and hoping to go! Just book and go! We both agree that points and Sunterra/Diamond and I.I.is the way to go in the 21st century! the GPS of Vacation Ownership!


Diva D.
Jan 08, 2008

divad2 has now TRIPLE posted the above "hooray for Diamond / Sunterra" tome / endorsement. If it's not just a thinly disguised ad, what is it even doing here (twice, no less) in a thread entitled "selling my timeshare"???


KC
Jan 08, 2008

Hmmm. Makes you wonder what Sunterra/Diamond is up to? They can, afterall, boast a huge presence worldwide. What really picks up my ears is the "trade in your old vacation tool for a better product" line. I wonder if they are thinking of becoming the new umbrella under which everyone else can toss their unwanted, unused, timeshares to travel to someone else's unused timeshare.

Isn't this how RCI got so big? "Give us the time you don't want and we'll give you someone else's" Isn't Diamond's new model name "The Club" Doesn't it make you wonder if they're trying to be the new thing. And, actually if they didn't charge so much to "join" it would be nice to be able to trade wherever you want for free.

I own at a chain of resorts where you can pick the location you want to reserve, and no one else can make reservations before someone else like some places, and there's no exchange fee. This is very nice!

I think there are several big timeshare companies that have either gone to or are considering in house exchanging. Maybe "The Club" wants to be the big new exchange group?

Or maybe this person really is excited about their great experience. But posting on several threads the same thing really reads like an ad. And just like any ad, I say I'll wait until everybody else has it before i go getting it.


Orville F.
Jan 08, 2008

orvillef2 wrote:
Hmmm. Makes you wonder what Sunterra/Diamond is up to? They can, afterall, boast a huge presence worldwide. What really picks up my ears is the "trade in your old vacation tool for a better product" line. I wonder if they are thinking of becoming the new umbrella under which everyone else can toss their unwanted, unused, timeshares to travel to someone else's unused timeshare.

Isn't this how RCI got so big? "Give us the time you don't want and we'll give you someone else's" Isn't Diamond's new model name "The Club" Doesn't it make you wonder if they're trying to be the new thing. And, actually if they didn't charge so much to "join" it would be nice to be able to trade wherever you want for free.

I own at a chain of resorts where you can pick the location you want to reserve, and no one else can make reservations before someone else like some places, and there's no exchange fee. This is very nice!

I think there are several big timeshare companies that have either gone to or are considering in house exchanging. Maybe "The Club" wants to be the big new exchange group?

Or maybe this person really is excited about their great experience. But posting on several threads the same thing really reads like an ad. And just like any ad, I say I'll wait until everybody else has it before i go getting it.

================= orvillef2, I'm sure you mentioned it before, but what is the name of the resort where you own...Hyatt, Marriott?

I'm not a Sunterra/Diamond Owner, but I've been to their presentations. I think they have a pretty good program, but a bit pricey for my taste (I have that champagne taste on a beer pocket book). To become a member of The Club you need to buy directly from Diamond, though some resale agents have claimed that I could buy an old Sunterra unit resale, and join The Club for an extra fee ($2995). This "extra fee" may be something as simple as purchasing a small number of points to be combined with the resale purchase.


Mike N.
Jan 09, 2008

mike1536 wrote:
orvillef2 wrote:
Hmmm. Makes you wonder what Sunterra/Diamond is up to? They can, afterall, boast a huge presence worldwide. What really picks up my ears is the "trade in your old vacation tool for a better product" line. I wonder if they are thinking of becoming the new umbrella under which everyone else can toss their unwanted, unused, timeshares to travel to someone else's unused timeshare.

Isn't this how RCI got so big? "Give us the time you don't want and we'll give you someone else's" Isn't Diamond's new model name "The Club" Doesn't it make you wonder if they're trying to be the new thing. And, actually if they didn't charge so much to "join" it would be nice to be able to trade wherever you want for free.

I own at a chain of resorts where you can pick the location you want to reserve, and no one else can make reservations before someone else like some places, and there's no exchange fee. This is very nice!

I think there are several big timeshare companies that have either gone to or are considering in house exchanging. Maybe "The Club" wants to be the big new exchange group?

Or maybe this person really is excited about their great experience. But posting on several threads the same thing really reads like an ad. And just like any ad, I say I'll wait until everybody else has it before i go getting it.

================= orvillef2, I'm sure you mentioned it before, but what is the name of the resort where you own...Hyatt, Marriott?

I'm not a Sunterra/Diamond Owner, but I've been to their presentations. I think they have a pretty good program, but a bit pricey for my taste (I have that champagne taste on a beer pocket book). To become a member of The Club you need to buy directly from Diamond, though some resale agents have claimed that I could buy an old Sunterra unit resale, and join The Club for an extra fee ($2995). This "extra fee" may be something as simple as purchasing a small number of points to be combined with the resale purchase.

We stayed at a Sunterra / Diamond last summer & sat through their presentation. They'd take your mother-in-law on trade if they could. Ju$t too expen$ive for our "water" budget. At least we got a free dinner for an hour's work :-)

Those posts were very thinly disguised advertisements IMO.


Bruce Z.
Jan 09, 2008

bruce727 wrote:
mike1536 wrote:
orvillef2 wrote:
Hmmm. Makes you wonder what Sunterra/Diamond is up to? They can, afterall, boast a huge presence worldwide. What really picks up my ears is the "trade in your old vacation tool for a better product" line. I wonder if they are thinking of becoming the new umbrella under which everyone else can toss their unwanted, unused, timeshares to travel to someone else's unused timeshare.

Isn't this how RCI got so big? "Give us the time you don't want and we'll give you someone else's" Isn't Diamond's new model name "The Club" Doesn't it make you wonder if they're trying to be the new thing. And, actually if they didn't charge so much to "join" it would be nice to be able to trade wherever you want for free.

I own at a chain of resorts where you can pick the location you want to reserve, and no one else can make reservations before someone else like some places, and there's no exchange fee. This is very nice!

I think there are several big timeshare companies that have either gone to or are considering in house exchanging. Maybe "The Club" wants to be the big new exchange group?

Or maybe this person really is excited about their great experience. But posting on several threads the same thing really reads like an ad. And just like any ad, I say I'll wait until everybody else has it before i go getting it.

================= orvillef2, I'm sure you mentioned it before, but what is the name of the resort where you own...Hyatt, Marriott?

I'm not a Sunterra/Diamond Owner, but I've been to their presentations. I think they have a pretty good program, but a bit pricey for my taste (I have that champagne taste on a beer pocket book). To become a member of The Club you need to buy directly from Diamond, though some resale agents have claimed that I could buy an old Sunterra unit resale, and join The Club for an extra fee ($2995). This "extra fee" may be something as simple as purchasing a small number of points to be combined with the resale purchase.

We stayed at a Sunterra / Diamond last summer & sat through their presentation. They'd take your mother-in-law on trade if they could. Ju$t too expen$ive for our "water" budget. At least we got a free dinner for an hour's work :-)

Just what is "Ju$t too expen$ive" for your budget? I have a mother-in-law I would love to trade for a timeshare and need a ball park figure before I listen to a Sunterra/Diamond presentation.

Also, is anyone out there familiar with myresortnetwork.com. I recently received a response from a party expressing interest in my Redweek ad to which I responded with information and my email address. Within hours I had an email from myresortnetwork.com offering to list my timeshare. Just a coincidence? I wonder.

Those posts were very thinly disguised advertisements IMO.


Carvan A.
Jan 09, 2008

carvana states: >>Those posts were very thinly disguised advertisements IMO.<< ===============================================

Call me a skeptic, but I believe that too. The "exchanges" (...infomercials? maybe both originating from within the same sales office?...) were just too contrived, too much "my friend and I just love this", etc. The response (in another thread) to being openly challenged on the legitimacy of (one of THREE identical) postings was also not at all persuasive ("oh, I'm enthusiastic like that about my Lexus and my diamonds, and blah blah blah"...). Nonetheless, I guess it's a cagey way for a poseur or a shill to attempt to gain some free (if still quite unconvincing) advertising.


KC

Last edited by ken1193 on Jan 09, 2008 02:16 PM

Jan 09, 2008

carvana also asked in a post: >>... is anyone out there familiar with myresortnetwork.com. I recently received a response from a party expressing interest in my Redweek ad to which I responded with information and my email address. Within hours I had an email from myresortnetwork.com offering to list my timeshare. Just a coincidence? I wonder. << =============================================

I'm not sure that I understand the issue you describe, but I have used MRN site numerous times (successfully too, I might add) to sell (and, on very rare occasions, rent) some of my weeks. I believe MRN to be completely legit and "on the up and up". That said, however, there are certainly commercial entities who "troll" around ALL of the timeshare sites, trying to gin up new business for themselves. I've experienced this as a direct result of ads I have placed on TUG and RedWeek --- but never as a result of a MRN ad. YMMV....


KC

Last edited by ken1193 on Jan 09, 2008 02:26 PM

Jan 09, 2008

I agree with Ken1193 that myresortnetwork.com is one of the better on line places to rent or sell timeshares. The message you got from them probably had nothing to do with your RedWeek posting. I got a note from them last week too! MD


Mary D.
Jan 09, 2008

Re: >> The message you got from them [My Resort Network] probably had nothing to do with your RedWeek posting. I got a note from them last week too! MD<< ===============================================

Many people (among whom I include myself) who have current TUG ads (where email addresses are openly identified) have received recent unsolicited messages from MRN. I too believe that your surprise contact from MRN has nothing whatsoever to do with RedWeek. I'm willing to bet that you also have a TUG ad of some kind "up" and that is almost certainly where your email address was obtained and then used. Just one business using "open source" info from a "competitor" site to look for more business for themselves --- nothing nefarious.

P.S. If TUG didn't openly publicize email addresses in their ads (addresses which are also routinely "harvested" for a lot of "scam spam" which is completed unrelated to timeshare), then there would be a lot less volume of unsolicited material received as a result of posting TUG ads. However, TUG seems disinterested in a solution, preferring to just repeatedly state "we warn you that in posting an ad that your email address will be exposed for all the world to see and use". I like TUG and I certainly respect the high level of knowledge and experience of members there, but that's still a weak and unconvincing answer from the site owners in regard to privacy protection. Even Craigslist (which is absolutely free) has decent privacy protection measures in place --- RedWeek and MRN do as well. TUG will be TUG...


KC

Last edited by ken1193 on Jan 10, 2008 08:26 AM

Jan 10, 2008

ken1193 wrote:
Re: >> The message you got from them [My Resort Network] probably had nothing to do with your RedWeek posting. I got a note from them last week too! MD<< ===============================================

Many people who have current TUG ads (where email addresses are openly identified) have received recent unsolicited messages from MRN. I too believe that your surprise contact from MRN has nothing whatsoever to do with RedWeek. I'm willing to bet that you also have a TUG ad of some kind "up" and that is almost certainly where your email address was obtained and then used. Just business looking for business --- nothing nefarious.

Thanks for feedback. I will accept that the email from MRN was a coincidence.


Carvan A.

Last edited by carvana on Jan 10, 2008 07:19 AM

Jan 11, 2008

Mike, in response to your question about where I own. I currently own several mexico timeshares and a few US timeshares including one of Diamonds resorts, Polo Towers. Which I have no intention of upgrading into "The Club" Like I said, I'll wait till everyone else gives up their units before I do it. I have no intention of paying higher maintenance fees and not knowing what I'll get. I think that even if a company such as "The Club" owns in every single resort out there, what are the chances they own the best weeks at those resorts? I have a great week, I can rent it out or trade it and I'm willing to use it, so why would I trade it for sight unseen. And pay for the right to boot. I think I'm probably not the only person that feels this way. So, even if I could trek through Europe using points, I would want to research where I'll be staying and I would be willing to pay more to get exactly what and where I want rather than take whatever happens to be available through The Club. Which, by the way I'm not knocking "The Club" after all, they are huge and they have a far reaching presence. I also like Marriots, but I'm not patient enough to just hope I'll get my weeks when I want them. I prefer fixed weeks, and the floating weeks I have are middle of the road timeshares in great locations with excellent pools and are relatively easy to get into. So if for some reason I can't get into the weeks I want I know that there is enough demand for the resort that I can easily trade into another place for the week I want. I prefer to own strong and reasonable vs luxurious and expensive or quaint and cheap (I don't mind quaint and cheap and my Royal Haciendas and Grand Mayan are luxurious).


Orville F.

Note: Please do not post ads in the timeshare forums. If you want to add a timeshare posting, go here.