"The Villa Trader" is a timeshare related scam company and not affiliated in any way with Villa Trader - http://villatrader.com

A person from the Villa Trader called everyday, consistently, insisting that they had a buyer in front of them, wanting to buy my property/timeshare of Orange Lake Resort for $37000. They said that the only things we had to pay was for the closing costs, which were $2000. The person on the phone asked for my credit card information, saying that the transaction wasn't going to be effective until I send a few signed documents that they sent me through e-mail. I printed these documents and waited a few days because I wasn't really sure about this transaction. The person on the phone called me again asking why I hadn't sent the signed documents. I told them that I didn't want to continue with the transaction. However, he guaranteed me that the transaction wasn't going to be processed until I send the signed documents. In the meantime, I received a statement from my credit card which showed that there was a transaction made the same night I gave him my information, which was on January 12, 2009, even when he guaranteed me that the transaction wasn't going to be made until I send those signed documents. I then called the Villa Trader and the same person answered, whose name is Mr. Morris. He said that all I had to do was to send the signed documents and that I would receive the closing documents within three weeks. I was a little hesitant but I sent the documents anyways, since the transaction was already made. Since then, I have been calling consistently to find out what happened with the whole process. Some time later, I found out that Mr. Morris was no longer working in the company and nobody knows about my case. Ever since, I continued to call and either nobody knows what I am talking about or they simply do not answer the phone call. I left tons of messages and still no answer. I do not know what to do and I need help. I am worried that this is a scam and my $2000 will be gone.

You have just been ripped off by Villa Traders. I had the exact same thing happen to me except I did not sign the contract nor did I send it in. What you need to do next is contact your credit card company. Tell them exactly what happened and they will try and dispute it for you. I had my $2,000 refunded thru my credit card co. since Villa Traders did not dispute their complaint. Villa Traders is a scam and I've already wrote 2 blogs about their scam with Redweek.com Other timeshare crooks will now call you since your timeshare shows 'activity' on it. They will tell you that they can get your money back for you but DON'T listen to them. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Did you make a copy of your contract? If you read the small print, it states that it is a 'marketing' company. This is not a contract of sales. Hopefully you will be able to get your money back - be aggressive with your credit card company since 'no service was rendered' with Villa Traders. Good luck!!! Please write to the Better Business Bureau in Orlando Florida about them. The more the better.

bobo60 wrote:

A person from the Villa Trader called everyday, consistently, insisting that they had a buyer in front of them, wanting to buy my property/timeshare of Orange Lake Resort for $37000. They said that the only things we had to pay was for the closing costs, which were $2000. The person on the phone asked for my credit card information, saying that the transaction wasn't going to be effective until I send a few signed documents that they sent me through e-mail. I printed these documents and waited a few days because I wasn't really sure about this transaction. The person on the phone called me again asking why I hadn't sent the signed documents. I told them that I didn't want to continue with the transaction. However, he guaranteed me that the transaction wasn't going to be processed until I send the signed documents. In the meantime, I received a statement from my credit card which showed that there was a transaction made the same night I gave him my information, which was on January 12, 2009, even when he guaranteed me that the transaction wasn't going to be made until I send those signed documents. I then called the Villa Trader and the same person answered, whose name is Mr. Morris. He said that all I had to do was to send the signed documents and that I would receive the closing documents within three weeks. I was a little hesitant but I sent the documents anyways, since the transaction was already made. Since then, I have been calling consistently to find out what happened with the whole process. Some time later, I found out that Mr. Morris was no longer working in the company and nobody knows about my case. Ever since, I continued to call and either nobody knows what I am talking about or they simply do not answer the phone call. I left tons of messages and still no answer. I do not know what to do and I need help. I am worried that this is a scam and my $2000 will be gone.

This is how upfront fee resale companies operate .... they are thieves and criminals. They will tell you what you want to hear and their employee's change names on a daily basis or the entire outfit closes shop and starts up elsewhere .... it's a systematic scam.

Now ask yourself this question, why would anyone in their right mind pay a developer price ($37,000) for a resale timeshare? If they wanted to buy from the developer they would have done so in the first place and get developer perks.

When prospective buyers are looking for resales they are looking for bargain basement prices. This should have been a light bulb moment for you when he quoted you that unrealiztic price. There was no one waiting in line to buy your timeshare at any price.

The fact that you caved in and sent in your signed paperwork, even though he had already charged the $2000 to your credit card, probably can't be disputed to the credit card company as the scammers have your signed paperwork in hand.

The old saying, "if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is" should be the wake up call for everyone even thinking of doing business with any upfront fee resale scam.

judys57 You have just been ripped off by Villa Traders. I had the exact same thing happen to me except I did not sign the contract nor did I send it in. What you need to do next is contact your credit card company. Tell them exactly what happened and they will try and dispute it for you. I had my $2,000 refunded thru my credit card co. since Villa Traders did not dispute their complaint.

The difference in your scenario is that you never sent in the signed (by you) contract (kudos to you, btw), however the op did finally cave in and sign the paperwork and this is where she made a very costly mistake. Before she sent in that paperwork she stood a good chance of getting her money refunded since there was no signed (by her) contract in Villa Trader's hands.

Hello- I gave them money 2 years ago to rent some of the bonus weeks given to us to use at a resort in Cancun. The sales person appears to be desperate to get the weeks, there is a sense of urgency as if there are many people waiting to use the weeks, and then nothing happens. Nothing has ever materialized. A few months ago some one else phoned saying there was an offer to buy the timeshare right now but I would have to pay a handling fee or something like that. I insisted that I was already part of the Villa Trader and had paid my fees but he insisted that I was not. It seemed like the same approach, an urgency to get your money and then probably the buyer would disappear. I do not know if I trust them at all.

deborah733 wrote:

It seemed like the same approach, an urgency to get your money and then probably the buyer would disappear. I do not know if I trust them at all.

deborah733 wrote:

Hello- I gave them money 2 years ago to rent some of the bonus weeks given to us to use at a resort in Cancun. The sales person appears to be desperate to get the weeks, there is a sense of urgency as if there are many people waiting to use the weeks, and then nothing happens. Nothing has ever materialized. A few months ago some one else phoned saying there was an offer to buy the timeshare right now but I would have to pay a handling fee or something like that. I insisted that I was already part of the Villa Trader and had paid my fees but he insisted that I was not. It seemed like the same approach, an urgency to get your money and then probably the buyer would disappear. I do not know if I trust them at all.

Fool me once it's your fault, fool me twice it's my fault. Take that for what it's worth. All they want is more money and the supposed buyer will once again disappear in thin air like your first supposed buyer did.

jayjay wrote:

Fool me once it's your fault, fool me twice it's my fault. Take that for what it's worth. All they want is more money and the supposed buyer will once again disappear in thin air like your first supposed buyer did.

Please Note: Villa Trader, www.villatrader.com is a private destination club and IS IN NO WAY AFFILIATED WITH "THE VILLA TRADER" or any negative reviews about its time share business.

Caution:

This is a scam. Many posts on the web relating to this outfit.. Do a google search.

I was able to sell our two weeks at Orange Lake using Red Week as a posting site. Then I used PCS timeshare closing to finish the deal. Basically I sold for enough to cover all closing costs. About $600.00 I hated to take such a big loss but timeshares have turned into white elephants unless you are willing to just go to your home resort. Ten years ago it was easy to exchange to a gold crown in a nice warm location, not so anymore