century timeshare group

rochleau · Aug 23, 2010

My wife and I have been trying to sell our timeshare for over a year and can't get anywhere. We have listed it online twice (Quite costly by the way) then with no offers the Century Timeshare group calls. I was careful up to the point that I gave them my card number. He had a answer for everything. They even have a B- rating on BBB. I checked with my card company before I gave it to them and I have 8 month to dispute any charge so I feel protected that way. I was told nothing would be charged until a rental or sale agreement was reached and I reminded them of that with a fax and phone call. No charge yet. Is it to good to be true? probably Does anyone have any advice on how to sell a timeshare with Orange Lake Property it Vt.
:wall:

DeniseM · Aug 23, 2010

Hi and welcome to TUG! :hi:

ANY company that charges a large upfront fee is trying to scam you. They make their money with the upfront fee and then they make no attempt to sell your timeshare.

There are a lot of scammers out there taking advantage of desperate timeshare owners these days. Most timeshares are selling for 0-10% of retail, but that's a bitter pill to swallow, so owners grasp at shady offers, hoping they are for real. Legitimate resellers charge a commission after the sale, but the scammers all ask for a large upfront payment.

Here are some warnings signs with these kinds of companies:

1) Do they say that they already have a renter/buyer for your timeshare? (or an established market like people attending conventions.)

2) Do they want you to pay hundreds/thousands of dollars for a title search and transfer fees, or taxes, or a closing fee, UPFRONT?

3) Are they offering to rent/sell it for far more than the market value?

4) Do they want you to pay a large up front fee that supposedly you will get back?

5) Do they want your credit card number before they send you a contract?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, then this is the usual scenario:

Once you pay the fee and receive the contract, you discover that the company has only promised to advertise your resort, not to rent/sell it, and they don't mention having a renter/buyer in the contract.

Then, you won't hear anything from them for a long time, and when you contact them, they will tell you that the renter/buyer backed out, but they will advertise your timeshare on their over-priced website.

Finally, when you try to get your money back, they will point out that you signed a contract, and it's only for advertising.

When you try to challenge it with your credit card company, they will tell you that you only had 60 days to dispute the charge, and that it's too late to do anything.

To see what your timeshare is really worth on the current resale market:

1) Register with eBay
2) Log into eBay
3) Search for the resort by exact name
4) Click on "completed listings" on the menu on the left

(Be sure you look at the completed listings - those are actually SELLING prices - you will find asking prices all over the place, but what really counts is what they actually sold for.)

If you look at the ebay auctions, you will see that your timeshare has no resale value - not just your timeshare, but most timeshares. The sad truth is that in this economy, you will be lucky to give it away. If you want help with that - please let us know.

As far as the company yopu just signed up with - you should get out of that immediately - ANYONE WHO CHARGES AN UPFRONT FEE IS SCAMMING YOU!

timeos2 · Aug 23, 2010

rochleau said:
No charge yet. Is it to good to be true? probably Does anyone have any advice on how to sell a timeshare with Orange Lake Property it Vt.

I can tell by the shaky tone of your post that you already know this isn't a legitimate group to deal with. As Denise posted any company that wants a serious up front fee (above $50-75 as a listing fee) is out for the fee NOT to actually sell your week. I would get my $$ out NOW - cancel the card & get a new number for it if they really haven't charged it yet (I bet they do within the week).

As for selling in today's market for the vast majority of timeshares the best you will do is to offer very cheap - $100 to $500 tops - or even give it away for the just the closing/transfer fees. The week itself and the resort may be great but, except for a few top demand weeks, most seasonal resorts have little trade value so unless you or your buyer plans to use the week those annual fees loom very large and, as you know, are the true cost of any timeshare.

Getting someone to take over those fees, not getting any $$ out, should be your primary goal. There just aren't many willing buyers for mot timeshares around and those that are know that it is an unprecedented buyers market.

century timeshare group

rochleau

DeniseM

timeos2

Tug Review Crew: Rookie