SCAM WARNING Timeshare Liquidation - Martin Management

Swanpointer · Feb 26, 2016

We attended a "seminar" held by Escape Resolutions. We agreed to pay them a fee to liquidate our timeshare. After returning home, we changed our mind and, via certified letters, asked for the return of our fee. We have not received any response to our request. We have been forced to file a dispute with our credit card, and claims with the BBB, Attorney General's Office, etc. FYI

TUGBrian · Feb 26, 2016

these are common scams regularly warned about here on TUG.

very sorry that you were taken by them, and hope you are successful in getting your money back.

Ty1on · Feb 26, 2016

Swanpointer said:
We attended a "seminar" held by Escape Resolutions. We agreed to pay them a fee to liquidate our timeshare. After returning home, we changed our mind and, via certified letters, asked for the return of our fee. We have not received any response to our request. We have been forced to file a dispute with our credit card, and claims with the BBB, Attorney General's Office, etc. FYI

At least you didn't wire money to an offshore account. Your CC company should be able to help you recover.

taterhed · Feb 26, 2016

Swanpointer said:
We attended a "seminar" held by Escape Resolutions. We agreed to pay them a fee to liquidate our timeshare. After returning home, we changed our mind and, via certified letters, asked for the return of our fee. We have not received any response to our request. We have been forced to file a dispute with our credit card, and claims with the BBB, Attorney General's Office, etc. FYI

So, I'll ask. What is the timeshare you elected to 'liquidate?'
Perhaps some of the good people here can advise you how best to sell, give-away, give-back or 'learn to use and love' so you can move forward.

Sorry you were bitten by the scam bug.
I hope you do realize that this was one of thousands of schemes to remove your money--but not your timeshare. Don't pay ANYONE upfront money--especially not until you fully understand the subject fully.
cheers.

Ty1on · Feb 26, 2016

By the way, if you start getting calls offering legal help to recover your money, it's the same scammers coming back for more.

sundayeve · Apr 23, 2016

Swanpointer said:
We attended a "seminar" held by Escape Resolutions. We agreed to pay them a fee to liquidate our timeshare. After returning home, we changed our mind and, via certified letters, asked for the return of our fee. We have not received any response to our request. We have been forced to file a dispute with our credit card, and claims with the BBB, Attorney General's Office, etc. FYI

A couple of weeks ago my boyfriend told me that he attended one of these seminars and that he signed up...$6995. After doing some quick research into the company and the man behind it (a convicted drug dealer), I told my boyfriend to get out of it. Also told him about Swanpointer's trouble getting a refund. So the boyfriend calls and sends email requesting a refund. At first they said "no problem, we'll credit back your account." Then a couple of days later they called back and said they would send a refund check instead. I told the boyfriend to call the credit card company right away. He didn't do it. So far no refund check received. Not at all surprising. Anyway, just wanted to add another warning to anyone who might be tempted by these charlatans. Swanpointer I'm curious to know if you ever got your money back?

Passepartout · Apr 23, 2016

Swanpointer's last activity here was the day they posted the OP. You might click their blue username and send an email.

Since they haven't been back, they either got the refund or gave up when told that we already warn others of these upfront pay scams.

Jim

Talent312 · Apr 23, 2016

sundayeve said:
I told the boyfriend to call the credit card company right away. He didn't do it.

A phone call is not sufficient. Disputes are usually done either on the website where transaction is listed, or in a written letter. He needs to look at the back of his last statement and follow the directions. Typically, he has 60 days from the date of his last statement to initiate a dispute, but the sooner the better.

See: http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/6-steps-getting-chargeback-1267.php

sundayeve · Apr 27, 2016

Talent312 said:
A phone call is not sufficient. Disputes are usually done either on the website where transaction is listed, or in a written letter. He needs to look at the back of his last statement and follow the directions. Typically, he has 60 days from the date of his last statement to initiate a dispute, but the sooner the better.

See: http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/6-steps-getting-chargeback-1267.php

Thanks for the tip and the link. I will pass it on.

sundayeve · Jun 15, 2016

sundayeve said:
A couple of weeks ago my boyfriend told me that he attended one of these seminars and that he signed up...$6995. After doing some quick research into the company and the man behind it (a convicted drug dealer), I told my boyfriend to get out of it. Also told him about Swanpointer's trouble getting a refund. So the boyfriend calls and sends email requesting a refund. At first they said "no problem, we'll credit back your account." Then a couple of days later they called back and said they would send a refund check instead. ... So far no refund check received.

Update: after six weeks of run around, Escape Resolutions sent a check for $1000 and said that cashing the check would amount to signing a new contract. Boyfriend did not cash the check but did finally file a dispute with the credit card company. He also filed consumer fraud complaints with the state attorney general for Missouri and the state we live in as well as the BBB. The credit card company was able to get the matter resolved and $$ credited back to the card. It took about 3 weeks for the credit card company to fix it. So, all's well that ends well, I suppose. Big lesson learned!

bogey21 · Jun 15, 2016

A couple of years ago having time on my hands and being curious what went on I attended a couple of the "Seminars" put on by those promising to extricate TS Owners from their Week for a fee.

Four observations: (1) those attending had no clue; (2) most of them were old, had used their Weeks for years and were wanting to move on; (3) those doing the presentation were smooth and lied a lot; and (4) it looked like a lot of those attending were happy to pay the fee and were signing on the dotted line.

George

theo · Jun 15, 2016

There are so many timeshare "escape / liquidate / exit / disposal / relief" outfits that it's tough keep track of the players without a scorecard.

I do not and will not endorse any of these parasites, but some of the PostCard Companies (despite exorbitant costs) at least make some effort to find a legitimate new owner (...making even more money in the closing, of course). The "disposal" outfits that irk me most are the Viking Ship operations which make no effort whatsoever to achieve a legitimate transfer, but merely attempt to send an ownership off to "never never land", creating a legal mess and burden to unravel at the resort level.

Fortunately, many resorts have smartened up to the ways of the Viking Ships.

LannyPC · Jun 15, 2016

bogey21 said:
(1) those attending had no clue

Had no clue as to what? The program they were attending? What their TSs were really worth? That their kids did not, in fact, have to inherit an unwanted TS? :shrug:

TUGBrian · Jun 15, 2016

no clue they had a variety of options to get out of their timeshare they could utilize themselves for little to no cost!

bogey21 · Jun 16, 2016

LannyPC said:
Had no clue as to what? The program they were attending? What their TSs were really worth? That their kids did not, in fact, have to inherit an unwanted TS?

All the above plus they believed it when they were told they could take a tax deduction in the amount of the cost of their Week plus the fee they were paying to extricate themselves. Basically most were clueless.

George

TUGBrian · Nov 1, 2017

annnd still scamming people over a year later....

http://www.kmov.com/story/36729389/9-11-widow-says-she-was-scammed-out-of-18000

PamMo · Nov 1, 2017

TUGBrian said:
annnd still scamming people over a year later....

http://www.kmov.com/story/36729389/9-11-widow-says-she-was-scammed-out-of-18000

Brian, can you add the name "Martin Management" to the title of this thread to make it easier for potential victims to identify these scammers in a google search? Thanks.

SCAM WARNING Timeshare Liquidation - Martin Management

Swanpointer

TUGBrian

Ty1on

taterhed

Ty1on

sundayeve

Passepartout

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

Talent312

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

sundayeve

sundayeve

bogey21

theo

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

LannyPC

TUGBrian

bogey21

TUGBrian

PamMo

TUG Review Crew: Veteran