SmartChoice Timeshare Resales is NOT affiliated with Smartchoice Vacations!
I am Judy Rulli, the President and Designated Broker of SmartChoice Timeshare Resales in Scottsdale, AZ. For those who have posted kind words about our company and votes of confidence that we are not charging upfront fees, thank you! And I appreciate the opportunity to set the record straight on the subject of Smartchoice VACATIONS.
We have been inundated with calls for the past two weeks from timeshare owners who have been contacted by phone by Smartchoice Vacations. When these owners search online for “SmartChoice” they are finding our website and company, SmartChoice Timeshare Resales,
www.timeshareAZ.com, and calling us to see if we are the "SmartChoice" who called them with a buyer for their timeshare, and to ask if the "offer" is legitimate.
They all tell a similar story. Smartchoice Vacations (SCV) phoned them and said they have a $4,000 deposit “in hand” from a buyer who is willing to pay $20,000 for their timeshare. The buyer wants to close quickly and the owner will receive a check in 2-3 business days, BUT, the seller has to pay $2,000 for a title search and deed preparation to prove they have clear title. The seller is promised a refund of the $2,000 after closing (in addition to the $20k purchase price), but SCV has to receive the $2,000 by cashier's check or credit card before the transaction can close...and of course, they need it right away or they may lose the buyer.
Fortunately, most of the callers were checking on SC Vacations BEFORE they took the bait, but three callers had already mailed cashier's checks for $2,000 to the address they were given (2393 S. Congress Ave. Suite 200, W. Palm Beach, FL 33406). One had given a credit card number but, after talking with me, immediately called to block the charge.
I spoke with the Florida Attorney General's Office at length this morning, and I encourage anyone who has been contacted by SmartChoice VACATIONS to file a complaint immediately. The Florida Attorney General's website is
www.myfloridalegal.com. Under "Consumer Protection" you can file a complaint online or print a form to fax or mail. In order to prosecute this kind of activity, they need to know just how many people are being solicited, and how much money is being collected. Filing complaints with the BBB, National Assoc. of Consumer Affairs and Consumer Affairs USA will also help protect potential victims. There are links to all of these sites at
www.ltrba.com.
I can’t tell you how painful it is to be on the phone with an 82-year old man who is sobbing out loud because he just learned the $2,000 he needs for food, rent, and groceries isn’t likely to be refunded. And it is infuriating to have this kind of activity being perpetrated by a company using a name so similar to ours.
I apologize for the lengthy post but sincerely appreciate this forum and the information it provides to consumers!
doh - :ignore: commented on 2010 post