Copeland Marketing Corporation - Helina Copeland, Sales Agent; Amanda, Stephanie, Customer Service Timeshare Resell Scam! Daytona Beach Florida
I was contacted by Helina in December of 2005, wanting to sell our timeshare for us. She told me that my $699.00 deposit would be refunded if they did not sell it within 1 year, but that she rarely had a property for more than 6 months without selling it.
She (supposedly) contacted the Timeshare Co. to find out what the timeshares were selling for, and we set a price based on that to recoup our investment and pay maintenance fees.
She faxed me a contract, pressing me to return it ASAP because she had a special promotion coming up during which there was a good possibility of selling it. I held the contract for a few days, but was pressed to return it, so I did. I was to be notified for my approval when they had an offer.
I was never contacted, and when I called and asked to speak to Helina she was never available. I was eventually told by Amanda that Helina had been promoted and was no longer selling. She looked up the account and assured me that it was being promoted, and implied that there was a event or contact that could result in a sale.
I later spoke to Stephanie and received the same type of run around. When I enquired about the refund after 1 year without it being sold, I was told that it would only be refunded if the property was sold. At that time I reviewed th contract and realized that it was written that way, but I had failed to pick up on it because of what I had been told.
The contract expired in December of 2006. I was later told that their membership the the BBB of Florida had been revoked and that they were out of business. I went on line at that time and found information from the BBB that it was illegal in Florida to collect any advance fee for listing a timeshare week for resale.
In October of this year (2007) I contacted the Florida Attorney General because I was told that they had acted on complaints against Copeland and required them to refund deposits for complaints received.
Their reply was that perhaps my only recourse would be to get a lawyer and file suit against them.
Joan
Erie, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.