Here we go again. Yet another timeshare postcard company. Transfer smart. ( www.transfersmartnow.com ) This company is identical to all the other scammy postcard companies out there. They get you to come check out their seminar by inticing you with a stupid flyer that makes you think they are purchasing timeshares only when you get ther you find out they actually want to charge you to "take your timeshare off your hands" whats worse is its no small change they are asking for.
Typically you're looking at a fee from them of $2000-$3500+. What happens with the timeshare next is anyones guess but I'd be willing to be that is where the flood of $1 timeshares on ebay come from. Save yourself the hassle and avoid these people at all costs.
Additionally it appears that this isn't actually a new company at all but just one of the existing ones (Timeshare Relief) attempting to rebrand themselves for a different look and feel. They should call this company "transfer dumb" instead of Transfer Smart because you'd have to be a moron to fall for such a gimmick.
Timeshare owners.. check out (((competitor's name redacted))) or (((redacted))) for a better way to get rid of your timeshare that wont cost you thousands of dollars. Avoid this and other post card companies at all costs. It's a complete and total scam / Ripoff!
sorry, allowing you to give a competitors name would instigate others to just file against their competition, to only come back later to suggest their company, ..plus, if you post a competitors name more than likely they will show up on search engines as a Rip-off! - - your comments on this policy are welcome. CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report. In this case we removed an alleged competitors name
11 Updates & Rebuttals
SandraLaw
Hayward,California,
Timeshare Relief Scam
#12Consumer Comment
Tue, April 22, 2014
Timeshare Relief is a company based on Torrance, California. They claim to have successfully helped over 85,000 timeshare scam victims, and to provide their clients a 100% guaranteed solution. They help their clients, by removing their names from the contract and by transferring the title to someone else. Timeshare relief is, per se, a timeshare transfer company. According to the BBB, there is an alert the business and a total of 17 complaints since March 10, 2013. The company is NOT BBB accredited. Due to the infraction of several laws, in 2012, Timeshare Relief had to pay a penalty of $13,950 USD.
RoseW
Phoenix,Arizona,
Timeshare Cancellation Scam
#12Consumer Comment
Tue, November 19, 2013
Timeshare cancellation is the real solution to get out of a timeshare. When properly cancelling a timeshare, there is no further strings attached to the resort. It is important (however), to know the rules of timeshare cancellation. There are lots of companies that just want to make an easy buck and will even guarantee to recover all monies paid... if you pay them an upfront fee. This is an extension to the original scam.
Never pay upfront to sell, rent, donate or cancel a timeshare contract. Do your homework and investigate the company you will choose to assist you with the cancellation of your timeshare contract as there are many who will tell you (what you would like to hear in order to empathize with you and get your business.) whatever necessary to get more money out of you
Timeshare Vigilante
Alabama,The Truth
#12Consumer Comment
Thu, September 05, 2013
Resort Member's Association owned by David McMillan. He also owns TimeshareCure, TransferSmart, Right Choice Transfer, Pacific Transfer, Pacific Title, Pacific Property Transfer, Timeshare Relief and a few others.
Pacific Transfer is a DBA for Gray Wolf Transfers, Inc, which you can see here:
http://www2.dre.ca.gov/PublicASP/pplinfo.asp?License_id=01916780
They are only registered as a corporation, and they have none of the required real estate licenses to render the services they claim to offer. Most of the other companies aren't registered at all, they don't exist on paper.
Also, here is a list of various lawsuits and investigations:
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2013/06/docs/130606timesharechartactions.pdf
On page 3 under California you can see that TransferSmart has been issued a Final Order to Desist and Refrain for operating illegally in California.
On Page 4 second from the top you'll see Donate Title (Resort Member's Association) where it says, "Referral to the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General ("OAG") for purposes of
enforcing a subpoena under CGS § 42-110k. The OAG will be seeking a court order
requiring compliance." and there's an ongoing investigation.
These companies are all registered to an address in Torrance, CA. I know someone who visited the address, and there is NO OFFICE THERE! Mr. McMillan's address however up in Palos Verdes is one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in California if not the nation (it must be nice, I wonder how he sleeps at night).
On occasion there will be a fluke and a property will actually be transferred, but keep in mine this has been done illegally and you will then be involved in an illegal operation.
You can report them to the Police Department in your area but make sure they know to forward the complaint to the Police Department in Torrance, and also to forward the investigation to your financial institution.
You can file online FTC complaints here:
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
You can file FBI complaints here:
http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
You can file Complaints with your Attorney General, the Attorney General in Florida, and file a complaint with CA Bureau of Real Estate here if you'd like:
http://www.bre.ca.gov/Consumers/FileComplaint.html
...and don't forget to file complaints with the BBB as well, because some people still assume that a good rating on the BBB means a company is trustworthy.
Disclaimer: I am not an attorney, I do not give legal advice, I'm merely a person who did the basic research for information that the average person might not know is readily available. (all information anyone can find on Google). If you choose to file any complaints or reports based on my information it is because you have made the decision to do so. Any decision to file these reports should be preceded by your own research. Don't take my word for it, do the research and if you so choose to, file your respective complaints based on a well informed decision to do so. Good luck!
Katkat
huntington,United States of America
question to "transfer smart"
#12Consumer Comment
Tue, August 30, 2011
then what do you do with all those time shares other sign over to you?
JC Skidmore
Crown Point,Indiana,
United States of America
We Do Not Attempt To Market Your Timeshare
#12REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, August 25, 2010
Transfer Smart is not a timeshare resale company. We do not buy, sell or list timeshares. We transfer owners out of their timeshare contracts legally and assume all liability for the timeshare during the transfer period. It is guaranteed in writing.
JC Skidmore
Crown Point,Indiana,
United States of America
BBB Rating
#12REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, August 25, 2010
Transfer Smart LLC is located in Torrance California. We have earned an A- Rating with the National Better Business Bureau.
David
strasburg,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Forget the BBB...
#12Consumer Comment
Wed, May 12, 2010
There is a simple way to tell if your business practices are legitimate.
Answer this question. Do you, or do you not, charge your customers in excess of 500.00 up front to market their timeshares?
If the answer is "Yes," you are indeed a ripoff. No legitimate broker charges his customers up front. And please, no blowing of smoke about how the timeshare business is "different." It's real estate. You are to be paid when you sell the property.
If the answer is "No," then please say so in your reply and I'll call you right away. I would love to get rid of my timeshare, and I'm sick of those who want to charge me up front and then have no motivation to sell it.
pauline
seattle,Washington,
United States of America
BBB -really? A? try B-
#12REBUTTAL Individual responds
Sun, February 14, 2010
It's funny that you say that your company has achieved an A from the BBB since your actual rating is a B- according to their website.
http://www.bbb.org/reno/business-reviews/timeshare-resale-and-rental-marketing/transfer-smart-in-incline-village-nv-90009969
The site also states that the company "This business is not a BBB accredited business". It's funny how people believe anything. It makes you wonder what else they lie about.
H.a.
Jacksonville,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
How Much Does It Cost?
#12Consumer Comment
Fri, January 15, 2010
So HOW MUCH does it cost for Transfer Smart?
Every company I contact all I can find out is that I need to attend a meeting, at which time my name, rank and serial number has been obtained.
How much does it cost to utilize the services of Transfer Smart
Chris Rose
San Pedro,California,
United States of America
The Truth About Transfer Smart & Timeshare Relief
#12UPDATE Employee
Thu, January 14, 2010
Hi,
My name is Chris Rose, I am the Internet Marketing Director for Timeshare Relief, Inc. and Transfer Smart.
The Better Business Bureaus current rating for Timeshare Relief, Inc. is (A). An ( A ) rating from the BBB means excellent. Timeshare Relief, Inc has been in business for over 5 years. We have served over 40,000 clients. Inc. 500 ranks Timeshare Relief No. 24 fastest growing company in Los Angeles. Timeshare Relief is a proud member of ARDA.
REALITY CHECK
A rated companies by the Better Business Bureau with over 40,000 clients and hundreds of positive testimonials are not rip offs.
Timeshare Relief & Transfer Smart uphold the highest level of honesty & integrity and our customers enjoy the best customer service possible.
Yes, timeshare sales people hate us because their business is contingent on perpetuating the lie that there is a resale market for timeshares.
FACT.
Transfer Smart & Timeshare Relief are 100 % legitimate businesses.
The author of this malicious report seems cavalier about damaging the reputation of excellent businesses. No proof or evidence of wrong doing is provided, just lies.
What is the motive of the un-named author?
Conclusion
The report claiming Transfer Smart & Timeshare Relief are rip offs is 100% FALSE!
Thank you for your consideration.
Chris Rose
Chris Rose
San Pedro,California,
United States of America
The Truth About Transfer Smart & Timeshare Relief
#12UPDATE Employee
Wed, January 13, 2010
Hi, My name is Chris Rose,
I am the Internet Marketing Director for Timeshare Relief, Inc. and Transfer Smart. The Better Business Bureaus current rating for Timeshare Relief, Inc. is (A). An ( A ) rating from the BBB means excellent. Timeshare Relief, Inc has been in business for over 5 years. We have served over 40,000 clients. Inc. 500 ranks Timeshare Relief No. 24 fastest growing company in Los Angeles. Timeshare Relief is a member of ARDA.
REALITY CHECK A rated companies by the Better Business Bureau with over 40,000 clients and hundreds of positive testimonials are not rip offs. Timeshare Relief & Transfer Smart uphold the highest level of honesty & integrity and our customers enjoy the best customer service possible.
Yes, timeshare sales people hate us because their business is contingent on perpetuating the lie that there is a resale market for timeshares. FACT. Transfer Smart & Timeshare Relief are 100 % legitimate businesses.
The author of this malicious lie filled report seems cavalier about damaging the reputation of excellent businesses. No proof or evidence of wrong doing is provided, just lies.
Conclusion
The report claiming Transfer Smart & Timeshare Relief are rip offs is 100% FALSE!
Thank you for your consideration.
Chris Rose