Nov 26, 2008 we signed a 6 month contract with Realty Trade to sell our two time share properties. We paid their $1390.00 listing fee feeling confident, after the sales pitch by Adam Schultz, that they would have no problem selling them. They guarantee 100% customer satisfaction in their brochure, but not in their contract.
The contract says they will refund your money if the properties do not sell within the six months and you have not received a "reasonable offer". DO NOT expect a real offer, or your money back as it will not happen.
As we had no offers by Feb 2009, we talked to Jeramiah and reduced our listing prices substantially. Adam Schultz had recommended the original asking prices. Still no offers even though we were assured by Jeramiah that they would surely come now as he had "flagged" our properties as "reduced". We finally received what they call an offer on each of our properties near the end of our listings. One on April 4th and the other on May 6th (very near our listing expiry dates).
What their "OFFER" consists of is an e-mail saying they have a client with a budget of X dollars , a name and an e-mail address. You will never know if it is a real e-mail address or if they were ever interested in your property as they never respond to your successive attempts to e-mail them.
When you call Realty Trade, the girls such as Tracy or Marisca in the "Offers Department" are well rehearsed at telling you "to give it a couple of weeks to get a response as not everyone checks their e-mail regularly". When you call back in two weeks, they will not give you information about the prospective buyer but say "they will transfer your file to marketing who will contact the buyer and then call you back". Of course you never hear back from anyone....
Our listings expired on May 26, 2009. You have 10 days to advise them, in writing, that you request refunds. We did that on the 27th by fax. We know they got it because Customer Service Representative "Robert Thompson" called to say we were not eligible for a refund. He said we had received two offers on our properties. It did not matter that the prospective buyers had not replied to our e-mails. So much for 100% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION and REASONABLE OFFERS. Suddenly no offer is a reasonable offer. Robert said Marketing would review our request and get back to us in 2 to 3 weeks. Again, we have heard nothing from Realty Trade.
On June 2, 2009, I sent a Final Notice to Realty Trade saying that if I did not receive a prompt refund, I would be contacting the Better Business Bureau, the Orlando Police, and the FBI Internet Fraud Unit. Low and behold, Robert called on the 4th to say that Sales had two weeks to review our request and would call us.
Surprised??? No one has called. I tried calling the company owner, Mr Tim Harrison, but was told he is on vacation (probably spending my money - hope you enjoy Tim). So I asked for the General Manager, Mr. Mike Holland. He was too busy to talk to me, but I convinced the receptionist to let me leave him a voice mail asking he return my call. Of course he has not. I even left a message for Robert asking him to call. Guess they are all too busy.
So my recommendation to anyone thinking of doing business with either Realty Trade or Virtual Group Inc. is DO NOT, UNLESS YOU HAVE MONEY TO BURN. If you enjoy frustration and dealing with people who will not live up to their promises - you know - 100 % Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed and Reasonable Offer then by all means deal with these two companies. What their promises really mean is thanks for your money. You will receive no valid offers and get no satisfaction.
If you got suckered like I did, do not take it lying down. Call the Police, the FBI and the BBB and we will put these bloodsuckers out of business. Maybe the Florida Governor should hear about them as well. Be sure to tell him if he does not take action, we will not come to Florida. Tourist $s are big business, he will get the point.
Frank P.
Lethbridge, Alberta
Canada