Complaint Review: Realty Trade - Orlando' Florida

A class action lawsuit is a large, complicated thing that costs tens of thousands of dollars just in notification costs.
While I agree with your advice (notice the correct spelling) to file in small claims court, your information on class actions may be the exception, not the rule.
By the way, I have indeed been both party to and member of multiple class actions. Never have I see one where the class gets anything substantial.

For all of those that have emailed me to become part of this lawsuit against Realty Trade, I have forwarded your emails to my attorney.  I/or she will update you a soon as possible with further instructions.

Susan 

(((ROR REDACTED)))

Hey Hugh Jass,

Have you ever been a party to a class action law suit? I don't think so. I have. It does not cost tens of thousands of dollars to file a class action suit. It costs the consumer nothing to file it. The attorneys file it and take a cut of the proceeds when the case settles. If the attorneys don't win the case, the consumer pays nothing. So attorneys won't take a case unless they are very sure they can win it. My advise is to file a small claims case. In most states you can sue for at least $5000. It doesn't cost very much to file a small claims case, and the company you are suing is likely to settle out of court rather than paying the expense of appearing for a case they might lose.

A class action suit costs tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the only winners are lawyers. If you have an attorney (which I doubt) he'll tell you how hard it is.

Check out the reports on the Better Business Bureau site: BBB RatingBack To Top Based on BBB files, this business has a BBB Rating of F Click here for an explanation of BBB Ratings. Reasons for this rating include:Number of complaints filed against businessFailure to respond to complaints filed against businessNumber of serious complaints filed against businessOverall complaint history with BBBCustomer ExperienceBack To Top Complaints concern the company not honoring its refund policy and claims they forwarded a potential buyer to the consumer for which the consumer has no record of ever being contacted. Business Contact and ProfileBack To Top Name: Realtytrade.com Phone: (800) 420-9865 Address: 14 E. Washington St. #306, Orlando, FL 32801 Google map Mapquest map Yahoo map Business Category: Timeshare Resale & Marketing, Internet Marketing Services, Timeshare Resale & Rental Marketing eMail: [email protected] BBB file opened: November 06, 2006 Business started: August 2000 Primary Contact: Mr Tim Harrison (Branch Manager) Complaint Contact: Mike Holland (Customer Service ) Other Contacts: Mr Thomas Heel (CEO) Alternate Business NamesBack To Top Virtual Group Products and ServicesBack To Top The company offers "for sale by owner" advertising of timeshare properties for rent or resale. Additional Locations and Phone NumbersBack To Top (407) 264-6057 (FAX) (407) 264-8955 (FAX) LicensingBack To Top The license number is county occupational 3400-102686085. Marketing. Customer Complaint HistoryBack To Top The company's size, volume of business and number of transactions may have a bearing on the number of complaints received by the BBB. The complaints filed against a company may not be as important as the type of complaints, and how the company has handled them. The BBB generally does not pass judgment on the validity of complaints filed. Number of complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's BBB file was opened in November 2006: 146 in the last 12 months: 125 Complaints Concerned: Selling Practices (22 complaints) 12 Resolved 10 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Advertising Issues (5 complaints) 2 Resolved 1 Unresolved 2 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Service Issues (5 complaints) 3 Resolved 1 Unresolved 1 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Customer Service Issues (2 complaints) 2 Resolved Credit or Billing Disputes (4 complaints) 4 Resolved Refund Practices (72 complaints) 47 Resolved 22 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve 2 Company did not respond 1 The parties could not provide sufficient information to support their positions nor agreeable to make reasonable efforts toward resolving the issue of the dispute Contract Disputes (14 complaints) 11 Resolved 3 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Guarantee or Warranty Issues (22 complaints) 16 Resolved 6 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Government ActionsBack To Top The BBB has no information regarding Government Actions at this time. Advertising ReviewBack To Top The BBB has no information regarding Ad Reviews at this time. Industry TipsBack To Top If you've been contacted by a company offering to sell or rent your timeshare the BBB advises using caution, especially if an advance fee is involved. While these companies claim to have ready buyers or renters, imply they are representing foreign investors; or that corporations are interested, most are just offering to advertise your timeshare for sale. Do not confuse the service of an advertising or marketing company with those of a real estate company. In most real estate transactions it is the buyer who puts up a deposit and the real estate company gets its commission from the seller only after the deal closes. Ask if the company's salespeople are licensed to sell real estate or whether they are selling an advertising program. If you're contacted by a marketing service, don't allow the caller to pressure you into making a hurried decision. Request detailed written information about the company's services, find out where they currently advertise and visit other Internet listings the company may have. Most company's can not tell you whether a timeshare has rented or sold because these are generally "For Sale (or Rent) By Owner advertisements. Fees for timeshare listing services can range from $295-$600 with little guarantee that your unit will be sold or rented. In the State of Florida - the collection of advanced listing fees from Florida residents, regardless of the location of the property, and owners of Florida timeshares is prohibited. Section 721.20(6), Florida Statutes, prohibits the collection of any advance fee for the listing of any timeshare estate or timeshare license, and requires that any seller of a timeshare plan be a licensed real estate broker, broker associate or sales associate as defined in Section 475.01, Florida Statutes. Be sure to get all promises in writing, but remember that even then, those promises are only as good as the company that stands behind them. As a matter of policy, the BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. BBB Reliability Reports are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Information in this BBB Reliability Report is believed reliable, but not guaranteed as to accuracy. BBB Reliability Reports generally cover a three-year reporting period. BBB Reliability Reports are subject to change at any time. If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted the BBB for a BBB Reliability Report. ID: 172358692 Report as of: 8/7/2009 3:46 PM 2009 BBB of Central Florida, Inc.

Check out the reports on the Better Business Bureau site: BBB RatingBack To Top Based on BBB files, this business has a BBB Rating of F Click here for an explanation of BBB Ratings. Reasons for this rating include:Number of complaints filed against businessFailure to respond to complaints filed against businessNumber of serious complaints filed against businessOverall complaint history with BBBCustomer ExperienceBack To Top Complaints concern the company not honoring its refund policy and claims they forwarded a potential buyer to the consumer for which the consumer has no record of ever being contacted. Business Contact and ProfileBack To Top Name: Realtytrade.com Phone: (800) 420-9865 Address: 14 E. Washington St. #306, Orlando, FL 32801 Google map Mapquest map Yahoo map Business Category: Timeshare Resale & Marketing, Internet Marketing Services, Timeshare Resale & Rental Marketing eMail: [email protected] BBB file opened: November 06, 2006 Business started: August 2000 Primary Contact: Mr Tim Harrison (Branch Manager) Complaint Contact: Mike Holland (Customer Service ) Other Contacts: Mr Thomas Heel (CEO) Alternate Business NamesBack To Top Virtual Group Products and ServicesBack To Top The company offers "for sale by owner" advertising of timeshare properties for rent or resale. Additional Locations and Phone NumbersBack To Top (407) 264-6057 (FAX) (407) 264-8955 (FAX) LicensingBack To Top The license number is county occupational 3400-102686085. Marketing. Customer Complaint HistoryBack To Top The company's size, volume of business and number of transactions may have a bearing on the number of complaints received by the BBB. The complaints filed against a company may not be as important as the type of complaints, and how the company has handled them. The BBB generally does not pass judgment on the validity of complaints filed. Number of complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's BBB file was opened in November 2006: 146 in the last 12 months: 125 Complaints Concerned: Selling Practices (22 complaints) 12 Resolved 10 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Advertising Issues (5 complaints) 2 Resolved 1 Unresolved 2 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Service Issues (5 complaints) 3 Resolved 1 Unresolved 1 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Customer Service Issues (2 complaints) 2 Resolved Credit or Billing Disputes (4 complaints) 4 Resolved Refund Practices (72 complaints) 47 Resolved 22 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve 2 Company did not respond 1 The parties could not provide sufficient information to support their positions nor agreeable to make reasonable efforts toward resolving the issue of the dispute Contract Disputes (14 complaints) 11 Resolved 3 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Guarantee or Warranty Issues (22 complaints) 16 Resolved 6 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Government ActionsBack To Top The BBB has no information regarding Government Actions at this time. Advertising ReviewBack To Top The BBB has no information regarding Ad Reviews at this time. Industry TipsBack To Top If you've been contacted by a company offering to sell or rent your timeshare the BBB advises using caution, especially if an advance fee is involved. While these companies claim to have ready buyers or renters, imply they are representing foreign investors; or that corporations are interested, most are just offering to advertise your timeshare for sale. Do not confuse the service of an advertising or marketing company with those of a real estate company. In most real estate transactions it is the buyer who puts up a deposit and the real estate company gets its commission from the seller only after the deal closes. Ask if the company's salespeople are licensed to sell real estate or whether they are selling an advertising program. If you're contacted by a marketing service, don't allow the caller to pressure you into making a hurried decision. Request detailed written information about the company's services, find out where they currently advertise and visit other Internet listings the company may have. Most company's can not tell you whether a timeshare has rented or sold because these are generally "For Sale (or Rent) By Owner advertisements. Fees for timeshare listing services can range from $295-$600 with little guarantee that your unit will be sold or rented. In the State of Florida - the collection of advanced listing fees from Florida residents, regardless of the location of the property, and owners of Florida timeshares is prohibited. Section 721.20(6), Florida Statutes, prohibits the collection of any advance fee for the listing of any timeshare estate or timeshare license, and requires that any seller of a timeshare plan be a licensed real estate broker, broker associate or sales associate as defined in Section 475.01, Florida Statutes. Be sure to get all promises in writing, but remember that even then, those promises are only as good as the company that stands behind them. As a matter of policy, the BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. BBB Reliability Reports are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Information in this BBB Reliability Report is believed reliable, but not guaranteed as to accuracy. BBB Reliability Reports generally cover a three-year reporting period. BBB Reliability Reports are subject to change at any time. If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted the BBB for a BBB Reliability Report. ID: 172358692 Report as of: 8/7/2009 3:46 PM 2009 BBB of Central Florida, Inc.

Check out the reports on the Better Business Bureau site: BBB RatingBack To Top Based on BBB files, this business has a BBB Rating of F Click here for an explanation of BBB Ratings. Reasons for this rating include:Number of complaints filed against businessFailure to respond to complaints filed against businessNumber of serious complaints filed against businessOverall complaint history with BBBCustomer ExperienceBack To Top Complaints concern the company not honoring its refund policy and claims they forwarded a potential buyer to the consumer for which the consumer has no record of ever being contacted. Business Contact and ProfileBack To Top Name: Realtytrade.com Phone: (800) 420-9865 Address: 14 E. Washington St. #306, Orlando, FL 32801 Google map Mapquest map Yahoo map Business Category: Timeshare Resale & Marketing, Internet Marketing Services, Timeshare Resale & Rental Marketing eMail: [email protected] BBB file opened: November 06, 2006 Business started: August 2000 Primary Contact: Mr Tim Harrison (Branch Manager) Complaint Contact: Mike Holland (Customer Service ) Other Contacts: Mr Thomas Heel (CEO) Alternate Business NamesBack To Top Virtual Group Products and ServicesBack To Top The company offers "for sale by owner" advertising of timeshare properties for rent or resale. Additional Locations and Phone NumbersBack To Top (407) 264-6057 (FAX) (407) 264-8955 (FAX) LicensingBack To Top The license number is county occupational 3400-102686085. Marketing. Customer Complaint HistoryBack To Top The company's size, volume of business and number of transactions may have a bearing on the number of complaints received by the BBB. The complaints filed against a company may not be as important as the type of complaints, and how the company has handled them. The BBB generally does not pass judgment on the validity of complaints filed. Number of complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's BBB file was opened in November 2006: 146 in the last 12 months: 125 Complaints Concerned: Selling Practices (22 complaints) 12 Resolved 10 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Advertising Issues (5 complaints) 2 Resolved 1 Unresolved 2 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Service Issues (5 complaints) 3 Resolved 1 Unresolved 1 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Customer Service Issues (2 complaints) 2 Resolved Credit or Billing Disputes (4 complaints) 4 Resolved Refund Practices (72 complaints) 47 Resolved 22 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve 2 Company did not respond 1 The parties could not provide sufficient information to support their positions nor agreeable to make reasonable efforts toward resolving the issue of the dispute Contract Disputes (14 complaints) 11 Resolved 3 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Guarantee or Warranty Issues (22 complaints) 16 Resolved 6 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Government ActionsBack To Top The BBB has no information regarding Government Actions at this time. Advertising ReviewBack To Top The BBB has no information regarding Ad Reviews at this time. Industry TipsBack To Top If you've been contacted by a company offering to sell or rent your timeshare the BBB advises using caution, especially if an advance fee is involved. While these companies claim to have ready buyers or renters, imply they are representing foreign investors; or that corporations are interested, most are just offering to advertise your timeshare for sale. Do not confuse the service of an advertising or marketing company with those of a real estate company. In most real estate transactions it is the buyer who puts up a deposit and the real estate company gets its commission from the seller only after the deal closes. Ask if the company's salespeople are licensed to sell real estate or whether they are selling an advertising program. If you're contacted by a marketing service, don't allow the caller to pressure you into making a hurried decision. Request detailed written information about the company's services, find out where they currently advertise and visit other Internet listings the company may have. Most company's can not tell you whether a timeshare has rented or sold because these are generally "For Sale (or Rent) By Owner advertisements. Fees for timeshare listing services can range from $295-$600 with little guarantee that your unit will be sold or rented. In the State of Florida - the collection of advanced listing fees from Florida residents, regardless of the location of the property, and owners of Florida timeshares is prohibited. Section 721.20(6), Florida Statutes, prohibits the collection of any advance fee for the listing of any timeshare estate or timeshare license, and requires that any seller of a timeshare plan be a licensed real estate broker, broker associate or sales associate as defined in Section 475.01, Florida Statutes. Be sure to get all promises in writing, but remember that even then, those promises are only as good as the company that stands behind them. As a matter of policy, the BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. BBB Reliability Reports are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Information in this BBB Reliability Report is believed reliable, but not guaranteed as to accuracy. BBB Reliability Reports generally cover a three-year reporting period. BBB Reliability Reports are subject to change at any time. If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted the BBB for a BBB Reliability Report. ID: 172358692 Report as of: 8/7/2009 3:46 PM 2009 BBB of Central Florida, Inc.

Check out the reports on the Better Business Bureau site: BBB RatingBack To Top Based on BBB files, this business has a BBB Rating of F Click here for an explanation of BBB Ratings. Reasons for this rating include:Number of complaints filed against businessFailure to respond to complaints filed against businessNumber of serious complaints filed against businessOverall complaint history with BBBCustomer ExperienceBack To Top Complaints concern the company not honoring its refund policy and claims they forwarded a potential buyer to the consumer for which the consumer has no record of ever being contacted. Business Contact and ProfileBack To Top Name: Realtytrade.com Phone: (800) 420-9865 Address: 14 E. Washington St. #306, Orlando, FL 32801 Google map Mapquest map Yahoo map Business Category: Timeshare Resale & Marketing, Internet Marketing Services, Timeshare Resale & Rental Marketing eMail: [email protected] BBB file opened: November 06, 2006 Business started: August 2000 Primary Contact: Mr Tim Harrison (Branch Manager) Complaint Contact: Mike Holland (Customer Service ) Other Contacts: Mr Thomas Heel (CEO) Alternate Business NamesBack To Top Virtual Group Products and ServicesBack To Top The company offers "for sale by owner" advertising of timeshare properties for rent or resale. Additional Locations and Phone NumbersBack To Top (407) 264-6057 (FAX) (407) 264-8955 (FAX) LicensingBack To Top The license number is county occupational 3400-102686085. Marketing. Customer Complaint HistoryBack To Top The company's size, volume of business and number of transactions may have a bearing on the number of complaints received by the BBB. The complaints filed against a company may not be as important as the type of complaints, and how the company has handled them. The BBB generally does not pass judgment on the validity of complaints filed. Number of complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's BBB file was opened in November 2006: 146 in the last 12 months: 125 Complaints Concerned: Selling Practices (22 complaints) 12 Resolved 10 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Advertising Issues (5 complaints) 2 Resolved 1 Unresolved 2 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Service Issues (5 complaints) 3 Resolved 1 Unresolved 1 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Customer Service Issues (2 complaints) 2 Resolved Credit or Billing Disputes (4 complaints) 4 Resolved Refund Practices (72 complaints) 47 Resolved 22 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve 2 Company did not respond 1 The parties could not provide sufficient information to support their positions nor agreeable to make reasonable efforts toward resolving the issue of the dispute Contract Disputes (14 complaints) 11 Resolved 3 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Guarantee or Warranty Issues (22 complaints) 16 Resolved 6 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve Government ActionsBack To Top The BBB has no information regarding Government Actions at this time. Advertising ReviewBack To Top The BBB has no information regarding Ad Reviews at this time. Industry TipsBack To Top If you've been contacted by a company offering to sell or rent your timeshare the BBB advises using caution, especially if an advance fee is involved. While these companies claim to have ready buyers or renters, imply they are representing foreign investors; or that corporations are interested, most are just offering to advertise your timeshare for sale. Do not confuse the service of an advertising or marketing company with those of a real estate company. In most real estate transactions it is the buyer who puts up a deposit and the real estate company gets its commission from the seller only after the deal closes. Ask if the company's salespeople are licensed to sell real estate or whether they are selling an advertising program. If you're contacted by a marketing service, don't allow the caller to pressure you into making a hurried decision. Request detailed written information about the company's services, find out where they currently advertise and visit other Internet listings the company may have. Most company's can not tell you whether a timeshare has rented or sold because these are generally "For Sale (or Rent) By Owner advertisements. Fees for timeshare listing services can range from $295-$600 with little guarantee that your unit will be sold or rented. In the State of Florida - the collection of advanced listing fees from Florida residents, regardless of the location of the property, and owners of Florida timeshares is prohibited. Section 721.20(6), Florida Statutes, prohibits the collection of any advance fee for the listing of any timeshare estate or timeshare license, and requires that any seller of a timeshare plan be a licensed real estate broker, broker associate or sales associate as defined in Section 475.01, Florida Statutes. Be sure to get all promises in writing, but remember that even then, those promises are only as good as the company that stands behind them. As a matter of policy, the BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. BBB Reliability Reports are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Information in this BBB Reliability Report is believed reliable, but not guaranteed as to accuracy. BBB Reliability Reports generally cover a three-year reporting period. BBB Reliability Reports are subject to change at any time. If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted the BBB for a BBB Reliability Report. ID: 172358692 Report as of: 8/7/2009 3:46 PM 2009 BBB of Central Florida, Inc.