Worldwide Timeshares ripoff--Timeshare resale scam, "A For Sale By Owner Company" that takes your money and pretends to be actively selling it Orlando Florida

When Neal Fletcher (in Orlando) left a message to call him if I wanted to sell my timeshare, I returned his call on June 11, 2003. He told me that he had people in his office right now who were willing to buy timeshares. All I needed to do was charge their fee of $749 to my credit card, and they would begin advertising my timeshare. It was up to me to set the price, but most timeshares were being sold for $.08/point.

After confirming the number of points that I had with Jordan Noble in Orlando (a separate 800 number), I agreed to sell my timeshare through Worldwide Timeshares. They sent me a contract, which I signed and returned on June 24, 2003, that said they would advertise my timeshare on the internet until it was sold or rented, but they assumed that my timeshare would sell or rent within three months.

Well, my timeshare did not sell within three months, so I called them to renew the ad (at the company's expense), which they cheerfully did. No problem--WRONG!

I kind of forgot about it until, lo and behold, another telemarketer (Anthony) left me a message on June 30, 2004 (a year after the original call) from the same company. By this time, I wanted to hear from the company why my property had not sold so I returned his call. He was a very nice young man who had just started working for the company and truly felt that the company was legitimate.

We called back and forth about 3 times that evening as he was trying to help me get answers to my questions. He also thought that it was strange that he was being given my phone number to call when I already had a contract with Worldwide Timeshares! He gave me the customer service phone number (NOT an 800 number!) to call. Of course, no one answered the call, but I left a message (as if I were a customer interested in buying my property). I called Anthony and told him that I had left a message. He said that he would be interested in the response.

The company did return my phone call the next day and simply said that they would renew my ad. When I confronted the person with my thought that their company was a scam and never intended to actually sell my property, she suggested that maybe I was asking too much for my property and that I should lower the price. I lowered the price to less than half of what I had originally asked for! I then called Anthony back to tell him what I had learned and told him that I had drastically reduced the price. He suggested that I reduce the price only $1000 per month to see if that would induce any offers. I then called customer service again and left another message. They returned the call the next day and I raised the price (but still less than my original asking price).

There hasn't been any contact with the company since July 2, 2004. And, of course, I haven't sold my property either (not so much as one question about it)! I really do feel that I was taken advantage of and that the company does not try to sell the property at all. They merely put it on a website. That's a lot of money for a small amount of "advertising."

At this point, all I want is my money back, and I'll never do this or anything like it again!!!!!!!!

Joan
Walford, Iowa
U.S.A.