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Countrywide Timeshares Complaints - Scammed

Review all Countrywide Timeshares complaints

Countrywide Timeshares

Posted: 2008-06-11 by Lance Bachelder [send email]
Scammed
Complaint Rating:  83 % with 6 votes
Company information:
Countrywide Timeshares
Whitehall, Pennsylvania
United States
Phone: 866 685 6426
countrywidetimesharesales.com

Be careful all. I was scammed by this company. I was told my property was sold. I was in disbelief and said no thanks. A week later I was told the offer went up to $36, 915 and the buyer wanted it for a gift for his grandson. I still told them I had to think about it. Then the so called magager called me and faxed me an offer or bid for my unit. The just needed to search the title to make sure it was paid for. I said no thanks. Then the next higher up contacted me, the region supervisor and said ever thing is a go I just have to fax them my permission and credit card number. I fell for it $1350...a day or 2 later I got another fax from them for an agreement that i was selling this and it was ok to bill my card, I did it. The next week I call to talk to the manager, he is out of the office. The next day I talk to his secretary he will get back to me in 15 minutes. No call. Noone has ever spoken to me and now it is 2 weeks later. I talk to the sales supervisor. He is going to get me a partial refund of $350 it will be here in 10 days. He told me there was dishonest practises as the reason for my refund. My propery was priorty and it will be sold fast. 2 weeks later I call he no longer works there either does anyone elseI spoke to in the past. Now tomorrow 6/12/08 the new supervisor will call me. I will keep you posted as to what happens. DO NOT TRUST ANYONE AT THIS COMPANY UNTIL YOU HEAR FROM ME. This is for your own good believe me! Scam all the way. My property is still listed for $36000 if anyone wants to buy it.LOL...BE CAREFUL. Lance Bachelder
Comments United States Timeshares
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Comments

169 days ago by Chris In Ca [send email]
This company is a joke!! They contacted us regarding selling our timeshare in Florida (Mystic Dunes) in Feb '08. The person we spoke to was Kate at ext. 3003. She had said they had a buyer for our property that was offering $23, 500. This sounded too good to be true but my wife insisted we hear what they say. I told them I needed a couple of days to think about it. She called several times after and left messages on our answering machine that they had an immediate and confirmed buyer and all we needed to do was pay the fee and our deal would be started. I called her back and after negotiating with her and her "supervisor" we agreed on $500 for them to start the process with the understanding that if the deal fell through we would receive a full refund. Well after several weeks and not hearing or seeing anything I called again and again and was never able to get a hold of "Kate". I did manage to speak to her once but she was so frazzled that she pushed me off on some other guy. His name was "Sean Thomas" and his extension was 3012. Sean was supposedly handling the escrow portion of our transaction. He said that everything should have been back and gave some big apology and said he would "look into it". After another week he called after I threatened to take them to court saying that there was a mistake on the title report and they needed to submit it again. So another week goes by and he called to say that the closing documents went out and I should receive them in 2 days. 2 days and nothing so I called. He said he would send them again, nothing still. So I called again and all of the sudden he's gone. No longer works for the company. The receptionist said he got called back to the National Guard. So I asked for a supervisor and got a "Frank Johnson" this time. He was very apologetic and explained no one knew "Sean" was being recalled. He tried to say that "Sean" left a lot of open files that didn't move off his desk. Now is when it gets good! He said "Sean" never did anything with our file and that the "buyer" cancelled the deal a month ago! A month ago????? He again apologized and said that he was working with the "President/Owner" of the company and was authorized to make things right. He said we could either receive a full refund or he would relist our property with their "platinum service" which puts us on some stock exchange type ticker and gives us the highest level of exposure. I told him I wasn't interested and I wanted the refund. He agreed to my request and said he would need the final sign off my the owner which would take about 2 days and then the refund would be processed. That was over a month ago. I have since tried calling the company and "Kate", "Sean" and "Frank" no longer work for the company. I was told I need to speak to "Jessica" who is a supervisor but have never been able to speak to her. I was then give "Jennifer" at extension 237 who supposedly handles refunds. I tried calling her and left messages for a week until I finally sat on hold and waited for her for an hour! After I spoke to her she said the best she could do is give me $200 back. I told her that was not what I was told and would not accept it. She tried pulling the usual "you signed a contract" and I told her to go back and look at what I signed and faxed.

I covered my tail with these guys knowing they might pull something fishy. The contact they sent had "N/A" through just about everything except for the sales price, resort name and my name. I amended the contract on their paper and also outlined the terms of our deal on the cover page of the fax. I also made sure to choose my words wisely when they do their normal "recorded for verification" process that says they didn't give you "the name" of a buy and so they don't get caught for bait and switch. I also made sure to save any phone conversations they left on my machine and also records of all phone calls/faxes.

So after I told her I had all this she got quiet. She said she would need to speak to their "legal team" to see if they can authorize it. She said to give her 24 hours and she would have an answer for me. 24 hours and still nothing. So I called, and called, and called. 7 days calling and not once a return call. I have left message after message for them and I only get the receptionist. The thing I find funny is they have changed their phone greeting and the people who answer. When I first started calling there was 2 grumpy women who always answered. Now it sounds like some teen who needed a job.

Needles to say I am now contacting the State Attorney General for CA, FL and PA (where they are located). I am also contacting the Better Business, Department of Real Estate and my lawyer.

If anyone would like to contact me regarding this feel free to. I set up an email account just for this. chrisbfreeman@hotmail.com
129 days ago by Susan Gray [send email]
COUNTRYWIDE TIMESHARE SCAMS!!!

We have been duped by a timeshare scam, and after doing some research, I find that we are not alone. On June 29, 2008, we were contacted by Countrywide Timeshare Sales in Whitehall, PA with the 'news' that we had a "buyer ready to go" for our timeshare in the amount of $22, 500. This seemed like the answer to our prayers, as we have hit some pretty bad financial times right now, and this would ensure us being able to keep our (residence) home out of foreclosure.

Of course, we could only 'sell' this if we paid up front, the $875.00 advertising fee, so we scraped together the money with what we had been saving for our son's upcoming dental work, because we were assured that this was a done deal by Countrywide.

Well, here we are 4 weeks later, supposedly through the Title Search, and into the next phase, however, I've been trying for days to get a hold of the Countrywide folks to see where things stand, and they will not return my calls! (Richard Burton, and Dave). It's always "he's out of the office, but I'll take a message", or "he's in a meeting, but I'll give him a message", blah, blah, blah. I have asked to speak to a Supervisor, and same story. On top of that, the listing on the website, as well as some paperwork shows the price to be $2, 225, not the $22, 500 we were told was offered. When I saw that, I figured it must be a typo, but I questioned too, why it's even listed for sale online when it was supposed to be sold????

Countrywide has ripped us off! We were fools not to check this out ahead of time, but all I can say is that they caught us just as we were leaving town to attend our niece's wedding, and we didn't have time. Now, I have done the checking and found that they are not members of the BBB, and have had numerous complaints filed. A search on the web under 'Countrywide timeshare scams' brought me you folks, and shows there are plenty of other victims out there!

I am so disgusted with myself for being taken in like this, but what breaks my heart is that my 4-yr-old son will suffer, as I don't think we can scrape together the money needed for him to have his cavities filled, and they are causing him tremendous pain! I'd love to hire an Attorney, but it would cost more than $875.00 that they duped us for.

These people are horrible, and should be criminally charged. At the very least, I'd love to see news story on them to so that other people would be warned. At least then, something positive would come out of my stupidity.

I've written to Dateline, and am determined to find someone, somewhere, who will stop these monsters.
128 days ago by Lance Bachelder [send email]
Susan sorry you got ripped. They gave me the same story as you heard. Just different people did the scamming to me. Bryan Cole was the scum bag that got me. I was told he no longer worker there but I found out he still does because someone e mailed me that he was trying to get someone else.

Keep fighting and writing here. I did receive my refund of my $1350 but it took alot of calling and writing. I keep my name listed here and I have had 25 people write me and thank me for me writing here and getting the word out on this company. I feel I owe it to everyone to make them beware of countrywides dishonest practice and scamming tactics. 5 others have contacted me by telephone as well and I feel so good everytime I talk sense to people.

Just keep fighting these rip off people and I don't know how they can keep getting away with this. They must all make alot of money and all get together and laugh at all us stupid people for believing their lies. So keep calling and make sure they never forget your name. I know they must really hate me because I must have costed them thousands in commisions for people finding this complaint site. I wish you found this site first and read my warnings. Chris was also very informative here with his story of his being scammed. I know people must think we are stupid for falling for this scammed but everyone I help makes me feel so good. Never give up and write complaints to everyone so you can shut this BULLSHIT company down. Good luck, Lance Bachelder
126 days ago by Pete Gallisdorfer [send email]
I was just contacted by Rich Burton of Countrywide to tell us they have a buyer for $21, 500. It seemed a little fishy to me since I had never contacted him nor Countrywide and I already tried 3 different companies which turn out that they are all liars!
After hanging up the phone with him, I went on the internet under Countrywide and found all of your postings.
Thanks so much for that, you has saved me a lot of trouble and money! God Bless you all and I'm sorry for your financial ripoff! We all have been suckered in.
121 days ago by Lance Bachelder [send email]
Glad you read our warnings before you sent them your money falling for their scam. Way to use your head and hold onto your money!
116 days ago by Kim Moran [send email]
I was just contacted by kathy x106 from countrywide.
She said she had buyers from Europe and Asia that wanted our timeshare for 22, 500.00.I asked if there was a fee and she said i would have to pay 1297.00.So I asked for her number to call back after I checked them out on the internet and she wasnt ripping me off.
Thankyou everyone, I can't wait to call them back!!!
103 days ago by Lance Bachelder [send email]
Kim I hope they didn't take your money.
102 days ago by Susan Gray [send email]
Well, the latest is, I filed a complaint with BBB. I received a copy of Countrywide's response which was:

"Attach you will fine sign agreement for advertising until it was sold. We also have a verification recording agreeing to the terms. We so specifiy on the tape that it is a one time NON RefunDALE FEE which she agreed to."

This was written by Stephanie Robello, with the title of 'Office Manager'. In case you are wondering, the spelling, grammar, and text is copied verbatim from the letter. So professional!

I have also called Whitehall Township to see if they have a business license; will let you know what I find out when I hear back.

Susan
102 days ago by Susan Gray [send email]
Found a website that suggested we file complaints with the Federal Trade Comission. Here's the link if you are interested:

www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov

I just filed mine; maybe if enough of us file a complaint with the feds, something will come of it!

Susan

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