Timeshare Liberty review: Deceptive Advertising 8

Well, it took 135 days, calls between Laura Peters at Timeshare Liberty, and a Knoxville, TN BBB complaint against the American Timeshare Closing company, but my timeshare has finally been recorded with Timeshare Liberty's name as the new owner. So much for a paper that I never received about "What Happens Next" or the 60-90 days to finish the paperwork! (I posted my complaint on this board at day 82.)

The problem did lay with the closing company, not Timeshare Liberty. While there are MANY timeshares to be recorded, mine seemed to be lost in the shuffle. I have also learned that the closing company can't just file a simple form and have it done with. Each state has its own rules, and the paperwork can be returned to the closing company multiple times until it is all proper. It does take time.

But I also learned that if you don't keep track of what is going on, the paperwork can get shuffled, for whatever reason (I never learned the reason on mine), for a very long time.

I've been asked to remove my complaint from this forum. I had agreed that I would, but then realized my situation can help with others. If you decide to participate in a transaction, save everything possible from it - including all telephone numbers you've dealt with. Use the resources available, from those phone numbers to the Better Business Bureau. Use the Internet to find out everything you can. Yes, this complaint forum was a place to vent my frustrations and concerns about my transaction. I appreciate that it was here. Some of the fears that surfaced when reading of the concerns of others kept me at the chore of making sure this transaction was completed to my satisfaction.

Timeshare Liberty did what they said they would do - and eventually so did the closing company.

I used Timeshare Liberty to get out of my deed with Diamond Resorts. I didn’t like the idea that they could raise their fees any time, for any reason. And they did. This was NEVER explained to me when I bought it. Nor, did they tell me I could never get out of the agreement. I thought I had a choice to leave it to my children or not. It made sense to pay a fee to get out of it, because I was paying so much and couldn’t use it. I tried to get rid of it other ways and paid lots of money trying, I was not successful. I wish I would have found Timeshare Liberty sooner; I would have saved even more money. They did what I couldn’t do. I don’t mind paying a fee for a service, if they get the job done. If you get a chance to go to the presentation they give. Laura Peters was very informative and helpful. And when I had some question and concerns, she always retuned my calls and got me the answers I needed. I don’t understand some of the complaints here. First, to cellarmaster49 if it’s not a burden then why sell it? I saw a Kauai Resort online for sell for .50 cents and it’s been listed for a year now. (Maybe it was yours?) I never saw any “Funky Math”. The price you mention is not what I paid and I was never charge any other fees. To Jim and Mary Jean you never state WHO you did your transaction with, my understanding is it was not with Timeshare Liberty. That’s very irresponsible to slam a company you’ve never done business with. And maybe someday i'll learn you state you did this late December and you posted your complaint almost a month ago. I’ve never known of a deed transferring that fast. I gave my week to Timeshare Liberty to use and they did. They made reservations for my week in some one else’s name. So What! I wasn’t using it and they gave me a discount for letting them use it. Your complaint appears to be against the closing company not Timeshare Liberty. You are not being realistic or fair. Why don’t you wait to see if your deed transfers. If you have questions and concerns you should call the company, not post them on the internet. You never mention if the Timeshare Liberty rep ever called you back. Did they?
Timeshare Liberty and Laura Peters help me out of a very bad situation and I am very happy with their service. I am relieved I no longer have this big elephant on my shoulders.
No one is forced to do this, but you are forced to keep it if you don’t want it.

I have to first say that I normally don't respond to these comments because I know that some people will just believe what they want to believe no matter what the truth is but with the comments made here...I must respond. When our clients come to their appointment, they are tired of owning their timeshare. The reason is because they themselves have experienced the frustrations and financial burdens that they cause.
When we meet our clients, we handle the situation professionally from start to finish. They are given a "WHAT HAPPENS NEXT" sheet that explains the whole process. When have you ever bought a house and had the deed registered in one day? It is a deed property and is handled just like any other piece of real estate. We explain at the appointment that your liability of the timeshare ENDS that day HOWEVER we must file and wait for the courthouse in the county that your timeshare is recorded for them to record the new deed and send it back to the title company. Our clients are told at their appointment that this process can take as long as 60-90 days depending on the state. (this can take even longer in some states but this delay is not in our control) After the deed comes back we then have to contact the resort and file the proper paperwork to transfer the deed at the resort level. This can be where it gets a little frustrating even for our company because it is YOUR resorts that try to hold up this process. Even so...we do get it done and you are not responsible for the maintenance fees or even for the late fees that are accrued after the paperwork is signed at your appointment.
Our clients are also told that we may need to make a guest reservation for your week if the transfer is not completed before your week comes up. This is not deceptive but rather it is only fair since the usage of your timeshare was made clear at the appointment.
I am very proud of what our company does. We are an honest and hard working group that has helped a lot of people and it is absolutely ridiculous that through the power of freedom of speech, the truth is not being represented. We answer and respond to any of our clients that have questions about their transfer. They not only are given our office number but we are also are quick to give our cell numbers so that we can be reached even outside of business hours.
In response to "someday I will learn" ...I encourage you to call our office M-F . You are not stuck with your timeshare and you have NOT been "scammed" We do EXACTLY what we say we are going to do and are in business to do good and honest transactions. I personally am very offended as I have a lot of morals and live by them EVERYDAY. I treat people just as I want to be treated and that extends into the way that I do business. Before posting negative comments please call our office and find out the facts on your transfers. Thank you for your time.

Well, I fell for it. That was in late December. Timeshare Liberty out of Huntingdon Valley PA is not listed with the BBB. I had checked before I signed the transfer of deed, but since no complaints were on file, felt somewhat OK. The closing company is American Timeshare Closing out of Sevierville, TN. Yesterday, after finding an e-mail to me from VRI Resorts saying my timeshare was being used by someone whose name I'd never heard of for this year, and in my name for the next year, I began making a lot of phone calls. It was Friday afternoon, and the Cosing company was closing their office at 1 PM (wonder why) - I'm in a different time zone, so am out till Monday to find out specifically. Anyway, a terse VRI rep left me a voicemail saying there was no record of a change in ownership and I was responsible, and if I changed the reservation out of that name, I had to pay a $75 fee. A call to the Timeshare Liberty person who presented this at one of their meetings prompted a promise of finding out and calling me no later than Monday night. I'll give him a chance... Googling American Timeshare Closing found that they joined the BBB 0n 3/6/09 (today is 3/7/09) and have had two complaints about this type of thing. BBB says they have been resolved. Hmmm, TWO in the first day of membership! Sounds awfully fishy, doesn't it? Maybe Timeshare Liberty isn't the culprit, but the Closing company. At any rate, at the moment, I'm still responsible for the taxes that are coming due (and still in my name per County Recorder), as the closing company hasn't filed the Grant Deed I signed and returned to them. I haven't found out yet why the timeshare allowed someone to make reservations on my TS without my authority (no change in deed yet, remember). I have to send a letter with anyone who uses my time, and I've always had to be the one to make the reservations... ARE THEY ALL IN ON IT?

The problem is they take your deed and you think you are finally free of your mnt fees. But then when you get a call from the resort asking why you haven't paid your mnt fee and you tell them that you sold it they tell you there is no record of your timeshare having been sold. SO not only are you out $4000 and now don't hold your deed, but you are still liable for your mnt fees. What a SCAM when will the govt. find and arrest you thieves?

I can tell you that I have been to a few of these where offers are made. People, wake up and smell the coffee. Your timeshare is worthless and in fact is a liability. I found these people to negotiate and though it is hard to give up what we paid for it, it is nice to know that my kids don't have to worry about the maintenance fees. I think the original poster of this is really a dreamer!

I agree, I met with time share liberty and was very satisfied with their offer. I met with their representative and they were very quick to make me an offer and I gladly accepted it. I got 20 dollars regardless if I accepted the offer, which helps cover the cost of gas and I even had enough to buy lunch for my wife and I. I thought it was very enjoyable and would also recommend it.

Hello, I met with Time Share Liberty experience to be very rewarding. I met with them at my local Marriot hotel. I had multiple timeshares and they sat me down and made me an offer based on my specific set of circumstances. My husband died a few years ago and I have stopped traveling. The maintenance fee's were a real burden. They gave me 20 dollars just for going and they also made me a great offer for all of my time shares. I recommend them to anyone who is thinking about selling their timeshare.