Vacation Ventures

We were scammed by Vacation Ventures. There were two men representing the company. The invitation said that they would be making an offer on our timeshare(s). Instead, the offer was to take them over if we paid them a fee. Instead of giving us facts, they fed us lies, but at that time, we did not know that and we paid them to take over our timeshares.

I have called them repeatedly with no response, and their phone numbers don't work. I have sent them several faxes and letters, but again, no response. Besides being stressed out from lack of communication, I am very stressed out over the more than $4,000.00 that we gave them with no results and we still own our timeshares and are responsible for the fees. I am very interested in filing a law suit or probably participating in a class action from all the complaints that I have read and heard about them.

On March 8, 2009, we paid this company $3000.00 and signed a quick claim deed. In return, they promised that we would have no more timeshare, maintenance fees, and property taxes. They have done none of the above. They only took our money. The phone numbers have also been disconnected. They also told us that we could write it off on our federal income taxes. This was a lie also. They scammed us and so many others. These people need to be held accountable for their actions.

On December 2, 2007, I sold my 6 weeks timeshare with Royal Holiday Club to Vacation Ventures. On Dec. 13, 2007, I received a letter from Vacation Ventures and a receipt for the credit card transaction for the timeshare transfer. I was reminded that the transfer would take 10-12 weeks with some taking longer.

Throughout 2008, I called Vacation Ventures (VV) about the status of the transfer. I spoke to Jeremy, Debra, Michelle, Sean and Elizabeth. They each assured me that they would immediately expedite the contract. In September of 2008, I got the bills from Royal Holiday for the 2008 maintenance fees. I assumed that VV would be paying them. I sent them to VV. On the 7th of January 2009, I received a copy of the "Transfer of Membership" sent on that date to Royal Holiday Club by VV.

I received another bill for the 2008 RHC dues. In 2009, I received 4 bills for the dues which I forwarded to VV. On July 7, 2009 I received a letter from Choy Min, owner of Vacation VVentures, apologizing for "any and all problems that there have been with processing your timeshare." She wrote that she was now full time back in the office and would make sure that the back fees would be taken care of the the account expedited ASAP.

I tried to reach the VV office through August and September, to no avail. On Sept 25, 2009, I received a letter from a collection agency, RMI, in regards to the 2008 fees. I sent a copy to VV. On Sept. 28, 2009, I received another RHC bill. I tried to reach VV but could not get through. I just received the maintenance bill for 2010.

I went to a seminar on Nov 21, 2009, where I was told the same story regarding my timeshare and how we'd be locked into the timeshare contract starting Jan 1, 2010. We also were told that the fee's would steadily increase and be attached to our children's credit if anyone happened to me. I and my sister signed over our timeshares on Nov 21, 2009 with promise that it would be taken care of and done by January 1st, 2010 as per contract states. Contract also states they'd assume all maintenance, real estate tax & mortgage by Jan 1, 2010. I continued to try to contact them after January first because my money was automatically deducted in January... then February.

On February 10, I called Colorado Springs Police department and they went to their address to make sure they were legit. The police officer said they were there and informed them to contact me. Finally received a call 2 weeks later, where they tried to tell me my numbers weren't working although they called the same phone number I had forever.

I spoke with Kenneth earlier that day and then had Deb call me back to have me send copies of my maintenance and mortgage fee's that were charged to me and informed me that they'd reimburse me for them once they received the documents. I sent them the beginning of March and still have not heard a word from them. I also have tried to contact Jim at his "personal line" a long with the assortment of numbers I was given to contact them. I contacted the police department today and was referred to the Attorney Generals office.

My story is exactly like Katie of Arizona. I was told the same things and my letters and follow-ups happened similarly. No responses that led to any closure. Vacation Ventures transferred the timeshare title into their name, paid the upcoming maintenance fee, but never transferred the timeshare to their company. I am still billed for maintenance fees and now the collectors are after it.

I don't understand the scam here. The timeshare can't be used by Vacation Ventures unless the maintenance fees are paid and transfer made. They won't transfer the timeshare or pay the fees. I can't use it because I no longer have title. I have someone that legitimately wants to buy it, but the title isn't in my name anymore. What do they get out of this?

They stated that for a fee they would transfer our deed to Vacation Ventures and assume ownership, thus taking on responsibility for all maintenance fees and relieve us of any further burden. In exchange, we would receive preferred status discounts on any future travel we booked through them.

As we were getting on in years and experiencing health issues, we paid them $3125 in May 2008 and signed over the deed to the timeshare. We heard nothing until late November 2008 when we received additional transfer signature documents which we signed and sent immediately to Vacation Ventures. We have written certified letters, called and spoken to a series of personnel including Debra D, Briana, Mr. S, and Elizabeth G on 11/19/08, 02/09/09, 03/28/09, etc. nearly monthly, and filed complaints with the Southern Colorado Better Business Bureau, and the Federal Trade Commission.

We are still being mentally and emotionally harassed by a collection agency seeking the payment of maintenance fees that have not been paid by Vacation Ventures which we cannot afford to pay. My husband has since been diagnosed with heart trouble and I am now being treated for cancer, and this blemish on our perfect credit score has caused us untold anguish.

In September of 2007, my husband and I were solicited by a company that said they would purchase our timeshares so that we could get out of the contract. When we went to the seminar, they would not purchase it; we had to pay them to take it off of our hands. Since my husband and I could not afford it any longer (being on a fixed income), we paid them $4300 to take the timeshares (3). From September 2007 to September 2008, we did not hear from them. We contacted them through the help of a job attorney and were sent papers to transfer the title to Vacation Ventures. This process was performed in December 2008. It is now June 2009 and still no word has been heard from this company. We have also sent them the maintenance bills. My husband was told by Ms. ** that they would be responsible for the maintenance once we notarized the forms. That took place on December 18, 2008 and was mailed the same day. These maintenance fee issues are still bombarding us since Vacation Ventures has done nothing.

Sears Fitness BOGO had a companion airline ticket offer stating if we purchased fitness equipment 1/2/05 - 1/29/05 costing $299. or more the purchase would qualify for the "Buy One Get One Airline Companion Coupon" free. There were requirements stating what and when information must be mailed to Vacation Ventures, Inc. Our treadmill, purchased 1/4/05 was well over the $299 amount. The Companion Ticket Registration Form and original sales receipt were mailed on 1/10/05.

Since we were to allow 4 to 6 weeks for the voucher our first phone call to Vacation Ventures, Inc. was on 3/14/05 followed by follow-up phone calls we made 3/29/05, 3/30/05, 4/18/05 - that day we were told Debbie would return our call the next day. It is 5/11/05 and we are still waiting for her return call. The Columbus, Indiana Sears manager was contacted on 4/26/05 and said he would check into the situation and call us on 4/28/05, he also did not telephone us. Sears was again contacted on 5/3/05 and the manager was not available but we were informed he had not heard from his letter to Vacation Ventures, Inc.