10/18/2011 7:31 PM (PST)

Hi Jan, The Ozark website is lacking in details, but it seems like they will get you out of your timeshare (obviously, for a fee). Does it work? Will it work for you, for your timeshare? Its very odd they have 2 websites, or rather 2 templates for their site? One has more info than the other??? why? http://ozarkliquidation.com/index.html and this one: http://ozarkliquidation.com/FAQ_s_.html After looking at these other pages, a lot of what they say is accurate. However, they are offering only 1 of 2 options that can get rid of your timeshare. There are 2 ways to get out of your timeshare, each has its pros/cons, but both will work. 1) the transfer, where you basically pay to give away your timeshare for a fee.The plus side is your timeshare is gone. The negative side is your timeshare must be paid for completely and not all timeshares are able to be transferred. 2) the cancel, where if your resort committed fraud when they sold it to you, (and most timeshares do), you can legally get out of your timeshare (aka, cancel it). As fraud will make a contract illegal. The negative side is it takes longer and cost more, but the plus side is you can still owe money or have a mortgage on the timeshare. Also, some owners get some or all of their money back from the resort. To some it up, its bad enough that you paid money for the timeshare and then you must pay to make it go away. Note: some timeshares (not many) do have value and are resalable, BUT AGAIN, most timeshares do not have any value. check out www.timesharescam.org for more details and information on your options.

10/20/2011 9:06 PM (PST)

Thanks for the information. It is a shame but you are correct it is a shame that you have to pay to make it go away...but that is better than leaving it to my kids to fight over who would pay the ongoing maintenance fees and any special assessments.

Sincerely,
Jan

10/24/2011 7:57 AM (PST)

Timeshare cancellation, timeshare advocacy, and timeshare mortgage relief fraud are often just another version of upfront fee timeshare scams. The Florida Attorney General has stated that timeshare fraud is the top consumer complaint by far in 2011- outpacing the next three consumer complaint categories combined! The most important thing to remember in order to protect yourself is simply to NEVER pay any type of upfront or advance fee. The resale market has been decimated over the past few years, and resale prices are often just a small percentage of what was originally paid by the consumer. There are even some resorts that are difficult to even give away. You will want to take the time to properly research the industry before making any decision. You can obtain a free valuation of your timeshare from the Progressive Real Estate Agency at http://progressiveresales.com/timeshare_worth.htm. This will at least give you a general understanding of what, if any, value your ownership has.. If you owe more than the property is worth, you can consider trying to refinance the developer loan via a private signature loan or a home equity line of credit. This will not eliminate the mortgage owed, but can free the timeshare from the original mortgage to at least allow you to sell or give away the property and find freedom from the annual maintenance and tax responsibility. The other option is simply to try to learn how to squeeze as much usage as possible from your timeshare. Regularly using the property is truly the only way for anyone to get value (albeit non-financial) from a timeshare ownership. There are several timeshare forums, which are free to join, that can provide you with plenty of helpful information and networking opportunities with other timeshare owners to share strategies and usage or exchange tips. I hope some of the above is helpful..

10/24/2011 8:24 AM (PST)

From Rich M's advice, IMO, some of the advice is good, some not. Remember, a timeshare is not a house, so a timeshare is not bought nor sold like a house. It's very true that scams are out there, everywhere! Do not spend more money on your timeshare, that is putting good money into bad money. If you spend any money, spend it on making the problem go away. http://www.timesharescam.org

10/25/2011 9:37 AM (PST)

Most timeshare ownership in the United States is deeded, and therefore the process of selling or closing is EXACTLY the same as that used in a residential real estate transaction. In most states, a real estate license is required for any third party to sell a timeshare interest (Missouri is a state where timeshares do not fall under real estate regulations, so resellers located in that state are not required to maintain a real estate license if they sell timeshare properties located in the same state). Always remember, that it is the location of the real estate being sold that determines which state guidelines apply. If anyone wonders why most timeshare resale companies do not operate under a broker's license, but instead hold only a telemarketers license- the answer is very simple. They collect fees to only advertise timeshares. They do not actively sell them! That distinction can make a huge difference for a consumer. There are many free classified venues consumers can access online, so at this point in the industry there is absolutely no valid reason why a timeshare owner should pay a large upfront fee to market their unwanted property! Regardless, this tangent discussion has very little to do with Jan's original question, about the specific service offered by Ozark Liquidation LLC- which is a "pay us to take your timeshare" model. While I am not a fan of these businesses, they can be a viable option for many people who own a timeshare free and clear and who AFTER researching understand that their particular ownership has no expected resale value. Fees for this type of service normally run between $2,500 to $4,500. If a consumer chooses this option, my recommendation is that they insist on using an independent third party closing and escrow agent to protect their funds until transfer completion and to ensure the timeshare is properly transferred out of their name into the name of the business. Regardless of whether the business taking the timeshare refers to itself as a liquidation service, reseller, charity, or consumer advocacy group- using an independent third party closing agent is the only safe route for individual consumers. Finally, before taking any action to liquidate an unwanted timeshare- the consumer should always contact their timeshare management company or owner's association to ask if the resort has a program that allows owners to give back their timeshare. Some resorts offer these programs, so it is always worth the time it takes for a simple phone call!

5/30/2014 9:24 AM (PST)

Many new timeshare cancellations companies have appeared online recently claiming to assist clients who have become victims of timeshare scam to cancel their timeshare contracts and recover their money from timeshare fraud. These new companies claim that they can help to provide timeshare relief, cancel or divorce you from your timeshare or even donate the timeshare to a worthy cause, but they have very vague statements about how their fees are charged. Some claim to have a money back guarantee, which implies that an upfront fee is required: http://www.timesharescam.com/blog/71-timeshare-cancellation-companies/