In the wake of the recent uptick in exit
scams, the preeminent vacation ownership provider vows to protect
its owners and members from paying exorbitant upfront fees for an
illusory service.
MYRTLE
BEACH, S.C., May 9, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Capital Resorts Group, LLC d/b/a Capital
Vacations®, a leading provider in the vacation
ownership industry, is taking action to neutralize so-called "exit
companies" who employ unlawful business practices to prey on its
owners and members while collecting exorbitant fees for a service
that they cannot and do not provide.
"Though timeshare exit scams, including alleged
cancellation and resale, have been perpetrated for many years, the
consequences on the victims remain real and serious. Many of the
exit scammers are well-practiced in their abilities to defraud
unsuspecting customers. When opportunities appear 'too good to be
true,' it's often because they are," according to a January press
release from the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation. "Be sure to use caution when dealing with anyone who
expresses interest in your timeshare. If you think you have been
targeted by a timeshare scam, please report the incident."
Many of these companies guarantee that they can cancel a
timeshare, sometimes deceptively calling what they do "consumer
advocacy." Typically, this is nothing more than preparing or
sending formulaic, and often fabricated, letters of complaint to
timeshare developers, the Better Business Bureau, or federal, state
or local governmental or regulatory bodies. But, as these companies
know, those letters will not result in the cancellation of a
timeshare. Instead, they must induce timeshare owners to stop
paying their timeshare obligations all while lining their own
pockets with the exorbitant upfront fee they charge the timeshare
owners.
Capital Vacations is fighting exit companies' exploitation of
Capital Vacations' members. It has filed lawsuits against Financial
Recovery Advocates, LLC ("FRA") and associated businesses. FRA is
an exit company that has cynically adopted the "consumer advocacy"
business model. Capital Vacations also asserts claims against
Robert Grosser, who is one of FRA's
representatives who is responsible for sending many of the
boilerplate letters, Valuation Fraud &
Forensics, LLC, and its principal Jaclyn
Burket Franks, and Bottom Line Accounting and Tax Services,
LLC and its principal Carmen
Wallace. These last two businesses and individuals prepare
cookie-cutter reports that, without evidence, conclude that the
timeshare owner has been subjected to misrepresentation. These
reports are all identical, and, like FRA's conduct, do not cancel
Capital Vacations' member's timeshare. The reports are only
intended to give FRA's customers the impression that FRA is doing
something to bring about the cancellation of a timeshare when they
are not.
Capital Vacations has alleged that FRA and its
associates have engaged in deceptive and unfair acts or practices
in violation of the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act. The
lawsuit is pending in the South
Carolina, 15th Judicial Circuit, along with an
action in the State Supreme Court seeking declaratory relief,
asking a court to find FRA is engaged in the unauthorized practice
of law.
To learn more about how to avoid fraud in
these situations, visit ARDA.org. If you are a Capital Vacations
member with questions, please contact Maria
Kalber, Capital Vacations Senior VP of Owner Engagement and
Service, at 833-876-0514, available Monday-Friday 9 AM-6 PM EST.
ABOUT CAPITAL VACATIONS®
Capital Vacations is reimagining the travel experience by
connecting Independent Resorts with travelers through our
technology platform and vacation products. We partner with over 200
Independent Resorts across the U.S. and Caribbean, deploying strategic value-add tools
that allow Independent Resorts to increase revenues across multiple
channels. In addition, we service over 1,000,000 travelers a year
with a hyper-focus on the owner and guest experience and the
creation of long-term relationships. Learn more at
CapitalVacations.com. Travel. Gather. Smile. Repeat.
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SOURCE Capital Vacations