Telemarketing Recovery Task Force

There seems to be a number of "new" companies looking to help people recover their fees from the timeshare sales scams. Are these "legit" or are they another form of scam? In the past couple of months, we've been contacted by several who "say" their fee is a percentage of what is recovered. One example of this type of company is found at http://telemarketingrecoverytaskforce.com/index-4.html As it turns out, they want the "retainer" fee (which ranges from 25% to 50%) up front. They "guarantee" recovery of fraudulent charges that happened in the last 4 years and indicate possibly longer.

These people formerly worked for upfront fee resale companies that are going out of business due to education on such forums as Redweek ..... they merely started another scam to separate you from your hard earned money ..... don't bite if they ask for an upfront fee or any kind of fee ..... retainer or whatever they call it.

The only livelihood they know is thievery.

Don't even fall for the scams who say they take a percentage after recovery. From what I've read, they're the same companies that scammed you in the first place and already have your credit card number.

Their ploy is to credit your credit card back of the amount (say $1000) and then charge you their recovery fee of 40% or so which, in this case, would be $400. You have to send them a check for $400. Once the check is cashed, they reverse the credit on your credit card.

Try filing a complaint with the Attorney General against the original scam operation.

I have been contacted by 'Consumer Help Group, LLC' offering to recover fees & pay 40% after funds are recovered.

Does anyone know if they are legitimate/honest.

I have not received any help from any Attorney Generals.

I believe that Consumer Help Group, LLC is another "alias" for Telemarketing Recovery Task Force. The Attorney General's Office has closed down Telemarketing Recovery Task Force.

There is a company called The Center for Legal Justice that works with the law office of Paul Rogers Kennedy who is registered with the Florida bar - hopefully this one is not a scam.

You might be able to contact your credit card company fraud department and tell them that Telemarketing Recovery Task Force has been shut down -- they may be willing to work with you.

I just got off the phone with a fellow who offered to take my property off my hands for 2500US as long as my mortgage was all paid up. It turns out that he owns about 6 companies that promice you out of your mortgage. They all want up front money and are in kahoots with each other. If you follow the paper trail; you will find out that it goes right to congress. Its Congress and your legislators who are corrupt. Stand up to it people and demand a change. If its time shared; its= SCUM! IF its people offering you a deal on time share then; THEY ARE SCUM! I hope they all wrought ....;you know where!

Anyone who is looking to "recover" the cost of buying a timeshare property is deceiving themselves. There is no market for timeshares and is not likely to be one ever again. You can't sell them, you can't give them away, and your heirs don't want them. The only way to successfully rid yourselves of the "albatross" is to find a company who is willing to relieve you of the title and owner responsibilities through transfer. Even this will cost you because these companies all want you to pay the costs for the tranfer. This cost can amount to several thousand dollars. The positive side is that you will never have to pay the annual fees, assessment fees, trading fees, etc. ever again (your return on "investment" will actually be 3-5 years depending on how much your transfer costs). The deeds are written in such a manner that your heirs have no choice in the matter -- the courts will rule in favor of the timeshare company and your heirs WILL inherit the liability!

richardi32 wrote:

...your heirs have no choice in the matter -- the courts will rule in favor of the timeshare company and your heirs WILL inherit the liability!

This is quite plainly and simply incorrect.

In no imaginable scenario is an heir "obligated" to accept an unwelcome "inheritance". That said, the estate of the decedent cannot be closed until such time as the decendent's obligations (including timeshare obligations) are resolved somehow. Options for such resolution include deeback, which a resort may well be inclined to accept knowing that a deceased owner is not going to pay any further maintenance fees, nor suffer any possible "harm" for failing to do so.

Cancell your credit card and walk away. To hell with them. I am.

glenk29 wrote:

Cancel your credit card and walk away.

the resolution is with probate court -- precedent has been established with timeshare deeds and the heirs end up with the responsibility of taking on the liability or finding a way of disposing it (at a cost). I agree that it may sound improper, but look at it this way -- an heir ultimately ends up with the responsibility for disposing of unwanted real estate property as well. The timeshare property deeds are written in such a way that the heir is held responsible for any future maintenance fees and will end up paying in the end - whether they want to or not.

richardi32 wrote:

the resolution is with probate court -- precedent has been established with timeshare deeds and the heirs end up with the responsibility of taking on the liability or finding a way of disposing it (at a cost). I agree that it may sound improper, but look at it this way -- an heir ultimately ends up with the responsibility for disposing of unwanted real estate property as well. The timeshare property deeds are written in such a way that the heir is held responsible for any future maintenance fees and will end up paying in the end - whether they want to or not.

An 'heir' can refuse any inheritance, however the 'estate' is still responsible for any fees related to the timeshare until the timeshare has been transferred out of the decedent's name.

I have been in contact with a real estate attorney who specializes in time shares. He told me if you pay more then 200.00 to any company, they are a fraud. I have lost close to 10,000.00 trying to sell my 2 timeshares. They are the same people that were out there before . They change their name and maybe move to another city. Last week I starting dealing with a company . They wanted 1850.00. Itold them I didnt have that much money, so they were satisfied with 1000.00 .When I gave them my checking account number for a bank draft I asked him just who to charge this check to . It was a company that scammed me this spring of 2000.00. I went to the bank and stopped payment on the check. This is the kind of stuff you need to watch for

patricias552 wrote:

I have been in contact with a real estate attorney who specializes in time shares. He told me if you pay more then 200.00 to any company, they are a fraud. I have lost close to 10,000.00 trying to sell my 2 timeshares. They are the same people that were out there before . They change their name and maybe move to another city. Last week I starting dealing with a company . They wanted 1850.00. Itold them I didnt have that much money, so they were satisfied with 1000.00 .When I gave them my checking account number for a bank draft I asked him just who to charge this check to . It was a company that scammed me this spring of 2000.00. I went to the bank and stopped payment on the check. This is the kind of stuff you need to watch for

With all due respect, one simple rule might help you (and anyone else) to avoid repeating the same mistake over and over again:

NEVER pay an upfront fee to ANY entity to either sell or rent your timeshare. NEVER. Repeat after me --- NEVER!

EACH AND EVERY such upfront fee parasite is ALWAYS going to accomplish nothing more than take your money. Period, amen.

Fool me once it's YOUR fault .... fool me twice it's MY fault.

All upfront fee resale companies are scams, period !!!

Have you actually dealt with The Center for Legal Justice and Paul Rogers Kennedy? My parents have been contacted by them and are trying to determine if they are legit or not.

dianeg243 wrote:

Have you actually dealt with The Center for Legal Justice and Paul Rogers Kennedy? My parents have been contacted by them and are trying to determine if they are legit or not.

What are they offering? Are they offering to recover any money your parents paid to an upfront fee scammer? There is no need for a service like this. Their best bet in this case is to contact the Attorney-General of the state where this scam operation is located.

These "recovery" firms could very well have the same people behind them as the upfront fee scam outfits. Besides, the fact that they called your parents is one trademark of a scam.

Paul Rogers Kennedy is legitimately registered to practice law in Florida. They do not have a clear-cut fee structure which makes it look like the scams (they want half of the "recovered" fees up front!). Paul Rogers Kennedy could lose his license to practice law in Florida if this is actually fraudulent.

richardi32 wrote:

Paul Rogers Kennedy is legitimately registered to practice law in Florida. They do not have a clear-cut fee structure which makes it look like the scams (they want half of the "recovered" fees up front!). Paul Rogers Kennedy could lose his license to practice law in Florida if this is actually fraudulent.

This is just another upfront fee scam .... how do they even know what half of the socalled 'recovered' fees' might be = more than likely zero, but they have your upfront fee and will keep it.

Most of these people formerly worked for upfront fee resale companies that charge a large upfront fee to people that list their timeshares with them. Due to the internet, internet forums and the media these people are being put out of business due to education so they go on the start another timeshare scam.

If this guy is an attorney then he needs to be reported to whatever legal system that oversees attorneys in Florida ASAP because he is breaking the law.

This is Paul Rogers Kennedy, Esquire. I run a tax and consumer protection law firm in Delray Beach, Florida that is fighting these cases on behalf of consumer/ timeshare owners. The Center For Legal Justice is a Florida Bar Regulated Private Lawyer Referal service, that refers potential clients to my firm, among others. We have been very successful recovering moneys on behalf of our clients. I am happy to speak with anyone who has any questions or concerns about the types of representation we offer to timeshare comsumers who have been scammed by one of these resale or recovery companys. You may obtain my contact information from the Florida Bar Website or through Martindale Hubbell.

jayjay wrote:

richardi32 wrote:

Paul Rogers Kennedy is legitimately registered to practice law in Florida. They do not have a clear-cut fee structure which makes it look like the scams (they want half of the "recovered" fees up front!). Paul Rogers Kennedy could lose his license to practice law in Florida if this is actually fraudulent.

This is just another upfront fee scam .... how do they even know what half of the socalled 'recovered' fees' might be = more than likely zero, but they have your upfront fee and will keep it.

Most of these people formerly worked for upfront fee resale companies that charge a large upfront fee to people that list their timeshares with them. Due to the internet, internet forums and the media these people are being put out of business due to education so they go on the start another timeshare scam.

If this guy is an attorney then he needs to be reported to whatever legal system that oversees attorneys in Florida ASAP because he is breaking the law.