Florida seems to have a monopoly on the "timeshare marketing" scam artists (and they are truly artists). We have been called many times with offers to "market" our timeshare for a set price, always with a "guarantee" that, upon close examination, was no guarantee at all.

All these scam artists have the same strategy. They tell you they have one or more buyers waiting. They then tell you they can sell the timeshare for a price far in excess of what you'd hoped. They guarantee it will be sold in 90 or 120 days "or your money back." What they don't tell you is the "money back" only happens when the timeshare actually sells, which will NEVER HAPPEN due to their listing it a three times the actual market value.

After many phone calls, in a weak moment we too were taken by these crooks. To their credit, the crooks at Universal Marketing are better than average in selling their product, which is a lie. Reality hit me about a week after sending in my credit card number when I checked to see what my timeshare normally sells for (should have done that before committing).

The good news--I contacted our credit card company, sent them all the documents, including the incriminating false "guarantee", as well as the phony "marketing" website, and they managed to get our $1498 back. Incredibly, while all this was going on, we got several more calls from Universal offering to sell the same timeshare for which they already had a contract.

There are honest people in the world. Universal Marketing and its employees are not among them.

Universal Marketing Soulutions contacted my elderly mother to say they could sell her time share in Florida. She sent them $1300 on her credit card. She aslo sent Western Unions for $400 and for $300. This was in a telephone request from Zachary White at phone number (954) 630-5038, who was to have represented Universal Marketing Solutions. Earlier, my mother spoke with a man named Michael along with the Regional Manager, Matt Hicks, who when she called today, Michael stated he did not know who she was or anything about selling a time share then hung up the phone on her. Michael's phone numer is (561) 251-3124. She has continued to attempt to call this company, but none of her phone calls have been answered or her calls returned.I truly have a problem with scammers, but especially those who prey on the elderly. I am certain my mother will probably never see her money again; however, action should be taken to prevent others from meeting a similar loss.
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Claims to have buyer for my time share states they have a down payment on this time share so that the 1396.24 i pay will be refunded if sale does not go thru. They send out a contract which i have not signed and bill my credit card for the $1396.24 before the contract even gets to me. The lat call i got was they were doing a title search on the time share i have told them there is no title it is a lease. Called to cncel on number states all people are busy leave a message or cll back. The other number styates there mail box is fill.I want this contract cncel and my money back

I was contacted by this company and asked if we were interested in selling our time share and any unused weeks we might have. I told them we did have a time share. Tom Ford called me soon thereafter and said that they had a lot of buyers and had oversold timehsare and needed to purchase some to sell. Also would line to purchase the unused weeks we might have. The cost to sell the unused 2 weeks was $1200 with a return of $5200 and $1398.48 to sell the property. I have since been contacted by a company and told that this is a scam and directed to this web site. I am contacting the Attorney, Andrew Cov and the Dept of Ag in Flordia.

We wanted to sell our timeshare and unfortunately tried to do business with Universal Marketing Solutions in Delray Beach, FL. They called to say they had 2 interested buyers and needed $1493.24 to research the deed to get ready for closing. Also that this money would be refunded upon closing. This was Dec 1, 2008.

On Dec 26, I again called because I had not heard any news on the closing. I was told that Diane would check into the status and call me back. On Jan 10, 2009 I finally called them back because of no response and demanded our money back.

On Jan 19th Harrision Pomerantz called and said that we were closing in 3-4 weeks. He also said that we have 1 banked week and 2 promo weeks that the buyer wants to purchase from us (an additional $7716.00 for us at closing). He said that these weeks are in our name and we would need to pay about $1400.00 to change the name to the buyers. I told him we do not have that kind of money and he offered to talk to his boss to see about a short term loan with Universal Marketing until closing date.

Since then, I called 1/20, 1/21, 1/22 and 1/26 and left messages for Harrison to call me. Today, 1/26 I called and left a message that I want my $1493.24 refunded to me and if I do not receive a call by tomorrow 1/27, I will seek legal action. I don't know what course of action we can take, it sounds like they have done this to others. I wish I would've looked on the Internet before this fiasco!