McCollum
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum announced on Thursday that he has begun multiple enforcement efforts targeting timeshare resale fraud.
In his ongoing effort to rein in abuses within the timeshare resale industry, McCollum currently has nine active lawsuits involving timeshare resale companies. His office has received more than 8,500 complaints in 2010 about this industry.
"The increasing level of fraud in the timeshare resale industry is alarming," McCollum said.
"Combating this growing problem will require a multi-pronged approach, involving a continuous collaborative enforcement effort among the state agencies and more consumer education."
Last week, McCollum filed two lawsuits against PFS Concepts, doing business as U.S. Vacations and its owner, operating out of Pinellas County, and ADC Marketing, doing business as U.S. Timeshare Management and its owners, operating out of Broward County, following complaints about the companies allegedly using false or misleading sales pitches to collect up-front fees for their advertising services.
The companies allegedly led consumers to think that buyers were ready to buy their timeshares and/or promised to sell the timeshares within a given period of time.
McCollum is seeking restitution for affected consumers and asking the court to prohibit the companies from committing further violations of Florida law. He is also seeking reimbursement of costs associated with the litigation.
McCollum's office has also issued subpoenas for Vacation Property Resellers, located in Largo; Travel Exclusive, located in Ocoee; CHL Marketing, doing business as GMAC Timeshare, located in Orlando; C&G Marketing Associates, located in Palm Beach Gardens; Timeshare Lifestyles, located in St. Petersburg; and First Class Travel Wise, located in Boca Raton.