[WSBARP] timeshare scam? - Relief International and/or Winterfield Funding (Ft Worth TX)

[Wheeler, Doug]

I don't know the company, but it definitely sounds like a scam.  My #1 rule of thumb is NEVER pay any money up-front!

I just came across an article entitled "Time-Share Bandits" in the June/July AARP magazine (copy attached).  It has some very good points about avoiding timeshare exit scams (among other things) along with "6 Tips for Selling a Time-Share" on the last page (which are very good).

Doug Wheeler
General Counsel
Vacation Internationale
1417 116th Avenue NE
Bellevue, WA  98004
(425) 454-3065 Ext. 1208
DWheeler at viresorts.com<mailto:DWheeler at viresorts.com>

From: wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com] On Behalf Of Eric Nelsen
Sent: June 26, 2017 4:57 PM
To: WSBA Real Property listserve (wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com) <wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: [WSBARP] timeshare scam? - Relief International and/or Winterfield Funding (Ft Worth TX)

Former client of mine is burdened with a timeshare. She is elderly and on a fixed income. She was contacted by "Relief International" who said she "may qualify for relief from her timeshare dues!" She contacted them and they asked her to come to their offices in Everett so they can talk about what would be necessary. Their "office" is apparently reserving the "Gallery" room at the Inn at Port Gardner for the day.

Most beautifully, they required her to pay $30 on her credit card to "reserve" her appointment to meet with them, with the promise that they would refund the $30 if she actually showed up.

Needless to say, this stinks to high heaven of scam to me. Yelp reviews of Winterfield Funding agree. It also appears that Winterfield Funding might be a structured-settlement business and its address is being used as a false front by the scammers. But I don't know - does anyone have any experience with "Relief International" or "Winterfield Funding"?

Sincerely,

Eric

Eric C. Nelsen
SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC
1417 31st Ave South
Seattle WA  98144-3909
phone 206-625-0092
fax 206-625-9040

Please Note that We Have Moved. We have moved our Seattle office to Mount Baker Ridge (a small commercial community just above the I-90 tunnel). Our new address is 1417 31st Avenue South, Seattle WA 98144. All other contact information remains the same.


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