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TALLAHASSEE, FL - Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced his office has reached an agreement with two affiliated South Florida timeshare resale businesses over issues related to the companies’ advertising and marketing methods. Timeshare Travels, Inc. and World Timeshares, Inc. allegedly led consumers to believe their timeshares were being aggressively marketed when in fact the timeshare listings were only posted on a website. The companies also charged an exorbitant up-front “advertising fee” solely for this website listing.

The Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Division began investigating the two companies in 2008 after receiving numerous complaints about the lack of advertising or marketing the companies were using to sell consumers’ timeshares. According to consumers, the companies were not using any other avenues to market their timeshare to potential buyers and were not providing sufficient customer service for current customers. According to the investigation, a large number of affected customers were senior citizens.

As part of the agreement, both companies will pay a total of $190,483 in consumer restitution and will reimburse the Attorney General’s fees and costs of the investigation. World Timeshares will no longer solicit consumers for timeshare re-sales and Timeshare Travels must clearly and conspicuously disclose the specific types of marketing which will be used to advertise a seller’s timeshare and exactly what the consumer is actually purchasing in exchange for paying the advertising fee. These disclosures must be made before a fee is paid.

Both companies have also agreed to send their customers written confirmation of a sale within three business days of the sale, and will respond to all future consumer inquiries within 72 business hours upon receipt of the communication. Finally, although not required by the settlement, Timeshare Travels has voluntarily added to its website a “bid-ask” program so potential purchasers may make counter offers for the purchase, sale or rental of listed properties and has hired additional staff to assist in the purchaser/renter communications with timeshare owners.

Timeshare Travels, Inc. and World Timeshares, Inc. have fully cooperated with the Attorney General’s Office since the start of the investigation.