Escape To Paradise reviews and complaints
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Upgrade to For Sale Ad
I previously posted a complaint, about 5 minutes ago and did not
put in CA. as location of Escape to Paradise. I put in my state, SC.
My complaint is briefly stated after the information on Escape to
Paradise.
This time I put all the information about Escape to Paradise that
I have in my possession on paperwork.
Escape to Paradise
3848 Campus Dr., Ste. 217-218
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Toll Free phone number: [protected]
Local phone number: [protected]
Fax number: [protected]
website: www.paradiseescapes.net
I am Alicia Trautman from South Carolina
My complaint is after listing for TimeShare rental ad for over a
year and a half, TimeShare has not been rented. Now, after
talking with Bill Jefferson on May 12th, 2009 about upgading
to a For Sale Ad, it will cost me $499.00 more, on top of the
$299.00 that I paid in 2007 (for rental ad listing). Then, if we,
my husband and I did pay for Upgrade, and TimeShare did sell,
who would be responsible for deed & title search fees,
maintenance profile fee, and transfer of deed fee?... We want to
sell the TimeShare because we still owe on it and are barely able
to pay the payments on it, now, much less take a chance of
having to shell out MORE money for all that involves selling a
TimeShare.
Escape to Paradise, along with all the other TimeShare Gimmicks to rent or sell your TimeShare are ALL fraud. These companies are taking advantage of thousands of trusting, unsuspecting people who just need help in these economic times. I have dealt with four of these types of companies, with NO results.
Melissa and John Hofferbert are selfish, thieves who have no intention of helping anyone
but themselves...to your money.
Alicia T., South Carolina
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
renting timeshare
I paid $299.00 in 2007 to list my TimeShare with this company
for rent. It has not been rented. It is 2009. My husband and I have decided to sell our TimeShare. I called [protected] to
ask about why it hasn't been rented, but mainly to see about
getting it sold. I spoke with Bill Jefferson, who identified himself
as the Head Manager of Escape to Paradise. When I asked him what the owner's name is, he stated that it was John Hofferbert.
I asked to speak with him, but was told he was out of the office at that time. Bill said that he would give John a message to call me
back. That was on May 12th, 2009. It is May 19th and I have not received a call from John Hofferbert or Bill Jefferson.
I was told it would cost me $499.00 more to upgrade to a For Sale
Ad from a For Rent Ad. So my total would ultimately be $798.00
for listing my TimeShare with Escape to Paradise. Bill did tell me
that the TimeShare would definitely sell for $3.00 a point, because they go to or host showings for TimeShares Purchases in
very prestigious areas where people have the money to purchase
TimeShares. Unfortunately, we don't have the money to upgrade
and take a chance on the TimeShare not selling. Even if it did,
who would be responsible for the deed and title search, transfer of
deed, maintenance profile, closing costs?... I don't know a lot about these matters, but I am learning in "the school of hard knocks".
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
You know I worked for John back in Florida in 1 of his many rooms and he is nothing but an ectasy taking bean head. Why don't you just sue him he has got to be worth 10 million dollars or more.. Be careful don't go to his office he is pretty big
Timeshare Resale
Escape to Paradise represents itself to be an expert in the timeshare resale industry with specialized skill in marketing and advertising as well as access to a wealthy base of potential clients in the Newport Beach area. In July of 2008 I paid this company $399 to list my Orlando timeshare after discussion with Melinda Hofferbert, assuring me that my property would be marketed aggressively in the near future to several groups of potential buyers (Melinda represented herself to be one of the owners, this was also represented to me by Bill Jefferson on May 12, 2009, Bill represented himself on that date to be the manager in charge of the office). To date I have not received a single reponse to my property listing in nearly 10 months time. I have also received no response to multiple phone messages and emails to Melinda.
It would be my strong recommendation to anyone desiring to sell their timeshare that they avoid doing business with Escape to Paradise, I believe you will be wasting your money with no service rendered in return.
I plan to file additional complaints with the Attorney General of California, the Newport Beach Better Business Bureau, Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, and other internet complaint websites. I suggest to anyone else that has received unsatisfactory service from Escape to Paradise that they do the same.
Dave
This is a follow up to my posting on May 12, 2009; on May 13th I called Escape to Paradise and requested that the listing price on my Orlando timeshare be reduced; Jack, no last name given, told me that it takes 24 hours for the change to show up in the website property listing, on May 15th I checked the webside and saw that the price had not been changed, I called Jack and he told me, "It hasn't been 24 hours yet." Two days elapse and it hasn't been 24 hours yet? What? I sent an email to the company on May19th requesting the change, it still hasn't been done. It is most likely a moot point, I strongly suspect that Escape to Paradise rarely if ever sells any timeshares at any price.
One other piece of information, on half a dozen occasions I have left my contact information with employees, Bill, Jack, Clyde, or the receptionist, requesting a return call from owner Melinda Hifferbert, which I have yet to receive, I always ask the person taking the message to repeat back to me the contact information, and with the exception of one time by the receptionist, I have then been hung up on. It is obvious to me that these people do not write the messages down and do not give the information to Melinda, not that she would bother to call back anyway. To date I have filed or will file complaints with this message board, [redacted]s.com, California Attorney General, Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureau, Department of Consumer Affairs, and Federal Internet Bureau. I am 99.99% sure that I will not get a refund from Escape to Paradise and I am 99.99 % sure that they will never help sell my timeshare, but if nothing else, I will get my money's worth by spreading the information as wide as I can about this bunch of scam ### that take people's money and do nothing to earn it.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Dave,
I spoke with Bill Jefferson on the very same day that you posted your comment. I also have & am having a bit of a problem with Escape to Paradise. I have posted two complaints today. Also, commenting on several previous posts, please see what you can do.
Alicia T. from SC
Refusal to refund fee
This company promised to refund their fee for selling our timeshare. We dropped our selling price several times in the 2 years listed with them. They never contacted us with a buyer. We finally reduced it to $1, 000.00 and sold it privately ourselves for $1, 500.00. The contract stated they would refund the fee if we sold it within 20% of the asking price. When I requested a refund they said that it was 20% of the original asking price. This WAS NOT stated in the contract
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I have tried numerous times to get in touch with the Hofferberts, with no avail. This company, along with many others have no intentions of renting or selling anyone's Time
Share. They are in this business, which is booming, because so many people who have lost jobs or have other reasons for not being able to pay for their TimeShares. The only people making the money are the so called..."Rent or Sell Your TimeShare People". It is a
shame that these people have no ethics or consideration for others in need of their help.
Alicia T. in SC
We listed two timeshares to sell with them in Jan of 2006. They took our money and acted like they had a buyer for each of them. Nothing has happen since then. I called them 3 months ago and wanted to talk to Melinda Hoffabert but she was on the phone.
I told the girl that answered the phone to lower the price because I wanted to get them sold. I was told she would tell Melinda this. It has not happened. I called today and they are not answering the phone and it will not let me leave a message. If someone called and wanted to buy a timeshare they are out of luck, what kind of company is this ? They are not planning on selling any timeshares and are there only to contact people to get their money.
Given the run around. Failed to sell Timeshare
As of 03/18/09 it has been a year and 1/2 since we had our time share listed with these scam artists. Phone call after phone call is either not responded to or we are told some one will call back, no one ever does.
We have spoken with one of the general managers who was very rude and when we request to speak to his supervisor we were told "your not getting past me".
We totally got caught in a scam. Their Better Business Bureau score is an F.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Escape to Paradise representatives pursued me more than two months in 2007, about selling my timeshare. Their phone calls were relentless and their sales pitch convincimg . In addition, I still have on my answering machine, urgent messages about "hits on the property" and that it needed to be listed immediately, so it could close and I could have the proceeds before Christmas 2007. I have FOUR of those voice messages from Joshua O'Brien and one from Melissa Hofferbert in October, 2007. After they got my money in October, 2007, it became impossible to speak with either Joshua or Melissa. A man named Daniel would answer Melissa's calls. Daniel rudely told me each time that he was Melissa's "personal assistant, " and that I could only talk with him because Melissa was busy. He would also say that Joshua was on the sales floor or not available for some reason.
After several weeks of Daniel intercepting calls, I talked with the receptionist and asked her to pass the messages to Joshua and Melissa. She didn't know Joshua, ( ? ) but said she would see Melisssa later that afternoon. Two days later, I called because I hadn't heard from Melissa. The receptionist assured me that she had personally given the message to Melissa. This was repeated several times over the next few weeks. After that, I faxed a few messages, but got no response. I sent emails, but got no reply. When I still didn't hear from either Joshua nor Melissa, I finally sent a postal, snail mail letter with a tracking number to Melissa. You guessed it, no response.
I have a friend who has family about 15 miles from Newport Beach. While she was visiting her family in November 2008, she asked her adult son to phone Escape to Paradise to say he wanted to buy a timeshare. He gave every detail, except my name and timeshare unit number, in describing what he wanted to buy, with CASH. No one from Escape to Paradise has ever gotten back to him.
In my opinion, they make their money by "listing" and never try to sell. Melissa and John Hofferbert also have, and have had, businesses in Florida. Some have been closed by the officials. They also have a "sister" Escape to Paradise company in Nevada.
There are also unhappy people that have posted comments on /link removed/ about Escape to Paradise.
Alicia you're right on! Evidently this company has taken our money and ran. I have left numerous telephone messages with no call backs. I doubt if they even exist any more. Anyone know how to get our money back from this shady company or any other of the scam tiemshare companies? I still get several telephone calls a week from companies wanting to sell my timeshare and asking for ridiculous up front fees...I just say no and they seem offended. Yeah, right! From David W in CA
I agree with everything you have said. This company, Escape to Paradise run by John &
Melissa Hofferbert. It has had several different names & phone numbers. It is a scam. I have called numerous times with no help at all. Sometimes no answer, put on hold or told they would call back. They have never called back. Unfortunately there are many companies out there that make promises that they have NO intention of following threw
with...I myself was foolish enough to actually give money to four different companies,
hoping that at least one would come through for me. Been dealing with them since 2007
and NO results yet. I don't have anyone to help me and no way of getting my money back.
I'm in the same boat as you are Kathy~ Peace~ Alicia T. in SC
Paradise Escape is a company to stay away from. Mr. Newman, is one of their sales people.He is a big blow fish. His sales pitch is, all about faith in the Lord, faith in God I do have, but people like him, I have no faith in. I wonder if he would like for someone to do what he did to my sister? He is a fraud the company is not much of a company that takes advanage of widows! I know now not to trust anyone, after all he called us, we DID NOT call HIM! So my advice to any one is stay away from this COMPANY ! If it really is a company ever time I call them I get their answering machine or Mr. Newmans voice mail is always full. Or his server is not working. When you talk about getting your money back they get nasty on the phone, that is if you are lucky enough to talk to anyone. my name is Kathy J.
Fraud
Former Marine Sgt. Viet Nam vet & wife (both suffering from cancer), scammed by local timeshare sales company.
A Newport Beach, Ca. Timeshare re-sale company called
Paradise Escapes, aka Escape To Paradise (Owners, Melinda & John Hofferbert)
3848 Campus Drive. Suite 217 – 218
Newport Beach, Ca. 92660
Phone [protected] or [protected] or FAX [protected]
Website WWW.ParadiseEscapes.Net at [protected]@ParadiseEscapes.Net has added yet another customer complaint to their shady sales resume’.
It seems their standard sales pitch is that they call a timeshare owner with the ruse of having a buyer that is interested in buying their timeshare. They then pressure the owner with the prospect of having a ready, willing and able buyer, and convince the owner that their timeshare is worth much more than it actually is and solicit an up front fee of $399.00 and up. By inflating the actual worth of the timeshare, Escape To Paradise believes they do not have to worry about paying back the upfront fee (of $399 and up) because this clause in their Sales Agreement (Escape To Paradise will refund my fee if you find a buyer within 20% of my asking price with proof of sale from resort) would not have to be honored because no sane buyer would ever pay anywhere near 20% of the inflated list price.
With the inflated recommended selling price (in this case, the recommended sales price by the agent, Brittany Lowe was $20, 000 to $25, 000). Ms. Lowe knew that the timeshare would never sell for any where near that price and really did not care if it ever sold; all she wanted was the $399.00 up front.
There have been other complaints, all similar in nature, about this shady company.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
my husband and I fell for the same load of crap, cost us $599.00 in 07 to lease our timeshare in Vegas.Good ole John and David Stewart the sales manager who conned us some day will have someone con them also...Then they'll know how it feels... Shame on them for making a living this way. Just goes to show that not everyone has a conscious...I'm grateful that's all the thieves took me for.
This is true, these guys are pure scam artists, how do I know? I worked in their office, it only took a couple days until I realized what they were actually doing to people. They straight out lie to people over the phone, telling them they are in a showroom
(which is their dinky sales office filled with balloons (which they claim have buyers on the weekends) As I was training my job was to listen in on Melinda's sales pitches, one where she was taking a senior lady on a fixed income, promising her that her property would sell! That was it for me-
I don't understand how they can still be in business they are crooks!
The guy from Pompano Beach is a friend of John Hofferbert. Paying to list your timeshare with this company is stupid. If you give them money for any reason, you're stupid.
Total scam. It's set up like a scam. It smells like a scam, because it is. If you're lucky enough to
be doing your research before getting suckered out of $500, good for you. Forget doing any type of business with them.
Consider yourself lucky you took the time to do your homework. You probably should have done that before you let the timeshare salesperson con you into buying it in the first place.
If you want to sell your timeshare, put it on Ebay. Price it rockbottom and it will be gone by the end of the day.
John Hofferbert is a ###.
I was scammed the same way. Sebastian Newman called me daily to get me to let him sell my timeshare. Very nice guy...
I finally paid $199.00 for the gifts to the interested parties that were looking at my timeshare and have not heard from them since. No calls returned.
Just have to write it off as to another scam! Despicable!
Julie
julie@fleurdelisrealestate.com
Louisville, Ky
I have to respectfully disagree. Initially when I signed up with them I didn't get any offers. Three months into it though I lowered my asking price and that did the trick. Two weeks after lowering my price I was able to get it sold. I advise those of you that are not presently satisfied with their service to reevaluate your asking price to make sure it is competitive with other resales. If you price it for a "buyers" market like I did you too can get a sale. Sure I wish I got more money but the big picture is I no longer have to pay the annual fees for the rest of my life and am out from under the 16% finance rate I was paying so all in all I am happy and think I came out ahead. Melinda was always very sweet and professional.
Thank you,
S. Tate
Pompano Beach, FL
eat my balls
I'm very unhappy with this compan. Not only do I get a different story each time I call to check on things but no one seems to know what's going on. I recently lsited my timeshare to be rented and or sold. I was told 3wks ago that they had a renter for me and that I should be recieving a check in theamount of $1400 for the wk they were going to rent. Well here it is 3wks later still no check in my hands and today they tell me that there never was a check and that I would not be getting one. Come to find out some one stayed in my timeshare during my designated week according to my timeshare people but Escape to Paradise claims no one was there.
If anyone would like to join me in possibly going after Escape to Paradise in a legal fashion please feel free to contact me @ kristin32544@yahoo.com. Maybe if enough of us can get together we can fight this company to get back our original fees that they charged us.
Kristin L.
i am also trying to speak to anyone at escape to Paradise. I have been unable to reach them by telephone andor fax for 1 year.
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The owner John Hofferbert is from Florida and has owned many of these rooms. He is nothing more than a coke sniffing bean head. I would sue his ### he is very wealthy...
Alicia,
I understand your dilemma very well; you want to get rid of the timeshare because it is a financial drain and yet you do not want to spend any more money to get rid of it; my advice to you is that under NO circumstances should you give another cent to Escape to Paradise, you will be throwing your money away. I have done some recent research...wish I had done so BEFORE I paid them, and I have found out that you NEVER give a company money upfront to list or sell the timeshare for you, and if you think about it...they have your money, what incentive do they have to sell the unit when they could be contacting other property owners to get fees from them.
Dave