Business ProfileforGlobal World Event Planner (Scam)

The address used by the company of 250 Monroe Avenue, NW, Suite 254, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 has been returned by the Post Office as undeliverable. The BBB has contacted the building management company at that address and was informed that the building does not have a tenant by the name of Global World Event Planner.

The company's website, which is registered by Domains by Proxy Inc., does not list an address for the company.

The phone number listed on the company's website of 616-209-4178 does not connect. When dialing, it immediately reverts back to a dial tone.

Based on the above information, the BBB is unable to determine the actual location of this company. Timeshare owners who want to sell or rent their timeshare should be wary of timeshare resale services that pressure customers to pay thousands of dollars up front, claiming that buyers are at hand. Too often, the services don't deliver and customers can't get refunds when the company disappears.

Nationwide, BBBs processed 2,804 complaints on timeshare resale services in 2010.

BBB offers the following advice to timeshare owners who are looking for help in selling their timeshare:

*Use a Business You can Trust - Make sure the timeshare reseller you use is a BBB Accredited Business or at the very least has a good rating with BBB. You can check out a business's BBB Reliability Report at www.westernmichigan.bbb.org.

*Confirm Licensing Requirements - Some timeshare resellers will use fake addresses or PO boxes in order to mislead timeshare owners. Confirm where the company is located and in what states it does business. Ask if the company's salespeople are licensed to sell real estate where your timeshare is located. If so, verify this with the state licensing board.

*Get the Facts on the Figures - Find out if the business charges a commission. Do they handle the entire closing and provide escrow services? Do they charge an up-front listing or advertising fee? What does it cover and is it refundable?

*Be Wary of Upfront Fees - Many complainants to BBB were burned by companies charging an advance "appraisal" fee for services or were told that they just had to pay closing costs and the timeshare would be taken off their hands. Consider opting for a company that offers to sell for a fee only after the timeshare is sold.

*Don't Fall for the Hard Sell or an Offer that Sounds Too Good to Be True - Don't agree to anything over the phone but instead ask the salesperson to send you written materials; take the time to think it over and don't be pressured. Unscrupulous timeshare resellers may claim that your property is in demand and they can sell it immediately; unfortunately, these promises are often empty.