Consumers from across America tell Better Business Bureau (BBB) they have lost thousands of dollars to a St. Louis area timeshare exit business.
BBB advises consumers to use caution when doing business with Square One Development Group, Inc., and three other businesses affiliated with the Des Peres, Missouri company - Consumer Rights Council, Consumer Law Protection LLC and VOI Consulting Group. Consumers state they believe Square One Development Group Inc. used misleading sales presentations, failed to honor contracts, did not issue refunds, and provided poor customer service.
Square One Development Group, Inc., has an “F” rating, the lowest on BBB’s scale, due to unanswered and unresolved complaints. Consumers filed more than 30 complaints since June 2019. Consumers reported to BBB they incurred more than $350,000 in losses.
“Unfortunately, we continue to hear stories from consumers who put their trust in third-party companies to rid themselves of their unwanted timeshares, but only to find themselves deeper in debt,” said Michelle L. Corey, BBB St. Louis president and CEO. “If you’re looking to exit a timeshare, we urge you to contact your resort first before entering into an agreement with a third-party company that demands an up-front payment.”
A Shamokin, Pennsylvania, man told BBB he signed a contract with Square One Development Group Inc. in July 2019 and paid $24,900 to exit four timeshare holdings. The man said he lost two of the timeshares when they foreclosed on him. When he contacted the resorts to see if Square One Development Group Inc. had done any work for him, both said they had no contact with the business about his timeshare.
The man said he has been trying to secure a refund from Square One Development Group Inc. He said the company said it would only refund his money if he retracted complaints he made to BBB, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and Federal Trade Commission. The man said he attempted to do as the company asked but has not received his refund. Per policy, BBB does not retract consumer complaints.
“They have been horrible,” the man said of Square One Development Group Inc. “They are much worse than the timeshare sales people. This has been so stressful.”
A Monroe, Louisiana, man told BBB he paid Square One Development Group Inc. $15,500 in July 2019 to help him exit two timeshares. After hearing little from the company in the ensuing months, the man contacted his resort, which told him it had no contact with Square One Development Group Inc. “I don’t believe Square One is doing anything and is just stringing us along,” the man told BBB.
The man is seeking a refund, but the request was denied by Square One Development Group Inc. “They use a bunch of smoke and mirrors,” the man said. “You can’t trust what they say.”
According to Missouri secretary of state records, Square One Development Group Inc. was registered in March 2005. It appears the company started offering timeshare exit services in 2018. LouAnn Reed is listed as the company president.
During its investigation, BBB found three other timeshare-exit businesses connected to Square One Development Group Inc. BBB found employees of Square One Development Group Inc. who also were employed by Consumer Rights Council, Consumer Law Protection LLC and VOI Consulting Group.
Consumer Rights Council and Consumer Law Protection LLC share the same address in Pevely, Missouri. Consumer Rights Council was registered as a non-profit organization with the state of Missouri in April 2020. An employee of Square One Development Group Inc. is listed as a contact person on state registration papers for Consumer Rights Council.
Consumer Law Protection was registered with the Missouri Secretary of State in July 2019. According to registration documents, LouAnn Reed’s husband, George Reed, is listed as the manager for the company.
In June 2020, BBB received a complaint for Consumer Law Protection, LLC, from a Perry, Georgia, couple who told BBB it received a mailer from the Consumer Rights Council that promoted a timeshare exit seminar in their area. The couple said they attended a presentation made by representatives of Consumer Law Protection LLC. They said they paid $17,500 to the company to help them exit two timeshares.
The couple tried to rescind the contract the next day. When the couple called Consumer Law Protection LLC, operators said they were with Square One Development Group Inc. The couple said they believe Consumer Law Protection LLC mislead them. Consumer Law Protection LLC employees the couple dealt with are listed as Square One Development Group Inc. employees.
VOI Consulting Group is based in Las Vegas. According to Nevada state registration documents, the business was formed in December 2018. The managing members listed for VOI Consulting - Dion Castro, Phillip Holguin, Carlos Fonseca and Eduardo Balderas - are listed as employees of Square One Development Group Inc.
BBB’s attempts to contact Consumer Rights Council, Consumer Law Protection LLC, and VOI Consulting Group were not successful.
In a response to a BBB inquiry on what Square One Development Group Inc. was doing to address its pattern of consumer complaints, the company wrote: “While we are always disappointed to get any complaint, we feel even the best companies receive some percentage of unjustified complaints.”
BBB asked LouAnn Reed to explain the relationship between Square One Development Group Inc, Consumer Rights Council, Consumer Law Protection LLC and VOI Consulting Group. Reed did not answer BBB’s questions.
BBB offers these tips on how to exit a timeshare holding:
- Before paying any money, research the company and its owners. Check the company’s BBB Business Profile at BBB.org or by calling 888-996-3887.
- Contact the resort that originally sold you the timeshare to see if it has a deed-back program.
- Before paying any upfront money, make sure you have a signed contract outlining what is to be done, a timetable and an explanation of what happens if the business doesn’t comply get you out of your timeshare within the specified period of time.
- Be wary of anyone claiming that they have a buyer for your timeshare or who promises to rent your timeshare, especially if they ask for an upfront fee.
- Pay with a credit card in case you need to challenge the purchase later.
- If you feel you have been misled, file complaints with BBB and the state’s attorney general’s office.
- For more information about the timeshare exit industry, refer to a study BBB released in June 2019.