In June I was contacted by phone by Sandra Hicky of Copeland Marketing asking if I had timeshare credits I wanted to rent. I don't know how she got my number but I was considering giving up my reservation for 2 weeks in Maui in Feb. 2007.
She was so excited that I had these 2 weeks available and promised she could rent My Worldmark/Trendwest unit very quickly at the Daytona Beach NASCAR races for $3000 a week for a 15% commission.
I foolisly opted for a $999 upfront commission which would waive the 15% commission plus an additional 2 future commissions.
I was smart enough not to give out my credit card # over the phone and said I would call back. I did look up Copeland Marketing and call back and was satisfied. I entered into a contract granting Copeland Marketing Corporation "to promote, advertise and generate public interest in the rental for 2 specific weeks in Feb in Maui.
Sandra gave me her personal extension and promised to have the unit rented within a month. When I tried to call a month later, I got her voicemail but no return call. I tried many times for the next few months and also talked to whoever answered the main line with the same replies: "the rental market has slowed down right now". Last month I lowered the price to $1500 a week and still have had NO return phone calls from them.
Today I tried to access their website and learned the page was no longer available. I called Sandra Hickey's extension and it is no longer "valid".
I then called and "pretended" to be interested in renting in Maui and was told no one was in the office but he could take my name and have someone return my call. I asked if someone would be available tommorrow for me to call back and was told he "didn't know when someone would be in" and he could only take a message. I hung up and have now cancelled my reservations for Maui within the 30 day period (agreement with Worldmark).
So I have not lost my weeks however if Copeland does try to rent them now, they are no longer available. But I'm afraid the $999 is gone forever. I just found this site when I googled Copeland, so I am hoping there is something all of us together can do.
I had no idea that I wasn't alone in this scam. I have not even read anyone else's report yet as I just wanted to tell my story. Although, it's embarrassing. Maybe I'll feel better when I read others' reports.
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