BELLEVILLE — A couple alleges they were scammed by several businesses that falsely claimed they could help them terminate their time share agreements.
Eugene Smith and Linda Smith filed a complaint April 8 in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit for St. Clair County against Consumer Law Protection LLC, Resort Transfer Group LLC, Square One Development Group Inc., Cloud 9 Hospitality LLC doing business as Four Points by Sheraton, and Matt Titus, Courtney Kirkpatrick, Dan Chudy, Scott Jackson and George and LouAnn Reed alleging violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act.
According to the Smiths' complaint, they were invited to a banquet at the Four Points on March 4, 2021, by the defendants to learn about canceling their timeshare contract with Club Wyndham, Sheraton Vistana and Dikhololo Resorts which they held with their daughters.
They allege that at the event, they endured a "high-pressure sales presentation" and were required to pay $51,670 "up front" for the defendants to terminate their timeshare agreements which they failed to do. The Smiths also claim they signed an agreement to allow future credit card payments of $26,670 to be deducted and that the purpose of the defendants' banquet was to pressure consumers into prepaying "for valueless and overvalued servcies." They further allege that the contracts they signed "contained so many loopholes and conditions" and were designed to defraud the timeshare owners.
The Smiths seek monetary relief of more than $51,000, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by David Duree of David M. Duree & Associates PC in O'Fallon.
Twentieth Judicial Circuit for St. Clair County case number 21L0335