posted 03-14-2005 10:20               

The salesrep’s eMail stated exactly how many and types of Marriotts we own/owned!

This blew me back in my chair – how the heck did they get access to the Marriott system? That’s the only way they could have gotten the CORRECT information about what we own and the history of past Marriott purchase.

The rep even knew when we bought our Marriotts!

How can this happen? Privacy of our Marriott account is now broken and available to sales reps? Is Marriott making/selling this information available to other companies?

Perry
P.S. Just contacted Pete Watzka, the CCO at Marriott - lets see if he replys.

posted 03-14-2005 11:00               

They said that all real estate transactions are public knowledge and that’s how they got access to our information. I guess it’s true, but how does a timeshare sales rep have the time to do research and check ALL the various counties in the 50 states?

To quote the rep: "As escrows closed (on ALL Marriott properties) we access the public records."

I find this very hard to believe. AND, why on earth do it in the first place?

Perry

posted 03-14-2005 13:13               

It appears Marriott is listed as the owner. I can't figure out how to go any deeper into the records as this....except if I look up the deeds (which Broward also lists on this site....unless someone has asked for them to be removed.:

Ê
Property Owner
MARRIOTT OWNERSHIP RESORTS INC ATTN: PROPERTY TAX

Mailing Address
6649 WESTWOOD BLVD #500 ORLANDO FL 32821
ID #
5042 12 CD 0170

Millage
0332Ê

Use ÊÊÊ
04Ê
Legal Description
BEACHPLACE TOWERS T/S UNIT 301 (All Apts are the same. Each listed as an APT not by an ou=wber, except Marriots name*)

Property Assessment Values

Year
Land
Building
Land Value AG
Total
Tax

Current
$ 47,570 Ê
$ 428,120 Ê
Ê
$ 475,690 Assessed valueÊ
Ê

2004
$ 47,570 Ê
$ 428,120 Ê
Ê
$ 475,690 ÊAssessed Value
$11,844.12 RE Tax

2003
$ 47,420 Ê
$ 426,750 Ê
Ê Ê
$ 474,170 Ê
$11,647.03 RE Tax

Save Our
Home Value
Exemptions: None

Type None
Ê
Widow(er)'s/Veteran's/Disability
Ê
Homestead
Non-Exempt

$ 475,690 Assessed Value for Tax 2005Ê

Sales History (No info give on site * (posted by KenK)

Date
Type
Price
Book
Page

Ê
Adj. Bldg. S.F.
Ê
Special Assessments (None reported*) Ê

Fire
Garbage
Light
Drainage
Improvement
Safe

Please Note: Assessed values shown are NOT certified values and are
subject to change before final certification for ad valorem tax purposes.

Didn't post exactly right. But I can't see in these public records how a RE company can find true owners names info....unless I find a deed.

posted 03-14-2005 13:58               

quote:

---

Originally posted by prof:
It doesn't take that long to check the records - you don't need to leave your desk, so it's fast and convenient.

---

I own at Grande Ocean. I would be *extremely* surprised if you could come up with a link that shows ownership information for that resort (as an example) by any means at all, let alone a "fast and convenient" method.

Oh -- did this sound like a challenge?

posted 03-14-2005 14:11               

What's more, as Ken mentioned, many counties do not list the individual owners for timeshares. They simply list the management company or the entity which pays the taxes. For example, Summit County, Utah does not list individual owners on their website for the Marriott properties in Park City. One of the Marriotts Perry owned was Mountainside in Park City, and the resale broker could not have gotten his ownership information with a quick online check of Summit County records.

Hotel Timeshare Resales definitely has another method for obtaining this information. If my memory serves me correctly, they are one of the few Marriott approved resellers that can sell Marriott weeks with Reward Points. Perhaps they have a deal with Marriott whereby they have access to Marriott's ownership records.

posted 03-14-2005 18:05            

quote:

---

Who the heck is Hotel Timeshare Resales?

---

Your wish is my command

quote:

---

Registrant:
Hotel Timehare Resales (HTR4TIMESHARE-DOM)
74924 Country Club Drive, Suite 120
Palm Desert, CA 92260
US

Domain Name: HTR4TIMESHARE.COM

Administrative Contact:
Noujaim, Naz (TDASLJRUMI)
Hotel Timeshare Resales
74924 Country Club Drive
Suite 120
Palm Desert, CA 92211
US
760-836-3340

Technical Contact:
Admin, Domain (MC3331)
Graphtek
73241 Highway 111
Suite 2B
Palm Desert, CA 92260
US
760-341-4583 fax: 760-341-9285

---

They make no mention of a possible relationship with Marriott anywhere on their web site, other than that the founder and some staff once worked for MVCI.

There is no privacy policy that I could find.

Their asking prices are worse than Redweek, at least for our resort.

Next

posted 03-14-2005 18:08               

I did find the deed on the Broward Gov site. You need to search using my name as a buyer. I didn't think of searching using Marriott as the seller. Might or might not work.

(I also noticed the date when the T/S period ends for Beach Place...its spelled out right on the deed- but thats another story).

posted 03-14-2005 21:13               

quote:

---

Originally posted by taxare:
Unfortunately your challenge is not difficult. All you have to do is go into the Island Packet real estate section, register and it has all of the Beaufort County records by timeshare name and owner name.

---

Interesting! You did meet the challenge for not leaving my desk to get to the information there, but on the other hand, I dont see much of a problem there as the information is not really useful without actual contact information.

posted 03-15-2005 06:41               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Clark:
Interesting! You did meet the challenge for not leaving my desk to get to the information there, but on the other hand, I dont see much of a problem there as the information is not really useful without actual contact information.

---

It can be very easy to get contact information. If you go to the public record search for Beaufort County, you can see a copy of the deed. If the address is on the deed you can see it. Then use an internet search to find the phone number.

http://rodweb.co.beaufort.sc.us/nvtest/or_sch_1.asp

Use REDH as the document type to search for Hilton Head Islans Deeds.

posted 03-15-2005 17:25               

If you look at one of the deeds found that way, you find the Owners names as advertised, but their addresses are all listed as c/o Marriott at a Marriott address.

So, close, but no cigar -- the challenge lives --

posted 03-15-2005 18:15               

In the Internet space, owing largely to privacy concerns, these relationships are often disclosed on the Web site's privacy policy page, even if vaguely. Thus, you may not be able to tell with whom and for how much, if anything, data are being shared.

In the physical world, these relationships tend to be disclosed in very complicated fine print legal statements that are virtually impossible for consumers to decode. These statements tend to get mailed out as occasional inserts.

Given the sophistication of timeshare marketing efforts by major corporations like Marriott, it would't be surprising if Marriott engaged in a little data sharing. But the situation described here is creepy and certainly warrants further attention. If only because if it's the case that Marriott releases these data to Hotel Timeshare Resales, they probably release it to others, as well.

The alternative is that Hotel Timeshare Resales obtained it on the sly. And that would be worse than creepy.

posted 03-15-2005 20:07               

It would also hurt (IMO) the MAR resale staff in Orlandos' sales offices. But maybe they do sell the info...anything goes at the right price.

I think Clark is right about the deeds. I didn't find an address on the copy....but for some reason, I can't see 100% of the copy on the Broward Gov site. I could make it smaller, but then its impossible to read anything on the image...and I can't get it to cut & paste. Someone with better skills might be able to do this.

posted 03-15-2005 20:35               

It's beyond contemplation.

I know, I know, I've been wrong before. But not this time.

(edited to add a missing word)

------------------
Clark
******.com webmaster

posted 03-16-2005 03:59               

Haven’t heard anything from Pete – doubt I ever will. “Privacy” is a word that the lawyers shiver at and have you sign or click acknowledgements stating you know their privacy policy. There are too many systems out there that contain your Social Security number or your mother’s maiden name.

When, in your wildest dreams, would you think that your mother’s maiden name could get you into so much hot-water?

My gut feeling is that passwords have gotten out and Marriott’s system is easily gotten into with those passwords. I certainly don’t believe the fairytale about building a data base when a deed is filed by a county.

posted 03-16-2005 10:29               

Thank you for your e-mail. I certainly appreciate you taking the time
to share your experience with me.

Marriott Vacation Club does not willingly provide or sell our
customers' personal private information to any third parties. We respect our
customers' privacy, and the protection of personal information which we
may collect during the purchase process is of primary importance to us.
Unfortunately, third parties often seek to gain an advantage by
utilizing information obtained through searches of public records which
contain information regarding prior real estate purchases and sales. Public
records offices in many jurisdictions contain information regarding
party names, the types of real estate purchased, purchase prices and dates
of purchase.

We sincerely regret any frustration or confusion you may have
experienced as a result of your interaction with a third-party timeshare
reseller. Of course, we hope that you will consider contacting us if we can
assist you with a timeshare unit purchase, or if we can enhance your
experience as an MVCI owner in any way.

Warm Regards,

posted 03-16-2005 11:49            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steve83014:
What's more, as Ken mentioned, many counties do not list the individual owners for timeshares. They simply list the management company or the entity which pays the taxes. For example, Summit County, Utah does not list individual owners on their website for the Marriott properties in Park City. One of the Marriotts Perry owned was Mountainside in Park City, and the resale broker could not have gotten his ownership information with a quick online check of Summit County records.

Steve

---

posted 03-16-2005 12:40               

No I didn’t ask him that question. I’m sure he would deny knowingly release Marriott private information.

I still think that non-Marriott folks are getting access to the Marriott system – but it’s just a guess.

posted 03-16-2005 20:06               

I still don’t see where knowing the timeshares we own mean anything to a timeshare resale agent. I just can’t figure out why the salesrep took the time to either hack into Marriotts system or wander thru the records of a county office. I just don’t know how this information helps the person make a sale? I just scares the hell out of possible clients; like it did me.

posted 03-17-2005 10:53            

Gotta love business double-speak