Client Protection Group is another timeshare exit company founded in 2013 that may be able to help you exit your timeshare. They are located in Costa Mesa, California, and owned by Michael Cromie, Jr. They also have a second office in Deland, Florida.
Client Protection Group Website
One of the first things we noticed upon exploring Client Protection Group’s website was their use of the tagline Timeshare Elimination Team as a sort of secondary business name or qualifier. While looking into this, we came upon a now-defunct LLC and website under the same name and with the same owner, also based in Costa Mesa, CA.
While this is not to be confused with the similarly-named timeshare exit company TS Elimination, LLC, based in Las Vegas, NV, it is interesting that there are other websites that indicate Client Protection Group has some basis in the Las Vegas area.
Cromie was at one point employed by a company called Litigation Services in Las Vegas, which is interesting, but again, not necessarily indicative of anything illegitimate at face value. Aside from that, we were not able to find a great deal of background information about the owner or directors, and thus could not make a connection between the Client Protection Group and TS Elimination, LLC. It is possible that Client Protection Group was a name chosen to better differentiate the company from TS Elimination, LLC, which is often referred to as TS Elimination Team.
With all of that said, while there aren’t any solid conclusions we could draw from finding this potentially related information, TS Elimination, LLC, has several negative reviews from past clients regarding activity that appears to be fraudulent.
Please be aware of this distinction if you choose to look into Client Protection Group for help with exiting your timeshare, and be sure you aren’t looking into working with TS Elimination by mistake.
Our impression of the website is that, overall, it is mostly clear and navigable. That said, there are a few pages that are clunkier than others and a few noticeable textual and spelling issues. It also does not include a great deal of specific information about the processes Client Protection Group uses to help clients exit their timeshares, aside from saying that they are “transparent” and “legal.” Typically, it is something of a red flag if a company has to outright say this but does not give a transparent picture of what it is they do that is legal.
Regarding the About page, as noted, the website does not have much information about the owners or staff, and there is not any indication of their having a background in law, or having lawyers on the Client Protection Group staff.
On the Services page, there is slightly more information about what Client Protection Group can offer you. But again, it does not present a very detailed picture of how their process works. The areas they say they address overall are Timeshare Elimination, Mortgage Cancellation, Credit Protection, and Fraud Recovery. There is a bit of misleading information here, as they state outright that it is “impossible” to sell a timeshare, which is not exactly true, though it is extremely difficult to do so. Disney timeshares and many timeshares on Hawaii and Aruba do tend to hold their value quite well. As such, though, there seems to be an understanding of the overall challenges a client would face in trying to cancel a timeshare, including issues with protecting their credit and being weighed down with mortgage payments.
Under Fraud Recovery, Client Protection Group does address the typical practices of shady timeshare exit companies that approach people claiming they can sell their timeshare for them, which is something of a reassuring point. However, they also claim to have been licensed with the Secretary of State as a “Consumer Advocate Timeshare Relief Service,” which is not something we could verify.
Client Protection Group Reviews
Client Protection Group has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and several positive reviews from past clients. While we didn’t find any Google reviews for Client Protection Group, they do have one five-star review on Yelp. The reviews appear to be legitimate and their consensus seems to be that, while they may take a while with their process, Client Protection Group ultimately tends to enact timeshare exits successfully and completely.
Client Protection Group Cost
Client Protection Group does not provide cost information on their website. They do say they offer free consultations to potential clients. Client Protection Group also claims to offer a money-back guarantee, which is not something we approve of, because it typically goes hand-in-hand with upfront payments.
On the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, you can find that this holds true, and that Client Protection Group does require an upfront retainer payment. It does not go into detail about whether or not this means they use escrow for this payment, but we would not say it’s likely. Should you choose to get in touch with this company, we would recommend asking if that is part of the initial payment.
Overall, though, we do not suggest getting involved with a timeshare exit company who does not use escrow payments or a no up-front fee payment option. Even with a money-back guarantee, it is easy for them to take your payment and never fully cancel your timeshare and never refund your money. You can learn more here about what escrow is, and why it is important to work with a company that uses it.
What to Look for in a Timeshare Exit Company
There are several qualities that indicate a company is one you want to get involved with for cancelling your timeshare. A low up-front fee escrow payment option is just one of them. Companies that either work with attorneys or have industry connections are typically going to be more efficient at working with the timeshare or resort itself and will get you more for what you ultimately pay. If you owe a mortgage, this might not be an option for you, but you can still look for a timeshare exit company that consults with lawyers and uses a reputable payment method. You can find out more about the costs you can expect for the different methods of exiting a timeshare here.
Summary
Client Protection Group is a timeshare exit company with which you should tread carefully. While Client Protection Group appears to have solid reviews, we are not inclined to use this as a basis for a recommendation, given what little information we could find on their website about either their timeshare cancellation processes or the foundation of the company itself.
This is not only because of the lack of clarity surrounding the company’s process for cancelling your timeshare, but also because of their request for upfront payments. Upfront payments, while common, are not a timeshare exit company practice that we like to see, and you have options aside from any company that requires them. That is why we prefer to recommend companies that use escrow for payments. You can explore the companies that we strongly recommend on this page, and look into which would be the best fit for your location and situation.
If you still have questions or want to learn more about this or another company, you can contact us using the form on the right side of the page or initiate the live chat feature. You can also give us a call at 833-416-8796