ST. PAUL, Minn. – Three companies offering timeshare buy-back services have agreed under pressure to quit doing business in Minnesota. Attorney General Keith Ellison said. None of the business were licsened to do business in the the state, All have agreed to refund $269,000 to customers duped into sending paying upfront feesto get unwanted timeshare units off their hands. Upfront charges are llegal in Mjnnesota for debt-settlement services. The settlement involved these timeshare-exit companies: :
> Encore Law, of Knoxville, Tennesssee. although incorporated in Texas.
> Last Resort Consultiig, of Seymour,Tennessee. .
> Tradebloc, of Dallas, Texas.
Said Ellison: ”I hate to see unethical companies promise help to Minnesotans stuck in costly timeshare contracts, only to rip consumers off again.”