State obtains judgment against local timeshare exit businesses

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Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey's office has obtained a consent judgment against Springfield-area timeshare exit companies and their owner.

The consent judgment was secured against Vacation Consulting Services LLC, VCS Communications LLC, The Transfer Group LLC, Real Travel LLC and owner Brian Scroggs for allegedly failing to let consumers out of their timeshare agreements, according to a news release. Former Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit against the companies and Scroggs in 2020.

“One of my biggest priorities as attorney general is to enforce the law as written, and that involves holding fraudulent companies accountable for preying on Missourians,” Bailey said in the release. “This consent judgement is a testament to the work that this office’s Consumer Protection Unit puts in every day to protect Missourians, and we will continue to use every legal resource available to pursue justice for victims of consumer fraud.”

The judgment includes an $800,000 settlement, $700,000 of which is restitution for consumers. The release indicates Bailey's office will seek to recover as much of the funds as possible as Scroggs has filed for bankruptcy protection.

The judgment also orders Scroggs to stop marketing or selling third-party timeshare exit services in Missouri.