Instead, the Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, couple says they paid thousands of dollars for services that never delivered the promised results.
The case comes as the FBI and other law enforcement agencies are warning consumers about timeshare exit scams.
The Madejas have owned their timeshare for more than three decades and used it for vacations to destinations including Myrtle Beach and Santa Fe.
According to Sue Madeja, booking trips became increasingly difficult, prompting the couple to seek a way out of the arrangement.
In January of 2025, they received a postcard advertising timeshare exit services.
"'We'll give you a free dinner at such and such restaurant. Call for reservations,' and that's what they did," Sue Madeja said.
The Allentown residents attended a presentation at a Red Lobster in Whitehall hosted by TS Consumer Protection. Sue Madeja said about a half dozen people attended.
"Most of them appeared to be seniors," she said.
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The Madejas said they were shown a spreadsheet estimating they could pay $178,000 in maintenance costs over the next 30 years if they kept their timeshare.
They said the company offered to help them exit the contract for just under $7,000 and provided a written guarantee promising a full refund if the timeshare contract was not canceled within 12 months.
"We didn't even ask them how they came up with that.... stupid as ever," Sue Madeja said.
After paying and signing a contract, communication became limited, according to Madeja.
She said the couple eventually reached a woman who told them there was a paperwork issue involving a company called TS Holdings, a name different from the TS Consumer Protection name that appeared on their documents.
"She said I need to do some research, and that's when Daryl Turner came up," Madeja said.
A review of New Jersey and Florida corporate records shows Daryl Turner is associated with several companies using variations of the TS Holdings name.
Turner was sentenced in 2014 to seven years in prison as part of a plea deal involving the sale of phony vacation packages, according to a previous Action News report.
https://6abc.com/archive/9413178/
The Ohio Attorney General's Office is suing TS Holdings Unlimited of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, alleging the company "ripped off" seven consumers for nearly $70,000.
Madeja said Turner, who now appears to be living in Florida, promised through text messages and phone calls to return the couple's money.
"I lost it. I lost it. I said, 'You're a known felon.' I said, 'You stole our money and want our money back,'" Madeja said.
The Madejas filed a complaint with Whitehall police. According to Madeja, Turner later claimed he mailed a refund check in late spring, but the check never arrived.
"He went radio silent. We never heard from him again, nor did the lieutenant," she said.
Repeated calls seeking comment from Turner were not returned.
Other people who contacted Action News described similar experiences. Jason Gamel, CEO of the American Resort Development Association, said consumers should first contact their timeshare developer to determine whether an exit program is available.
"Be very diligent about paying anybody any amounts of money before any services are provided," Gamel said.
If the resort or development will not take back a timeshare, he says, consumers should carefully research any company offering exit services because fraud in the industry remains a concern.
"You have so many companies that are making so many ridiculous promises that the exit industry itself does need regulation," Gamel said.
The Madejas say the Lehigh County Prosecutor's Office declined to file charges against Turner and advised them to seek a civil attorney.
While exiting a timeshare can be difficult, resources explaining available options are available through 6abc's digital reporting.