Recently we shared the nightmare story from Jodi and Bob, about how things changed at their Stormy Point timeshare in Branson, Missouri once Capital Vacations took over the property.
Not surprisingly Jodi and Bob weren’t the only victims when Capital Vacations muscled in on Stormy Point.
Peggy also filed a complaint against Capital Vacations, with the South Dakota Attorney General. The way she describes her Stormy Point experience, it sounds a bit like something out of a gangster movie.
“I am writing to file a formal complaint against Capital Vacations regarding deceptive and coercive practices in their timeshare sales and upgrade processes.”
“While on vacation on 09/26/2022, Capital Vacations informed me that if I did not upgrade to their Points system, I would never be able to exit the timeshare.”
Nice little timeshare you have there. It would be a shame if anything happened to it…
“Additionally, they claimed that my children would be burdened with the timeshare after my passing.”
…or your family!
“I was persuaded under the pretense of a great deal, with promises that 500,000 points would allow me to easily make money to cover all my maintenance fees. (not true).”
“The representatives assured me that my 500,000 Points would equate to approximately 14 weeks’ worth of vacation per year. They further claimed that I could simply sell back any excess points to Capital Vacations, and they would send me a check to cover all my maintenance fees. (not true).”
Hmm. Sounds like an offer Peggy couldn’t – or at least, shouldn’t – refuse.
“I was pressured to upgrade immediately, under the threat that both myself and my children would be bound to the timeshare indefinitely.”
“Subsequently, I received notice of a significant increase in the annual maintenance fee from $249.58 to $3200, causing further financial strain in addition to the loan I had to take for the upgrade.”
$250 to $3200? That’s nearly a 1300% increase!
Kind of like the interest charged by a loan shark in the movies.
“I am a widow and retired schoolteacher. After my husband passed away, I was alone and under immense duress and I feel the salesman just manipulated me and scared me into upgrading.”
“Scared” into upgrading. That’s quite the threatening proposition.
“I believe they are very predatory and take advantage of people like myself who are in a vulnerable place.”
In any other industry, that kind of coercion would be downright criminal. At Capital Vacations, it’s just business.
Someone who could change the script of Peggy’s story is Travis Bary, the co-president of Capital Vacations. Let’s email him at tbary@capitalvacations.com to see if he is willing to deliver some justice for Peggy.
We should also contact Jason Gamel, the President and CEO of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), which represents timeshare companies in Washington, DC. He’s a man with powerful friends who could make his industry a little more family friendly. Jason’s email is jgamel@arda.org.
Wonder if the directors of your timeshare property think predatory practices are just business? Use this list of ARDA VIPs to find out.
Has your timeshare company made you an offer you felt you couldn’t refuse? Let us know at info@timesharefacts.com.
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