It makes you wonder.
Capital Vacations describes itself as “the leading provider of management services, vacation products, and sales solutions for independent resorts” and runs more than 200 independent properties.
So, just how did they become so big?
Craig has owned a condo for 40 years at one of the independent resorts Capital Vacations recently took over…and thinks he knows the answer.
According to the complaint Craig filed against Capital Vacations with the Better Business Bureau, Capital Vacations did it the old-fashioned way.
THEY LIED!
As Craig tells it, after the Capital Vacations takeover, he was invited to a presentation while staying at his timeshare.
“Was told that 1st: the meeting was to address how our condo was doing since Capital Vacations has joined up with them. 2nd: since Capital Vacations is now a partner with our condo association we can trade our week for any other condo in Capital Vacations family with no cost. 3rd: This was not a sales presentation.”
“We were lied to on all three counts…”
“Lied to” – that’s pretty strong language.
But after reading Craig’s story, we see what he means.
“The salesperson claimed to be the owner advocate but wanted nothing more than to sell us.”
Okay, that’s a little deceitful.
“He state[d] that Capital Vacations loaned $1.2 mil to our condo association for repairs and upgrades.”
“He said that because of the loan, our maintenance fees would be rising about 20 percent per year which is why we should take the Capital Vacations buyback program.”
Ooooooh! Now we get it.
Capital Vacations didn’t want to just manage Craig’s timeshare, they wanted to own it.
But what made Craig think Capital Vacations was lying about the buyback offer?
“I checked with our condo manager, and she said that is not true. Capital Vacations did not loan money and they do not set the maintenance fee amount.”
Caught! Red-handed!
So maybe after all the deception, Craig wouldn’t mind selling his unit through the buyback program to free himself from doing business with Capital Vacations?
There’s just one problem.
“To our surprise we would have to pay Capital Vacations 14K to take it off our hands.”
A “buyback” program that requires Craig to fork over $14,000 more? Just another lie.
“I believe Capital Vacations is just like every other time share company and would recommend staying clear of them.”
Ain’t that the truth.
Perhaps Travis Bary, the co-president of Capital Vacations, can explain how their so-called “buyback” costs owners thousands of dollars. Let’s ask by emailing him at tbary@capitalvacations.com.
Jason Gamel, President and CEO of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), which represents timeshare companies in Washington, DC, may know something. Let’s email him at jgamel@arda.org for his justification.
Someone else who should definitely be able to explain why a buyback program should cost owners money is Kenneth McKelvey, the chairman of ARDA’s Resort Owners Coalition, which claims to represent timeshare owners. He’s also an executive consultant to Capital Vacations, so you’d think he’d know. Email him at consumer@arda-roc.org to find out.
And you know who else we should contact? Your Members of Congress!
You see, there is a bill that was introduced to prevent timeshare consumers from being sold a dream and delivered a nightmare.
It’s called The Timeshare Transparency Act (TTA) and it sets out clear, commonsense requirements for timeshare companies, so consumers understand exactly what they are purchasing:
- Total Cost Disclosure: Requires a single document itemizing all acquisition and maintenance costs (including fee increases).
- 14-Day Cancellation Period: Grants buyers in all states a 14-day, penalty-free period to cancel contracts.
- Exit Options: Requires clear, documented procedures for exiting ownership.
- Review Period: Allows buyers to review documents privately without high-pressure sales staff present.
- FTC Enforcement: Empowers the Federal Trade Commission to enforce these regulations.
If you agree, contact your U.S. Senators and U.S. House Representative. Tell them you support the Timeshare Transparency Act (S.3502). Share your own timeshare horror story. Tell your representatives you’re tired of seeing families “misled and flat-out lied to” by an industry that seems to value profits over fairness and transparency.
- Find your Senator: senate.gov
- Find your Representative: house.gov
Caught your timeshare company in a deception red-handed? Tell us about it at info@timesharefacts.com.
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