| Well, we asked for it… …and our readers delivered. At the end of every Timeshare Facts update, we ask our readers to share their experiences with timeshare companies. Some weeks we can’t keep up with the replies, and personal stories that share confusion, disappointment, heartbreak, and despair that echo those we find in lawsuits and legal complaints against almost every timeshare company. And yet, despite all the tales of sales pitches that can be four, five or even six hours long… …despite the false promises of sales agents that never seem to make it into contracts… …or the guaranteed buyback programs that don’t ever exist… …it turns out that there is one thing that’s actually worse than buying a timeshare: Buying a timeshare and never being able to use it! Based on what our readers have shared with us, it happens…quite a lot in fact. Here’s Albert’s story. “From the very first, 1st, time we call to book a week at our favorite place Palm Desert, we were told that it was not covered. They told my wife we could go if we booked through some other company and paid the difference.” Maybe it was just a one-time thing? Nope. “It was the same for Maui which is our second most favorite,” writes Albert. “We have never used the timeshare.” “I felt like I was completely lied to and was presented with a false sale.” The same goes for Mike, who told us, “We bought timeshare in Vegas a while back and when we try to use it there is never any availability when we need it.” And poor Marti reports, “Overbooking of Inventory & denying me & my Family availability of the property we purchased.” When you come across this many cases of restricted availability, we just get to wondering, as they say in the tech world, “it’s a feature not a bug.” Despite all promises to give owners VIP treatment when it comes to reservations, timeshare companies often block off large portions of their inventory to rent out to regular vacationers instead of accommodating owners. We hear that is how the timeshare companies make more money! But those profits come at the expense of timeshare owners who can’t take the vacations they had planned — the vacations they were promised when they put all their hopes and dreams and hard-earned cash into purchasing the timeshare. Based on all the complaints and lawsuits we’ve posted at timesharefacts.com – and the stories readers have sent us – it’s clear that the practice is widespread. So it seems the best person to complain to is the guy who leads the whole timeshare industry. The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) represents timeshare companies in Washington, DC. Jason Gamel is the President and CEO of ARDA. Let’s let him know that overly creative financing is a bad look for the industry. You can email him at jgamel@arda.org. Or… if you’ve heard the “good investment” sales pitch from another timeshare company, and want to let their top brass know, here is a list ARDA published of its VIPs across all its member companies. Maybe you can find your timeshare company executive and tell them about the consequences of deceitful sales practices. And if your timeshare company won’t keep its promises, you can always let us know at info@timesharefacts.com. PS: Follow us on social media. Twitter Facebook Instagram |
