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 in May, 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 yearwhich 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 claimsto 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.
Is your timeshare company not playing it straight? Use the contact information in this list of ARDA VIPs to take it up with your company’s leaders.
Caught your timeshare company in a deception red-handed? Tell us about it at info@timesharefacts.com.
PS: Follow us on social media. Twitter Facebook Instagram
