We’ve never one to shy away from telling you that timeshare point systems are worth nothing more than Monopoly money.
 
But we recently came across an example among the hundreds of complaints against Hilton Grand Vacations on file with the Better Business Bureau that makes us wonder whether we’ve been getting it all wrong.
 
After all, at least the funny money in Monopoly helps you to buy something of value within the game: property…houses…hotels, even.
 
But in the case of one unfortunate couple, Hilton points couldn’t buy anything of value, even in the game Hilton plays with its customers!
 
And now it is causing real financial hardship for this widowed wife.
 
“I am reaching out asking for assistance on the necessary steps to cancel the timeshare membership my late husband and I purchased with HGV/Diamond Resorts.”
 
When Hilton purchased Diamond Resorts, the company wanted the couple to upgrade – but of course they did.
 
“During the sales process, we were advised that failing to upgrade would severely limit our availability post-merger.”
 
“Despite assurances that Hilton points could be utilized for several travel options like cruises, and global hotels our experience was quite the opposite.”
 
Uh-oh.
 
“A [sales] representative indicated that our 8000 points were insufficient for meaningful travel.”
 
“We were unsure why we were sold points that we were not even able to utilize.”
 
We can think of a few reasons why Hilton sold this couple points that were of no value – 5000 reasons, to be exact.
 
“My husband unexpectedly passed away in a boating accident in May, which, as you can imagine, has been a complete shock.”
 
“This has left me burdened with monthly payments of $236.37 and annual maintenance fees totaling $2145. This amounts to almost $5,000 annually.”
 
$5,000 a year for points she can’t use!
 
“This financial commitment isn’t substantial for me.”
 
“I have made it clear to HGV several times now that I simply do not have any extra money for this ownership since my husband has passed, and they are completely unwilling to work with me.”
 
There apparently is no such thing as a “Community Chest” to help Hilton owners, not even for struggling widows.
 
“Since we were clearly misled and sold something based on lies and misinformation, I would like to request that our contract be canceled.”
 
It seems only fair. But then again, fair play really doesn’t appear to be Hilton’s game.
 
But it should be. 
 
Mark Wang, the CEO of Hilton Grand Vacations, is the one who makes the rules. Let’s email him at mark.wang@hgv.com and ask why they always seem to be stacked against timeshare owners at Hilton.
 
Chris Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton Worldwide, might be interested in the answer. We wonder how it feels to have the Hilton brand associated with the rigged game Mark Wang is playing. Let’s find out by emailing him at christopher.nassetta@hilton.com.
 
We should also email Jason Gamel, the President and CEO of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the trade association that represents the timeshare industry in Washington, DC, at jgamel@arda.org. Let’s see if he’s concerned about Hilton’s timeshare point schemes that aren’t worth the paper they are written on.
 
Tired of the games your own timeshare company is playing? Use this list of ARDA VIPs to contact your company’s leaders and tell them to quit.
  
Has your timeshare company not been playing fair? Tell us how at info@timesharefacts.com 
  
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