“The most important thing to do if you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging.”
That’s billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s sage advice on how to get out of a bad financial situation.
Of course, even if you stop digging, you’re still in a hole. In which case, you might want a helping hand to lift you up.
Good luck finding one at Hilton.
Because, as this account by a Hilton Grand Vacations owner demonstrates, when you find yourself in a hole, the only thing Hilton is interested in, is getting you to dig deeper – into your wallet.
“I write to file a formal complaint against Hilton Grand Vacations for their unprofessional and unethical business practices.”
“After investing $28,646.25 in November 2020, our expectations for valuable vacation experiences have been thoroughly unmet and we doubt they ever will be fulfilled.”
Twenty-eight thousand dollars. That’s a pretty deep hole!
“We met with HGV to resolve our issues. Instead, we were pressured to accept the HGV Max deal, indicating that failure to do so would result in access to properties that no longer would be upgraded or maintained.”
“This bait-and-switch tactic led us to believe that we either pay for an upgrade or face significant reduction in the number and quality of available properties.”
Unlike Warren Buffett, Hilton’s advice seems to be, “Just keep digging!”
“Our requests for cancellation were met with dismissive offers to attend more meetings or upgrade our account.”
“Recent interactions with a [sales agent], and subsequent contacts from a senior team member, resulted in further sales pitches from marketing rather than addressing our issues.”
Instead of offering owners a helping hand, all Hilton wants to do is sell them more shovels!
“Hilton Grand Vacations’ unethical and unprofessional conduct, including the deceitful upgrade meeting, demands urgent action.”
It certainly does.
This testimony is just one of the many stories we have read from buyers who feel deceived by what they were verbally promised by unscrupulous timeshare sales agents. With treatment like this, no wonder somewhere between 70% and 85% of timeshare owners regret buying a timeshare!
But if we all share our timeshare horror stories with Member of Congress, there may be some hope on the horizon.
That’s because U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) and Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced the Timeshare Transparency Act (S.3502) – which is basically a long overdue “bill of rights” to prevent timeshare consumers from being sold a dream and delivered a nightmare.
The Timeshare Transparency Act (TTA) 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.
To be considered further by the U.S. Congress, the Timeshare Transparency Act needs more support.
If you agree, contact your U.S. Senators and U.S. House Representative. Tell them you support the Timeshare Transparency Act (S.3502).
- Find your Senator: senate.gov
- Find your Representative: house.gov
And while that bill is making it way through Congress, let’s get in touch with Mark Wang, the CEO of Hilton Grand Vacations. We should email him at mark.wang@hgv.com and ask why he keeps trying to offer owners more shovels instead of more help.
Wang’s “just dig deeper” attitude can’t be good for Hilton’s brand, can it? Let’s ask Chris Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton Worldwide, which CEO he thinks offers better advice: Warren Buffett or Mark Wang. Find the answer by emailing him at christopher.nassetta@hilton.com.
Jason Gamel, the President and CEO of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the trade association that represents the timeshare industry in Washington, DC, might also have an idea. Let’s email him at jgamel@arda.org and see which CEO he would listen to.
Need a helping hand from your timeshare company? Use this list of ARDA VIPs to contact your company’s leaders to let them know.
Have a timeshare hole you’re trying to get out of? Share it with us at info@timesharefacts.com
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