| David Siegel is a name you see a lot of here at Timeshare Facts. You know David. He’s the CEO of Westgate Resorts – and he’s even kind of famous. He’s made so much money selling timeshares at Westgate that he and his wife Jackie are building one of the largest homes in America – a sprawling, 90,000 square foot mansion in Florida. The house is so big someone even made a movie about it! And you know who has seen the movie? Jacqueline in Hampton, Virginia. Jacqueline is a 69-year-old pipefitter with health problems who tried to get Westgate to take her one-bedroom timeshare back. We found out about the not-quite-Hollywood ending to Jacqueline’s Westgate ordeal – and her movie watching habits – by reading through the 4,256 pages of complaints against Westgate in the Florida Attorney General’s office. According to Jacqueline, “Westgate is using false advertising to falsely claim that they have a responsible exit for their timeshare owners. They are also financially exploiting the elderly.” “I bought a Westgate week in 2004…The timeshare is paid for in full.” “I am 69 years old. It is getting difficult to travel.” “I have medical problems due to workplace repetitive injury…I have had both knees replaced and…I had my second shoulder replacement.” So, Jacqueline was excited when her daughter found an article about the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the trade association for the timeshare industry, saying Westgate was part of ARDA’s Coalition for Responsible Exit, which was designed to provide “a clear and efficient way for longtime owners to get rid of their timeshares.” “My daughter contacted Westgate timeshare ‘Legacy’ through ARDA’s Coalition for Responsible Exit…” And…that’s where Jacqueline’s excitement ended. “Westgate said they would not take the timeshare back because it is a 1 BR.” In other words, her timeshare was too small! That didn’t seem fair to Jacqueline – especially since she knows that David Siegel’s been living large. “Jackie and David Siegel have a 90,000 square foot home in Orlando with 30 bathrooms and an ice-skating rink. Ms. Siegel’s clothes closet is 5,500 square feet. They made a movie about it.” “It is wrong for people to make so much money by exploiting the elderly.” Jacqueline’s right. Her one bedroom is no mansion – heck, it’s not even as big as a clothes closet in the Siegel palace – but the cost of keeping it up is wearing her down. Sure seems like David Siegel and Westgate could be doing more to help seniors who can’t enjoy or afford their timeshares anymore. Let’s email David at david_siegel@wgresorts.com and find out if Westgate’s membership in the Coalition for Responsible Exit actually means anything. We should also email Jason Gamel, the President and CEO of ARDA, and ask why the Coalition for Responsible Exit isn’t working the way ARDA promised. Jason’s email is jgamel@arda.org. Want to see if your timeshare company’s executives are committed to helping seniors like Jacqueline? Use this list of ARDA VIPs to find their contact information. Have a timeshare experience that you think deserves the Hollywood treatment? Let us know at info@timesharefacts.com. PS: Follow us on social media. Twitter Facebook Instagram |
