If you are a timeshare owner, there really is nothing worse than being unable to reach a real human when you need answers from your timeshare company.
Leave it to Capital Vacations to prove them wrong.
Oh, sure, if you read the hundreds of complaints Capital Vacations owners have filed against the company with the Better Business Bureau, you’ll find plenty of examples of customers who can’t reach anyone when they need to.
Samuel used to be one of those. But, as his complaint recounts, Samuel discovered there is something worse than not being able reach anyone at Capital Vacations. That would be having contact with them all the time!
“I firmly believe that Capital Vacations engaged in fraudulent activities.”
How can that be? Capital Vacations is a member of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), and ARDA’s Code of Ethics says:
“All Members shall conduct their activities honestly and fairly in compliance with applicable laws, and with professionalism, integrity, dignity and propriety.”
We’ll come back to that.
For now, let’s stay focused on Samuel.
“The salespeople created a sense of urgency and fearmongering, leaving me feeling trapped and compelled to make a decision.”
“The membership I purchased for a staggering $13,000 with monthly fees exceeding $1,200, has proven to be a regrettable decision.”
Capital Vacations’ hardball tactics led Samuel to purchase a membership for $13,000 with annual fees of more than $14,000!
That’s more than the membership cost. EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR.
“They failed to disclose the complete terms and conditions of the membership.”
But ARDA’s Code of Ethics says that’s a no-no.
“Information, descriptions, or disclosures required by any applicable law, regulation or the Code, or otherwise provided to consumers, whether oral, written, or graphic, should be accurate, clear and conspicuous, and understandable with respect to all material information.”
Because here’s what happens when Capital Vacations violates ARDA’s Code of Ethics:
“Due to financial hardship, we were unable to make our last 2 payments.”
And that’s how Samuel found out there is something worse than not being able to reach anyone at Capital Vacations.
“Prior to that, it was like pulling teeth to get someone on the phone for help, but now that we are behind on payments the phone rings off the hook night and day.”
Maybe the next time Capital Vacations calls, Samuel can ask them to connect him to ARDA’s Ethics Committee. He certainly has lots of violations to report.
Sadly, for Samuel, that probably won’t make much difference. Everyone on ARDA’s Ethics Committee is an ARDA member. Seems unlikely they’ll be calling Capital Vacations night and day to ask them to start following the rules.
And ARDA’s Resort Owners Coalition, which is supposed to represent timeshare owners, won’t be burning the midnight oil to get Capital Vacations to comply. Travis Bary, the co-president of Capital Vacations, and Ken McKelvey, an executive consultant to Capital Vacations, are both on its board of directors.
It’s tempting to try and call Travis and Ken night and day to see how they like getting the Capital Vacations treatment – but we’re pretty sure we wouldn’t get through. So let’s email them at tbary@capitalvacations.com and klm@capitalvacations.com and ask them why they keep violating ARDA’s Code of Ethics.
Jason Gamel, the President and CEO of ARDA, is a member of ARDA’s Ethics Committee (and he has to approve all the other Ethics Committee members!). Let’s email him at jgamel@arda.org to ask if he’s working night and day to crack down on repeat offenders like Capital Vacations.
Having trouble reaching a real person at your timeshare company? Use this list of ARDA VIPs to connect with your company’s leaders.
Is your timeshare company contacting you too much? Let us know at info@timesharefacts.com.
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