Westgate Resorts - Is it a scam?
=======Westgate Resorts - Is it a scam?
>>>>>>> .r7754I recently reported about Silverleaf Resorts and was amazed at the response that I got to it. These guys are definitely scumbags. Googling for them brings up a epinions on the second link. What about Westgate Resorts? They are on the first floor of my building with an office on the second. When I leave work at around 6:30, they are getting started with their day. I can smell the fresh baking cookies as I leave for my car and all the lower middle income people streaming in for some free food, and dreams of sitting by the pool sipping a margarita. Is this a scam? Westgate Resorts is the third largest timeshare company in the U.S. Can a company grow to this size playing it fair. Do they use the same high-pressure sales tactics that timeshares are so well known for. Watch this space as I try and find the answers.
- Westgate Resorts made the Rip off report
- Get a Job at Westgate Resorts - im sure there are great benefits
March 31st, 2006 at 4:19 pm
Is Westgate a scam? I wouldn’t call them an all out scam. BUT deceptive selling practices abound. Masters of the promise that never happens. “If in isn’t in writing it will never happen”! High pressure rude sales staff. Once you’re an owner you’re trapped and they know it cause even if you sell they lose nothing! (you are the only loser in Timeshare resales.) I own at westagate river ranch and my parents own at Westgate town center. When they were selling me my river ranch cabing I said up front if I can not have a fixed week fixed unit then I do NOT want it. Period. I was told they could not do that BUT they could sell me the unit flex week floating unit and put a stipulation in that said as long as I took my week 11 unit 6 every year then I could have it. I trusted them that this is what they were going to do. Funny word trust isn’t it? Trust only works when it’s “IN WRITING” then it really isn’t trust now is it. Needless to say I have to fight for my week everytime I call to schedule and hear well we have nothing available at that time! OK this is what I was trying to avoid by insisting on Fixed weeks fixed unit. Now they also told me that there would be 30 units built within 2 years and by 5 years the whole project would be done. I have owned there for 3 years now and they have 8 units built. Now you know why it is so hard to get my week do to unavailabilty! Everything you want to do down there costs MONEY lots of it. Since there is nothing to do in the area if you go there you basically have to sit in your room and watch TV (or the bugs walk across your counter) or pay them their fee’s for the amenities they have which by the way are free at other westgate resorts in orlando. but that’s only becuase there is so much to do in that area you can tell them to cram it if they tried charging you. There have been so many things that have gone wrong with my purchase of Westgate river ranch that I can not even list them all here I don’t have the time nor do I want to be agravated by thinking of them. I can say that Town Center in Kissimme is better but NOT MUCH. They insist you attend a maintenance meeting. (MANDATORY) WHY? so they can try to sell you the latest upgrade. They have no interest in your maintenance concerns. Funny that since River Ranch has nothing to upgrade you to and plenty of Maintenance problems they do not have the mandatory maintenance meeting there. They have up in Kissimmee had the same problem with the empty promises or if it isn’t in writing it isn’t you’re not going to get it! Many empty promises abound at Westgate yes indeed BUT a total ripoff scam probably not depends on what you consider a scam. If I had it to take back I would. But I’m stuck don’t you get stuck to. And keep in mind as bad as westgate is they are still one of the best. That’s scary!! I would say if you absolutely want to buy a timeshare go to Westgate but be careful no what you are being told and GET IT IN WRITING!! And don’t go to River Ranch unless you are just buying there to be able to trade somewhere else and even then you’re chances of being able to trade for somewhere else are slim at best!
July 24th, 2006 at 8:08 am
Yes, I agree. We went to Westgate lakes resorts in Orlando, the service was poor, the people were worst. They told us no meetings. Then when we got there it was a twenty minute meeting that lasted all day, for sales and paper work. the tactic was to work on the spouse they think would buy. After they were the most unprofessional people as a whole unit. Yes, we were told about events, that cost extra. The room service to the front desk, check in and out. The best personnel I met was at the Villas, yes we were at the lakes. However we did tell someone about them, they were told they would get Disney tickets, we don’t know if they did but it was a refferal, which they make promises on the money you make from them. I had merchandise damaged which they kept, and it went from one day till two days, for which they suppose to investigate. I told my husband I don’t trust them with my bag since they were the ones that damaged it in the first place. They said they would send the replacement check in the mail. Then it went to whatever their conclusion of the investigation is. He bent the Loius Vuittion bag up the wrong way, causing more damage I’m sure. We sent in documented complaints on the service. You call, they say in twenty minutes- which two- three-four hours later and still nothing. I pray they get the same as they give.
August 30th, 2006 at 12:52 pm
we used to have a timeshare with these people which we sold on to an European company a couple of years ago. We have a legal certificate from this company stating that they are the owners of the timeshare. However we still keep on getting pestered by Westgates and a debt recovery company (Pinnacle) for the maintenance costs. This is despite both companies being sent copies of the transfer of deeds certificate and numerous letters stating that we are no longer owners and contact details of the new owners. Stay away from them!
September 18th, 2006 at 11:32 am
I strongly recommend to the readers not to buy a timeshare in WestGate. They are professional thiefs.
In the first place the way the catch you for the timeshare conference. They hide in the small letters that you will receive a timeshare offer. They said something about an offer without obligation to purchase.
They said that it will be 2 hours but actually most of the time you will expend the whole day with them. Because we didn’t want to be uncorteous we didn’t scream !Stop, we don’t want to buy, give us the tickets to the park please !!!.
They push your wife, they try to obtaing the maximum information they can. They have different strategies. My favorite one is when they bring a supervisor that have the last minute offer and they tell you … “Don’t tell to anyone, we have an special offer to you that nobody can know because I can get in trouble..”
They will do until the impossible to make you sign that document.
They never tell you the real cost of monthly maintenance that you have to pay, if you make your calculations you will see that what annualy cost you the time share , plus the maintenance, plus the extras is way more that your average expense in a year. I haven’t met any “Regular people” that is happy with a timeshare.
October 17th, 2006 at 9:09 am
Today (17 Oct 2006) I received a telephone solicitation from a telemarketer calling on behalf of ‘West Gate Resorts’ of Las Vegas. The caller (RJ) claimed that they had received my phone number from their ‘website’ affiliate. He asked me to get a pen and paper ready to take down some information about a free resort getaway.
I told him I had a pen and paper, and that I had a few questions. I asked him who he worked for and what his name was. He gave me the information. Then I started with “I don’t know where you got my” He interrupted me, I said “I’m not done yet”, I continued. “My phone number is on the ‘Do Not Call’ list” He interrupted, “this doesn’t have anything to do with the ‘Do Not Call’ list”, I said “I’m not done yet”, I continued. “I want you to take my name…” He interrupted me with something, I’m not quite sure, some sort of name and address, I continued - I’m talking over the top of him “…and don’t call…” He interrupted me again - talking over me, “Then don’t put your name on the internet”. I continued, “You’re calling me in violation of…” at this point I realized that he had hung up.
I reported this activity through a complaint form at the FTC’s ‘Do Not Call’ web site.
October 17th, 2006 at 2:11 pm
Westgate is an absolute scam. Each story reminds me of my own .I agree with everything said above. Very frustrating and infuriating.What should one do to get rid of that time share? It is not easy to sell it either.
Could someone let me know?
October 26th, 2006 at 11:37 am
Very shady and dishonest sales tactics. They tried just about everything to get me to sign. Presentation and tour take way longer than the 90 minutes that they advertise. If you decline purchase then they just keep lowering the price and getting more rude. Avoid purchasing anything at all costs, however, if you can stick to your guns, take the tour and get the 100 bucks, but don’t pay the deposit to the person that hits you up for the tour. I didn’t mind the a$$h0les trying to pitch to me for 2 hours in exchange for $100. If more people did this and took the money without signing for anything then they might be forced to change their tactics.
October 27th, 2006 at 7:08 am
We just visited the Westgate Resort group in Williamsburg, VA. My wife and I wish we had done more research on these high pressure sales people before our trip. They were selling new timeshares in Williamsburg.
The 90 minute sales talk took us 3.5 hours. They were selling 2 bedroom units for around $20,000 to $25,000 each. Take number times the 52 owners (1 owner per week) and this small unit will cost a stagger $1.3 million and then each owner has to pay yearly maintenance fees around $500 each x 52 owners and you have $26,000 per year in maintenance fees. Unreal!!
Our first saleperson was very courteous and when he understood that we weren’t buying, then in comes the “big man”. He has, of course, a new offer that will only be available for the day. Somehow, he’s got timeshare that someone has put $9000 of equity into it and they need to sell it. What a deal?? The seller’s loss could be my gain. All I have to do is sign the necessary forms. We didn’t buy this tactic at all. Same scam they pull on everyone.
Also, they never give you the paper work for all of their calculations that do during this sales meeting. My thought is because it’s evidence that could be used against them. Some of the numbers just don’t add up. But, since you don’t have the paper work, how can you dispute the GREAT OFFER.
When the “big man” can’t make you buy, then in comes the “closer” for the game. She suppose to file out some final paper work from your visit. But, what she does is offer you a vacation package to one of the Westgate Resorts so that you can sample the benefits from being a Resort ownwer. From what we’ve read, they just send you to another high pressure selling room while you think you going on vacation.
I’d stay away from these people.
November 2nd, 2006 at 6:59 pm
I own a annual floating week 2 bedroom deluxe in Westgate Flamingo Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. I don’t understand how naive you people are. I am very happy with my unit in las vegas and the people we dealt with were very courteous and professional. I have had no problem getting my unit 2 times this year and plan on going out again soon. Each time we went and took another friend or couple with us and each one of them purchased a unit while we were there. they are also very happy with this arrangement. The interval International is great if you want to travel the world and If you are smart you would purchase a unit that has a high demand and then you would be able to trade in the westgate family with no problem. We just like the system no points, no forced referrals, we have received 300 in commisions for referring our two friends this year which is going towards my maintenance fee. Everthing they said they did and there were no undisclosed things or hidden charges. i have researched getting a license to sell in nevada and it is very strictly contgrolled by the nevada real estate division and a person can only get a license to work at a specific broker. you can change only with permission from the state and can not work at a resort in sales until your license is in their possession. i am sure if you have problems and send a letter to mr. David Siegel he will gladly follow up personally on your request.
There are plenty of resale companies to seel your unit with in the orlando area just google timeshare resales. You want to use one that sell s them in their office not on the internet. good luck
marty
questions feel free to call me
585-669-2037
New York State (EASTERN TIME)
November 14th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
Martin Mark, glad it’s working for you.
Check this link for more information in Orlando, FL.
http://www.orlando.bbb.org/codbrep.html?ID=101774&cons=y
November 15th, 2006 at 10:19 am
westgate is a scam never believe anything they say to you and please don’t sign anything they try to push on you the hold sale pitch is a hustle (I HATE WESTGATE NEVER NEVER BUY FROM THEM!)
November 16th, 2006 at 9:54 pm
Westgate Resorts is owned by Central Florida Investments whose sole owner is David Siegel. Please read the article in the Orlando Weekly about David Siegel. He basically
sold worthless land, but the buyers were convinced that it was valuable or would be in
the future. Would you buy anything from him if you knew this. I certainly would not and I recommend others to do the same.
http://www.orlandoweekly.com/features/story.asp?id=1599
December 20th, 2006 at 4:43 am
We bought a 2 bedroom in Orlando from the Westgate Preview Gallery here in Houston almost 3 years back and have been very happy with our purchase, We were invited and offered some gifts to attend the presentation however we were truly interested to buy, my friends own timeshare with different resorts so we have had some education and experience in timeshare beforehand, we really love to travel so this concept has been working out great for us, we like the fact that with the kitchen we save on meals, and other expenses, when we purchased they were eager to sell us but not at all rude? and obviously when we plan our trips we have always made our plans in advance so we can get the week we desire, and we pay a maintenance fee which also covers insurance utilities etc, and we have had good luck with the Getaway Vacations we get through Interval International also, but the key is planning in advance, reading the owner guides and understanding how the concept works because this is not for everyone.
Regards,
Alan D.
December 25th, 2006 at 3:17 pm
Alan D., you must work those Westgate thugs. Your story is almost fantasy like.
December 27th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
I had this experience with westgate lake and spa. THey are real nice ppl, nice place, we attent the 90min presentation, since me and my Hubby are real good actor, we pretent we were interested and everything. we told the salesman we love to travel and had been to a lot other countries and we love to stay in resort every single time.
Thing started to get heat up, the saleman keep telling me how good it is to own your own place, instand dumping $ in hotel. bababa~~ it goes on. finally we get to the bottom and asked him for the price of the timeshare, he told me it cost 30k for a 2 bedroom, Since we are homeowers and we know there are more comes to owning your own place, so we ask about the maintance and insurance and taxes etc~ everything will comes to $2000 a year just on maintance insurance etc alone.
We laught about it~~ and the salesman walk away. mintues after he came back with his manager and she sneek out a paper showing us the price of the timeshare which is now turn out to be half less than 30k. she told me it is a special offer and pls do not tell anyone, still we turn her down, and she began to wonder if we have difficulty paying her the down payment or coming up with the money since we have to CLOSE at the sameday. she even offer to help us paying the closeing fee.
My husband told them we are not ready to make this commitment, and he mention ( this is an awesome deal but bottom line, we are not ready and we are not buying). I guess the manger get the message and she walked away. the salesman still try his best to dig the pot of gold in us.
well I look at my watch and told him it is more than 3 hours and I think we should go. He get the message and leave us alone.
Another guy come by giving us our free disney ticket but at the same time trying to sell the timeshare again in his last breath. He told me he is going to offer me another Exciting vacation with westgate at any location for $700 5 night stay at a 2 bedroom. He told me if ever we have decided to buy it in future the $700 will go towards the fee of purchasing the timeshare, We smile and reject his offer. Then we go upstair and claim our free ticker and spend the rest of the day.
I guess not too bad to have 2 free ticket to disney, and $50 a nite offer staying in a 2 bedroom with whirpool for 5 night. I think this 3 hours torchure is worth IT.. hee hee
December 31st, 2006 at 10:28 am
garbage. Timeshare is a product that you need to see the value in. If you are taking vacation use it if not don’t use it. Everything a sales agent tells you can be in writing it is your own fault for not reading contracts properly.I wouldn’t let a few apples ruin it for me.
January 6th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
OK, here’s the deal. We have a website devoted to information on resales and rentals. As far as value in timeshare, there are definately ways to achieve this. First off, you do not have to buy from the developer or salespeople at all. There are a tremendous amount of people who did this and want to sell them for various reasons. Many are unhappy as some have mentioned above at sales tactics or a transaction that didn’t deliver what they feel was agreed upon. The point is, you really can buy these at a fraction of the price for exactly the same ownership (same resort, same rooms, everything). You still have to do some research and make sure you are buying the right thing, but there are so many resources on the web for this including discussion boards. It can work out well to use and you can rent them if you can’t use them, which can also work positively if it was bought for the right price.
January 8th, 2007 at 12:59 am
I actually work for Westgate (not in sales). I can totally sympathize with everyone who has had a bad experience. I’ve also worked in the sales and telemarketing end of it, and believe me, if it ain’t in writing, you’re not getting it! There are other little secrets the timeshare industry doesn’t want you to know, and some are pretty darn scary! If you’ve had a good experience with Westgate, it is because you didn’t “rock the boat”. If you ever do anything out of the norm, you’ll be disappointed. My advice if you own a timeshare is use the week and don’t make variations, call the actual front desk of the resort you’re going to ahead of time and verify your room, and, if things don’t go your way, don’t be diplomatic: Become extremely psychotic and throw the worst devil-in-hell tantrum you possibly can. You won’t make any friends, but you’ll get the room you want. (Hey, if you want a friend, get a dog!)
BTW, that little “donation” to the Westgate Foundation you always end up making on your credit card, the front desk people and accounting are told to charge you every time you check out or make an exchange fee the $5 donation. If you complain, they will tell you they will take it off, and don’t. If you insist on proof it was removed, they will show “proof”, then recharge you after you leave. If you really want it off your card, you need to contact the accounting office of the Westgate you stayed at. THe reason it goes on your bill is so David Siegel can take total credit for the donation, since it is money you paid him, which he in turn rolls over into the Foundation.
If you guys want me to expand on anything, I mean ANYTHING, don’t hesitate to ask through this site
Tom
January 11th, 2007 at 2:53 am
Tom, a friend just fell victim to Westgate in Vegas a couple of days ago. Luckily it’s the vacation package and not timeshare–is it true she has 10 days to cancel it? Please help–she is a wreck. Thanks.
January 12th, 2007 at 6:50 am
Star, having read several articles on web about these contracts, your friend has 10 days to get out. This information is normally in the fine print of the contract that she signed. However, she must notify Westgate with a written letter, the letter must be mailed to the proper adrdress as stated in the contract, and she should mail this letter “Certified Mail” with delivery confirmation. Good Luck
January 30th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
I work for WG resorts as well I would suggest not cancelling the package just pay for it and enjoy. In the end you still get a nice stay in the resort and like someone else on this forum stated “3 hours of torture is worth 5 day stay at 5 star resort” and it really is think about it. Like tom said dont rock the boat. It’s all about understanding the concept (Which is actually my job helping the owners understand the concept) I wont talk bad about the company I work for even though we may have some crazy sales tactics, lol! I’m still here to help. Let me know what you own (Resort, week, fixed or float [If float what type of float Value or All] for the branson propertys its a little different but I can still help). You let me know and I’ll let you know what you can and cannot do and the best thing of all…how much it will cost if anything at all. I can save you the headache of the phone conversation with someone thats going to tell you need to pay them $750 to do what you wanna do. I have to be honest though most of you have purchased into something that you cannot use, so reply back if you wanna know
February 2nd, 2007 at 5:12 pm
West Gate Help, “crazy sales tactics,lol”!! Your company’s sales tactics intimidate people to point that they feel the only way out of the sales meeting is to buy. Having experienced the “lol” sales tactics first hand, these tactics are nothing to laugh about.
Let me say this again, if your looking for a timeshare, stay away from the West Gate.
February 4th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Tom,Or Somebody answer me quick my ten days are almost up!
I just purchased a timeshare in Gatlinberg I noticed that they charged me almost 2,000.00 for credit life insurance.
I think they told us that they provided that coverage for us.That is a lot of money for a $14,900 policy.If I cancel the sale.will I get my down payment and other expenses back?
I mean without sueing them.Thanks ,Jimmy
February 12th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Jimmy,
Obviously your ten days are up and in gatlinburg I believe its 8 days. Credit life is something that is not apart of your down payment, it’s amoritized along with your mortgage. So in simple terms you pay off that $2,ooo over time along with your mortgage. You can cancel the credit life but you would not receive a refund for it, whatever you have paid in credit life will be applied towards your principle on the account. Cancelling credit life would only decrease your mortgage payments by a couple dollars a month, so it’s really not worth cancelling because you never know what might happen. In case of death of anyone on the account the entire balance of the mortgage will be covered by the insurance. Alleviating the remaining family from any type of financial obligations pertaining to the property. If you have any questions on using your property feel free to ask.
February 14th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Jimmy,
Sorry to hear to hear that you got tangled up with Westgate. Please keep us posted of your situation. What’s happened so far?
February 15th, 2007 at 4:13 am
Would anybody know if you can hand back in your timeshare, if you dont want it anymore. We have had ours for over 10 yrs with Westgate and no that we can’t sell it, so would just like to give it back. The problem we have is whereever we go uk or usa, and we are owners they still try to sell us another one. They do not seem to let us have a nice holiday. I do not want to spend allday trying to hand it back either, as we are going over there soon. Thanks if anyone can help.
March 2nd, 2007 at 4:19 am
Hi,
I also fell victim to the Westgate in Vegas and purchased the vacation package they offered me which turned to be a complete scam!!! however, on the contract it says that is’t not subject to canecellation. Of course all the things that they promise me aren’t in writing… I’m SO upset! be careful!!!!!!!
April 3rd, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Hi, I wonder if someone here can give us a little help. My wife and I purchased a timeshare in Orlando from Westgate last summer. We almost immediately felt regretful after we walked out of the salesman’s office. We went back to Westgate the next day trying to cancel the contract. But they told us that we couldn’t do it. Recently, I read it is by law that buyers have 10 days to cancel the contract. So, were we cheated by Westgate? Is there anything we can do now? I know we have two huge disadvantages: 1. it has been a year since then. 2. we don’t have their words in writing… Any help will be really appreciated. Thanks in advance.
April 5th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
I am an owner of a timeshare that like many other people would like to get rid of. The unit I own is at Westgate Lakes. Does anyone know if there is a way I can sell my timeshare back to Westgate?
I would give anything to get out of it. I have offered to a sales person double commission if they would take it or sell it off for me. They did not take it though.
Thanks
Jeff
April 14th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
My husband and I visited Westgate Smoky Mtn. Resort the middle of March and we too fell for the high pressure of the deceptive salesperson. It was lucky that I learned the following day that even though some states do not offer a 10 day cancellation period for timeshares, credit card companies (at least Visa and MC) provide it. So having placed the downpayment on Visa, I was able to cancel that. I also knew that I had to send a letter (certified, return receipt requested) to the resort and request cancellaton. I did that the next day. Upon receipt, a resort representative did call and tried to talk us into a “every other year” thing, but we said “no way”. I just got a letter a couple of days ago providing the cancellation confirmation and a credit to my credit card. Unfortunately, they deducted $30.00 ($15.00 apiece) for the “lovely” breakfast we enjoyed since it was a “benefit of ownership” we enjoyed. The breakfast is better at a Super 8 hotel. Beware of Westgate. They are scammers!
April 30th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
We just got snookered into the 90 minute “presentation” that lasted a total of 4-1/2 hours! When we said it wasn’t financially feasible for us, they came on with the “special deal” and 1/2 ownership - every other year. Since we didn’t have a big chunk of money to put down, they accepted what we could offer, then wrote up 3 credit slips to be charged to us for the next 3 successive months to cover the downpay. Then the first actual payment would begin 40 days after purchase date, so we’d end up with HUGE amounts to pay all at once!
When we got away, after signing, I read all the fine print. I knew there was some kind of way to cancel the deal entirely, without penalty (according to state laws!) within a short time period. I found the paragraph I needed buried in the thick wad of documents they gave us, called CONTRACT FOR PURCHASE AND SALE. THE LAST TWO PARAGRAPHS ABOVE OUR SIGNATURES OUTLINE THE PROCEDURE TO CANCEL WITHOUT PENALTY!
WITHIN 10 DAYS OF SIGNING THE DOCUMENT.
The fine print below our signatures recommends sending your cancelation letter by Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested. I mailed it today, just 2 days after our signing. ACCORDING TO THE INFO ON THE FORM, YOUR POSTMARK DATE IS CONSIDERED THE CANCELATION NOTIFICATION DATE.
I made sure both my spouse and I signed the letter of notice of cancelation I drafted. Be sure to put your “member reference number” on the letter too. Attach a photocopy of your Contract For Purchase and Sale. Be sure to date your letter and your signatures too. We also cut up our “member cards” and enclosed them.
I figure it’s well worth the approximately $5 it cost to send certified and return receipt requested. This way I’ll know when those *&%#!s receive it! I also asked that they process our cancellation and refund with the same speed and efficiency with which they made the sale. (Tongue-in-cheek reference to their overzealous forcefulness.)HAH!
OH~ You must send your cancelation notification, NOT to the resort where you bought, but to the address shown in your sales contract, on the page I already mentioned. Mine says: Cancellation notice should be sent to “Westgate Lakes, LLC; 2801 Old Winter Garden Road, Ocoee FL 34761.
Don’t know if the same is true for other states or not.
Will keep you posted as to how quickly we get a response.
Hope you make your deadline!!!!!
May 12th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
MC, I just purchased a week after you and regret it totally. When they say you can cancel within seven days, does that include Saturday and Sunday?
May 20th, 2007 at 9:19 am
Sorry to be so late in getting back to you Sonny! Yes, includes Sat & Sun. 10 calendar days from date of purchase/signing, and you must have your letter postmarked within that time. (They don’t have to receive it with the 10 days, just be postmarked within it.)
You don’t say whether you purchased a unit in FL or another state. Laws may vary from state to state. Be sure to read your contract page carefully. There is fine print related to each line of your contract on the backof the page. That will tell you in more detail what you need to return…i.e. the owner’s package in the “deluxe” binder with all their info in it: the “Exchange Catalogue, Offering Circular, Compact Disk and Video”. They’ll deduct $50 from your deposit if you don’t return it. I could kick myself for not returing it at the Breakfast Buffet the next morning after we bought! Coulda saved $13 in shipping costs for the darn thing!
Mailed our cancelation letter April 30th, certified, Return Reciept requested. Westgate received it May 3rd. We got our refund May 15th. We’d used our debit card, so was just deposited back to our bank account.
In our letter of cancelation, we had requested that no sales person call us. Westgate think’s they’re slick! The “closing” guy, aka Notary Public DID call to ask why we had canceled the evening of May 14th. I told him it was “unaffordable, we came to our senses,” and I didn’t want to discuss it any more. I hung up before he could respond,, then fretted that he might delay our refund. But the next day the money was there! Of course Westgate had deducted $50 for the binder of catalogs, and $30 for the breakfast buffet. (Hey, Golden Corral has a better, cheaper breakfast buffet!!)
I phoned to find out where to ship the binder, (same address as the cancelation letter, for those of you contemplating doing the same) and shipped it the next day. Used the new “U.S. Postal Service Signature Confirmation Receipt.” Cheaper than Certified, Return Receipt Requested, and trackable by internet. It was delivered and signed for by Westgage on 5/15/07 at 10:07 a.m., so I anticipate getting the $50 refunded to our account soon.
We received a letter from Westgate the day after I mailed the binder. It acknowledged the cancelation and gave us 30 days from the postmark (5/14/07) on their letter to return the binder for a refund of the $50.
Hope this helps someone else!
May 31st, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Hello again,
Just wanted to report back that we received our additional $50 refund for returning the binder to Westgate Resorts. This time, rather than direct deposit it back to the account connected with our debit card, they issued a check. We received it on Saturday, May 25th.
June 30th, 2007 at 4:01 am
Do not visit the Westgate Lakes Resorts in Orlando, Florida. It is like a massive meat market. When you enter the registration area, you will see hundreds of people walking and talking fast. If you decide to go on the second floor, you can hear the loud sounds of scam artist coming from the room. As you exit the elevator you will be shocked to see a room full of salesman and their targets. The environment on the resort is not relaxing at all. Hundreds of people enter this resort daily to be verbally abused by the rude sales people. You can’t even take a walk without almost getting ran over by sales people on golf carts taking people around for tours. The resort is very crowed and reminds me of a apartment complex that is based on your income. If you return to your room after a certain time you will be unable to find a parking space in the entire resort. I really hate to call this place a resort because it does not live up to the definition of a resort for me. Very low class. Don’t waste your time and money.
July 7th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
DO NOT GO TO WESTGATE! I went to the westgate presentation, which was SUPPOSE TO BE 90 MINS, but was 3 hours! The salesman was so nice, AT FIRST. He kept talking and talking. He was telling my husband and I all the wonderful aspects of purchasing. He said he was going to give us a $4000 discount. We had to, under all circumstances, by THAT MIN. After the tour ended, finally, we refused his offer. After the refusal, he brought his supervisor to give us a “good deal’. We still refused. He became EXTREMELY rude and walked away. He sent us to a closer, who was going to give us our gift. Once the closer came, she too tried to persuade us with offers. We refused once again, for the third and final time. They tried so so hard to get us to buy it. My husband told them that before buying something thats worth 25,000 , he needs to do his homework about it. That seemed to piss off the sales man. We received a gift from them. We paid 35 dollars for a 4 day/3 night trip to Orlando for two people which included airfare and hotel accommodation. We have to send in a form along with a money order for $100 to receive free tickets. They say that the $100 is refundable after coming back from the vacation. My husband and I are planning on going next year. Should we send them the 100 dollars in the mail along with the form or is it a SCAM?
PLEASE REPLY!!!!!!!
July 9th, 2007 at 9:08 am
Just got back yesterday (070807) and every bad thing written about Westgate/Orlanda is true. The only nice thing was the room.
July 10th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Hi…Got a call saying I won a prize. I just have to sit through the presentation. I can say no. Won’t bother me one bit. But here is the deal, how much of this is true? Will I have to pay for the “prize”?
Help!
July 12th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
I’m desperately trying to get out of my Westgate resorts property. I have been an owner since 2002 and I have only been there once because I no longer have the week I purchased available for vacation. I am considering hiring a realestate lawyer. Do you think that’s a good idea or will I be wasting more money? I know there has to be a way to get out of this contract. I read some recent complaints on the BBB website and I regret that I didn’t do my research.
July 19th, 2007 at 11:42 am
We cancelled within 24 hrs, taking all materials in their binder and a written letter to their Golden Coral Breakfast. We declined to eat even though they pressured us to do so. Glad we didn’t because I see from this site we would have been charged $68.00!!! We were at Westgate Williamsburg. After much pressure which we withstood, they finally allowed us to go. They told us that Virginia does not have a recission or “cooling off” time but that they had shredded all of our materials and it would be as though there had not been a transaction. They would not give us the address in Florida Corporate. When we got the address, we sent a certified return receipt letter anyway. (still within 24 hrs–and we sent a second one within 5 days because we weren’t sure of address) Even though they stated that the doccuments were shredded, $1500 was still taken from our credit card. We are really apprehensive. The sales rep, the manager, the closer and the “man from corporate lied to us about so many things. we wanted a copy of our signed documents but were told they were all on the disc and even though we asked again for hard copies, we weren’t allowed to have them. We weren’t allowed also to have copies of our documents marked voided as we were told they were already shredded.Is it true that their is a loophole in Virginia that does not allow a “cooling off” period? sometime please answer my question and give us assistance to fight these crooks.
July 22nd, 2007 at 8:00 am
I have to go to a sales presentation at Westgate Orlando because I got a discounted deal at a hotel - not the resort itself. The hotel is paid in full, but now I’m worried they may charge me for something when I stand up 90 mins into their pitch and say, enough is enough.
My question is, will the company I booked my hotel through require proof that I attended the sales tour? I’m worried that we will have to get Westgate to sign off on something and that the kids (3 and 1) and I will be stuck there for hours.
Thanks.
July 26th, 2007 at 12:14 am
Ok, well i just got back from Williamsburg Westgate and after several hours of sales torture they told us the price $29,000 which for everything they told us we would be getting sounded like a good deal. Besides our week we would ge unlimited getaways. Tne salesman was really nice at first but started to cop an attitude at the end. I thought it was alittle unprofessional but what ever. They wer real sneaky about grabing all the paper work, although i did manage to grab one ofthen with pricing. To make a long story short they told us that if we did not buy today then would could not purchase a time share for 5 years is this true?? We did end up getting a vacation form them but now i am feeling like i should have never done business with them in the first place. Has any one actually used this vacation pakage is it worth what i paid. $1200.. i know that i have asked many questions, but i am concerned that i made a mistake here. Should i get out of it.
Thanks,
Roger
July 26th, 2007 at 10:05 am
hey Roger. We were offered the vacation package for $750 but we did not take it. I haven’t experienced it but from other websites, I understand the vacation package is at “fleabags” Good Luck.
July 30th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
I have just returned from Gatlinburg, Tennesse. I too have fallen victim. Can anyone advise me on how many days i have to cancel my contract.Please do so ASAP because time is ticking away for me.
July 31st, 2007 at 1:55 pm
According to the contract documents from the Orlando Westagate resorts, you have 10 days to cancel your contract. It also states you will receive your deposit back within 20 days (unsure if that is business or calendar). Either way it has now been 21 calendar days since I signed on the dotted line and I have yet to get my deposit back. First call into them was today and they report that they are still pushing paperwork around in order to get my refund out…I know, I know, ye old brushoff. I will call again at the end of 20 business days…I’m a patient guy.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Ok so I have read the posts and I have one question. Will they or will they not actually give you the park tickets even if you don’t buy? My family and I are booked there for a week this summer and we really expect tickets?
August 1st, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Just got back from Branson MO Westgate. Indeed the 90min was 3 hours and the pressure was mild to medium. We said no and each time after that they would sweeten the deal. In the end they did the getaway deal which we turned down and they let us leave. I hope they do not charge us for the meal as they never once said it would cost us. The “Cabin” we stayed in was like a middle line $89 Super 8 hotel. It surved our purpose for going to Silver Dollar City twice with our children. The entire trip cost us $101 for three days two nights and as I said the SDC tickets! That is a deal any way you slice it. Plus, they have very nice amenities to use on site if you use them. Horses, pools, etc… Just do not eat the buffet at the end of your cabin. You can drive down the road to Cracker Barrel and eat for the same price. I would do it again, but I would take a stop watch and keep it out!
Our people were not rude but I experienced every thing privious writers said about their experince and wanted a fresh post to warn you to know what you want and say No.
I am also concerned about resale of WG property. Both Sales associates told me that I was 100% guaranteed that I would get my investment back if I chose to sell out and that they would put that in writing. So to those that were smarter than myself read on and make notes about what to put into writing and do not be shy this is your money not theirs YET!
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Hello
I just previously purchased a 1 bedroom delux 1-week floating unit, including 12 (1-week getaways) and 2 bonus weeks. i got the unit for $15,900, in Las vegas (Flamingo Bay).
I see peoples complaint that the salepeople are very aggressive in the sales. But i did the math on how much it would actually cost me if i just paid for a week at a 5-star hotel with similar amenities that westgate provides and it would be definately more money than what i would be paying. Maybe im not seeing the problem that people are having. If you use the weeks, people are definately saving money on vacation.
The only thing is when i try to sell my unit, will i at least break even??
August 4th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Just visited Westgate in Orlando: My 5 y/o son got hit in the head by a steal chair during breakfast that knocked him to the ground and on his face. In comes the sales guy and asked if ready to tour, requested mangement and go round and round about responsiblity of Westgate and my sons injury. Called EMS, police, onstaff security secondary to sons injury. On way out the door to the ER, marketing gives deposit back and smiles/waving goodbye as security follows us out to make sure we wouldn’t make a scene (which I did when they said must stay and tour while hurt son stayed at kids cove to recieve ANY “gifts”). Will soon be talking to a lawyer on this one!!! Stay away from Westgate…they DO NOT care about you or your family…just your pocket book!!!
August 7th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
We vacationed in Myrtle Beach in June at a West Gate hotel. The Welcome Center provided us a pamplet and promised a huge discount on a room if we would just sit through a quick 20 minute information seminar on their hotels. They also promised “a discounted room price plus we will feed you and you don’t have to buy anything. It’s only 20 minutes and you’re done!” But, that was not the case. We were an hour getting through the registration process, the food was scarce and the seminar turned into a 3 hour lecture and high pressure session. They tried sending different agents to our table, gave us the tour, sent their financial advisor to tell us how great this was, and would not take No for an answer. We could not leave or get our discount room price until they decided they were done with us. It ruined a whole day of our vacation. I asked them to remove me from their future lists and do not call me. When we finally got out of this whirlwind nightmare, we got our discounted room. The floor was wet and it smelled like cat pee. I had to call the front desk and get furious with them in order to get our room switched. Both rooms had a great view of the lower area roof, air conditioners and parking lot. We were greatly disappointed. I thought it was all over until we got home and the phone calls started. They have even called me at work after I repeatedly asked them to remove me from their list. I finally found a number that works to get removed. Call John Tingley at 407-351-3350 and he is supposed to take care of it. Good luck.
August 10th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Hi would like to know if there is anyway i can cancell its way past 10 days i’ve called every1 but no help so far, please can someone help me to get rid of this timeshare.Thank you
August 11th, 2007 at 9:16 am
I know everyone here is telling the truth. My husband and I are not easy people to scam, but we got scammed big time by Westgate Resorts and we are tough. For those of you who live in Florida, you already know how insane the cost of living is to begin with and how low the jobs pay. Then to obligate yourself to paying a mortgage on something you’ll barely even use once a year is awful! We had just got done simplifying our lives. We went from living in the fancy Camden apartments (a ripoff in their own rite), to moving into a privately owned crappy condo to cut down on our monthly expenses. We cut down some other things too, but to make a long story longer, it took us months to finally get some financial control back over our lives. I had taken vacation the week of Memorial Day and since my husband and I had a long weekend, we decided to go get a hotel, act like tourists, and go to Universal Orlando (since they had that two year deal). So we’re walking through Islands of Adventure and we were walking kind of slow and suddenly this guy stops us dead in our tracks! I swear this guy talked like a hundred words a minute! He was so full of it, so my husband, aggravated, abruptly told him we were on our way to a ride and we were not interested in going on the timeshare tour. We had heard about these before and had NEVER been interested. This guy would not take no for an answer. He kept saying, ‘I know you can use $100 bucks for gas, and your hotel expenses. If nothing else, it can cover food. All you have to do is pretend to be interested in their presentation for 90 minutes.’ Finally, my husband said, ‘Okay we’ll come back.’ The guy got indignant and said, ‘If you don’t come back I don’t get paid. I don’t know you’ll really come back. So to sweeten up the deal I’ll give you a three day/two night vacation at our resort for free with only taxes to pay. I’ll also hook you up with a couple of fast passes.’ They just kept going back and forth and back and forth. So finally, to get rid of the guy I just said ‘fine! We’ll go!’ That right there was a HUGE mistake. I should have just gone and called security to get him away from us because we have every right to walk though the park without getting harrassed. When we got to the presentation, we both thought that one person would speak to a huge group of us at once, making it easier to blow them off. However, Westgate knows better than that. We had our own personal sales lady…who appeared to be down to earth. She took us along and fed us a big breakfast (things you would never cook at home) and showed us this big huge book which had all kinds of facts and figures about how expensive vacations are and how Westgate is the answer to our prayers. All hotels are the Devil according to them. She probed us to find out how important vacations are to us and phrased her questions like, “If money were no object, what 3 top destinations would you like to visit?” This seemed like a harmless question at the time, but now we know she was just using that to go for the kill. The information they present is irrefutable until it’s too late. Just like one of the experiences I read above, we got to the point of the close of sale. Our sales lady pulled out this book and said ‘Okay we can get you started as owners for a $6,000 down payment.’ My husband and I look at each other and just laughed. That would have taken two months of our entire income combined to pay that…so of course the answer was HELL no! We got bills to pay right? But she didn’t stop there, she went and got her “supervisor” because she believed that we had so much “referral potential.” Her boss man came out and had this paper he wrote down all these numbers on…a real smooth talker. He used the same line of, ‘I could get in trouble for this if you tell anyone…’ and the numbers went from $6,000 to $1600 down payment for the timeshare, with monthly payments just under $300 for the 3 bedroom condo. It seemed like a great deal at the time, so we shook on it…WE FELL FOR IT!!! The two toughest people in the world to sale to fell for it! When I got home I deeply regretted the decision. We are feeling the effects of it bad and will even have to call the contracts office to ask for a break down even more in the down payments because we can’t keep up with them. All of that time we spent getting our finances down are now out the window. The control has gone back to them. My point? It’s best not to even allow them a chance to make a presentation to you. Think of it this way…would you give the Devil a chance? You know he doesn’t care about you. He’s only out for himself…and he wants to drag you down with him. Sales people are the same way. They will do anything to make a sale, especially Westgate sales people. They don’t care about you. All they care about is money. They will take candy from a baby. They will do anything to reel you in and you won’t even know what hit you until it’s too late. So if you see the guys in those white shirts that say, “Westgate Resorts” and they start coming towards you, run as fast as you can and don’t look back! Believe me, once you open that door, it’s already too late. My husband and I found that out the hard way. We neve thought we’d be the ones saying this, but we got stuck also…don’t do the same!!!!!
August 21st, 2007 at 12:42 pm
OK, so I would be the Fresh Meat to Westgate Resorts, but that I don’t feel like. For those of you that read this; and have yet to go to the resort or buy into it. Think about this. When you buy a car is the sales person easy to let you off? Not likely and that is the case here too, this is there jobs and they need to make sales to get paid. So lets stop going at these people for doing what they have to. If you buy into it be ready for what comes from it.
As for things being told I would get and they won’t give them to me. Well everything I got WAS in writing and I asked and asked and asked questions. You have to otherwise your going to hurt your selves and your family. Something I was not about to do. But when I am spending $17,500.00 on a room in Williamsburg VA. I think I am going pay very close to what’s going on.
Yes I was offered that “Special Deal” but after reading this I should have waited longer so that they would bring it down more. other then that i was glad I got the timeshare. My family, my children’s families, and their families will have a vacation spot for as long as we own, and I don’t plan on selling.
As for the Maintains Fees being the Price they are. Um Listen to you, your talking about a resort, your not just paying for the fees of the room but the grounds (in our case in Williamsburg VA is a HUGE place along with a future Water park that is going to start here in 90 days and more buildings) but also the workers and so on. You run a home they are running a company and I am only guessing but most the people that stay in these places are members of the Timeshare world paying a whole $139.00 for a week stay in Williamsburg VA in a Nice place. I checked some hotels and it was running $250 for the same type of room, just that wasn’t for a week but a Night. That would be $1750.00 for the price that Westgate members would pay of $139.00 and if that is there location they bought into it is FREE. So yeah I will pay my $463 a year for my Maintenance and Taxes and save some money every YEAR. The numbers work, maybe you just did not feel like it was for you and that still doesn’t give you the rights to come on this site and bash them for trying to make a living selling property.
I know you will all be replying to my message stating that I will see when it comes time to use it. Well I have everything in writing, I would not have left without that. Plus there was a women there who’s job was to make sure that they did not tell you the wrong thing and ask to make sure that you were buying because you want to buy. NO PRESSURE as I did not feel ONE bit during my sale. Ron in Williamsburg Westgate Resorts was My Salesperson and he was great. He explained stuff I already knew and gave me more details about things I was not sure about. I even asked questions to see how the answer would come out and he answered just as it should be. My mother has Time share with another company they works out of the same Guild Book that Westgate Resort, and My Sister has Timeshare so I already know how it works. And once more Ron even continued to repeat what was said, rephrased it so my wife AND I could understand it not just one of us. They allowed us plenty of time to talk about it our selves and think about what we wanted or not. As far as the Sales parts of this goes I am going to have to say that I don’t agree (From my experience with Westgate Resorts) that it is anything like the above said. If you think you need a good sales guy Email me and I will hook you up with Ron. I have his Cell Phone number and I will let you talk to him. He was great, no pressure and Very much knows about timeshare. And do the math, Timeshare is really worth it. Oh and Westgate offers a Military Discount. YEAH GO WESTGATE in taken care of your Service Members, $3000.00 off. That’s a lot when you are talking about a $20,000.00 buy. See a Car Company give you that deal on something that you can pass on to your kids and their kids and so on. I am Happy and I am glad to say it, and I plan to tell all who ask me about it how much of a great deal I got with it. oh and I Checked with the BBB, they state that Westgate is in GOOD STANDING. They have complaints but who doesn’t
Feel Free to Email me if you have any questions, I became a PROUD owner of Westgate Resorts in Historic Williamsburg VA. On Sunday 19 August 2007. And spite reading all that was said I still have a great feeling about what I have done. Call RON he is GREAT, Email me about it at wbricker2003@yahoo.com and I will give you his number. My Ref. Number is 2200516322.
August 28th, 2007 at 2:09 am
The Manager of the Park City Westgate physically through me out when I politely inquired about the fact that my confirmed 1 BR suite was not available as payment for my viewing the 90 minute presentation. I told some waiting prospects there were no rooms available and he threw me out and locked the door. They messed with the wrong dude! Visit http://westgate-pc.blogspot.com/ for more details.
September 1st, 2007 at 5:01 am
William,
Come on now? You’re either a slimy Westgate salesman in disguise, or you’re getting a huge kickback for promoting this dump - which is it?
September 17th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
Ok. I agree that everyone has a right to feel how ever they want to feel. but you guys need to really give me a break. Timeshare is very popular now a days so you know if you go to a presentation they are going to try to sell you something you do you all think you are expecting to walk to some company like a free lunch line a expect free tickets and discounts that you have not worked for(If 90 minutes at work will be equivalent to whatever gift they are promising you work for it) if you cannot stand the heat stay out of the kitchen. I do not like high pressure so I pay what I have to in order to not have someone tell me what I should or should not do with my family.
Timeshare is not more than a scam that hotels. All you penny pichers at the end of the day when you are old and have nothing to look forward to but your death bed was it that relavant that you saved money up front by not buying a timeshare.. or by staying in a nice comfortable 12X12 hotel room or that you enjoyed your time in a nice comfortable 2/2 bedroom condo anywhere in the world. If you want something in life work hard for it dont expect something for nothing. Nobody owes you anything you do not work hard for If you cannot work hard to not put your family through what you define a aggravating dont go on vacation but. STAY AWAY from these situation guys if they make you feel so uncomfortable. Becuase in reality who is the scamer you that is coming in expecting something for nothing or a company that is telling you upfront this is a sales presentation not a free give away program…I have happly owned timeshare for 15 years and I know how to use it. and you people give timeshare a bad name because you cannot afford to own one or are ignorant to learn how to use it.
September 24th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
september 24, 5:48.
Hi!, I’m another victim of westgate, they show you a unit and tell you that’s like the one you are buying, and “SURPRISE”, when you go to enjoy your week then you find that it is a different unit and I mean almost half the size.But first, we told them we want a week on the summer because of the kids and when we were ready to sing we found they were giving us a week on school time, them they “fixed” the problem and we got the 23rd (perfect), but,(I’m afraid that with those guys there always will be a “but”) when we called to get our week we found another surprisse, they gave us the week we want, BUT, floating.
That was the same with my brother in law and I don’t know how many more people.Now they say that the units we said were not suppose to be sold as a 1/1 and they are trying to sale us another unit that at the begging, they told us there wasn’t for sale. I hope some one understand all this, but if you are a westgate victim I’m sure you will.
We need to find a lawyer.
September 28th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
“Give me a Break,” please Give me a break! I own 3 timeshares and know the system well. First of all, never buy from the resort, but buy for pennies on the dollar on the resale market. Ebay is a great place to start.
Over the years, I have seen MANY timeshare presentations all over the US and Mexico, and have never experienced anything like the Westgate Experience. No, I don’t expect to get something for nothing, but I do expect to receive what I was promised as compensation for me wasting my “90 Minutes.” I don’t look kindly upon hearing “owners have priority and there are no rooms available tonight,” after declining to purchase and after having confirmed reservations in writing and after driving hours with my family for a confirmed vacation.
Visit http://www.westgate-pc.blogspot.com/ for more details and to post your comments, aka horror stories.
September 29th, 2007 at 1:55 am
I was very close to be a victim. But, something inside of me told me to get out. I had already sign my first payment on my credit card! I was one signiture away. The I noticed something about the notary a (Hispanic guy from Puerto Rico). He said, you don’t have to do this. Perhaps he saw that it was not fair that I had just gotten married and I was on my honeymoon vacation. I thank God every day that I dit get myself into such scam.
Cand the FBI do anything about it? I have been trying to find a site to report my story and the type of deals that take place at Westgate Resorts.
September 29th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
The FBI probably won’t do anything at this point, but I would start by submitting a complaint to the Better business Bureau. I am researching a class action suit from November 2006 in Utah, and others could possibly join the class. Not sure of the status, but will post details at http://www.westgate-pc.blogspot.com/
And by all means, post your story on every travel web site and forum possible. By the way, you may sign up for an email list at the previously mentioned site to receive updates when more information becomes available or is posted. We need to Unify against these crooks!
October 5th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Check out my site devoted to Westgate (mostly Lakes) for complaints. I have been threatened by them that they will sue me because I used their name as the address. westgateresorts.biz. Some good information there. You can also reach the site at wgowners.net just incase I lose the name.
October 7th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
if you are broke you deserve to be tortured by the sales man, that his job to make a sale, if you don’t like it you don’t have to come just got atraight to the park and pay full price, if you can’t then anything has a price, nothing is free.
by the way timeshare is cheaper than hotel.
just calculate how much you could spend 1 week a year for the next 30 years in a 5 star resort that charges 250 to 300 $/night for a 2 bedroom condo. daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
October 9th, 2007 at 10:37 am
I bought a timeshare in Las Vegas in Oct. of 2004 and had the often mentioned feelings of regret right off the bat. I had been told by the various sales associates that I could make money and pay down the mortgage by renting out the timeshare and that I could always sell it (for a profit!) in the future. I bought into all that hot air. I’m not a victim of Westgate, I’m a victim of my own impulses and lack of common sense.
I have not yet used any time and I do not want the timeshare anymore. It seems the timeshare companies that resell units all want payment up front and promise sales, but they will not sell a person’s unit like a traditional real estate agent, collecting commission after the sale. I think these companies are not to be trusted as well. I know of others losing $500 or $900 on the up front payments and have yet to see their unit sold.
Others on this thread have asked if they can just give the timeshare back to Westgate. I have offered this to them and they said they will not do it. I see what these shares go for on ebay, next to nothing. So, there’s no profit or even break-even in it for me going that route
My father had a Westgate timeshare years back in a previous marriage and he just stopped paying on it. Eventually Westage forclosed on it and took it back, just what they said they WOULD NOT do when he, too, offered to sign the deed back to them. The several years, all the calls, harrassement from CFI, letters, etc, did not even show up on any of the 3 credit reporting agencies’ reports as it seems CFI likes to keep everything internal. So, if those who did not want the shares and could not sell them just told Westgate “sorry, can’t pay,” would it really hurt their respective credit scores (because that’s what really counts when it comes down to it)?
Have any of you out there done this, and if so, what have your experiences been? I’m going to remove my auto-debit option today and save $157 & change a month that I’ve been paying for way too long for something that actually holds little to no liquidity.
P.T. Barnum was the original David Siegel, but at least Barnum actually gave the people something, even if it was only entertainment and some good memories. “This way to the Egress.”
October 10th, 2007 at 9:12 am
After dealing with Westgate Resorts in Gatlingburg, you’re better off to take the $100.00 that they offer you to hear the presentation and RUN!!!!!
You have earned that $100.00 because of the high pressure sales that you have to listen to and it will probably take three or four hours of your time out of your vacation. It is only suppose to take about 90 minutes. If you elect to choose the vacation package BEWARE. You’ll have to listen to the same sales pitch again before you leave and this time you will not be given $100.00 for it.
October 10th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Kate, obviously you are a timeshare salesperson. Even though your spelling and grammer are atrocious, you still tout the typical timeshare lie - 30 years of hotels locked in at today’s prices.
And why would someone who is “broke” deserve to be tortured by the sales man. Get a life.
How could any decent human being with a conscience work as a timeshare salesperson with the goal of selling a luxury item to those who obviously cannot afford such a luxury.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Visit http://www.westgate-pc.blogspot.com/ for more and remember David Siegel loves you.
October 13th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
I just found out that Westgate handles ALL of the deposits of your week rather than interval international handling it. The reason is that if you own a fixed premium week, they are depositing a crappy off-season week for your premium one and selling your premium or using it for their own use in upper management. Another Westgate deception! Make sure you raise a stink over this when you call to deposit your fixed week or they will screw you royally because when you go to exchange it, you will not get anything preferred or exclusive for your week 2 that they deposited for you.
David Siegel should have been put in prison a long time ago but he pays off everyone including the Department of Business and Professional Regulation in regards to Real Estate. He owes millions of dollars in commissions to his salespeople that were fired but mysteriously never has to pay it. He also resells the same units over and over because he sells them to people that they know will default because they can’t afford the 18.9% interest and never records the deed until after the unit is paid in full. Some of those units have been sold over 10 times!
October 16th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
I bought a Timeshare on Oct 5th.2007 .having just read all the comments here and realising I am just outside the 10day cancellation period .. I intend to
try and cancel anyway and see where that leads…
Was intending to give this a try ..but have been having problems accessing Westgate website/email a sthis seems unavailable a lot of times.)
THe Attorney..Independent according to him, who finalised the contract with me seems to be a good plaee to start?
What are the chances of success?
October 16th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Hi Eric, My husband and I got out of our deal (thankfully) about a year and a half ago. I sent a certified letter to the address in the contract (return receipt requested). Fortunately we had paid the “down” on a credit card and I immediately called the credit card company and disputed the transaction. Do it quickly…good luck!
October 17th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Thanks, Deanna,
I have asked credit card company to cancel any future requests for payment,
and try and recover my deposit.
I suggested they cancel my card and supply a new one, but apparently this would not stop them getting future payments??
I dont understand that one…. but this from the first person that answered my call.
Their legal team are going to contact Westgate, and get back to me, tomorrow or Friday, but meantime, I intend to do as you suggest.
many thanks
Eric
October 18th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Several years ago I bought at Westgate. From the begining they were pushy and dishonest. I bought an off season at Westgate in Gatlinburg.
First thing I was told that my week would soon turn to season and that my timeshare would almost double in price. Well later I found out (while they were trying to sell me again during a booking) that was not true. My week went season but I still owned off season.
Second thing is that they told me that I would have no problems booking vacations. They told me there would be no fees if I booked in season. Well booking has turned into a nightmare. Check in has turned into a 2 hour fiasco and every time I try to book outside my timeshare location they charge me an extra $500.00 because it out of season
I have not been able to book and when you role over your week it is an extra $150.00. My maintenance fees have over doubled in the years that I owned. This is the scam. \When you buy you sign to pay fees. They have the right to do anything they want with these fees and since you have signed you have no choice but to pay or you will be sued. The next scam is the lifetime deed. When you die the deed tranfers to your family and now they have to pay these fees.
Of course you can try and sell but Westgate will not buy back your investment. You can pay a broker company a yearly fee ($300-$500) for a yearly listing. Now why do you think they charge you this fee? It is because timeshares don’t sell. If they sold well they would be soliciting your timeshares and selling them on commission. Very few timeshares sell through a broker.
There are companies that you can turn yur time share over to and they deal with it and you cab get out of the expensiv fees but will loose your whole investment. What a deal.
I am stuck with a huge yearly fee at a place I can rarely book my week.
Let’s talk about booking. Check in is at four and not one minute sooner. Waiting to check in is an hour to three hours (florida we waited three hours). Check out is by 10:00 am. So you have a whole day out of your booked week that you really have no room time which means tht you are getting six days instead of 7.
O
October 18th, 2007 at 10:18 am
I accidentally posted the last post before I was able to spell check and I did not get to finish my post. Obviously I am not fond of Westage. Stay away!!
October 21st, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Hello all…My wife and I went to a presentation on 10/20/07. First of all I must say it was entertaining. We got a great deal on a room in Williamsburg for about $20 dollars a night. The room was not at the resort but at another hotel nearby. The secret here is to pretend its just a game. Just go in smile …pretend your listening …act interested ….then at the end just say no…no…no……I know sounds easy ..it’s not but you just have to be in the right mind set. Our salesman was an older fellow …a very nice man just trying to make a living for his family. Our tour lasted for about an hour and a half. The rooms at the Westgate Williamsburg were nice, but of course model homes are nice also. The lunch was poor …hotdog chips ..chili out of a can and soda…but it was free!!! Now my wife and I we could have paid cash for the timeshare, but thats not the point. Its not always the low income people that go to these. $60 off a night at a nice hotel was hard to pass on…Oh and one last thing the best part was at the very end when the sales manager (fat fellow …from Jersey…smelly young man) tried to close the deal ..We said no he got up crumpled up the paper and just walked away …Remember play the game say NO and walk away …Then just sit back and enjoy the discount on your room
October 21st, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Hey Ron–wish we had sat next to you at Williamsburg on Saturday. My husband and I were interested in the pitch because we actually have friends who love their timeshares and use them to go all over the world–but we have never talked details with them. We are pretty savvy investors and asked tons of questions–like many others stories, the pitch kept improving. Bottom line for us was “what is the true value of this timeshare in terms of rental and resale?” We love to travel and we were very interested in the getaways. My husband then said–”we never buy anything the same day” so they replied these are one day offers…I asked to see the covenants doc–on the first page it says we have 7 days to cancel. So we took the bite knowing we would go home and do research and cancel. Within 10 minutes I discovered that my unit (1 br) was being offered on hotels.com for the same week (26–4th of JulY) for about 1/2 of what we were told we could get on the rental market. Deal breaker right there, wrote up the cancellation letter for mailing tomorrow. I was also disappointed that I could not check availability of getaways online (takes 6-8 weeks according to our sales rep to get membership number). So even though we think timeshares may be a good way to go, we were deceived and have cancelled. Should have taken lessons from you, Ron–and saved myself the hassle….
October 22nd, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Hi, I called Westgate to try and persuade them to cancel our deal.
Spoke to a very nice guy who assured me that as it was done by Florida LAW and the deeds were already in my name they could not just cancel
( even with my pemission).
Would this not be a simple reversal process with whoever dealt with the original Transaction.. I am sure it happens all the time .. when absolutely necessary.
Has any one succeeded in cancelling even when they were outwith the cancellation deadline?
October 22nd, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Here’ s a ” what if”…..
What if the disgruntled owner (me ) sent by recorded mail to WESTGATE ..the whole ’shebang’
ie contracts, Membership cards, (suitably cut up) Catalogues, and all the rest of the paraphernalia…… along with the appropriate cancellation letter.
How would they react??
Any ideas?
October 23rd, 2007 at 4:55 pm
WOW!! can’t believe how sick I am feeling after reading all your letters of disappointment with Westgate. I was so afraid that I was in this nightmare alone.
PLEASE Join me in Righting this terrible Wrong. I am 55 years old man and engaged to a woman who is disabled.. I wanted this greatness for us to share and make retirement life hotel hunting easier. I feel disgraced to this wonderful woman and the rest of my family and friends. The wisdom I took pride in possessing my whole life went out the window. How could I have fallen prey to such a group of monsters. They lied to make it sound so good. Please read just a portion of the pack of lies that I outline bleowWe were just recently scammed at Westgate Myrtle Beach SC. We bought from a sales person who promised us personal attention any hour of the day or night but no one now knows his whereabouts. His phone numbers are not his,, As far as we are concerned our salesman is an graduate of SCAM SCHOOL USA and hired by Seigel who sure seems to be running a business of trickery and deceit… or at least hiring teams of people who excel at it. Our Salesman who’s card showed Ocoee Fl address was in Myrtle Beach the week we were on vacation. His LIES and Professional Scam,, false promises and total misrepresentation is so unbelievable that he should be an award winning actor… Personally, we feel he and the whole Westgate team of liars should be doing prison time for the way they con and lie and use trickery of words to have you feel you are getting something they never plan on coming through with. Westgate blames Interval International and they blame Westgate. It’s a disgrace. We asked to have our ID number while on vacation to explore the lobby computers for all the greatness we just got involved with.. We were told you can’t use those computers until you get your Interval ID Number in 3 or 4 weeks. SO HOW COULD we have asked for a refund while we were there on vacation when we accepted the fact that we had not gotten our I D and had to wait to get home and receive our I D 4 weeks later only to find out that 299.00 for one bedroom per week in a 5 star anywhere we choose at any time we choose simply does not exist. WE found this all out 4 weeks after our 5 day cancellation period had passed. Talk about SCAM.. We didn’t want the timeshare,, but it was the magnificant greatness of all the extra getaways for the rest of our lives that we wanted and therfore bought the timeshare.
We were assured ( VERBALLY ONLY) that we, our friends and our family would NEVER again vacation anywhere in the USA in anything less than a 5 STAR OCEAN FRONT guarranteed resort FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES.. WE WERE PROMISED that we would be guarranteed that we get a minimum of 12 Getaway Weeks every year and we could even break up the week and go for 2 nights which would total 86.00. We were told that we could take 4 couples for a full week and use getaways for each couple every year and it would be 299.00 per week for each couple. Interval says that the guy who promised all this is NUTS and a LIAR… Sure you can get a place for 299.00 a week but it’s probably a 2 star or a roadside motel…and NOT the time of year we want as it’s strictly by avilability. When I told Interval what the promises were,, we got laughed at and told rates are 600, 700, to 2500 for 7 nights and 8 days if your lucky to find the place you want at the right time of year. When I tried to book something for July 08 I was told NOT AVAIL until Feb 09. Some SUMMER vacation that would be. Here’s a good one.. Our timeshare is not ready until 2010.. so we were offered a bonus week for 2008. Told we could vacation anywhere for just 450.00 for a week. Then we were told by our saleman, why on earth would you elect to do that when you can use your GETAWAY Weeks for 299.00 for 7 nights and be in a 5 Star any place you choose. We thought HOW great is that… Only to find out It aint happening.. There are no vacancies where we wish to vacation and if there were the rate is 1,600.00 for the week.
P L E A S E… If anyone wants to start a petition and or some sort of class action,, please count us in. THis needs to go to News channels, TV, Opera, Dr Phil,, Seven On Your Side.,, The Better Business Buearu and any other means of exposing what the real truth is. I’ll be seeking all info I can find on what happens if we do not pay. Let if Foreclose… What happens to our credit???? What happens to the PENALTIES that they impose onto your account every time a payment is late or missed??????? WE MUST NOT LET THIS BE DONE TO US>>> PLEASE E MAIL US AND LET”S PROCEED FORWARD TO RIGHT THIS WRONG.. LETS STAND TOGETHER TO SEE THAT MR. SEIGEL STANDS BEHIND ALL THE GREAT VISION STATEMENTS THAT HE SPEAKS ABOUT. Namely,, They Fulfill their Guests Dreams and EXCEED ALL EXPECTATIONS…THeir Motto and Leadership Statement is “GOOD IS NEVER GOOD ENOUGH”.. I contend that no one alone has the power to fix this alone with a man demonstrating so much wealth.. WE MUST STAND Together.
.
October 23rd, 2007 at 4:56 pm
I just wrote the message.. Thought my e mail address would have posted.. It is Den1952@aol.com
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Fat chance of getting anyone to investigate Siegel and Westgate. He nicks every one of his customers $5 for every check-in and passes that to charity. He has pics of himself with President Clinton, President Bush, Secretary of State Powell, Gov. of NY Gulliani, Gov. of CA Schwarzenegger, and many other rich and famous people. He has greased the wheels of politics on both sides of the aisle so well that none dare challenge him.
So…you think Joe citizen could ever get a decent review in court over this scam? Not a chance.
As soon as Tina and I found out on hotels.com the unit we purchased was going to be “given away” by Westgate for $169.00 a night during the 4th of July week in Williamsburg, VA (after being told we would be “giving it away for $300 a night), we knew the story was unwinding. Then when we saw all of the Williamsburg, VA units being sold by owner, we knew the claim that Westgate would buy them back was a scam. Want to be the only way they buy them back is through the “upgrade market” where you upgrade from an efficiency to a 1 bedroom, or a 1 bedroom to a 2 bedroom?
You can write your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives and local Chambers of Commerce all you want, but as I said above, no politician is going to have the backbone to go after Siegel.
I hate to quote O’Reilly, but…the only one looking out for you is you.
October 25th, 2007 at 3:56 am
My wife and I went to one of the Westgate presentations in Orlando, FL for the deeply-discounted $9.95 Busch Gardens tickets (reg. $65.95). The 90-minute timeshare circus lasted over 3 hours and we walked away with a Las Vegas vacation hotel stay from Westgate which not only has 10 days to cancel (we paid $30.00 deposit), but we never gave them a credit card or social security number. After dealing with numerous reps and arguing with one sales person about how home equity works, they decided to shove our paperwork quickly in the office and give us the ticket voucher for the theme park. We were going to use them later since they were good until the end of December (not the 90 days they promised, but roughly 60), but figuring the whole Westgate thing was a scam, we decided to leave Orlando and drive the 60 minutes into Tampa to make sure these babies were legit. The tickets were the most enjoyable and least hassling part of Westgate and I can’t wait to see what they do if they reject my cancellation and try charging my card that doesn’t exist, or going against my credit with an SSN field that is blank. Gotta love discounts!
October 25th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Sadly, like many of you I fell victim to my own ignorance while in Vegas. I purchased at Westgate Flamingo Bay and was assured I had nothing to lose … after all … it’s Vegas … if I decided to sell it I would have no problem. Well … long story short I have been trying to sell it for over a year at a fraction of the original cost and have had no luck. If anyone has a suggestion I would love to hear it?
thanks
November 1st, 2007 at 11:50 am
WOW! The only comment I can muster after being brainwashed in our 3 hour meeting! We went to the Vegas timeshare meeting on Oct 21st. We went all the way to the third guy as well. This guy was stupid! The never lookin g in the eye and the I DON’T UNDERSTAND bull#*@#, was more than I could take! WOW, I with all of my psychology background have never seen anyone like this. LOL. I an laugh now, but it took me three days to come down from this one! Westgate IS A SCAM!!! Beware, it is very hard to walk out of the PRESENTATION they followed us out! OH MY GOD!
Oh well, this fish got away!
Jen
November 1st, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Sunday, October 29th I fell victim to the Westgate Planet Hollywood Twin Towers, Las Vegas sales people and purchased a time-share. For 3 days (it’s now just after midnight)I have been tracking with the Post Office’s website, the Registered Overnighted Express Mail sent October 31st. While waiting to view the signed by Westgate receipt online which should ultimately be delivered by my letter carrier (who, on numerous occasions delivers to neighbors), I plan to call my credit card company to put a stop on the deposit as well as any monthly payments I agreed to. My Contract to Purchase states I have FIVE (5) days (Is this determined by state of residence? I am in Florida.) to cancel. The P.O. tracking system shows my letter has been received at the Pick-up Point in Ocoee, FL this morning, but the signed receipt is not yet available. I’ve printed the tracking ticket for my records and am hoping this ends soon. I have no problem returning Westgate’s bag and contents, along with cards, etc. if they are requested. Stay tuned.
November 1st, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Sorry folks, it’s late and I’m upset with myself that I bought into this. It’s been TWO days I’ve been tracking my cancellation letter to Westgate.
lfm