Complain about a product or service

Westgate Resorts

Michael of Tampa, FL November 19, 2009

Westgate Resorts contacted me in the early part of 2009 and solicited their timeshare facility, in South Carolina. I decided to take advantage of the offer and paid by creidt card the fee of 99.00 with the inderstanding that we (my wife and I ) would solidify a date to tour the facility shorly thereafter. Today, we contacted Westgate to set a date and were told we no longer qualify for the tour because we are now unemployed. Westgate has said we were advised and emailed the criteria for the tour when we aggreed to go on it. This is a lie! No one frm Westgate ever told us that we needed to be employed after paying the 99.00 fee to take advantage of the tour. We want our money back! We are angry that there are businesses in America that will fleece the public and steal! I personally am outraged that this is allowed to happen in this country!

Jill of Laurens, SC October 23, 2009

I purchased a timeshare unit at Westgate in June, 2008, and finally got to stay there in late September/early October of this year. While there, we purchased an upgrade due to their forced salesmanship. Well within the 10 days grace period, I had to cancel my contract because I couldn't afford it. (Westgate never asked me my income, nor did they run a credit check.) It took almost a month, but I finally managed to get the contract canceled.

Today, I got a letter from Westgate saying I still owned the first unit. I was told the old unit was gone, the paperwork torn up. I even have a Warranty Deed saying I no longer own that unit. Westgate says I should have KNOWN that I would still own the first one, that Westgate couldn't take it away from me. I was treated like I was stupid because I didn't know that. When someone tells you the first unit is gone, no longer my responsibility, I took them at their word. I was also told when I purchased the first unit that Westgate would buy it back if I found I couldn't afford it. That's a lie.

I am disabled, live on a fixed income, and can't afford a timeshare. This situation has already caused me to have one minor stroke. They have my sister's name first on the contract, and she has no income, and hasn't had any for over 6 years. I'm trying to support both of us on my SS disability. I'm looking at having to declare bankruptcy, and have no idea where we will live.

I called a friend who is an investigative reporter for a local TV station. I am condsidering turning all the paperwork over to them, and let them run with it. I suggest that anyone with a problem with Westgate go to their local TV station. That will really get the message about Westgate out.

Katrina of FLORISSANT, MO October 20, 2009

I am very disturbed with the level of service and handling of my timeshare account since I purchased it in July 2008. While traveling in Orlando, FL last July, I stayed at your Westgate Lakes Resort and Spa location on Turkey Lake Road in Orlando. I was required to attend a high pressure time share sales presentation as a part of my discounted stay. During that presentation, which was supposed to last one or two hours, I was repeatedly pressured into purchasing a timeshare at your resort. The presentation lasted over 4 hours. During that presentation, I was told a number of untrue things such as:

1. My week, week 14, was fixed and available to be used at any Westgate Resort with no additional fee. Just a need to call to make a reservation if staying at a different Westgate location. 2. My maintenance and taxes would be due bi-annually and that the cost would be approximately 300.00 (maybe a small amount more). 3. I could deduct my interest and taxes because this is a deeded property of which I am the owner. 4. My contract states that my monthly mortgage payments are due on the 11th of the month, but I advised the Closer that I would not be able to make my monthly payments until the 15th of each month. I was told that would be no problem.

The original price of the unit on a bi-annual basis was approximately 13,000. I paid 1,100 down and consistently pay 177.00 per month. Thus far, in this transaction, I have paid: Mortgage Fee: 3,534.72 Maint & Taxes: 602.00 Total 4,136.72

I have never been late on my payments and have never once used my condo at this point (for the majority of 2008, it was still under construction). My unit was not even ready for use by week 14 of this year. I was told that I would have to stay in a different unit if I were to have wanted to use my timeshare week this year. I banked my week and when I called to have my week transferred to the Westgate property in Daytona Beach, FL last Monday, October 5th for the week of March 21, 2009 – March 28, 2009, I was told I could not complete the exchange without paying the 130.00 exchange fee. I was prepared to pay the exchange fee, but was then told there was no availability at the Daytona Beach resort because it was Spring Break and the property was booked.

I was told I would be put on a waiting list for the next 10 days just in case something opened up. On October 7th, a message was left on my home phone number that a unit had become available but that I only had 24 hours to call back to complete the exchange. I have always been contacted by Westgate at my work number, but this particular day, the person called my home number and left the message. I did not receive the message until today, October 12th.

When I called to see if the Daytona Beach property still had availability, I was then told that since my payment is due on the 11th of the month, the exchange could not be completed at this time. I was told the payment is past due so the system will not allow an exchange to take place. For the last year and three months, I have consistently made my payments on the 15th of the month. I have over 4,000 invested in this property and I am being hassled about wanting to exchange my week for a trip in March over a 177 payment that would be received by the end of this week.

The reason all of this upsets me so much is that I have been repeatedly lied to while working with Westgate, service has been inconsistent and inadequate and I feel like I was taken advantage of during the sales process. It has not been easy working with customer service to exchange my week. There is always a reason why the exchange can’t take place, whether it is lack of availability or that the other Westgate resort only allows check-in on certain days of the week.

It occurs to me that if I continue to pay faithfully and never use my unit, you have essentially made out like bandits in this situation. I have just one week every 2 years in my unit. If there are 25 units in each building paying approx 177/week, you are receiving 230,000 approximately in mortgage fees alone annually for that one building. Every procedure you have in place to make the use of the unit convenient is not convenient and requires I jump through hoops. I would think that someone who has invested over 4,000 in their unit would be able to make a reservation for March of 2010 considering there will be an additional 5 payments made by March of 2010.

I am fed up with this process and working with your company and I am requesting that you buy back this property from me because your company is deceitful and exercises practices that essentially cheat people out of their money with nothing gained in return. I am requesting a refund of the 4,000 that I have paid into the unit and that I am released from the deed. I am certain that the Federal Trade Commission and other consumer advocates would be interested in knowing about the unscrupulous business practices exercised by your team members. I am prepared to pursue this until I receive a satisfactory resolution. I look forward to an expedient response on this matter.

Jonathan of Poughkeepsie, NY October 5, 2009

My ex-girlfriend and I bought a timeshare after being pressured for ten hours by numerous high-pressure salesmen at a timeshare CON-vention in Orlando Florida. We were on vacation at the time and this wasted one of the five days we were there. We were told that we would be able to transfer to other resorts all around the world by just picking up the phone and making a request. We knew we were going to be flying to Miami every year for the Winter Music Conference so this would save us money. This was the main reason we bought the timeshare.

When I called to make the reservations they told me that I would need to reserve the time two years in advance. Since the WMC dates are released to the public 5-6 months before the event there is no way to make a reservation two years in advance. We called Westgate about buying back the timeshare but they wont even though they told us they would before we bought it. They tell me that my only option is to sell it on my own or rent it.

I have looked into this and it seems that the timeshare resale industry is a scam as well. It seems that in order for me to sell it I would have to bribe 1,000s of people with a fancy breakfast and tickets to a major theme park and use mafia-like sales men to scare them into making a purchuse. But I would not wish this upon my enemy.

shanek of aliceville, AL September 12, 2009

Westgate is the worst timeshare I have ever visited. I was told that I could exchange for other resort, without paying. They give you this good story about your weeks when its time to visit you have the hardest time. You cant half your week without paying for the last half. I was told I could half and take the other one later, with out having to pay. Not with a fee and a set time to take it.

When I visited you have to pay for internet service, nothing is free, the owner privileges and the TV advertising is a lie and nothing is going on. There are no great activities for kids or adults. I was told there was a buy back, there is not a buy back. Westgate is not what they say they are. I really hate my timeshare.

Jack of A-45, NY July 10, 2009

Company tries to strong arm or hold potential time share buyers hostage while such people are on vacation. I was in there for 4 hrs telling the first seller I was not intersted in what they had to offer and then went for reinforcement (Felix) which made matters worse with his obnoxious behavior and out right disregard for anything other than yes for their over priced time shares.

mitchell of pound, VA June 3, 2009

we like the other people on here complaining were basically told the same thing that if we could not pay for our timeshare then they had a buy back program, well that's not true because i have tried to contact them about it and there is no such thing. we were lied to about everything. we have tried to use getaways and never any availability, they told us we could drive down for the night and use our owners rentals well i have tried several times and just not possible. i was told we could exchange our vacation for a cruise the catch was we had to pay our dues before they would even give us any info.

i read where someone wanted to get a bunch of people together and file a complaint with them, well i will help. we need so bad to get rid of this timeshare, times are tough right now and i feel like i am throwing my money away, i can't even use it and probably wouldn't.

also they told us their was no credit check, and if we didn't pay for at least 6 months then it would go back to them, well there is another lie because i called about it and was told that if that happened then it would go into foreclosure just like a mortgage, how can they legally do that if no credit was ran. something needs to be done about this. if anyone has any suggestions please let me know. thank you so much.

Jennifer of riverview, FL May 11, 2009

I purchased my Westgate Villa in 1999 and was advised maint. fees would be 200 a year and now are at 600. The villa has not changed at all. It is the same teal leather couch old TV with the big back and old everything else. The exchaneg program is a joke. I was told I had a red week which all of Florida is so we can exchange any where. I was on a waiting list for Hawaii for over 1 year and not got the exchange. That is ridiculous. I was told they had a buyback program which they have no such thing another lie. Although my timeshare is paid for. The maint. fees are very unaffordable. I have put the timeshare for sale almost 4 years ago with a company I paid over 400 for and nothing has happen. No one wants Westgate, the reputation is so bad.

Michael of Olive Branch, MS April 27, 2009

After being pressured into buying a timeshare at the Westgate Gatlinburg Resort, I am extremely disappointed with my purchase. I booked a week at the resort, but my wife had emergency brain surgery just over a week prior to our booking and I had to cancel since she was unable to travel. The customer servce agent was very sympathetic, but the bottom line is to get as much money as possible. I was informed that I would have to pay a 130 fee to re-book. I was under the impression that I owned a week's time at the resort and don't understand why I should have to pay an additional 130 for what I have already paid for.

Westgate timeshares are definitely not worth the money. After paying 12,000 for a one bedroom condo, my maintenance and taxes are over 600 per year for a weeks vacation. Of course taxes are only a small portion of that cost. Since that time, I have been able to find a weeks rental in more places for much less money via the Internet. And I wasn't being pressured for four hours.

Gary of Hastings, NY April 16, 2009

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