blogs.smartmoney.com/advice/2012/04/04/timeshare-prices-plummet-to-1/

marriott

Dennis

Dennis

I am absolutely convinced that the sales people at the first presentation I went to were doing drugs, as I’m a retired ER and psychiatric nurse and I know what things look like. Besides, no one could stand the deafening noise, hyped up urgency and excitement at those presentations without being in an altered state. Our brains are simply not wired for that and we don’t have the gears for it. A former timeshare sales person I know personally has photos and a narrative about the “company parties” and serious drug use by his fellow salespeople.

You were wise not to go on the little catamaran late-night party boat “fishing excursion” because you can bet they were whoopin’ it up out there not very safely, and something tells me the boys were not complying with the terms of their parole. I bet their parole officers would love to hear about that one!

I would also bet my dead grandmother’s ermine that there is money laundering and more on a global level going on with these timeshare companies and indeed, some research I did recently pulled up news stories from Europe a few years ago about timeshare fraud that Scotland Yard, Interpol and the authorities in the Canary Islands and across Europe were involved in that ended up with three homicides. The actors involved were caught and sentenced to very long prison terms.

I love these stories. They just get better and better….

Per Wikipedia–> “The United States Federal Trade Commission provides consumers with information regarding timeshares.[19] Timeshares are also known as Universal Lease Programs (ULPs). Due to the nature of timeshares, they are considered to be securities under the law”. –> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeshare. Again, if these timeshares are securities, the sales people are not FINRA licensed to sell securities. (FINRA is the Financial Industry Regulating Authority. Here is the link to more info about them: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_Industry_Regulatory_Authority In timeshare sales presentations the words “investment” and “income” are widely used which implies clearly that if a customer “invests” in a timeshare s/he will derive “income” from this “investment”. That is one definition of a security.

Florida recently passed a very tough new law effective July 1, 2012 to protect consumers from timeshare resale fraud–> prweb.com/releases/Timeshare-Law-Florida/Stops-Resale-Fraud-2012/prweb9302521.htm

I also read in USA Today on May 2, 2012 that the FTC and the US Attorney for the southern district of Illinois indicted 22 people for timeshare resale fraud in an investigation that is ongoing with the FTC. Seven people pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison. The others are awaiting trial. Here is the link to that article: usatoday.com/money/perfi/housing/story/2012-04-26/timeshares-sales-scams-consumer-complaints/54669954/1
and for a column written the same day about timeshare sales tactics: usatoday.com/money/perfi/columnist/odonnell/story/2012-05-01/what-you-need-to-know-about-time-share/54670008/1

This supports what the former US securities attorney I spoke with alluded to when he said, “Who knows? Maybe the government is going to start cracking down on this.”

Thanks to all of you for your comments and support. I hope and pray others read this dialogue. I believe the people who speak out about this and tell their stories will help others who have had the same experiences with this woeful and failing industry and its deplorable behavior toward its customers in its desperate attempts to bolster revenue figures. The timeshare industry is struggling like many other businesses in a rapidly changing world, but they need to change the way they do business, as they are playing their violins on the deck of the Titanic and they are going to sink if they keep doing these things.

I don’t know about organized crime, but we had a rather bizarre experience following a timeshare presentation we attended in Key West. Our rep. was an exceptionally friendly, easy-going guy, who accepted our “no” w. As we left, he was just getting off work, told us his car was in the shop, and somehow, we ended up giving him a ride home. During the ride, he regalled us with stories about the history of Key West. He was a great storyteller, so when he invited us in, we figured “why not”? Boy, oh boy, were we ever sorry!

His “home” actually consisted of a barren room, with 3 bunkbeds, that he shared with 5 other guys, along with a bath, they all shared with 3 other rooms, just like theirs! Couldn’t help but ask why they would actually live in such conditions, and he casually explained that it was a condition of his parole! In fact, him and his fellow roommates were all prison paroles, recruited for their jobs in prison, and so was everyone else who lived in that building! They weren’t all sales reps., but they were all employed by the timeshare company.

I stood frozen in shock, as they proudly displayed their prison artwork they had fashioned out of toilet paper for us, and then invited us out on their (company) catamaran for a party and late night fishing excursion, OMG! I didn’t even hear my husband’s excuse, or remember much about how we made it out of there, because I was too busy replaying scenes from horror movies in my head!

I had just figured that with high cost of living in Key West, low wages, and lack of decent affordable housing, that companies in the tourism industry were so desperate for employees, they had to resort to rather unorthodox recruiting methods, but after reading what you were told about criminal organizations? Makes sense

Why can’t people just say no if they don’t want to buy a timeshare? Whether they can’t afford it or don’t like it, nobody held a gun to their head … a lot of people are weak when it comes to a high pressure salesperson.

Why don’t people read the fine print before they sign a contract? This seems like a no-brainer, especially when thousands of dollars are at stake.

In this day and age, why don’t more people check out timeshares for sale on the internet if they are considering purchasing one?

Why can’t people realize that accepting a discounted vacation, a cash incentive, show tickets, whatever, does not obligate them to buy a thing? All you owe is your attendance at the presentation, nothing else.

How hard is it to figure out that if you just pay for your vacation you’re not obligated to go back again next year, the year after, etc.?

There are lots of reasons you can give a salesperson for not buying a timeshare, but you really don’t need an excuse or an explanation. You don’t need to defend your “no”.

As far as the difficulty of obtaining a real estate license? Well, some years ago, I worked for a real estate broker, who needed another broker in order to open a 2nd office. I didn’t even have to take a single class, instead, I studied for exactly 3 days, by reading a book titled “1001 Questions and Answers for the Real Estate Broker’s Test”. On the 4th day, I sat for the test, and passed, with an above 90 score in both the National and State portions! I wasn’t just an agent, but an actual Real Estate Broker, fully licensed to open my very own office! As difficult as it may be to believe it was that easy, it was.

For those who are severely allergic to pets, the dander poses far more of a danger to their lives than second hand smoke.

The problem with hotels that reserve separate rooms for pet owners is the same as those that have separate rooms for smokers. Those rooms are always the very slimest in the entire hotel. I don’t mind paying a fee for the privilege of bringing my cat, but I do mind paying extra for receiving substandard lodging.

I doubt your timeshare property will just agree though, but if you could get enough angry pet/timeshare owners, maybe. I personally would seek advice from an attorney.

LaQuinta Hotels are not only “pet friendly”, they don’t charge pet deposits! LaQuintas are also very reasonably priced, and most are very nice and clean. Cats and dogs up to 50 lbs. are allowed to stay in the rooms, except where prohibited by law. In which case, most LaQuintas provide outside kennels. I know that doesn’t help your timeshare delimma, but the info could handy when driving for several days, and don’t know in advance how far you’ll get before stopping for the night.

We have a cat and we don’t like leaving her home either. We have no problem paying deposits, but the worst a hotel can do is to ask us to leave, and charge an extra cleaning fee. We tip housekeeping very generously, and have never had any problems. Out of consideration for subsequent guests, we also treat her with allergy wipes on a daily basis.

I know, easy for those of us with cats, not so much for dog owners. So another suggestion is that before traveling, check to see if there are any “doggie daycare” facilities close by your destination where she can stay during the day. Some of these “doggie daycare” centers are downright luxurious! Many have different levels of service, with attendants who will walk and play with your dog as often as you request. Some even have puppy swimming pools and TV rooms that play videos of cats, squirrels and rodents running around all day! Many will also board your dog overnight. That way, she’d be close by, so you can visit her, while she’s on “playdates” with other puppy friends.

If she’s fairly small and relatively quiet, well, I have a large shoulder tote bag my cat fits nicely inside, and no one’s ever been the wiser. Leave the living room TV on at night (as cover noise in case she barks), keep the “do not disturb” tag on the door, and don’t forget a lint brush.

Another option toleaving her in a kennel, is to hire a “pet sitting service” to come to your home to care for your pet while you’re on vacation. Around here, for $20/day, a fully licensed and bonded pet service will come to your home, twice a day, for 1/2 hour each time, to feed, water, walk and play with your pet. For an additional fee, they’ll come as often, and stay as long as you like.

We use a pet sitting service only when we’re have to fly somewhere for a few days, because taking her on a plane would be far too traumatic. For additional peace of mind, we also leave our home computer on, with a webcam focused right on our bed–her favorite sleeping spot. By traveling with a laptop, all we need is an internet connection to log into our home computer, enabling us to “see” and even talk to her! (She’s a cat, so of course, she ignores us.) The program we use was only $30, but the set up does require some computer knowledge. If you’re not technically adept, you can hire a tekkie to come to your home for a similar set up.

Best of luck!

My husband and I have family in Florida, so we go there several times a year. We’ve stayed at Bonnet Creek, and it is really nice, but the DVC(Disney Vacation Club) properties are our favorite.

Unfortunately, they don’t offer any free, or even reduced, stays for presentations. But I’m on a couple of timeshare forums, and on occasion, DVC owners will have points that are about to expire, and will either “rent” them cheap, and sometimes, will offer their few remaining points for free!

So, courtesy of one of the members, my husband and I just recently stayed at the DVC Animal Kingdom Villas. She only had 30 points, so we did have to “rent” a few points from another member to cover the difference, but still, we got a 3 night stay for a little over $50!

Timeshare companies that have “lists” usually only restrict you to 1 presentation at their properties per year. Fortunately there’s so many timeshare companies, especially in Orlando, that it will take at least a year to cover all of them

In saying, “timeshare reps. have a right to make a living…”, by that you mean YOU, right? You’re a timeshare rep., aren’t you? Your true agenda here is pretty obvious.

As far as telling me that I should “button my lip?” Maybe that works on your wife, but I’m not your dog, and you are not entitled to give me orders. So I won’t be obeying you.

You seem to be ignoring the fact that this is a complaint board. This board was not started by someone who is happy with their timeshare, but rather, because they are NOT happy, not at all! If you bothered checking the rest of this site, you will see it is chock filled with people who are angry, and desperate to get rid of the financial burden they feel they were both pressured and CONNED into purchasing. Quite a few are facing financial ruin as a direct result, not that you care, do you?

Timeshares are so worthless, that many people on this very board are complaining that they can’t even give them away! Most charities won’t even take them as a free donation, and neither will anyone else. Those who inherit them don’t want them either, and certainly don’t want to be stuck with the annual maintenance fees and taxes, that they can’t afford!

Have you even bothered reading the rest of the posts on this board? Do you have any empathy for the any of the posters here, in dire straits and facing financial ruin? Any at all? Are you even aware that our entire country is in the worst recession since the great depression? That people are losing their jobs and their homes, and can’t afford the payments on their worthless timeshares that you, and other reps. talked them into buying? Do you realize that roughly 1/4th of all home mortgages are underwater, and that 2 MILLION children in our country are now homeless?

As far as I’m concerned, you are earning a living at the expense of others, by conning them out of their hard earned money, and NO, I will never agree you should have the right to do that! I regard the business practices of timeshare companies as predatory, underhanded, slimey and completely disreputable, and I want to see laws passed to make what you do for a living illegal.

That’s what I want, and until those laws are passed, I will continue to inform and warn as many people as possible, and will do so while I’m attending timeshare presentations, wasting as much of your time as possible, and collecting those “freebies.”

As far as my having real experience with timeshares? Gee, my husband and I stay at all kinds of timeshare properties, only we happen to know there’s no need to “buy in.” There’s tons and tons of unused weeks at practically every single timeshare property. We’ve paid as little as $99/week by taking advantage of timeshare travel clubs’ “last minute” specials (no membership required!), and the most we ever paid was $400, and that was for a full week stay in a 2 bedroom, luxury oceanfront condo in Key West at “The Galleon”, which is less than 1/2 the annual maintenance fees that owners pay. For a 1 bedroom condo, we normally pay exactly $211/week, $1 for the bid, plus $15 processing fee, and $195 for the cleaning fee, and that’s for an entire week’s stay through an auction site called “travelauction”.

You want to talk “supply and demand”? When it comes to timeshare properties, there’s far more supply than there is demand, and that’s why they end up renting them out to the general public, dirt cheap!

I know exactly what I’m talking about, and No Tony, I’m not about to trust you, or take your word on anything. All anyone has to do is read the rest of the posts on this board and they can easily see which one of us is really telling the truth!