Class action lawsuits against a timeshare company.
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Class Action Lawsuits Against Timeshare Companies

Does The Deceived Consumer Ever Win?

A class action lawsuit against a timeshare company.

Synonymous with timeshare sales is consumer deception: The timeshare industry is changing rapidly with the advent of two recent public litigation proceedings that ended positively for consumers. Many timeshare companies are huge conglomerate multi-million dollar institutions that rely on false promises to get individuals to buy into vacation time as a lifelong commitment.

If you have invested in a timeshare and believe that during the sales presentation you were deceived into the purchase, there are several factors to consider before undergoing the litigation process. For many years consumers were not successful in their lawsuits against timeshare companies because of the expertise and ability of these companies to find loopholes around consumer law to protect their less than honest sales pitches.

Times are changing though and with two public lawsuits that ended favorably for individuals having bought into timeshares under false pretenses; the odds of winning a litigation proceeding against timeshare companies are higher now than ever.

Still, there are many factors to consider before undergoing the potentially costly endeavor of a lawsuit against timeshare companies. Learn about two critical cases that ended positively for the consumer, understand the basic process of undergoing a class action lawsuit, and some potential deterrents to moving in this direction.

What Is A Class Action Lawsuit VS A Personal Litigation Proceeding: The Cost Benefit Of Both

A class action lawsuit involves one single case filed by a group of individuals who have all experienced harm by the same defendant: It is the consolidation of their collective experience with the defendant, often a corporation or company. The plaintiff, in this case a group of individuals who have all commonly been misled during timeshare presentations and where coercion was used to fraudulently close the sale.

To file a class action lawsuit you must have several plaintiffs that have sustained similar injury, including financial, by the same defendant. In general, prosecuting attorneys involved in class action lawsuits will receive payment for legal work upon conclusion of a victorious case. As the number of individuals filing a collective case against the large companies is high usually the final payment to the plaintiffs is high as well, provided they win the case.

In terms of timeshare related lawsuits, you will need to organize a group of individuals who have purchased with the same company and who also can relate a very similar testimony as to how they were deceived into purchasing their timeshare. The more individuals that can validate the shared experience, the better the odds are of winning the case.

Most class action lawsuits do not go to trial and are dealt with quietly outside of court. Most large companies do not want the public to be aware of ongoing court cases against them and will attempt to settle out of court.

The most challenging obstacle with class action lawsuits against timeshare companies is that experience varies from one consumer to another, meaning what you were promised during a closing presentation may be quite different from your neighbor depending on what the presenter perceived to be important to you. Further, much of what goes on during the closing period of timeshare presentations does not get written down. Weary, after many hours in a timeshare presentation, consumers may not be diligent about getting all of the promises in writing.

If you are able to organize a large group of owners, with a shared experience, and willing to testify through an affidavit then you may be well on your way to developing a viable class action case against the timeshare company.

If your experience was personal to you, then you will have to move through the personal litigation (any legal proceeding) on your own. This is challenging because most lawyers will charge legal fees up front asking for a retainer, of a fairly large sum. There was recently a personal litigation case that was very successful in Tennessee where the plaintiff did win against a large timeshare company.

After reviewing the case studies below you will need to decide for yourself if you want to proceed with legal action and if so, what course of action would be better for you: class action lawsuit or personal litigation?

The Wisconsin Settlement: Westgate Owners vs. Wyndham

Wyndham is the largest publicly owned timeshare chain in the world, they paid the toll of deceptive sales tactics on May 29th, 2015 that cost them nearly 1 million dollars in restitution to the timeshare owners as well as to the state of Wisconsin. The court-approved settlement was finalized after a long period of investigation by the Wisconsin regulators of consumer complaints filed by the timeshare owners of Westgate.

The owners of the timeshare experienced sales tactics during long drawn out sales presentations that resulted in them buying into timeshares under false pretenses. This is common for many individuals who have fallen prey to the predatory sales pitches of large timeshare companies. If you own a timeshare and feel that you were deceptively sold a timeshare then you will want to consider organizing a large group of owners with a similar experience to form a class action lawsuit against the resort or company that sold you your timeshare.

Here is how the case ended for Wyndham and the timeshare owners in Wisconsin: The Wyndham timeshare chain paid $665, 404 in restitution to 29 owners according to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Wyndham not only agreed to pay the restitution fee they also agreed to obliterate the ownership agreements with the plaintiffs. This meant that some of the owners walked away with restitution payments ranging individually from $3,259 to $84,698 and no further binding contracts of ownership for their timeshares. The Wyndham Vacation Ownership was also mandated to pay the state of Wisconsin $99, 520 in fines and $62, 702 in legal fees.

Not wanting to draw public attention to the matter, Wyndham settled outside of court ensuring that the matter was dealt with privately. The company issued a final public statement relinquishing any responsibility for the fraudulent activity and stated:

“We are committed to ensuring our sales practices are compliant with all regulatory requirements while striving to meet the highest standards of fairness and transparency, and continually look for ways to make the buying process more consumer-friendly. Businesses and regulatory agencies working together is good for our industry and good for consumers, and we are pleased to have a strong record in this regard.”

Despite this statement, Wyndham continues to have class action suits filed against them by timeshare owners. There are currently 1,657 ongoing complaints against them by timeshare owners, 1,117 of the complaints are focused on misleading and deceptive sales tactics. The state of New York has preemptively changed their laws regarding the sales of timeshares to further protect consumers from fraudulent activity.

Tennessee Lawsuit Against Timeshare Company Goes To Court: Overton vs. Westgate

It is very rare for timeshare lawsuits to ever make it to trial, but in Tennessee, a couple, Nathan and Patricia Overton went all the way as they fought for justice against the timeshare company that coaxed them into an unwanted timeshare.

The court found that the Overton’s were deliberately misled and lied to about their timeshare purchase at a Gatlinburg resort owned by Westgate resorts.

This case is noteworthy and a potential game changer for the timeshare industry. Many timeshare companies are sued, but the case never makes it to court and is kept under quiet wraps so as not to alter public opinion. The case in Tennessee was high profile and now stands as testimony to many people who have been fraudulently sold timeshares under deceptive terms.

Westgate is a 1.4 billion dollar company and were sued, not by class action but by a couple who experienced the manipulative sales tactics of timeshare presenters that so many timeshare owners have experienced.

Going to court with a timeshare company.

The Overton’s were vacationing in Gatlinburg in 2011 when they were invited to a timeshare presentation that promised a free gift and that it would last only 90 minutes. In fact, the timeshare presentation lasted eight hours and the Overton’s were promised a fixed week in December, in a fixed unit of their preference. Weary from the eight-hour presentation they bought into the timeshare expecting a particular unit during a particular week in December.

Not surprisingly, as it turned out they signed an agreement to a floating week and a floating unit. They were never able to vacation during their desired time frame and were not given the unit they thought they agreed to. Does any of this sound familiar? Barring a few details this is very common for many individuals and families who have bought into timeshares.

Ultimately, the court mandated that Westgate pay the Overton’s $600,000 in restitution, pay them back for the cost of the timeshare, and relinquish the binding contract. According to the court’s verdict: “The trial court found that the defendant had violated the respective statutory provisions [of Tennessee’s Timeshare Law] and was guilty of fraud and misrepresentation.”

This verdict has paved the way for many individuals deciding to move forward with lawsuits against timeshare companies that have misrepresented the contract of timeshare ownership.

Although the Overton’s case was not a class action lawsuit, the litigation process was successful and brought public attention to the dubious practices of timeshare sales.

Ultimately, you will need to decide for yourself if it is better to follow a class action lawsuit and organize other timeshare owners with a shared experience to yours or follow through with a personal lawsuit against the company. Remember that a personal lawsuit will most likely cost you a hefty retainer fee upfront to your chosen attorney. After weighing out your options and considering the two examples above you will be able to make a choice that serves your needs best.

Is A Class Action Lawsuit Appropriate For You? Determine If The Legislation Of The Country Where Your Timeshare Is Located Has Consumer Protection Laws

At a human level it can be difficult to understand why a sales presenter would endorse deceptive and manipulative practices to get you to buy a timeshare. Most of the presenters are not paid unless they close the sale and receive a commission, in which case the profession can be lucrative. In short, you are the direct meal ticket to this presenter. This is why the push is so hard and also why deception is so ramped in this industry. This methodology puts the sales representative in conflict between his or her own financial needs and ethical practice. Regardless, you are not responsible for the professional choices of your presenter, but it may be helpful to understand why it happens.

According to Attorney Michael A. Finn from Finn Law Group, deception is a common practice for most timeshare presenters. You may find some coherence between the following statement by Attorney Finn and your own experience:

“Most of our clients tell us that they were deceived during their initial timeshare presentation and that a lot of what they were told was simply not truthful, that they relied upon the veracity of the sales staff and it was only later, when they attempted to utilize their purchase, that they learned a different story. Of course this realization did not come during the 5-10 day rescission period (varying by state) provided by law, and so the hapless owner came to realize that the resort would not help them and, furthermore, that the purchase contract they signed is considered to be legally binding and worse, in the absence of a way to unload their purchase on someone else, there is no exit scenario built into the contract. Essentially, in the absence of a viable resale opportunity, these contracts become lifelong obligations.”

This statement sums up the general experience for many individuals who have bought into timeshare ownership under false pretenses. If you own a timeshare in the United States, Canada, Europe, or New Zealand there are many attorneys such as Michael A. Flynn with years of experience helping individuals and groups of individuals get the restitution they deserve from deceptive companies.

If, however, your timeshare is in a country without laws that protect the consumer the odds of finding success in any kind of lawsuit are negligible. Determine if your timeshare is located in a country or state with strong consumer protection, if this is true of your timeshare location, consider a class action lawsuit and organize other timeshare owners to group together as a single operative plaintiff. Or venture out on your own and follow a personal litigation process.

Unfortunately, many countries do not have consumer supportive legislature in place and it may not be worth the while to form a lawsuit against the resort where your timeshare is. Laws regarding consumer protection vary from country to country; make sure you understand the basic legislation of the country where you have bought your timeshare.

Times Are Changing For Timeshare Companies: After Many Years Of Deceptive Sales Practices Court Systems Are Holding These Companies Financially Accountable

The lawsuits against timeshare companies in both Wisconsin and Tennessee provide hope for many individuals who feel they were fraudulently drawn into the purchase of a timeshare. Consumer protection laws are changing to favor individuals who were duped during timeshare presentations into buying something they did not fully agree to.

If you decide that a class action lawsuit against a timeshare companies is appropriate for you, then be sure to collaborate with other owners who bought into the same company, who will support the same vision of prosecution as you, who are willing to provide written testimony, and who share a similar story to yours.

If you are unable to assemble a group of like-minded timeshare owners, then you may want to follow the same direction as the Overton’s in Tennessee and pursue your own litigation process. If you decide that this is the best option for you, then be prepared to provide a high retainer fee upfront for the attorney who will be representing you.

After all is considered you may prefer to hold on to your timeshare, transfer your timeshare to a family member, or donate the timeshare to a charity. Whatever you decide, take time to ensure that your needs are met and remember to weigh in the emotional, financial, and time demands that any lawsuit requires.

Sources:

https://www.redweek.com/resources/ask-redweek/timeshare-owners-vs-developers

https://www.finnlawgroup.com/active-litigation/
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31 Comments

  1. Been approached by RCA again per phone wanting to sell a trip and of course want credit card information. Was involved in previous lawsuit that was filled. please advise me of what is taking place at present. A concerned scammed indidual. No settlement at time.

  2. We were swindled out of $5,208.00 on 2 of our credit cards by Catalyst Consulting Firm, Minnesota. They did nothing to help us get out of the timeshare. We asked for our money back and did not get anything back. They forwarded the case to Principal Transfer Group who also did nothing to help us. They never got us out of the timeshare. I have lots of “names of the people” who were present at the “Red Lobster in NJ” location for this presentation. They made promises to even get money back due to false advertising and we got nothing. I finally had to pay up front money to the resort directly of another large sum to get out of the timeshare and ended up doing it on our own vs. this Catalyst Consulting Firm. I have signed papers and names and would love to have a case started against these people who took our money and never refunded it as it was a GUARANTEE to get us out of the timeshare and guaranteed money back if they did not.

  3. My timeshare company adds “optional extra items” onto my bill each year I do not want and asked to be removed, and then forces me to call and get credit for them if I don’t want them – AKA slamming and cramming. I am with Sapphire resorts in Vegas and filed complaints with AG and BBB -anyone else have issues with this?

  4. We are 81 and 82 year old Canadians who can no longer travel or continue to pay escalating costs.
    I our time share is with SHERATON VISTANA IN ORLANDO

    ARE THERE ANY OTHER PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT??!!

    1. Yes. We have timeshare vacations village and totally WANT TO do class action lawsuit. We were so manipulated through the whole process nearly 20 years ago.

      Yes we are also struggling; retired and no longer able to travel or afford but stuck.
      Any class action lawsuit vacation village Berkshires? Totally feel we were manipulated. They continue to sell but don’t allow current ow era to network to sell our ow. Timeshares because would likely sell cheaper. We have a summer week even year. Spent in excess. $30000 not Including maintenance fees. HELP!

  5. Are there any class action suits against Hilton Grand Vacation? We purchased in 2018 and have not been able to use. Many of the promises that were made to us at the time of purchase we are now finding to be untrue. We have attempted to do a resale and have found out that the timeshare is basically not worth the piece of paper it is printed on. It is very disheartening to know that you spent tens of thousands of dollars on something that is you can only get 15% of the amount that you spent when you were told that it was an investment in your vacation future.

  6. Is there a class action lawsuit with Vistana Signature Experience? I bought in Orlando in October 2019 with multiple multiple lies. I am a single mother or 3 daughters and a nurse. When I got home and tried to refi my timeshare like they said I could because it is like a mortgage loan, no lender would even consider even though I have great credit. So I now owe more than the purchase price due to a 13.5% interest rate despite I paid $6000 dollars that day and $1005/mo since then. Please help

  7. I have been dealing with someone from CI Banco who said there was a class action settlement for Playa del Sol in Puerto Vallarta and we have been awarded a settlement. They now want nearly $4000 USD in processing fees before they will send the money. Still trying to get through to CI Banco.

  8. I am looking to join a class-action lawsuit against Wyndham Vacation Resorts. I am tired of being lied to, misrepresented and scammed by this timeshare company. Please be in touch if you know of any of these lawsuits.
    BP

    1. I thought the Reed Hein Timeshare Exit Team was credible especially since Dave Ramsey endorsed the company. But 2 years later and I’ve not received any help and I’m ready to join a lawsuit against both Wyndham Vacation Resorts AND Reed Hein Timeshare Exit Team!! Are there any active lawsuits at this time?

    2. I am in a class action lawsuit with Wyndham. However, not sure of what good it has got me. they agreed to settle with me 60/40. I would pay 60% of the balance, that would be $24,000. They want that all at one time up front. They are truly crooks, they lied to me when they sold me my timeshare. they told me I was buying something other than what I purchased. They snatched up the papers they did all their selling points on so I have no proof of the lies.

  9. Has anyone else been scammed by silver lake resort? They have been scamming my wife and I for years. Wondering about class action lawsuit?

    1. Hello. Yes, we bought a timeshare in 2008 ish. Been dealt like we were lied to. They said we could rent it out no problem. Want to sue to get out of it.

    2. Silverlake either does not understand how RCI works or they are complicit in getting you to give up your week with them. You will never get anything comparable from RCI. There is a successful lawsuit precedent for this.

  10. Is anything being done now that RCI is completely changing the way that you can use converted points from Wyndham? I transferred something like 170k, we purchased our Wyndham timeshare with the intent (even just added points In March) of using points for cruising. You cannot use points for cruising any longer, effective 10/1.

  11. Any class action suits going on for CONRAD/FREEPORT BAHAMAS/XANADU PLEASE WRITE TO ME. I am still being forced to pay for fees WITH NO TIMESHARE.
    LONG STORY BUT I NEED HELP THANKS.

  12. I was scammed in May 2009 by a tag team of 2 salesmen at Silver Lake Resort in Kissimmee, FL. The four hour presentation included my wife and me saying no three times. A fourth offer was presented by a person “pretending” to be a supervisor who really wanted to “help us” get the vacation package/timeshare so that we would live healthier, happier lives. I had to give my credit card which was charged a $1200 down payment up front. What was never explained was that the number of points in the offer, which were only available on the odd years, were not enough to even book one week at Silver Lake. In fact, when I tried to book a week I was told that my points would only get me a 2-night stay. I have paid on this “wonderful” vacation timeshare for ten years (over $20,000) and have never gotten to use it. I’m scared of the “exit companies” who want thousands of money up front. Help. What can I do?

    1. Us too, we’re in it for over $20k I’m ashamed to say. We were told we could convert out points through RCI for cruises and that was the only reason we purchased, then RCI changed their rules and well that was just too bad. That is what we were sold on and now we’re stuck with a timeshare we don’t even use.

    2. Us too, we’re in it for over $20k I’m ashamed to say. We were told we could convert out points through RCI for cruises and that was the only reason we purchased, then RCI changed their rules and well that was just too bad. That is what we were sold on and now we’re stuck with a timeshare we don’t even use.

  13. received a call from WAB COLLECTIONS WHO HAD ALL THE INFO ON ME AND MY TIMESHARE. HE STATED THAT A CLASS ACTION WAS BROUGHT AND WON. HE STATED THAT I HAD MY MONEY THAT I PAID PREMIER TIMESHARE EXCH, IN 2012 ($4,153) WAS TO BE PAID TO ME FROM THE SETTLEMENT WHICH WAS NOW $11K TO INCLUDE PAIN AND SUFFERING AND OTHER STUFF. HE REQUESTED NO $ BUT KNEW ALL MY INFO ABOUT HOW I PAID (DEBIT CARD ). AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I KEPT TELLING HIM I AM NOT WRITTING ANOTHER CHECK,, HE SAID THEY WILL EMAIL HOW THIS REFUND WORKS..

    1. Just received a similar phone call, an the guy had all my information and actually deposited the settlement in my account, but I haven’t sent them any money because I’m thinking the transaction can be reversed or they are hacking someone account to put the money in mine and then it will be reversed. I called my credit card company an they stated it can take up to 15 days for any charges to be reversed and the guy who call is trying to push getting me to send money to another party instead of their firm. Did anything else happen after you refused to write another check?

  14. I am looking for a Class Action Lawsuit against Orange Lake Resort in Kissimmee, Florida. I have written every state and federal agency that has been recommended to me, and I have gotten no insight to an inexpensive way out of my timeshare. We were tricked into buying in 2012 and I have regretted it from almost the beginning. Please everyone write your public officials. If enough people complain, maybe we can get something done.

    1. Rebecca, is the Orange Lake Resort in Kissimmee part of Westgate Villas and Town Center? I have a timeshare since 1989? I can’t get rid of it if I tried. I would love to be part of Class Action Lawsuit if one is out there. I have been trying for years. I have wasted money on scam companies that you have to pay up front to try to sell. The worst part is, Westgate’s contracts were written to make it impossible to get out of the maintenance and taxes even if the deed passes. I am so disgusted

  15. Diamond Resorts…now Mystic Dunes…not ADA compliant….filed ADA Disability Rights case…and we want our investment back.

    1. I also am looking to sue Mystic Dunes to get out of paying those annual fees after the time share has been paid for years ago

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