do not buy a timeshare from Bluegreen
Complaint
Ben Travis
Country: United States
Do not...I repeat...do NOT buy a Bluegreen timeshare under any conditions. No matter how sweet it may sound, it is a rip-off. My wife and I bought one, and we are in a continual state of regret about it. It is virtually impossible to sell (the same amount of points we bought for $10,000 are selling for about $3,000 online), plus we have yearly fees of about $700 that must be paid for us to even be able to keep using it.
Here are some of the things you may not hear while you're in a Bluegreen presentation... we didn't:
-each year you will have to pay both "maintenance fees" and "club dues," which for us amount to over $700. If you don't pay, you can't use any of your points at all until you do pay.
-many of the resorts they tell you about can only be booked in 7-day increments, which means you'll take that trip and no others for two years because you'll use up all your points on that single trip.
-we just found this one out... if you don't have the points, you can't book a trip... for example, we get 12,000 new points in July, so I called to book something in August. Well, I can't do that until I "have the points." Of course, by the time the points actually show up, all the places will be booked for the summer. We're all paid up on maintenance fees and club dues, so we will definitely get the points, but too bad... we have to wait. The person on the phone even sympathized with me and said he understood what I was saying, but too bad.
-they say they will help you rent your timeshare, but this is a joke. Your timeshare will never rent for anything near what you need to maintain the fees on it, much less pay it off.
-take a look at this web site to see what points are actually worth if you buy them on eBay: http://popular.ebay.com/ns/Real-Estate/Bluegreen.html If you really desperately want Bluegreen points, don't buy them from Bluegreen.
-they tell you that you can book things just a day or two in advance, but this is almost never possible in real life. Things are booked up months in advance.
Owning a Bluegreen timeshare is like a weight that you have to drag around with you for the rest of your life. There are many places that will rent timeshares if you like that kind of thing, and you can usually get them fairly cheap and without any obligation for the future. When I imagine paying $700 a year for the rest of my life, it feels amazingly scary. Don't do it. You're locking yourself into something that will never end when there is absolutely no need to do so.
They give you the free trip, then take advantage of how little you've researched timeshares when you're in the presentation. They tell you this price can only be offered this one time, and that you can't take another trip. It's all cheap sales techniques, and they wouldn't be necessary if it were something people really benefited from.
We even looked on the internet during our sales presentation... if only I had come across a letter like this, we probably wouldn't have bought, and we'd be much better off. At least take a few days to think about it. If they can't give you that long to think, they're tricking you anyway.
Buying a Bluegreen timeshare is a terrible decision. They, like many salespeople, will tell you whatever you want to hear to get you to buy, knowing that they will not personally be accountable for any misrepresentations of the truth later on.
One thing they promised us is that we could rent our timeshare. Now they've done away with that aspect as well, so you either use it, keep paying about $700 in fees each year along with whatever you paid originally, or you just lose the points. Every letter we receive is something else they're taking away from us.
The most recent thing that happened was that we had tried to rent ours out for 10,000 points (most of our points) before they decided to stop letting people do that. So I called today, 10 days in advance, to check and make sure it was rented, since this is the cut-off for when I can cancel without losing points. So the guy on the phone told me that yes, it is rented. And I asked, "Well, what happens if the people cancel sometime in the next 10 days?" He said, "We don't have any control over that, sir." And I said, "I understand that, but I don't either. So what happens to my points if they cancel?" And he said, "Well, you lose those points."
So some renter I don't even know can decide to back out at the last minute, and I lose 10,000 points and don't get to travel or make any money from my timeshare for 2 years! That seems fair...
Everything Bluegreen does seems to be a way to get themselves more money and screw over their "valued customers."
And Bluegreen, if you're reading this, don't bother calling me trying to get me to revoke the complaint... we're trying to sell our timeshare as quickly as we can and hopefully never have any interaction with you for as long as we live.
Here are some of the things you may not hear while you're in a Bluegreen presentation... we didn't:
-each year you will have to pay both "maintenance fees" and "club dues," which for us amount to over $700. If you don't pay, you can't use any of your points at all until you do pay.
-many of the resorts they tell you about can only be booked in 7-day increments, which means you'll take that trip and no others for two years because you'll use up all your points on that single trip.
-we just found this one out... if you don't have the points, you can't book a trip... for example, we get 12,000 new points in July, so I called to book something in August. Well, I can't do that until I "have the points." Of course, by the time the points actually show up, all the places will be booked for the summer. We're all paid up on maintenance fees and club dues, so we will definitely get the points, but too bad... we have to wait. The person on the phone even sympathized with me and said he understood what I was saying, but too bad.
-they say they will help you rent your timeshare, but this is a joke. Your timeshare will never rent for anything near what you need to maintain the fees on it, much less pay it off.
-take a look at this web site to see what points are actually worth if you buy them on eBay: http://popular.ebay.com/ns/Real-Estate/Bluegreen.html If you really desperately want Bluegreen points, don't buy them from Bluegreen.
-they tell you that you can book things just a day or two in advance, but this is almost never possible in real life. Things are booked up months in advance.
Owning a Bluegreen timeshare is like a weight that you have to drag around with you for the rest of your life. There are many places that will rent timeshares if you like that kind of thing, and you can usually get them fairly cheap and without any obligation for the future. When I imagine paying $700 a year for the rest of my life, it feels amazingly scary. Don't do it. You're locking yourself into something that will never end when there is absolutely no need to do so.
They give you the free trip, then take advantage of how little you've researched timeshares when you're in the presentation. They tell you this price can only be offered this one time, and that you can't take another trip. It's all cheap sales techniques, and they wouldn't be necessary if it were something people really benefited from.
We even looked on the internet during our sales presentation... if only I had come across a letter like this, we probably wouldn't have bought, and we'd be much better off. At least take a few days to think about it. If they can't give you that long to think, they're tricking you anyway.
Buying a Bluegreen timeshare is a terrible decision. They, like many salespeople, will tell you whatever you want to hear to get you to buy, knowing that they will not personally be accountable for any misrepresentations of the truth later on.
One thing they promised us is that we could rent our timeshare. Now they've done away with that aspect as well, so you either use it, keep paying about $700 in fees each year along with whatever you paid originally, or you just lose the points. Every letter we receive is something else they're taking away from us.
The most recent thing that happened was that we had tried to rent ours out for 10,000 points (most of our points) before they decided to stop letting people do that. So I called today, 10 days in advance, to check and make sure it was rented, since this is the cut-off for when I can cancel without losing points. So the guy on the phone told me that yes, it is rented. And I asked, "Well, what happens if the people cancel sometime in the next 10 days?" He said, "We don't have any control over that, sir." And I said, "I understand that, but I don't either. So what happens to my points if they cancel?" And he said, "Well, you lose those points."
So some renter I don't even know can decide to back out at the last minute, and I lose 10,000 points and don't get to travel or make any money from my timeshare for 2 years! That seems fair...
Everything Bluegreen does seems to be a way to get themselves more money and screw over their "valued customers."
And Bluegreen, if you're reading this, don't bother calling me trying to get me to revoke the complaint... we're trying to sell our timeshare as quickly as we can and hopefully never have any interaction with you for as long as we live.
Comments
------FREE UNIT / POINTS------------------------------------
Dear XXXXXXX,
Timeshare Broker Services (TBS) have received your request to donate your timeshare to the Donation Program. I will need to verify the information you submitted, but first here is some information about how the program works.
The Donation Program is in conjunction with Southern New
Hampshire University (SNHU). SNHU does not use the timeshare. Therefore, TBS will have to find a buyer ready to purchase the timeshare. TBS will
advertise your timeshare and find a buyer. Once we have a buyer, title is
transferred from you to SNHU, then immediately transferred from SNHU to the
new buyer. In this way, you are credited with the donation and the new buyer owns the timeshare.
TBS want to make it clear, with the Donation Program, TBS or SNHU does not
take ownership to the timeshare. If any fees become due while we are in the
process of finding a buyer for the timeshare you are donating, you are
responsible for payment and keeping the timeshare fees current.
TBS service simply offers a cost free form of advertising that will
hopefully find a buyer for your timeshare, a charitable contribution for you and help a charity at the same time. TBS cannot guarantee a buyer will be found, but there is no cost to you at any point in this transaction.
From the information you submitted, I understand you own the "Bluegreen
Resorts - The Lodge Alley Inn " resort. Please verify that this information
is correct and also that the unit is paid up to date. After you email back,
I will send you forms to fill out.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Have a Great Day
Bob Bender
Real Estate Broker/Associate
Timeshare Broker Services
877-884-9577 ext. 302 Toll Free
407-454-9230 ext.302 International
321-972-3833 Fax
<mailto:bobbender@timesharebrokerservices.com>
bobbender@timesharebrokerservices.come
--------------------------------------------------------------
My response, CN
Dear Bob,
The unit we are considering donating Unit Week 52 F, unit 229 Lodge Alley Inn as recorded in bkH 455PG625 in Charleston County, SC dated 7/1/2003.
We have never been able to gain access or use of any unit at Lodge Alley Inn. The alternate locations we did visit through the years have regrettably gotten worse with time.
Thus I have chosen to forgo sending any additional money to this organization.
I will contact my Lawyer in the AM to determine if any action will taken against me if I continue to ignore any future attempts to collect fees on this property. I will willingly return the deed/ownership to whoever now controls management of this facility.
My interest in donating the unit at this time is to release all future interest in the sham we were sold Eight years ago.
Thanks for the prompt response and your attention.
C N, Greensboro, NC
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Footnote: You can book this site on-line at numerous sites, but no one is willing topurchase any of the 25 plus owners attempting to sell. Price range $850 - $15,000
Search LODGE ALLEY INN – Quite an eye opener – All I WANT IS OUT OF THIS SHAM
I dont think I could give it away.
Rooms were dirty, furniture was worn with holes and dirty. The wall paper was peeling and so was the paint. The carpet was worn and holes were in it.
The VCR (yes VCR) thats how old everything was in the villa.
We had rented movied we could not watch.
We had not been there for several years and when we complained we were told. CALL BEFORE YOU COME BACK TO SEE IF WE HAVE MADE ANY CHANGES TO THE VILLA.
For the maintance fees and taxes I have paid in the last 10 yrs I was disgusted. I would not recommend buying a timeshare here.
There was trash on the grounds.
Old furniture
Old appliances.
Old TV
Old VCR
Old and in need of repairs.
I had the money at the time to pay off the cost so no financing or interest for me. I never had any trouble using my time. I dont try to travel at peak times though. Been to the fountains and Sunshine in Orlando, World Golf Village in St Augustine, Carolina Grands in Myrtle Beach. Just booked a weekend at Sea Glass Towers for Feb no problem. Found availability for a week in Orlando and the following week in Miami no problem.
The resorts I have been to are great. We are a young family of five. We really enjoy the Fountains in Orlando and have been there multiple times.
All that said I definitely dont agree with the sales tactics of the BG sales people. After my initial purchase I was hot with the way the points expire. I lost more of the extras they gave because I never had time to use them. I lost many points to non use. And yes I tried to use Bluegreen to rent them and of course no luck.
I went to all the owner updates just so I could get the Gift cards for revenge. It was always makes out for a wasted day so we always planned for it. After a few years of using the resorts I changed a bit. Specially after having children. The kids dont like the wasted day and $75 worth of gift cards every year surely doesnt hurt them so the revenge was never achieved.
I actually let BG talk me into upgrading at one of the owner updates and of course lied to again. Dont fall for the senior salesman tactic. Of course he has been there for years and had a ring to prove it. He had a photo album of all the BG resorts he visited with him in the photos of course. Gave me his cell number since I was a silver member in case I had any problems. Told me to email my referals directly to him and he would make sure to pass them along. ect ect ect....... All lies of course. The number was real and his eamil was real but he could not recall saying any of those things.
I am glad I upgraded to 21k points a year. Seems that is what you have to have to actually begin to enjoy this place. Not so happy that I paid retail rate to do it. We have used lots of bonus time. only $59 per night for a condo. Not bad. Sucks that I had to do that when I had saved points. Saved points are no good in high red but if they have availability they will rent the rooms for $59/night???????? Seems kinda stupid but oh well.
Anyhow the way I see it right now is I have it and use it. You waste too much time being mad. Definitely cant sell it. My MF are almost $1k per year. It sucks. The way I see it is yes right now I could have a nice week vacation for $1000 and not be locked into where to spend it. BUT!!! There are not alway going to be condos for rent in resort areas for $100 per night. These places are going to rebound and when they do BG owners will be sitting well. I hope anyway. Hotels are $100 per night. The only reason the condos are that low is because people are not traveling right now.
So for now I get my $1k worth out of the program per year. Actually a little more. Then I hope the value of ownership increases in the future. You do get a big bang for the buck if you can use RCI hot weeks. Heck some of these weeks would be worth the risk of losing the points if you dont go. I think this year I am going to gamble a few points away reserving a hot week and trying to sell it. I have lost more points for nothing anyway.
This actually is not that bad of a thing if you have time to manage it. I dont and most of the posters here dont but obviously there is nothing we can do but make the most of it.
Thanks
Is no one suing these scum artist?
I am another one of the millions who have been scammed by Bluegreen. This is the single worst purchase of anything I have ever made in my life. I have tried for three years to make a reservation in Hawaii. Never any availablity. I have 8000 points and tried each week of the year. This seems like fraud to me.
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO START A CLASS ACTION SUIT I AM I!
Lyndon Burgin
lyndondb@aol.com
Iv'e got an idea.
They won't let us out because it will make BG's stock go down.
They will lose their fees, so they lock us in for life.
Even Pinnacle won't really sale the BG package, because BG
would lose.
In stead of a Class Action Suit, what if we just go and hang
around at the places that offer these trips, like in my area is
The Bass Pro Shop, and tell people there that this is a scam and then
at least we will have some satisfaction that they won't do this to anyone else.
Anybody with me?