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
Now, I do want to say this, we have some reps, as does any company, that are not moral people and they will lie. If they are not good at doing their job honestly they will reduce themselves to lying. However, that will cost them their job. It is called a sales alert. After three, the rep is fired. I hate that we even allow that much. I wish that was a one time thing and only once. However, to an extent I could understand two. The reason I say that is because as it is that we are all human, customers lie too to get out of things. Maybe they jumped into an impulsive buy and they regret. I have seen a sale go down properly and then the customer called and say a complete lie about that rep. The rep got in trouble and received their first sales alert. They had been with the company for three years with a perfect record. Because of the policy though, this rep now has a sales alert.
My point is however, read and understand what you buy because this is a big investment. Secondly, understand that we all have a job to do and these reps are just trying to feed their family. Third, if you honestly have a bad rep, speak to a manager. If the manager does not help, which they should, call our corporate office, know your reps name and where they work. This will be dealt with.
To end, I love my share. It is not for everyone though, and I try and stress that to my customers. It is a great deal, with a lot of really nice places, but only if you travel and travel often. All things sound good in a presentation. And it may be good for some people. Not everything is good for everyone. Keep that in mind and please do not insult people and call them vultures for doing a job. They are not out to get you. Most of them really believe in what they sell, as do I and want to help families enjoy what we offer. I loved it as an owner and still do but I love it as an employee. It is not for everyone though. Keep that in mind and do not get mad if you buy something you don't read the contract for. If you are lied to however, I am one hundred and ten percent behind you and think that you need to be compensated. As should anyone. Please contact our home office. It should be on your paperwork. We, just like any other company out there, does not want a bad name and we do strive to do good work. Please keep it mind that we are here to do a job, our lives do revolve around scamming you. We are humans as well with families and loved ones. Just as you are. God Bless.
Even with the maintenance fees, having a time share saves lots of money on accommodations.
No, I don't work for Bluegreen. My husband and I are both retired.
1. When we originally planned to make our visit in the Smokey Mountains this past March (2012) to view the resort I was excited. "A 90 minute selling with a 12 month and 4 year old probably won't be bad" is what I thought. But when we got there at 8:30am and didn't leave till 1:00pm, I'll be candid, I was livid. The baby missed his nap and was hungry, so naturally he was throwing a fit and the lady was going on and on. There was never an opportunity to be polite and excuse our selves. I finally had enough and looked at my husband and said, "ok, I'm making an executive decision, we aren't doing this. Thank you for your time. Babe, lets go." She had the balls to ask for 10, TEN! referalls.
2. My husband received a Bluegreen credit card in the mail about 3 weeks after we got back. I asked him when did he apply for the new credit card. He told me never did. So, my question, did Bluegreen take the opportunity when they had his info and run his credit and open up a line without authorization?
3. My other issue with these SCAMMERS just came to light. I guess they partner with other companies, specifically Vacation Tour and Travel Agency (sounds phony doesn't it). When we originally got the call to see the resort we also got the opportunity to get a discounted 4 day cruise with Carnival Cruise line. Our cost was just $165.00. When we tried to book the cruise today for just a 3 day cruise during the off season, we were told that the total cost (out of pocket for my husband and I) was going to be $700.61! FOR THE EXACT SAME CRUISE THROUGH CARNIVAL I COULD BOOK IT FOR $590.40! What the heck! I paid these scammer $165.00 for nothing. This is completely dishonest. If we booked the cruise the woman on the phone wanted us to book, it would have been about $800.00 for the 4 day. We were straight-up lied to.
The only way I'd be happy is if I got our $165.00 back. And I know its a 3rd party we dealt with, but Bluegreen should care, it makes them look horrible. Till I get our hard earned money back, I'll be sharing my experience with them to anyone that will listen and filing a claim with the BBB.
By the way, they don't even show the actual resort even though its about a mile up the road. They just show you pictures. And no, they DO NOT put you up in the resort either.
My advise, stay away from these people and don't give them any money or info about you unless you are definitely sure you want a timeshare.
She has wanted to sell, but every time she tried to get the ball rolling, she found out that she would have to pay some money upfront. So she just gave up. They are done paying on the "mortgage" and now pay the yearly fees and I am not sure what those amount to.
She tells me they paid like 20,000 dollars for this BG timeshare. Sorry if I am using incorrect terms, but I know very little about timeshares or whatever they are called.
WELL, wouldn't you just know it, some guy called her a couple of days ago and asked if she was interested in selling their BG timeshare!! I have no idea how he found her. I don't know what company he is with. And the best part is.....he doesn't want any money upfront! He tells her he will charge her 7% of the selling price as his realtor fee. Now, another BIG plus is, after he checks with his boss, he asks her if she would agree to sell it for 26,000 dollars!! He says he got that amount approved by his boss. Of course she is thrilled and she and her husband say yes of course. WOW...they could POSSIBLY make 6,000 dollars!
I don't tell her that I am so skeptical I can hardly stand it. This guy just surfaced out of nowhere and he can help them to sell this thing, AND make a profit!
How come he has never contacted all of the people who have written here on this website and cannot wait to get rid of their BG timeshare?? I am saddened to read all of the stories that are on here.
I have to wonder if my sister is living in La-La Land. Like I said, I am not well informed about timeshare, but I have also never thought there was profit to be made upon selling.
Oh, this guy says he can probably sell to a big corporation like Ford or GM. He says they are always looking for timeshare properties for things like conventions etc. Hmmmm, more skepticism from me.
Does anyone have any insight on this type of thing? Is the guy a scammer? Is it too good to be true?
Thanks!