Bluegreen lied to us in order sell points at Resort
Complaint
Roger &Patty Sears
Country: United States
In July of 2008, we took our grandkids to Laurel Crest, a Bluegreen Resort. We had 15,000 points for every 2 years. On July 8th, 2008, we met with Ken and Jeannie, two Bluegreen representatives selling additional points. Both Jeannie and Ken promised us that if we bought into 12,000 points for every year, the first year we would also carry over our 15,000 as they were getting ready to renew August 1st. They lied to us. We did not get the 15,000 points. We paid $10k for the 12k annual points. In a phone call to Ken in September, he even acknowledged that he probably did tell us that but he was "sorry" it just didn't work out that way.
In addition to this, you cannot get your vacation when you want it with Bluegreen. It is a day of frustration to try to book any beach resort even if you try to go the 11 months out. I don't understand why Bluegreen is not under investigation for fraud. They are no better than the Pyramid scams that swindle people out of their money. For the $700. a year in maintenance fees you have to pay, you could almost go on a vacation to a resort and not have paid the up front $10k. This seems criminal to me. Let the Buyer Beware....
In addition to this, you cannot get your vacation when you want it with Bluegreen. It is a day of frustration to try to book any beach resort even if you try to go the 11 months out. I don't understand why Bluegreen is not under investigation for fraud. They are no better than the Pyramid scams that swindle people out of their money. For the $700. a year in maintenance fees you have to pay, you could almost go on a vacation to a resort and not have paid the up front $10k. This seems criminal to me. Let the Buyer Beware....
Comments
was told that we could use our points to pay our maintenance fees but when we received our bill it was for $1450. I called the maintenance fee depart-
ment and was told my points 21,000 would only pay $200. At this point I was very upset and so far have not paid anything. I am thinking about just
stopping my payments and not paying the maintenance fees. Let them foreclose on the property. I have never done anything like this but am fed up with the whole picture. I have the property listed for sale with two
companies so there went another $900. TAKE MY ADVISE AND STEER CLEAR OF
TIMESHARES YOU ARE MUCH BETTER OFF TO TAKE YOUR VACATION WHEN YOU WANT AND NOT HAVE THE GRIEF OF A TIMESHARE.
The vacations were at Del Rey Beach, Florida and were beautiful, but the "studio" had a Murphy bed that came down about two inches away from the dishwasher. I had to crawl over my husband to get to the bathroom because there was no room to walk around the foot and up the opposide side of the bed to the bathroom. We literally were sleeping next to the kitchen sink. The balcony view was breathtaking. We bought a studio, so that was fine.
After hurricane "Andrew", the local property taxes went up 69 percent, according to the homeowner's association board. The folks were wonderful in the association, but!!! Special assessments jumped to $800 plus the maintenance fees. A lot of the owners couldn't come up with the extra fees and people were bailing right and left. The assn board found a company that would take our Del Rey units and let us exchange for units THEY had in their inventory--I believe they were a british company, but don't hold me to it.
We chose a ONE bedroom from the list and paid the difference between a studio and one bedroom. We didn't understand what we were doing and the LIST had been out for a long time, we WERE given the list in a assn newsletter, but didn't read and weren't sure if we understood, and thought if we hung in at Del Rey, things might get better.
After awhile, we took what seemed the best option on the list, paid the extra to upgrade to the one bedroom and since we drive and do not fly, we could make it in 18 hours instead of 23.
We're ok with it now, but not happy. We're further north and even though they have palm trees planted, it's not the same as Del Rey and Ft Lauderdale with all the hibiscus, just the ambiance, I guess.
Our so called one bedroom--the best on the "list" closely resembled our studio--without the murphy bed. The "divider" between our bed and the couch looks like trellis with curtains--no door you can lock. The "closet" is a dresser at the foot and two narrow built-ins on either side of the bed where night stands should be.
When we first began at the second resort, they had a bubbly college girl who arranged many area trips for whoever wanted to go. Had crafts and makeup parties etc for older ladies who wanted to stay in and we had a week packed with fun. Since she isn't there, you just grab a brochure and you're on your own--a vacation is way more fun in groups. Most people these days never even say helloan so how are they going to join a group? An activities director is such a bonus!.
By the way, one lady remarked about our room being a"studio
I told her it was a one bedroom. She said I have a one bedroom here and this is a studio! Our deed says one bedroom. The whole thing is one long narrow hallway!"
Now, when Blue Green hit our area, we got a letter telling us to come check them out and they would buy our timeshares and we would get gas certificates and gifts.
They only wanted us to BUY points and pay a few thousand dollars and we could travel when we wanted--a few days here and there and not commiting to an entire week like a timeshare. Just call today and be booked WHEREVER we chose within 48 hours!!! Just call and it's handled!.
We figured out that when we went to San Antonio in the early years, we were fine.
After Blue Green and this buying points became popular, we would be placed in the new rooms across the road (or the old ones at the bottom of a steep rocky hill without the full kitchen).
Across the street was away from the resort amenities proper. In other words, if I wanted to use the laundry, restaurant/snack area, mini golf, the main swimming pool, or the activities room, I had to get in my car, drive across the highway, go up a steep hill, go through a gated area and find a place to park.
I was dumb again! I thought the resort was all RCI timeshare owners. I didn't know on the average, only 10 percent of the rooms were for owners--the rest were hotel rooms.
When the above kept happening to us AND we heard the older folks in front of us refuse their room and heard them call RCI, who paid for them to go to a hotel,---- (we THOUGHT RCI exchange customers were to be given priority)---, we were told we had to go across the street again---but they could move us to the Hilltop location on Monday!!
Then it came to me as I looked down and saw ALL the cars on the Hilltop with Texas plates!! The resort was filling the good spots with locals who probably got a weekend package or some of those BlueGreen points people. After all that was cash--we were just part of a pre-paid group who made an exchange from their home resort.
In ALL fairness!!!!the resort I mentioned IS the Silverleaf and you cannot find a better group of folks. We stayed at Conroe and at San Antonio several times. They have lovely rooms, and the older ones at the botton of the hill were finally renovated( I couldn't climb stairs at the time ) and the ones across the road are beautiful!!! With an elevator and now a pool.
I decided to call Silverleaf before I went the last time to say we were RCI(Exchange) customers and I felt we were being pushed aside for the weekenders and didn't want to move on Monday and had never had a problem in the past and was a frequent visitor, they said they couldn't give a specific room until we checked in, but were sorry we felt we were not served well and when we arrived we had a lovely welcome package and a letter giving us the name of a staff member we could call anytime for assistance and they did value their RCI members. By that visit, we loved our rooms across the street and decided we weren't the amenities type anyway since we usually spent our time shopping away from the resort. I would have spent more time at the resort if I was on the hilltop and could have strolled the area and used the restaurant and sat on the lovely wrap-around porch. You know the cozy feeling of sitting on the porch and enjoying watching everyone having a grand time. You don't them, but you enjoy the activity--like a big block party.
My new home resort's parks department in Florida has taken pity on those of us who were again stupid and didn't know we could chose the week we were buying and bought out of season. The snowbirds will never know how much fun a blockparty is at the end of August--Labor Day weekend. And the nice people of Dayton have a free bandshell concert. I am so happy that there is finally something to do besides the ocean and shopping! I love the music at the block parties! A big thank you to the Ormond Parks Dept!
So we live and we learn and we try to do our homework. The problem is usually not with the folks who run the resorts or the hard working homeowners association, but with the ones at the top that you never see who come up with these crazy schemes to reel you in. If you think I'm joking, just try to find out who wants to take responsibility for the glitch printed on your deed--too many investment/management/legal folks involved who like to play"Let's Make a Deal and then Pass the Buck".
The above person said it all--Let the buyer beware!