Showing posts with label westgate resorts layoff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label westgate resorts layoff. Show all posts
10/03/2010
12/17/2008
Westgate Resorts Admits Advertising Dishonest, Posted by Robert Paisola
Westgate Resorts Admits Dishonest Advertising, What will David A. Siegal Say?
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A 'five star luxury resort' Westgate Resorts executive admits untrue. Our experience in Westgate South Beach and how Westgate's deceptive practices should refund buyers their money.
Last week the time finally came to depart on our Westgate vacation in Miami. As I stated in our previous story, the fine-print in our contract showed that our one-week vacation was actually a three-night vacation for $495. Westgate said in their defense that a "one-week vacation" didn't necissarily mean that we would spend the entire week at their hotel but they would be providing three nights and four days of a "one-week vacation". Like many I've heard from since writing this story, countless times we have smacked our palms against our heads and said," What were we thinking!"
I don't remember any hypnosis involved but somehow we were duped in such despicable fashion. Almost immediately afterwards I had some bad feelings about what we had just bought. What I remember is we were sold because of my inherent cheapness. I figured we might be able to save some money visiting my brother in Miami, all while having a relaxing stay at a five-star resort on Miami's South beach. I imagined my family in their cheap little hotel room while we would be living large in our "five star resort."
Westgate Resorts Five Star Room
Eventually we came to the conclusion that what we believed were errors in our contact, or over-sight on our part,continued until it was obvious that we had been duped by modern-day corporate con-art— selling properties under false facades, using the credibility of business moguls to sell rip-off timeshares to people who don't automatically consider all salespeople to be lyers. Now I know that if you are outside of Utah-- don't believe a word they say.
Hundreds Ripped of by Westgate
As misery likes company I felt some relief in the fact that we weren't the only dopes who had been roped— we have a lot company in our outrage. Westgate Resorts has ripped off hundreds if not thousands of people, who have complained on forums and blogs about their dishonest sales tactics. Luckily, we never agreed to purchase the complete timeshare agreement when were given the tag-team extreme pressure pitch in Las Vegas.
However, we did end up purchasing what they sold us as a one-week stay with the option for three other small vacations at a highly discounted rate; with the additional incentive of discounted airfare (likely half-off, they said). They also assured us that we would be able to book the week we were wanting for my brother's wedding.
However, due to a processing lag of 20 days-- there assurances were inaccurate and nearly every part of the pitch was deceptive. Seven nights was actually three nights (which I fought against and received an additional night). Airfare was more expensive through their Vacation Passport service not less. And the following is a report on how accurate we found their claim as a "five star luxury resort" to be.
From Four Star Hotel Heaven to "Five Star" Timeshare Stink
After arriving in Fort Lauderdale, we spent the first night in a four star hotel. We had booked a true "one-week vacation" by paying extra for the added days. Our first room was incredible. It was in a four-star hotel in the Boca Raton Resort Bungalows. With contemporary furnishings, bed with a down comforter and silky sheets; balcony overlooking palm trees we were quite pleased. Keep in mind, this place was only four stars.
Westgate Resorts Miami, Florida
dirty showers, is this worth
their bargain price of $165 per night?
dirty showers, is this worth
their bargain price of $165 per night?
The next morning we headed South on I-90 to Westgate's South Beach and checked into room. Our first thought: "on what planet or time era could this room be considered five stars." The furnishings were completely outdated. The various smells in the hallways were noxious. The couches and chairs would be lucky to fetch $50 at a garage sale. Brand new twenty-years-ago, this room might have been four stars merely for its location, however in 2008, the Westgate could never be ranked higher than two stars. What sort of luxury resort are guests required to plug their noses as they enter the hallway?
Perhaps David Siegel—Westgate CEO, believes by putting enough celebrity photos on the walls makes a vacationer feel special enough to make up for the gross smells, awful free continental breakfast.
Mr. Siegel has photographs of himself with the likes of Paris Hilton, Dolly Parton and even Bill Gates on every floor throughout every hallway of the hotel. This was an obvious attempt to try to build credibility for the constant barrage of tours going through the first floor. Funny they never offered the tours on the second floor where we were staying among the smells of antiseptic cleaner and food rot.
By our third morning I found Martha Cruz, Wesgate South Florida Manager, who was willing to answer my questions about how Westgate printed on their building several times "A five star luxury resort". Mrs. Cruz' response was that they were a "five star location".
However, once their improvements were completed, their resort's ranking would match their five-star location ranking. I then asked here how it was that they clearly printed "resort" not "location" in terms of the five stars.
Mrs. Cruz told me this was a referral to the future not the present. I then confirmed, "so your signage is inaccurate?" Her response was that currently its is inaccurate but in the future, when the add their Tiki Bar lounge and million dollar improvements it will be accurate.
Westgate Resorts five star room service
only makes your bed every-other-day
only makes your bed every-other-day
When its it ever okay to produce signage and advertising that is not directed at the present state of affairs and sell and advertise as if it is? It would be fine if they wrote, "someday to be a five star luxury resort, but for now bring some nose plugs." Westgate Resorts uses this tactic for both their Las Vegas non-existent Planet Hollywood tower, as well as their "five star luxury resort" in sunny South Beach. Certainly, no Best Western motel could get away with hyping their rooms as having balconies, marble and 15 foot ceilings then get away with it by writing on the wall of their tiny 8 x 10 room "in the future". Customers would complain to the front desk and be refunded their money or face legal action. Yet Westgate, has seemingly found a way to get away with blatant deception. Not being an attorney I'm not aware of the letter of the law, but I think Westgate Resort's lies are fertile ground for a class action lawsuit that should return millions of dollars back to the buyers they've deceived.
Tell Us Your Westgate Rip-off Story
If you have been ripped-off by Westgate Resorts, tell us your story. We will work on your behalf to organize a petition to begin the necessary legal action to return you your money. Our email address is WestgateResortsClassAction@TimeShareChronicles.com
Timeshare Rip-off Stories
Follow-up Comment One
We are currently pursuing a personal lawsuit, however the more information that I gather, it appears that a class action case could go forward, especially if there are more people who can come forward such as you with claims that what was in the contract was not what they delivered. For example your situation where in the written contract the difference between how a week is defined, providing 3 nights versus 4; although 4 was specified and etc. Our dispute revolves around what was written in the contract versus what they are delivering regarding the timeshare purchase (deed issues).
According to my attorney this is classic "Bait and Switch" tactics that are employed and what they are doing is fraud.
If you have any other contacts who have experienced similar experiences it would be great if you could provide me their details.
Follow-up Comment Two
I find your article interesting. We are in the process of litigating our issues with Westgate and would appreciate any other people who have experienced deceptive and fraudulant practices with Westgate - Planet Hollywood.
Follow-up Comment Three
The 2008 Florida State Statutes are located at this link
You may find this to be very useful. We did... We believe that we will receive our down-payment refund in full and according to information in the statutes, they must provide the refund within 20 days.
Follow-up Comment FourI want to file a class action lawsuit against westgate resorts in Orlando Florida for misleading practices. It is a typical timeshare nightmare story. Basically, I have a timeshare that is paid off and I have outrageous maintenance and tax fees. I can't even give this timeshare away. It costed us about 16 grand. They gave the impression that we could resell through them and that our maintenance fees would be around $400 dollars per year. The maintenance fee has gone up to about 800 dollars a year or so. I am worried it is going to keep going up. They won't buy it back, resell it for us or even take it back for free. It is a monkey on my back. I have read story after story about these timeshare industry scams. I have tried to list it through a timeshare listing company only to find out it is a scam too. Those companies who listed them have already had a class action lawsuit against them or have closed shop and left town. I would venture to say I have blown at least a thousand dollars on listing. I am learning how not to get scammed the hard way. I want to sue westgate resorts for misleading practices. If not for that, then for whatever I can do to them to shed a spot light on them. If not a class action lawsuit then perhaps passing of a bill to protect consumers from these misleading practices of the timeshare industry. It isn't so much money I am after but setting a presence. I would like to get back my 16 grand at best though.
Follow-up Comment FiveIt happened yesterday, being sucked into the absolute worst decision I have ever made financially... We accepted the tour for discount, initially declined, later accepted (bought/agreed) and today on the way home, realized what an idiotic stupid move it was... We're in the process of cancellation tonight. It "IS POSSIBLE" as long as it's accomplished within ten (10) days of signature "OR" delivery by the developer to provide all required documents (which may include the actual deed for property depending on the state). The FL state statues explain 10 days as the day you send notice, so get confirmation of delivery (apparently that's all that's required legally).... Also stated; you may "CANCEL THE CONTRACT WITHOUT ANY PENALTY OR OBLIGATION" which we have requested and expect a full and immediate refund of the down-payment. We noted this information in our request.
Not certain this will help anyone, but we're trying and the information was there in paperwork provided.
I assure you that it's most likely in the document with font so small you can't see/read it. That's where we fond it.
Last week if anyone asked what the stupidest thing was I had ever done, I wouldn't know what to say. At least now, I have the answer.... At least I may be able to recover...
Best of luck to all!...
Follow-up Comment Six
We took a trip to Las Vegas and was booked at the hotel now called Planet Hollywood. After checking an on our way our room. We were approached by a couple of guys asking us if we would like a free meal and a couple of show tickets, they stated all we had to do was listen to a 30 minute talk. So we agreed and went the next day. No where in this conversation did they mention timeshare if they had I would of said no thank you. The next day we went it was more like a 3 hour and when we told them we could not afford it they magically came up with another one. We still said no and they said we will let you talk it over this went on for 4 conversations and finally just to get out we signed on. When they finally took us back to the hotel we went through the papers but found nothing in there to cancel. So after a year of arguing with them they sent me a paper I had signed showing we were suppose to cancel within 5 days. No where in my packet was that paper. Had it been I would of went the next day to cancel by way of the Post Office sending it Express to the address listed with a return receipt for proof. Then I get a phone call from them tell me my tax are late. I tell them I don't nothing about taxes they said it was in my contract I told her that contract is useless as your company gives selective parts to people. A couple months ago they started bugging me to give them names of friends or workers so they could try and sell them a timeshare. I went off on them saying I would not even do that to people I dislike. I told the girl that her company screwed us, her reply was I am sorry you feel that way. Yeah right. I have yet to use the timeshare and don't plan to. I do plan to go back to Las Vegas though and wear a T-shirt with something to the effect if you buy a Timeshare remember you have only 5 days or you are screwed for life.
The Response:
Thanks for the story Ken. It sounds like your experience very similar to ours. What amazes me is that Westgate Resorts employees seem so naive in the deception they are engaging in. We bought our week in the end, because the final woman we spoke to seemed so nice and down to earth. She was foreign, telling us about her new baby. In the end, we came to find out nearly everything- not just a few things-but everything that came out of her mouth was a lie. I've come to think I can trust certain types of people. Don't trust anyone in a timeshare sales office.
Follow-up Comment SevenTammy writes that now in addition to selling timeshare rip-offs, Westgate is also overbooking or double booking their incentive package
Its this incentive package they use to lure people into their sales area at Westgate Hollywood Planet Resort. Tammy says that she and her husband booked 3 days and 2 nights for $199.00 and have already made plans to travel to Las Vegas. Now Westgate can't confirm they will have a place to stay.
Tammy writes -
NO where on the papers does it have a room confirmation for the date we requested. Just a confirmation for a Westgate Vacation package for 3 days 2 nights. Typed on it it says to call for vacation. Well tonight he has spent two hours and spoke with over eight different people and have gotten no where. Never, ever gained access to speak with a supervisor. Last person he spoke with said he would look into it and call within one hour. Well after 90 minutes my husband called him back and he sent my husband to an other guy who said we are on standby in case anyone cancelled. NOT ACCEPTABLE. Not what we have set out to do nor travel over 2000 miles to MAYBE have a room or not. As it stands right at this moment the last guys we spoke with will get back with us tomorrow. Will keep you posted...
PS By the way we are timeshare holders in Orlando but have yet to use our timeshare. We have bought into it 1 year ago and have purchased it for every other year.
The Response
I'm sorry to hear about your problems with Westgate. If you do end up going and finding a room I think you will find, as we did, that what they promise as a deluxe room will be quite a disappointment. There are now some very good specials going on at Luxor and other very nice casinos for close to what you will be paying for your Westgate room, I would try to get your money back and book at another casino. If you would like to read about what our room was like in the "new" Planet Hollywood Resort you can read about it in my first story here:
Good luck, and keep us posted on what happens.
Update From Tammy
My husband has now requested they just refund us our money back ($199.00) and forget it. She put him back on hold ...she came back she said the refund will take about three to five days to go through. Cannot send us a confirmation to verify they will refund our money. I am TRULY ashamed to say we have the timeshare with them. (Have yet to use it) In the meantime I am about to call American Express (how we paid for this) and see if they may be of assistance.
If you need further help check this outSpecial thanks to Utah Stories and the Confidential Contributor to the Time Share Chronicles
How Westgate Resort's new Planet Hollywood Towers, sells rip-off timeshares using high-pressure sales tactics and dishonesty, Posted by Robert Paisola
MY STORY: The Timeshare Purchase from Hell: Westgate Resorts and Planet Hollywood
Dear Robert Paisola:
The call was perfectly timed. Just when I was considering taking my wife to Vegas for her birthday.
"Stay two nights at the newest hotel casino on the strip for half price, also included are show tickets and brunch. All you need to do is attend a ninety-minute presentation," the telemarketer said. I wasn't convinced.
We did this two years ago we did the Grandview presentation and they put us on a bus and shipped us out to the middle of the desert. Then we couldn't leave for three hours. No way do I want to go through that again.
"I can assure you we are not Grandview, our offer is much better. This is different. Just ninety-minutes, no bus trips, the presentation is at the same place you will be staying at and there is no obligation to buy."
I guess I'm somewhat of a dope when it comes to big discounts. I bought the trip and called my wife. She was less than enthusiastic about the idea.
We drove to the Planet Hollywood Casino from Salt Lake and it was indeed the newest casino on the strip. However, we would later find out that this was only half-true.
When we checked in, the attendant informed us that he could upgrade us to a "bigger nicer" room for free. We agreed, and we found our "upgrade" was a bigger room. However, it was in the not-yet-remodeled Aladdin tower. However, there were some framed photographs of celebrities like Denzel Washington and Will Smith. Our gold and red bedspread smelled like cigarettes and gin. It made me feel as if we were being put up by a middle-eastern sulten who had an obession for Hollywood. We would later learn this wasn't so far from the truth.
The next morning we checked into our presentation, A small energetic Asian woman with a very tight,fit body greeted us. "Hi, my name is Hikoo...Wow..Do you realize how beautiful your wife is?"
I didn't really know how to answer that question, so I just said, "Yes."
"You are very lucky"
"Yes, I know. Thank you." I said
We then started chatting about how most Americans have such a difficult time with the concept of vacation enjoyment. Hikoo told us she was from South Korea. She snowboards, surfs and plays golf. She only needs to work four days a week. Hikoo then revealed that she is 60-years-old.
We quietly sat through Hikoo's presentation. We watched a movie with Danny Divitto and David Siegel. Danny wasn't funny though. He was serious about what a great place the towers are. Danny, had a convincing sales pitch about the luxury. I couldn't help but associating Danny with Louie on Taxi, "Throw Mamma From the Train" etc; and for some reason I couldn't take him very seriously.
We then walked through their beautiful demo room. Hikoo was trying to sell me on the idea that this is a great investment. I was surprised by this tactic. So I presented my first objection: I would rather invest in real-estate in Salt Lake City, where the market is much less volatile and not based so much on the overall economic conditions of the United States.
Then came the full-court-press. Hikoo kept pointing to the beautiful blue and red towers. "You can't go wrong with something like this, its just going to go up-and-up in value. Our owner David Siegel is a multi-billionaire." Hikoo pointed to a photograph of David, an elderly man in his sixties with his wife, who is probably 25 and their new baby twin girls. Mr. Siegel indeed appeared pleased.
"Where would our particular room be?"
"Its floating," Hikoo smiled and said. "That's the other beauty of it, they can find you a room at any time of year, anywhere in the hotel."
Then I remembered something.
"I read in our local newspaper that Westgate in Park City was selling their timeshares and there was a big problem with people being showed different rooms then they were receiving, how do I know that's not going to happen?"
"That didn't happen with Westgate," Hikoo replied.
"Yes, Westgate I'm sure of it. They are the resort in the Canyons at Park City."
"No way, we have a great company. Of course you are always going to have someone who complains. You know you can never make everyone happy."
"Yes." I agreed and dropped it.
Hikoo then kept talking. I didn't want to talk any more. I realized that she had some sort of illogical response for everything. Then she finally showed us the price. $39,000 for one week of each year. The financing interest rate is 17.6 percent. I had to suppress a laugh.
"So you are telling me I can pay nearly forty-grand for room in your tower that I would need to share with 51 other people? I'm sorry but I would rather pay ten times that much and own the room outright. Then I could rent out the room myself and just use it on the weeks I need it. "
Hikoo began to sweat, she became irritated with me. She had been very nice until that point, until she saw that he slam dunk sale wasn't going smoothly in the hoop.
She then said, "I don't want you to buy it for me. I don't want to pressure you, but I can tell your wife obviously likes it. You should buy it for her."
So I should buy an obvious rip-off timeshare to demonstrate my undying love for my wife? I didn't say this out loud. Instead, I looked at my wife. Indeed she was sold, the room was beautiful, plasma screens and black granite stainless steel kitchen. Another nice touch was the fake strip view photograph hanging from the windows.
"I'm sorry but if you don't have any available for individual purchase, I'm not interested." Hikoo walked away visibly irritated. She was obviously very good at this and she probably didn't like what she had to do next.
Hikoo called in for back-up. Hiko's boss Amanda sat down with us. A skinny straight-long haired brunette. She didn't make any attempts to be nice. I told her my objections right off.
"I think this is way too much for just one week. If you can't offer me a room of my own, that I could purchase outright, then I'm not interested," I said.
"Like you could afford $3-million-dollars for one of our suites. I'm sorry but not everyone is a celebrity and can just walk in here and right us a check for $3-million-dollars. Our tower suites were sold out the first week they went up for sale and you can see on our wall who bought them."
On the wall were photographs of celebrities like Bruce Willis, Danny Divitto Sylvester Stalone and Kenny Rogers and several busty women.
"You obviously aren't a celebrity and you wouldn't be able to afford one of our suites, even if they were available." In fact you probably can't afford one of our regular time shares! She was now raising her voice showing me that she knew how to be the bad cop.
I then pointed out that Its actually not only celebrities who can afford nice real estate, there are plenty of successful entrepreneurs and business people who have a lot of money too.
Amanda started shaking her head and rolling her eyes.
"I'm sorry but its obvious he just doesn't get it. I can see you wife is smart and she gets it, but you don't."
I agreed. I didn't get it.
After three hours and the third woman in the tag team, the offer came down to one week for $495, in any of their beautiful Westgate properties. I found no objections to this offer and I realized I would save quite a bit in another trip I was planning to Florida. The saleslady assured me we would be able to book a room for the week we need.
Then they wanted to repeat an announcement, as they had already done three times while we were there, that we had just become the newest owners of Westgate!! This would have been completely inaccurate, since we were actually only buying one week of one year. So we declined the announcement.
While we were waiting in line to get our show tickets we were passed by a woman being carted off in a wheel chair who appeared to be having a nervous-break-down. She was blowing into a brown paper bag. A stretcher and paramedics were waiting for her outside. I guess they figured bringing the paramedics in the sales area might put a damper on people's enthusiasm.
Our final saleslady said that the woman was a single-parent-mother who was raising her three small children while selling timeshares. Hikoo's major selling point of the timeshare presentation was, "taking the time to enjoy life." Sounds appealing in our hectic society I agreed. However, the truth of is, going into debt $40 grand to buy a week in vegas at 18 percent interest rate, isn't taking time to enjoy life; Its taking on debt to ruin your credit and risk bankruptcy. Which could send you to a hospital vacation which could run you another $30 grand.
We were then told that we were not supposed to receive a brunch but just the show tickets. The woman pointed out that maybe the telemarketer was describing our snacks as the brunch we would get.
Timeshare Research
I've since done a bit of research. Hikoo told us that we could resell our property at any time and that next week the same offer could likely be $10 thousand dollars more. Hikoo said we could sell our timeshare and make a "huge profit down the road" if we wanted to. What I found was the same offer Hikoo presented for $39 thousand was being resold on a timeshare resale sight starting at $20 thousand dollars. Here is the link (in case this story has sold you on the great benefits of owning a piece of the strip) On the Vegas page there are 56 pages of listings(40 properties per page). Tahiti Village and Grandview have the most for resale but there were plenty of Westgate timeshares for sale as well.
Beware of the act-now-pitch on big ticket items. What they are really doing is essential to their business model. They can't let you leave the room because then you could inform yourself. Allowing the customer to do his or her own research would kill their profit margins substantially. Westgate is selling the emotional appeal people have for Vegas, Hollywood and towers. This presentation was actually a demonstration of what Vegas is really all about. Preying on people's naivetee to to sell them a hope and a dream. Westgate CEO David Siegel and his team of Hollywood stars can all be put in the scoundrel category. Besides the Planet Hollywood Towers, I've found hundreds of timeshare rip-off nightmare stories. A good place to see a few on Westgate are here. If you need further help check this out
Special thanks to Utah Stories and the Contributor to the Time Share Chronicles
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