timeshare presentation horror stories

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Let’s Talk Timeshares: Presentation Horror Stories and Cheap Vacation Rentals

May 31, 2017 By Nancy 35 Comments

Timeshare Presentations and Vacation Rentals

Timeshare Presentations: What Is Your Time Worth?

When I was a kid, my family traveled to Disney World several times, where timeshare companies abound. I remember on one of those trips, my parents agreed to sit through a timeshare presentation in exchange for a “special gift”. The special gift turned out to be a table clock.

My brother, sister and I were escorted to a kids club waiting area while my parents got a tour and attended the timeshare presentation. In the “babysitting” room, the childcare workers were clueless. One kid decided to turn on the TV, and the movie Friday the Thirteenth was on. I was about 8 years old and scared to death!

My siblings and I decided we would leave to go find my parents. Nobody stopped us! We wandered around the resort until we found them, trying to fight off the advances of multiple sales people. All for a stupid clock!

Fast forward to my young adult life, and my boyfriend (now husband) got an offer to go to a timeshare presentation in Tyler, Texas. He asked me to go with him. The incentive for sitting through the presentation was quite large: a 3-night trip to Disney World including flights and hotel! Yep, I’m in.

We toured the complex, and honestly we weren’t impressed. It was in the middle of nowhere with hardly any amenities.

The presentation dragged on and on, way more than 90 minutes. Multiple supervisors came to pressure us. Finally, after close to four hours, we escaped with our prize.

My boyfriend used the prize to take me to Disney World, where he proposed to me at Cinderella’s Castle after the fireworks. Totally worth it.

A few years later, we attended another timeshare presentation at a local timeshare office for a $50 Outback gift certificate. Worth it? Not even close!

Why the Math Doesn’t Work For Me

We’ve always gone into each timeshare presentation knowing that we would not be buying the timeshare. The math just doesn’t compute for me.

In every presentation, the sales people ask us to add up the cost of our previous vacations, including flights, hotel, food and activities. Then, they compare that to the cost of owning a timeshare for each year and try to say that a timeshare is cheaper. Except here’s the thing: you still have to pay for flights, food and activities in a timeshare! Those costs do not go away. Tricky!

My brother and sister-in-law own a Wyndham timeshare they bought for just $1 on the resale market. They have gotten really good use out of it, in part because their kids were in year-round school and they were able to go on vacation during off-peak times and get a lot of value for their timeshare points.

Even if we bought a timeshare for $1 (which is somebody desperately trying to unload it), we would still have the monthly maintenance fees. And now that we travel mainly by miles and points, we try to cover lodging with those. So, the math just doesn’t make sense for my family.

Someday, however, I would like to buy Disney’s version of the timeshare, Disney Vacation Club. Nope, the numbers still don’t add up, but it’s still a dream of mine. I’d love to be able to share our Disney points with our kids as they grow up and have families of their own to give them the gift of travel. I’m a sentimental sucker who hopes that her kids will love traveling to Disney with their own families. (Plus, DVC properties are some of the most valuable ones in the timeshare trading market).

Cheap Timeshare Rentals

Even though we don’t want to own a timeshare, I’m not opposed to renting one on vacation. We have gotten great deals in the past!

When my daughter was just three months old, we traveled to San Diego and rented a two-bedroom condo at Welk Resorts in Escondido. It was spacious, well-appointed and cost less than $600 for the entire week!

Before that, my extended family rented a four-bedroom condo at Wyndham Bonnet Creek for around ~$1600 for 10 nights. We split the cost, and our portion was only $400. The condo was huge, and the amenities at Bonnet Creek were amazing! The biggest downside was that the resort called us every day to try to lure us to a timeshare presentation.

I have also rented DVC points directly from owners to stay in condos at Disney’s Saratoga Springs and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Although not dirt cheap, the cost was cheaper than staying in the regular rooms at those resorts through Disney.

So, I am all for renting timeshares for inexpensive vacation rentals. Combined with hotel points and flexible points for free hotel rooms, I just don’t see the need to actually buy the timeshare.

Wasting Vacation Time?

After reading that guest post on Doctor of Credit where The Timeshare Guru talks about ways to get good offers to sit through timeshare presentations, I started to get ideas. What if we tried to get an offer for our upcoming vacation in Hawaii?

We could see if Marriott has any timeshare presentation offers in Kauai that would provide a deeply discounted stay at one of its current resorts. It would only take 90 minutes of our time, right?

I suggested this to my husband, and he responded by rolling his eyes. These things never take 90 minutes, and why add that stress into our blissful Hawaiian getaway?

He’s right.

What About You?

Do you own a timeshare? I’d love to hear your stories about sitting through timeshare presentations (and the prizes you got!). Have you found any great deals on renting a timeshare condo for vacation?

Click here to view various credit cards and available sign-up bonuses

Author: Nancy

Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.

Your worst timeshare presentation experience?

Thread starter Chocklatgurl
Start date Mar 1, 2008

Chocklatgurl

Mar 1, 2008

Okay, I'll admit...my husband and I go to timeshare presentations just so we can get an inside look at resorts (and earn free stuff!). We would never buy directly from the resort since we know we'll get a MUCH better deal on the resale market. I know the salespeople are out to make money (and rightly so!) and their job is to pressure you into buying, so their time and goodies will not be wasted. There...that said, I'm sure, like myself, some of you have had some absolutely HORRIBLE timeshare experiences. Care to share? Here's mine: We got a call from a timeshare telemarketer for a "discounted" ($119) 3 day/2 night stay in exchange for attending a presentation Coral Reef Resort in Hilton Head, SC. On the night we arrived at the hotel, I overheard the receptionist telling someone over the phone that the nightly rate was $70 (Big discount, huh?). Anyway, we arrived at the presentation center at our assigned time and as usual we had to wait quite a bit of time for our tour guide to come out. He took us to another building where there was popcorn and coffee for prospective buyers. After exchanging pleasantries and answering the usual questions (Where you from? How long are you staying? etc), we were already about 10 minutes into the meeting. Since my husband and I were celebrating our anniversary (we had evening dinner plans) and it was already late in the afternoon, my husband decided to be honest and told the guy that we were not really interested in buying so if he could keep the presentation as close to 90 minutes as possible we would appreciate it. The guy got up, telling us he would be right back and left us sitting at the table for another 15 minutes. We watched him walk out the door and back to the waiting area, where he started talking to another salesperson. He subsequently pointed the guy in the direction of the building that we were sitting in. At this point, we're assuming that the new salesperson must be the "high-pressure" guy who is brought out as a last resort for stubborn people (like us). The new guy asked us what we knew about timeshare ownership and we told him (since he asked) that we were owners at DVC and LOVED it. We told him about the points and how we enjoyed the flexibility. As time ticked away my husband told him the same thing he had told the other guy and added that we were already 30 minutes into the presentation, so we needed to get the show on the road if he wanted to show us the rooms (not his exact words, btw but you get the gist). The guy stood up and said "I'm done" and started walking away. We asked him what were supposed to do for the remaining time and he replied, "Your presentation is for 90 minutes. You can sit there, I don't care what you do," and continued to walk away. We thought he was joking so I went and got my husband a cup of coffee and a scoop of popcorn and sat back down. When my husband realized the guy really wasn't coming back we got up to leave. We realized the first salesperson had left a rather expensive PDA phone on the table and we didn't want anyone to steal it. So we actually went through the trouble of finding the guy and giving it to him before we left. A few days later, I got my credit card statement and saw a charge from Hilton Head Welcome Center for approx. $230!!! :annoyed: I called the welcome center to inquire about the charge. The person told me that we were charged the full price for our hotel stay because we failed to complete the timeshare presentation. (Did I mention the hotel was only $70 per night?) The salesperson stated that his reason for ending the presentation was because my husband was irate and uncooperative. After going through several phone calls and explaining our side of the story to his supervisor, our money was eventually refunded. I vowed at that time to NEVER be honest with a salesperson again about my true intentions. Surprisingly enough, I've found that saying "Yes" throughout the entire presentation (until the end) gets you through it alot faster.

The worst was at Westgate Lakes when the salesperson said that we were taking money out of her pocket by coming with no intention to buy and that she should have stayed home with her infant daughter. The guilt approach didn't phase us a bit. With any presentation, I insist on having the salesperson or somebody "sign off" on the fact that the presentation is over, because I can't remember the last time we've had to sit through the whole 90, 120 or whatever length of time they threaten and I don't want to either not get the goodies or be charged if it's some sort of discounted stay. If I get resistance I simply say that I've heard of that happening before, and although I know they (the salesperson) wouldn't have any part of that, it will prevent any possible misunderstandings down the road. By depersonalizing it like that, I've never had a refusal.

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

With all due respect, its a mistake to tell a salesperson flat-out that everything he says will fall on deaf eyes and his time with you will be wasted. You are asking for ill-mannered, disrespectful, push-back treatment Rather, here's what we do: 1. Expect to be there for three (3) hours. Have the patience of Job. 2. Do not argue with their numbers showing how much you will save. 3. Take the tour with at least feined interest in the property. 4. Ask questions showing that you have some idea how their system works. 5. Pull out a calculator, crunch some numbers and frown. (add annual fees to annual amortized cost to buy over 'x' years, divide by 7 days) 6. Keep repeating, "I'm not sure" and "We're just not ready." 7. When the sales manager comes 'round, praise the salesman. 8. Expect them to keep throwing deals "to good to turn down." 9. When they leave you alone to "discuss," pretend to crunch numbers. ... Eventuallty, they'll realize its no-sale and move on.

Talent312 said: With all due respect, its a mistake to tell a salesperson flat-out that everything he says will fall on deaf eyes and his time with you will be wasted. You are asking for ill-mannered, disrespectful, push-back treatment Rather, here's what we do: 1. Expect to be there for three (3) hours. Have the patience of Job. 2. Do not argue with their numbers showing how much you will save. 3. Do the tour with at least feined interest in the property. 4. Ask questions showing that you have some idea how their system works. 5. Pull out a calculator, crunch some numbers (add annual costs to the annual amortized cost to buy over 'x' years, divide by 7-days) and frown. 6. Keep repeating, "I'm not sure" and "We're just not ready." 7. When the sales manager comes 'round, praise the salesman. 8. If they keep you there for another hour throwing deals "to good to turn down" at you, dig in your heals and wait them out. ... Eventuallty, they'll realize its no-sale and move on. Click to expand...

Tug Review Crew: Rookie

Never go in unarmed (with information) Now I can also use my Palm Treo to access eBay near the end of the feigned interest in the offer and say - "Look, here is the exact same week (points, etc) you are offering for only $1200! That's $18,000 less! Can you match it?" So far that has ended the talk twice. I may use it from now on. As for worst presentation thats a tough call. I think it was one back in the late 90's when we visited a resort in Williamsburg. The sales lady seemed to be new, although sometime they just put on that act to get sympathy, as she bumbled through the presentation and couldn't get the price "for sure" and kept getting up and walking away to get information - it went on for nearly 3 hours. But the most memorable part was the fact that the song "Carwash" was on their tape loop of music and we got to "enjoy" it at least three times. The second two she was chair dancing to it and even doing some sing along - it was really bad. But the closer was even worse and got ugly when we simply said we weren't buying. It took another 45 minutes to get the 4 park tickets we actually came for and I wasn't sure we'd ever see them. After investing almost 4 hours I wasn't leaving without them. The last 30 minutes was spend standing - alone - in the gifting area as no one was at the desk. When she finally came out to find out "what you want?" we realized she had been eating at the desk inside the door the whole time. Maybe it was her paid lunch but somehow I doubt it. Anyway that wasn't (surprisingly) Wastegate and it is a resort that has never really done much as far as making a name for itself in an area crowded with good resorts. Perhaps the sales approach is partly to blame.

Talent312 said: With all due respect, its a mistake to tell a salesperson flat-out that everything he says will fall on deaf eyes and his time with you will be wasted. You are asking for ill-mannered, disrespectful, push-back treatment Rather, here's what we do: 1. Expect to be there for three (3) hours. Have the patience of Job. 2. Do not argue with their numbers showing how much you will save. 3. Take the tour with at least feined interest in the property. 4. Ask questions showing that you have some idea how their system works. 5. Pull out a calculator, crunch some numbers and frown. (add annual fees to annual amortized cost to buy over 'x' years, divide by 7 days) 6. Keep repeating, "I'm not sure" and "We're just not ready." 7. When the sales manager comes 'round, praise the salesman. 8. Expect them to keep throwing deals "to good to turn down." 9. When they leave you alone to "discuss," pretend to crunch numbers. ... Eventuallty, they'll realize its no-sale and move on. Click to expand...

rickandcindy23

Tug review crew: elite.

TUG Review Crew

Ours was in Branson, MO. Can't remember the name. Anyway, we kept saying no and that we didn't make quick decisions, blah, blah, blah. The salesperson asked me a question and when I answered truthfully he stood up and loudly said I don't believe you, you are lying to me. We don't like liars around here. He was nasty. My husband is 6'2 and a big guy. He stood up and said don't you EVER call my wife a liar. The salesperson said "I wouldn't if she would tell the truth." I got up and we walked out the door. However, the manager could tell he was really mad and gave us our gifts anyway, which was a paltry $50. This was around 1990.

My worst TS presentation...I have had a few bad ones... My absolute worst was in PV @ Club Velas Vallarta. We were talked into a presentation which at the begining started like any other, however as the time ticked on (5 hours we were there!) we kept telling the man "NO", he would start up another line of talk and my husband said if this doesn't end you can keep the stinking free gift and I will put a bad report on RCI. The salesperson said "I don't need this crap" got up and left. However we did get our measly free gift. The 2nd bad experience was with Disney...yep I said it DVC in Orlando. We got picked up at the park. The gentlement was explaining the product we listened and we told him we owned a weeks resort and wyndam, and liked the flexibility of our program, but wanted to see what DVC offered (I was seriously interested in this program..my husband was humoring me). I was waiting for him to take us to see what the condos looked like, he left, came back, gave us the books/bags and our gifts and told us that we could never stay in DVC condos..."You have to be a member to do that" and led us out. My husband looked and me and said..."I wouldn't buy it if it was bargain basement prices", and I too was disgusted. :annoyed:

Kona Lovers

We went to a Marriott presentation in Palm Springs, and had just finished closing on our first ts purchase off of ebay for $405. We sat there and asked questions about the trading aspect to Hawaii, as the guy touted buying in CA and never going there, just trade all the time. The longer we stayed and asked questions the more frustrated he got. We left after receiving our gift, and the guy was pretty short and terse at the end. We originally had 4 nights there, but ended up leaving before our time was up because the staff treated us like dirt, traveling home in a snow storm, which the kids enjoyed more than the Marriott! Marty

TUG Review Crew: Expert

I really think the nasty treatment is just to scare people off doing tours strictly for the gifts. I've seen the cold shoulder an several tours when they figured out we weren't going to buy. In Branson at Falls Village one salesman turned especially nasty when the process was over. I offered him my hand and he just looked the other way. I just said if I had to spend $18,000 (or whatever the price was at that time) for him to be friendly then I could do without him or his company. Unfortunately when we took a phone call offer for a cheap trip to Branson through GrandVista, we ended up back on touring with Falls Village again. I'm not certain exactly why that happened as we were staying in a hotel room at what was then GrandVista's Cedar Ridge, now Westgate Branson Woods. At any rate the first guy wasn't much of a salesman and barely spoke English so that it could be understood. He was pleasant enough but then we got Jethro Bodine as the nasty closing manager. He tried insult and a few nasty comments as if he could literally intimidate us into buying. Instead we were both amazed and the amount of grease he use to slick back his hair, the fact we could see our reflection in his worn out polyester pants and that nasty over sized yellow/black plaid sports coat that must have been picked up at a D.A.V. store. The biggest lies came from a pair at Consolidated's Club Del Soliel. They kept telling us to buy and then rent out the unit using the proceeds to pay the MF's on that unit and our two units at Polo Towers. We had another big lier at what was then Sunterra's Greensprings Plantation that told us we could reserve, rent and turn $20,000/year profits off of one 4 bedroom unit. He also told us he'd have his secretary do ALL the work for us. If we didn't want to rent we could deposit the weeks we owned with other developers and have enough points to take 26 weeks of vacation/year. Rent some, give some away or use them all. He even had a piece of paper that was suppose to represent an IRS tax law allowing us to do all of this tax free and even write off our MF's we would be billed.

dougp26364 said: He even had a piece of paper that was suppose to represent an IRS tax law allowing us to do all of this tax free and even write off our MF's we would be billed. Click to expand...

lprstn said: The 2nd bad experience was with Disney...yep I said it DVC in Orlando. We got picked up at the park. The gentlement was explaining the product we listened and we told him we owned a weeks resort and wyndam, and liked the flexibility of our program, but wanted to see what DVC offered (I was seriously interested in this program..my husband was humoring me). I was waiting for him to take us to see what the condos looked like, he left, came back, gave us the books/bags and our gifts and told us that we could never stay in DVC condos..."You have to be a member to do that" and led us out. My husband looked and me and said..."I wouldn't buy it if it was bargain basement prices", and I too was disgusted. :annoyed: Click to expand...

If I would have gotten a good natured salesperson who didn't write us off (heck we didn't even get to see the condo!) than maybe I could have talked my husband into it (I am a bit of a Disney fanatic), however after that experience (not to long ago I may add) my husband won't even consider it. Therefore I just bought more Wyndam points to appease my TS bug.

lprstn said: If I would have gotten a good natured salesperson who didn't write us off (heck we didn't even get to see the condo!) than maybe I could have talked my husband into it (I am a bit of a Disney fanatic), however after that experience (not to long ago I may add) my husband won't even consider it. Therefore I just bought more Wyndam points to appease my TS bug. Click to expand...

rickandcindy23 said: JMaes, you are more brave than I! I am a big chicken and won't get in their face like that, even when I know I have just heard the guy tell a big lie, like the Marriott salesman did just a month ago, when he said he was exchanging an exchange--taking a Marriott Horizons Orlando, exchanging it for St. Kitts, which we saw on the screen, then using that 2 bedroom he got for a one bedroom, to exchange elsewhere. I was pretty turned off by the lie and was sure it was a lie , but I came here to ask TUG Marriott owners if it was the truth, which it wasn't, of course. Click to expand...

Mar 2, 2008

SOFTBALLDAD3 said: What is funny here is all the people that go on these tours and hate liers when they themselves are liers! So many are going just to waste their time and sales people time with no thought of doing anything but collecting some free stuff and in most cases just junk for their garage. ... People complain about these timeshare sales people for being liers which most are but in the process they are no better. ... Bottom line is people wasting 90 minutes of their life and are going just for the free gifts then they are a bottom feader too! Click to expand...

SOFTBALLDAD3 said: We have been to three presentations over the years and one was a resort we already new we wanted to buy in a couple years and did check it out. What is funny here is all the people that go on these tours and hate liers when they themselves are liers! So many are going just to waste their time and sales people time with no thought of doing anything but collecting some free stuff and in most cases just junk for their garage. Hate is a strong word. We've learned to expect the lies and as mentioned, my husband enjoys educating the salespeople- but he might be a little sick. We've never accepted "junk" just cash or Disney tickets. I believe that most TUGgers are truly interested in visiting the resort for future exchanges or purchases. In fact, if the price is right, I have no problem buying from the developer. I'll even admit that were it not for the stigma, I would love to sell timeshare. Otherwise, I agree about the time being a waste. We went into the resort we wanted to buy and told them what we were doing and didn't want to waste their time or collect free gifts but would like to check out the resort. The salesman thanked us for telling him and poured us a glass of wine and ask if we could wait few minutes. About ten minutes and a young lady, one of the bosses came over and told us she would be more than happy to take us up to look at some of the units we were interesed in maybe buying within a couple years and she was so nice. We talked and she answered all our questions and gave us her card and as we were leaving came back and thanked us for not wasting her salesman time acting like buyers for free gifts. She said she had six sales people and all were with people interested in buying so it was nice of us not to have wasted their time. I'm happy to hear that you've had this experience. We have not. In fact, when we tried to just look at Tahiti Village in Vegas, I was told that it was not allowed. I was surprised that they didn't try to find a saleperson, considering how much they spend on advertising. I can continue trying, but why drive over if I can't even get in? She shook our hand and gave us a $50.00 dinner credit in Lake Tahoe to thanks us. People complain about these timeshare sales people for being liers which most are but in the process they are no better. Except that the saleperson isn't out nearly $20,000. Furthermore, I think most of us take it with a grain a salt and a sense of humor. Well, maybe not the recently scammed. If people really want to check out a resort then walk in and ask and forget the free breakfast or some other piece of junk you are getting to sit for 90 minutes. We have a friend and his wife complains all the time about these sales people. She drags her husband into two or three a day and would never buy but wants the gifts only. She has cause more scenes because of this and everyone tells our friend (husband) to stop letting her go these tours. She comes home mad and spends days writing letters to these resorts like they care when most of the problems are not the sales people which will lie but she is the problem. Bottom line is people wasting 90 minutes of their life and are going just for the free gifts then they are a bottom feader too! Ouch! Lifes to short for this! Click to expand...

Timeshare Von

Unless they were giving our new Corvettes as tour gifts, I would not waste 3 hours of my precious vacation on a timeshare tour. They just set a negative tone on the whole day or longer. I'd rather shell out a few hundred bucks from my wallet and eat cheaply for a month or two at home than have my one or two real vacations a year ruined. No insult to those who seem fine with it, good for you. And it's great that you are getting an additional return on your timeshare knowledge investment. But I'll be over there at the pool, probably near the pool bar for that matter :ignore:

Carl D said: Very curious... Why did he give you the books and the bag if you didn't purchase? What type of gifts are they now giving? Click to expand...

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Watch CBS News

Couple Recounts Their Timeshare Nightmare As A Warning To Vacationers

April 29, 2015 / 12:23 AM PDT / KCAL News

NORTH HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — Chances are you've been approached on vacation to attend a timeshare presentation.

One California couple who visited Puerto Vallarta says the salespeople took it too far.

Pete and Susie High, of Auburn, Calif., say they offered $450 by Puerto Bahia Villas and Spa to attend what was supposed to be a 90-minute timeshare pitch.

It turned into eight excruciating hours: "That was the start of the nightmare," Pete said.

Susie said the salespeople, "were persuasive and they kept pushing us and pushing us. We kept saying no and they'd say something else."

When asked why they didn't leave, the couple says they were holding out for the $450.

They say six hours into the presentation, completely unsolicited, Susie was served a glass of red wine and Pete was given an already opened can of beer.

He said he drank it because he was thirsty.

Soon after, Susie said she started feeling sick and her husband appeared to be "in a trance."

Next thing they knew, they were initialing page after page of a contract for a new timeshare.

Rafael Kosche is a former employee who sold timeshares at Puerto Bahia: "I feel dirty and ashamed."

He says he and other sales representatives were instructed to tell customers anything to close the deal.

Kosche even recalls salespeople pretending to be buyers and staging contract signings. As part of the fake celebration, he says champagne was passed out to everyone in the room, even non-drinkers.

He confirmed that alcohol was served at these presentations: "After four hours of not drinking and not eating after half a beer you're starting to feel buzzed."

"They purposely use alcohol to get people to a point where they can't think straight anymore. They're tired, they're exhausted, can't think straight - that's when you zero in like a vulture and take advantage of them," Kosche said.

People have posted similar stories online about other presentations in Mexico, according to Brian Rodgers, whose website claims it provides the truth about timeshares. Some even claim they were drugged, like one person who said, "the room spun a little and everything became vague and kind of numb or zombie-like."

KCAL9's Kurtis Ming traveled to Mexico to investigate how far Puerto Bahia goes to get vacationers' signatures.

Profeco, Mexico's consumer protection agency, say they've received numerous complaints about Puerto Bahia.

"The salespeople are very aggressive," said Gabriela Cervantes of Profeco. "The process for canceling, in my experience, is not that easy with them."

The day after the High's signed for the timeshare, they went to Profeco's office in Puerto Vallarta, where they learned they had five days to get out of the deal. They also called the credit card company to explain what happened and canceled those cards.

The couple hand-delivered a cancellation letter to Puerto Bahia which Profeco wrote for them in Spanish.

But once they got home, they began receiving dozens of collection calls threatening legal action if they didn't pay.

Ming visited Puerto Bahia, which is a 30-minute cab ride north of Puerto Vallarta and tucked away in the jungle.

Salesperson Elizabeth Rocha told Ming alcohol is only served once people sign their contract as a celebration.

"Do you ever try to get people drunk to get them to sign?" Ming said.

"No," Rocha replied.

"Do you think these people are making this up," Ming continued.

"Geez, I don't know. I'm not in their head. I cannot answer for you," Rocha said.

Ming showed her the cancellation letter the High's delivered to Puerto Bahia back in 2013 and asked why they're still being asked to pay. Reminding her of the cancellation law in Mexico, Ming pressed her to fix it.

"Now that we brought this to your attention, will you help these people?"

Rocha affirmed she would.

Susie High soon after told Ming that this investigation did more to help them in two weeks than what the couple was able to do in 17 months.

The couple's relief was the same feeling Kosche got leaving his job at Puerto Bahia after just one month: "I feel dirty that I even participated in it. And if I could go to all the people who I sold timeshares to I would apologize to them."

Puerto Bahia did end up giving the High's their $450.

Ming asked the couple if what they went through was worth the money.

Susie High quickly and emphatically replied, "No."

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Timeshare Nightmares: Don't Let This Happen to You

Hours-long, pressure-filled timeshare encounters leave two couples in tears. Consumers can learn a lot from their stories. Here's what to know about timeshares before getting talked into attending a sales presentation to get a free lunch or tickets to a theme park.

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If you’ve booked a trip to Las Vegas, a Florida vacation destination or the Mexican Riviera, the odds are that upon checking into your hotel, you’ll be offered anything from free breakfast, lunch or dinner to Disney World tickets just for attending a “90-minute sales presentation.”

When a Restaurant Meal Goes Wrong, What Are Your Legal Rights?

If you agree, by sheer magic, 90 minutes will morph into half a day or an evening, and could — doesn’t have to, but could — place a financial harness around your neck that will be difficult to remove if you sign their timeshare contract, for that’s what they want you to buy, a vacation timeshare.

“Right after signing the contract — or years later — most will come to realize that buying the timeshare was the worst financial mistake of their lives,” says Scott Morse, director of operations at Resort Release. The Rockford, Ill.-based company, rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, is dedicated to helping owners “become free from the never-ending expense that timeshare ownership means.”

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A timeshare is a property — typically in a resort condominium development — where buyers acquire the right to use a unit or a similar accommodation for a specific period of time, typically a week or two once a year. So, each condo will have many owners, each acquiring a deed for their fractional interest. With other properties, a buyer has a right to use the property, but does not actually own a share of it. Finally, some timeshare companies just sell points that may be used at properties all over the world.

Worldwide over 20 million people own timeshares, according to market research firm Ragatz Associates. While there can be valid reasons to own one – such as forcing yourself to take a vacation with the family as you paid to use your little piece of paradise — at some point, many owners will regret ever hearing the word timeshare .

A Bottomless Pit into Which You Pour Money

If you tend to speak like a 2-year-old — when every word uttered is “No!” — then it’s probably safe for you to attend a timeshare presentation. But for anyone else, the chance at a free lunch or theme park tickets may not be worth spending hours of your time listening to sales claims such as, “It’s a great investment which will increase in value, beat ever-increasing hotel rates, yield family fun, and can be left to your heirs.”

Statements such as those are red flags, says Morse, because the reality is something else entirely.

“One of the many lies is that these are investments and can be sold for more than what you paid for it. This is complete nonsense as they are never a financial investment. They are a bottomless pit into which you pour money forever , and most have no resale value. With their never-ending yearly maintenance fees, they become the most expensive hotel rooms you could ever book.”

In fact, some owners are willing to give them away in order to stop paying these fees, he points out, adding, “Just search ‘Buy My Time Share for One Dollar.’”

We did, and he’s right.

Morse recognizes that for certain families, “A timeshare can become an investment in memories, its value found in ‘locking’ a family with young children into taking a vacation. The reasoning goes along these lines: ‘We paid $15,000 for it, are hit with $2,500 yearly maintenance and tax expenses, so we have to use it!’”

We asked Morse, “But what happens when the kids are off to college and they no longer take a vacation as a family?”

His answer is one of the key reasons that timeshares can become a horrible waste of money: “We have clients who have not used their timeshare for years, yet the maintenance fees — which can run thousands of dollars a year — continue.”

Mom's Shocking Diary Secret Triggers Estate Challenge by Daughter

High-Pressure Tactics: 2 Couples Share Their Stories

Some time ago my law office was contacted by two couples who went through frightening, similar experiences — saying they were held against their will, victims of duress — by the same Las Vegas timeshare developer.

One couple was in their mid-70s: Dale, a Vietnam vet who flew F-4 Phantoms, and his wife, June, who has dementia. They had owned a Vegas timeshare for several years, but seldom are able to use it as the dates they wanted were “almost always booked up,” Dale said. Finally, they got lucky and a room was available.

When checking into their timeshare hotel, they asked if there was a way to lower the $2,500 yearly maintenance fee. They were directed to speak with Alex, a sales representative. It was the beginning of a nightmare where they were “mentally, and it seemed physically, held captive for hours,” they said.

“For more than four hours, we were yelled at, not even allowed to use the bathroom until we had purchased a new timeshare for over $10,000, including ‘closing costs’ of $2,800 put on a credit card, which I kept telling them we did not want!” Dale told us tearfully.

Do these things really happen? “You better believe it,” Morse says, adding that the elderly and people in poor health are often targets. “They are terrified of getting up and walking out — they are truly paralyzed with fear.”

We would have liked to have given you the timeshare industry’s comment on this situation and the timeshare business in general, but despite several voice mails and email requests to the top PR representative at the American Resort Development Association — one of the nation’s leading trade groups — I never received a response.

We left voice mails for the Las Vegas developer’s media contact person and their general counsel, never receiving a callback either, but the next day Dale and June got an email stating, “We are canceling the contract and refunding your payments.”

It was the same story at the same property for the other couple who contacted my office, and their story stands as the perfect example of people who should stay light years away from timeshare presentations. Sixth-grade teacher Rex and his hairstylist wife, June, are both in their early 40s. They are a very nice couple, which can sometimes be a problem.

"We can't say no, which is why we bought the timeshare in the first place, years ago,” June admitted. “We didn't want to spend any more money on it, but they kept us for hours in the salesroom. We both were in tears and not allowed to leave until we purchased $15,000 worth of ‘points’ and ‘closing costs’ of $3,400." Rex sat there, next to his wife, obviously embarrassed, tears running down his cheeks.

We were able to get their contract canceled as well, but no refund of the $3,400. They were happy just to be free of the timeshare.

We can’t tell you who the bad guys are as a non-disclosure agreement was required in the settlement.

“In many cases, people have been kept in a room for over 10 hours, not given water, not eaten, they are exhausted and sign contracts just to get out of there. At least once a month someone comes to us who owes over $150,000 in timeshare debt. We have met people owe more than what their house is worth, it is so scary,” Morse underscores.

Of course, you are probably thinking, if this is going on, why aren’t criminal complaints being filed?

While Las Vegas does have a competent police department, we discovered a shocking lack of interest when the right people were contacted. “Oh, you need to talk with Nevada’s Real Estate Department,” we were told repeatedly, and did, only to discover a similar lack of concern. Why? Could it be a five-letter word spelled M-O-N-E-Y? Timeshare sales is big business in Sin City.

Who Is Most at Risk of Becoming a Victim?

Is it just the impaired, elderly or nice people who can’t say no who get sucked into timeshare contracts? Is there an ideal victim of a timeshare sales presentation? No, Morse says. “We have spoken to people at every level of education, from all walks of life who have fallen victim to these presentations, including lawyers, doctors, journalists and television talk show hosts.”

So, what is the bottom line for consumers? If you’re presented the opportunity to attend a sales presentation, tempted by the free breakfasts or other rewards, understand before going in that you are going to meet some of the world’s best salespeople who will, as Morse says, “Appeal to the fact that you have probably fallen in love with the resort and your emotions will cloud reason, as the pressure mounts to buy today. They do not want you to consult with your financial adviser or lawyer and will shower you with fairy dust — extra points — to get your signature on their contract.

“Buying a timeshare is an emotional experience, and if you’ve already bought one, upon returning home, immediately meet with your financial adviser or lawyer, listen to their advice. If they tell you to cancel, then follow the specific method outlined in your contract.”

But it gets even worse. Stay tuned, because in a future story, we’ll look at how scammers steal millions of dollars from timeshare owners, singing the sweetest song they could ever imagine hearing: “We have a buyer for your Mexican timeshare!”

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This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA .

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After attending Loyola University School of Law, H. Dennis Beaver joined California's Kern County District Attorney's Office, where he established a Consumer Fraud section. He is in the general practice of law and writes a syndicated newspaper column, " You and the Law ." Through his column, he offers readers in need of down-to-earth advice his help free of charge. "I know it sounds corny, but I just love to be able to use my education and experience to help, simply to help. When a reader contacts me, it is a gift."

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Suckered into Marriott Kauai Timeshare Presentation

Post by engineer4286 » Tue Aug 02, 2016 6:59 am

Re: Suckered into Marriott Kauai Timeshare Presentation

Post by miamivice » Tue Aug 02, 2016 8:07 am

engineer4286 wrote: Hi all, My wife and I have been to Kauai before. Was offered what I think is a reasonable price for a 5 night/6 day stay in Kauai at the Marriot Vacation Club for $799. Long story short, this comes with the caveat that I have to attend a 90-minute presentations, which will be the sales pitch. Since I've read horror stories... Couple questions: 1) How do I make the mandatory presentation the least painful as possible for us and the salesperson, we will not fall into the trap and have no intention to buy. 2) Has anyone stayed at this property? We are bringing a 4 and 3 year old with us and were wondering of the cool boglehead ways to save money, cool excursions, places to see, things to do. Anything is fair game. Feel free to reminisce about you Hawaiian escapes in this thread as well

Post by heikejohn1 » Tue Aug 02, 2016 11:23 am

Post by arthurdawg » Tue Aug 02, 2016 11:29 am

heikejohn1 wrote: Take the kids with you!!! The presenters will probably be happy to see you leave early if your kids start to get bored and disrupt the presentation.

Post by mattshwink » Tue Aug 02, 2016 11:30 am

heikejohn1 wrote: Take the kids with you!!!

Post by carolinaman » Tue Aug 02, 2016 12:02 pm

Post by jf89 » Tue Aug 02, 2016 12:06 pm

Post by Longdog » Tue Aug 02, 2016 12:27 pm

Post by fizxman » Tue Aug 02, 2016 12:38 pm

Post by 2cents2 » Tue Aug 02, 2016 12:44 pm

Post by bberris » Tue Aug 02, 2016 12:46 pm

Post by Jack FFR1846 » Tue Aug 02, 2016 12:47 pm

Post by Toons » Tue Aug 02, 2016 12:48 pm

Post by jf89 » Tue Aug 02, 2016 12:55 pm

Jack FFR1846 wrote: You don't need excuses. I've been to dozens of these presentations and there's no way around a sales person getting mad. They often go in rotation, just like car salespeople, so if they draw you, get no sale, they have to wait for their next turn to find a sucker. When they start with their first leading questions designed to lead you to say "yes" to "If I can show you how to save money on vacations, would you be interested?", just say no. It could stun the salesperson because nobody says no (we do). They'll probably come back and make you feel uncomfortable asking why you came to the presentation if you aren't open to buying. You can honestly respond that you are required to be here to get the low price on your stay but you won't take a time share, even if it's free. (they then are in a corner.....if you won't take it for free, how can they possibly convince you to give them money?)

Post by Shallowpockets » Tue Aug 02, 2016 12:56 pm

Post by fizxman » Tue Aug 02, 2016 3:31 pm

Shallowpockets wrote: I am curious. How does one make themselves a Hawaii trip and then get offered this deal? Did you receive this deal offer before you thought of going and have now engjneerd your trip based on staying there for free? A mail offer? A phone call?

Post by Emilyjane » Tue Aug 02, 2016 3:37 pm

Post by Timoneer » Tue Aug 02, 2016 3:48 pm

engineer4286 wrote: Hi all, ... 2) Has anyone stayed at this property? We are bringing a 4 and 3 year old with us and were wondering of the cool boglehead ways to save money, cool excursions, places to see, things to do. Anything is fair game.

Post by njboater74 » Tue Aug 02, 2016 3:51 pm

Post by dbr » Tue Aug 02, 2016 3:58 pm

engineer4286 wrote: 1) How do I make the mandatory presentation the least painful as possible for us and the salesperson, we will not fall into the trap and have no intention to buy.

Post by Emilyjane » Tue Aug 02, 2016 4:11 pm

Post by playtothebeat » Tue Aug 02, 2016 4:54 pm

Post by Watty » Tue Aug 02, 2016 5:13 pm

Post by goblue100 » Tue Aug 02, 2016 5:15 pm

Post by Jack FFR1846 » Tue Aug 02, 2016 5:25 pm

jf89 wrote: Yes, there is a way to get around a sales person getting mad. Be nice to them. Treat them like people that are being paid to do a job. They aren't expecting a 100% hit rate, so they aren't at all mad if you hear them out and just say you can't afford it. Answering "no" to a leading question that 99.9999% should be answered "yes" is not being nice to somebody. It's being stubborn and rude.

Post by celia » Tue Aug 02, 2016 5:46 pm

Post by Sandi_k » Tue Aug 02, 2016 5:50 pm

Post by nisiprius » Tue Aug 02, 2016 5:58 pm

Post by Whakamole » Tue Aug 02, 2016 6:03 pm

Jack FFR1846 wrote: It does not matter what we say. Sales people will be mad.

Post by KlingKlang » Tue Aug 02, 2016 6:15 pm

Post by Shallowpockets » Tue Aug 02, 2016 6:22 pm

Post by investingdad » Tue Aug 02, 2016 6:55 pm

Post by letsgobobby » Tue Aug 02, 2016 7:05 pm

Post by dcdowden » Tue Aug 02, 2016 7:51 pm

Post by squirm » Tue Aug 02, 2016 8:37 pm

Post by squirm » Tue Aug 02, 2016 8:39 pm

Post by scottyja » Tue Aug 02, 2016 9:06 pm

Post by dave_k » Tue Aug 02, 2016 9:31 pm

Post by alfaspider » Tue Aug 02, 2016 9:50 pm

dave_k wrote: Just go in knowing that it's likely a terrible deal and there's absolutely no reason to decide on the spot.

Post by likegarden » Tue Aug 02, 2016 10:14 pm

Post by HomerJ » Tue Aug 02, 2016 10:27 pm

2cents2 wrote: 1. Set your timer on your phone to keep track of how much time has elapsed (and make sure they don't exceed the agreed upon time commitment to make their pitch). 2. Don't sign anything until your lawyer has reviewed it. I have only attended 2 timeshare presentations (about 30 years apart). Both of them wanted my immediate signature on a purchase agreement before leaving the presentation. They put a sense of urgency on making an immediate decision--such as offering a discount which expired when leaving the presentation. 3. Don't sign anything until you have read the public offering statement and any other accompanying program documents (this will take a while). The public offering statement is important to read and understand--the sales person will say lots of stuff and make lots of promises, but if it isn't in writing it doesn't mean a thing. (Also, there is a chance they won't be able to provide the public offering statement at the presentation for whatever reason) 4. Don't sign anything until you understand the program. 2, 3 & 4 ought to keep you safe.

Post by harrychan » Tue Aug 02, 2016 10:31 pm

Post by WasabiOsbourne » Tue Aug 02, 2016 10:39 pm

Post by WasabiOsbourne » Tue Aug 02, 2016 10:41 pm

Post by beyou » Tue Aug 02, 2016 10:45 pm

Post by nedsaid » Tue Aug 02, 2016 10:48 pm

Post by AZAttorney11 » Tue Aug 02, 2016 10:55 pm

Post by lemonPepper » Tue Aug 02, 2016 10:55 pm

engineer4286 wrote: Hi all, My wife and I have been to Kauai before. Was offered what I think is a reasonable price for a 5 night/6 day stay in Kauai at the Marriot Vacation Club for $799. Long story short, this comes with the caveat that I have to attend a 90-minute presentations, which will be the sales pitch. Since I've read horror stories... Couple questions:

Post by inbox788 » Wed Aug 03, 2016 1:30 am

Post by Crimsontide » Wed Aug 03, 2016 1:39 am

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Timeshare Nightmares: 3 Cautionary Tales
Facts and Myths

Primo Management Group
April 10, 2024

Many timeshare owners are happy with their purchase. However, for the owners who regret their purchase, there are some timeshare nightmares.

In our business, we hear stories of timeshare nightmares every day.

Timeshare Presentation Nightmare

The high-pressure world of timeshare presentations is well-known and well-documented . However, timeshare reps know this, too. And so, they offer bigger and better incentives to lure prospective owners into their presentations. Once they’ve got you, beware! Consumers have shared many timeshare nightmares about these presentations.

Pete and Susie High of Auburn, CA attended a timeshare presentation in Puerto Vallarta. Lured in by the promise of a $450.00 award, the couple agreed to sit through a 90-minute presentation by Puerto Bahia Villas and Spa. Unfortunately for the couple, the presentation lasted way beyond the promised 90 minutes. The High’s finally escaped after eight hours as timeshare owners.

They stood strong through the first six hours of the “presentation,” maybe because the sales reps served the couple wine and beer. Although they didn’t want alcohol, the couple was thirsty from the 6-hour ordeal, so they drank their drinks. Shortly thereafter, they signed for their timeshare.

To add insult to injury, even after the couple canceled their timeshare within the rescission period, the resort continued to attempt to collect from them.

Timeshare Assessment Nightmare

In addition to annual timeshare maintenance fees, timeshare owners may find themselves on the hook for special assessment fees. Timeshare reps definitely don’t spend too much time on special assessments during their presentations. And that’s dangerous business for buyers.

Special assessments are fees above and beyond the usual maintenance fees to cover unique circumstances, damages, or upgrades. Unpredictable expenses are part and parcel of any real estate ownership. And like other types of fees associated with real estate, these fees are unpredictable and can get very expensive.

Owners at the Point at Poipu in Hawaii experienced a particularly extreme special assessment in response to a water intrusion. The special assessment was almost $3800. Naturally, the owners had difficulty paying this assessment and they banded together to launch a class action suit against the Diamond Resorts and eventually got relief. However, this episode clearly shows the dangers of timeshare ownership.

Timeshare Collections Nightmare

Bryant K. Creighton and Beth Ann Creighton of Wheeling found themselves in a tough spot with their Ocean Beach Club timeshare in West Virginia. After a successful timeshare exit, the timeshare company continued to report debt and seek collection of the false debt.

The couple now seeks damages for breach of contract, breach of duty, and breach of warranty. In addition to pain and anguish, they experienced a loss of credit because of their experience. Credit problems are one of the main timeshare nightmares facing owners.

This story shows how unscrupulous these companies can be. That’s why it’s so important to be careful in all dealings with timeshare companies from start to finish. If you need help with a timeshare exit, we can help. That’s what we do… specialize in helping people exit their timeshares safely, ethically, and forever. Contact us for a free consultation today.

1 reply on “Timeshare Nightmares: 3 Cautionary Tales”

I have a few friends who have owned timeshares. At first they talk them up and claim how amazing they are… but after a few years, most of them complain about the cost, not using them enough to make it worth it, and worst of all, the fact that there are very few things that can be done to get out of a timeshare agreement unless you find a reputable timeshare cancellation company that can actually get you out of a timeshare legally.

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COMMENTS

Let’s Talk Timeshares: Presentation Horror Stories and Cheap ...
May 31, 2017 · A few years later, we attended another timeshare presentation at a local timeshare office for a $50 Outback gift certificate. Worth it? Not even close! Why the Math Doesn’t Work For Me. We’ve always gone into each timeshare presentation knowing that we would not be buying the timeshare. The math just doesn’t compute for me.
Your worst timeshare presentation experience? | Timeshare ...
Feb 19, 2008 · The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years! Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
Couple Recounts Their Timeshare Nightmare As A Warning To ...
Apr 29, 2015 · People have posted similar stories online about other presentations in Mexico, according to Brian Rodgers, whose website claims it provides the truth about timeshares.
Timeshare Nightmares: Don't Let This Happen to You | Kiplinger
Dec 10, 2018 · Hours-long, pressure-filled timeshare encounters leave two couples in tears. Consumers can learn a lot from their stories. Here's what to know about timeshares before getting talked into attending ...
Went to a timeshare presentation today. This is what ... - Reddit
My ex wife and I went to Vegas in 2007 and got sucked into a timeshare presentation for the (then) new Planet Hollywood Resort. We spent around 4 hours and got comped 2 tickets to 2 shows, 2 free dinners at our selection of about 8 different restaurants, and $50 worth of playing chips.
[Serious] Who has been to a 'timeshare' presentation, and ...
I would never consider a timeshare. I like going to different places every time. I've read what people end up paying for timeshares after the purchase, and you can buy a lot of AirBnB for that. In some way I would like to attend a timeshare presentation to see what they are like. But, I have read varying accounts of what happens.
Suckered into Marriott Kauai Timeshare Presentation
Jun 21, 2013 · My wife and I have been to Kauai before. Was offered what I think is a reasonable price for a 5 night/6 day stay in Kauai at the Marriot Vacation Club for $799. Long story short, this comes with the caveat that I have to attend a 90-minute presentations, which will be the sales pitch. Since I've read horror stories... Couple questions:
Went to a Timeshare Presentation...and this is what I've learned.
Not knowing which presentation you went to for sure (Sounds like Shell Vacations), I can safely say that I can get you the same timeshare (if not the higher level) for 10% of their price, if not less. TS are great if you buy them resale and know how to use them. I am leaving in 4 hours for a timeshare stay in mexico that cost $198 for the week.
Timeshare Nightmares: 3 Cautionary Tales | The Best Timeshare ...
Apr 10, 2024 · Many timeshare owners are happy with their purchase. However, for the owners who regret their purchase, there are some timeshare nightmares. In our business, we hear stories of timeshare nightmares every day. Timeshare Presentation Nightmare. The high-pressure world of timeshare presentations is well-known and well-documented. However ...
Presentations - What can I expect? - Timeshare Forums
Mar 3, 2008 · In the US, DH and I will go to a timeshare presentation by a reputable company like Marriott or Wyndham (although I've heard some Wyndhams have pretty awful presentations), or at a smaller resort that has some reward we're after. But having heard TERRIBLE stories about timeshare presentations in Mexico, I would never, never go to one there.