Wyndham CEO: Appeal is strong for time shares

Relieved wrote:

We quit paying on the timeshare. They did call us over and over for about 5 months then they finally agreed to take it back because we just refused to send them another dime. The buy back was $250.00 and that was nothing compared to what we had paid and never used any properties but it ws also a relief to be rid of it. The monthly dues we quit paying also and notified them that we don't own the property any more and they can contact the business office of Wyndham. We are now planning a cruise for 7 days and it's a fraction of the cost for 1 year paying for the timeshare.

My husband and I will be taking the first steps of letting our Wyndham timeshare go. We have no idea as to what we're getting ourselves into but have tried searching the web for advice and steps to take. We have put at least $20k into the mortgage alone (and still owe $67k?!)and have a credit card with a $15k balance that we're willing to take our losses on. At this point, I'd rather be stuck paying off a credit card than to continue this nonsense. I'm absolutely concerned about the negative effect on our credit but it is a hard lesson learned, and life will go on. I'd be interested to know what steps you took before you stopped making payments and how this has affected your credit and ability to purchase and/or keep your home.

look at ripoffreport.com There are hundreds of us looking to start a class-action lawsuit... they are pulling all types of stunts!!

kcrider wrote:

We were also mislead by Wyndham. We purchased our timeshare at Wyndham Smokey Mountain Resort on 11/17/07 and were told we had 30 days to cancel our contract. After 13 days we sent notification we wanted to cancel and were told we couldn't because we only had 10 days to cancel. We were also told we could begin using the timeshare on 4/1/08, and were "given" VIP points that totaled 384,000 points that we could use until 2010. When trying to book 3 nights for May (total of 31,100 points) were told we didn't have enough points, and our account now shows we can't use until 9/1/08. Also tried to book nights in Alexandria, VA in May and were told there were no vacancies, however, there is a "Party Weekend" @ that time that has several rooms blocked so they can sell more properties, but will not accomodate their customers who have already paid them $$$$. Please email (cookga@alltel.net) if anyone knows of a class action suit or who to contact. Their practices are definitely fraudulent and unethical.

You are one of the fortunate...I hope my issue with them disappears as quickly..they are sly

Frustrated in Houston wrote:

This may not be for everybody but we just quit paying last October. They have hounded us everyday sometimes 3 and 4 times a day but we had made a financial decision to do this. We had tried through 2 different Time Share companies to sell the "deeded property" and that was also a rip off and we lost money on that so the decision was made just to quit paying. Finally after 7 months they agreed to due a " Deed In Lieu " and they agreed to buy it back for $250.00. I realize that can't compare to all of the monies that we have lost but at least we are out of the contract and it didn't go against our credit. What a relief to be rid of that nightmare. We will never do anything so foolish again and the person who said just save for your vacation is absolutly right because you do get what you pay for that way.

I'm contacting the Atty General of several states involved in my Wyndham issue along with the so called "escrow" company since Wyndham is saying the mortgage signed 2 months ago isn't recordable.
I'm not paying them another dime.

I purchased a Fairfield property (now Wynham) in Hawaii and was told the property was newly built and was shown pictures. A year later when I visited the property it was actually 42 yrs. old. Prior to my return to Hawaii I also purchased another property to be VIP for life ( in Mrytle Beach). Since the sells person was dishonest about the Hawaii property I was able to cancel the contract (after mentioning contacting a lawyer). Unfortunately, it took 1 yr. to cancel. Wynham intially agreed to let me keep all of my points. But changed my point status without my knowledge. In addition, Wynham continued to charge me assessment fees for property I did no longer own. After months of agruing my account was canceled without my knowledge. I was told I would not receive the $3000 down payment I made. I was also told nothing could be sent in writing stating the status of my account. I was finally told to forward a certain amount to reactivate my account and on two occasions my check has been returned. I have not been able to get a straight answer from anyone concerning the account. I next course of action will probably be to take them to court to obtain my down payment. I would not recommend Wynham Resorts to my worse enemy. They have taken me through so much over the past 2 1/2 years.

These people call me at least twice a day, and when I ask them to take me off of their list, they say okay. Only to receive MORE calls. They infringe on people's rights and lie to you and rip you off. In some cases, ruin lives. When talking to a manager asking to be taken off of their scam list, he says he needs my new address for that to happen. WHAT? If I ask to be taken off of a list, there is no need to give out MORE personal information. This is illegal. Something must be done about these scumbags.

As A former salesman of Wyndham, I have to say that I have seen other salemans be dishonest about the points system, re-sale value and most of all the availability. I to also thought it was over sold as well, probably why i did not take part in the "employee pricing" program, because when i looked on e-bay they still could not beat those prices (300,000) points in Branson for 2grand, Why are people giving this stuff away?

I attended a presentation this week in las vegas and I was very excited about vacations.
They tell you what you want to hear, so you become in love with vacations and they constantly repeat no pressure.
You know you go into those things saying I want my money I dont care about the 2 hours and I will not buy anything, then your there and you think wow this is really nice and its only 16,000 for life vacations versus the predicted 200,000 you will spend in your lifetime of hotel costs. Well do they forget to mention to you that even if you pay off the cost of the timeshare, there are YEARLY MAINTANENCE FEES. These are forever, unless like the salespeople will tell you, you can avoid by referring 5-6 people and they will remove your maintanence fees for 2-3 years, tell me this why would you sucker in your loved ones? THis is a scam that hurts everyone and the only way you can probably benefit from it is you dont mind paying the high costs for the room you think youll get or you buy a timeshare off of ebay or redweek.com (some sell for literally $300, why do they sell it so cheap you ask? because they want to get rid of paying maintanence fees every year for something that is most likely higher than hotel costs for that year anyways). Do your homework and youll see that timeshare are not worth the time and efforts. I went in there having a conversation with my spouse saying were not buying anything and they show you the affordabale prices, and you actually think its a deal. WE actually thought wow what a deal, but if it was such a deal dont you think they wouldnt have to pay people and bribe them to come in???

We said no and took the money ($100) and got the free hotel for the hawaii location. MY advice take the prize and dont even think about it, ITS A SCAM! tell them yourt not interested and they wont have to waste their time on you, its a business they want your money they dont care about your life, their salespeople!!!

Like someone said before if its too good to be true, it IS!

another point...if maintanence fees you say are equal to the hotel costs anyway, so it can break even...well wouldnt you want the possibility of exploring other hotels than just wyndham???

its very unethical to even buy a timeshare off of someone who suffered so much from it, remember if you do end up buying a timeshare off the web for under $1000, that person probably bought it for $20,000 plus and there families are hurting from it. All wyndham guarantees is vacations, not a cheap or bargain of a time.

Please dont it, if you want to deal just rent someone else timeshare and pay their maintanence fees for cheaper than your hotel costs.

I've owned WM since 2000. I've stayed at Windsor, California 23 times to visit friends and family. I've sent my son on his honeymoon to Maui. I've had family reunions in Rosarita Beach and Solvang. Even with the maintanence fees, I've saved thousands over hotels. And stayed in condo's, not hotel rooms. If you don't like it, give me your credits...

Amazing that so people are unhappy with their decision to vacation. That people buy something to enjoy life with and then make their lives so sad. I am an owner and took the time to learn how to use the product. Have you taken the time to learn how to use it? I get most everything I want. I am going to Hawaii this coming spring with my family and would probably never do it without this product. I take many little getaways as do my kids without me. I continue to take vacations and getaways at high quality resorts for less than without ownwership.
This ownership is not for everyibe but I am a satisfied owner. If you bought this thinking you could go at your every desire than shame on you for being naive. good luck to you all- enjoy life

To those who claim maintenance costs are the same as hotels rates.("don't do it" in long beach) You are wrong. They are probably more!oI pay approx $600 a yr even after my credits are paid off. I do this because I stay at resorts that non believers don't stay at. It is folks like you who go to presentations for the free stuff yet you have no sense of value when it comes to quality resorts and accomodations.Ever stay in a 2000 sq ft Penthouse? I didn't think so. Or a beachfront condo in HI? Didn't thing so again. You have never been to and never will go to one and I am glad of that because I will never see you there. Thanks for not buying!!! Happy camping and 200 sq ft rooms vacationing.

We are, sad to say, Platinum Wyndham owners. We can say that we have been lied to more times than not by Wyndham and Fairfield sales personnel. If you look at the posted benefits of being an owner, at our level Platinum, and it states that you can book a specific unit. After previous complaints (and having hundreds of thousands of our points disappear from our account) we made a complaint through the CEO's office they still changed our unit five times prior to our arrival. This after booking a presidential suite for a family get together.
When we purchased in Las Vegas for Oceanside, we were told to move all of our points there because the maintenance fees were so much lower - wrong again!! Before it opened, they went up roughly 40%. Do not believe the sales pitch - do not buy at Wyndham. We are going to put a sign up in our car at each Wyndham we visit warning others. You would not want your friends to go through these hassles, post it so newbies don't either

I work for Wyndham and I am also a member of the Club. It really seems like you stupid assholes never read your contracts, never bothered to do your research, and never thought about the things you could do with the program.
I have been to Killiney in Ireland, Tokyo and Osaka in Japan, several resorts in Germany, Italy, and France, and each time the trip cost me 4000 points (give or take a hundred) for a week. My package cost me 13,000 dollars to purchase and it has returned values of about 3 times that in the 10 years I have been an owner.
I am so happy I will never have to vacation with you retards.

AV Garcia L V owner wrote:

To those who claim maintenance costs are the same as hotels rates.("don't do it" in long beach) You are wrong. They are probably more!oI pay approx $600 a yr even after my credits are paid off. I do this because I stay at resorts that non believers don't stay at. It is folks like you who go to presentations for the free stuff yet you have no sense of value when it comes to quality resorts and accomodations.Ever stay in a 2000 sq ft Penthouse? I didn't think so. Or a beachfront condo in HI? Didn't thing so again. You have never been to and never will go to one and I am glad of that because I will never see you there. Thanks for not buying!!! Happy camping and 200 sq ft rooms vacationing.

If so happy that U R the smartest man out there that knows how to travel then why don't you buy me out my contract and let us sorry a@@holes stay at Motel#

My family is living a nightmare with Wyndham. Last October, our 80 year old parents were hard sold by multiple reps, kept in a room for 7-1/2 hours, locked in with sales people after closing, and not allowed to leave until they signed their lives away. They cannot afford the $1400 plus it is costing them each and every month. Help! How can we get out of this...We just want to cut our losses and get out? Any advice would be appreciated. We are past desperate. Is there a class action suit...What type attorney would handle this? email: gselltoyou@aol.com

Went to there timeshare BS to get gift. Just say no. You can get a resale for a fraction of their price.

Worldmark is what you make of it. I purchased from the developer in 2001 and paid WAY too much for it.Rather than complaining about it I have just travled more than I ever have in my life, and to help me get more out of it I bought more resale to help equalize the overall cost. Some excellent resources are www.wmowners.com which is an awesome site run by and for owners and marci4worldmark.com is my favorite independent candidate for the board of directors. These sites really opened my eyes as to how to best use my membership and whay Wyndham is doing to harm owners. Please visit these sites! Worldmark owners must standup to the corporate greed and stop the lies. Worldmark is a good product and could be sold above board if they would try. Please stand up take charge and Vote independents and take back our club!

anybody plan to sue wyndham, i wan to get involved if anybody already started something please let m,e know

akkleesummit@yahoo.com

Update on Wyndham/ Santa Barbara Resort:
I disputed assessment fee in writing in 2007. I am now being punished by Wyndham...they admitedly would not send maintenance bill for 2008 and say they will not send for 2009 because my account is in collection. I sent the assessment and 2008 maintenance fee quoted to me by Wyndham employee "Tisha" (Las Vegas). My "account" however is still in collection because I am disputing the $1,000 plus fees and interest. I was told this week unless I pay this amount to collection agency I will not get 2009 bill and cannot use my timeshare in December! I bought it in 2005 before the hurricane. I have paid thousands of dollars and still do not have access to the timeshare. The collection agency is Pinnacle Recovery, Inc. out of Carlsbad, Ca. NASTY bunch. Each Wyndham employee I speak to gives me a different figure and solution. I have no choice but to seek legal help. I bought the timeshare to be near my grandchildren in my retirement and have had nothing but heartache and a diminishing bank account! If anyone is filing or can suggest what to say to a lawyer to start a class action I welcome your input. I am going to a lawyer anyway to sue Wyndham. By the way on one of the many calls I made I was told it is the Santa Barbara Owner's Association by laws that state collection agencies can collect interest and fees! I gotta' see that in writing, but first I have to track down the illusive SB Owners Assoc.
The Wyndham rep said they are just a "management company". Hmmm so who gets sued. SCAM, SCAM, SCAM. Please let me know if unfortunately you are going through similar experience. shalen1@cox.net

Sept 19 update on Santa Barbara Resort

Today...two months after the fact I received a letter from the SB Owners Assoc saying if any amount outstanding they have the right to rent unit. Now remember I didn't get the 2008 bill because I legally disputed assessment fee they have added on $1,000 in fees and now won't send me my 2009 bill! So I gather from the letter they have rented my unit and the board "voted" as of July to charge owner's for all fees connected to collecting disputed bills!! This nightmare is never going to end at this rate.