Posted on 01/12/2014 8:12:30 PM PST by Allen In Texas Hill Country
We got pulled into a so-called vacation club pitch. Long story short, after the pitch which included stated price of $9k I told the interviewer I wasn't interested and then added but might for $3k. Two or three talked back and forth and they finally said OK. That should have been a clue but in any case I went for it.
We do travel a bit and I thought I might be able to use the site. MAYBE???
Got 3 days to change my mind and thought I might toss this out to the Freepers,
That business is completely scummy, and I understand it well, since I used to work in it.
Even the reputable names, such as Disney and Hilton, engage in the same pricing strategies and misleading sales tactics.
Get out of the deal. You asked and that is the advice you got from everyone.
After you take care of that come back and ask the right question, “Can anyone recommend a great vacation location that I can arrange myself?”
I think you'll find with a little work that you will come across some excellent deals on your own via the internet.
Sometimes it's a reward unto itself putting together a good deal.
Lots of good advice.
Let me add a few things.
We bought one: never again. We were young, and it was before we had kids.
Advantages: We went to some great places by exchanging our week. Disney, skiing out west. We used it as a chance to explore and see new places. As kids got older we could change to different kinds of places. Also forced us to to on vacation once a year!
Disadvantages: Cost. The yearly maintenance fee (700 bucks now) the Exchange fee: 130 bucks and the membership fee - It think another 100 annually). So - it costs another 1000 bucks a year to “own a week” which we also paid for.
We no longer own. We have had great luck with a few websites: Vacation rentals by owner (vrbo.com), Priceline and hotwire - and lots of other sites.
The group would meet & decide where to go (several trips per year) & for how long. The trips were open to the public. Prices were good because no one was making a profit & groups can get discounts for flights & hotels. Traveling with friends & neighbors can be a lot of fun & you wind up with new friends. One of the best parts of traveling this way is the trip coordinator handled all the details, luggage, checkin/out, etc., leaving Mom free to sight see.
I've done the same thing with the local ski club in my younger years.
Check around at some of the larger churches in your area. I'll bet some of them have a travel group. The ripoff factor is near zero.
Besides the ‘goofy’ cancel form the contract also has the same cancellation stipulation down to the return address.
I hope I’ll remember to post the outcome of this screw-up.
Allen
Besides paying the $3k you will be hit with annual maintenance fees and the like. I joined one and got socked with a $700 fee.
Get out and join the Disney Vacation Club.
They have not only the resorts at Disney World, they have California, Vero Beach Fl., Hilton Head, and Hawaii.
They have connections with resorts around the world, and tours (Adventures by Disney).
We did some calculations when we first joined and that we can stay at a $300+ per night room for $70 over the life of our contract. We live on the east coast, so, we go to WDW several times a year, but, sometimes we go to Hilton Head which is only an hour from the house. It’s been perfect for us.
What we liked best was there was no pressure at all in the presentation. We walked in, got the spiel, they said, here it is, if you like it, or, we’ll give you a few fast passes and take you to your favorite park. Then the presenter left the room.
We were ready to buy when we went to the spiel, but, the wife said she would have walked out if she had felt any pressure.
Best vacation selection we ever made.
Cancel, cancel, CANCEL!!! “Vacation Club” is just another name for “Time Share.” If you really like the place, then you should easily be able to rent a unit from one of the suckers who brought a membership for a lot less than the cost of the membership.
Doh!
One more thing but probably too late for you:
is to follow the instructions in the contract for cancelling.If it says ‘submit in writing’ your cancellation, then write up your own statement. The language in the contract will follow federal and state law.
Frequently the ‘goofy’ cancellation form that they provide,
will take away what the law provides for you and has clauses that you sign agreeing to steep cancellation fees and what not.
Well, how did it go — did you want to give us an update?
If you decided not to cancel, we understand — I was so emphatic, because I had more one friend make very poor investments, I warned them, they didn’t listen and indeed lost all their money.
You can take a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink.
Hope you made an effort and were successful in getting out of the deal — if not you will see the light eventually and think of us then...
Mailed package back this morning, registered and return receipt. The UPS people said that even tho the address was a PO box that the USPS could get a signature. Sure wonder how.
Today we got two introductory calls from them. The first I didn’t answer ‘cause I wasn’t sure what to say and the wife was not home. The second call was later in the day and the wife said she would talk to them.
We said we really messed up because we have no plans to travel for the next few years and that we returned everything as per the instructions. The lady on the other end was quite cordial and understanding. She said to expect the refund in 2 or 3 weeks.
Thanks for all the input and I’ll post a follow up thread,,,,,,,,,,,,,, hopefully when that happens.
Allen
They could have new phone numbers and addresses in 2 weeks.
Hope it works out.
Excellent! I am proud of you! :)
Thanks for the update.
The USPS can indeed get a signature — they put a notice into the box, letting the box holder know that there is an item that needs to be signed for, so when they go to pick up their mail, they go to the counter, sign for it and get the item.
Hope you’ll get back/keep your money.
As long as you have your receipt, you should be OK, if these people are half-way legit.
But I would still cancel the check or call the credit card company. An ounce of prevention and all that — unless they already cashed the check or charged your credit card. If there is a charge, I would call the credit card company and let them know the situation that you canceled it and that there should be a credit shortly, if there isn’t, that they shouldn’t have charged it until after the cancellation period expired, so they have a record.
As I said, I recently had to cancel my credit card and it was no hassle at all, it’s easier to prevent than to try to rectify such things.
“They could have new phone numbers and addresses in 2 weeks.”
You are absolutely right.
The fact that all they provided is a P.O. BOX number, no physical address, is another red flag.
As I said before, cancel the check or credit card, rather than wait for a refund, which may or may not ever come and all you have is a P.O. BOX address for them, so you can’t even find them to sue them.
Why is it taking them weeks to give you a refund?
Either way, hopefully you learned your lesson and will NEVER sign anything on the spot, without going home to think about it.
Outcome, he DID get 90% of his money back!
Update here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3116344/posts
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