A Frustrated Bluegreen Owner Has Her Opportunity To Speak

A few weeks ago I saw a tweet from some expressing displeasure with Bluegreen for not being able to get out of a fully paid off timeshare.  I contacted the person and gave her the opportunity to tell her story.  This is it.  I've only made minor grammatical edits and deleted her name as she want to remain anonymous.  It's a long post, but very much on target and well worth your time.

Hello Lisa -

I take it you could read a little sarcasm into my tweet.  I apologize - I did not mean to offend. Fact is, I was venting and no one ever reads my tweets anyway.  Here is a synopsis of our situation.

We purchased a timeshare in what I think was January 2002.  I don't have paperwork in front of me.  We paid within a very short amount of time the full amount of the deed. We were young and in love and planned on spending all of our vacation time at Big Cedar Resort.  The Wilderness Club through Bluegreen seemed to be legit, after all - Bass Pro was one of the most respected businesses in our part of the country.  Everything through them is 5 star top notch.  We can drive there in half of a day, and spend quality time as a couple and family.

At the time, there was one lodge with one more coming, and maybe 13 cabins.  From day one, it has been a joke trying to stay there.  Or anywhere.  We rarely use any of the points. Ever.  Even when we vacation, we don't even bother trying to book through our points. Our maintenance fee we pay annually is well over $1000 (thanks to the fact the "2 bedroom" we signed up for was really a 1 bedroom and a lockout....so YAY...2 units...2 maintenance fees.)

I get so frustrated at the people who try to put a spin on owners who say, 'well you should have known what you were getting in to?" We get it.  At the time, we wanted what they were selling.  It has never ONE time, felt ANYTHING like what they were selling, EVER.

And I have never heard of anything that you couldn't be done with at some time.  You can sell a car.  You can sell a house.  You can wean your kids off of your salary at a certain age. You can give away a pet.  Lifestyles change.  Preferences change.  Priorities change.  I am THRILLED that some people are completely smitten with the timeshare lifestyle.  It should not be that big of a deal that we aren't as impressed for us.

But the fact that it appears to be the most locked in, binding, insanely ridiculous life-long contract eludes me. I watch my husband have a meltdown every year when fees roll around and he realizes that he works 90 hours plus a week and none of his family had time to use the points.  We can't plan anything in our lives more than 3 weeks out- and it is certainly not feasible for us to fly as a family, and then rent cars and then pay for the activities once we get somewhere.  We just aren't THAT into vacationing.  Something we did not know prior to having all our kids.  

I am ALWAYS tempted to stand at Bass Pro or anywhere I see people trying to sign people up for these tours and pitches and wear a sign that says ASK ME WHAT MY EXPERIENCE IS...... which is sad.  I want people to enjoy the resorts and travel.  But how in God's name am I locked into this madness for life? I honestly cannot believe that no one has gone all postal on one of these places.  It is such a trapped feeling.  If I am being completely honest with you, when I think "timeshare" I think "slit my wrists." Extreme? Yes. Would I? Of course not. But that feels like the only way out.  BUT WAIT? Is it? Don't my kids have to inherit, then?  See how grotesquely crazy that sounds?  It is just a stupid one week vacation a year......it should be able to go away.  I just want to know how.  Thanks for letting me vent.  

Lisa- this is my latest communication with someone. It sounds like every other communication I have ever had. Again --Amazed over the permanency. I could get a divorce easier than ridding our family off of a stupid purchase. Again- we had no regrets when we did it. We thought it SOUNDED awesome. Years later- after deed is several years paid in full- just have stupid maintenance fees to a resort that took a ridiculous turn away from the 5 star resort vision of Bass Pro, we just want to cut ties.

I have been directed to Pinnacle – Bluegreen’s sales office. They never do anything. They send out packets with a ridiculous amount of paperwork- once you hound them enough- but then nothing is ever done with it. We have not tried the give back the thing because everything I am finding online says they won't do it. We tried eBay for a dollar a few years ago and all that did was attract people who would "sell it for us" for a fee. My husband literally works in the fields in the farming industry 80-100 hours a week.  Labor intensive. I work up to 40 hours a week for free at my kids’ school as a volunteer coordinator. The last few times ours has been used has been as a donation for auctions- and then the guests that go are hounded about buying- so it is not a good experience.

When I have booked a trip (very rarely) they try to trap us into a meeting on your vacation to buy more points. Again- Big Cedar- the property where we thought we were buying was a 5 star resort. What the timeshare has created is a pitiful overcrowded stepchild version where I wouldn't want to spend my time. We have bought a vacation home in a location we love that fits our needs. It is the convenience and family time and luxury we thought we were buying into at the time of the timeshare purchase.  We are happy and fortunate. We just want to leave our past mistake behind us and move on.  That $1400+ we are giving to Bluegreen every year could go to our church, our school, our son’s mission trips. So many better useful places. Again- we have acquaintances who love their timeshares who use them faithfully. It is just not for us. 

THIS IS THE E-MAIL THAT MY CLIENT RECEIVED FROM KELLY ROBINSON AT QUALITY TIMESHARE CLOSINGS IN BRANSON, MISSOURI
 

Once you sign a contract and go past your right of rescission, there is very little anyone can do for you unfortunately. If you have a loan, you probably cannot walk away without bad credit due to foreclosure. Or you can pay an attorney thousands of dollars to try to get them to forgive your debt.  Buyers are few and far between.  Resale market is at rock bottom prices. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. If you would like a referral to a resale broker or attorney, please call my office.

THIS IS THE E-MAIL THAT JASON MAAHS OF THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI SENT TO KELLY ROBINSON AT QUALITY TIMESHARE CLOSINGS IN BRANSON, MISSOURI

Hey Kelly,

I received this email earlier from someone needing to get out of their timeshare. I'm not afraid to admit that I am completely ignorant on the topic; I thought you may be able to help them out with your knowledge of the industry. I am forwarding you the email I have received and their contact email. 

THIS IS THE E-MAIL THAT MY CLIENT SENT TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI

Message:
I am in need of trying to find out how to begin the process of cutting ties with BlueGreen Vacations Wilderness Club at Big Cedar. We have been members since 2002 I think. Paid well over $22,000 in full for and now pay maintenance fees annually that are basically equivalent to what a vacation would cost. We were young and naive and believed the salesperson. All we wanted to do was have more time at Big Cedar. What a sad joke that was. All we want to do is walk away. Relinquish the deed. If you research on line, it is easier to give up a child than it is a time share. It has totally ruined our honeymoon impression of what was the greatest resort this side of the Mississippi. I just need guidance from a real source, not another arm of the timeshare never ending scam, giving advice. You can sell a house, you can change careers, you can move out of the country, you can wean your child off of your bank account; there has got to be a legal, simplified, honest way to get out of a timeshare. It should not be a secret. Any help or guidance to the next step would be more than appreciated. Most Sincerely

 

WHO IS GOING TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND HELP THIS OWNER?