If you’ve been paying attention over the past few days, you’ve undoubtedly seen the stories of elderly people being ahem, persuaded, to buy far more timeshare than anyone, much less elderly people, could possibly use.
There’s this story about a couple with $150,000 worth of timeshare:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/company-convinces-arizona-couple-nearly-170102072.html?.tsrc=fauxdal
And this story of an 88 year old man with $250,000 worth of timeshare:
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/amp/news/diamond-resorts-still-cant-explain-why-it-sold-250000-worth-of-timeshare-points-to-an-88-year-old-032919.html?__twitter_impression=true
I use the word “worth” as it refers to how much the developer charged them, not as it refers to the actual value of the product, which is nearly nothing as soon as the contract is signed.
Yesterday, I received word of yet another report of an older person being sold more timeshare using less than honest sales tactics:
My mother was talked into buying a timeshare at polo towers Vegas. She had a timeshare via another company in Arizona. She was notified it went bankrupt and that Diamond purchased her deed from them. They claimed she owned it but because it went bankrupt, there were no points to be used and she was on the hook for continued maintenance fees to Diamond for a timeshare she could NOT use for vacations. They further claimed said maintenance fees would be passed down to her children who would be just as responsible for paying money for a timeshare that could not be used.
Long story shorter, they got her to sign a contract for $35,000 plus $2000 a year in maintenance fees -- which we are told are going to increase. This took place in August of 2018.
Recently, Diamond contacted her via mail to invite her to a group meeting so owners could air their grievances and address concerns about their business. They claimed they wanted to help. When she was there, the representative she spoke with had her file and said her polo towers sales person lied to her about the points she purchased. That she wasn't a "true" silver member and was not eligible to take vacations to the places she expected to be able to go. He talked her into purchasing an additional points package for another $15,000. This happened last week. I found out the next day and went through the roof. I had her cancel the transaction via FAX (per their instruction) -- but I don't trust them. They can claim they never received the cancellation just as they can claim they never said any of the things they said to talk my mother into purchasing this property.
How is it this company has fee reign to use lies and deception to sign their income away with such impunity? This is the very definition of theft by deceit. It is in fact a white collar crime. Where is law enforcement protecting and serving? WHERE IS JUSTICE?
These are all from the same company, which would lead any intelligent person to surmise that these are not isolated incidents, but demonstrate a clear pattern.
WHERE IS THE OVERSIGHT? WHERE IS LAW ENFORCEMENT? HOW LONG WILL THE DEFENSE OF “We are not responsible for any oral representations made by anyone” continue to be accepted?
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