My wife and I purchased a timeshare at Westgate Oceanfront Resort at Myrtle Beach, SC., in 2007. We purchased a one-bedroom, fixed 4th of July week and since then have paid it off. If you are familiar with how timeshare works, owning a fixed 4th of July week on the beach is very valuable when it comes to trading. Trading power is why we purchased that fixed week. The week was purchased in the existing converted hotel so we could use it immediately and not wait on any construction to be completed. At the time, we were told the completion date for the north tower would be in 2009. Just to let people know, according to Interval International, it is only 70% completed as of today. Also, it was once rated 5-star and since then has been demoted. This has a part in why I have a complaint with Westgate.
We have traded before and for this, Interval International rewarded us with where we wanted to go, plus they issued us with an extra week of usage for giving up such a valuable week. Since the economy took a nose-dive, taking vacation took a back seat the following year and in 2009. But I kept up with my maintenance fees and Interval dues and kept up with what we had in our Interval account to use. Last week I started to plan usage for my son's wedding this summer. But when I checked my Interval account, they showed me as having a week deposited from owning at Williamsburg, Va.in May as well as the unused weeks. So I called Interval to see why. They told me only Westgate could have done that and I needed to call them. So I called the customer service # and explained the situation on Dec. 31. I was told it would be corrected NLT Jan. 5. I gave them an extra day and looked at the Interval account on Jan. 6 and low and behold, nothing had changed! So once again, I called the customer service# and got hold of a person called "Michelin". I explained the situation once again as a courtesy to her that I didn't own at Williamsburg, but at Myrtle Beach and it was causing some problems in trying to exchange where I wanted to go. I also told her that it was supposed to have been corrected already and I would like to speak to a supervisor. She told me immediately a supervisor would not be able to do anymore than she and I would have to fill out a form and it would be corrected in 72 hrs. I told her that was not acceptable and I would like to speak to a supervisor. She once again refused to connect me with a supervisor and told then she would take care of it immediately. I questioned her how I could believe that when she had just said it would take 72 hrs. To fix, and once again, requested to speak to a supervisor.in total, I know I asked at least eight times to speak to a supervisor before I said some things I shouldn't have and she hung up on me.
I called back and got hold of another customer service rep and I explained once again the problem. He immediately said he would put me through with a supervisor. Well I still didn't get to talk to one but the gentleman said his supervisor was taking care of the situation immediately. So while I had him on the phone, I checked my Interval account on-line. Low and behold, three weeks of usage turned into two weeks of usage, the unused 4th of July week showed ownership at Myrtle Beach but the deposited week still showed ownership at Williamsburg. So now I have one showing a deposited week at Williamsburg and only one week at Myrtle Beach when there should be two weeks. I explained to the person on the phone that this was still unacceptable and ownership during 4th of July on the beach was way different than owning a week at Williamsburg in May and it was causing my inability to exchange for what I needed. He said he understood my frustration and would have supervisor call me. A supervisor did call me back but explained why this probably happened. Here was his explanation why:
He said because available weeks at the Oceanfront resort was so limited, they (Westgate) put my deposited week into a pool and then gave any available week in the Westgate resort system. He then said that is probably why Interval had me as owning at Williamsburg as well. But I explained to him, according in Interval, Westgate would be the only one capable of changing my ownership location and I wanted this corrected immediately so I could go on with trying to book my week from where I owned. He said they would try to see what they could do and left it at that. I could see I was not going to get anywhere with these people so my next step will be to talk with Interval one more time to see if I can get this straightened out. If not, I guess I can only take this to a lawyer to show this company has defrauded me.
So, if there's anyone out there looking to purchase from Westgate... Anywhere, I would suggest to turn and run. Timeshare does work but only if you buy from a reputable company that's not out to defraud. I will get this resolved one way or another and all of Westgate's lawyers will not be able to defend this. I have proof of ownership and I have proof of what they have done. One final thought... It is companies like Westgate that give timeshare a bad name. And Mr. Siegel... While you're sitting in your 80,000 sq. Ft mansion in Orlando, little people like me will prevail, when it's just, over the scum-sucking likes of you! And as soon as I can, I will unload this week and do my business with a reputable company so you won't have anymore of my money in the future! And to all those out there considering owning with this company... Buyer beware... They are full of lies and deceit. And if you're an owner at this resort in Myrtle Beach, if you try to book your week during the summer, they will say you have it but once you arrive, they will tell you it's all booked and they no longer have rooms available. Then they will try to put you in a hotel somewhere in Myrtle Beach for a week and the promise of an extra week with Westgate at another time. So, if you own there, you may as well try to go somewhere else and not have to deal with their nonsense! Or do what I'm going to do... Get rid of it fast!
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