We contacted Jim Jerde from an Internet search of membership campgrounds so we could join Coast to Coast and were told he was a broker. He never told us he had an interest in Timber Lodge RV Resort; instead, he told us this membership was the only one he had available at the time. After a series of phone calls and being assured that Timber Lodge was the only one we could have, and being told we had to have something quickly before we could join C2C, Jerde sent a packet. The packet indicated Timber Lodge was open year-round, 7 days a week, and again, that it was the only special priced membership he had. He charged us $795.
The paperwork gave no selection of home parks at all. He also includeda Federal Truth in Lending Agreement in an amount higher than we were paying and said he had to do that to satisfy AOR, which we were not even interested in purchasing, but that he told us it was all one package.in a welcome letter, he told us Timberlodge maintained a staff at the resort, but we've never been able to reach anyone by phone, only by email or mail.
On 1/25/09 I was told, by email, that, "You can have Timber Lodge resell the membership for you. You will need to check with the contract department when the 48 months is up to see what the cost is for Timber Lodge to resell it is."
We had procured three different couples who wanted our membership, but backed out because of numerous reasons, one of which was that no one was at the resort. We later found out that the resort is not open year-round; yet, we were never notified of that. Our hands are completely tied and we are not able to give this membership away because of the bad business practices of Jim Jerde.
We have been emailing back and forth and I have asked him to compassionately allow us to terminate this membership without penalty. Surely this membership has more value to him than what he collects from us! We have health issues, we can no longer afford this membership, and we have paid our dues faithfully up to this point.
I cannot understand why Timber Lodge will not release members when they ask. Other resorts willingly allow their members to transfer. We have an opportunity where we live to have a free home park, and Jerde will not allow us to terminate. I am beside myself, and even though this will be a long battle, we are ready to fight this man. He should have disclosed to us right off the bat that he had an interest in Timber Lodge, rather than telling us it was the only one available.
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