My story is the same as "Judi's" from Virginia Beach, VA.
Mine took place at the Westgate Resort in Gatlinburg, and with the exception I was not infromed of the 90 minute sale pitch I would have to sit through. I was informed of the sales pitch after I had hung up, and did a MapQuest search of the address I was to show up at.
Which they falsified as well. They gave me the address of 915 Garden Road. I have vacationed in Gatlinburg all my life, as well as my husband. Now that we have 2 children we vacation twice a year in Gatlinburg. Knowing the area, after MapQuest located "915 Garden Road" I knew it was Westgate Resort. Which made me leary and went to the Westgate Resort webpage, with no surprise the Gatlinburg Westgate Resort address was "915 Westgate Resort Road", not 915 Garden Road.
I then called the 800# back and once again to no surprise I was informed by a recording that the offices had closed for the day. So I tried to out smart them and called the number that showed up on my caller ID, 312-821-6358, someone did answer. All I asked them was, I was just informed by Melissa Freeman that I was a winner of 1 of the 4 prizes and all I have to do is show up scratch a ticket and claim my prize. I then asked the lady how long is the timeshare sales pitch I have to sit through? She informed me that it would not be any longer that 90 minutes. I told her thank you and hung up.
With my inital call with Melissa Freeman, I informed her that this better not be a gimmick, because I had just lost my job back in May of 08 and my husband & I DO NOT have money to throw away. She guaranteed I would win one of the following, 1 -a 2008 Lincoln Navigator (which I could cash out on for $45,000), 2 - $2,500 in cash, 3 - 7 night Florida/Bahamas Vacation or 4 - a 32" Toshiba Flat Screen TV.
On Saturday September 6, my husband & I set out for our appointment at 12:00 at the Westgate Resort. With the intentions of sitting throught the sales pitch and claiming 1 of the fabulous prizes. The salesman had a great pitch and was very nice. We finished up with his Manager who offered us a so called "resale" which we quickly declined and informed him of our recent income decrease, didn't seem to phase him at all. He went on to inform us of another option, which we declined as well. He then stated that someone would be around to stamp our paperwork and we could then claim our prize.
The man that came to stamp our paperwork had a sales pitch as well as a "renters agreement" for only $35 a month, which we declined.
Off to scratch our ticket. No problem, the lady at the counter handed me a ticket, the ticket showed the following prizes to be won... 1 - 2008 Lincoln Navigator, 2 - $2,500 cash, 3 - 5 DAY FLORIDA/BAHAMA VACTION 4 - 27" FLAT SCREEN TV. Wondering what happen to the 7day vacation & the 32" TV?
I scratched anyway, guess what we won! The 5 day vacation. Discussed with the whole thing, we didn't question it and just walked out the doors.
Our little excursion ended up costing us $45 in gas & $30 for a babysitter plus 8-1/2 hours of our time. With money tight from me losing my job we threw away $75 for this scam!
All for a 5day vaction that IS NOT really free! You have to pay $50 for the Florida deposit & $198 for the Bahamas Deposit. Which you mail in & expect someone from "ALL STAR VACATIONS" to contact you upon receipt of the reservation form. I'm sure that's a whole new ripoff with them.
How do these kind of people sleep at night, I know everyone needs a job, ME for one, but this is not one of the ways I want to earn my money.
I will give David A. Siegel; Founder, President and CEO of Westgate Resorts, has beautiful Resorts. However I would not give this company 1 penny to stay at any of them!
Dottie
Kingsport, Tennessee
U.S.A.
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