My wife and I decieded to buy a 2nd timeshare to suppliment what we already had through another company. Just so happened to get a call from Sunterra and decided to check them out. We drove to Sedona, Az to one of their resorts for the presentation, wasnt too hard of a sell considering we were ready to buy.
Our only want was that they had resorts in the San Diego area since we travel there at least 5 weekends per year. We were shown about 15 locations in the area and said it would not be a problem.
We were told that what we bought would get us a 2 bedroom for 2 weeks anywhere within our 2 resort directories. Altogether we spent a little over $14k and paid it in full within 3 months.
1st disappointment) About 2 months after we purchased we decided to go on a trip to San Diego and at that time we found out there was only one hotel to stay at within the club. Anything outside of the club required at least a 7 night stay. Nedless to say the hotel wihin the club was impossible to get in for months and we did not need a whole week.
2nd disappointment) Over the past year we've taken 4-5 family turnaround trips in which we could not find any availability through our timeshare club. These trips were with adequete notice (3-6 months) and 1 or 2 short notice.
3rd disappointment) We get a call for a member update to review our satisfaction and to give them an opportunity to sell us more. I figured I'd use this opportunity to tell them face to face about my dissatisfaction. I get there and when they ask me what I purchased and I tell them that all I know is that it'll get me 2 weeks in a 2 br and they literally giggle. They proceed to show me that we'll be lucky to get a week in our HOME club (them using this as a tactic to sell me more). When I ask why I was told that at purchase and they tell us our sales person was a know liar and had been fired a couple of tmes for doing so to get a sale. This sales person tried her best to make us feel like an idiot because we paid $14k for something we have not been able to use.
4th disappointment and most surising) Since we have not been able to use our membership, I deliberately did not pay our annual maintenance dues due Feb of each year. I get a letter 2 days ago stating that I have 21 days to pay the maintenance dues (in which theyve added another $200 on) within 21 days that they will take my membership in leiu-of (a $14k purchse to satisfy a $600 bill!!!).
I call them to find out what it is about and evidently in the mountain of paperwork we signed we consented to this. Im told I have 2 options, pay or forfiet. Also the woman on the phone tells me that 60% of owners opt to forfiet!
At this point I have no choice but to pay these crooks but feel like the biggest piece of crap for being taken like this. If Sunterra calls you to check out a resort, take thier free gift but please do not buy from them!!!
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