On January 24th my friend and I bought a timeshare from Orange Lake Resorts in Florida. We both suffer with chronic illnesses (fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & M. E) and we made this perfectly clear to the sales consultant Gregory Walters.
As we cannot guarantee our health will always support out travel desires we didn't want to purchase something we would not be able to use to the fullest. We were told by both Gregory Walters and his supervisor that were we unable to make use of our converted points we could rent all or part of them out for $800 dollars per week in season' and around $600 out of season'.
They continued to list the benefits of the time share units, highlighting that because the units could be further split', providing one studio-style apartment as well as one two-bed apartment. Both would have separate utilities and entrances and so could be rented out separately which would undoubtedly yield a higher return on our investment'.
We were very interested in this option so enquired more, we asked how much they would charge for helping us rent out our converted points an were informed that it would cost us 10%. We pressed further, asking specifically if this included taxes or any other charges for we did not know how the timeshare rental in Florida State worked.
Walters and his supervisor informed us everything would be included in the 10% fee and that they were sure the unit would get rented for they advertise using numerous mediums; mail shots, flyers etc.
They also said if we found we were unable to afford the timeshare or no longer wanted it they would buy it back off us and chances were we would make a profit.
When we arrived back in the UK we requested the rental information and were shocked to discover they wanted us to agree that the rental agent could take 35% of the net rental and that in addition we would have to pay U. S Federal Income tax! The form also said that the rental agent could make no guarantees or promises to rent out our allocated points.
We were also informed that there would be a member's newsletter that came out approximately every fortnight that had special discount weeks that members could purchase. Walters showed us the newsletter which was 6 pages long and full of enticing offers.
You can imagine our surprise when requesting our copy of the newsletter (which had failed to be emailed or posted directly as had been promised) the reservations team promptly responded, stating we do not have a special mailing list.
We were ushered into the office of Nabil Oumedlouz; a Sales Operations Quality Assurance Officer' who repeatedly highlighted that he was a separate entity to the Orange Lake organisation and had no affiliation nor gain from this procedure.
However when we asked questions about some of the terminologies used and looked to explore why some of the key points had been minimised' in the contract, he repeatedly responded that these were merely abbreviations and condensed versions of all the things that had already been explained in the presentation'.
He assured us that we would not be signing to anything different' to what we had already been told.in retrospect it is rather interesting that for someone who wasn't present for the sales pitch' was so sure of what had been said. It is also interesting to note that despite his absence from Walter's 4-hour sales shpeel he was sure of all that had been discussed, appeared clued' up on all our potential concerns and was able to rectify' them in a similar fashion to that of Walters.
Considering he claimed to have no affiliation to the organisation, any questions and concerns highlighted by potential customers at that point should be indicative of an incomplete presentation and we should have been re-directed to Walters for an elaboration of some the technicalities'.
This was not done, rather the supposedly independent' Oumedlouz smoothed over any queries and was sure to include that both he and his wife had purchased a unit, converted the points and used them regularly. He went on to elaborate on the benefits he had enjoyed over the years assuring us that we were making a wise purchase.
Oumedlouz also informed us we would receive deeds within 14 days, an informative phone call afterwards informed us that we would not receive any deeds until 6 months worth of payments had been received.
If the concerns that were raised about some of the terminologies and the abbreviated' statements found in the contract regarding renting out converted points had been fully elaborated and explained by Oumedlouz, there is no way we would have purchased the time share.
Key points from above
- Timeshare can be rented out as investment opportunity for profit
- Guarantee will be able to rent out unit
- Timeshare can be refinanced/sold back to Orange Lake
- Newsletter with offers
- Deed will be received within 14 days
We believe Orange Lake used the following unfair or illegal business practices to entice us to sign the timeshare contract
- Sales personnel used unethical business practices
- Sales presentation misrepresented the product
- Sales presentation misrepresented the service
- Sales presentation not consistent with written agreement
- Sales presentation used dishonest sales practices
- Sales presentation did not disclose key conditions of the offer
Claire & onome
London
United Kingdom
0 comments