Title: Westgate Resort Scams Disabled Vietnam Vet
My wife and I have been owners with Westgate Resorts for about 15 years. We bought our first unit at Westgate Villas.in 2002 we upgraded to two units in the Owners' Building at Westgate Lakes. When we were told that the Owners' Building would be completely floating time, we were adamant that we had absolutely no interest in floating time. The sales team asked if we would consider purchasing if it could be arranged for us to purchase fixed time. Because of a medical condition due to my Vietnam experience, I insisted on units on the top floor. We were offered Assigned Units 366A and 367B and Assigned Unit Week 52. An NA was notated on the contract at the Floating Use Plan as it was agreed the plan would not apply to us.
At check in on December 28, we were informed our units were already occupied. The only explanation offered was that all units in Building 300 are floating time. (Not true. We have since learned there are six other owners in Building 300 with fixed time.) I explained I had purchased fixed time and had called to confirm six weeks earlier that I would be using my units. I requested the desk clerk to pull my contract. I believed this issue would be resolved once my documents were reviewed. As I am recovering from a second heart attack and wanted to avoid going through this stressful experience again, I requested a meeting with a manager or someone from Westgate's legal department to review with me my legal documents and to discuss the conflicting information I was getting from Westgate employees. Yes, there were Westgate employees who also agreed that I should be in the units identified on my contract. The meeting was never scheduled. This whole matter might have been resolved had this meeting taken place and I would not feel compelled to file this complaint.
When I returned home I reviewed my documents. My contract indicates I have Assigned Units. Here is the definition of an Assigned Unit as found in the Public Offering Statement: 'Assigned Unit' means the Unit assigned to an Owner by Developer at the time of conveyance of a Timeshare Interest which such Owner shall occupy during the Owner's Assigned Unit Week' (as hereinafter defined).
Hoping for a resolution I called CFI, the corporate office. I've made numerous calls over a six-week period. Each time, I would tell a different person my story. Each would say the building is floating. I would reply, No, my documents indicate otherwise. Please review my documents. Show me where I am wrong and this is not a case of a breach of contract or fraud, and I will shut up and leave you alone. I received a letter from Jeffrey Ingram, Director, Owner Relations, which offered assistance on future reservations, but never addressed my specific claim of a breach of contract. I confirmed my stay, I show up, but my Assigned Units are occupied.
I then wrote to the President and CEO himself, detailing the whole experience, and attached copies of appropriate documents.in response I received another letter from Mr.ingram acknowledging that Mr. Siegel is in receipt of my letter and that Westgate has not only fulfilled the contractual obligations of the contract according to the Public Offering Statement, but we have also placed the resources of the corporate office at your disposal to insure that you receive a top floor unit upon arrival. Yet again, there is no specific response to the definition of an Assigned Unit, or the implications of the NA on my contract.in addition, Mr.ingram made reference to my fixed week. My contract refers to Assigned Unit Week 52, not fixed week 52. Fixed Week is described under the Floating Use Plan and allows Westgate to assign a like unit type, not necessarily a specific Assigned Unit. Remember, the Floating Use Plan was notated as NA on my contract. Yet, Westgate and CFI managers continue to reference a statement found under the Floating Use Plan to justify Westgate's position.
Judging from our experience as Westgate owners and the many negative comments found on several websites, it is apparent Westgate has forgotten that good ethics equals good business. Westgate Lakes was formerly a 5-star resort. Not surprisingly, Interval International downgraded its rating to 3 stars. The BBB of Central Florida rates Westgate Lakes as Unsatisfactory. Sadly, this resort just ain't what it used to be.
Carl
Cumming, Georgia
U.S.A.
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