Coral resorts island links timeshare purchased from thomas justice on 08-29.
On the week of 08/24 08/29 my wife and kids and I were staying at Hilton Head Island at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront. We were approached by a person offering a Free Dolphin Cruise around the island. We were given a coupon to be transferred into tickets at another location. This location was the Coral Resorts office. I asked at the front desk to exchange my coupon for tickets and we were introduced to Todd Justice, a sales person for Coral Resorts.
Todd began to ask how we were enjoying the island and if we planned to come back? He said he could make it possible to come back for a weekend for free if we would take a look at the Coral Resorts property.
Once we agreed this was a great vacation and that we would enjoy coming back, Todd drove us to the Coral Resorts Island Links property. We were shown a beautiful condo with 3 bedrooms, living room with sleeper sofas, leisure room with sleeper sofas, large dining area and an outside deck. This unit was very impressive. Todd told us we could come and stay at this unit or one with the same amenities every summer with their timeshare program designed for Families such as ours. Todd told about a timeshare program that would allow us to come back to this resort TWO WEEKS EVERY SUMMER if we choose to. ALSO he would GIVE us another benefit that allows us, our friends or family to come for another week he referred to as a DEVELOPER WEEK for a total of 3 possible weeks every summer at this resort.
I was naturally skeptical and had some questions. I said that I had heard of bad experiences from timeshare owners. That the Resorts were not available when vacations were desired. And that the fees associated with timeshares made the timeshares invaluable overall.
Todd began to give us the run down on how timeshares work and how the Coral Resorts timeshare was superior when compared to others. He told us that RCI was the Worlds largest vacation properties owner. He explained that when you buy a timeshare from someone else, that they turn around and buy the allotted time from RCI. He said this is why there are SO MANY FEES with other timeshares because RCI owns the properties and sells weeks to other companies. He said with him you are buying a deed from the owner that the only fees were the normal maintenance fees for the resort Todd also said that they would pay our maintenance fees for the first three years because Coral Resorts want us as NEW OWNERS to experience how wonderful this resort was without any worries! Todd told us that as Property Owners we would always get top priority when booking our vacation reservation over everyone else. That we would always be able to come to this resort WHEN WE CHOSE TO DO SO! Todd advised us of a plan to cover our maintenance fees every year. He told us about the DEVELOPER WEEK He said If I were you I would find some friends who enjoyed golf and sell them our FREE DEVELOPER WEEK. That all we needed to do to get the Developer Week is pay our maintenance fees of $500.00 per year. He said (and I quote) sell the Developer Week For around $2000.00 as it is worth over $3500.00, pay our $500.00 annual maintenance fees and pocket the $1500.00 to enjoy on our vacation when we come to the resort!
Todd explained to my wife and me that he would sell us a timeshare with 25000 points per year for around $7000.00. He said that the way to get the most out of these points is to book our vacation within 45 30 days of the time we wished to come to the resort. That this would only cost 9000 points for a week in the 3-bedroom condo we were standing in! This was a perfect vacation plan for my family! So, we agreed to purchase this package assuming all that he told us was true! At this point Todd drove us around the Island and showed us other amenities and properties that we could take advantage of with the package we would purchase. Next after spending a few hours of our last day on the island with Todd, he took us back to the office where we had met. We had not had breakfast or lunch yet as we were on our way to breakfast when we met the solicitor who gave us the cruise voucher.By now our kids were hungry and impatient to get to the beach for our last day on the island. It took about an hour and a half, which seemed like forever for Todd to get the paperwork and the person to witness the transaction to come out to finish the deal. We hurried through the paper work as they explained what everything (so it seemed) meant that we were signing. Then they congratulated us on our new vacation package and told us they looked forward to seeing us soon at the resort.
The following year of 2010 my wife had some health issues that would not allow us to vacation due to hospitalization and financial issues that resulted. So we didnt call and inquire about the timeshare. We were told by Todd, that we could roll over our points for two years.
So, in May of this year 2011 I found a letter from RCI that I first thought was another solicitation until I noticed it said past due statement. I immediately opened the letter and called the number attached to find out what was going on? The bad experiences I mentioned with skepticism earlier with Todd now begin! I find out from the RCI rep that is on the phone, there is an annual membership fee a points renewal fee and to keep those points we were told would be rolled over there is a fee for that also! So, I pay these fees and talk with my wife about a vacation this summer. I called to book us a vacation reservation and the resort is SOLD OUT for the entire summer! I explained to the representative on the phone how I was told our timeshare was designed and they explained to methats not at all how it works! Although it is true, that if we book within 30 days (not 45-30) our vacation is 9000 points at the resort. However! The resort is booked. The rep explained that its practically not possible to call at the beginning of the peak season and book within 30 days! They suggested we go on a waiting list of people wanting to take a vacation and maybe, if we are VERY LUCKY we might get to go somewhere this summer if we can travel when and where they can place us? Several days and weeks of frustrating phone calls and being passed around through the tangled maze of numbers to call with this timeshare go by. Then it is explained that we can come once every three years if we save all of our points (for a fee) and purchase additional points or borrow future years points (for a fee) and pay our maintenance fees we can book this resort 10-12 months in advance (for a fee)!!! So. Every four years if we pay all our fees, We can come to this resort on the 33rd week of every 3 years (for a fee)!!!
Needless to say our family is not going to get to take the DREAM VACATION we were promised and have been looking forward to? WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET A VACATION AT ALL WITH THIS TIMESHARE THIS SUMMER! We are simply going to get to pay more fees to RCI and pay our own way to the beach this summer (if our finances will allow).
I also called about the FREE DEVELOPER WEEK we were promised. Its not available until after our kids are back in school in late August and with a fee of $1200.00!
We really just want out of this miserable scam we were sold and to have a place to do something nice as a family as was our intentions. Now Its the Third Year and I was assured last year that we have a week that we own this summer! No ifs, ands, or buts! Well Guess What? Nope! Already booked the rest of the year as of last November! Oh by the way Im behind on this years fees and if not paid by March... We lose ALL OUR POINTS and pay a late fee!!!
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