I was subject to the unFAIR practices of Fairfield Resorts. I was sold a 2 night/3 day package for $119.00 in FL to participate in a 90 minute presentation. I should have known better because it went bad from the start...
1) Before purchasing the $119 package, I informed the Rep. That we always travel with 5 people. This was not a problem, according to the Rep.
UNTRUE - When I called to reserve our stay, the person told me that we could not travel with 5. I complained and was transferred. This person said, "Of course you can, but you will have to UPGRADE for a small fee!"
OK, I booked the upgrade to their resort Star Island - a one bedroom with a kitchen. The kitchen was a MUST. We also booked extension days (6 more days).
2) I decide to call about a week before our departure to make sure the reservations are right. The reservations were WRONG. We were in the smaller side of a lock-out with a KITCHENETTE, not a full kitchen. Screaming and hollering didn't help. The place was booked.
Fairfield, however, made no attempt to check any of their other resorts in Kissimmee. ALSO, we were told if we cancelled the trip altogether, I would be charged a $50.00 fee.
So, I searched for somewhere else to stay, booked with Residence Inn for the "extension days" and decided to only stay with Fairfield for my originally booked deal, 2 night/3 days.
At our 90 minute tour:
We are shown the new facility, Bonnet Creek. Very nice I must say. It will only cost us $44,000 to get their top package!!! We decline. They take us to a different room to receive our "gift." There we are presented with the Discovery Vacation Package. We can get the top VIP package for $50.00, $145.00 in 30 days and $101.69/month for 2 years. If we enjoy the product, we can purchase it and the money we put in will go towards the down payment.
Tom, the Rep., runs through the contract, pointing at things while he speaks. Not once does he even look in our eyes. Here are the deceptions that he spoke, while never letting us read the contract:
1) We would have 2 full years to use the product. LIE: The contract shows one full year
2) They would like us to put in $800 before using all of the 300,000 points. LIE: We could not use ANY of the points prior to paying in $800
3) We could book as soon as 14 days. LIE: We couldn't book until we put in $800, which at a down pay of $50 plus $145, and then $101.69/month would mean we couldn't use for 6 months.
4) We could get out of the contract at any time during the "2 years." He went as far as to say, " We don't even ask you for you social security number. We can hold you to this if you decide to stop paying." LIE: We could get out of the contract within the first 10 days, by LAW. After that, we were stuck with it until the year term was up.
Believe me when I tell you that I asked for clarification on all 4 points. He repeated the same story with a few word changes. My husband asked for assurance. He assured us.
I took the contract home, read it, and called him the next morning because of my discomfort. He assured us AGAIN, that all he said was accurate and true. I would be able to do all these things.
I called Contracts, and they said, I could only do what the contract stated.in fact, that gentlemen's name was Mike Moore. He was the ONLY honest person we spoke to in that whole company.
We left several messages for the manager of Discovery Vacations, CHAD, and he never returned our call.
I called Owner Relations, Florida. I spoke with Saquahn. He said he was a Supervisor. He basically told me there was no recourse here. I could get out of it within the 10 day period. I should have read the Contract before signing, no matter what TOM told me.
Well, I guess the bottom line is that I should have read it. I should have knon when he would not look us in the eye, and when he pointed at items in the contract but quickly moved to something else that something was not right. HOWEVER, it does not make their deceitful tactics OK. They should be reprimanded and more should be done. I will pursue this further if I can.
Vivian
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
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