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Silverleaf Resorts

Silverleaf Resorts review: scam 99

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Author of the review
11:43 am EDT

Silverleaf Resorts sends out mail incessantly saying
"You've won a free vacation!" They say all you need to do is come for a free 1.5 hour presentation on their resort. They also promise a $40 gas card from Spirit Incentives. These guys are a total scam. The presentation is a high pressure sales job preying on what appeared to be low-income families. Spirit Incentives has numerous rules you must follow in order for them to give you four $10 gas cards spread over the next several months. The vacations are also apparently worthless. For example, they are only available during off season times of the year. You have to submit 3 possible dates and it's up to them to decide when you will go. So unless you can go at any random off-season time it's not practical. In short, these guys obviously count on the redeeming of their rewards to be SO MUCH TROUBLE that few people will take them up on the offer. Furthermore, the gas card people -- Spirit Incentives -- do not even mail out the gas cards. When I called nearly 8 weeks later, they said their system was down and promised to mail out the card. The resort itself was appalling ugly. They have a large indoor swimming pool -- which costs $20 to enter. Everything there is designed to drain money out of people's wallets. The guests who were there were all low income families lured by the phony apparency of sharing some of the "good life." Silverleaf and Spirit Incentives are a nasty perversion of reality and a true example of two organizations selling s**t and calling it Shinola.

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99 comments
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go2hell
Troy, US
Dec 16, 2009 12:19 am EST

So Silverleaf was at the mall today letting people spin this "fortune-of-wheel" thing and since it landed on the color we picked, they said we won like a 2-33 day trip to Vegas. They said my BF and I just have to go to the 90 min tour, we'll get refunded $40 when we only paid $20 in the first place, and we'll still get our trip to Vegas. We have no intention AT ALL to buy into their crap and we plan to be straight forward about it, get our trip and money back, and leave.

My question is... will we actually get our money back and the trip to Vegas? Cuz if we don't actually get this trip, then I don't want to waste a day driving up and doing this tour just for $20.
Thanks.

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go2hell
Troy, US
Dec 16, 2009 12:02 am EST

Hey you worthless ### who commented on here and said Silverleaf has been around since the 70's. Says right on your website it opened in 1989. Why the hell would we believe anything else you say? I hope you and your company rott in hell. Do you feel good knowing you work for a company that is a waste of ###ing space? I can't imagine being as pathetic as you...

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deals over
, US
Nov 30, 2009 8:05 am EST

These people have no conscience or heart. I hope that they are reading what thier victims have gone through and feel some degree of guilt. I have a traumatic brain injury, and told these scammers how long and tiring thier 90 minute program was for me. It majorly stressed me out and I had a severe headache. My husband was more into the whole thing and kept falling for each b.s. conversation we had with these clowns. I foolishly just trusted that my husband knew what he was talking about and this was a good thing and what a deal we were getting etc. I had many doubts from the card we got in the mail. I am one that believes, if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is and it is probably a scam. I should have listened to my instincts and gut feelings. These guys were SO obviously BS artists and thought they were so cool, calm and collected that we would be taken hook line and sinker. They scattered around in and out of the room, (like the rats that they are) leaving us for 20 or so minutes, (probably reading their scam manuel) I had a sick, unconfortable feeling and told my husband, "I dont trust them, they are a joke, and every time they walked into the room they had some other offer and a better deal. The price got lower and truthfully my head was swimming and my husband talked to me and I just stuppidly went for it. We gave the total amt. to save money. HA! SUCKER should be tatooed on my husbands forhead. I even showed him this site and he still wanted to GO FOR IT. Well our relationship had sinked to the bottom of the barrel and not because of this, and I told him he needs to call them and get the money back. We may be looking at divorce down the road, so that is another reason to get our money back. They told him to "sell it". They wont charge us the next couple of fees being my husband has been layed off for 2 months and had surgery. (All true) Too much stress from this. I only pray more people read this site BEFORE becoming a victim. We plan on going to Massachuttes Silverleaf and telling every person we meet, this story. If they want to play games, then lets play! I hope you other victims become victorious and win this fight.

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HAHA123123
shits, US
Nov 18, 2009 1:27 pm EST

First of all, Silverleaf is NOT a scam... and if you were smart people, before you travel somewhere that you don't know about wouldn't you research a little bit? before buying I for one would look on the internet and see the pros and cons. if you buy something without realizing what it is then your the stupid one. as for the gifts they give away they do work ive taken one and known people have also taken them and i would say for an hour and a half of your time its a pretty decent gift! people use they're timeshares ALL the time! stop complaining and blaming a company for doing what they DO and realize that YOUR the one who paid for something without realizing what you were getting yourselves into!

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I don't want to be scammed
Dallas, US
Oct 13, 2009 1:46 pm EDT

I've read through a bunch of these comments and not one has mentioned whether they've won a car, the $49000, a cruise or any type of cash prizes, like they guarantee. Probably not since no one has mentioned?

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'awek;jk
ajf;jka;, US
Sep 30, 2009 8:38 am EDT

Trying to earn that end of the year bonus. You guys who work for them are all a bunch of con's who tell the public whatever they want to hear so you can make your commission. If anyone is thinking about buying into this company, , , , DON'T! The Con's will do exactly that make you all kinds of empty promises, that they can not deliver on.

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silverleaf employee
Ft. Worth, US
Sep 30, 2009 1:10 am EDT

This company CAN'T be all bad it is a billion dollar company thats has been growing even bigger since the 70's. Obviously they are doing something right. As I look at the reviews I see a lot of negative and positive about this company as I'm sure it would be for any other company as far as reviews go. Its kinda like the saying "You win some and you lose some" you just simply cannot please everyone no matter how hard you try. Yes I do work for silverleaf as an operater so as you can imagine I get to hear from people themselves over the phone what they thought about their experience with our company and there ARE believe it or not, people that want to come out multiple times for the tours which makes me think its not all that bad they want to go through it again. Many people are happy with the experience and their memberships also. Keep in mind that this company deals with millions and millions of people and these reviews on the web are written by only a very few of the millions of people who had experiences with the company plus half of the reviews are actually positive.

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Jacx
Manor, US
Sep 29, 2009 7:44 pm EDT

It doesn't sound too good to me.

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John Jacobs
Houston, US
Sep 24, 2009 10:18 pm EDT

To the owner of RED WEEK AT Piney shores Mr. Motoguy3- your time share is quit ### if you can compare it with a Motel 6 and yes I must agree this place is horrible and I am sorry you paid so much money for that dump.

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Jaydogg616
Pittsfield, US
Sep 24, 2009 8:32 pm EDT

We signed up for the program too and have nothing but good things to say. Sure, the program cost us money, but we are all big boys and girls, right? You signed the paperwork, you knew what it was going to cost. Never have I ever been able to take some of these vacations with RCI before this program. We've been to Vegas 3 times, Cancun, on a cruise, Italy, and this coming April, we are going to Disney. Staying at the Animal Kingdom for $149! Where else can you do that? I hear from lots of happy people every time we go up t our resort(in MASS) who say the same thing. Sure, Ive heard some negative things...and I will admit that theres been times when I have not been able to get in on Bonus Time, but guess what! That was in the paperwork too! Oh my goodness, you mean to tell me that they DO disclose everything? WOW! Shame on you for not reading everything through. We have even upgraded our week AND bought an additional week and have never regretted it. Bottom line : Stop looking for what is wrong and start looking at what is right!

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mikeyjo
Copperas Cove, US
Sep 16, 2009 3:53 pm EDT

This company and their scam is insane! I am a Solider in the US Army, and though respect for this is not EXPECTED, some UNDERSTANDING is. while I was deployed, my fiancee missed a payment, and Silverleaf called my Commander IN IRAQ! When I spoke with the employees to explain that I do not handle my finances while I am deployed, they were appaled and very rude. Then they called my fiancee and ACCUSED him of; and I quote; "not taking care of me LIKE HE IS SUPPOSED TO". This coming from a complete stranger! Then I got pregnant. Returning from a deployment is a $500 dollar loss. I had just bought a house, so my finances were strapped. Instead of trying to assist me so that we could work something out between my finances and Silverleaf, they told me to borrow the money from friends and family! I am a very strong woman that prides myself on being able to provide for myself and my family completely on my own. and in economical times like these, borrowing money from loved ones who have their own financial burdens is unethical. However, the employees of Silverleaf were brazen enough to ARGUE with me over this point! THEN on top of all of THAT when it came down to the very last arguments over payments, instead of assisting me, they THREATENED to call my Commander and get me into trouble over this. WELL I finally managed to pay off my property, and told MRS Carter that I wanted my membership cancelled and never wanted to hear from this company ever again. She assured me that my membership was cancelled and my requests would be honored. 2 months later, I recieved a bill stating that I was overdue by $200 in maintenance fees. When I called, I was THEN informed that memberships cannot be CANCELLED unless the property is SOLD. However, Silverleaf does NOT buy back unwanted properties. One woman later told me that I could GIVE the property back to Silverleaf for ZERO return on my property. SOO... I pay 5 GRAND to Silverleaf just for the hell of it?! I wouldnt wish this nightmare on anyone. I am now dealing with anxiety attacks over this pathetic company and trying to figure out HOW to get rid of this thing! OH but to "SELL" your property, YOU have to pay a $250 TRANSFER fee! Like I said, this company and their scam is INSANE! warn your friends and family!

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Penny Webb
Montgomery, US
Sep 11, 2009 10:41 am EDT

My suggestion is to cancel the appt, just in case you gave them some kind of information they can use. I have seen other comments where people have been charged.

If you decide to go get everything the sales people say in writing. It's hard to say no to them, they are very convincing.

All I can tell you is the first 4 years and 20K were great but then bonus time and access became harder and harder to get in. Things I was promised in the sales meeting that wasn't put in writing never happened and corporate office doesnt live up to what you were "told".

I think there are other timeshares out there such as Wyndym that are cheaper and better accomodations. Don't be fooled by these people. I get 15 calls a day from them.

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broke_student
Wichita Falls, US
Sep 11, 2009 4:32 am EDT

OH NO!
I just told them I would be out there tomarrow. Obviously I dont want to go now, but I dont remember all I told them on the phone. No credit card numbers I'm for sure but good greif, do I call them and cancel or just not show up? I dont want them to try to charge me for not showing up for a schedualed appointment...

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Kimmy27*
Zavalla, US
Sep 07, 2009 3:31 am EDT

Help us if you can. We bought a time share property from Silverleaf off of lake palestine. We got into a financial bind and called and canceled the time share. They proceded to still pull money from our account so we put a stop payment on our account. Then they started calling our jobs and our home all hours of the day. Well we filed for our credit report this year and there they were stating they forclosed on us and we owed 5, 855.00. How can we owe them anything when we never used the property at all and they finance you with the money they make off other properties and they already own the vacation property. I don't understand...We could not refinance our house because of them any sugestions e-mail me please kimdivins@yahoo.com

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Penny Webb
Montgomery, US
Aug 26, 2009 4:15 pm EDT

Again, can't even fathom why someone who is completely happy with Silverleaf would be searching the web for a complaint board. It is my determination that Silverleaf does know about this website, I have referred them to it myself and anyone who input's positive remarks are obviously a marketing person employed by Silverleaf to try and put a positive swing to the boards. Remember, all their sales people tell you that the same offer they put on the table is not available after that day.

They may have been in business scaming people in a good economy, but I feel certain they and their "members" are going to suffer through a bad economy. Just a few months ago they demanded extra capital from all their owners to update beds in the resorts. Duh, that's what we already pay matainence fees for. No, they are in cash flow problems and headed for disaster. I can tell you this board is not the only place that I have heard negative comments regarding Silverleaf. I personally know at least 20 people who have not responded here who have discontinued paying for that empty plate their waiter served them.

I am positive, happy customers would never put a comment here, the people that are trying to even out the negative with the positive ARE employees of Silverleaf.

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Lovin Silverleaf
Tyler, US
Aug 26, 2009 3:22 pm EDT

Well I have read the complaints and have to say that as an owner...I have not dealt with any of these problems. In fact, they have given me complimentary stays several times without me even calling in for them and I didn't have to go to a meeting or anything. It was just to come visit and enjoy my resort. There are ALWAYS going to be good and bad with every company, but if this company was a scam, it would not have survived over 20 years of business. When I go in to talk to them, they are very nice and don't hassle me. Now, how have I owned over 5 years and NEVER had a problem? Every now and then people may goof up, but overall the company handles thousands of people daily and they do it well. The people complaining on this website are also the people who complain at the restaurant about their food "AFTER" they have eaten every last bite so keep that in mind. I say if you want to save your money and guarantee your family with nice places to go and get away, then definitely check out Silverleaf. They are the ONLY timeshare company to allow 365 day access to all your resorts as well as even stay extra nights above and beyond your week. Unbelievable in timeshare world I tell ya! At least take a tour for yourself before listening to all negative comments. You have a brain and opinion of your own don't you?

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Mr. Anderson
Chillicothe, US
Aug 25, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

Me and my girlfriend just got the pitch last Sunday (We went as "engaged"). Neither of us had ever been to one of these and thought it would be entertaining. Plus there was a state park in the area that we wanted to hike when we got back.

After a 2 hour wait (and 1:30 minutes AFTER we were scheduled) we finally met our guide. He ran us through the whole spiel, gave us a tour, etc. We were both very short with him because we were fed up with waiting. He gave us the 'short' version, a tour of the place. Came in for the RCI up sale. Gave us all the numbers "Limited time only!". Then we got the finance guy. Gave us all the numbers. I said we weren't interested in Silverleaf, I grew up on 300 acres. I can do 10x that stuff with NO ONE around. My aunt has a cottage on a lake, etc. But we would be interested in Europe...

So they tried to sell us an "RCI only" package for 6k.
I looked him straight in eye. Told him the last vacation I took I drove across the country. Slept in my Car. Ate food I made with my camp stove on the side of the high way and have never spent more than $100 (other than fuel) to travel anywhere in the USA. We weren't interested and we wanted our scratchoff ticket.

They thanked us and we were on our way. (I think they knew deep down we weren't a sell).

For those that bought in and 'can't afford it' now. You know your finances, quit blaming high pressure sales people.

Although I should have known their demographic. The 'Yearly Combined" salary only had:
25-35k
35-45k
45-55k
55k+

I've NEVER seen a form that stopped at 55k. Honestly. Me and my 'fiance' easily would make 150k (she's still has a year in MedSchool) and I'm engineer.

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Penny Webb
Montgomery, US
Aug 22, 2009 9:50 am EDT

Then I would have to why you are purusing a complaint board for Silverleaf. I never even thought of looking in to how others felt about Silverleaf until I started having issues. The free bonus time really isn't for the working class people. I don't know about you but I work M-F. I paid (when I got it) for the weekend bonus time I did get early in to my ownership. My children who I paid to add NEVER got into the bonus time in 2 years. You can't compare a tangible product to a service. You are not holding a computer in your hands. I stress, that you are only holding an empty promise and a bunch of hot air from their sales people. Which their resort people will not back up the promises made by the sales people. Plus, they have a huge turnover in sales personnell and I have to wonder why, their concious maybe. Maybe the difference in the happy customers is that you have paid off your ownership and hold the deed to your timeshare. You could legally sue them, those of us still paying would have a difficult time.

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bullwinkle
Branson, US
Aug 21, 2009 8:09 pm EDT

I couldn't be happier. I almost can't believe the comments I've read here, but I suppose any company that has tens of thousands of members is going to have some unhappy customers. So does Microsoft, and does that mean their products are a scam?

The bottom line is that no other company in the world offers what they call their bonus time, which is FREE overnight stays. I have stayed hundreds of nights for free several of their locations and each one is as nice as the others. I juwst spent 3 nights in the Berkshires in western Massachusetts and it was gorgeous.

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TAaron
, US
Aug 21, 2009 9:07 am EDT

I agree with the compliants, my wife are former custmers, we could never get in when we wanted to, therefore I choose to stop paying and not once I did, it did not make an impact on my credit. I have bought several new cars and built a new house, so by all means please don't allow them to scare you into paying, trust me its just a scare tatic and if you have a backbone you will know how to hanlde them and trust me I did. No more phones since I took a stand...

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Queenbee62467
Shreveport, US
Aug 21, 2009 4:05 am EDT

We are new owners who were lied to from the start, and the more I read the madder I get! Action is what I intend to do...i am not xactly sure what I can do as of right this second :) BUt the BBB or just reporting them isnt good enough to those of us who were lied to and put in a severe financial bind because of it.

thanks for posting everyone!

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wifeofnunn
Dallas, US
Aug 15, 2009 1:52 pm EDT

My husband and I got married in April and went to Six Flags as part of our honeymoon. I came out of the bathroom there to see my husband had won a "free trip" and this guy told us to set up an appointment with these Silverleaf people. I had a bad feeling about it from the beginning, but good luck trying to tell my gullible husband anything. Anyway, we went to the appointment for this 90 minute tour. Sure enough, they were trying to sell us these "timeshares", switching them with RCI, etc, etc, etc. Well, my husband thinks it would be a good investment, so he buys into it (I'm still very leary and skeptical). We had just gotten married the previous weekend, so we especially sure didn't have a lot of money. We tried to tell them that, but they just kept widdling it down until they backed us into a corner and we agreed to it. They had us buy this "foreclosure" for a much cheaper rate (probably some poor couple they foreclosed on because they couldn't afford it).
To make this a little bit shorter, they have hounded us at LEAST every other day on average. And also, they want to call you in to a resort for these "important meetings" which last about an hour and a half. We've only had Silverleaf for a few months, and they have tried calling us out to 3 of these "important meetings" now. They just want to try to sell you an "upgraded" package, so they bribe you with a free weekend at one of the resorts.
The most recent "meeting" they're setting up with us was just a couple of days ago. This guy called me, who was very rude, by the way. When I told him my last name, he argued with me because when we bought this account, they put it under my maiden name, because we had just gotten married and my DL didn't yet reflect those changes, even though I showed them our marriage license showing my new name, they wouldn't accept it. Then he offered to set up this meeting at a resort 3 1/2 hours from where we live and told us my husband would have to miss work for it, because "we just don't do weekend appointments" he said. I told him that just a month ago, we were at The Villages resort with a Sunday appointment (I caught him in a lie). And furthermore, he said it wasn't a "free stay" weekend, we would just drive to the meeting and turn right around and go back home. We have a 2 year old son, who was from my previous marriage. He knew we had a small child and told us he would be "fine" with 6-7 hours of sitting in the car round trip AND the hour and a half meeting. I told him I don't think so, and no, my husband cannot miss work M-F. Then he said he'd have a woman call, which she did. She was much more polite and fixed us up with a "free weekend" at a much closer resort, with a weekend appointment. And I already e-mailed Silverleaf's Vice President about my complaints, and as far as buying another single thing from them, forget it! I simply tell them in those meetings that we just can't afford it, and we don't back down. The trick with these sales people is this: Say you can't afford it, and DON'T BACK DOWN! BUYER BEWARE!

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Penny Webb
Montgomery, US
Aug 14, 2009 8:22 am EDT

If they have not cashed the check, stop payment.

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comp000
Pasadena, US
Aug 13, 2009 7:26 pm EDT

I agree I am one of those persons with a check book and we just got caught up in all the fun we would have. First on all we don't have very many vacations cause money situations and this can up. We got in over our heads and we bought. The guy keeped giving us a better and better deal cause we were interested worked with us with our money situation. He promised us a week before the kids go back to school so I called to day he don't answer then his assistant calls says he had a family emergancy and won't be back til next week. (what happened to my week before the kids go back to school?). I just gave them all my money to be able to go and now left with nothing and no money too. I called back and I wanted to cancel and get my money back. Then he calls saying that his assistant said he would be back tomorrow. (Whatever) Want so tip on how to get my money back? Please Just bought 8/09/09 can anyone help I want all my money back.

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Unhappytoo
Naperville, US
Aug 03, 2009 10:32 pm EDT

I also have bought into the so called Silverleaf Life, this was problably the most stupid thing we have ever done. We bought back in 1995 and was told of all the great things that they would be adding. When we entered there was a large crane sitting ontop of this site, they said they were being to break ground for all the new amenitities to come. The following year we went back for our week and dam if that crane was still there. The following year, you guessed it that crane was still there. I think they rented that dam crane and just pitched it as the new silverleaf to come. We didn't go after that until this year 2009. I recieved a phone call and was asked why haven't we been there, they wanted to make it up to us and have us stay at one of the better buildings, a FREE mini weekend, ya know the kind you have to sit through a meeting for two hours so they can pitch you their song.
Well first off when we got there at 7:00pm I made a pot of coffee, the pot apparently was broken and the coffee ended up all over the counter and floor. I called the front desk and was told "oh were sorry, but no one is here to help you with that until tomorrow mornning." Fine I thought things break. The next day we went to the Reck room, which is problably the perfect name for it. It was a Reck, The carpet was beyond dirty, the airconditioners were dripping water on you while you and your children were playing the arcades. The employer there was vacumning around the kids while they were trying to play, it seems he wanted to go home on time, the room closes at 10:00, this was 9:40. Please give your patrons the rescept and wait till we leave to clean. They penny and dimed you for everything $1:00 for each game of pool, etc...The next day I hoped would be better we planned to go horse back riding that morning. Nope not having that, it was cancelled due to the rain the night before, mind you it's 80 degrees already, but it's still wet to them, ok, lets make it for that afternoon. We pay upfront because you know they just don't trust you. We return later and guess what no horse back riding due to an injury. I'm sorry is there only one horse. Hmmmmm. I go back to cook up some food and guess what my oven is broken, The jets are broken can't cook. I'm outta here. I wish I could scream and warn all the poor people who are step up for such a fall. They will swoon you and promise you things, but as soon as you buy in, there is no one there to hear anything you have to say. Please be warn... And as far as that guy wrote who said they were great, trust me he problably works for them. Bye the way when I complained there was a women sitting there who called me over to say thank you. It seems she got there and found a mouse trap in her room they moved her to a new one which now had ants, she was really angry too and no one was listening to her either.

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froggiekb
Sullivan, US
Jul 30, 2009 2:19 pm EDT

I think all sales people tell you what ever to get a sale. but they should be forced to back up what they say. We have owned a Silverleaf time share for about 8yrs now and love it. We have always gotten bonus time and endless excape time We just last weekend upgraded to the diamond plus and bought an extra week at the villages in Texas. I do agree they really will do what ever it takes to make a sale right now, I told them no we cant afford this price right now and was walking out they ended up givving us a red week at the Villages for 6thousand and the maintance fees of only 49 an month. So i know there is some good still in silver leaf sorry to hear about your bad time and hope it all gets resolved

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Penny Webb
Montgomery, US
Jul 26, 2009 8:33 am EDT

Sure go for the "90" minute tour which is like a trip to "Gilligan's Island". If you even act like you are interested, no way you will get out of there in 90 minutes. Try more like 4-5 hours. Not worth the gift in my opinion. If you act disinterested they rudely give you your gift and send you on your way.

If you are the type who has the time to spend that much time sitting in a chair in a office where sometimes the sales person leaves the room for up to 30 minutes "to take a call" but what they are doing is giving the husband wife time to argue it out. If the sales person is not effective enough they send in a "senior manager" who can work you an even better deal than the sales person offered, and then again and again. He is really the "closer". Usually a very big intimidating looking person.

Look, I agree, when we first bought we did enjoy it because we were allowed our bonus time which is why we bought and admitted that to them on more than one occasion. After 2-3 years and buying a second week to get us to "Diamond" status and adding our children for a fee, we nor our children could get in on the bonus time.

After the killing at the Piney Shores location and finding out they opened the waterpark to the public, which in my opinion is opening their security up to even more trouble, we have decided that for $500 per month, we could go to Europe in a year ALL EXPENSES Paid.

Recently we exchanged a week to go to Costa Rica and had to pay the $247, not the original cost quoted when we bought of $199 and couldn't get in a straight exchange within a 5 month range and ended up having to be in an all inclusive resort and paying $150 for food we rarely ate because we were fed on excursions.

Nothing has turned out the way it was described in the sales pitch. And it's not about knowing "how to use the system". After being an owner for 7 years, beleive me I know the drill, it's about what I was promised 7 years ago is not what they are now giving because they are overselling the properties and just like Fanny May they are selling to anyone with a check book and now they are desparate because I am sure in this economy, these luxury items are the first to go.

My heart goes out to the owners who have paid for their weeks because with the amount of disatisfaction that I have incurred and discussed with so many people, this company like many others will not be able to stay in business much longer. What really happens to that property you own a deed to that probably millions of others do too, even if they file bankruptcy, do you think that you will get the money you have invested in it. NO WAY!

I say save those payments, put them in a savings account and pay cash for your vacations. For what I was paying I could go to a hotel every weekend where they will serve me breakfast for free and their beds and pillows are more comfortable. There is no true safety in buying in a resort.

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professor1on1
Fort Worth, US
Jul 26, 2009 2:05 am EDT

Do they give you one of the free gifts if you just attend the 90min tour or would I have to pay for something?

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comp23
Humble, US
Jul 25, 2009 7:17 pm EDT

Totally agree, this company is horrible, it do not matter how BORELY THE COMPLAINT IS WRITTEN, the fact remains. This company is a rip off. If you see positive comments, it probably includes negative aspects of this company or IS AN EMPLOYEEE. I AGREE With penny webb. I am comp22 and i wil say this. RUN FAST AS YOU CAN AWAY FROM THE COMPANY, I AM SAYING THIS AGAIN. AND I HAD some good times, but the bad outways the good by far. it is cheaper to rent a hotel for a weekend, then pay as much as they charge you a timeshare and maintance good byeeeee

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Penny Webb
Montgomery, US
Jul 24, 2009 12:30 pm EDT

Same to svlf4live. Would that spell out Silverleaf for Life? Lets see what happens when Silverleaf goes under and what your life will be. Obviously you are an employee too. These are the type people they employ. As far as the boards being poorly written, we can say the same about this timeshare program that is poorly managed, maintained, obviously defended (duh the recent shooting at Piney Shores) !

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Penny Webb
Montgomery, US
Jul 24, 2009 12:24 pm EDT

All I can say to motoguy3 is you must work for Silverleaf. I don't think that anyone happy with Silverleaf would even vistit this website. Plus your language is much like the the harrassing people who are calling me for more money which I refuse to pay. They have already gotten 20K out of me so good luck!

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Pammy Sunshine
Crystal Lake, US
Jul 24, 2009 11:58 am EDT

My husband and I have been owners for 7-8 years now and we have had good and bad experiences. I believe that is how it is in all huge companies. When they hire people some can be good and some can be bad employee's. There are some people in the world that use every trick in the book to make a sale and make money. Then there are others that truly believe in what they are doing that make a sale by seeing the big picture and hoping you and your family have a wonderful vacation experience. My husband is a work-a-holic and we bought a week at Fox River so he would take a scheduled week off. We took our kids and their friends and we had a blast! We then upgraded to Bransen, we went there a couple times and had fun too. My only complaint was our unit really needed to be painted, which I marked on my comment sheet. Then we bought another week from a shady salesperson that was inviting owners to meet at a retaurant to buy us dinner and let us know about point, click and stay. When he told us about how we could pick up a unit that had been foreclosed on at a dirt cheep price in Texas we jumped at the opportunity. We had some friends that wanted to come with us to see what we bought and it was a nightmare. It was NOT what we had been told we were purchasing. We stayed there that night and I could not wait to get to the office to tell them what this con man had done.
The manager of the resort used this opportunity to tack on a few thousand dollars to make the upgrade (we paid more for what we already purchased) and got us moved to a unit we thought we had already purchased. When we got home I was really angry about the whole thing. When they wanted us to come out to their new Lombard location my husband didn't want to go but I insisted that I was going to tell them what was on my mind and I did. The manager there came in and said that he was going to be going to every location and weed out these kind of empolyees (they had already fired that man that had lied to us) and for our trouble they were going to offer us a fantastic deal. This really angered me and we walked out. When we got home and got talking about it we thought it WAS a great deal so we called our guy "Phil" and for our 25th Anniversary we took the offer. We have NOT been there yet, we are going in December and we are taking friends with again. I will report our findings. We are using 2 weeks we had banked to take our kids and grandkids on a family vacation in a week and we are all looking so forward to it. As with any deal you make be sure to know what you are signing up for. We were very trusting in the beginning and sometimes you get burned. It has made us more cautious. With all life experiences, live and learn. Pam

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svlf4life
North Adams, US
Jul 10, 2009 7:07 pm EDT

It's funny how most of the complaints, like COMP22's, are poorly written. You're probably too stupid to use your program effectively. The gifts are not the best but most of the people, like you, are not smart enough to read the odds before they attend. They are right on the back of the letter you know :) The gifts are great if you use them CORRECTLY. But you need half a brain for that as well. This program changes people's lives for the better! It's up to you to use it to its max potential. White week owner at Oak N' Spruce since 2007

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COMP22
SPRINGFIELD, US
Jul 01, 2009 7:29 pm EDT

i am a owner of a red week too, in PINEY SHORES, did you check your newsletter recently"scammer", they increased again the fees to get upgrade on there "broken equipment, cigarrete smoked room, dusty furniture, (all wood and old) appliances are old, they even use the old electric stove top (but dont change the pan that you put underneath, have food still on there. I stayed many times and have to be moved to different room. They do not change the comfortors, have holes in them. WARNING, WHEN YOU GO IF YOU GO, LISTEN TO THEM IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR FREE GIFTS, then they will try to pursuade you (maybe even throwing in pictures of there family (using rci or traveling) . then when you say no, they will send a manager over to pursuade you some more. It is good to get a timeshare you can trust . but this company can scarely get you into your bonus times. have young people greeting you who dont have good customer service, plays behind counter, even in the cafe when serving food. they close pools sometimes even when it is summer. i can go on and on. but my final warning. there rooms are horrible, customer service bad, will raise maintance on you any time, very harrassing with family and friends. and they lie about there promises. My resort is paid off. and i bought a red deed for 7885. t hank god i done with that. But i get calls ever week asking me to come and "DO AN UPDATE", THERE IS NOTHING I NEED TO COME OUT FOR THAT I CANNOT BE TOLD ON PHONE, I HAVE BEEN TRICKED BEFORE TO COME OUT AND THEY TRIED TO SELL ME ANOTHER SHARE. NO MORE. I DO NOT TRUST THEM AND SO SHOULDN'T U. like one sales person told me. "we are a business in selling, so of course when you come out we will try to present our new resorts we have "presidental, diamond "/ no THANK YOU. I FEEL BAD FOR PEOPLE TRAPPED PAYING THE HIGH INTEREST ON THERE. GOD SPEED AND GOOD LUCK. FILE WITH BBB. AND WITH THE BUTT HEADS WHO LIKE THE RESORT .SELL IT TO YOUR MOTHER, OR ANYONE YOU CARE FOR LIKE U DO TO LOW INCOME . OR STRUGGLING AMERICANS.

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motoguy3
Houston, US
Jun 28, 2009 11:36 pm EDT

bonus time is not guaranteed, and we are lucky we have it, the rooms are by far better than what you would stay in at a motel 6, and you stay for free, so stop ###, we get a week every year for less than three or four vacations would normally cost, and its for life... stop a second, think about it. and tell me again that this program is not BAD ###... Owner of a Red week out of Piney Shores.

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COMP2
pain, US
Jun 27, 2009 7:19 pm EDT

i HAVE THIS RESORT AT 'THE VILLAGES :" OVER TWO YEARS. ALL I CAN SAY IS DO NOT, DO NOT GET A TIMESHARE THROUGH THIS COMPANY. THEY TELL u to come for a "update meeting", it turns out being a"upgrade meeting" they want. and there customer service is "horrible" there rooms are nasty, and old looking, . If you get a good room ur lucky. Plus they raised there maintance in past two years twice, talking about upgrades. They dont stop harrassing you or your friends to "come out", then when get there, long wait to see someone. the ones who like silverleaf. Believe me they probably work for company. who have all those resorts in there family . come on now. WARNING, AND I RARELY COMPLAIN. DO NOT GET THIS RESORT. U WILL REGRET IT.

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Lance G
Peoria, US
Jun 27, 2009 10:44 am EDT

I have owned a Silverleaf time share since the Eighties. I have had mainly positive results. I agree that their Sales Dept. may be less than above board and their tactics questionable.

I have my three grown kids on the deed and they are also very happy with getting their bonus time. Just next week my son has reservations at Branson, using bonus time and at the same time my daughter is there for the same week using a week that I had banked from last year.

Weekends are very difficult to obtain, but that is understandable and I have no problem with that. Once school is in session, I have had very little trouble booking bonus time during the week. In fact I prefer going when there aren't kids there making noise all the time.

I believe that too many people expect too much regarding their reservations. I have talked with and read comments that in my opinion are not realistic. Bonus time is not guaranteed, but is a nice benefit that few time shares offer. I also have three friends that purchased from Silverleaf and they share my feelings. In fact many times all four of us have gone at the same time and each brought another couple.

A typical time share gives you one week a year PERIOD. I have talked with other time share owners that can't believe that I have more than my assigned week.

My only real complaint with them is that many of the rooms are not being updated and are beginning to show their share of wear and tear.

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helpme
Arlington, US
Jun 24, 2009 8:52 pm EDT

just curious if you go do you really get the prize?

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Frustrated1102
Rosenberg, US
Jun 21, 2009 3:26 am EDT

We were given a bait and switch. I am filing a complaint with the BBB on Monday. We bought a Getaway membership in Galveston. The sales manager told us we would be able to stay at the facilities in Galveston to use our bonus time. My wife has had strokes, has had a device put in her heart, and needs a handicap accessible unit. We were sold a unit at the Villages. Then when they gave us a comp weekend in Conroe they put us on the second floor of what was a one bedroom with a couch that pulled out into a bed. After some complaining to the front desk we were moved to a first floor room with three kids and the same size room. We would have not taken the trip had we known cramped we would have been, and the darn room had the mounting hardware where the smoke alarm belongs but no alarm. They told us we didn't have to do the orientation meeting it was a comp weekend. They kept calling to get us to go to Galveston to do our orientation, so we went. We got there and they put us on the third floor. We were angry so the put us on the second floor. A member of the resort staff told me this kind of thing happens a lot and if I heard the things that were said at their "POWER" meetings we have every right to be angry. Then when we went to the orientation meeting, the idiot with member services didn't even know what he was talking about which only we me more irritated. The handicap access was not enter into the system. They told me not to worry about the situation with the handicap access. It would be resolved before we left, , , , NOT! When we got home I looked through our contact. The carbon copy of our application with RCI and Silverleaf clearly states the need for easy access, but the copies ran of the complete contract does not show this at all. I want out, by my count they have breached the contract twice. No part of this experience has left us feeling satisfied with our ownership.

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M&E Palubicki
Round Rock, US
Jun 12, 2009 2:30 pm EDT

Last month we receive a phone call with the all to well known, "you have won a car, vacation, or money...yada yada yada...so we go to this "tour" and then my husband and I bought into Silverleaf, thinking it was not a bad buy since we have kids and we use our WorldMark for our vacations and we can use the additional week with RCI (that gets rolled up with our worldmark RCI). Last Thursday I started to call and proceeded to be on hold for 2 days...yes 2 days and now an email, ending with no room ever getting book. I then call the rep that sold the account to us and she explains how "that never happens" and she will fix it by booking the following weekend with a compt rate and would receive confirmation on this Wed. LMAO!

We understood we were buying a Timeshare...but we bought a product and have yet to be able to use that product. There is a HUGE misrepresentation to this...they need to tell you..."we can sell you this, but you can't ever use it!"

So once again we have family and children ready to stay in the condo with no condo. With what we pay a month we can be staying in a nice hotel for the weekend and still be enjoying all that is offered in the area...so we pay that same amount for access to a waterpark (you have to pay to use $$$) and woohoo a putt-putt golf center with a few pools...what we thought was going to be a good buy because we have kids turned into nothing more than a money pitt that my kids don't get to enjoy. I wouldn't recommend this one to ANYONE...there are several other timeshares out there that are much more reputable.

Had we had the chance to do some reasearch on Silverleaf Resorts we would have opted out.