Menu
Login
Here's the basic run down of what my husband and I were told during our Bluegreen presentation. (If you can believe it, I've shortened this by a lot)
We were told how Bluegreen was a great investment. (A timeshare cannot be legally advertised as an investment). We were also told that a their timeshare was a tax write off, because we were owning actual property and paying taxes on the property. (Timeshares and all expenses can not be used for tax purposes).
The "deal" was only good for that day. That we wouldn't be allowed to come back for a few years using this example, "Imagine you were selling a car, and you paid potential buyers $50 dollars to test drive it. You wouldn’t want someone coming back again and again just test driving your car and you having to pay $50.00 over and over again." (Hey guess what, they can't do this either)
(Anything to make a sale), We were also told that the points never expired.We were told this lie because our dream vacation was to take a cruise but couldn't afford 18k points a year to go on one. (Not only do they expire after 2 years, after the 1st year the points are worth less. You can no longer use them for 'hot' seasons)
Maintenace fees are based on the number of points we have, so they will never raise. Saying, "If we paid $400.00 in fees, than our children would only pay $400.00 when we passed it on to them." (Another blatant lie. They are raised yearly.)
They didn't give us any time to review the contracts which they are obligated to do. Lied how much our monthly payments would be, and never, not once informed us about "Club Dues". (Which by omitting the information, puts them in the wrong.)
Bluegreen is a member of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA)We have filed a complaint with them, which I encourage everyone else who has been lied to by this company to do as well. Here is a list of codes the Bluegreen broke with us.
Code of Ethics III.C.1-2 - 1. Must not convey false, untrue, deceptive, or misleading information through statements, testimonials, photographs, graphics, or other means; and 2. Must not omit material information without which the solicitations or sales information would be deceptive or misleading, or which would affect consumer decision making.
Code of Ethics V.B.4 - 4. Limited Time Offers. Representations must not be made that the current terms of an offer will not be available at a future time unless those representations are factual.
Code of Ethics V.B.5.b-c. - b. Must be consistent with information and disclosures provided in the Sales Information; and c. The consumer must be provided with a reasonable opportunity to review the contract documents in writing at time of sale before signing.
Code of Ethics V.B.9.- 9. Sales Presentation. Verbal representations must be consistent with information contained in sales documents, contracts and written disclosures
We are currently in dispute over our contract and are working very hard to get it canceled.
Bluegreen's main line for everything that happened to us is, either "The contract says ..." or they "deny any verbal ...". However, they're mortgage department called us, and wondered why we were unhappy. And after telling the lady some of the lies, she interrupted me to say, "That's just the 'Sales Pitch'." Proving that it's a widespread, acceptable practice among Bluegreen.
If you are happy with them, I'm happy for you. I understand we signed a contract, however when fraud is used to trick a person into signing a contract, we can dispute it, which we are doing wholeheartedly. I will say the resort we stayed at was very nice. Clean, comfortable and large.
Here is a chat I just had with the money sucking company:
Gloria : [3:22:34 PM] Hello, my name is Gloria. It will be my pleasure to assist you today! How can I help?
Dennis: [3:24:31 PM] I just tried to book a 5 night stay in Branson for Dec 21-26 for a 2 bedroom unit and the system tells me I do not have enough points. My account has 9, 125 and the pontes total needed is 6, 450
Gloria : [3:24:56 PM] Hello Mr. Feasby, please let me take a look at your Points.
[3:26:04 PM] Right now you have 9, 000 Points that are good through October 31, 2013.
Dennis: [3:27:53 PM] I understand that, but I have paid almost $1, 000 for those points and since we made the contract last year our circumstances have changed and will not be able to use them before Dec. Surely Bluegreen is not in the business of cheating people out of $1, 000 are they?
Gloria : [3:28:03 PM] In order to use those Points, your reservation would have to check in by that date.
[3:28:42 PM] I understand that, but the Points are good for one year and they have been on the account since 11/01/12.
Dennis: [3:29:44 PM] So, what you are telling me is to bad so sad but you are just out the $1, 000 who cares about your change in circumstances.
Gloria : [3:30:35 PM] The other option you could look into would be exchanging the Points with RCI.
Dennis: [3:31:45 PM] Again, spending more money...the worst decision I ever made was buying a vacation plan from bluegreen 10 years ago and it just keeps getting worse.
Gloria : [3:33:35 PM] I'm sorry Mr. Feasby, you can contact Vacation Services to see and see if an exception can be made.
Dennis: [3:34:54 PM] Bluegeen never makes exceptions but I'll try can you give me their #? I already know that I have been taken yet again the this money sucking company but I'll try.
Gloria : [3:35:41 PM] You will want to contact 800.456.2582, option 2.
George
would you like to purchase more points because i have 20 thousand of them to sell ! since you think its such a wonderful experience ... and what a deal i will give you in 2006 i paid 20, 000 for them today i will sell to you for 11, ooo ! my main fees went from 400 to a whooping 1200 not bad wouldnt you say ? and u can vacation a year out if you can get the reservations but remember you need to be a year ahead on fees to do so ... and maybe at one of the lovely 5 star places they have you can find male body hair in your bed and soda stains in on the carpet like i did .. oh and maybe if you lucky your point s will go far enough to have you stay at a nice place .. or maybe not you can stay at the same resort that someone who paid 1 grand gets to stay if your lucky to get reservations ... and yes George they do continue to expand their wallets on the lies they tell the people comming to make a purchase .. what bought you 20 thousand points a couple of years ago cannot get you accom in top new resorts ... bluegreen is a lie an illusion ...
I have been a Blue Green Owner for a few years - and I have had only great experience with them. The resorts are first rate.. their customer service is always great. And they continue to expand the number and locations of the resorts their own or run.
The concept of Blue-Green points isn't always easy to get - but once you understand it - with a little planning (you can book your vacations nearly a year in advance. If you wait too long - there many not be any rooms free).
ya this blue green is a bunch off ### they said they had tons of places to stay hardly any and it takes way to many points to stay any where in july when id like to take vacation it just tiks me off i told em they could keep all i paid if they would just cancel in good terms i havent even used mine cause theres no avalibility or i dont have enough points and it all cost money they say u only pay one thing yearly and you payment it cost to stay there is club dues and other stuff ya it aint worht it save ur money BLUEGREEN SUCKS
Henry,
I am curious to find out if your complaint to the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) helped or simply filed away? I have to agree with you on the Ethics issue. I ran across the same difficulties from on person to the next, each wanting to inform me that they had the correct information. We bought and paid for 10, 000 points and I have used the points as they should be used, but my concern is the some day my points won't be enough to cover a weeks vacation and the club dues continue to go up year after year. In comparison, I would have been able to reserve a nice room and vacation for same amount of money I have invested in future vacations. My purchase was intended to be good investment in my families fun, but has turned into a yearly management process documenting and calculating how long it will take before I can get a retun on my investment.
Don