Silverleaf Resorts, biggest scam ever
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Time Share resorts Silverleaf Resorts 1221 River Bend Drive, Suite 120 Dallas, Te 75247 US www.silverleafresorts.com My wife and I are Silverleaf timeshare owners since 2006, and I regret the day I signed the note.I would like to express how Silverleaf has managed to basically strip my family of thousands of dollars. I have to admit that it was partly my fault for letting this people "suck me in" into buying one of their properties. I should've taken the time to think things thru, but that's just it, once you're in the closing booth, you don't have a chance against their very well put together sales pitch that they use to confuse even the smartest buyer.At first I was really reluctant to sign, but i was reassured by smiling faces and sound explanations that there was nothing to worry about. I thought I asked all the right questions [or so I thought]. So,It all started when we received a letter in the mail saying that we won won a free vacation of 1 of three presents including a brand new car. 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 uninformed and unprepared families. Our sales rep was so eager to close the deal that he offered to drive back with us ( a 2 hour drive) just to pick up a check for our down payment. Feeling pressured by this "army" of sales people that kept coming to the desk, we finally cave in. Just 24 hours after we signed the documents we drove back to the office, and asked to talk to the sales rep that sold us the package,after waiting for 3 hours this person finally showed up. After we told him that we wanted to cancel the whole thing, he told us that that wasn't an option, and the only thing we could do for us was to downgrade the initial package he had offer us, so of course we accepted ( $200 for 7 years, how stupid was I ). We bought the "deluxe package" with access to over 13 diffetent resorts, but everytime single time we wanted to use the resorts, everything was taken. Its been almost three years and I was only able to use the resort three times, both times for only a couple of nights. On top of my $ 200 a month I had to pay an extra $ 50 / night to stay there, a small detail that wasn't disclose at the time we signed the contract. Not to mention, that the resort where we stay in Galveston, TX was dirty, the customer service people extremely rude, the room was dirty, the bath tub nasty , there was hair all over the bathroom sink and bath tub. Their customer service people are plain rude and sometimes they get belligerent on the phone when they we try to get some explanations regarding our membership, and we always get the same answer.. " read your contract". In order to use some of the amenities inside the resorts we are asked to pay extra. another thing they forgot to mention during the sales presentation. To recap, we got so fed up with this company, their poor and rude customer service, their lies, etc, that we decided to pay them off. We called twice to let them know that we were planning to pay off the account and we need it to know the exact pay off amount, instead of just giving me the pay off amount they transfered me to another sales rep. who tried to sell me an upgrade instead of paying them off. After i said no, they simply hung up. I specifically told them not to take any more money from my account as I was planning to pay them off. They told me "no problem". But, right after the check for $ 6400.00 cleared to took the monthly membership of $ 200 from my account, which I had to close afraid that they would try to take more money out. I was right, and they cost me an extra $ 70 in NSF charges. It took me 2 weeks and several phone calls to get my money back. Just today i got a call from the billing department saying that i still owed them $ 77 to pay off the account, this is 2 weeks later after I received a letter from them telling me that the account was paid off and the lien released. They tried telling me that that letter was mailed by mistake and that if i wanted the lien released i had to pay the remaining balance. So, after 45 minutes on the phone with them they finally agreed to credit my account the $ 77 I just want to warn other people about Silverleaf resorts, and to do their "homework" before they rush into buying any properties from this company. I recently researched this company and across thousands of complaints.There are hundreds of complaints posted on the BBB website alone, and lots more all over the internet. Let this be a warning to everybody not to buy from this company, unless of course you don't mind throwing your money away and having to deal with a company that cares nothing about its members. From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Wednesday, 17-Sep-08 18:53:37 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On Thisfirst of all the TOUR is 90min not the WAIT TIME! think about this before you even go. they schedule a crap load of people for one time because sometimes ppl dont show up n when they dont then we dont have any business. so if you dont like sitting there for a couple of hours dont go. and when you go to get your gifts dont attack the employees. they dont want to hear you complain. its not their fault you were there for so long. they have to make a living too. they dont make the rules so cut them some slack! From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Sunday, 04-Dec-11 12:27:44 CST Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisThe Voss lawfirm in Hourston will be filing a class action lawsuit against Silverleaf. we have already been in contact Voss & they sent us an info. packet. Go to the Voss lawfirm website & contact them about your situation. From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Wednesday, 31-Aug-11 13:47:10 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisHi, My husband and I originally bought yellow (back when it es red, yellow, green) yellow being middle of the road....well...cant really go anywhere....so upgraded to red. I can say we have been happy with exchanges and such...but aren't happy with the constant haunts to buy another week. Stop with the sales pitches.....that's what aggravates me. But exchanges....stated 2 weeks in FL at a beautiful resort, then took a few days of bonus time in Florida at a Silverleaf resort...all in all...Im happy. From: Message Author (click here to email author) Date: Wednesday, 24-Aug-11 09:00:42 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On Thisthese people are definitely one of the biggest con-artist scams in the world i hate them and their double talking sales pitch crap!!! Whenever i call them on something they always do lots of double talking to get out of it!!! I am ashamed of the way they do innocent people and their places are so tired and run down and dirty looking!!!!!!! From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Tuesday, 09-Aug-11 13:44:15 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisMy husband and I just went to a presentation for this. Yes we knew a little about it being a timeshare but we came with an open mind to see what they were offering. Before we accepted we notified each and every person we spoke to that my husband had a flight that day and what was the time we were going to get out there. They all said that if we took the 10:30 meeting we would be out of there 12-12:15 the latest. Knowing this we left the following day for our presentation. Well we arrived on time actually 10:27 and checked in and we waited. Mind you I reminded them at the desk that my husband had a flight and their 3 representatives told us we would be out of here by 12:15. Our vacation presenter came at 10:58 to get us started. Wasted most time giving us small talk. Told her repeatedly that he had a flight to catch for work. No problem we get you out of here. Nice young lady. The property was nothing to really write home about. Didn't really have a lot of things for the kids to do. After touring the property checked back and the time 12:30. Oh no we have to leave we told her. She stated oh just 5 minutes and then we give you the prizes. After explaining we have to go to the manager, who we had to tell the young lady to go get. He tried to give us his spill. No we have to go. Don't make big purchases on the fly. Would not even extend the time we would have to think about it. Then he got owners or bigger ups as they called it to come and talk to us. No we have to go. Thats when the politeness all went away. We were treated less than dirt. Here then wait here for your prize. Excuse me what!!!!! Went back to Manager to explain this. Wait when we told you since 12:30 we had to leave. So we left without prize or gas money. They just looked at us like we were from Mars. If this is how you treat us now. Then how would you treat us when we invested 15,560 into your company. Manners and respect goes a long way. To bad its no longer readily available in the service industry. The breakdown. They wanted us to spend $ 255 right now for application fee and down payment. Then stated they will cancel the payment of $200 and all we have to pay is $55. Then in April start our payments of $471 for the next 36 months. It gets better. It is only for 1 week vacation slot. For a total of 15,560. Thats for the blue times. My husband noticed that all the blue slots where in the cold months. No heated pool right by the water. Well we could go to there other 13 resorts. Remind you that it would be cold there too. So to upgrade we would have to spend more money to get a white slot with more options. The red slot is better but if we are paying $471 for the blue how much would that cost. Managers turn. Oh a person paid off for their unit before the upgrade so it is $9880. Only $274 a month still the blue slot for 1 week. Here's a little info for all who are thinking about buying into this. You do not have a specific unit. Stated by our young vacation presenter. Its like a hotel but you are guaranteed a spot. What!! So if I don't have my own unit then what am I paying for. Rent. Why rent when you can own. Thats apart of their pitch. But in reality you own nothing. Even after you pay for your privileges you will still have to pay $71.50 for maintenance fee a month. To something you do not own. They do let you come for day usage all year around. But you can not stay overnight, They have very little to do on the property. Then we would have to still pay somewhere else or pay them $99 and use our bonus time of 2-4 days. All adds up. View from the one in Galveston is dead tall weeds or grass. Have to cross the highway to get to the beach. No chairs or loungers provided for you. A very small putt putt golf. Tennis court in need of repair. Club house was a joke. I have more movies than they had. Stated it had a movie theater wrong. Is it worth 15,560 or even 9,880. No way and for only a week. When I can spend the same amount and take my kids to Jamaica for a month or even longer. This is something you will have to pay every month. It is a bill. When we vacation if for some reason we cant go. Guess what that money is still in our accounts to go another time or used for emergencies. Then the rooms only sleep 6 we have six children so what happens then. Disney was cheaper and they have more to do. From: Message Author (click here to email author) (has asked not to receive email)Date: Friday, 18-Feb-11 08:48:00 CST Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisI have owned Silverleaf for over 20 years. Just stayed at the one in Galveston a few months ago. What can I say, except that you don't know what you're talking about, or you don't know how to use what you have. From: Message Author (click here to email author) (has asked not to receive email)Date: Sunday, 23-Jan-11 14:04:31 CST Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisMy wife and I have been with Silverleaf for about fifteen years and have been pleased with them, our resort is Holiday Hills in Branson, MO and we have stayed there twice and other times we have exchanged with RCI, we have traded for Spain, the Canary Islands and many locations in the US, we also go down to Galveston quite often and enjoy it there,we have found it very clean and the people freindly except for Tony one of the sales people who was very rude, but just don't go on there presentations, other than that though we really enyoy our time share. From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Thursday, 20-Jan-11 13:59:49 CST Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisIf you are still stuck with your Silverleaf visit http://www.timesharetricks.blogspot.com then email me. From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Sunday, 09-Jan-11 13:52:26 CST Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisI've been a Silverleaf "weeks" owner for over 25 years (it was a different company when I bought the week). We have always enjoyed the resort (Holly Lake) and the staff are some of the nicest I've ever met. I've worked with "corporate" on a couple of issues over the years and was always able to get what I needed -- it just takes a bit of patience. We moved to another part of the coutry and now bank our weeks into RCI. This year we are able to exchange our East Texas timeshare week for a week in Italy (Tuscany) for us and two of our grown children. This is a good deal for people who take the time to understand what they are getting and to drive the best bargain possible. Timeshare ownership is not for everyone, but for the right people it is a great deal. From: Message Author (click here to email author) (has asked not to receive email) Date: Saturday, 08-Jan-11 11:48:46 CST Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisSilverleaf does this all the time, visit http://www.timesharetricks.blogspot.com there are ways to get your money back. From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Wednesday, 29-Dec-10 22:18:49 CST Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisI just went to the Resort this week (Dec 2010) to see what all they have to offer. Let me say they DO give you the FREE pizes. I got a cruise to Bahamas, 40 AMX gift card, and hotel stay in Hawaii, Jamaica and Las Vegas. Yes i got all of that. Anyways this does seem like a good idea for families. I do know that to get the most benefits, you must get the RED deeds so you dont have any restrictions. Any other deed is not worth it. Now i did not sign up now just because my intent was only to go claim my prizes but i do plan to return in the future. It really wasnt all that bad. Yes they do have some hard core salesmen to come and talk to you. I had 3 approach me but guess what..."ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY IS NOOOOO!!!" No one can force you to do anything or even trick you into doing it. Some of you people need to be more assertive. All these people are doing is their job. If you are Punked into doing something you dont want to do then you do need to go out to things like this. My experience overall was B+. I will definitely be going back (w/i) 6 months to claim some more free prizes and to get in on the presidential suites. Vacations here is come!!! By the way i went to the resort down in Conroe, TX From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Friday, 24-Dec-10 14:50:46 CST Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisThank you so very much for providing this information about this company. I received a phone call from one of the representatives about an hour ago (12-21-2010 at 2:15 PM CST) letting me know that I had won a prize consisting of the four guaranteed items as I had completed an entry form at the Galleria Mall here in Houston, TX. While the person was going on about what I'd won I was laughing the entire time. I told her that I had not been to the Galleria in quite some time and that I certainly had not completed any entry form. She insisted that someone did and as a result I had won a prize. I decided to play along in order to obtain their information so that I could research the company once the call ended and then I found you. Thank you again, sir for your helpful post. It confirmed what I thought about these people all along. I am truly sorry for the experience you went through but telling us about it saved many people a lot of time and money and for that I am grateful. Time to cancel that ridiculous appointment :D From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Tuesday, 21-Dec-10 15:51:46 CST Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisTHANKYOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR YOUR REVIEW ON THIS PLACE!!I HAD JUST RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THESE PEOPLE BY MAIL CLAIMING THAT I'VE WON ONE OF THE 3 PRIZES,MONEY,TRIP,SHOPPING SPREE,AND ALL I NEEDED TO DO WAS SHOW UP AND I WILL GET $40GIFT CARD ON A ON TIME ARRIVAL..AND WHEN I CALLED THEM TO FINDOUT ABOUT THIS THEY SAID TO NOT WORRY TO JUST SHOW UP TO THE SILVER LEAF RESORT AND THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE ME A TOUR FOR 90MINUTES AND THAT THERE WAS NO OBLIGATIONS I DIDNT HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING ALL I NEEDED TO DO WAS SHOW UP..SO I SAID OK I WILL TALK TO MY HUSBAND TO SEE,SO THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT I WAS GOING TO RECEIVE A SPECIAL INVITATION TO GET ACCESS TO THE RESORT ALL I NEED TO DO WAS BRING THE INVITE AND THAT WAS IT TO RECEIVE THE $40 PLUS 1 OF THE FREE GIFTS IS GURANTEED>>SO I JUST RECEIVED THIS INVITE AND I WAS PLANNING ON GOING BUT NOW THANKGOD SOMETHING TOLD ME TO CHECK ONLINE FOR ANY BAD FEEDBACKS ON THIS PLACE..THANKYOU YOU SOO MUCH SIR..SAVED ME AND MY FAMILY A TRIP TO HELL!!!THANKS GODBLESS... From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Monday, 06-Dec-10 12:46:46 CST Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisFor all you people that ever plan on coming to the Seaside Resort in Galveston, your requests for walk in units or easy access are meaningless. There is an 18-step minimum to the 1st floor for all our buildings. Nothing is ground level. If you claim that you are "handicapped or disabled", I guarantee you will not get a free ride into the golden elevators of our Presidential buildings. If you claim that you absolutely cannot do stairs, you need to check with owner services and have it placed on your account that you need to be placed in an ADA unit or something equivalent. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT "ADA" STANDS FOR YOU ARE NOT "HANDICAPPED OR DISABLED" YOU FRAUDS! Proving your disability through corporate owner services is a 100% chance for riding an elevator to your room. Rooms come on a first come first serve basis unless it has been absolutely guaranteed by corporate. Otherwise, you are left at the discretion of the front desk. So you better hope that when you check in, you get somebody who might have an ounce of sympathy for your crippled legs. From: Message Author (click here to email author) (has asked not to receive email)Date: Monday, 06-Dec-10 01:28:21 CST Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisTRY AGAIN. The Better business bureau rating is a B- and I am willing to bet that falls before it goes up, if it ever goes up. I would give the company a D- given my experiences. They would have gotten an even lower rating if I had not gotten most of my money back. From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Saturday, 27-Nov-10 05:57:19 CST Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisI would never buy anything from any company like this. First of all, you are really only buying the right to use the property at certain times of the year (I don't care if they have decided not to call it a timeshare. It is still a timeshare. You don't own the property. You essentially own only the right to use it at certain times.). When I listened to the sales pitches at Silverleaf (which I have done more than once. You'll figure out why and how in a moment.) it did seem to me like there were more expenses then they initially let on (Fifty dollars a night to stay there, fees for this and that including something that sounded like a sort of condo fee). They tried to emphasize how much cheaper it was then a hotel. From reading between the lines and listening carefully, I have gotten the impression that this would cost much more than was obvious and that it would not be easy to find weeks during which I could visit other locations. Cordially, A Mystery Shopper (including for a market research company that does timeshare facilities and yes, I got to keep the rewards in addition to getting paid for the shop, a much better deal then buying anything at this property. From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Sunday, 21-Nov-10 11:07:22 CST Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisFirst off the availability depends on the deed you purchased. Of course the availability is low when you have a blue deed and trying to stay in a white season. Cause with blue you can only stay in the blue season. when you have a white deed you can stay in the blue or white season. And of course when you have a red deed you have availability year round. So it sounds like you had a blue and didnt understand anything. And the only time you pay to stay is on fridays or saturdays. Thats explained in you deed as well. cause bonus time is free only Sun.-Thurs. And as far as the aminities go of course some you need to pay for like the horses, boats, archery, thats for insurance on the horses and boats if something was to happen. Now for the other thing you get you money back when you bring the equipment back. IF YOU DIDNT REMEMBER IT WAS BECAUSE YOU REALLY WERENT LISTENING. AS FAR THE REPS. GO YOU ONLY SEE 2 OF THEM. A TOUR GUIDE AND A MANAGER THEN A REP FROM GIFTING TO DO A QUICK REPORT CARD ON TE REP. AND MANAGER. THEY DONT PRESSURE YOU INTO ANYTHING IF YOU BUY ITS BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO. NO MIND GAMES THE DOORS TO THE RESORTS ARE ALWAYS OPEN. IF YOU REALLY HAD A PROBLEM YOU WOULD HAVE DRIVEN BACK DOWN THERE TO KICK SOME ASS. BUT THAT WASNT ONCE MENTIONED IN YOU COMPLAINTS. SO IF YOU REALLY TRUELY DIDNT WANT IT YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT. The $77 dollars sounds like to me you didnt want to pay for your taxes, insurance, lights, cable, water, or sewer. Which is noted onthe contract for club dues. Even once you pay it off your still intitled to pay this justl ike you would on you home when its payed off. ALL N ALL SOUNDS LIKE YOU REALLY DIDNT UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS BEING SHOWN TO YOU. SOUNDS LIKE YOU WENT THERE FOR A FREE GIFT JUST LIKE EVREYONE DOES AND YOU LIKED WHAT YOU SAW AND COULDNT PASS UP AN AWSEOME DEAL. THEY DONT PRESSURE YOU TO BUY ANYTHING. THEY CAN LEAD YOU WATER BUT CANT MAKE YOU DRINK. AS FOR YOURSELF YOU DIVED IN SUCKED IT DRY. I PERSONALLY HAVENT HAD ANY PROBLEMS AND LOVE THE PROGRAM I HAVE OWNED FOR 3 YEARS AND NEVER HAVE HAD A PROBLEM. OF COURSE I HAVE A RED AND RCI. DELUXE PACKAGE REALLY ISNT A PACKAGE AT ALL ITS EITHER RED, WHITE OR BLUE AND ALL INCLUDE ALL 13 RESORTS. From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Tuesday, 16-Nov-10 14:04:15 CST Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisI scored 6 free tickets to a baseball game and 2 to a hockey game, plus $20. Not bad, but getting the prizes was a pain. The sales people were typical sales people selling a typical inferior product. The sales pitch that I got came from a 20 year old who couldn't spell most any of the scribbles she was jotting down, nor could she pronounce challenging words such as "amenities." Over the course of the sales pitch, it became very apparent that this youngster had never invested her money into something as expensive as their vacation packages. What's more is that I'm an avid traveller who has been to most of the destinations they listed in their package, and I've got to say that the locations within the areas Silverleaf has properties are subpar compared to what you would find if you travelled there on your own and found yourself a cheaper hotel... or even just went camping. The company hasn't made its profits from buying nice real estate. Anyways... I've got better things to do right now. Just keep your chins up and sit through the presentations, reminding yourself to not get suckered into the scams. And if you do end up with the free Rangers tickets, maybe we'll see each other in the nose bleed section this weekend! I'll be the guy wearing the Rangers shirt. From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Thursday, 30-Sep-10 17:40:14 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On Thismy boyfriend and i fill out one of the forms at the baseball games everytime we go, hes been called 3 times within the last two years and with a steady no weve gotten 3 seperate cruises out of it. Yes you have to pay the tax which for us was about $100 each time and however much it costs to get to the port your ship is sailing out of, but so far we've had a good time. I recently got a letter in the mail saying i had won one of the top 5 prizes and cruise tickets and for attending on a weekday am also supposed to get a $40 gift card. I will be walking out with everything listed above. Its all about knowing the sales pitch better than they do and not signing anything or letting them take your credit card, all they need to see is your name and a logo not the numbers.If you have to, take a list of everything your gong to accomplish or say "NO" to so you will stay on track, i always do.(both of my parents are top sales people in their industry and being a journalist i can do my fair share of word games) just stay on track, some of my extended family also lives near the resort so im taking the day to view the place in the mornig collect my things and then spend the rest of the weekend catching up with relatives, so a mini vacation with perks....if that wasnt the case i would have thrown the thing in the trash.Remember your time is worth money aswell!i'll let you know what i ended up with next week! And yes, the timeshares are the biggest scam ever! From: Message Author (click here to email author) (has asked not to receive email)Date: Thursday, 30-Sep-10 16:09:58 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisMy family and I have owned for over 7 years and have never ever been disapointed with the service or facilies offered at ANY of the Silverleaf locations. Origionally when we were having trouble booking extra stays someone took the time to offer us an upgrade.. once we had a priority deed we had ZERO trouble getting in every single time. One time we had my daughters friends staying and one of them complained that the couch was uncomfortable. They brought an extra mattress that night, and a whole new COUCH the next day. I agree with some of the other owners who laugh at the people who post the warning and scam alerts. Try looking at the glass half full and listen for crying out loud; if you called to gripe me out I'd probably hang up on you too. From: Message Author (click here to email author) (has asked not to receive email)Date: Wednesday, 29-Sep-10 17:42:11 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisWell.... here goes, I recently signed a deed contract Sunday 19th 2010.... then investigated the company only to verify. Contract says I have 6 days to cancel no obligation and I have consulted my law firm pre-paid legal. After his feed back and the blogs I'm seeing all over the net, I sent a letter of cancellation to both the Conroe Piney Shores resort and the Dallas office. Signed and notarized as I certified with receipt the letter via USPS. I am holding my breath on the response as well as getting my down payment back placed on my Master Card. Good new is... I can probably get Master Card to cancel that charge. I will keep you posted next month on the final fallout. Wish I had read this before the visit. :-( From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Thursday, 23-Sep-10 09:56:30 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisI'm really glad that I read all these comments. I'm going tomorrow to Lee Ma and was promised the cruise & airfair along with 2 $40 AMEX cards. Going to start practicing my NO's now and going to tell my son NOT to bother that I will give him 1 of the $40 cards back for the money he had to put down to get the appointment. Thanks for all the inputs!!! From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Saturday, 11-Sep-10 20:05:07 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisI have been an owner for 1 year and have already had full use of the resort facilities....friendly staff and clean rooms....It is quite amusing reading the "scammed" rhetoric. They do apply pressure tactics, however in the end the choice was still ours. Visit the BBB (that's BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU) website and check out the A+ rating...that is not just handed out and speaks volumes about the business practices...and also serves as a valid reference to anyone thinking about patronizing SL. Tomas From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Sunday, 01-Aug-10 22:29:28 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisDid this all start by a drawing where you enter your information and they draw names? If so, did you then drive to the resort and then scratch off the tickets to win 5 gold pots for either the free car or $49,000? Please let me know because I am scheduled to go on Thursday and would rather not waste my time. Thanks. From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Wednesday, 21-Jul-10 04:26:54 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisI was subjected to the same scam from SilverLeaf.Within 24 hrs of buyer's remorse, they wouldn't allow the contract to be cancelled. I went to one of their resorts near Tyler as a comp and found it to be smoked out, dirty and nothing clean available!! I acquired additional expenses after finding a hotel in the area to spend the night after leaving my comfortable home 2.5 hours away in North Dallas. THey never reimbursed for those expenses. THe company should be closed.I've met MANY DISGRUNTLED clients when I've gone to the Irving office to try to get out of this scam. From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Sunday, 18-Jul-10 04:44:02 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisI could not agree more. We just purchased a sampler package with the option to buy the deed at the end of 10 months. My husband lost his job and there is no way we can pay this. We told them at closing that this might happened, that is why we went with the sampler instead of a deed, but they said if it does no problem just call and let them know. I have been trying to get in contact with them for 2 weeks, I keep getting the runaround until today. Someone actually called me back. He told me this was just like real estate. I laughed and said this is a membership to use a facility for day usage,we can't even stay the night,not a deed. He kept talking over me repeating the same things over and over that there is no way we can get out of this and blah, blah, blah. I finally told him I was done dealing with them that someone else (Lawyer) would be contacting them to deal with them on my behalf. He back tracked so fast I had to laugh. He put me in touch with corporte, it is not resolved yet, but it is ridiculous to have to go through all this trouble for a MEMBERSHIP, I can only imagine if we actually purchased a deed. They are rude and not very respectful at all. I wish we would have done more research. We are educated people, and got sucked in. Hopefully this will get resolved soon. From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Thursday, 15-Jul-10 15:50:35 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisSilverleaf promised me and my wife a 3 day cruise for sitting in on a timeshare presentation. We burned a n entire day traveling and the trip was a scam. They lied to us. There was no free cruise. In the end it cost $700.00 in fees, taxes, seasonal fees, hotel, holiday fees. We could have booked our own trip for not much more. They have no ethics or integrity. Do not listen to a timeshare pitch, fall for their free gift scam or buy a timeshare with them. From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Thursday, 08-Jul-10 13:01:41 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisWe too are in the same position. Told we needed to keep upgrading to get to use Bonus Time. We have been able to use it once in the last 14 months. We filed complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, Texas Attorney General, and BBB of Dallas. I did this last night. Looked up a lawyer in Dallas for a name in case we needed to call someone in to help. Then I called Silverleaf Corporate this morning and asked for a Manager. Got a Manager on the phone, explained all of the past 14 months and how they are using deceptive trade practices, and informed them of the compalints filed. She told me they would draw up the paperwork for us to sign to get out of our contract. Once I told her about the complaints and the attorney she jumped right on the paperwork. From: Message Author (click here to email author) Date: Friday, 02-Jul-10 22:47:21 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisI too got sucked in for 3 units because I wanted to gift a unit to each of my 3 kids. What a joke! All of these comments are true - there is never availability and when there is, the facilities are disgusting. Is there any way to file a law suit against these unfair sales tactics!??? From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Saturday, 15-May-10 19:11:49 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisWow! I can't believe they are able to conduct business after treating their "clients" like this. I take full responsibility for also being conned into purchasing Silverleaf's "Sampler Membership". The first condo we stayed in was FILTHY...just as you described, with hair in the bathtubs and sink, dirty dishes left in the d/w, strange stains on the ceiling, and carpeting, curtains, and bedding from the 70's (probably the original)! The blinds in the Master Bdrm. were broken and on the floor when we arrived, and it took 2 hrs. for them to respond to the call to the Concierge. The pool usage is also a joke. There is one gated entrance to the pool, where memberahip cards are checked. Yet every 15 minutes (actual clocked time), "pool check" is called out, and everyone is evacuated from the pool and asked to sit at tables while the ONE pool guard makes their way around to check the Member Cards again!! Ludicrous!!!! Thankfully, this hellish nightmare with reps who care not about their clients once they've been lured in, is soon-to-be over (for this single mom of 4). Yes, I am out $1,000, but it is much less than others I know who will be paying for years to come. (@ The Villages Resort @ Lake Palestine - East TX) *You could find La Quintas all over the country that are cleaner, and whose staff would treat you more professionally, for a hell of a lot less! LOL ~Screwed-Over by Silverleaf Resorts From: Message Author (click here to email author) (has asked not to receive email)Date: Tuesday, 13-Apr-10 17:15:39 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisI'm glad I looked this up. We were recently promised the same car and vacation and I asked for a week to research the company. We went to something like this before and luckily didn't buy into "Outrigger" resorts either. They don't even give you gift certificates they promised you when you left. How do all these companies get away with this!!! From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Thursday, 08-Apr-10 11:16:15 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisWe too were sucked in to the wonderful vacations and the free cruise, etc. This is one of the biggest scams going and we can't do anything with our week because we too feel as though we would be cheating some unsuspecting people. My accountant recommended that we turn in the deed and write it off as a loss. I can't believe how we were hosed into buying this worthless money pit, but you live & learn. Warning to one ans all stay away from the OAK & SPRUCE RESORT in LEE, MA!! From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Monday, 15-Feb-10 08:52:53 CST Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This Comment On ThisI feel for you - my husband and i went through the exact same things. We're informed & well educated people, but only God knows what happened! All I can say is that I'm NOT surprised to read your story. We're trying to sell our account - but the terrible thing is that we almost feel bad selling it to someone else because we know how Silverleaf treats their customers! From: Message Author (click here to email author)Date: Monday, 26-Oct-09 16:11:02 CDT Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This |
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