Vacations - Bluegreen Vacation Club false advertising

Complaints.com received the following e-message on February 27, 2001:

From: Email User

RE: Bluegreen Vacation Club

Contract Reference #: 00091902DE. We (me and my wife) signed a contract on 09/19/00, following a presentation

at the BLUEGREEN location at 43155 Main Street, Suite 2204, Novi, Michigan

48375. Through this contract we agreed to purchase Owner Beneficiary Rights

and Vacation Points with BLUEGREEN VACATION CLUB.

The membership package was explain to us by the sales person E. Scheytt and

the sales manager during the several hours presentation as a complex package

including timeshare propriety at "Shore Crest 2" and Vacation Points plus

worldwide access through RCI membership to all the resorts in the RCI

Directory, unlimited, by points exchange or by paying a constant flat rate of

$599/week.

However, when we contacted RCI at the BLUEGREEN RESORTS MEMBERS' LINE

(1-800-445-0088) we were told that it is only a points exchange agreement and

a very limited accommodation purchasing possibility, for "left over units" at

various rates.

Also, we were told that it was a maintenance fee of about $320 for the

Biennial Timeshare unit that we're going to own.

Calling BLUEGREEN VACATION CLUB - Owner Services we fund out that in fact the

maintenance fee was about $370 and will be charged every year not only on the

"Owner Use Year" as initially presented.

Following this findings we contacted your sales office in Novi, MI, the same

people that we made the deal with: Tina Bork and Susan Miller, trying to

clarify these issues. Ms. Tina Bork, the Office Manager did not want to talk

to us and Ms. Susan Miller told us that they were not responsible for all

this and if we didn't like it to go to a real-estate broker (Century 21) and

sell the Timeshare and BLUEGREEN will buy it back from us!

Next we tried the BLUEGREEN Owner Services ( Lori Trauscht), Corporate

Offices (Nancy Richards), and Corporate Collection Office (David Garito).

Nobody was able to give us any guidance or try to understand the situation.

In this situation we contacted several real-estate agencies specialized in

Timeshare Resales, trying to find out how can we sell "our propriety". We

learned very soon that would be next to impossible, unless we want to sell it

for about 25% of what we paid. Some of them ask as for a initial $499 fee,

making it clear how difficult it is to sell such a propriety, how much

advertising it is needed, and, of course, there was no chance to sell it back

to BLUEGREEN.

In conclusion, we believe that BLUEGREEN VACATION, through their Novi Sells

Office used false advertising, repeated false or misleading affirmations in

the process of selling of this "propriety". They also use all kind of

pressure and confusion sales tactics not allowing the prospective buyer to

receive the property report and providing a reasonable review time before

they are asked to sign a document, like the Beneficiary Agreement.

We also believe that the property was not sold at a fair market value, which

due to the complexity of the package it is very difficult to figure out in a

very limited time and the whole process it is unlawful.

Given the fact that we did not take possession of any kind of property, we

did not receive any Title, we did not use any of the Club benefits or

facilities and all of the above, we asked BLUEGREEN CORP. to terminate our

"Beneficiary Agreement", together with our club memberships immediately.

First we made this request in person 11/24/00, in writing 11/29/00, 12/18/00

and by phone several times, with no results so far.

Comment On This

Bluegreen is a scam of the worst kind, because it's legal and there is no good way to get out of it.

I've been trying to get rid of mine for years. Still working on it.

Comment On This

We bought this stupid thing when we took our kids on vacation in Gatlinburg, TN. We were pressured and thought we were doing something for our kids' future (an investment). We didn't use it for some time and then decided to try to go to Gatlinburg again. We were called several times during our stay to attend a meeting. We didn't want to but in order to SHUT THEM UP we did. A High pressure salesman told us that we needed to upgrade in order to increase the value of our timeshare. He told us that he would buy it back if we did not enjoy it. My husband caved in because he wanted something special for our kids. They gave us a different home site( which had A LOT higher maintenance fees) We tried to get out of it when we found out but they informed us that we were not in our 10 day cancellation time. We didn't get the maintenance fees until 30 days. Blue Green deserves to be sued!!! I am only a poor teacher trying to put my kids through College and driving a piece of crap because I can't afford anything else. I pay a really nice car payment on this "STUPID WASTEFUL" timeshare.

Comment On This

My husband and I are also a VICTIM of BLUEGREEN VACATION CLUB!!! We got suckered in on our honeymoon and EVERY time we try to use it, we find out more and more and MORE things that they lied to us about it. We have paid it off because it was set up at 16% interest!!! You get no title. You have to pay $450 a year for maintenance fees, $130 a year for club dues, and an optional $60 for the travelers plus!!! and we have the smallest package you can get...7,000 point every other year! They lied and said they can help you sell it if you end up not liking it. All they do is put it on the website. Ours has been on there for like 2 years listed for thousands of dollars less than we paid on it and we've had no leads. Found out also if you sell it outright to a friend, the friends will not get any of the benefits that we have with it i.e. grand yaht club, travelers plus, etc. You complain on the phone to people up there and they have nothing to say. ITS A TRAP!!! I WARN ANYONE AND EVERYONE TO STEER AS FAR AWAY FROM BLUEGREEN AS POSSIBLE!!! They promised they would waive the first year's maintenance fees for us, so we thought we had a year before they were due. Well we signed the contract in July and in October we get a bill for the fees. Come to find out that October is when they always charge the dues, they only waived the dues for July through October!!!! There are NEVER resorts with available rooms when you want them unless you plan like months and months in advance. You can't let friends use your bonus nights or your hot weeks if you're not going to be with them. My stories are never ending!!!

Comment On This

We're stuck with BlueGreen as well. The salesman said they'd buy it back any time, but that was a lie and we have no way to prove he said that and he no longer works there, of course. It was a VERY high-pressure sales pitch that lasted for HOURS until we were finally worn down and just wanted to go home. All that for the $50 Visa gift card they were offering for attending the pitch. If only i'd known.

We've sent certified letters to them, only to have them returned to us because no one picked them up. They call us and harass and even shout at us and threaten us for payment of dues (we do owe them some dues but have never missed a "mortgage" payment with them). We don't know how to get out of it! We've had it for like 5 years, and have never used it. For all that we've spent on it, we could've taken a GRAND vacation! If you know how to get rid of it...at this point we'd consider GIVING it away...let us know!

Comment On This

I'm in the same boat.stuck with a bluegreen timeshare.They used miss leading sales tacktics to sucker us in.Please help!

Comment On This

A friend of mine bought into this last summer and are looking to get rid of it. Has there been any conclusion or resolution to this complaint.