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Some Timeshare Companies Following Unpleasant Trends

A group of customers have filed complaints against Trendwest Resorts after finding themselves caught in an "ironclad, non-cancelable contract," (the words of Marcus Dixon, Trendwest Resorts representative). The company is now owned by Wyndham Worldwide, a popular timeshare company, and operates a large collection of condominium resorts in North America. These condos are sold to consumers under a "right-to-use" system where weeks at a location correspond to an amount of tradable points.

Trendwest recently had a promotion that enticed potential buyers with complimentary gifts; attending one of their presentations automatically entered the buyer into a drawing where prizes ranged from free dinners to free SUVs. However, according to an article on the New Business News website, the high-pressure sales tactics utilized during these presentations landed many curious consumers in a contract they didn't bargain for. Prices quickly escaladed after the initial discounts offered to encourage agreement signing, and failing to surrender these funds resulted in what some customers describe as abuse.

Buyers were assaulted with phone calls at all hours of the night and day, both at home and at work, sometimes without pause. They were sent letters laced with threats of legal and financial reprisal. And Trendwest continued even when the buyers retaliated with lawyers.

One thing is for sure: Trendwest is remarkably confident in its contract. They persist that no loophole exists offering buyers freedom from the membership, and all the fees therein. The only option open to those wishing to dispense of their timeshare is to fulfill the contract's terms – which stipulate that they can terminate their membership, should they pay the remaining balance with a single lump-sum.

A quote from the Trendwest website claims that, along with their subsidiary WorldMark, they are now the third largest timeshare company in the world. With contracts like these, it's no small wonder.

 

View the original article here: http://www.newbusinessnews.com/research/trendwest.html