Over the years, the general public has become more aware of what timesharing is. While some claim it’s nothing like it once was, we can all agree it’s become questionable at best. From the deceit during initial presentations to predatory agencies targeting disgruntled owners, timeshare purchase scams are more prevalent than ever before.
Because of the skepticism surrounding the industry as a whole, timeshare companies have felt the need to add even more aggression to their sales approach. Although front-end disclosure has been concerning for decades, sellers have been recently focused on keeping buyers under contract. One of the ways they’ve done this is blame third party solutions for owner dissatisfaction and discredit exit companies altogether.
Even though their desperation is obvious to most, the ability to persuade the uninformed has allowed the industry to thrive. But it hasn’t only affected those that know nothing about timeshare travel. Plenty of satisfied buyers have eventually been sold on upgrades filled with lies. It’s why we’ve committed to educating consumers on timeshare purchase scams and other relevant forms of misconduct. The experience just isn’t being portrayed accurately.
Wyndham Said to be Involved in Timeshare Purchase Scams
In recent years, a number of people have had a lot to say about Wyndham’s timeshare program. Not much of it has been positive. The 2007 class action lawsuit that was settled out of court in 2007 spoke volumes. Even past employees have taken legal action for being asked to perform deceitful sales practices. So we’re not surprised that another class action lawsuit, predicated on deception, is beginning to surface.
Scott Hardy of Top Class Actions blames the allegations on timeshare’s shift to points programs. During his interview with The Ring of Fire, he uses his parent’s old experience to explain how fractional ownership has shifted. “If you didn’t want to use that week, you could put it in your bank and go to other places or around the country.. People used to be able to purchase a week and use it often.” Today, it’s not that simple. Buyers are being sold on possibilities and the perpetual reality isn’t sitting well.
Hardy sheds some light on why some of Wyndham’s owners feel scammed. “If you want to use those points, you better book that at least a year in advance.” He goes on to sarcastically describe Wyndham’s solution. “But don’t worry if it’s not available, you can always buy more points.” It’s safe to assume the plaintiffs in the lawsuit don’t share his humor here.
More About the Class Action Lawsuit vs Wyndham.
Nazret Gebremeskel, Michael and AnnaMarie Deneen, and Erin and Paul Munoz are pursuing the hospitality giant for multiple misrepresentations. They claim that some of the features of Wyndham’s timeshare program weren’t available. Whether it was availability, point values, cleaning services or parking options, each owner didn’t receive what they were promised.
Not only do victims of timeshare purchase scams have to sit through long presentations, they also have to deal with the aggressive nature of customer service teams (aka sales specialists). Many buyers are leery of the purchase in general but usually buy in when additional features or offers are presented. But when they can’t even book the condo and the bogus offers don’t transpire, they’re forced to purchase more or simply pay the bill.
While the goal of these claimants is to receive a refund or some sort of restitution for the purchase, we hope these class action lawsuits force Wyndham to make some changes that benefit buyers. At the end of the day, settling with disgruntled owners and sweeping losses under the rug only creates the perception that Wyndham endorses timeshare purchase scams.
If they don’t start listening to their owners soon, travelers are going to avoid turning to them for their vacations. If you or someone you know is tired of the purchase and looking for a way to exit vacation ownership, we’d love to go over your options. To learn more about our 100% satisfaction rating, you can schedule a free consultation or proceed with the qualification form below.
UPDATE: On February 12, 2020, the Class Action Lawsuit by Wyndham Owners was dismissed.
