Note: Comments are available on the Internet to the general public.
Comments and texts have been edited to protect the privacy of the
companies and the individuals quoted.
We cannot post all reviews and negative comments on the Internet
but the following is a sample / summary. In all cases, the first topic
that appears to consumers when searching on the Internet is the RESALE
market... During live presentations, consumers perceive that they
are being offered high priced vacation plans, yet the same plans are
available on the Internet through "reputable" companies
at a fraction of the cost, usually 50 to 70% less than the developer.
We know that most of these comments are not true, but consumers will
not see it that way. Today, the Internet is a credible source of information
for consumers. To protect our colleagues, we have replaced the name
of actual resorts/companies with "BETA Resort". To our knowledge,
BETA RESORT is not an actual company/resort name. If you know otherwise,
please contact us.
The following are actual comments and reviews found on the Internet
--Government/Better Business Bureau websites, but most importantly
Consumers on the internet:
Trust and the credibility of Sales Centers and the whole industry.
Statements from
official GOVERNMENT web sites
- Attorney General (AG) warns about travel promos
Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter encourages Hoosiers to be cautious
about travel and vacation purchase scams, particularly timeshare resorts,
travel clubs and vacation certificates. Consumers are asked to
research companies and the deals they offer by doing Internet
research, or contacting the Attorney General's office or the Better
Business Bureau.
- "But others complain to the Ministry of Government
Services about these types of memberships. More than 500 consumers
tell the ministry each year that they believe they were pressured
into making an on-the-spot decision they regretted almost at once.
Then they found they were unable to get out of the contracts they
had signed."
- "If you’re inclined to sign up for a timeshare
unit or vacation club, the ministry suggests you do a lot of research
before you buy and keep the following smart-shopping tips in mind."
- " Research your vacation destination at a timeshare
property. It may be easy to trade your time in one unit for others
all around the world, but it can also be difficult or impossible to
arrange a swap for a popular area for a particular time period."
----
– "Attorney General today announced he has obtained
a judgment against BETA RESORT, the state's Ranking) timeshare developer,
for deceptive marketing and sales practices. "
----
I’ve just won a free holiday, is it really free?
"Free" holidays won by methods such as scratch
cards are rarely free. They are usually Holiday Clubs which require
membership before you can claim your free holiday. For more information
contact the Office of Fair Trading on 0870 60 60 321 to obtain a copy
of their leaflet “Congratulations you have not won a FREE luxury holiday!”
Timeshare is a complex product and is not something
to be entered into lightly. Purchasing, whilst subject to the high
pressure sales techniques of presentations will lead to confusion
about the product and its affordability which leads to dissatisfaction
----
- "Vacation timeshares give you the right to
use a vacation home for a limited, pre-planned period of time. Timeshare
scams occur both on the front-end, the time of the original purchase,
and at the back-end, when you try to resell the timeshare. Victims
of timeshare sales companies are contacted either over the phone or
are mailed a postcard asking to call a toll-free phone number. Before
you decide to either purchase or resell a timeshare, consider the
following
Tips For Consumers
Be Wary Of The Hard Sales Pitch
Don't be pressured into buying that same day. Remember
that you always have the right to leave the sales office, and come
back later. Read the contract to determine your cancellation rights
after signing. Before buying a timeshare, consider whether you will
want to return to the same vacation spot each year. Remember that
once you buy it, you may not be able to sell it due to a depressed
resale market."
---
" The thought of owning a vacation home may sound
appealing, but the year-round responsibility — and expense — that
come with it may not. Purchasing a timeshare or vacation plan
may be an alternative. If you consider a timeshare or vacation plan,
the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection
agency, says it’s a good idea to do some homework. "
Statements from Better Business
Bureau(s)
With the arrival of spring, many families begin to
browse travel advertisements in anticipation of summer vacation. Timeshare
opportunities are one option that many vacationers find enticing.
So, too, do scam artists!
The Better Business Bureau advises consumers who are
thinking of buying or leasing a timeshare to exercise due diligence
and avoid making a purchasing decision based on price alone. A timeshare
is a major investment. By doing thorough research, consulting reliable
sources, asking the tough questions, and getting all details in writing,
you can improve your chances for a vacation that lives up to your
expectations.gh
Does it sound "too good to be true"? Be
wary of "great deals" and low-priced offers. How many legitimate
businesses can survive by substantially undercutting the prices of
their competitors?
Refuse to be pressured. Legitimate businesses do not
demand that you make a snap decision.
Timeshare salesmen misled consumers about the vacation
packages they were selling, overstated the amenities included, told
travelers they had won trips when in fact they had not, hid extra
charges in "all-inclusive" packages, or charged consumers
for products and services they never received.
Many people saw their "dream vacation" turn
into a nightmare that wound up costing them hundreds of dollars more
than they expected. Some even received a timeshare tour they had not
been told about when they booked their trip.
Comments from Consumers on
the Internet
You will be asked to attend a 90 minute "presentation"
about the timeshare opportunitites. We encountered the most pushy
woman trying to sell us something that we simply cannot afford at
this time. When we finally got up to leave, I said, "thank you
for the information", and she snapped back, "we
don't give information, we sell... but whatever".
-------------------
I visited BETA RESORT with a friend in February. The resort was beautiful
and provided a very relaxing atmosphere. We attended a timeshare presentation
while at the resort, and we were very excited to have purchased the
opportunity to vacation at BETA RESORT again.
Upon receipt of the final paperwork, we realized our sales representative,
had been dishonest and misleading. He was not selling timeshares as
we were advised, but rather a vacation club. Since our visit it has
been very difficult to get any returned calls from the sales person
or to even get a call back from the customer service supervisor. As
I said the resort is beautiful, but I wouldn't attend a sales presentation
or sign any paperwork without a lawyer.
------------------
"Misleading statements from the primary salesperson at the timeshare
presentation:
At the start of the sales presentation, the sales person asked me
what I already knew about timeshares, claiming that getting this information
from me would shorten the presentation and get me out faster, because
he would not have to explain so much to me.
Fact: the real purpose of asking me what I knew turned out to be so
that the sales person could refute anything I said that was negative
about timeshares. It did not shorten, but instead lengthened the sales
presentation time."
-------------
Try to avoid the BETA RESORT's version of the timeshare presentation
the unit prices range from $45,000. U.S. down to $4,000ish but the
pressure is very high and they basically trap you for half a day.
------------------
My husband, my father, my 18 month old daughter and I visited BETA
RESORT for 4 days. We felt pressured to go to their timeshare presentation
and then found out that you would own at the resort down the beach.
We decided to go hear them out because we were looking for a timeshare
in Hawaii. We let them know that we had to pick up my father in a
few hours. Four hours later, while my daughter is screaming and my
father is waiting for us, we tell them we will get back to them. They
follow us out and the women asks me "Did I Waste my Time?"
We finally just walked away. By the time we got back to our room,
we had a message from our advisor asking what are decision was. We
also later found out that the resort does not own their land!!!
-----------------
This timeshare BETA RESORT is the most unprofessional sales presentation
we've ever seen. After 1-1/2 hours of listening to an overview of
"We're not selling vacations, we're selling dreams!" as
well as too much personal information from our sales representative,
we finally heard the details of the program. When we decided the property/program
was not for us (mostly destinations are important to us) they kept
us 1/2 hour more in a freezing room to talk to the financial manager
- even though we'd already said "No". When we finally got
to pick up our kids, they were very rude and dismissive. The next
time I see a timeshare presentation offered, I will avoid it at all
costs.
-----------------
While skiing we were snagged to attend a timeshare presentation at
BETA RESORT. During the presentation the sales rep rarely gave direct
answers. He insisted it was not a timeshare and that buying points
was an investment. They also promised that we would be able to use
our points for any RCI location year round.
After we agreed to join they plied us with champagne and when we were
tipsy we were led to their sales manager who carefully backpedaled
much of what the sales rep said.
If you go for a sales pitch get them to stick to their promise of
about 90 minutes. They kept us for about 3 hours and our children
were not well kept as they promised.
Note: the RCI locations available are only what the RCI members decide
they don't want to use. Usually you can only find a limited number
of places just before you travel.
Also, forget getting a reservation at Hawaii, always booked. For over
two years I get upset whenever I think about a vacation that has anything
to do with that Timeshare BETA RESORT
---------
- A Victim of BETA RESORT Scam
I just want to post here the letter
I have sent to BETA RESORT . Hopefully it becomes a lesson for everybody.
We are victims of these vacation club scam and I am even embarrassing
to leave our names there.
Be away from these fraudulent people.
Don't even think about that free vacation.
I am waiting for their reply to take this matter to the court.
If anybody else have the same problem,
let's make a group against these fraudulent people.
They humiliated me so many times when I tried to resolve the problem
by calling them after that devastating presentation day.
----------
A representative will be assigned to you based on your ability to
pay for the timeshare they are trying to sell you. If you have enough
available credit, you will be treated to a very hard sell, no matter
how sweet they appear to be. You know yourself and your sales
resistance better than anyone else. If you have a tough time saying
no, I wouldn't risk it. These guys are professionals and "take
no prisoners". If the first one doesn't sell you, there will
be others right behind him who will do their best to sell you.
--------
BETA RESORT - my experience
We also have this bad experience. We went to the BETA RESORT presentation
and somehow we signed the contract. Soon after that, we realized that
what we got was not what they were supposed to be. We sent a letter
to them and asked them to cancel the contract and refund our money
back (about $1200). They refused to do so and now their lawyer even
sent us a letter asking us to pay off all the rest of the money (about
$14000).
Now We decide to go to the court with them. But we
don't know what we should prepare. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
--------------
I love the country, its beauty, and its people. The
next time I won't be so foolishly taken in by the offer of a free
gift. We'll be going back to this country in November but we will
definitely avoid any Timeshare presentations. Our holiday time is
precious, and we don't need unnecessary sales pressure. Anyway,
I checked the Internet and found there are tons of cheap timeshare
resale. However, my wife and I have decided that we like
the freedom of all inclusive and don't want the burden of trading,
maintenance fees, unforeseen costs, and the stress that goes with
contractual obligations.
----
Deceptive Vacation Schemes
By simply filling out a ballot to win a vacation contest, you may
be set up for a "sucker list." You may be telephoned by
someone claiming you have won a free or low-cost vacation. Often there
are hidden costs associated with collecting your prize or you are
required to attend a high pressure timeshare presentation. Nearly
always you will be responsible for either the travel or accommodation
portion of the offer and you'll find the vacation isn't such a bargain
after all.
Quick Tip: Resist the temptation to fill out ballots for "free"
vacations. Travel scam operators typically withhold information until
you give them a credit card number, or a money order. Investigate
travel packages thoroughly for hidden charges and always obtain complete
details in writing about any trip prior to payment
-----
I was just received a funny sounding phone call asking
me if I had entered into a draw in the last 18 months ???? The last
18 months ???? Give me a break... immediately I got suspicious and
I asked him what this was about... he said he was calling from BETA
RESORT and that I have won a free trip .... I logged onto the new
and did a search and found out about the real story... thanks for
posting the information about this company.
What they are doing is legal, its just very immoral
and taking advantage of the nicer people in society who can't say
know to high pressure sales people...
Anyway, here is a link to the BETA RESORT that
I found while doing a search online ....
I am a computer "geek" by
trade and online developer/programmer .... here
is some information that I was able to dig up about this company ....
According to .........,this this owned by :
----
The very fact that they had dropped their prices in
a matter of hours from $50,000 to some cheap hot/scam made me wince
in disgust. At this point, my wife who had had a headache earlier
in the day was becoming nauseous. I finally bolted up and said, "Look,
we did our bit...we came and saw the place...no obligations, right..Now
give us the gift, and we'll be on our way!", I shouted, not caring
who was listening.
So, any of you thinking of going to a timeshare at
BETA RESORT, BEWARE, these people are like vicious dogs...once they
sink their teeth into you, they don't want to let go. If any of these
cons talk you into buying something, remember You have only FIVE days
to cancel the contact. They won't tell you this either.
'THE SALES PEOPLE AT BETA RESORT ARE BARRACUDAS. The
hefty down payment you give them is exactly the amount as commission
for that sale...ergo the fierce push to extract that plastic card
from your pocket.
------
I have to agree with Heather and Garth, BETA RESORT
is an excellent and responsive timeshare points company.
The sales pitch that I attended was clearly described
as a 90 minute affair, and it was not a minute longer. We did win
receive a free vacation, and we went to the resort for a week where
we had a great time.
We were the only ones that purchased a membership
that night, but the sales staff treated everyone else with courtesy
and respect.
I have been a member for a few years now and I continue
to get great service and great vacations from BETA RESORT. They add
new hotels to their portfolio on a regular basis and disassociate
themselves from ones where the standards have dropped.
I am sorry that some of the posters had bad experiences
but my experiences have been totally positive.
Reply
Be very careful about posts
like these. I suspect it is from somebody who works for BETA RESORT
pretending to be a satisfied customer, which is a common Internet
marketing tactic which takes advantage of the anonymity of postings.
Beware falling for this dishonest tactic!
-----
I received a nice call too exactly as described by
many others.
I'm the kind of person that believes nothing is free
in this world. However, this scam made me hesitate. Thanks to the
information I found here, I'm now 110% sure there is nothing free
in this world.
This scam tries to get people's attention, and then
by extreme 90 min. psychological pressure, they make you sign a contract,
which you will regret for the rest of your life. I don't know why
the government tolerates this.
Thanks so much everybody!!!
-----
We were told to expect a 90-minute. What a blatant
lie! The "presentation" took 5 1/2 hours. The first time
sell pusher started with prices between $50,000 -$90,000. After politely
refusing her pricey "offers", another came in and started
in on us again. Again we refused and said we had to leave as we had
already been there two hours. "No problem," he says and
leaves.
-----
Then a new hard-hitter plunked himself down and started
in on us. "Wow, how can you turn this down? Can't you make up
your mind? In my experience, your nationality can't see a good deal
when it's right in front of their faces. So, what's your problem?
Money? How much can you afford to put on your credit card today as
a down payment?" Big Fake smile on his face.
-----
We received a similar call from BETA RESORT last night
- was told we were selected as one of the 29 couples to attend a 90
minute long free dinner buffet here in the city and that each couple
would get to try a key in the ignition of a car - one of the couples
present would have the key that worked and win a 2 year lease for
a jag or $15k. I was told that everyone walks away with 2 free dinners
at a local restaurant and free nights' accommodation on the beach.
Despite asking many questions, I was assured that
nothing was for sale, only that I might be given some travel brochures
that could then be read at home if I wished.
I guess I should have been suspicious when the caller
asked for my husband using his first name and my last name and indicated
that he had filled out a ballot like that. Very strange. We don't
know where they got our name and number.
At any rate, I didn't hang up on the individuals,
fully intending to research it on the Internet - thank
you all for your very informative posts. I have also visited the BETA
RESORT club web site - we were definitely mislead and will not be
attending the "dinner buffet".
-----
However, the real timeshare scams don't deliver what
they promise. For example, one timeshare scam in this country involved
people being told they had either won a sports boat with a power boat,
a sports car or $2000. To claim what they'd won, all they had to do
was attend a presentation.
When they arrived at the presentation, everyone had
won the power boat. All they had to do was pay $59.99 for delivery.
The 'prize' they received was a toy dinghy with a
small motor, not a real boat. The $59.99 easily paid for the 'prize'
and the delivery!
Other scams include having to pay an 'administration
fee' for a vacation, or having the company 'go out of business' after
they take your deposit.
Another ploy is that attendees are told they can sell
the timeshare they already own -- at a very attractive price. However,
the sale does not occur... so they are now stuck with two timeshares!
Try to buy a car or a house you will not find such
reviews
Better business bureau of major city in north America
1. Internet Fraud
2. Identity Theft
3. Fraudulent Telemarketing
4. Check / Overpayment Schemes
5. Home Repair Scams
6. Moving Practices
7. Bogus Health & Wellness Claims
8. Bogus Charities
9. Deceptive Vacation Schemes/timeshare
10. Lottery & Sweepstakes Fraud
---------
Our experience: BETA RESORT will bluff, play concerned,
remind you that it was YOUR choice to sign, etc. etc. But many people
do get out of the contract if they have the will to keep fighting
them. We did.
Write to them and tell them you want to cancel the
contract. If your potential liability is $19,000 or $48,000, then
it is worth the cost of a lawyer to fight them.
Fight them, they are NOT your friends, and they are
skirting the edge of the law so they can't use much more than bluff.
Eventually their name will end up in the news and
they'll have to slink away and try another method. Fight them, good
luck!
----------------
I got a call from a salesman today offering a 7 nights,
cruise, Bahamas, Bermuda, & Disney vacation for $148. (Obviously
too good to be true) When I asked about a Better Business Bureau recommendation,
I was put on hold, and then the line went dead.
I went to the web site he mentioned, and noticed that the pictures
of the resorts looked like they were taken with a disposable camcorder,
from a boat, out in the bay. It also mentioned that the Bahamas resort
only had 67 rooms. Does that sound like any resort you've ever heard
of? The web site has "scam" written all over it.
----------
"Here’s $29,0000 my horror story."
It is told that by calling their office I would be
able to book my vacation or rent my points. But calling this number
results no action and no results and they denied that this service
was ever offered.
They told us that the maintenance of the timeshare
increases with inflation ~3% but in reality it has gone up 40% in
the last two years ($690 . to $970) When it comes to the Maintenance
fee, BETA RESORT says they have no control of it, they say we are
only collection agents for BETA RESORT . They point fingers at each
other to confuse the issue and to conceal their fraudulent practices.
When I asked questions of their product, they flipped
through their brochures and said these are old and we will be getting
the new material with updated information, which never arrives. I
repeatedly requested for the update on the new points book for flights
etc. and I never got one.
They selectively read sections of the contract, but
do not read portions that would inform us of our five-day grace period
for rescission but indicate that they have read the membership Understanding
and Acknowledgment section in it’s entirety and asked us to initial
that section and gave us no opportunity to study the contract.
After signing the agreement they give us some books
and literature on BETA RESORT.
There are certain common traits and techniques all
timeshare salespeople employ, all with the purpose of “closing the
deal - today”. Tomorrow does not exist.
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