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Bluegreen Vacation Club ,Bluegreen was deceptive, plain out lied, not helpful in trying to schedule vacation. Myrtle Beach South Carolina
I bought a time share because I had had one before and had no problems. I have been going to Mrytle Beach since I was a child (now 70) and it is one of my favorite places to vacation.
I liked the condo I was shown: 2 bedroom, 2 bath, ocean front and all the extras Shore Crest offered. I knew the questions to ask from my previous experience. I asked several times if the condo I was buying was just like to one that I saw and if that was what I would be reserving. I was assured over and over that it was. My sister was with me to verify what was said. However, when I called to book my vacation, several months in advance, I was told nothing was available. I was not told in the sales meeting that my booking would depend on availability. I was assured that a condo would be available just like the one I saw. I e-mailed the company complaining and asking for an explanation. Their rep. called me and said that there was nothing they could do - nothing was available at Shore Crest. I had promised my daughter and her family that we would be going to Myrtle so I asked what else was available.
The Seaglass had two 1 bedroom condos available for five nights so I reluctantly booked them by using extra points. The staff at the Seaglass was very nice and the condos were very clean. But, we were supposed to have oceanfront - we got ocean view, a balcony - we got a balconette (it was really small), they had no pool - we had to go next door and use their pool, they had a tiny indoor, heated pool, no exercise room and the condo was extremely small. No game room and on and on. I was so angry that I was almost in tears and that takes a lot. Here I was paying almost $800 in maintenance fees for something that I couldn't use and on top of that the condo at Shore Crest was paid for. We were supposed to be in N. Myrtle instead we were right in the middle of Myrtle.
The traffic noise was horrible - loud mufflers, motorcycles constantly. I again complained to their rep. at SeaGlass and the next morning a company rep. called me. He started all this about availability, using the word constantly and said that I had other options: 1) Sell or 2) vacation in another state. Option 1 isn't viable with the economy like it is, option 2 isn't viable since my daughter and her husband can't be away from their jobs more than a week. So I told the rep. that the only option I had was to turn the whole matter over to my attorney. Again with the availability. I told him that I heard what he was saying but I had to do what I had to do.
So people, stay as far away as you can from Bluegreen. They are not trustworthy and do not deserve the people's patronage.
Tricia
Advance, North Carolina
U.S.A.
11 Updates & Rebuttals
Mike1
Pigeon Forge,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
Contract
#12Consumer Comment
Wed, April 08, 2009
I used to work in the Bluegreen contract office until I was recently laid off. The presentation, the sales rep, and the manager give the appearance that there is no problem getting a reservation. Yes, it does say in the contract that reservations are not guaranteed until confirmed; however, people are quickly herded the contracts office. Although there are some sales reps that don't lie to people, many of the reps and managers lie. The managers will tell people that they will hold their down payment check for a certain number of days, but the manager won't give this info to the person doing the closing paperwork, and the check gets deposited, and the buyer gets NSF fees from their bank. There were many times when the sales manager and director came to the contracts office and had the accountant run the down payment checks early to make the sales numbers for that day higher. This made it very hard on the contract office because we were the ones that had to explain why their check was run early. Stay away from this company. They lie to their employees and their owners!!!!
Sheryl
South Bend,Indiana,
U.S.A.
I was off on the time...
#12Consumer Suggestion
Thu, March 26, 2009
I posted without having the details quite right. I was correct that you can claim your unit and week no matter how many people with more points (who can reserve earlier than average) want it, but I was off a bit on the time frame. Whatever your ownership, you can reserve the week you own *twelve* months out; at eleven months it goes into the common pot if you haven't reserved it and then you have the points instead (which you can still use to reserve that week on a first come, first served basis).
And, again, the Yahoo Bluegreen group is a great resource.
Sheryl
South Bend,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Useful information I hope
#12Consumer Suggestion
Sat, October 25, 2008
The original poster said: "I also have a deed to Unit 103, 42F which states: 'The aforesaid Vacation Week is designated an ANNUAL Vacation Week. An Annual Vacation Week allows occupancy and use of a Unit each and every year'."
My understanding is that you have full rights to claim *this week* at *this resort* as soon as your membership allows you to reserve - which is to say, if you're Gold or Silver or someone with a gazillion points, you can reserve it thirteen or twelve months out; otherwise, you can reserve it eleven months out. Even if people who can reserve earlier want it, they can't have it if you ask for it eleven months out.
HOWEVER, if you do not reserve it eleven months out, then it will be available to anyone who has enough points for it who asks for it before you do. You have full rights to it for a limited time; if you don't claim it during that time, then it will shift over to a "first come, first served" kind of thing. If that week if your only Bluegreen ownership, then it will equal all your points for that year.
Depending on your date of purchase and how it matches up to your owned week, you may need to pay your dues ahead of time one year (and then keep paying them ahead), in order to reserve it at eleven months; that's how it works with regular points sometimes and I assume it's true of your particular week but I'm not sure.
There's a BlueGreen subforum at "Timeshare Forums" and a Bluegreen yahoo group with people more informed than I am and I recommend you check there on the details, but I do know that you can have exclusive rights to "your" week at "your" resort - for a limited time. After that it's assumed you want to use your points elsewhere and that unit is put into the common pot, if you will.
Tim
Grand Haven,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Agreed. Get out of this contract ASAP.
#12Consumer Suggestion
Sat, July 12, 2008
From what I have read from your co-owners, it sounds like you paid an awful lot of money for basically nothing.
I would analogize this to the paradigm employed by airlines: flights are routinely over-booked on the knowledge that a certain portion of passengers will not show up. But even when those passengers don't show, they are still charged for the flight, as are the passengers that took their slots.
According to my understanding, you paid for the luxury of having a particular style condo not necessarily on demand, but at least on ample notice.
They have failed to produce this for you and placed you in inferior accomodations.
I would suggest first informally requesting a release from your contract and a refund of a siginificant portion of the money you paid in.
If this doesn't work, get a lawyer.
Best of luck!
Chris
DESPLAINES,Illinois,
U.S.A.
get out as soon as possible
#12Consumer Suggestion
Fri, July 11, 2008
There has to be a adovate group to help. The housing market slump and people are getting out of housing contracts which this is how bluegreen markets. The longer you pay and go on the price you pay will only go up and will make you unhappy.
Also I found out the the company stock price dropped (BXG) found this out thru Forbes (which they market by saying they are one of the top 500). Also a guy named Levad owes 31% interest in Bluegreen and wants to sell BG stocks as common stock to help one of his other interest this will drop the value further. BG had to halt building their Las Vegas site because of a possible hostile take over, the New Orleans site may be built but I am sure that they will run into further trouble because of the flooding potenial, restrictions in building in flood ways,and extra insurance needed for flood areas. What would happen if BG is sold or the deeded unit you own is damaged? On you tube there is a video of a guy at a blue green resort for a presentation that woke up at 3am to the building next to him on fire.
The next morning he stated BG still made him attend the presentation after he watched people jumping off balconies. They are still making money not like last year but making money. New member sign on is low (people do not want to spend any money), most of the revenue is from current members upgrading. They just want your money they do not care about anything else. Look up on the net for blue green rentals. They rent to public some other poor persons points they cant use. I am sure that person is getting next to nothing for that rental, but again they (BG) made money.
You really don't have to much time to read any contract full in their presence when you are signing. To read thru all of the pages completely you need to be a lawyer handling contracts on a daily basis. I know how you feel about not understanding or reading every detail. Especially where there is someone constantly talking to you as you try to read. There is no easy was out it would be hard but worse the longer you wait. And the SMITHKID that responded to you about reading the contract. He either works for BG and does not admit it or has some other financial steak in people who own a deed with BG. I found he rebuttled to most of the complaints on bluegreen and want people to join some group on yahoo. His name keeps popping up everyhwere we looked. Hidden agenda.
Tricia
Advance,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
bluegreen resorts, Myrtle Beach, SC
#12Author of original report
Wed, July 09, 2008
I did read the paperwork; although I must admit it was shuffled through very fast. I also have a deed to Unit 103, 42F which states: "The aforesaid Vacation Week is designated an ANNUAL Vacation Week. An Annual Vacation Week allows occupancy and use of a Unit each and every year". It says nothing about due to availability.
Tricia
Advance,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
bluegreen resorts, Myrtle Beach, SC
#12Author of original report
Wed, July 09, 2008
I did read the paperwork; although I must admit it was shuffled through very fast. I also have a deed to Unit 103, 42F which states: "The aforesaid Vacation Week is designated an ANNUAL Vacation Week. An Annual Vacation Week allows occupancy and use of a Unit each and every year". It says nothing about due to availability.
Tricia
Advance,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Reply to rebuttal
#12Author of original report
Wed, July 09, 2008
I did read the paperwork and when I question what it said I was still told that a condo just like the one that I had seen would be available for me. I don't know how much more I could have done.
Tricia
Advance,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Reply to rebuttal
#12Author of original report
Wed, July 09, 2008
I did read the paperwork and when I question what it said I was still told that a condo just like the one that I had seen would be available for me. I don't know how much more I could have done.
Smithiekid1623
Bacup,Europe,
United Kingdom
did your read the paperwork first
#12Consumer Comment
Tue, July 08, 2008
First of all did you read the paperwork it clearly states that you are buying points and not weeks and I am sorry to have to say you will have put your initals to all the little boxes that says you understand what you are buying.
How many points did you buy and are those points deeded at Shorecrest.
If your points are deeded at shorecrest the you can book that unit at that week at 12 months.
If your points are deeded elsewhere then you have no claim on a unit at shorecrest but must make a reservation. This you can do 11 months out and depending on the number of points you bought you may be able to go on the wait list I month,2 months,3months before the 11month date if you do this then you should be able to get your week at shorecrest if you leave it anlonger then I am afraid your chances are slimer with every day you leave it.
It is just a matter of knowing how to use the system to your advantage
Please join the Bluegreen group on Yahoo who will be able to advise you how to get the best out of your points.
It is in fact a very good system you just have to know how to use it
David
Kirbyville,Missouri,
U.S.A.
Did you pay attention?
#12Consumer Comment
Sun, July 06, 2008
First, you are deeded a condo which equates into points(if you buy more points they deed more condos). It does not matter where you are deeded, it is the points that matter. Booking a vacation several months in advance doesn't guarantee anything. What I would do, if you were told nothing was available, you should have tried for a hot week or going through RCI which is part of bluegreen ownership. YOU were told booking depends on availability as it clearly states on my page that they read to me and I had to verbally say yes and also intial that "Use of all accommodations is based on space availability and reservations are not guaranteed until confirmed." It is the first one on the page. Turn it over to your attorney. He will ask to see your contract. I guaratee you signed that page about availability. He will do nothing for you but lighten your wallet. Yahoo has a good Bluegreen owner group. The fact that they called you and tried to help you gives me assurance about me being an owner. I've been on 5 vacations with bluegreen. Motel rooms are small now. I like the condos esp when children need to be fed breakfast and not having to load everyone in the car and spend $50 at Dennys. Oh by the way, the units at Seaglass range from 368-505 square feet(not what I consider small)