Silver Leaf Resorts Added stress during the aftermath of my father's death Silverleaf timeshare Dallas Texas
My father and mother purchased a Silverleaf timeshare. Since the original purchase they have put in over 12,000, and the annual maintenance fee is paid up through the next two years. My father recently passed away. My mother is unable to care for herself, and will be in an assisted living facility. She will be on a fixed income, and will be unable to use the timeshare. I called Silverleaf last week and let them know about the situation.
At first they tried to transfer the property over to me, saying there were a lot of great benefits, etc. I refused, saying I already had a timeshare membership with the military and didn't need another one. Then a supervisor came on the line. She told me they would send the paperwork required to return the property. What came instead was an "affidavit of heirship", asking all kinds of personal information, such as investments, bank accounts, real estate property, mine and my siblings names and birthdates, etc.
Nothing was mentioned about the return of the property. I called back today, March 7, 2007, thinking there was some mistake- somehow I was misunderstood. I was told the paperwork was required by the court in order to return the deed. In fact it even had to be signed by a third person, not my mother, me or any of my siblings. This doesn't make any sense to me. The representative couldn't explain it either, but said I had to speak to (name withheld), who was out sick.
I then checked the Silverleaf resort on the web and found numerous complaints about their practices (some of the sites are posted below).
(Name withheld) did call me back the next day. I told her I just didn't see why we needed to provide so much personal information. She started screaming at me to ?CALL AN ATTORNEY!?.
I was shocked. I expected some bureaucratic red tape, but never a professional screaming at me on the phone. I told her I was just trying to get my parents' stuff straightened out, with my father's death and everything, and she laughed. I asked her if she thought my father's death was funny, and I assured her I did not think it was funny. She said she didn't like it that I was accusing her of something illegal. (I never once mentioned illegal- just that I didn't want to give out so much personal information) I asked her where she got her info from, what court said this information was required, etc. She again screamed ?CALL AN ATTORNEY!?
I said ?So you're not going to tell me where you got your information form??
Guess what her answer was. ?CALL AN ATTORNEY!?
?I said ?Okay.? After a pause she hung up on me.
Here are some websites of some of the other people who have had problems with this organization.
http://www.dallasobserver.com/2001-01-25/news/unfair-share/full refers to a TX newspaper article about Silverleaf
http://bankrupt.com/CAR_Public/021219.mbx refers to Silverleaf law suits
http://www.pintmaster.com/20051129/awards-verification-center/ refers to others'experiences with Silverleaf
http://www.davesplanet.net/silverleaf/index.htm refers to others with bad Silverleaf experiences.
Sarah
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
AlanM68
Hayward ,California,
Silver Leaf Resorts Scams
#4Consumer Comment
Mon, December 30, 2013
Most timeshare companies are taking advantage of people, often those who are more vulnerable and less able to resist hard sales tactics. I have heard of many cases where maintenance costs rise well above inflation. It would appear the timeshare companies lock people into contracts and then drive up their profits though increased maintenance charges. It would be good to see legislation whereby timeshare companies can only charge "reasonable" maintenance costs and not use this annual fee to fleece people's bank accounts
Curt
Lawrenceville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Silverleaf Customer Comments
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, June 08, 2007
I am sorry to hear about your father. My father passed away several years ago and I have been through the nightmare of all the paper work and account problems. I am not writing to comment on your treatment by the representative - I have never had any kind of problem with Silverleaf (Been a time share owner for over seven years now) but I did have a similar problem with another company
My advice would be to check the law in the state where the unit was leased / purchased. I had to fill out a similar form for a problem in Colorado where the law required a lot of information that I did not think was necessary, but it was a state requirement. That way you will have documentation for Silverleaf if the problem continues. You can find out most of this information on the internet if you have the time and patience, or, do as I did, check with a lawyer in that state.
It seems like returning a property would be a simple matter, but there are so many laws out there that both you and the timeshare company have to follow. And, some are drastically different from state to state.
I hope that all works out more smoothly for you in the future.
Sarah
Fort Leavenworth,Kansas,
U.S.A.
Silverleaf timeshare headache
#4Author of original report
Mon, March 12, 2007
According to a lawyer an affidavit of heirship is not required for timeshares. A much simpler small estate affidavit (with much less personal information) will suffice.
I called Silverleaf. The first lady I spoke with (name withheld)said she shouldn't even be talking to me because my name isn't on the account. I explained to her that I have been the only person calling on my mother's behalf this entire time, and no one has told me that they couldn't speak to me, even giving up such details as what is still owed, versus what has been paid,the account number, etc.
I also told her that I was even told an affidavit of heirship had to be filled out in order to return the timeshare, and when I didn't think that sounded right I was told to call an attorney. I went ahead and did just that, and was told I could file a small estate affidavit.
She said that since it was noted I had spoken to (name withheld) that I should speak to her, and forwarded me to her. I told her that since she told me to call an attorney I did, and was told I could send a small estate affidavit instead. She said she had never of such a thing. I asked her if I could fax it over. She assented, saying she would show it to her boss (name withheld).
I told her that the next time someone questions giving so much personal information, she can just simply tell them to send a small estate affidavit instead. Again she said that she never heard of such a thing.