Westgate Lakes - Westgate Resorts Westgate lies - don't fall for it Orlando Florida
Ok, I have to say that after 3 stays at Westgate Lakes I have yet to stay there when at least 3 lies weren't told. One example, last year we went on the timeshare tour and they said a waterpark would built by the end of the year and ready when we returned in 2008. This year - no sign of a waterpark and they claim it will be ready next year. They told my cousins that if they were owners they could check in any time. We arrived at 11am and were not able to check in until 4:15. They told us they wanted to meet with us to take a survey about our stay and make sure everything was ok. When I came down for the meeting they tried to take me on another time share tour. I told them I had already been and they left me there without a survey or anything. I could go on and on but they just lie and lie and lie constantly. If you go on the tour don't give them a penny. They try to get you to pay like $600 a month for 1 week a year. Maintenance fees are like $800 for the year alone. Why would you pay that when you can book online to stay there a week for less than $700??? They try to get you to pay $1295 to stay there one week. Give me a break! Don't fall for all their circle talk. It's a bunch of lies and they won't put any of the promises in writing.
When it is time to sign on the bottom line, they make verbal promises and say they will be honored, but don't let you write them in the contract. Fortunately I am an attorney and know better. They tried to tell me "We have to honor what we tell you. It doesn't have to be in writing. Just because you are an attorney you think that everything has to be in writing." It's sad that people actually fall for that. And I have yet to meet someone who could exchange as easily as they say. I met at least 5 people down there who said they tried to exchange at other locations but were told "We're all booked" even though expedia and other sites say the resorts have availability. If you bought here within the past week, read the cancellation clause - I believe you have 10 days to cancel in writing. You will regret it if you don't cancel! You can buy these things dirt cheap online. A guy down there offered to sell me his week for $3000, even though westage tried for $16,000 telling me that was a "special deal" and worked there way down to $8000 which they claimed was a "steal". Spare me!
Jade
Flint, Michigan
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Westgate Guest Relations
Ocoee,Florida,
Response from Westgate Resorts
#2UPDATE Employee
Tue, December 24, 2013
Thank you for staying with us 3 different times. There is certainly no intent to deceive you or any one of our valued guests. Our salespeople are very enthusiastic about our properties, and they sometimes will mention forward leaning items, like the waterpark that was planned but got held up before execution. We encourage our guests to make well-informed decisions based on what they experience. Additionally, as our resort has become more popular and has more guests, our liberal check in policy has had to become somewhat more regimented to coordinate more closely with room preparation. Guests can still request an early check in, but we can not make a guarantee-it is based on business necessities for that day.
It is rather simplistic to just quote numbers, as there are many variables that come into play. What size unit? We offer from a studio that sleeps 4 with a kitchenette all the way to a 4 bedroom that sleeps 16 with a fully equipped kitchen and the square footage of some houses. What dates is someone looking to travel? More popular dates will always be more valuable and will rent for much more. Our owners get to book a week at a time, and renters are not always able to rent consecutive days. Owners’ timeshare are deeded units that can be willed to love ones or sold to others. Some of our owners even break apart their lockoff units and will rent a portion just to get extra income! And this will still allow them to use the unused portion of their unit!
Regarding the contracts, they are quite comprehensive and cover most situations. However, if there is a special allowance, an owner-to-be can request it be put in the contract. Having an “all booked” situation is really an indication of the popularity of a resort. Again, any unit that is not already booked by our owners will remain available for rent longer, since it is not prepaid, and thus will most likely rent for more. Owners, in most cases, have up to 11 months to book their vacations and it is usually those who wait the longest who will have the most difficulty in getting availability.
Our many satisfied owners are a testament to the hard work our employees do every day in providing an excellent vacation experience. We regret that you did not have the same experience.