Bluegreen Vacations’s earns a 2.4-star rating from 322 reviews, showing that the majority of travelers are somewhat dissatisfied with vacation experiences.
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misrepresentation/fraud
We purchased in 2006 and have not beeen able to use once. Paid fees payapyapay and we never can get anything. We were told We could sell back. HA HA We were told one lie after another. When we call to get any satisfaction they lie.
found one reason why time is never available
I attempted to make a bonus time reservation to any of the properties in Myrtle Beach and was told that nothing was available. I usually check back daily to see if there are any cancellations. Today when I attempted to go the blue green online member site to check I accidentally stumbled across this site on google - www.bluegreenrentals.com
Being curious, I called the 800 # and said I was interested in making a reservation for Myrtle Beach and low and behold they had rooms available - not 1, but quite a few. Bluegreen is marketing these like hotels and charging $150-$225 /night. I then told the CSR that I was a member and could I book 2 nights and of course she said that had to be done thru a different dept. When I told her that the member department told me no rooms were available, she said no, there are some. I asked why Bluegreen was marketing these rooms to the public and not letting members have first priority. Her reply was that within 7 days and rooms are released to the rental site, but if you look on their web site (www.bluegreenrentals.com) you can book months in advance.
Bluegreen is screwing its members by using our properties and renting to the non-member public instead of giving its members.
Has anyone considered a class action suit?
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I think Barbara and Phil Smith are Bluegreen Salespeople. Just another lie. There are so many lies given to us by Bluegreen.
The resorts are great, if you can get into the one you want, which seems to be getting harder every year. I have to request 3rd and 4th choices! The maintenance fees keep going up, I can go on vacation on them alone! I think it is time that Bluegreen owners get together and do something about this! Go to one of their meetings and voice our opinion. I think the biggest lie for me is that I could sell back my points when I was ready to retire. Well, it's about that time and it's a ball around my ankle that I can no longer afford!
I have my time share with bluegreen at Shenandoah crossings under old owners and they went under. Bluegreen purchased the Crossimgs and now after 10 years they want the old owners to pay the money spent to buy the Crossings. I have to pay a maintenance fee and an assessment each year, this doubles the amunt I normally pay. Can anyone tell how I can stop them from charging me this extra money, It is not my fault they purchased a bankrupt company.
This week they offered me a deal to change my week to points, thay would give me 12, 000 points and a maintenance fee of about $700.00 a year. Plus I will have to pay them another $9, 400.00. The first time cost me back in 1996 principle and interest of $12800.00.
I need some one to give me advice on whatI should do to get out of the contract.
I feel like anyone you talk to at Bluegreen tells you nothing but lies to make there commission.
Larry
Larryc_harter@yahoo.com
Members of RCI filed a class action suit for this same reason (selling space to outside renters and not holding space for those who own timeshares) and THEY WON the suit! RCI was required to refund some monies to each member who participated and they had to revise their practices. So it is possible to file a class action suit and get some result.
Barbara,
I see from reading your many posts that Philip Smith seems to have got to you
Maybe you are the one that does not understand the way timeshare works
I bet you wished you supplied all those toilet rolls, soon pay you fees
My husband and I have been trying since Day ONe to rent and nothing is ever available to us in the Florida coastal areas. We are so dissapointed. Have had our timeshare (and paid it and dues) for two years now and have not enjoyed one day yet. What a total rip-off! We have already paid in over $5, 000 and have nothing to show for it!
Becky Gorman, Indianapolis
Has anyone noticed that good old Phillip, with his wealth of knowledge about bluegreen is always there to give his pathetic advice. He is can't be a bluegreen owner, he's got to be a bluegreen mole working for them, to try and put everyone down who has a complaint. I bet he even knows how many toilet rolls they use each week. SAD SAD SAD.
The omly reason that you are deede to ANY property is so when you finally refuse to be held hostage to their slimy tactics by refusing to pay they can place a foreclosure on your credit report!
SLICK HUH? Well not anymore- read the following:
HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced lawsuits today against four Florida-based companies accused of illegally marketing vacation packages, using "free" airline ticket offers and other worthless prizes to lure consumers into aggressive and deceptive timeshare presentations.
Corbett said consumer protection lawsuits were filed against Bluegreen Corporation, Bluegreen Resorts, Bluegreen Vacations Unlimited, Inc. and Great Vacations Destinations, Inc., all of Boca Raton, Florida. Bluegreen contacted consumers by phone and through kiosks at shopping malls, fairs, and festivals throughout Pennsylvania, and also operates full-time sales facilities in Hershey and King of Prussia.
"Virtually any consumer with a checkbook and a pulse allegedly qualified as a 'winner' in these promotions, " Corbett said. "Unsuspecting consumers who believed they were contest winners were actually drawn into a high pressure bait-and-switch campaign designed to push timeshare vacation packages costing thousands of dollars."
Corbett said more than 5, 700 Pennsylvania residents purchased Bluegreen timeshares, with many paying $20, 000 to $40, 000 or more for packages that violated Pennsylvania's Consumer Protection Law, the Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act, the Telemarketer Registration Act and other consumer regulations.
Phony Prizes
Corbett said that Bluegreen representatives allegedly called consumers who believed they were entering contests and other promotions promising cars, cash and vacations.
According to the lawsuit, consumers were told that they had not won the "grand prize, " but had been selected to receive other items, like free airline tickets. Consumers were also promised free gasoline and meals when they collected their prize, if they attended a 90 minute timeshare presentation.
Corbett said the lawsuit alleges that consumers who were contacted by Bluegreen were not actually randomly selected prize winners. Instead, virtually everyone who entered the contests was contacted and falsely told that they were a prize winner.
In one case, Corbett said a consumer informed a Bluegreen representative that the person they were trying to reach did not live at that address. The consumer was told that it wasn't a problem - they would give her a prize too.
High Pressure Sales and False Advertising
Corbett said that in order to collect their "prizes, " consumers were required to schedule an appointment with a Bluegreen sales representative. In some cases, consumers who believed they would be attending a 90 minute timeshare presentation were actually subjected to relentless marketing pitches that lasted five hours or more.
According to the lawsuit, numerous deceptive statements were made to consumers during these presentations in an effort to get them to sign contracts immediately, including phony claims that prices would increase the next day, misrepresentations about when and where consumers could travel if they made a purchase and false statements about certain fees being waived.
Corbett said that some consumers bought vacation programs because they were told they were entitled to a one-week stay in Hawaii, only to learn afterward that the program they purchased could not be used in Hawaii.
According to the lawsuit, consumers who sat through the timeshare presentations received "prizes" that were nothing like what they had been promised. The "four free airline tickets" were actually booklets that offered two airline tickets with each hotel room reserved, at high prices, in a limited number of cities. In some situations, consumers were required to commit to a 10 night stay at overpriced hotel rates before being able to select a local airport for their flight.
Corbett said "free" gasoline and meals that consumers were promised turned out to be coupons or certificates with lengthy terms and conditions. For instance, consumers who were promised $40 in free gas were required to submit written requests to obtain a series of gas coupons. The coupons required consumers to pay for their gas first and then mail a receipt for reimbursement, with each coupon limited to a $5 purchase, with no more than one purchase per month.
Illegal Contracts
Corbett's said contracts used by Bluegreen failed to properly inform consumers of their right to cancel their purchase. Pennsylvania law requires that consumers have five days to cancel any timeshare or campground purchase. Bluegreen is also accused of violating a state law that requires all consumer contracts to be written in easy-to-understand terms.
Do Not Call Violations
According to the lawsuit, Bluegreen made numerous calls to consumers who were on Pennsylvania's Do Not Call list, allegedly basing those calls on referrals from other customers. Additionally, the companies are accused of making repeated calls to consumers who clearly told them not to call again.
"Bluegreen took advantage of hardworking Pennsylvania residents eager to find an affordable getaway, " Corbett said. "Using deceptive contests, relentless sales presentations and misleading contracts, consumers were pressured into paying thousands of dollars for vacation packages that don't meet their needs or their budgets."
Corbett said the lawsuits seek restitution for consumers who suffered financial losses because of these deceptive or illegal practices.
Additionally, Corbett says the lawsuit asks the court to void all illegal consumer contracts and give consumers the right to cancel any agreement that did not include the state-required notice of cancellation.
The lawsuit also seeks up to $1, 000 in civil penalties for each violation of the Consumer Protection Law, or up to $3, 000 for each violation involving a senior citizen.
The lawsuits were filed in Commonwealth Court, in Harrisburg, by Senior Deputy Attorney General David Sumner of the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Corbett says the investigation began after consumers contacted his office to report these practices. He encouraged other consumers who have problems with Bluegreen to file a complaint by calling the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at [protected] or submit an online consumer complaint.
www.attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=3999 LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD-NOW!
My husband and I have owned Bluegreen for approximately 15 years. We have had MANY wonderful vacations with Blue Green.
We are now on points and the key is to make your reservations EARLY. Occasionally we can't get what we want but that also happens in hotels and motels.
We have NEVER had a bad experience with Mt. Loft and their sales presentation. We did have a bad experience with The Fountains sales staff and that was a first in 15 years.
We are very thankful we bought our time share and thank Blue Green for many wonderful vacations.
this comment is true! It is very difficult to make a reservation and choose your own availablitly. I often wondered what was really going on with the booking system.
The reason they go to BGrental is that they are unsold inventory and there they do not belong to the BGvacation club.
Once those weeks are sold as points they then become available to the vacation club.
It is the same in all timeshare systems.
very skeptical
I was suppose to attend the 2 hour seminar tonight, but was told to reschedule because my husband was not with me. OK, that's fine so I came home to look up information about this company and saw most reviews are very negative and there are a lot of pissed off people. Now I am having second thoughts about even attending the "meeting". If I go, I am supposed to get a free 4-night cruise on Royal Caribbean. Of course, we need to pay for flight to Florida, pay the port-fee and drinks on the ship. After reading so many bad reviews I am wondering if I should forget the whole thing. Anyone do the free cruise deal?
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Bluegreen is singly the most unethical, immoral and desestible company in business today. Their sales sluts will use high pressure and out right lies to sucker people in. Then...after you've signed your name to their contract you discover on page 4 of the public offering Bluegreen is not liable for any promises made by their sales agents. Unbelievable. These parasites are without questions the lowest form of trash.
You will not get any of what your told, or shown your going to get...none of it.
They will steal your money and if you refuse to pay they will ruin your credit and threat YOU with legal action...that is incredible. What a band of puss trolls.
YOU GOT ###ED! I WORK FOR THEM AND YOU PROBABLY JUST MADE ME A FAT COMMISSION IN THE MALL SOMEWHERE! SUCKERS
Ive been dealing with blue green for 5 years. Every offer they have ever made has been kept. They are a little pushy in their presentations, but they cant make you buy anything you dont want. Go enjoy the free cruise and if you dont want to purchase a time share just let them know you're not interested. Ive taken 4 free vacations on blue green.
they will kill your credit
My husband and I bought a Bluegreen timeshare in Gatlinburg in 2006. We had no idea we were staying at a timeshare but they offered us our stay free to come and listen to the presentation. We went and finally they conned us with no maintenance fees till 2008, our stay would be refunded, and a free cruise. We finally agreed and paid $900+ and went to closing where we were asked were we promised anything for buying this timeshare, when we answered yes, the closing agent turned off the tape recorder and said no you can’t say that it is illegal to promise someone anything in order for them to sign a mortgage. She told us all the promises would be fulfilled by their corporate office, unfortunately we weren’t smart enough to get up and leave then. We started the ACH debits monthly and everything was fine until our account was hacked and had to be closed. We opened a new bank account and had the bank fax Bluegreen the new acct # for the debit. They called approximately a month later and said it wouldn’t work, we went back to the bank had them refax it, it still wouldn’t work, now mind you, nobody else had a problem with ACH's working. We then talked with Ron in collections and faxed him a voided check so he could try again, still wouldn’t work. I then sent a check for 10 months of payments to keep it current, but they wouldn’t take the check because they couldn’t apply a direct payment to an account set up for ACH. I finally got tired of sending letters and calling and told Ron if I had to I would get an atty to straighten this out, when I said that he said if you are hiring an atty I can discuss this any further with you and hung up. Since then they have foreclosed, sent me a 1099, reported me as past due 1 year after the foreclosure and showed the loan paid in full all on the same account, they have killed my credit score, I have no other blemishes but this one, they won't return phone calls to me, my attorney or to the credit bureau, if anyone knows how to get out of this stranglehold, please let me know! They are awful, and from what I have read more than a few think so.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
You think, incorrectly. I'm simply tired of people who have not taken the time to learn how to use, what they chose to purchase, represent their Bluegreen. People who come to this site need not believe all the negative comments they read. Both sides should be fairly represented. I belong to groups with thousands of happy Bluegreen owners, on Facebook.
Why is all your comments dealing with BlueGreen Scalettt1. I think you are a spy and you work for Blue Green.
First, I have to wonder how many points this " premier owner ' has... I've been a Bluegreen owner since 2006 and have never had any problem booking what I want, when I want. I created a group of happy Bluegreen owners because I was tired of all the erroneous negative information I saw posted. I have now met hundreds of happy Bluegreen owners. If you take the time to learn how to use the membership you chose to buy...you will love it !
I could write for days on the dishonest and unethical practices of Bluegreen but will limit my comments to the following: Bluegreen makes verbal and written misrepresentations at the time of sale - that is simply a fact beyond any question or doubt. Not only are they fully aware of the lies told during the sale process, the lies are premeditated. This is evidenced in Bluegreen's own documents and statements. Bluegreen purposely developed their sales process and drafted their documentation to create the ability to misrepresent and outright lie about the terms of their timeshares without any legal consequence. They literally hand out thousands of pages of documents during the sales process, including trust agreements, offering memorandums, prospectuses and other documents filled with legalese. Within these documents they disclaim any statements made during the sales process. With that protection in place, Bluegreen then sells timeshares based on lies and when called out on the lies, defends itself by pointing to a disclaimer purposely obscured by overwhelming documentation. They want the ability to sell you a lie and still force you to pay for the lie once you discover the lie. Bluegreen doesn't just rely on verbal misrepresentations and lies to sell timeshares, however. The written documents provided during the sales and closing process also contain false and misleading statements about the terms of the timeshare. We spent considerably more money to purchase a timeshare at the Silver level in order to obtain the rights and benefits of Silver level ownership, including the right to use our points to pay maintenance fees. However, when we tried to use our points to pay maintenance fees, Bluegreen said they changed the terms and refused to honor the written terms of our membership. Time and time again, Bluegreen failed to deliver the timeshare we purchased. Finally, we called them in breach and refused to pay anything further. Despite its deception and complete and udder failure to perform its contractual obligations, Bluegreen aggressively sought payment under the very contract it refused to honor. So to summarize, Bluegreen uses deceptive practices to sell you a penthouse with lots of upgrades but delivers a trailer on blocks without running water or a toilet (and which has been leased to another party for 360 days of the year). As you are standing in the unairconditioned trailer in 90% humidity and 100 degree heat with 20 occupants all around you, Bluegreen denies that the trailer is not a luxury penthouse and demands payment of the penthouse price. If you refuse to pay the penthouse price, Bluegreen repossesses the trailer and reports it as a foreclosure on a luxury penthouse in an attempt to extort payment from you. Employees of Bluegreen then troll the internet to post positive comments about Bluegreen and disparage legitimate complaints by actual Bluegreen owners.
Looney...that's funny, the name fits.
Bluegreen is singly the most unethical, immoral and desestible company in business today. Their sales sluts will use high pressure and out right lies to sucker people in. Then...after you've signed your name to their contract you discover on page 4 of the public offering Bluegreen is not liable for any promises made by their sales agents. Unbelievable. These parasites are without questions the lowest form of trash.
You will not get any of what your told, or shown your going to get...none of it.
They will steal your money and if you refuse to pay they will ruin your credit and threat YOU with legal action...that is incredible. What a band of puss trolls.
yeah i'd have to say the same thing. Don't you people ever use your brains? If someone tells you they want to show you a sales presentation, or a "walk thru" tour, and you're staying at that resort, do you think their just going to serve punch and cookies and send you on your way? C'mon, how do you think they can afford to put you up in the resort? And whatever problems you and others have...half the time it's because you don't fully understand how to use the program or how it works. Of course there will be complaints here and there, Bluegreen has over 140, 000 owners, when is everybody happy? DUH
if this is a legitimate complaint the credit bureau could fix it. When you file a complaint with a credit bureau they do investigate. If the company does not respond, the bureau will rule in your favor and assume the debt is not valid. This story is a bunch of crap. Sounds like you decided you didnt want to make these payments anymore and just stopped.
they made me blue in the face
My family & I had the unpleasant experience of attending a bluegreen presentation on our last day of vacation at the Dells & it was dreadful. The no pressure tactics/leave when you want promises & free gifts were all a ploy to lure innocent victims into their snack pit! Prior to signing up & giving our $20 deposit, the representative made bluegreen sound great & that there was definitely no obligation to buy. We were naive to think that that would be the case. The moment we walked into the "pit" we knew it wasn't good. All the BS talk from all the pompous arrogant sales people was enough to make us want to vomit. No matter how many times we said no, it wasn't good enough. Since our sales guy was new to the job, he kept calling over his more experienced supervisor to coerce us to buy. They wouldn't let up, not even hearing our whining hungry 2 yr old, was releasing us from their evil clutches. Once the "supervisor" got sick of us & knew we weren't going to sign anything, he then insinuated that we were there for the free gifts. Let me just say that no free item is worth that much to endure something so horrible! To not waste no more of their time, we were given our free gifts but after that overdeal, we returned them because we wanted nothing from those people to remind us of that awful experience.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
So, wait, ... you sign up for free gifts and then complain when they want something from you? Is everything in life free for you? I mean other than welfare.
And what exactly is a "snack pit"? Did they ploy you with nachos, cheese sticks and potato chips?
And how sad of you to use your "hungry 3 year old" as a way to sneak out of a presentation YOU willingly went to and agreed to in order to get your greedy mitts on your ever loving "FREE GIFT". Which I would bet money is in your kitchen cabinet. You did get those tacky ### margarita glasses, didn't you"? That's what they give to the poor families that obviously couldn't afford to know the time, much less own a time share.
This is what you get when you sign up for a timeshare.
ha ha ha ha
I am sorry to hear that you lost the use of your legs when you where in the presentation.
I hope that you have now got the use back in them.
run far far away
Yeah, we signed and now, we regret it.. We see things now that we didn't see when we signed on in 2005.
Bluegreen vacation resorts is a rip off. They have highly trained sales people which will tell you everything but the truth. They talk a "good story" they tell you things you want to hear, but none on those things are truth.
If you notice during their sales pitch, they will not offer you any written literature or brochures about their company. They will only show you a photo album and/or draw on blank paper and list things that you "will get". They won't let you get your hands on those papers. Of course not, because none of the things they offer are for real.
Some of the properties they own are older properties. Most of the rooms in those properties are already sold to owners other than bluegreen owners. Bluegreen only has a select few to offer to their program.
It will be a nightmare... if not impossible to get a reservation at a favourite vacation spot.
They sell the idea of ownership for a lifetime, but believe me, it isn't what happens.
Bluegreen sells POINTS... period.
Nowhere in their papers or agreements does it list how much a point is in relation to the value of a dollar.
Therefore, bluegreen can raise the amount of points per property as they choose.
We all understand inflation when relating to dollars and percentage rates but by using points they have a deceptive way to raise the cost of a vacation stay. Consumers have a harder time figuring it out and relating to a points/value program.
Your points may get you 5 nights now, but next year they may give you only 3.
We learned this by trying to make reservations 2 years in a row at the same resort. By they way, the resort was booked and we still haven't used bluegreen.
We paid for our own vacation, bluegreen was useless for our family for the past 2 years.
Please don't waste your money like we did...
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Dear Robin,
Thank you being a good fellow citizen and saving us trusting and unsuspecting souls from the shakles of bluegreen algae.
Great work! and best of luck suing the shirt of these thugs.
I have been a bluegreen owner for several years. I have taken several nice vacations, however bluegreen does lie and it was one of the biggest mistakes i have ever made when i purchased bluegreen points. our first trip we upgraded by purchasing more points. we were supposed to be silver after t hat even on line we were listed as silver. then that all disapeared and now we are listed as vacation club owners. i have went to several owners meetings and i mention this when they try to get me to upgrade. they say i am mistaken. they act like my points are worth nothing because the are every other year. they tell me all the things that will be made available if i upgrade that are not available unless you upgrade. they told us in the beginning that if we ever wanted to sell that our timeshare would be more valuable, all lies. we pay maintenace fees for them to keep resorts in good shape, yet we are constantly incountering problems when we stay in them. doors that won`t lock, ceiling in bathroom caving in. dirty floors. the maintenace fees are a joke. if anyone knows how to get out of this mess please let me know . these valuable time shares are useless to resell. its a nightmare that bluegreen says i will have to pass on to my children when i die. as far as raising the points they haven`t but when they start a new resort they are always alot higher in points than the old ones.
My husband and I are scheduled to attend the 90 to 120 minute presentation on Tues, May 12. After 120 min I plan on getting up and telling them "thank you, but no thank you" Will receive my (2) 25.00 gift cert to Bass Pro Shops. If I have ANY problems. I will have the number to attorney general's office and will call them RIGHT THERE.
I have only been to one other "sale's pitch" which was in Hot Springs and that one lasted 90 min and I said nope nope nope.
Do you think I will have any issues with these people? Should I be prepared for a battle?
My husband and I were lied to as well. We bought the sampler package in Branson, Mo. for 1000.00, We bought it on New Years Eve 2007, We wanted to use it to go to Aruba. When we were in our presentation, the salesman told us that if the resort was booked up that we wanted, "the good thing about bluegreen is that they will put you up in a top hotel nearby, at no charge to us, the salesman also give us his cell number and said we could call him the after next week, ( 3-day rule), The first time we were able to call was after feb. 1, so we could get in the system. I called on feb 4, and aruba was booked up until Jan 2009 our points expire 12-31-08, how lucky for them. So I mentioned about putting us up in a hotel nearby, they thought I was nuts. So i called the cell phone the salesman give me and much to my suprise he now works for RCI, said bluegree was a joke and hung up on me. We finally got in at gatlinburg, tn for late oct. we still have 5800 points left and can't use them, we have tryed several other resorts, no openings, heck, we were even willing to go back to branson, but sorry, nothing open until jan. We spoke with several owners on our tennesssee trip, they were owners of the big package, 20, 000, they said they had been to aruba twice this year and are going back in feb. said they get in with as little as 2 day notice. So i come to the conclusion that a sampler owner is garbage. We could have got our hotel for tenn. cheaper than our package cost.
Sorry to say billyboy, no I don't. Just trying to help out those people who've been scammed. Why don't you take the time to learn proper English and grammar? It would make even your idiotic posts sound more intelligent!
While I'm on here-would you like to comment on the lawsuit filed by the Atty. Gen.'s Office in my state? (PA.)
No? Didn't think so!
Afterall, every ### is entilted to their opinion, so let's hear yours-###!
Hi Robin,
How you doing not seen you for long time.
What you up to you got any scams going
billy
Tell me this, why won't ANY of the people who just LOVE Bluegreen so much comment on the above LAWSUIT?
My guess would be that there is no defending these scammers.
They will post how stupid everyone is for not knowing how to use the points or they will say that they should've read the contract more closely.
THIS IS PURE [censored] and YOU ALL KNOW IT!
I think the ATTY. GENERAL in my state (Tom Corbett and his legal staff) might just be a tad smarter than all of you. Afterall- they are actually trying to help these consumers who have lost so much. YOU ARE NOT!
You are just critizing them. YOU are the ones that need help.
I will be so thrilled when the tables are turned and Bluegreen goes BANKRUPT from ALL of the lawsuits against them. It's only a matter of time.
Like I said-BETTER USE THEM POINTS NOW-(those of you that actually know how!)
Or instead of contacting Bluegreen- you may want to contact your local ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE to file a formal complaint on this company.
They have been taking advantage of consumers for far too long with their failed promises and outright lies.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL in PENNSYLVANIA (my home state) Filed suit against Bluegreen (Oct. 14, 2008) for numerous violations.
HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced lawsuits today against four Florida-based companies accused of illegally marketing vacation packages, using "free" airline ticket offers and other worthless prizes to lure consumers into aggressive and deceptive timeshare presentations.
Corbett said consumer protection lawsuits were filed against Bluegreen Corporation, Bluegreen Resorts, Bluegreen Vacations Unlimited, Inc. and Great Vacations Destinations, Inc., all of Boca Raton, Florida. Bluegreen contacted consumers by phone and through kiosks at shopping malls, fairs, and festivals throughout Pennsylvania, and also operates full-time sales facilities in Hershey and King of Prussia.
"Virtually any consumer with a checkbook and a pulse allegedly qualified as a 'winner' in these promotions, " Corbett said. "Unsuspecting consumers who believed they were contest winners were actually drawn into a high pressure bait-and-switch campaign designed to push timeshare vacation packages costing thousands of dollars."
Corbett said more than 5, 700 Pennsylvania residents purchased Bluegreen timeshares, with many paying $20, 000 to $40, 000 or more for packages that violated Pennsylvania's Consumer Protection Law, the Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act, the Telemarketer Registration Act and other consumer regulations.
Phony Prizes
Corbett said that Bluegreen representatives allegedly called consumers who believed they were entering contests and other promotions promising cars, cash and vacations.
According to the lawsuit, consumers were told that they had not won the "grand prize, " but had been selected to receive other items, like free airline tickets. Consumers were also promised free gasoline and meals when they collected their prize, if they attended a 90 minute timeshare presentation.
Corbett said the lawsuit alleges that consumers who were contacted by Bluegreen were not actually randomly selected prize winners. Instead, virtually everyone who entered the contests was contacted and falsely told that they were a prize winner.
In one case, Corbett said a consumer informed a Bluegreen representative that the person they were trying to reach did not live at that address. The consumer was told that it wasn't a problem - they would give her a prize too.
High Pressure Sales and False Advertising
Corbett said that in order to collect their "prizes, " consumers were required to schedule an appointment with a Bluegreen sales representative. In some cases, consumers who believed they would be attending a 90 minute timeshare presentation were actually subjected to relentless marketing pitches that lasted five hours or more.
According to the lawsuit, numerous deceptive statements were made to consumers during these presentations in an effort to get them to sign contracts immediately, including phony claims that prices would increase the next day, misrepresentations about when and where consumers could travel if they made a purchase and false statements about certain fees being waived.
Corbett said that some consumers bought vacation programs because they were told they were entitled to a one-week stay in Hawaii, only to learn afterward that the program they purchased could not be used in Hawaii.
According to the lawsuit, consumers who sat through the timeshare presentations received "prizes" that were nothing like what they had been promised. The "four free airline tickets" were actually booklets that offered two airline tickets with each hotel room reserved, at high prices, in a limited number of cities. In some situations, consumers were required to commit to a 10 night stay at overpriced hotel rates before being able to select a local airport for their flight.
Corbett said "free" gasoline and meals that consumers were promised turned out to be coupons or certificates with lengthy terms and conditions. For instance, consumers who were promised $40 in free gas were required to submit written requests to obtain a series of gas coupons. The coupons required consumers to pay for their gas first and then mail a receipt for reimbursement, with each coupon limited to a $5 purchase, with no more than one purchase per month.
Illegal Contracts
Corbett's said contracts used by Bluegreen failed to properly inform consumers of their right to cancel their purchase. Pennsylvania law requires that consumers have five days to cancel any timeshare or campground purchase. Bluegreen is also accused of violating a state law that requires all consumer contracts to be written in easy-to-understand terms.
Do Not Call Violations
According to the lawsuit, Bluegreen made numerous calls to consumers who were on Pennsylvania's Do Not Call list, allegedly basing those calls on referrals from other customers. Additionally, the companies are accused of making repeated calls to consumers who clearly told them not to call again.
"Bluegreen took advantage of hardworking Pennsylvania residents eager to find an affordable getaway, " Corbett said. "Using deceptive contests, relentless sales presentations and misleading contracts, consumers were pressured into paying thousands of dollars for vacation packages that don't meet their needs or their budgets."
Corbett said the lawsuits seek restitution for consumers who suffered financial losses because of these deceptive or illegal practices.
Additionally, Corbett says the lawsuit asks the court to void all illegal consumer contracts and give consumers the right to cancel any agreement that did not include the state-required notice of cancellation.
The lawsuit also seeks up to $1, 000 in civil penalties for each violation of the Consumer Protection Law, or up to $3, 000 for each violation involving a senior citizen.
The lawsuits were filed in Commonwealth Court, in Harrisburg, by Senior Deputy Attorney General David Sumner of the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Corbett says the investigation began after consumers contacted his office to report these practices. He encouraged other consumers who have problems with Bluegreen to file a complaint by calling the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at [protected] or submit an online consumer complaint.
www.attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=3999 LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD-NOW!
The only people that need help are apparently the ones who bought into this mess!
USE YOUR POINTS -NOW! BLUEGREEN'S DAYS ARE NUMBERED!
wow! talk about someone that needs some help... i've been a bluegreen owner for 9 yrs. and this person talking about points giving less vacation time from 1 year to the next, needs to learn how to use their program... they need to call bluegreen and request an owner update. if most of us did'nt have training or education in our lives for our carears, we would not be able to do our jobs. any owner out there that says that they can't use their points and that bluegreen is a bad deal, needs some training. Please do yourself and your family a favor and learn how to use your Bluegreen ownership! our family has great vacations at beautiful 5 star resorts with our Bluegreen points. contact any Bluegreen vip owner service department ( at any of the resorts ) let them know that you need some help using your points and you don't know how to get your points booked. There are at least 6 or 7 ways to book your vacation... Get Help!
Lets just get a few facts straight.
I have been a member since 2003 and BG have never rasied the number of points at any resort, I also know people who have been members a lot longer and they say the same, so your statement "5 days now only 3 days next year does not have a grain of truth in it and it is you that as made that assumption.
Yes BG sells points which you use to buy vacation time, these points relate directly to the size of the unit time of year etc and do not have a $ value please compare apples with apples and not apples with oranges.
Bluegreen owns most of the resorts in the club the ones they do not own yes u are right in that it is difficult to get in this is down to the fact that BG only own ltd inventory in these resorts and have been picked up as a side issue when they have bought out a timeshare property.
It is not impossible to make reservation as you state we have never had any problems at all.
please state which resort you say had an increase in the number of points required from one year to the next.
There is a lot that you do not understand on how the BGVC operates so please join the BG group on yahoo and you will learn how to get the best out of your points.
they lied to us every step of the way
Blue green told us that we could sell our points and receive a check to cover our payments...in case we weren't able to ''get free'' and use our points at any given time... We make payments of 278 dollars a month and that' not counting the maintenance and tax fees... Which they didn't tell us would get higher every year... we thought that we were doing a good thing for our kids...but it's a big scam that costs so much that I'm ashamed to ''pass on to my kids''...they said we could use our points to pay maintenance fees too...and then they backed out of that ...we were talked into increasing our points so we would ''be considered more readily for bluegreen reservations''...
we had already paid off a sampler package and another ''upgrade to 8000 points... now we are fed up...! Can any one help us on the grounds that ''their salespeople lied to us''...?...my email is... This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it I'm a Vietnam veteran from 1968 and I need some help...! I really feel foolish to have entered into such an agreement but I feel we were coerced into this by slick salespeople who will tell you whatever you want to hear...
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I have 26000 points for sale too $ 20000 or what I can get. I up graded along and now I hung with a maintence bill for the rest of my life and kid's life or I can opt out for $5000 cost to me . The problem is they have us on contract and can do what they want. so they don't want to resale just make owners pay.
Pearl i agree with you, don't listen to Joe or Jarvis they obviously either work for Bluegreen or another AWFUL timeshare company.
We can sell the points for a profit BIG JOKE mine cost £13, 000 in total, so i am going to get that back am i ! who gave you the info you have (Bluegreen) and you have been lied too as well, but you know that don't you.
Well if Jarvis if you know someone that wants to buy let me know because I have had 26000 points for sale ( at a heck of a discount) for 2 years with 5 different companies (some even offer financing) and have not had a nibble in that time. Blue green is not a desirable resort due to the bad publicity they well deserve. I don't even care for a profit I JUST WANT OUT! they lie, they deceive and cheat with no concience at all, they got their check when you purchased so they don't give a d--- what you do once you leave their property.
I am really serious to sell so send anyone interested my way PLEASE
26000 points for $32000 that is $1.23 per point--heck of a deal
Pearl
the prior comment says it all, but remember you do have the option to sell your package for a profit. Why hold on to it? If you are so dissatisfied, get rid of it. The cost of points increase every year, which is CLEARLY explained to you in the presentation. Why wouldnt the maint. fees or taxes increase? Get real buddy. Sounds like you didnt have the backbone to say "NO" to a salesperson for something you really couldnt afford. Stop complaining and sell it to someone who can use it.
I want a house like you have that never needs any work done on it and your property taxes never go up.
How could you not think that MF would still the same ? who did you think were going to maintain the resorts. Come on get real and just think what you have written.
You knew how the club worked you had the sampler package
You can rent your points if you know someone who wants a break and is willing to rent from you all u have to do is make the reservation in their name and they pay the rental mony direct to you, but dont be silly and expect it to cover your monthly cost what it will cover is the MF.
When buying something as expensive as a car, you need to do research NOT listen to "slick salesmen." Sounds like your money was there for the taking...
Suing bluegreen!
Hey everyone out there who has been had and who has had enough of Bluegreee, I have a lawyer in Charlotte, NC willing to file a Class Action suite. We will need as many people as possible to join our cause. I was lied to as everyone else was about Bluegreen buying back the timeshare if I was unhappy or couldn't afford it. As all of you know, that is a big fat lie. I went to an owners convention in Winston -Salem, NC a few years back and at least half of the people there had complaints but just like every other time I have tried to get things resolved, there was no won there with any authority to do anything and of course they had never heard of buying back the timeshare.
Well it is our turn! The lawyer I am using said he would require some money up front to get started but not much. The exact amount I don't have yet but if you read my earlier message, the more we have involved the less we will have to put up. I don't know about you but all I want is out of the contract. No refund, that money is just gone. Chalk it up as a lesson learned in life but I can no longer afford this thing because I am on disability retirement. They don't care so that is the reason for the Class Action.
Please contact me a [protected]@hotmail.com with your contact information and I will forward it to the lawyer. He can then get an information form sent out to everyone as soon as he can get the addresses set up.
I hope to hear from many of you.
I know it’s years later but if this is law suit is still going on I need to get in it as well. Bluegreen is such a scam. My email is kellyanncampelo97@gmail.com
I would love to be included in a class action lawsuit against Blue Green. Slimdaddy01@gmail.com. I beleive the maintenance fees are overpriced. especially every year got to Myrtle beach, the room I have always has something broken or doesn't work from day one. NDMCVA@GMAIL.COM and c.c. michael.coleman@va.gov
My husband and I would like to join the class action lawsuit. Any info on how to do that would be great! MrKaysGal@gmail.com
I would love to be included in a class action lawsuit against Blue Green. Some people have mentioned that they just want out. NOT ME. I PAID TOO MUCH MONEY TO JUST WALK AWAY FROM IT. Is this thread even still active. The first comment I saw was from 2008. Yet there are some recent comments from this month. I want them to buy my property back. It is amazing that they keep selling to new suckers but we can't sell ours to anyone! Something is wrong with this scheme. Once you are in you can't get out without walking away from all of the money you have paid them. This is not right! I just got a notice that my maintenance fees have gone up again! Blood sucking leaches!
Include me a the lawsuit they scammed me also
I am a victim of Bluegreen deceitful sales tactics. Please include me in lawsuit. These guys deserve to go down.
heatherb329@gmail.com
Has this class action suit started yet? Can I have more information? I am a VERY unhappy Bluegreen owner and want out NOW!
Add me to the list if this is still an option. Quadek34@hotmail.com
I would like to join you in this class action lawsuit. I was fooled twice by Bluegreen. I know fool me twice shame on me. I'm retired and never got the "great timeshare rental money" I could get from unused rental points that would pay for my maintenance fees. Is there a lawsuit for owners trying to get a portion of their 'investment" back?
Count me in as well. Was told today that they sell 50% to non-owners and they don't have to pay maintenance fees.
colganjoe@protonmail.com
Count me in i would like to get rid of it. This was a scam with ridiculous maintenance fees.
Udramos_78@yahoo.com
timeshare buy back!
For all of you like myself who bought a timeshare from Bluegreen and was told that they would buy it back if you were unhappy and now you find that what they told you was a lie, I have found a lawyer willing to file a class action suite against Bluegreen. You can contact me with your name, email, etc information and a brief history of your experience with...
Read full review of Bluegreen Vacations and 92 commentsripped off over and over again
I was interested in roomier lodging for my family and my father in law liked his time share so me and my husband started searching. We came across Bluegreen and went to their meetings. During this meeting we were lied to on nearly every detail of the benefits offered. We were not told about not being able to call and make a reservation any earlier than 45...
Read full review of Bluegreen Vacations and 6 commentsbluegreen - new type of thieves
we bought a bluegreen timeshare less than a month ago in gatlinburg, tn. very friendly staff, pleasant experience (because we bought) well, we have changed our minds and were told we could sell it back to them at the cost we bought it. sounds great, since we only have that day to buy it and 30 days to return it. well, that was a big fat lie. i can hardly get in touch with a person when i call all the numbers, some of the extensions they gave us are bogus numbers. i am so ticked off. i know i will be reporting them to the better bussiness bureau. what else i can do, i don't know. i have good credit and now after being scammed, i am so mad i don't care if they turn me over to collections. if we go to court, i may just bring a copy of this website with all the other complaints listed as well. aaarrgh! anyone have any advise?
Why is it not a scam when they wont let you take it home and look it over it would take a lawyer to understand it the contract book i have is about one quarter thick would take quite a long time to read were told we didn't need to read it there word was there bond
Bluegreen is a parasite on this earth, If this timeshare is so great how come they have to force people to stay in it even after it is paid off
Show a little compassion buddy. You sound like one of those guys who has all the answers. All rise to Mr. All-knowing.
Its not a scam, just because you have not read and understood what YOU signed for does not make it a scam you signed all the paperwork you ticked all the boxes but did you read them .
It is very easy to get hold of Bluegreen you only have to look the numbers up on the net .
Since you never read what you sign then any lawyer is going to have a field day with you and will be booking his next world holiday right after your first meeting
rude, liars, rip offs
Spring of 2007 a telemarketer began calling offering us a special deal at Blue Green Resorts. After about the 10th call of my wife and I tossing it back and forth with talk to my husband to talk to my wife, I finally talked to the telemarketer. She made a great offer for $250.00 we would have 3 days /2 nights all inclusive vacation including shows and meals at one of Blue Green Resorts premier resorts.
This was too good to be true, and the first and last question I asked was if this was a time share promotional offer and she responded several times that it was not. It was simply a vacation package being offered by Blue Green Resorts, at a location of our choice at any of their resorts which included Hilton Head North Carolina. It was all inclusive with the exception of travel. We had a year to use the vacation.
In 1999 we purchased such a package to Branson Mo, and had a great time .. NO TIME SHARE
When we finally ( three months later) received our vacation package from Blue Green Resorts it was a time share.
We were out $250.00 so we decided to keep the package and take a trip to the Blue Green Resort at Hilton Head.
Last week we decided we had some free time and would use our package. First thing we were told was that we had purchased a Branson Vacation and that was where we would have to go.
We said okay to Branson and were given three days and two night at the Raddison in Branson. ( I have copies of the reservations documents sent to us by Blue Green)
When we arrived we were told that we could not stay at the Raddison. We were told that the Raddison had no rooms available, my wife countered this with she had checked on the reservations before we left home earlier that day and they confirmed that we had reservations, then the VERY RUDE, young man told us that the Raddison was a piece of [censored], and the Travel Lodge was a much nicer hotel, no amount of arguing would get them to allow us to keep the Raddison Reservation.
We checked into the Travel Lodge, which possibly had been closed up for the winter and just reopened. It smelled very musty, ( we both were suffering from Allergies) There were spiders and spider webs. It was not up to the standard of the Raddison. It actually was not up to the standard of most Branson Lodgings.
We took the 90 minute tour which lasted 2and 1/2 hours, and was treated very rude when we told them we were not interested in buying a time share, We were even told how much we would regret not buying if one of us died and we didn't have vacation memories to sustain us.
We finally got out of there and returned to the REWARDS CENTER for our show tickets and meal vouchers.
The tickets was two tickets off THEIR LIST ..Which was Elvis Impersonations etc, or shows that were not even open yet.
The meal was for a barbecue meal at a bar that looked like a biker bar, the building looked as if it was about to fall down.
My wife finally asked just what our $250.00 was suppose to be for. We were told we had never paid anything. I have the Credit Card reciept where the money was taken from out Visa account.
We are not happy, and I plan to use the internet to warn people to stay away from Blue Green Resorts.
Blue Green is the biggest joke! Any one who researches these scammers all hear the same thing. Go on ebay an you can buy 10, 000 worthless Blue/Green points for $100! Good luck using them, there will never be any openings.
Save your money and take the vacations that you want to take! Why would you pay these loser idiots $15, 000 or $30, 000 to take 1 week per year?
30k! and you can have some great vacations without all the B.S.
Avoid Blue Green at all cost!
If the $250.00 charge was not valid, why didnt you dispute the charge with your credit card company? Blue Green offers quality gifts for your time of the sales presentations, and does give you whatever they promise. If you were given Elvis tickets and a BBQ dinner, its because thats what you agreed to accept BEFORE going to the presentation. People need to learn how to just say no, and get up to leave after 90 minutes. Why would you stay 2 and a half hours if you were not interested? Think about it. I bet you ate that BBQ dinner didnt you?
A handful of pissed off people and 180, 000 happy customers...
See a trend here? Whiners!
maintenance bill at blue green!
I own points at Blue green resorts, I used to have weeks. I was conned into converting to points by their sales man. I didn't have any problems until I received my maintenance bill. I had to pay a subsidy for owners who didn't pay their own bill. Blue green refuse to reply why this payment is required. Blue Green refuse to refund this money. My home resort...
Read full review of Bluegreen Vacations and 4 commentsscam
My husband received a call from this company offering a wonderful 3 night vacation package for our whole family for only $79 and we would only have to attend a 90 to 120 minutes sales presentation. He agreed thinking this would be a nice vacation get away for our family. After he told me about it, I decided to go check out this company on the internet and found numerous complaints and horror stories about their "presentations" so I decided that we should cancel it. When I called to cancel the trip they informed us that our $79 would not be refunded because it was 30 days past purchase date and of course at the bottom of all the small print it states that. I had a feeling we already lost that $79 but I was not about to lose any more money to them.
I just want to help keep other people from losing money to these people that, from all the complaints that I have read, are obvious scam artists.
Please stay away from BLUEGREEN RESORTS!
Owned for three years and can never book a resort. Pissed that my kids have to pay for my stupid mistake in signing with these scammers. Wife and I want out. Email jlauricella35@yahoo.ca. We live in Canada, can we still be part of a class action law suit.
I purchased one of their marketing vacation deals and ran into several road blocks trying to book a reservation. Beware folks don't go for the $49 two day vacation package. I was not able to work out a booking date with these folks, so I got really irritated and decided it was okay to loose the $49. I am glad however, that I did not get stuck purchasing one of their time shares. This is one of the worst businesses that I've ever dealt with. Customer service was horrible and I never received an answer to a compliant email. I learned a valuable lesson and would like to warn folks do not fall for their scam. They offered a vacation at their property, but wanted to put me up in a Sleep Inn hotel. I suspect they won't be in business long, or they'll change names soon. There is a lot of bad info about this group on the Internet; I only wished I had seen the warnings before purchasing.
I bought a blue green pkg at myrtle beach and was pushed and pushed till I gave in they had bad attitudes when you try to back away and start you feeling like you owe them something and hold you forever and I was assaulted on new years day and I financially can not pay and they won't even help me sell what I paid for see they are not what they tell you they will do and if you are with some one and don't even co-sign you are still in bad sssss so don't do it.
I have worked with the company for over 4 years and the way they treat their employees are terrible. You start making 9.oo hour and then you never get a raise. The trip is a fake because they don’t tell you all the details over the phone like you have to pay your taxes which is $75-100 per person. Then you have to send in 100 refundable * deposit to secure your hotel and other charges. They also don’t tell you that you have to leave out on a Monday or Tuesday or you will be charged extra. The ways they handle business in the Novi Call Center is a disgrace. I would never recommend that anyone go to a presentation, buy a timeshare from this company or even work for them.
I just got hung up on when blue green resorts was told I wasn't giving out my credit card information. the rep just hung up the phone on me. RIght after she had told me about such a great offer which I supposedly signed up for but can't remember.
so beware of such great offers. Oh yeah and they offered me free airline too only to tell me that it would be at discounted rate later.
If it's sounds too good it is . Anyway I already have a timeshare and this was definitely a hard sell and too quick to close the sale. they must have given out two pages of information that i was supposed to write down so I could redeem.
I've started a Facebook page in the hopes of starting a class action lawsuit like the one in Pennsylvania. Were you lied to at your sales pitch? Join the movement to get a class action lawsuit going. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_180578055325962
No matter what the contract says the sales pitch must be honest or it is ILLEGAL! End of story. It’s not the fault of the consumer who has been swindled. Christmas mountain sales staff makes the characters of Glengarry Glen Ross look like saints. Deceptive sales practice are also illegal in most states.
Federally it is illegal to engage in deceptive sales practices. A sale is deceptive if it.
1. Represents that goods or services have sponsorship, approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, benefits, or qualities that they do not have. (How many were convinces they would receive some service they did not receive? The ability to rent points via blue greens web page.)
2. Represents that goods or services are of particular standard, quality, or grade, or that goods are of particular style or model, if they are of another. (How many were shown the cleanest and best unit only to find that all the other units are not as nice)
3. Disparages the goods, services, or business of another by false or misleading misrepresentation of fact (How many were told how that “other” time share was so horrible?”)
4. Makes false or misleading statements of fact concerning the reasons for, existence of, or amounts of price reductions. (How many were told that there bonus weeks were being “thrown in” as a means to get them to buy. Every time you said no, they offered to throw in something that really came with every sale.)
5. Engages in any other conduct which similarly creates the likelihood of confusion or of misunderstanding. (How many knew exactly what they were getting from the sales pitch? Not the contract signing, but the sales pitch)
That's just to mention a few. If you had any of these happen to you, then BG broke federal law, The Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and most likely state laws as well. Furthermore the Pennsylvania judge ordered them to STOP.
I’ll be starting a Facebook page for people who want to join the class action law suit to go to. And taking out ads on face book to gather people. Alone you are just a swindled owner. United we can bring a case all the way to the federal level.
SERIOUS SCAM ARTISTS. DOMINIQUE RUNS THE SHOW THERE AND SHE IS NASTY. . Just wanted to inform you of a company called Vacation Tour and Travel. They have called us for years saying we won a vacation package because we filled out some bass pro shops form (which we didn't do). We decided that it couldn't be that bad since Bass Pro Shops help market them, so we purchased a package for $129. 2 1/2 weeks later because I read the fine print on how to do it. I sent in my letter and they claim they never received my letter so they will not refund me. SCAMMERS...Never make my mistake, I should have sent it certifiied so they could never do what they did to me. They are liars and cheaters. I guess $129 is worth loosing face over. Afterwards I researched the company and I am not the only one they have done this to. I should have done this first, but the guys was really pressuring us. I would stay as far away from this company as possible. RUN the other way if they call you. They are scammers! You've probably already gotten a call or several. Tell them to lose your number. FYI People.
I am starting an OPC job at Bluegreen Resorts tomorrow. And I figured I should do some research. I'm am utterly terrified now that I've read all of this. I, myself, am a christian and have told myself that I will not, under any circumstances, lie to make money. It's immoral and nonetheless stupid. I'm only 17 years old, I graduated at 16, and I thought it was a blessing that I got the job because the pay is outstanding, but I'd rather work minimum wage and be honest than lie and make 2000$ a week.
I know so many people that would do the job, regardless if they knew the company would screw over the people. I'm not one of those people. I appreciate everyone's comments, even though some were quite unnecessary and I will definitely be keeping a close eye on what I'm being told to do and how to do it.
God bless.
Hi Lets be Honest:
Let's discuss, why did you buy your timeshare and how much research did you do in advance. Or, did you go on a free weekend to get free gifts and you were tricked?
I have an idea that I might know your answer... I love reading comments from people about being "tricked" into buying. Too funny!
Please we need to get the word out! Good ! Wish I had seen this before. My life is now a living nightmare thanks to Bluegreen.
scam and rip off!
We were mailed some information about Bluegreen telling us we won four free airline tickets and a cruise and a free visa card and a free dinner. All we had to do was listen to a forty-five min. presentation. They keep us there three hours and we finally said yes after they promised us a free Florida vacation. Everytime we tried to set up our vacation nothing was available. Nobody returned our telephone calls. We never got the free gifts, only a fifty dollar visa card.
Now we are paying a yearly fee, for what we don't know. We are trying to sell, but no help is coming from Bluegreen. We decided to stop paying the monthly payments. Bluegreen turned us over to a collection agency and now we have one bad thing on our credit report. We are still trying to get out of this nightmare. If Bluegreen calls on you, run away from them as fast as possible.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
These guys should be in jail. I nearly got talked into one of these "free vacations" that ended up costing me $400.
At the end of the 40 min sales pitch and after I gave my credit card details I was finally told half the story - a damn timeshare sales scheme. I have never fallen for anything like this before - they are very skillful at getting you in and misleading you. Now I'm still trying to get my money back, and believe me they are not making it easy.
First of all anyone who believes they won a contest that they did not enter, deserve what they get.
However, Blue Green tried that stuff with me, I knew I did not win a contest, but I knew that time share companies DO give away good stuff to sit through their presentation. As for whether it is a 45 minute presentation or a 3 hour one they do not chain to the chair if you chose to sit there 3 hours, and than you chose to purchase the time share, than those were choices you made, don't blame the sale person.
Here is my experience. I knew it was a time share, I also knew I didi not win anything, but I went to the presentation anyway just to see what it was about. I sat through about an hour, than tried the sample package which cost about $900. I than went on 2 trips to Boyne Highlands, and received a $50 Gift card, a free weekend in Vegas, and 4 plane tickets, which the informed my right away that I could not use the plane tickets and the Vegas trip together. After the sample package was over I than chose to purchase the time share. In just 3 years I have traveled to Mexico, Aruba, Florida, and Boyne. I am planning St Martin now. I also recomended Blue Green to a friend who sat through a 1 hour and 15 minute presentation in Novi, but did NOT purchase anything, he still got a weekend trip to Myrtle Beach, 4 plane tickets which he used to visit family in Florida and a $50 gift card.
My experience with Blue Green has been great As long as you know what you are getting into when you attend the meeting. People that think they are getting something extraordinary for nothing are just fooling themselves, understand you are going to a sales pitch, if you cannot say no than don't go.
Yeah, your correct Jarvis, the only problem is that the people selling this "real estate" ARE NOT licensed real estate agents!
So, that alone is a big violation of the law in ALL states!
HELLO?
You're like phil who talks out of his ###!
Hey ah...Jarvis, read it and weep!
HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced lawsuits today against four Florida-based companies accused of illegally marketing vacation packages, using "free" airline ticket offers and other worthless prizes to lure consumers into aggressive and deceptive timeshare presentations.
Corbett said consumer protection lawsuits were filed against Bluegreen Corporation, Bluegreen Resorts, Bluegreen Vacations Unlimited, Inc. and Great Vacations Destinations, Inc., all of Boca Raton, Florida. Bluegreen contacted consumers by phone and through kiosks at shopping malls, fairs, and festivals throughout Pennsylvania, and also operates full-time sales facilities in Hershey and King of Prussia.
"Virtually any consumer with a checkbook and a pulse allegedly qualified as a 'winner' in these promotions, " Corbett said. "Unsuspecting consumers who believed they were contest winners were actually drawn into a high pressure bait-and-switch campaign designed to push timeshare vacation packages costing thousands of dollars."
Corbett said more than 5, 700 Pennsylvania residents purchased Bluegreen timeshares, with many paying $20, 000 to $40, 000 or more for packages that violated Pennsylvania's Consumer Protection Law, the Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act, the Telemarketer Registration Act and other consumer regulations.
Phony Prizes
Corbett said that Bluegreen representatives allegedly called consumers who believed they were entering contests and other promotions promising cars, cash and vacations.
According to the lawsuit, consumers were told that they had not won the "grand prize, " but had been selected to receive other items, like free airline tickets. Consumers were also promised free gasoline and meals when they collected their prize, if they attended a 90 minute timeshare presentation.
Corbett said the lawsuit alleges that consumers who were contacted by Bluegreen were not actually randomly selected prize winners. Instead, virtually everyone who entered the contests was contacted and falsely told that they were a prize winner.
In one case, Corbett said a consumer informed a Bluegreen representative that the person they were trying to reach did not live at that address. The consumer was told that it wasn't a problem - they would give her a prize too.
High Pressure Sales and False Advertising
Corbett said that in order to collect their "prizes, " consumers were required to schedule an appointment with a Bluegreen sales representative. In some cases, consumers who believed they would be attending a 90 minute timeshare presentation were actually subjected to relentless marketing pitches that lasted five hours or more.
According to the lawsuit, numerous deceptive statements were made to consumers during these presentations in an effort to get them to sign contracts immediately, including phony claims that prices would increase the next day, misrepresentations about when and where consumers could travel if they made a purchase and false statements about certain fees being waived.
Corbett said that some consumers bought vacation programs because they were told they were entitled to a one-week stay in Hawaii, only to learn afterward that the program they purchased could not be used in Hawaii.
According to the lawsuit, consumers who sat through the timeshare presentations received "prizes" that were nothing like what they had been promised. The "four free airline tickets" were actually booklets that offered two airline tickets with each hotel room reserved, at high prices, in a limited number of cities. In some situations, consumers were required to commit to a 10 night stay at overpriced hotel rates before being able to select a local airport for their flight.
Corbett said "free" gasoline and meals that consumers were promised turned out to be coupons or certificates with lengthy terms and conditions. For instance, consumers who were promised $40 in free gas were required to submit written requests to obtain a series of gas coupons. The coupons required consumers to pay for their gas first and then mail a receipt for reimbursement, with each coupon limited to a $5 purchase, with no more than one purchase per month.
Illegal Contracts
Corbett's said contracts used by Bluegreen failed to properly inform consumers of their right to cancel their purchase. Pennsylvania law requires that consumers have five days to cancel any timeshare or campground purchase. Bluegreen is also accused of violating a state law that requires all consumer contracts to be written in easy-to-understand terms.
Do Not Call Violations
According to the lawsuit, Bluegreen made numerous calls to consumers who were on Pennsylvania's Do Not Call list, allegedly basing those calls on referrals from other customers. Additionally, the companies are accused of making repeated calls to consumers who clearly told them not to call again.
"Bluegreen took advantage of hardworking Pennsylvania residents eager to find an affordable getaway, " Corbett said. "Using deceptive contests, relentless sales presentations and misleading contracts, consumers were pressured into paying thousands of dollars for vacation packages that don't meet their needs or their budgets."
Corbett said the lawsuits seek restitution for consumers who suffered financial losses because of these deceptive or illegal practices.
Additionally, Corbett says the lawsuit asks the court to void all illegal consumer contracts and give consumers the right to cancel any agreement that did not include the state-required notice of cancellation.
The lawsuit also seeks up to $1, 000 in civil penalties for each violation of the Consumer Protection Law, or up to $3, 000 for each violation involving a senior citizen.
The lawsuits were filed in Commonwealth Court, in Harrisburg, by Senior Deputy Attorney General David Sumner of the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Corbett says the investigation began after consumers contacted his office to report these practices. He encouraged other consumers who have problems with Bluegreen to file a complaint by calling the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at [protected] or submit an online consumer complaint.
www.attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=3999 LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD-NOW!
Who are you people trying to get over on?! Blue-Green is far from a scam. If you are paying a monthly payment to them it is because you chose to purchase the time share. It is a very formal process, and is actually considered real estate; therefore your payments are considered a mortgage. There is no way on earth, let me repeat NO WAY you could have "bought this offer blind". I am also a Blue-Green owner, and it is completely legitimate as well as a great value. My family and I use their resorts several times a year, and this is one of the best purchases we have ever made. Not only must you agree to the financing, you actually have to choose an offer that best suits your needs as your stays are based on a points system. So, the moral of this email is this: Blue Green does not scam anyone--if you are an owner of their property, it is because you chose to do so and knew exactly what you were buying. If anyone out there doesnt believe me, just go sit through one of their presentations and speak with a sales person. You will see for yourself. Yeah, I must admit they can be a bit pushy during the sales presentations, but it is a "sales" job, and why wouldnt they be persistent? Those of you who say you were scammed or this is a negative mark on your credit report: YOU NEED TO START PAYING YOUR BILLS AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OBLIGATIONS IN WHICH YOU AGREE TO. Im sure you enjoyed the free gift card or cash they gave you just for touring the property and listening to the presentation. If you didnt want to make such a large purchase, all you have to say is "NO". I took the promotions 3 times and declined before I decided to purchase.
Have you gotten out of your nightmare yet, I'm Having the SAME ONE, only I'm now trying to purchase a house and with this nonsense on my credit, i'm having the hardest time! I need a way out as well, if you have found out any info on getting out PLEASE let me know! This HOUSE is a REal thing for me my husband and two Kids, we need a house TO Live in!
credit card troubles
BlueGreen Resorts had a lot of information that just seemed too good to be true! After reading these complaints, i'm really upset and wishing I never would have talked my husband into paying the great 49 dollars for a trip!
We paid the 49 dollars and the man told us that he would call us the next day with our confirmation number so that we could go ahead and pick out a trip for us as soon as we wanted...the man never called us and when i called him he could not find us in their system. They sure did charge the 49 dollars to our account though and are now telling us that in order for us to pick out a trip we need to prove to them that we paid our money.
I am very upset because I was organized and following instructions to do this and they had NO IDEA who I was and could not find ANY information on us! I learned that I should ask for confirmation numbers ASAP! I'm hesitant about this whole thing now!
This company is being used with Festiva Adventure Club, be afraid if they contact you. My husband and I were issued a "FREE" 4 day cruise certficate that ended up costing us 679.00. Yea, so much for free. I did receive a confirmation email, however it was misleading, the pending amount looked like it was waiting on verfication on the free cruise certificate. Only found out I was being charged full amount; not just tax, port fees, govt fees by looking at my credit card. When I called to complain, Monique wouldn't let me talk, I was yelling in the phone for her to shut up and my co-worker and I could hear her laughing in the background. The staff representing the travel agency suck.
you need to call toll free your attorney generals office in your state and talk to his assistant and you will be amazed at what a scam this Company is -- you need to be happy that the $49 upset you and waved a hopefully big red flag I am in the middle of trying to save ou excellent credit rating and invoved in 2 state class action suits against BG for lack of performance --in short they will tell you anything to get you hooked and will make it as difficult as possible to give you what you have paid forgo to Blue Green complaints .com Joanne McNeil
did you look at the brochure you recieved? You should have a confirmation number on it.
unethical business practices!
Bluegreen is not an ethical company. They lie and have not kept their end of the bargain. Their company is no better than a pyramid scam. They take our money and then rent out our condos to non-owners. They also do not have condos. We stayed at their "Brand New Property" that we are deeded to in marathon keys and it was a renovated hotel. No condo, no resort there.
We have seen our maintenance fees go to over $1000.00 per month and no one can provide me with an itemized list of what the fees go to.
We had an appointment to meet with them they called me three times and emailed me once to make sure I was there on time. I got there on time and was told they did not have anyone who could see me.
I am sick of them and want some justice.
I'm pretty sure that she meant $1000.00 per year. Still outrageous by any standard- not to mention club dues and the actual cost per mth. of the timeshare (probably financed through Blue[censored] at 15.9% interest) Yes, it is far too much to pay for ANYTHING no less a vacation.
And as stated in the lawsuit- why is anyone with a checking acct. and a pulse eligible to purchase? There is no credit check of any kind run on ANYONE who purchases these "points" WHY?
Well, my guess would be that MANY of the potential customers would not qualify for the purchase in the first place. I know that if I were offering a service to the public at large I would run a credit check to make sure that my customers could actually afford what I was selling- And so would MOST companies.
This is the reason they ask what your annual income is before being invited to a sales presentation. They think that just because a couple or individual makes over $50, 000 per year that they can afford to spend tens of thousands of $$$ on a TIMESHARE.
Nevermind that their mortgage pymt. is $2, 000.-$4, 000. a month and all of their bills practically exceed their income with their credit cards all maxed out.
Bluegreen thinks hey- they make 50k pr. yr. -they can afford this.
And let's be honest here folks, you should know what you can and cannot afford.
Now the way you were lied to and taken advantage of is not right, and please don't misunderstand what I'm saying here. But, you must take at least a little of the responsibility here. After signing on isn't really the time to figure out that you can't afford it!
However, I'm not giving Blue[censored] a pass here. The way they market their service violates MANY consumer protection laws. Please go to my earlier posts to take a look at an abbreviated version of the lawsuit filed by the Atty. GENERAL in PA.
Then tell me if anything sounds familiar?
I have never heard of someone paying over $1000 a month in MF. You are as full of BS as what you are writing.
You have a choice of over 40 resorts to use your points at
MF are not $1000 per month ther are a flat $290 + 0.033 cents per point per year.
Marathon has studios, 1bed apartments and 2 bed apparments.
scam and fraud!
It was a Pretty Picture, but Disconcerting at the best, disheartening at the worst. As a corporate attorney for 20+ years and having an MBA and a BBA in business Lynn and I were quite interested when we went to check out the BlueGreen timeshare sales pitch. We have long shopped Bass Pro and are both impressed by the quality and high standards of the corporation. We have both been approached by a sanctioned salesperson in Bass Pro about the BlueGreen timeshare solicitations. Over this years MLK Holiday we decided to go down to Florida and check out the sales pitch.
Woo Hoo what a story. For a corporation listed on a national stock exchange, BXG, you would think they would meet you with an employee of the corporation with a name tag and business card right off the boat. Alas even thought the sales glossies discussed a first class destination on Daytona Beach The Casa Del Mar and we liked its presentation and ambiance - upon arrival we were shunted to the nearby Holiday Inn by the front office staff.
Hmm a national firm with dozens of locations in a site where the parking lots are empty and the lobby nearly deserted sending us to a Holiday Inn rather that putting us up in the Casa Del Mar? Well, Lynn was bothered by the fact that the verbal representations and e-mails she had received had to all intents and purposes indicated that we would be staying at the Casa Del Mar. But we remembered thinking at the time wasn't it strange the employees had no name-tags and no descriptive accommodations booklets were on display?
Upon arrival at the Holiday Inn we were shown the normal courtesy and service you expect from a national hospitality organization. However, I tried to upgrade the room from a back window facing room to an ocean facing room. I was told that no upgrades were available. Hmmm - this despite the Priority Club membership which I enjoy due to years and years of business travel. Later during our stay we noted that many rooms on the ocean side were dark and unoccupied.
So we decided to be troopers and go the next morning to the sales pitch. We spoke to a couple of locals who were of the hefty persuasion and settled on a local restaurant Charlie Horses Restaurant. It was excellent! It's located next to Bonefish grill, the Carrabas sister restaurant, and we recommend it for good food and local dining. OK here is the rest of the story.We show up the next morning and are introduced to our sales pitch representative a genial 30ish fellow named James. Our James is an ex-law enforcement officer and highly articulate. He has obviously done his homework and is quite a good salesman. Having been involved in sales for years I saw through the act but absolutely & thoroughly enjoyed the show. James is a likable and competent sales person.
BUT:
1)No one there had a name tag,
2)James did not have a business card,
3)James did not have an e-mail,
4)We were not introduced to the sales manager until we asked to meet him after the pitch,
5)The administrative secretary had leather pants and 2 inch Asian nails with filigree designs,
6)The sales manager made reference to imbibing in alcohol the night before with the second sentence out of his mouth,
7)When we asked for contractual agreement documents to take home and study we were denied the opportunity to examine the 40+ page document at home,
8)We asked for an Owners packet and were told we were not allowed to have one until after purchasing the timeshare. We then offered to PAY for the brochure This was not allowed,
9)We then asked if, after reviewing the internet, the better business bureau, and corporate statements if we could call James back up and purchase from him. We were told we could no longer deal with James directly,
10)After checking the BlueGreen internet site it is apparent that there are no numbers to call to talk to real people and the electronic curtain is obviously a thick one.
Needless to say as an attorney and businessman I find all of this highly irregular and will not be purchasing a timeshare from this outfit.
My words to anyone considering doing business with this group are the old legal axiom CAVEAT EMPTOR. (Buyer Beware!)
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I've been with Bluegreen since 2004 and I love it! When I attended my sales pitch everyone was dressed well and very professional. They give vacations away all the time, but you do not stay in their resorts. They are for members and their guests only. You would stay nearby and tour the resorts. At Bluegreen you don't get a room like you would at the Holiday Inn. You get a full 1-3 bedroom suite. Or a cabin, or a condo, depending on which resort you choose. Unlike other time shares where you get the same condo on the same week, year after year, as owners we have access to any number of resorts at any time of the year! I have and will continue to recommend Bluegreen to anyone.
We have NEVER Purchase any Bluegreen tour from anyone they are FREE so if anyone purchased a tour from anyone THEY are the frauds. Blue green even GIVES you free things to do their tour and they wear name tags and dress professionaly. We have been with Bluegreen since 2006 and we are happy with most everything...I think it is one of the BEST time shares out there you just have to know what your doing BEFORE you get into it..I just got from 4 days in Las Vegas nad anothe r 5 days In Orlando at the BEAUTIFUL FOUNTAINS RESORT, I admit tjere are a quit a few flaws but over all it is GREAT..If you need help understanding or even if you would like a TRUE Bluegreen experience you can contact me...Jeanette Adams at jadams1959@hotmail.com NO I am NOT a sales person just someone who knows how to make Bluegreen work for you...Good Luck and REMEMBER NEVER buy a bluegreen tour they are free...
Jacksora-
Bluegreen rarely puts people up at their resorts because they don't OWN them, the OWNERS own them and visitors have no rights to stay at the resort and take up rooms that should be available for owners. You can come as a guest of a member (we do that all the time). I agree, it is difficult to get into the resort that you want unless you get to the silver level. Then you can book 13 months in advance and get whatever you want. We have never been denied a unit booking early. Just takes planning and a little time.
after purchase try booking sometimes nothing avail comes up but then try bonus time and wow! it is available... the bonus time is unused inventory but i guess they just want a little more money!
Thank you for taking the time to post your review. I also purchased my Bluegreen tour at Bass Pro Shops over the Christmas holidays. We are timeshare owners and expected to stay at the resort location. When we reserved our trip, we were sent a pre-printed letter with our reservations at the Hawthorn Suites. I have nothing against Hawthorn, however, this package was represented as at one of their timeshare locations. This 'bait-and-switch' tactic appears to be standard course of business operations. If Bass Pro Shops is going to sanction this organization, their management should actually participate in one of the sales pitches.
My wife worked there in finance dept and I often thought they were running a prostitution ring in back. Her hours were 8pm to 3pm and I never undertstood why. Dont think many highroller buyers are up at that hour. good call btw
Steve
dont buy into this...
My husband and I bought a time share from Blue green 4 years ago. We have only used the time share 2 times. One of which we had to pay money to stay when we had already paid thousands of dollars in mortgage payments. Both times we were extremly disappointed. The rooms are horrible. They allow smoking in all rooms. My husband and oldest son both have asthma and allergies, so this was awful. Also, one of the perks of being on vacation is to have house keeping come in everyday and freshen your room, well with blue green you have to pay extra for house keeping. Also, we had to pay for parking. We are so discussed. The rooms are less than mediocre. The beds are horribly hard, and the linens are like those at a motel 6.
We feel like blue green lures you in with all these promises, showing you pictures filling you full of excitement and all the while it's just a scam. It is like seeing pictures of a ritz carlton and arriving at a motel 6. Also, good luck trying to book the destination that you want. You will have to book at least a year in advance to get the city of your choice.
Please do not waste your money. Also beware of others who write on this web site and others whom praise blue green, they are probablly blue green employees trying to counter act what real blue green owners experience.
Please, do not waste your money. You are better off setting money aside each month for your vacations. Then you can afford to go where you want, when you want, and stay in a NICE hotel.
HAHAHA...WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP!
Phil is a BLUEGREEN EMPLOYEE!
Why...WHY! if you are so in love with your bluegreen package would you be here at Complaintsboard.com?
You wouldn't. These puss trolls are Bluegreen minions that come here to post rebuttals to LEGITIMATE complaints. Bluegreen does that crap on EVERY complaint web site. That YAHOO site they advertise is nothing more than a den for these snakes to steer consumers to buying more points. "Upgrade to gold...that's what you need to do..." WHAT A BUNCH OF ###!
Bluegreen will tell you you'll get lots of wonderful vacations at lots of wonderful resorts then, after they've got you roped in tell you "We're sorry...you signed the contract and initialed on line so and so that you understand its all SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY"
Liars and Thieves. There is a special place in hell for these septic dwellers.
We also have been owners for many years, actually since 1995. They keep increasing Maintenance fees/taxes and dues without notifying to owners. This has become a hardship with the way the economy is. My husband has been out of work for almost two years and I became unemployed recently. We called Bluegreen Vacations to see if they would reduce the late fees and finance charges but was told my a very nasty manager that it was our problem and everyone else was able to pay on time. She also told us that we had signed a contract that gives them the right to charge us a late fee and finance charges per month. If you don't pay in full by a certain they lock you out and then they will turn you over to a collection agency and if still not paid they will cancel your membership to the club which relinquishes the owner from any right of ownership or usage. Another words they can take back your timeshare, you lose all the money you invested and they can sell it to someone else. Talk about making money.
Whenever we call to try get a reservation they have nothing available. I am sick of paying for something that we can't use.
We have tried to sell our timeshare with RDI(Bluegreen Vacations) for the past 4 years now but they say no one is interested but they still sell new timeshares. What the heck. We were told that they would even rent it out and we would get the money for that. OH YEAH that never happened.
Anyone reading this please do not buy a timeshare with Bluegreen Vacations, I believe they are over selling the timeshares which makes it hard for anyone to actually use them when they want to.
Bill and Carla Campbell
hey Phil,
Please use your spell-check or re-read your comments before posting. All of your grammatical and spelling errors make you sound like an idiot!
Just thought you should know that I'm always here to offer my assistance to those in such dire need!
Hello everyone,
I bought into Bluegreen in July and already I am seriously dissappointed. I asked the people that sold me the contract that one of the most important issues to me would be that I do not have problems making reservations in San Diego where I must go every year at the same time. Their reply to me was absolutely no problems as long as I made reservations 48 hours in advance. Come to find out yesterday when I tried to make reservations at the Capri By The Sea, that everything was taken and I would have to make reservations one and one half years in advance. Now if I want to pay money out of my pocket besides what I am paying Bluegreen for absolutely nothing in return, then they have rooms available for rent. What is the point of having this timeshare if I cannot use it, and by the way, noone is wanting to talk to me at Bluegreen. I tried calling several times yesterday several different names that was given to me, and noone has returned my calls.
I am going to change my bank account number today. I will not pay another dime to a scam outfit like this. Until something is done about this they will not get another dime from me.
Frances Graff-Welch
What a load of B******T you write we have been owners since 2003 when Bluegreen took over Oasis Lakes (now The Fountains) in Orlando which I might add is 5 star.
Most Bluegreen resorts now DO NOT allow smoking indoors and as for paying for parking then u must mean Charlston or Miami Charlston I cannot comment on yet (we vist in July this year) Miami was brillent and in all the places I have stayed non have been like a motel.
The smaller and not as uptodate resorts dont use as many points so therefore you know before u travel that it will not be as nice as The Fountains --- you have not used as many points !
Take Aruba as an example a week in a studio uses 7000 points and yes the units need updating but once the $25K refurb is done then its back upto 5 star.
So dont think that all this person as written is true in fact it is far from the truth and before she replies I do not work for Bluegreen I am a Textile colourist in Lancashire England.
do not buy a timeshare from bluegreen!
Do not... I repeat... do NOT buy a Bluegreen timeshare under any conditions. No matter how sweet it may sound, it is a rip-off. My wife and I bought one, and we are in a continual state of regret about it. It is virtually impossible to sell (the same amount of points we bought for $10,000 are selling for about $3,000 online), plus we have yearly fees of about $700 that must be paid for us to even be able to keep using it.
Here are some of the things you may not hear while you're in a Bluegreen presentation... we didn't:
-each year you will have to pay both "maintenance fees" and "club dues," which for us amount to over $700. If you don't pay, you can't use any of your points at all until you do pay.
-many of the resorts they tell you about can only be booked in 7-day increments, which means you'll take that trip and no others for two years because you'll use up all your points on that single trip.
-we just found this one out... if you don't have the points, you can't book a trip... for example, we get 12,000 new points in July, so I called to book something in August. Well, I can't do that until I "have the points." Of course, by the time the points actually show up, all the places will be booked for the summer. We're all paid up on maintenance fees and club dues, so we will definitely get the points, but too bad... we have to wait. The person on the phone even sympathized with me and said he understood what I was saying, but too bad.
-they say they will help you rent your timeshare, but this is a joke. Your timeshare will never rent for anything near what you need to maintain the fees on it, much less pay it off.
-take a look at this web site to see what points are actually worth if you buy them on eBay: http://popular.ebay.com/ns/Real-Estate/Bluegreen.html If you really desperately want Bluegreen points, don't buy them from Bluegreen.
-they tell you that you can book things just a day or two in advance, but this is almost never possible in real life. Things are booked up months in advance.
Owning a Bluegreen timeshare is like a weight that you have to drag around with you for the rest of your life. There are many places that will rent timeshares if you like that kind of thing, and you can usually get them fairly cheap and without any obligation for the future. When I imagine paying $700 a year for the rest of my life, it feels amazingly scary. Don't do it. You're locking yourself into something that will never end when there is absolutely no need to do so.
They give you the free trip, then take advantage of how little you've researched timeshares when you're in the presentation. They tell you this price can only be offered this one time, and that you can't take another trip. It's all cheap sales techniques, and they wouldn't be necessary if it were something people really benefited from.
We even looked on the internet during our sales presentation... if only I had come across a letter like this, we probably wouldn't have bought, and we'd be much better off. At least take a few days to think about it. If they can't give you that long to think, they're tricking you anyway.
Buying a Bluegreen timeshare is a terrible decision. They, like many salespeople, will tell you whatever you want to hear to get you to buy, knowing that they will not personally be accountable for any misrepresentations of the truth later on.
One thing they promised us is that we could rent our timeshare. Now they've done away with that aspect as well, so you either use it, keep paying about $700 in fees each year along with whatever you paid originally, or you just lose the points. Every letter we receive is something else they're taking away from us.
The most recent thing that happened was that we had tried to rent ours out for 10,000 points (most of our points) before they decided to stop letting people do that. So I called today, 10 days in advance, to check and make sure it was rented, since this is the cut-off for when I can cancel without losing points. So the guy on the phone told me that yes, it is rented. And I asked, "Well, what happens if the people cancel sometime in the next 10 days?" He said, "We don't have any control over that, sir." And I said, "I understand that, but I don't either. So what happens to my points if they cancel?" And he said, "Well, you lose those points."
So some renter I don't even know can decide to back out at the last minute, and I lose 10,000 points and don't get to travel or make any money from my timeshare for 2 years! That seems fair...
Everything Bluegreen does seems to be a way to get themselves more money and screw over their "valued customers."
And Bluegreen, if you're reading this, don't bother calling me trying to get me to revoke the complaint... we're trying to sell our timeshare as quickly as we can and hopefully never have any interaction with you for as long as we live.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Has anyone every had any luck selling their timeshare? I don't want this thing and never did, my ex-wife wanted it, but made sure I got stuck with it in the divorce.
Craig
Bluegreen is singly the most unethical, immoral and detestible company in business today. Their sales sluts will use high pressure and out right lies to sucker people in. Then...after you've signed your name to their contract you discover on page 4 of the public offering Bluegreen is not liable for any promises made by their sales agents. Unbelievable. These parasites are without questions the lowest form of trash.
You will not get any of what your told, or shown your going to get...none of it.
They will steal your money and if you refuse to pay they will ruin your credit and threat YOU with legal action...that is incredible. What a band of puss trolls.
How can I get rid of my timeshare? So many comapanies want the money upfront to sell. I've talked with many people who have not had a good experience. Our maintenance fees from last October did not get paid. The economy has taken a hit on us. In Feb. 2010 we were asked to come to an update in KC. The man we talked to said he would help us figure out what we could do. We had to put a $50. deposit on our credit card to reserve the dinner. They would return the money when we showed up. It snowed heavily. It was a nightmare trying to convince them we could not get through. Finally they agreed to refund the $50. He said he would call later to help us. He did'nt. We called several times. No help. Now we have a third party collection calling us for the amount plus $300. Does anyone have a clue as to what we should do? We would appreciated it if you do!
Ginny
I had a timeshare with Bluegreen,
I originly ha 1 week, we bought extra, but then they converted them to points,
I could never use them
I could never exchange them
I owned my timeshare for 12 years
I got fed up with rising bills in the end
SO, I sold it, I lost a lot of money, but I gained money (I dont pay any maintainence bills each year, but I put it in a high interest account to pay for my holiday accomadtion)
I bought my timeshare when it was owned by Airtours, it was fine until Bluegtreen bought it and everything went up
So now I use hotels, its very good, I book my hotel, I pay for it, I use it, no further payments required
I weighed it up with what I got from a timeshare and what I get from a Hotel
A hotel
I get room service
I get fresh towels each day
I get my bed made up and turned down each day
My room is cleaned each day
I get a tea/coffeee maker in the room
I have a fridge
I have a minibar
I usually get a VERY good resturant on site, not just a coffee bar/snack bar
I dont get a bill every year for maintainence
I can get a hotel anywhere and any time I want
A timeshare
NO room cleaned each day
NO bed make up/turn down
NO room service
NO resturant on site
NO clean towels each day
I have to share the resort with very loud kids and drunks, there are no quiet areas
I DO get a BIG bill each year (usually the cost above the hotels I have stayed in)
I cant book when and where I want, unless it at least 6 months in advance
I do get a whole apartment (but its a waste, its just my wife and I) and I'm out by the pool each day or on a tour
I get a full kitchen, but dont need it
I will get billed if any crockery/glassses/cutlery is broken goes missing
I'm glad I sold my timeshare and have nothing to do with Bluegren any more
It doesnt matter where the resort is, you still have to get there, so I havent included the airfare in my Holidays
This year, I stayed in the Dominican Republic, all inclusive, 2 weeks, it cost me $720.00
I stayed in Sri Lanka, all inclusive, 3 weeks, that cost me $900.00, but I did get an upgrade to 'silver service' (named brands of drink, all plated food, no buffets, private pool, free massage, manicure, pedicure)
We had fresh flower sand fresh fruit in the room each day, the mini bar was topped up EVERY day (and I cleaned it out the day we left)
I had 'free' food', 'free drinks, ' free' tours, a nice beach (in both locations) plenty of service
Non of these places are in the RCI or BlueGreen books (I know they werent FREE, I paid for them, but the more I ate and the more I drank and the more tours I took, the cheaper my holidays were)
I had a great time and I am not expecting a maintainence bill this Christmas or New Year
No one will ever sell me another timeshare, but as long as they give me FREE tickets or $80 to go to a presentation I'll go along, all you people that own a timeshare are paying for me to attend, so keep buying and paying those bills each year, I want your money/tickets
Sell your timeshare, go to all the presentations you can get as much as you can from them, but NEVER, NEVER buy again (you will lose money selling your timeshare, may as well get some back by going to the presentations)
Keep moaning about your timeshare, your bills arent going to get any smaller and when you die, your kids will own it, I bet they will really thank you for that monkey on their back,
Maybe you people that own timeshare tell me what you actually get ?
I'll counter each positive with a negative,
C'mon, what do you have to lose ?
CUT YOUR Losses and get rid of it
I completely agree with the evilness that comes from Bluegreen and their lies. I am sick to my stomach at all the fees club dues which was never told to me and the constant monthly bill that just pays interest. I do not want to ruin my excellent credit rating and now I am getting a notice from bill collectors for not paying maint. fees. I feel like puking! My stomach is in knots at where the money is going to come from and I am in the process of trying to close on a home before my credit is ruined forever! My freind told me to file banckrupsy and get out from underneath this big emotional baggage of keeping this company nagging to get more money from me for never being able to take a vacation. I hope somewhere there is a lawyer reading this and helps me get out of this bad situation before a worse situation comes along. I am sick and do not know what to do...please help me!
Please do yourself a favor and file a complaint with the Attorney General in your state.
If you find someone to buy let them know I have 26000 for sale. We have them listed with 5 different companies (very costly to us) and in 2 years have not even had a nibble! Even though they all said" Bluegreen is a very desirable company and we can propbaly sell your points within 90 days" Another BIG lie, so don't fall for that either! We tried to get help by refinancing at a lower rate with them becasue my husband has been laid off and we cannot afford the payments any longer so we tried to get a lower more managable payment but no help from the people who stated they would always be there if we needed anything! HA I asked what they suggested I do since the payments are a real burden right now, and they said just don't make your payments, in 5 months time we will start repo proceeding then take you to court and repo the timeshare, then this will stay on your record for 7 years and you will never be able to purchase with Bluegreen again (LIKE I WOULD WANT TOO!) So if anyone finds someone that would like to buy I sure would like to talk to them I will give them a heck of a deal.
Good luck everyone
Pearl
Susan M
You arent the only onbe trying to sell your points, but as you will find out (the same as I did) they wont fetch very much, nothing like the price we paid for them
I really wish I had never converted to points, everything was fine with my week
My yearly bill goes up every year, and I havent seen anything thats improved
I regret ever hearing about BlueGreen
Anyone want to buy some points 21000, to be exact
I had the same experience. I was told that the points roll over from year to year. Well that was only for the first year. I was prepared to take my family to Aruba with the points that I thought I had saved up. They would do nothing about the lost points. For 6, 000 points, I only got 4 days and I had to pay for the other two days. They told me the points were worth a hundred dollars apiece. I would never spend a $1, 000 a day for a small one bedroon. They have misrepresented themselves and I am trying to sell my points as well.
Oh My God. It is like i wrote that complaint. Bluegreen are THE most useless people on the face of the earth. I can never get booked anywhere i want to go. When they do say they have an opening and i start to book and give them my info all of a sudden there is a new rule that wont let me book. If i call back and comply with the rule there is another to take it's place. They SUCK . DON"T BUY DON"T BUY DON"T BUY DON"T BUY .
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Bluegreen Vacations phone numbers+1 (800) 456-2582+1 (800) 456-2582Click up if you have successfully reached Bluegreen Vacations by calling +1 (800) 456-2582 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have successfully reached Bluegreen Vacations by calling +1 (800) 456-2582 phone number Click down if you have unsuccessfully reached Bluegreen Vacations by calling +1 (800) 456-2582 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached Bluegreen Vacations by calling +1 (800) 456-2582 phone numberCustomer Service+1 (561) 912-8000+1 (561) 912-8000Click up if you have successfully reached Bluegreen Vacations by calling +1 (561) 912-8000 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have successfully reached Bluegreen Vacations by calling +1 (561) 912-8000 phone number Click down if you have unsuccessfully reached Bluegreen Vacations by calling +1 (561) 912-8000 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached Bluegreen Vacations by calling +1 (561) 912-8000 phone number
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Bluegreen Vacations emailslegal.affairs@bluegreenvacations.com100%Confidence score: 100%Support
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Bluegreen Vacations address4960 Conference Way North, Suite 100, Boca Raton, Florida, 33431, United States
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Checked and verified by Michael This contact information is personally checked and verified by the ComplaintsBoard representative. Learn moreNov 21, 2024
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So simple Phone reservations first thing on the morning 11 months out from your travel date and you will get your resevation. This is true fr all club resorts, associate resorts ar a little more tricy and can be very difficult to get in at peak periods due to BG owning limited Inventory in thes resorts. This is all explained on the website.