Diamond Resorts
Reviews and Complaints

Ms. fourtimesamomma,

I may have asssisted her...Now what is your question? I assist many people, do you need assistaance?

Patrick Duffy

patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com
[protected]

JENNHAN/Terry- Why do I think that you must work for Diamond Resorts. The only comments you've made on this site have been to say how wonderful their customer service is and how helpful Mr. Duffy can be...

We too have been having nothing but problems. 15 years ago my parents bought a timeshare in Daytona. They loved the place and the upkeep was great. The added bonus, the property was deed time and NOT points. The maintenance fees were reasonable and remained so for about 10 years. Now, since the properpty has been "assumed" by multiple companies, the latest, Diamond resorts.

Every year, we have the extreme miss fortune of having to sit through the sales speech and lies about how the maintenance fees are so high because of special assessments and that we really are still only members because they are a compassionate company and we need to really make the conversion to points. They have repeatedly told us the company we bought went bankrupt and the deed we have in our possession is effectively useless.

I have done my research and looked at the equivalent points. We not only would have to PAY for additional points to ge tthe equivalent of what he had to the tune of another $12, 000 and the maintenance fees we flatten out. I refused to go for their last sales pitch. The result was immidiate. We were essentially threatened and told we would eventually, no longer be able to use the resort to which we have a deed. My father is over 80 years old and felt scared and believed we needed to do what they said. When I refused, he was afraid. My experience for the rest of the stay seemed to change. We were basically ignored and subjected to rude comments and when trying to inquire why there were no more programs for families, we were told it was because customers like us made it impossible to provide quailty services and programs.

I complained about the exorbatant fees which have effectively gone up by about 30% a year for the last 5 years. I reminded them they could look at their records and see that we have been there every year for 15 years and can tell you on less than 2 fingers the amount of times all of the ammenities and facilities in the complex worked. I have had the same furniture, carpet, bedding, wall paper for the last 10 years. The only things I have seen change is a lobby make over and new pool chairs. No more family programs. No more fitness center. No more putting green. No more playground. No more working water slide. No more "owner night" (free food, games and music). No more pool bar. No more game room. No more breakfast nook.

Do NOT waste your time and money buying into this company. Once you are in, you are stuck. You will NOT see your vacation being cheaper and better than if you rented as an individual. Right now, with the travel sites, we can rent for about $830 a week. Our maintenance fees, $962. You do the math, where is the savings?

Hello Ms. Smith:
My colleague Kyle just forwarded me your email. As indicated in some of my past correspondence you would serve yourself better if you call Patrick Duffy at Diamond's corporate office. This is a company that is quite customer-centric from my personal experiences.
Yours faithfully,
Terry

Read the contract! You have a period of recission, why didn't you utilize that period? I did the first time, then I bought and received my maintenance fee credit on the second presentation 3 years later when it became Diamond Resorts. Now call their office and get your credit.
Kyle

Management fees doubled since we signed up, then tied into a contract until I am 115 years old. I'm tempted to see a solicitor to stop the harrasing letters, phone calls and emails, apparently many others are suffering the same way. The victims need a focal point so they can afford to argue down this international rip-off company.

In doing a bit of Research on Diamond Resorts CEO Stephan Cloobeck I found an interesting quote;

The setting;
During an interview after a very heated board meeting with regents for the Navada University system regarding instate tuition fee. The article is interesting and gives more background on THE MAN himself, but the quote tells the story of the man...

Direct quote from an online article from the Las Vegas Sun.
Heather Rawlyk
Friday, Jan. 30, 2004 | 11:14 a.m.
...
In the hallway Cloobeck told a small group that if his business had overcharged people and refused to pay them back, there would be a criminal complaint from the attorney general's office.

Where's the criminal complaint against them? Cloobeck asked. This is so wrong and incorrigible that we would have elected officials acting like an (expletive) circus. Its simple, give all of the people their money back...

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2004/jan/30/regents-reduce-in-state-tuition-standard/

see the article yourself, just want to share with everyone what a great man they have running Diamond Resorts hypocrisy and self importance.

CVO

Then why don't you explain to all of us WHY maintenance fees are through the roof - you can't ever book anything - nothing is available during the time people want to vacation - Why did our sales person tell us we could book anything on 2500 points - HOWEVER - that is not true - We CAN'T BOOK anything on 2500 points. So this whole thing is WORTHLESS - I say everyone who has a complaint against this Scam of a company needs to pull together and get a Class Action Lawsuit against. Please comment

I am an owner of Diamond Resort just received my confirmation while going through the paper work came across a sentence stating that we now have to pay $25.00 for parking, internet access and fitness center. Most of us just paid a water intrussin fee which we only had 3 months to get the money how much more can we take they are bleeding us more fees .As we go forward with our class action suite hope this will stop this scam so other people will not have to put up with their lies. Cannot wait until the trial starts sure would like to be their.
Unsatisfied Diamond Resort International Owner

CREST

Many are upset and more are finally waking up to the SCAM that is the "Diamond Difference" I think is how "they" phrase it...

KBCowners.com for more info

United as one we can...

CVO

IS ANY ONE ELSE UPSET OVER THE FIASCO AT THE POINT AT POIPU
WE COULD BUILD A NEW RESORT FOR THE PRICE OF 'REPAIRS'
HOW DO YOU GET OUT ?
AND THEY CONTINUE TO SELL WHILE CURRENT OWNERS CAN'T GET A RESERVATION
LIKE TO HEAR IF ANYONE ELSE IS UPSET

Hi everyone,
My husband and I bought into the timrshare at the Daytona Beach Regency in Daytona Beach Fla. in 1997.I really haven't had any big issues until last year(except the maintenance going up every year and the conditions of the condo going down.)
Last year and the same thing is happening now, I have tried to book our vacation.(Bear in mind Ive always been able to get at this condo anytime without any problem.)I can not get a week anytime after march 1 until after Sept 1. BUT, you can book whatever week you want directly thru the resort and pay a ridiculous amount per night. I have made several callls about this to the Las Vegas office and what it boils down to is they need to generate income to cover the maintenance fees on the huge amount of foreclosed units.This is the excuse they use as to why the maintenance fees keep going up.Then you
can go to Expedia and get a week and its a little bit cheaper, meanwhile you have all these points to go on your own.
They need to stop this it is just not fair, I told them they are jusst ruining the company themselves.

Mr. dufster is no longer benefiting from our intercourse and has withdrawn, much like a shy turtle head...

CVO

Hi all
Some good news from the UK. eg - TCA http://www.timeshare.org.uk/news.html
" Kings Ransome Holidays (Peachy Leisure) yesterday took a large number of its Members to Court in Manchester. Kings were attempting to claim back management fees and other monies from said Members.The Judge STRUCK out every claim, and told Kings they were liable for ALL defence costs, and ALL Legal costs."
It seems the LAW does not like scamming timeshare! It also just so happens that this company had the same contract type as the company for this thread. Shame on them!
Wheres duffy?

I think they are beginning to see this is a battle they are going to Loooooose! I have word two resorts in Hawaii have now beaten them off the board and taken back their resorts from DRI. There is another resort on Maui that is also beginning to get vocal too. I smell smoke DRI is that you going down in flames? What a site that will be, a historical moment I would think.

Patty ol boy have not heard from you in a while, remember the rip cord is on the left and remember to tuck and roll when you hit the ground, oh and running might be good too... HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 I think just might be your year...

CVO
Chief Value Officer

P.S. to the Rest of you DRI HATERS Happy New Years and may God bless effort you put forth to exposing the TRUTH about DRI

I'll keep telling those looking in to a life with any time share or exchange company, RUN do not drink the cool-aid, it is 2nd grade math and it does not take 90 minutes to explain

$15, 000/week owned (or more) for your points
$ 1, 200/year/week owned (and more guaranteed as time goes on)
20 years @ $1200.00 is another $24, 000.00 ( most people will only be able to vacation for about 20 to 25 years and not necessarily consecutively)

so now you take your total investment in your vacation ownership
15, 000
24, 000

39, 000 or about $2000.00/week (Just for your accomodations)
or $285.00 a night

Now go to Expedia, Travelocity or whatever your favorite travel site and see what you can book and some of those properties you can book online are the same ones that DRI manages along with RCI and other exchange companies and you wont be beholden to just one company for you vacation needs. Example we just recently stayed in Sedona, Az at a nice place for 150.00/night. I have always been able to get a room from one of the online travel sites previously mentioned.

The Timeshare Industry has begun to self implode, people are giving away their timeshares because they do not work the way the 90 minute presentation sells it. Save yourself and your family the money and misery of being stuck with one company and their limited (and often not available) choices.

My two cents

CVO

Hi all
I WANT MY MONEY BACK NOW!

Good luck on trying to get rid of your time share. When I tried to give mine back to Diamond I was told that, if I did that, I would still be liable for their ridiculous "maintenance" fees. Ultimately I lost about $20, 000 to this outfit.

Duffy is just out to squeeze his customers for as much as he can get. As long as it is strictly legal, he has not compunction over forcing people into misery. I have met many in this situation.

He should be ashamed, but I fear that actually he thinks himself rather clever. He probably feels pleased at how he has squeezed all this cash out of what I am sure he thinks of as "small people".

Nine months ago, my position was deleted. Our family income went from $80K a year to less than $30K a year. I subsequently applied for, and was approved, for unemployment. Unfortunately, with the recent mess Congress had made, I no longer get unemployment. I am down to zero dollars per months. I have applied for everything I am qualified for...from education to human resources to retail jobs. I have had interviews, but have never received a job offer. We have cut "unnecessary" expenses like the extra TV with cable, no home phone, extracurricular activities for our children were stopped, I quit school. I had called our credit card companies and our car loan companies. Each one was very helpful and either cut out the late fees or tacked two months worth of payments onto the back of the loan. I called Diamond and what do I get...NOTHING! When I explained the situation and what other companies have done for us, they said that was illegal. When I corrected the individual over the phone, she rephrased her statement to "Diamond doesn't do that." Really? Is this how you keep customers? It's not like the CEO needs anymore money...he can help the "little" people by offering some type of relief or break to help through the tough times. It seems like this is a trend with Diamond and they don't care about their customers...only the bottom line and what they can scam out of their customers. I am so utterly disappointed in this company that we are considering selling our timeshare. With a lack of income, we can't afford to go on vacation anyways.

I would never recomend you to anyone.

Second month..I sent this payment well ahead of time. What did you do? Held it until the 29th, today, to cash it. Sorry, but I called my bank, and frankly I am tired of everything being everyone elses fault. They didn't recieve your part until the 26th. Again holding our check for 14 days. I am not paying the late fee. I am sending my complaints to Missouri and Iowa's Attorney General.

Dear Mr & Mrs Smythe,
Thank you for your post above. I do believe you have come to a better understanding of how your bill pay functions at your bank. This of course with my colleagues assistance. As you are aware, it is not a bank wire but a paper check that is tendered. Thus necessitating a window for delivery different from your actual due date. They also suggested to you the use of Sure Pay as a convenient manner. When your bank send the check they automatically deduct from your ledger the amount. However, your check is in the post on its way to the payee.

If we may be of any further assistance, we would be happy to help.
Yours cordially,
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer

I would like to agree with all the complaints I have read. DRI's payment processing is set to incur late charges. I sent them proof that my bank paid on time, the 12th of the month to get there by the 15. It was DRI's finance department that held my check until the 24th and not taking the money until the 27th, only to give us a $13.50 late charge. When I called I was told they have a 10 day payment process and the it was our banks fault. And then the CSR proceeded to lecture me on proper bill paying, he told me I HAD to get my payment to them on the 1st of the month to have it processed and posted by the due date of the 15th. I have never had to pay a month in advance through internet bill pay. This is bank to bank. I wish I would have used my 5 day right to cancel.

Dear Mr Duffy

I have read the various comments on this blog and would like to ask a simple question.

There has been much discussion about the rises in management fees. Concrete facts seemed to be in short supply. I therefore did some research.

I found that Expedia were offering appartments for rental at the Santa Barbara Golf and Ocen Club in Tenerife. One two bedroom appartment cost £510 for one week at Easter next year (2011). This is far enough in advance that it should reflect standard prices and not any form of special offer.

Looking in the DRI points calendar, one week in a two bed appartment at the Santa Barbara Golf and Ocean Club "costs" members 6500 points. Looking at the invoice that you sent to me for maintenance fees, this would equate to more than £800 in maintenance charges.

It seems from this that you charge around 60% more for maintenence that casual holidaymakers would pay to rent... without the costs of buying points and the annual commitments to DRI.

Looking through the various blogs containing complaints about DRI, it would seem that this is not an isolated situation.

Can you explain why your maintenance charges are so high? I would have expected members to be paying substantially less than casual travellers given that they have paid so much to buy points in the first place and that they are committed to holidaying with you.

I think that we would all appreciate a breakdown of the expenses incurred in maintaining one of your appartments for a week.

Regards

Robin

Mr/Mrs Not Happy...

Why don't you reach out to me...You seem to be so full of mis-information. You never get an invoice every year? Hmmmm...Really? But you seem to know about it?

Email me like I write...so I can help you get your invoice...If you have not gotten it already.

Yours respectfully,
Patrick Duffy

It's the samething every year. They send the bill no one gets it for some odd reason. And they add all these fees. Patrick Duffy seems to have the same response on everyones complaint. Email me and i will get to the bottom of this. You know you won't do anything. You changed the call center to miami and those reps are horrible. So rude and unprofessional, eating on the phone and chatting with other co-workers, while they were suppose to help me. I know that the pune reps were bad but they weren't that bad. I remember being able to speak to the same reps, all so very nice and helpful. Now they are just useless. About the fees, yes granted we are told they are going to go up annually. But come on, 500 dollars! The money is suppose to be for the resorts to maintain them. They don't look maintained. I've seen better. When i call i verifiy my address, phone number and email... Now why is it that i NEVER get my invoice? Everything is correct. But i never get it. I can relate to the complaint above. You need to start worrying more about the customer service and the properties.

Dear Eden Barr,
Please email me at;

patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com

Let me investigate the specifics of your post...As it seems you are getting some bill, somewhere, sometime because you are still an owner?

Thank you,
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer

Whatever you do don't purchase more points. That just increases your maintenace fees. You should be able to locate units online in the Diamond Resort web site. You don't have to do it 13 months in advance. I've owned for over 20 years now and have seen a drastic increase in maint. fees. I'm ready to give mine back too.

I visited them in April I have been with them since Monarch, never had problem with Monarch. Well they invited me to a meeting. They say they were going to talk about the new things that Diamond has to offer after few minutes they started pitching to buy new points. She said do not tell anyone but I am willing to give you a $1, 000 travel voucher. She told me if I cancel I will loose $500.00 of the voucher.
For the deposit I sign to get a credit card I got $1, 200. The problem started when I got home and really starting reading the papers I realized I did not need additional points. I sign the cancellation form mailed it right away. When I called them to check if they received the forms they said yes but they were going to keep $1, 000 from the credit card. I asked them why they said that I sign saying that they could keep $1, 000.00. He sent me a copy when I look at they paper I sign is the one that offer the voucher. When I told him that he said the voucher worth nothing. Now I am stuck with a $1, 000.00 bill. They are thief.

This for me is one of the mildest of co mplaints. WhenI was High pressured in singning up for Sunterra It cost me $22, 500. I told the mgr that at that time I was 83 years of age but they contnued their pressure. I have spent another $300 hiring a firm that assured me that they will sell it for me very quickly. I never recieved ONE offer.

Since I purchased My wfe became a Cancer victim. I called many times up to the main office pleading for them to buy back. But to no avail. Now with th economy as it ts for us all. As a veteran of WW2. I find this firm despicable and uncaring.Does any one have any suggestions of what I can do.

sicerely, Mel

Diamond Resorts has the worst customer service I have ever encountered. If you are thinking of buying with them don't. On two separate occassions they have lost my checks. Then they turn around and try to charge me late fees. In trying to take care of the situation i have just been bounced around from person to person with no resolution. I had to do a stop check and ended up being charged for that as well as the late fees.

The latest complaint is the lack of response to requests to honor the $150 maintenance fee credit for 2009, and for two American Airlines certificates.
Phone calls and letters are to no avail. I will contact the Federtal Trade Commision.

I just received a notice to pay $1472.87 for association dues, act #2337794.
we have never been able to get a date at any resort that we can use. We are in for more $14, 000. How can we begin to get out of this current dues and sell our membership. My husband is on dialysis and is now being declared legally blind. I have to do all the driving to go anywhere.He is 87 and I AM 84. we have had the time share for approx. 6-7 years and never used. it.

This organization does not care about the customer. They made consistent mistakes on my contract and have absolutely no regard for the services they provide. My list of complaints is long...stay away from this organization if you value your time and money.

Lesson #1 Never buy a new timeshare ownership from a company. #2 Don't believe ANYTHING a salesman shows you unless it is in writing.

Please let me know if any kind of class action suit comes up. My husband and I bought into this scam a year ago. Not only did fees go up, we can’t find a resort any where in the world with availability. Even in off season!

I am disgusted with this and would like to find some resolution. Has anyone consulted a lawyer about the legality of this fraud, bait and switch….

we have had problems with booking weeks also.

We also had the loss of our maintance fee check last yr I believe and even though we had proof of the check being sent and cashed by Diamond on this end from our bank we had to rewrite and pay the extra fees involved. And I have never had an easy time of reserving a time period at Poipu since Diamond took over, years past it was easy and the owning company worked with you, not against you(us) as Diamond does...I capitalize their name only because of correct grammar, not out of respect.

Welcome to the Diamond Difference...

CVO

You just have to love the classic delusional responses coming from the duffster... That must be from his quick responses to sharp criticism book of lies, does he really believe what he is saying or is it all just part of the ACT? Only his hair dresser knows for sure... Then his futile attempts to squash the complaint by taking it off line. How utterly predictable, I sure miss the duffster on this board. It was always a good laugh to read his dribble and canned excuses for fleecing the members. He has moved on to bigger and better rip offs scams and fleecings I guess, or perhaps him a clueless are planning to take over the world... (which one is binky and which one is the brain?)

CVO

Ms. fourtimesamomma,

Let me explain something to you;
If DRI did not decide to acquire and run these resorts correctly...You, and all the other uninformed owners and members whould be crying about losing your timeshare. Everyone, including DRI pays to own. Your maintenace fees pay salary, utilities, upkeep, etc.

Do you think since your purchase in 2000 prices have declined in Hawaii?

If you have a cogent question/inquiry my contact information is as such;

Patrick Duffy

patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com
[protected]

We have been Diamond owners for many years and attended many "owner updates". I believe we were lied to every time. Usually more than one lie each visit. We were able to cancel once due to their lying we caught within the cancellation period. They were fined $800000 by the Arizona Attorney General's Office in December 2016. They have continued the same shoddy and illegal practices since then. I will be contacting the Attorney General's Office soon to file another complaint. Fraud of this type in Arizona is a class 2 felony.

I have been researching the timeshare issue ever since I became an owner at Greensprings in Virginia since 1998 and have been amazed at the vitriol and hatred toward our somewhat less than desirable and esteemed management. I for one believe we should vote as a block at the next Bd meeting in November in James City Virginia (Colonial Williamsburg) and vote them out and at that point we can make some real changes to the direction and management of this resort, as well as organizing the same for the other resorts, which they can use our strategy as a basis to effect change. I have thoroughly read the By-Laws and it appears the "timeshare owners" have a great deal of more authority than what management wants you to know. With a few changes we can force the sale of the Greensprings development by changing the By-Laws with 95% of the voting membership (which is made up of current owners - not "point owners" and once we control the Board we can propose a different tact to make this easier). It appears only timeshare owners who kept their deed and not traded in for points can take control of the Greensprings Resort. Once we have control of the Board (which can happen by simple majority vote) we can systematically make the necessary changes and sell this financial train wreck to the highest bidder as a condo or apartment complex and split the proceeds with all the owners. Now I know why they wanted to rid the development of owners and put in the Point system (makes it harder to change the Board). Nonetheless, we should do this while the Greensprings Vacation Resorts is still a viable entity and can attract a well-heeled investor(s). I am completely paid up, have no loan with DRI and currently a licensed attorney from Texas and have reciprocity to be able to practice in VA. I have sued countless institutions/lenders and Banks and currently work for the Federal Gov't, but feel the need to right this horrible situation everyone is complaining about, but we need to band together either in person or by proxy at the Resort and vote these particular members off the Board. That is what will scare them and is the only way to get their attention. I am willing to do this and IF I were to get any payment for the sale from the fact that I am an owner, it would be when we SOLD the dam thing along with the other owners. I don't really care if I get any money out of this strategy, only that we all get out of this financial mess, that apparently will last not just a lifetime (like our brochures said), but for eternity - which they never CLEARLY told us (probably not a good selling point when they pitched the idea to us). Also, I wonder if any salesman ever said that in 20 years your timeshare that you paid off will be nearly worthless, in the timeshare resale market, since no one will want to take over your obligation to pay the maintenance fees (the response would be that "we can't predict the future"), fair enough but what is good for the goose and is good for the gander. Let's use the bylaws to our advantage and see what tune they sing then. Many know this Timeshare would be a good deal if the maintenance fees were many times cheaper, in fact, it would make it more marketable, like when the fees were $387 when I bought mine, it would be an easy sell. We all know that is not the case. What they have is a fish on the preverbal hook (we being the fish), and they can raise our fees us each year with impunity. In any event, I am fortunate because I can get out of my timeshare obligations any-time I want, and could legally transfer/sell my timeshare to ANY purchaser who will use it as a residence. This is so easy to accomplish and it's such a fantastic loophole that it makes me ecstatic that I did not fall for their sales technique to give up my deed back in 2008 when Sunterra got sold or was bankrupt. What they should have done then was sell darn Resort, pay everyone their money back and called it even, but no that as an opportunity to sell out except to DRI. To that end, please contact me to get organized so we can vote these current members off the Board. I will more than happy run the for the Board, but I can't do it alone and have to have some of you who are owners from Greensprings (deed owners) to join me so we can not only drastically change the direction of this Timeshare situation, but may well-prove as a model for other Timeshare Resorts to possibly rid ourselves of timeshares altogether, before it's too late. As I said my contract was signed in 1998 and I have an out, therefore for those owners in Greensprings you may have one as well. Send me an email to get started at aprlaw@live.com and hopefully I will get some volunteers to run for the Board, along with me, to help me dislodge this incredible journey we all have experienced and hopefully end it profitably. Hang in there. Anthony Romano

DRI, Royal Holiday Club etc.. why it has to be about scamming people? Why this business is based on misleading and lying to people?

Please guys, be welcome to read also my story about RHC (Royal Holiday Club).

Did anyone ever find out how to join a law suit or get action against the rise of maintenance fees and that "Special Assessment" fee for another property? Our maintenance fees have more than doubled, and it's not right that DRI should get away with this? We stupidly or was convinced through sales pitch to trade our deeded one week into a points system the DR club? The maintenance fees went up by $500 a year, but now doubled to $3900+ and we've only been part of this points system for a little over one year. We can't afford this and now in collections and not sure what to do? After 10 years of owning one week and being fine with that, do we have any recourse or do we really walk away after all that? We were sold into something it's not, and especially the fact, they knew that Special Assessment fee was coming up the pipe and we had no clue. They should not be allowed to sell into DRI points or club knowing something wrong like this. We'd like to join a complaint or law-suit or something stating that DRI should not be able to do this to people?

10 to 1 this guy is associated with and bought DRI from Dennis Hof, another Las Vegas area timeshare con artist who parlayed his fortune into the prostitution business. They're practically brothers on the surface, although I doubt Hof has anything close to the degree of paranoia shown by Cloobeck on the show-for those who missed it he has a bodyguard who drives him everywhere and he ditched the traditional budget hotel after his bodyguard inspected it and found it lacking. Needless to say, he certainly didn't stick to the diet of canned foods and inedible crap other CEO's on the show have traditionally had to endure. Instead, he checked into a luxury hotel-and not just a hotel, a suite. Naturally, Undercover Boss did NOT show him taking on the job of time share salesman, for which he knew he would be torn apart. Quite a sham of an episode, really.

Well said Rodney

He truly is an ego-maniac I do not know if he is personable as I have never met the man, however his actions are that of a man full of himself and total lack of conscience when it comes to screwing over anyone else. He is all about how Rich he is and has no clue what the rest of the 99% must do just to make it, and frankly he does not care about the 99% as long as they keep paying him is extortion fees to run his resort acquisition machine.

My two cents

CVO

BTW did not watch the S.O.B. on the See B.S. U C Boss...

Quite interesting. Never have I seen an athletic head of a corporation display such paranoid behavior, especially on national television (CBS Undercover Boss). I doubt that the airing of the episode will win them a substantial number of new customers, when likely paired with the investigative reporting on websites such as this, that will also find new life in a number of highly publicized new stories throughout the internet and all types of media, from print to broadcast and everything else. It seems as if Mr. Cloobeck is extremely worried someone will come after him-which is hardly a surprise, given the number of complaints here and elsewhere. But to show such paranoia on national television? Wow...just wow...also, something I can say after taking a look at the detailed complaints at [redacted].com then there's the added mystery that somehow this guy knew when to buy a Lambourghini from a Southern California dealership the very same month 54 such cars were bought and never paid for. News reports indicate Mr. Cloobeck owes well over $300, 000 for his. Mr. Cloobeck strikes me as a quite personable guy who may want to do the right thing, especially when it makes him look good publicly, but possibly in way too far over his head in a business model that relies on a never ending parade of suckers. Timeshares are notoriously poor investments, and a building far more prestigious in Las Vegas than DRI's Polo Towers, Planet Hollywood's Westgate Towers, also has numerous complaints for fraud and other timeshare related issues. Mr. Cloobeck is driven by ego and a desire to be admired (same as Arnold Schwarzenegger) that is almost a DSM-IV level condition. A very decent person when he wants to be, but also one who can't help but use charm and intellect to get his way, no matter how trivial or important the matter may be. I think he just is in way over his head, which is a shame, because he's clearly talented and personable, and the paranoia is off the charts. Still, the guy is very likeable, just don't buy a timeshare from him (or anyone else) or trust him in any manner. That's my observation, anyway.

I bought in to Sunterra in 1999, My so called maintenance fees were around $500 Dollars now they have reached $1655. When is this going to stop, This is crazy! I did not sign up for this. I think we need to open this up to the media and let them take care of them! This is a big scam ! All I can say is stay away from timeshares. I cannot believe something like this goes on in the USA, What a disgrace! I think we need a lawsuit against Diamond Resorts International! Who's in ?

bhenning86@hotmail.com

Has anyone seen Mr Duffy lately? He seems to have stopped talking to us. Has he gone into hiding with his chum Steve Cloobeck.

Where are you boys? Are you huddled together admiring Pat's collection of coloured squares? Oh Pat, it looks like you got great value for all that heartache and suffering you caused. Are you consoling yourself by thinking that art and beauty are all that matters?

Try being kind to others. Be generour and thoughful. Put the needs of others before your own. That's the way to true happiness.

If my money had gone to people that really needed it to get by, I would not be worried. In fact when we sold some old jewelry the other day, we gave the proceeds to the Somali famine appeal. But I do feel seriously annoyed that so much of my money has been taken by Duffy and Cloobeck using unethical means and all that Duffers can do with his share is buy coloured squares.

Come out, come out, wherever you are. We want our money back.

How do I join this class actionsuit against Diamond. Our wonderful property in Sedona was taken over by the evil empire. I hate DIAMOND

Went to one of their "presentations" based on the promise of a 5 or 7 night vacation in Cape Cod. Received the "Getaway Certificate" and had to pay $29 to "activate" it. What did this activation get me? Access to a list of resorts ALL of which have NO AVAILABILITY for the next TWO YEARS! NOTHING was available! Well, to be honest, some golf club in Indiana had a room available for a single night here and there, but there were NO 5 or 7 day stays available on ANY of their listed resorts. By the way Nothing in Cape Cod was on the list. I would highly suggest, if you see one of their hawkers at a festival or outdoor event, flip them the bird and keep walking!

I also have a terrible experience with diamond resorts, I also was scammed into signing papers and i have only been there since august 2017 they have already collected almost $3000 from my account and when i decided to finally try to use the points i was informed we owed over eleven hundred dollars membership fee's . I or my wife don't remember anybody telling us there would be a extra fee on top of the money they receive out of my account every month, we just thought the amount coming out of our account was the total price.
I never received any e-mail or anything to let me know of the amount due.
I called customer service and was advised to cancel i would have to pay the membership due (which like i said they never mentioned anything about a membership price) and i have to pay off the loan which is like 15k before they could release my contract. I am not a rich person and my only option now is to cancel my bank account so they can't take any more money from me and loose my good credit.
I am filing a report with the BBB and my see if a attorney has any suggestions.

You people that are writing in and saying they are completely satisfied are employee's of diamond or something, why else would you be reading and commenting on these area's?

Never, ever buy a timeshare! 16 years ago my husband and I bought with a company that went bankrupt and Diamond Resorts now owns. They took over our ownership and changed the entire structure of it forcing us to spend nearly $5000 if we would like to trade it for any resort outside of those that Diamond owns. We refuse, so we are now limited only to Diamond's properties which are very limited in number. Our deed has no value and so we are stuck paying $800/year in maintenance fees (hundreds more than when we bought). We can't GIVE it away! Buyer beware!

Diamond resorts is a joke. Do not waste a single moment in their sales dungeon. Lies are common and they seem to believe their own forked tongues. Fortunately I only purchased the sampler.
There are so many other sites with quality vacations...yet Diamond puts themselves on a pedestal and really plays to your emotions and they hype you into the moment.
Do your research and don't succumb to their sales tactics...not just them, all of them.
Save your dignity and your money, they will take them both if you allow it.

I have only been a DRI member for about 2 years, and they have great properties and their staff is excellent as well.
The obligatory sales pitches that many of the special gift vacations have are professional, but persistent and they feel almost desperate, like they will get fired if they dont meet a quota or something every month. I dont know that that is true, but I have that feeling from the several I have gone through. Other than that and their antiquated computer system not processing my payments very efficiently, everything has been great.
Other than the sales pitch, they have great facilities, better than I would get by paying out of pocket, and they have a deed back program now, though I dont know much about it. Many complaints seem to be from people not paying attention to the terms. Like some expect completely free time? Seriously? And never take a salesmans word for anything if it is not in print. And it helps to try and develop a report with good salesmen, it seems.
Some say that you cant resell your DRI points, but I have had several calls by people who want to get me to sell my points. I am not interested, but they offered between $3 and $3.50 per point. I am not interested in selling, but if they caught me coming out of a sales meeting...I dunno.
My wife and I thoroughly enjoy our membership, minus the sales pitches, and their computer system seems to be like ten years out of date, lol, but I'm cool with that. I think we get plenty of value for our membership and look forward to years of vacations ahead.

What a bunch of leeches... WORST company EVER! Best thing to do is run the first time they ever mention Diamond Resorts.. What a scam...

Found your blog. Its really nice on timeshares for sales. I appreciate your article. Its important to get good timeshare sellers, buyers etc. So thanks for sharing all that important information.

Diamond Resort, Orlando, FL
Mystic Dunes Resort, Orlando, FL
High Home Owner Association Fee?
I am writing this to federal government to take an action;
Hello Manager Review Board,
We bought this 2 bed, 2 bathroom one week per year time share in 2008 for $ 17, 000/= in Orlando, FL called Diamond Resort, Mystic Dunes resort, Orlando, FL.
They didn't mention to us that the HOA (home owner maintenance or association fee) per year will be how much?, and also they didn't mention to us that what would be the per year incremental.
Now the fee is 1234/= dollars per year?, which is way high to pay for this type of resort, will get cheaper for a week from other sources.
Could you please investigate from 2008-09 till today why and how they are increasing fee without asking with the owner of the resort?, if they say not to increase they wouldn't lesson, I made few calls and express my opinion to reduce the fee but they didn't pay any attention.
The board members and other officials are almost same guys who are saying “YES“ to everything and getting kick back from them.
I am not sure how many people are going through this type of cheating and losing their time shares, because of the HOA fee?.
Finally I have decided to surrender this resort voluntarily and stay away from this type of cheating.
Thanks and hoping to resolve and punish to those who are doing this type of cheating with Americans.

Please read this article http://nyti.ms/1K1GAVG. Their stock dropped after

I can't pay the mant fee My husband pass away and their is no money. They are telling me I owe over 6, ooo.oo in fees. I don't have any money I work part time 22 hr a week. Just want to sell this and move on.