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Diamond resorts have been resorting to bullying and harrassment in an attempt to get people to pay their ever increasing management fees. A campaign of phone calls, emails, and letters have in some cases caused a great deal of suffering to people who have lost their husband or wife, have retired or have suffered ill health and can no longer afford the management fees that have increased every year. When we originally joined (GVC ) in 2002 we were paying £350 my fees for this year are over a £1000! I have sent a letter together with my certificates resigning from Diamond Resorts and am now waiting for their first salvo in what appears to be coming a concerted effort to terrorise people into paying their fees.
Their dispicable attitude and business practices have led to a movement in the UK to fight them every step of the way and more people are refusing to pay everyday. According to Diamond once you sign up to buy a timeshare from them you are tied to them for life and cannot leave! You despite promises to the contrary sell your points because their is no market, and Diamond have closed off whatever market there may have been by saying you can only sell to an existing member through an agent of their choosing!
It is time this company wee brought to book over the many scams they have perpetrated and their campaign of harrassment and threats. When are the authorities going to take notice and do something to protect the public from these people?
Very interesting keep me posted as to how the research is going! I have received my first letter telling me i am not able to resign! Let battle commence!
When I sent my certificates back they returned them to me with the letter (which is unsigned!) at the end they did say under exceptional circumstances they may consider allowing someone to relinquish their points. However one of the exceptional circumstances was the death of the points owner! They would then at their discretion on seeing the death certificate make a decision! There was one proviso though that there were no family members to transfer points to! so not only are they claiming i am tied to them for life but that they can make me tie my children to them for life as well! I am not sure however how they could effect the transfer of ownership if i was dead, or how they could force a corpse to pay management fees! There are an awful lot of people now fighting them and a protest group has started in the UK called DRIP protest group over 600 members and climbing!
Has anyone noticed how the mouthpiece for DRI has been very conspicuous by his absence of late on this site? I do wish he would come back and actually answer some of the questions! It would also be great to see how he would put a positive spin on the courtcase they lost in St Marttens! Come on Mr Duffy show yourself!
It is interesting that Mr Duffy appears to still be in hiding particularly since it his contention that there are only one or two malcontents that are anti DRI!
I have found this site http://www.blagger.com where there are a lot of complaints relating to the bully boys DRI have hired to harass, bully, intimidate, scare, threaten, and con into paying even more money so they can buy up more companies and screw more owners for high management fees while selling cheap holidays in the accommodation their members are paying for on Expedia etc! I am highly amused and find it ironic that DRI along with their appointed resale company have hired another bunch of shysters to try and collect money from the refusniks, maybe it indicates the circles that DRI executives move in!
Come on Mr Duffy come out you know you want to! Be a man and fave up to your accusers! I mean your company are so honest (but obviously are not able to count!) and upstanding and after all there are only a couple of troublemakers!
Here is an interesting piece!
This is really interesting found this complaint I know it is quite long but it is worth the read!;
Diamond Resorts International here on the island of St Maarten in the Netherlands Antilles, this country was not on your list, had bought SUNTERRA FLAMINGO BEACH RESORT as well as ROYAL PALM BEACH.
The Maintenance fees went from in the $700 mark to $1008 each week.
They then added on Collection fees, Late Fees Interest each different but over $200.
A court injunction was placed but they defied that and sent out Termination of Leases Letters in April 2009.
My THIRTEEN YEAR OLD daughter was sent TWO letters by Certified Mail for the foreclosures!
Their Legal Counsel ELIZABETH BRENNAN ESQ said she would take legal action against me and denies that Diamond ever sent thos letters which were sent to THE BAHAMAS so I received them months later and the post office was not going to give them as they were sent to a minor of 13!
They claim that when they type in my address IT AUTOMATICALLY COMES UP AS THE BAHAMAS
Another comment "TIME IS MONEY AND WE WILL NOT WASTE ANY MORE TIME IN CONTACTING YOU'
We went to check in and were told our weeks were forclosed.
The Resort Manager a LOU told me 'Get a lawyer"
'If you want to stay we can give you the rate of $89 per night"
Having already collected twice $1008 plus twice $31.56!
They refused to contact us.
there is another court hearing here November 3 2009.
No Maintenance fees can be paid at the resort.
He has closed the sales office.
The only thing growing is the restaurant that is spreading like a cancer and most beach front units now look at the kitchen instead of a sunset.
I also bought two weeks from an owner recently.
DIAMOND RESORTS refused to speak to me as a 'third party'
They were however happy to deduct the payments of $608, $308, $300 $400 $400 $31.56 $31.56
from the third party's credit card... mine!
When the owner called to get the transfers done she was told the weeks had been foreclosed.
This is how DIAMOND RESORTS INTERNATIONAL operates on the island of ST MAARTEN where there is no office with people to contact only mutes< EVERYTHING is done from Las Vegas.
The owner STEPHEN CLOOBECK also contributes to the Legal Counsel of a Senator under investigation as well as other political figures! With our Maintenance Fees?
Someone must investigate this man and the company
I have found that the land of the resort is under the name of 'SAINT MAARTEN TITLE LIMITED 'and the address is BONNINGTON st EDINBURGH SCOTLAND! for land on the island of St Maarten and the CORPORATE OFFICE is in LAS VEGAS USA
Now we have DRI's response;
[04/01/2010] Patrick Duffy/DRI: Hello Pamela Jenkins.
Contrary to your request, this is to inform you that you will not be receiving a settlement of the frivolous claim that you have posted here. Instead, you will be sued by us this week for defamation, intentional interference with our business, punitive damages as well as a demand for you to pay our attorneys fees and court costs. Your allegations regarding Diamond Resorts International® and Mr. Cloobeck personally are completely false, defamatory and done maliciously by you to damage the reputation of the company and Mr. Cloobeck personally. The most absurd portions of your post are your allegation of fraud along with your allegation that maintenance fees are used for political contributions, all of which you know are lies. Your improper and illegal actions will not be tolerated. Despite my numerous communications with you, you persist in making things up and harassing our company and team members. You have taken it too far now with your complete fabrications. You will be sued this week.
Elizabeth Brennan, Esq.
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Elizabeth.brennan@diamondresorts.com
There are several other posts but this is GREAT!big grin
[01/05/2010] Pamela Jenkins: I would like you to know that there was a court hearing and the above threats from Elizabeth Brennan were thrown out by the Netherlands Antilles Judge and as he said THE TRUTH IS NEVER SLANDER. I won my case against Diamond resorts and Stephen Cloobeck and as soon as I have the English Translation of the judgement it will be posted.
I actually heard about the case from the lawyer involved in the Class action suit and Diamond sent THREE letters, two with the wrong name and they arrived after the court hearings
Pamel Jenkins
The site all this is on is called CanYouTrustThem.com
February 8, 2011 at 8:52 AM Edit (10m left) Delete (10m left) Flag Quote & Reply
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So Mr Duffy what do you have to say for yourself now?
Sandra I commend you on your honesty however I know what we were told when we purchased with GVC and I know what I am being told now are completely different. I have while on holiday last year in Ireland met several people including 2 retired businessmen, a doctor (all from the UK) and a retired 3* General and they all felt they have been lied to and deceived, so while you were being honest an awful lot of your colleagues were not!
I am actually taking leagal advice because when my wife died in 2008 neither I or my solicitor were made aware of the fact by DRI that I did not have to take on the obligation of the timeshare, but could have relinquished it they just transferred it into my name, so obviously the people in Lancaster were also economical with the truth when my solicitor spoke to them.
I agree the cost of living has increased as have cars etc but management fees increased by 35% in one year and as far as i am aware nothing else i buy has increased by this much!
With regard the accommodation again I accept it is generally good but when I stayed in Tenerife it was not 5*, I went to Ireland (to use up the points i had paid for which had i been informed correctly I would not have had to do!) last year and again good accommodation but not 5*.
I am in a position now where i cannot derive any benefit from paying over a £1, 000 in management fees I can get a very good holiday anywhere in the world at a time i want for less than that, so all i want is to do what i have been told i could do by numerous employees over the years, and that is stop using the points, and not have to continue paying their fees.
sdlm Not sure what your message refers to but I do pay my bills and owe money to no one, I have used DRI points (and GVC and Sunterra) in the past but now I no longer want to or can derive any use from the points now my wife has died so this year I have decided to exercise my right not to purchase / pay for a service i no longer want or plan to use! Which is what I was told I could do when we signed up! The fact that DRI have varied the terms and conditions to suit them is not my problem I have my agreement and am happy to go to court and prove I have the right to do what I have decided to do!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
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
So you have written proof that Diamond Resorts will not let you resign from their magic points?
I would sure love a copy of that letter, how can they force someone to be a member for life especially in light of the hosing they are currently giving their members. Every contract has an out...
CVO
This company is unbelievable. What a tale of woe they have left across the UK and North America. I have lost my timeshare at Garden Lago that was working fairly well ( fixed week with RCI) changed that to points with Sunterra in 2005 at a cost of £4500. DRI then take over and ever since no availability and through the roof costs. Gave up membership in 2007 left with no fees owing, now debt collectors' letters and phone calls. Not paying another penny. See DRIP site. Very good advice.
Good luck all. Neil
Datrick of Puffy wont be back on this board the fire is too hot for him and he knows he will just get slammed again and again if he returns. His last posting was December 20th when he thanked me for my opinion about what a crappy bunch of used car salesmen DRI executives are and wished me a happy holiday (he is so nice) He signed off and never came back. I am assured he still works for DRI, I guess this board was a loosing battle and his boss had him focus other battles to fight elsewhere that maybe showed some promise of winning. Datrick must get rather discouraged with all of the HATE for Diamond Resorts International found on this board.
You know the saying if you can't stand the heat... I miss his charm and witty banter, don't you?
JK Datrick,
I really loath you and the organization you represent. If you (Datrick) and all of the fudge packed Executives at DRI stopped breathing right now the entire world would undoubtedly be a much better place to live, even Egypt and Iran and the entire middle east for that matter would probably be at peace, just knowing that the air breathing ### sucking pieces of [censored] that run Diamond Resorts International were all dead...
This is just a personal opinion (Brenner put your lawsuit down, I have a right to my opinion, it says so in the constitution that would be the first amendment, just in case you missed that lesson in school)
CVO
Sorry that is Loathe not Loath, the latter is what one should feel when presented with a magic points membership contract from Diamond Resorts International.
loath
–adjective
unwilling; reluctant; disinclined; averse: to be loath to admit a mistake.
Loathe
–verb (used with object), loathed, loath·ing.
to feel disgust or intense aversion for; abhor: I loathe people who spread malicious gossip.
definitions courtesy of Dictionary.com (giving credit where credit is due)
It seems to me that the problems here seem to be related to the American side of the company. I know many members of Diamond resorts in the uk who are extremely happy with their points, love the accommodation and service and feel that the maintenance fees are value for money. I also know ex members who were looked after by Diamond in particular Patrick Duffy and would recommend the company 100%. ? I am mystified. As for maintenance fees. ? Over the years since GVC days.. Let me think 8 years ago, possibly more... have not wages, housekeeping, expenses, etc. etc. .increased to great proportions. Surely this would be the case for the upkeep to 5 star standard of the resorts? If you purchased a car, the servicing would be great or you would buy another and scrap the old one. In gvc days how many resort options did you have? How many do you have now? I fear if costs are too high you should blame the economy and not a company that are striving to give the best in a tough climate. Now down to the paperwork that YOU the owner signed.. This is a big step, you will have looked into this before signing surely. You then have 14 days with which to get a solicitor to go over the paperwork. I am distressed to read such ignorance. I am no longer an employee but I feel I have to say it as it is. The resorts are beautiful, the countries are many, the staff are accommodating and the value for money is exceptional. You cant just buy something and change your mind. You are told at time of purchase this is an investment into a lifetime of holidays not a financial investment. I know because I have always explained all of the above facts before I have allowed anyone to sign the paperwork. No alias names on my part. Sandra Bartholomew . EX employee.
probably u must be responsiable for your bills and PAST DUE AMOUNTS. if you pay ur bills on time and ready all terms and conditions then nobody has to be harrassing u to pay any bill, instead if you are super past due then any company has to call you and send u letter, you should not wait until u have the bill over past due over you to be responsiable and be mad for somebody calling u to remind u ur obligations.