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I got a call one day after filling out a contest ballot, that I had won a 'free vacation', all I had to do was attend a 'small' presentation, where dinner would be provided. They made it sound like it was a banquet for the Vacation winners where they would present us with our free vacations.
Turns out the Free Chinese 'Buffet was a few takeout tins of fried rice and chicken balls. It was gross- but also turned out this was a TimeShare presentation, so I new I would be there for a while and so I ate it with relish.
Every time I tried to elave, a new person would intercept me at the door- and each guy was more intimidating than the next. I swear this thing is run by the Mob- they all had these pinky rinks and spoke like a Soprano.
They'd try to give us another reason why we should get the time share. And when I said no, they'd keep asking why as if I must be stupid or crazy to say no to this 'Wonderful Opportunity'. So you're not only being bullied into buying this thing, but your being shamed into it! There are laws against strong arm sales tactics, but these guys slip under the wire of culpability so beware.
No kidding, it was 6 hours later before we were able to leave. and guess what folks... I bought a time share!
To make matters worse- there were all sorts of undisclosed details like 'maintenance fees', and 'user fee's . Turns out that not only are you paying for 'vacation weeks', in advance at a "low low rate", but when you try to use them, you are charged a user fee of $300.00 so it comes out to the same thing as if you bought a regular vacation- EXCEPT- the whole fee doesn't include airfare- only hotel. So in fact you are paying double because it's cheaper to buy a package than to pay separate airfair and hotel.
Insult to injury, at the end of the year, you have to pay $100 to renew your membership- so if you bought 5 weeks and only used 1 or 2 per year, you have no choice to renew or you won't be able to use those weeks you already paid for.
So in actuality you're paying only for hotel- a luxury hotel mind you, but who stays at the Ritz?! Regular people go to Hilton, Holiday Inn, Sheraton ect. I tried to exercise the 14 day refund policy- guess what they do? They don't answer your calls or emails for 14 days, and by the time you do finally get in touch with someone- ohh too bad, the trial period is over. I went to court- lost- the contract is impermeable.
Bottom line, do not attend the presentation- do not buy 'Vacation Weeks', that you will not ever use. This is not a scam- but it is a cleverly disguised 'pay for your vacation in advance' program that is not a good deal unless you are the type of person who normally would stay at the Ritz when you travel.
But for average Joes? This is not for you.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Also been taken in by this SuitLife @3#%@ Never used the "services" or offerings; way too overpriced.
The outfit they claimed filed for bankruptcy, Dream Travel Condos of Mississipi is a one person outfit, namely Tonya Williams. She has complaints against her company and against herself in the dozens around the web. She has cheated many clients out of their deposits and has a terrible reputation if one can believe the reports.
How then does Suitelife claim that they have a loss of $1.2Million, including $582, 030 in PREPAID fees? To a one person outfit with a terrible reputation? Come on, SuiteLife, who's on your staff that could be that stupid and gullible? At the very least he/she/Anthony should stand up, apologize for the stupidity and resign immediately. If not the actual culprit, the CEO should take the hit and go elsewhere; just go.
For us members to take the hit of US$399 each would the the ultimate in gullibility and simply is not an option.
I will not pay this amount, nor any reduced amount. I may pay a small fraction once the incompetent responsible parties resign publicly.
To be fair warned and forewarned, Suitelife will probably sic a collection agency on you and make life miserable for a few years, but it is also possible that if we stand strong and refuse to pay for their mis-management they, in turn may go bankrupt themselves.
We should come up with a way where we all could register ourselves as a group, elect a group of 5 or 6 members and see what can be done by strength in numbers. Don't be cowed by accountants, perhaps we could even save this club and have one of our own help run it to bring results as they were promised when we joined. Ok, so I'm ahead of myself. Any ideas how we can register and organize ourselves?
I doubt that he's apologizing for the mess he created; it's more like his reaction to the fine
Just wondering if the fact of changing the names (vistavilla, resortvilla and now suitelife) invalidates a contract somehow ? If I signed with resortvilla - do I have any obligations to suitelife ?
I am looking at doing the same. I signed with Resort villas in 2002 and never signed any new agreement wit Suitelife. Does anyone know my obligations. Such a scam!
I have created a group "Suitelife Members" if we all want to get together and figure out what to do. Go to Groups at the top of the page, (i assume, lol) and join!
Go look at the discussion on Redweek about DreamTravel, the supplier that went bankrupt. You will see, on page 12 and 13 of the thread called "Dreamtravel Condos Anyone", a few postings from "AnthonyA189" that sound very much like Anthony Adessi, the President of Suitelife. make note of his comments about Suitelife "following suit" and "Anthony may be moving on to greener pastures". Sounds a lot like they're hoping to milk a last $400 from the members then go bankrupt themselves. BEWARE! Do not give these people anymore of your money!
Not Again! It is presumptive of Suitelife Vacations to impose a substantial Assessment Fee of $399US on the club members without explanation and the expectation to pay so quickly. After e-mailing the Club Manager requesting answers to the following questions below, I received an attachment from Suitelife Vacations with a Dream Travel Update dated March 30, 2015 with the breakdown of how the Special Assessment fee was derived without answers to my other questions.
• if the club runs like a condo corporation, why have the members not be given an assessment as to how this fee of $399US has been derived?
• since the club is run like a condo corporation, why are the members not sent a statement of the accounts as to how the club is being run so that the members and accountants can assess the management of the club?
• are there any measures being taken by Suitelife Vacations Club that another incident of this nature or similar nature does not re-occur?
• does Suitelife Vacations Club not take out adequate insurance to cover its members from incidents like the one with Dream Travel considering that our annual membership fees are always significantly increasing?
In the breakdown, a charge of $150, 000 has been included for "Reserve Fund Replenishment". Should this not have been covered by the rapidly increasing annual membership fees? In the same attachment from Suitelife, there was an Update dated March 06 with a paragraph, quote "During the time when the case is dismissed, Dream Travel loses the protection of the automatic bankrutpcy stay and their creditors are free to come after them to collect their debts". Unquote. Has Suitelife made an attempt to recoup any of the alleged lost monies from Dream Travel? The club membership deserves to know. Let it be known that this is not the first Special Assessment that the club members have been requested to pay. There was one dated March 12, 2010 made by Resort Villas as they claimed that 2009 was a very challenging year for the travel industry and much of their inventory went unused. What next? We need to know whether this club is being mis-managed as the initial outlay to join it was a considerable amount.
We support any group movement to oppose this added charge!
Everything that's mentioned above are true. We lost 14000 dollars 15 years ago and am still paying for it. I just got a special assessment bill for 399 US DOLLARS due to some bad decision. I called them, we have no choice but to pay it . To break the contract I am facing 1500 US DOLLARS. My husband are I are both retired now but have never been in a position to come up with the money to take their trips. We have never been on any trip offered by them. WE NEED OUT OF THIS NOW! We have been paying maintenance fees for the last 15 years, donating money we don't have. But this last special assessment bill is killing us. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!
I brought Suitelife package for $ 2000. I took two off season vacations. These guys are cheaters and must be put behind bar especially Mr Patel. They have made special assessment of $ 399 and made up story that they lost money. For sure Mr Patel and his lawyers have done their homework to deceive many families. I am not going to pay special assessment but if someone can pull together all above frustrated families to sue Mr Patel then I will contribute. Is their any government office can accept all complaints and investigate them.
Police need to launch money laundering criminal investigation against suitelife and it's shareholders or owners. It is easy to guess that Suitelife Vacation club will file bankruptcy within next couple of years.