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Why Won't They Leave Us Alone?

C

CousinWalter

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Joined
Dec 14, 2023
Messages
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We are already owners of multiple weeks with HGV. Every time we go to a HGV property and use our points, we get a ton of calls beforehand. When we get there, they harass us the entire time to go to their "owners update." That is what it is, I understand, and they have a job to do but they won't take no for an answer. We told them we aren't interested and then they call our room phone. After we don't answer that they immediately start calling my cell. Enough is enough!

Is there any way to opt out of the harassment? I used to work in the debt collection industry, which seems tame compared to how HGV treats lucrative owners in good standing.

Leave us alone and let us enjoy our vacation!

Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk
 
You say you own multiple weeks, if you purchased on multiple owner updates I suspect they see you as a person likely to buy more. Repeat upgrade sales are part of their modus operandi.

Here is how I have avoided them, I have a free Google Voice phone number, I use that as my contact number when I check in. I've also updated my online account with the GV number as my contact number. I have GV set to just take messages, it doesn't ring my phone. I unplug the room phone.

Good luck avoiding the sales weasels!
 
When I got fed up with the harrassment, I raised enough h3ll with the sales people and front desk that it was noted in my record. For the next 10 years, each time I went I heard, "would you like to attend ... oops, I see that you don't want owners updates. Thank you."
 
I understand sales is about persistence but isn't there a line between making a sale and damaging your brand?

Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk
 
I've never been harassed as OP described. I get a phone call and an email a week before arriving, then the concierge or someone else wants to schedule me for an update appointment when I check in. Sometimes I'll get a voice mail on the room phone, but I don't answer it.
 
CousinWalter said:
I understand sales is about persistence but isn't there a line between making a sale and damaging your brand?

Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

What is your price? Agreed that I would ask for $500 and don’t budge.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Some great suggestions have been given here. I use a combination, set a high price, and then raise "h3ll" when they call and don't meet the stated amount.
 
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GT75 said:
Some great suggestions have been given here. I use a combination, set a high price, and then raise "h3ll" when they call and don't meet the stated amount.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Why don't people follow this advice? Are they worried about looking greedy? LOL Why would they care what the sharks think of them?
 
TolmiePeak said:
What is your price? Agreed that I would ask for $500 and don’t budge.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I'd make it $750 or 500,000 Hilton Honors Points ... Don't call me back until you can meet my demands. Thanks. And if they meet that and you really don't want to go, tell them your SO has the same demand and no way am I arguing with her about it.
 
linsj said:
I've never been harassed as OP described. I get a phone call and an email a week before arriving, then the concierge or someone else wants to schedule me for an update appointment when I check in. Sometimes I'll get a voice mail on the room phone, but I don't answer it.
Click to expand...
You have not visited Greensprings or Powhatan in Williamsburg, VA.
 
Try Saying: "I'd be delighted to attend. I'm an undischarged bankrupt, that won't matter will it?"
 
^^^^ :rolleyes: Don't do that. Do you know something I don't know? Rules have changed. As long as the BK is discharged, you are eligible for a mortgage again. Yes, turns out recent BKs are a favorite of car salesmen as they often can qualify for more. Crazy, huh? Not saying I agree with it.

Even saying you don't qualify income-wise will not be a deterrent. The person who signs you up is incentivized and will be happy to fudge that number.
 
CousinWalter said:
We are already owners of multiple weeks with HGV. Every time we go to a HGV property and use our points, we get a ton of calls beforehand. When we get there, they harass us the entire time to go to their "owners update." That is what it is, I understand, and they have a job to do but they won't take no for an answer. We told them we aren't interested and then they call our room phone. After we don't answer that they immediately start calling my cell. Enough is enough!

Is there any way to opt out of the harassment? I used to work in the debt collection industry, which seems tame compared to how HGV treats lucrative owners in good standing.

Leave us alone and let us enjoy our vacation!

Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
After being an owner since 2010, it does get old getting harassed in the weeks leading up to a reservation or being sent to another desk at check-in to get the parking pass and solicitation. That doesn’t bother me nearly as much as all of the calls I get from third-party “vacation companies“ who want to give me trips to Cancun or Las Vegas. Completely maddening and infuriating that HGV shares your contact information with these vultures. For years, I’ve always said ‘please take me off your list’ only to get a subsequent phone call couple months later from the same group of companies.

Sean
 
linsj said:
I've never been harassed as OP described. I get a phone call and an email a week before arriving, then the concierge or someone else wants to schedule me for an update appointment when I check in. Sometimes I'll get a voice mail on the room phone, but I don't answer it.
Click to expand...
We no longer get calls but, even when we did, we were never harassed like this. A simple No always sufficed. Sorry to hear about this invasion.

Then again, as a New Yorker, maybe the attitude shows :)

Cheers.
 
I’ve actually never gotten any of these kind of calls. But calls to my home phone from scammers go straight to voicemail thanks to Nomorobo and I only give my cell phone to friends and family.

For those who gave up their home phone my understanding is that you can set up voicemail on an alternative cell number to give to businesses but I’ve never had to research the details.
 
At places where you get your parking pass from the sales desk,
when they make a pitch, I say: "I'm selling. Do you do take-backs?"
 
Talent312 said:
At places where you get your parking pass from the sales desk,
when they make a pitch, I say: "I'm selling. Do you do take-backs?"
Click to expand...
That's good. 😜 :ROFLMAO: I've got my deed with me and we can do a deed back right here and now. Do you know a local notary? And with all the people you meet here, you can sell this on the side for possibly only one tenth of what your sales people charge ... What do they charge retail? Probably $50,000 to $100,000 for this contract. That can possibly net you ... get out your calculator ... now what's 10% of $100,000? (sshhhh don't ruin it, they probably will need a calculator at this point in their excitement). This will get them thinking ... maybe. I'll do this for you for only $250 paid up front of course. And if you like that I have a web site with hundreds of free timeshares and my friends just giving them away. It's called TUG. Please hand me that parking pass and think about it. Be sure to use hushed tones, but very loudly, near the other guests getting their parking passes. You'll have your parking pass in no time.
 
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CousinWalter said:
Is there any way to opt out of the harassment?
Click to expand...
Ask them if it is a requirement to bring my spouse to this OU? After they say, YES, then say sorry I brought my BF or GF along this time.
 
Funny, I've never gotten a phone call the week before, only a pre-arrival email. It could be that in your HGV profile, you have the "Allow text alerts and calls related to your account." option checked. To get to that setting, start out on the main page when you log in. At the bottom of the "Member Dashboard" section is a link to "Edit Profile". Go in there then click the link to "Edit Membership information".

As far as after arrival, I think a couple of times I've gotten a call from sales on the room phone, but I just politely tell them "No thanks". This past February my wife and I spent nearly the entire month at Kings Land and Maui Bay Villas, and there was not a single mention from anyone at either resort about any owners update or account review (or any other sales pitch). I found a good line to use when sales people try to convince me to attend a presentation. "My company just announced downsizing and I might lose my job. We has prepaid everything for the trip, so we decided to come anyway. I'd really like to up our membership, but I just think it's too much of a risk with all the uncertainty with my job right now."
 
Hoodwink said:
I found a good line to use when sales people try to convince me to attend a presentation. "My company just announced downsizing and I might lose my job. We has prepaid everything for the trip, so we decided to come anyway. I'd really like to up our membership, but I just think it's too much of a risk with all the uncertainty with my job right now."
Click to expand...
It could certainly work, but I won't resort to lying in a case like this (or anywhere, actually). The truth works just fine without having to craft lies. YMMV.

Cheers.
 
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