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Surprised ruined by owners meeting phone call

MikeinSoCal

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For DW's birthday, I planned an extended weekend in Las Vegas. I arraigned time off with her boss unbeknownst to her. Last night when I was out of the house, a salesman from Elara called the house and and wanted additional information on our stay and to invite us to an owners update meeting. She thought it was possibly a scam phone call, but the salesman offered up to much information about us to her. When I arrived home, she encountered me about it and I fessed up. I wasn't sure how I was going to surprise her, but now I don't have to worry about that part of the plan. Thanks, HGVC!
 

klpca

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Ugh. Not cool. Well, I'm sure that she was surprised.

FYI, my next door neighbor did a surprise trip - told his wife that they were going to Hawaii, then at the airport told her that they were going to Tahiti instead.
 

jestme

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For DW's birthday, I planned an extended weekend in Las Vegas. I arraigned time off with her boss unbeknownst to her. Last night when I was out of the house, a salesman from Elara called the house and and wanted additional information on our stay and to invite us to an owners update meeting. She thought it was possibly a scam phone call, but the salesman offered up to much information about us to her. When I arrived home, she encountered me about it and I fessed up. I wasn't sure how I was going to surprise her, but now I don't have to worry about that part of the plan. Thanks, HGVC!
Call HGVC in Orlando and complain loudly. It is annoying enough salespeople calling the room right after you have checked in, but calling beforehand, in your home could affect other things besides spoiling a surprise. It could be a BIG surprise if the spouse wasn't supposed to be there either. There are many other reasons the call could be "intrusive". As far as I am concerned, your phone number should not be available to the "salesman". Your phone number, address, loan balance (if any) , family income, etc. should be secured as a part of the "HGVC Privacy Policy" and be closely and securly guarded. Apparantly, since you got the call, it isn't.
 

RX8

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… a salesman from Elara called the house and wanted additional information on our stay and to invite us to an owners update meeting.

The REAL reason why they called was to invite you to the update meeting. The lie to give them a reason to call was the underlined red part.
 

OMC

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It now appears that for those of us planning a surprise trip with a spouse that we need to also change the phone number on our HGVC account (to perhaps a cell or work number??) to avoid the "preemptive courtesy invite." I would be steamed and agree with @jestme that you should call Orlando and complain loudly.
 

bizaro86

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I think twitter and Facebook complaints are more productive than calling hq and complaining to a call centre employee...
 

Passepartout

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Did she get the weasel's name? On check-in have his @$$ on the carpet- and preferably (figuratively) his head on a plate! There is a good chance that with a little planning, the clown's blowing your surprise can be artfully avenged!

Jim
 

brp

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It now appears that for those of us planning a surprise trip with a spouse....

And especially a surprise trip WITHOUT the spouse... ;)

It could be a BIG surprise if the spouse wasn't supposed to be there either.

I remember some years ago when I was a more prolific poster on flyertalk being in a DFW AA lounge elevator. He saw my Flyertalk tag on my bag and asked who I was. I told him, and he said "this must be the oft-mentioned mrs. brp." Good thing it was :)

Cheers.
 

Talent312

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I've given my cell # at check-in, and later started getting solicitations.
Nowadays, I simply decline to do so. I may change the one stored to...
555-0100 - 555-0199 (they're fictional #'s used by film + TV studios).
 

SmithOp

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I've given my cell # at check-in, and later started getting solicitations.
Nowadays, I simply decline to do so. I may change the one stored to...
555-0100 - 555-0199 (they're fictional #'s used by film + TV studios).

I use 555-1212, the area code information number.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 

bbodb1

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Even better - BR-549!
 

T_R_Oglodyte

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for old-timers, there's BEechwood 4-5789.

 
Last edited:

DrQ

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I have a POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) line which I always give as my contact. It has an answering machine and I do not pick it up. I can retrieve the VM from my cell.

Another option is Google Voice.
 

Talent312

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Or 867-5309.

That's apparently a real # used by peep + businesses who ask for it.
They say they get calls asking for Jenny, but take it all in stride.
.
 

1Kflyerguy

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Its unfortunate they ruined the surprise, but it seem like most of timeshare companies call in advance to schedule an "update".

I gave HGVC my cell number, and then added their number to my contacts. That way it always comes up in Caller Id and i know its them calling.
 

jehb2

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I use to give out the number to time--You call to get the current time, downtown temperature, and a brief ad from Frost National Bank.

I would be really mad. You need to be comped something.
 
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