[2008] Successful cancellation of Westgate purchase

[dplee]

Westgate Resort

I meant Jan 2nd. I went to the post office yesterday but I was too late! So that is why I'm going tomorrow.

 

[marie11]

Hi,

My husband and I also fell for this gimmick on December 26, 2012 and we too live in Atlanta. The closing officer did not include the contract in our black brief case after stating in closing he did. After reviewing the proposal that was included, they switched the property on us which we realized on the evening of December 27th. Further, on December 28th, I contacted Westgate and we had folks hangup on us, give us the run around etc. we had the same experience you had we had and we were livid.

So, here is what I did: I contacted an attorney that specializes in cancelling timeshares from Orlando after speaking to her, we had hope that we will successfully cancel this contract. From there, I then sent 3 notarized cancellation letters certified through USPS each day. I this this because I want to be sure I have proof of contacting them several times within the first 10 days of the contract. As of December 31st, we have received our certified mail confirmation that the corporate office received our 1st cancellation letter. I also sent back their brief case along with the gift they gave us, we did not want them saying we kept anything we stated what we returned to them in the second letter. At this point, I do not care how much I have to spend shipping them their materials back, we just want to be free of this contract.

Westgate did not give me the address to send the letter, but the attorney did. Here is the address to send the cancellation letter to:

Westgate Resorts, Corporate Headquarters
2801 Old Winter Garden Rd.
Ocoee, FL 34761


The attorney I spoke to was free, she was very knowledgeable, respectful and polite her name is Susan Budowski and here is the link to her website:

[noparse]http://mytimeshareattorney(dot)com[/noparse]

Good Luck!!! Please contact me if you need further information.

 

[marie11]

Westgate Orlando Rescind Letter Address

Anyone looking to cancel their timeshare within the 10 days allowed after purchase. Send a notarized letter exercising your right to rescind or cancel the contract to the following address:

Westgate Resorts, Corporate Headquarters
2801 Old Winter Garden Rd.
Ocoee, FL 34761

Remember to send the letter via USPS and certified for tracking purposes and proof, once they receive the letter they have 20 days to return your refund. This is in accordance to the Florida law, also review the following statute for further information:

Florida Vacation Plan and Timeshare Act. This act is found in Chapter 721 of the Florida Statutes. Florida Statute 721.10 governs the cancellation of timeshare purchases. It provides,
"(1) A purchaser has the right to cancel the contract until midnight of the 10th calendar day following whichever of the following days occurs later:
(a) The execution date..............

 

[deannak]

Hi,
My husband and I also fell for this gimmick on December 26, 2012 and we too live in Atlanta. The closing officer did not include the contract in our black brief case after stating in closing he did. After reviewing the proposal that was included, they switched the property on us which we realized on the evening of December 27th. Further, on December 28th, I contacted Westgate and we had folks hangup on us, give us the run around etc. we had the same experience you had we had and we were livid.

I just don't understand how those people can sleep at night! I couldn't work for a company that wanted me to screw people over every day.

I'm glad that you've found somebody to help you out of this, and it sounds like you've taken the right steps. Best of luck with it!!!

 

[RX8]

I wonder if this angry Westgate timeshare owner eventually got her money back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMkNacnN0-4

They say the squeeky wheel gets the oil. Well, I think this lady has taken it to the next level - SCREAMING wheel of FIRE. I think I would put my money on her on succeeding.

 

[khalil]

hi

Please tell me as i am out of the US and have heard alot of complaints about westgate and would love to hear your stories on how they deceit and lie to people. Please pm me your stories.
please tell me exactly how they deceive,lie and mislay the public and advice me if i buy those westgate vouchers for a few dollars on ebay to visit westgate resorts.
What should i do and beware of any tips you wanna share with me
i definately will not buy from them
I rather rent or do resales which people sometime give their timeshare for FREE.

 

[rrsafety]

hi

Please tell me as i am out of the US and have heard alot of complaints about westgate and would love to hear your stories on how they deceit and lie to people. Please pm me your stories.
please tell me exactly how they deceive,lie and mislay the public and advice me if i buy those westgate vouchers for a few dollars on ebay to visit westgate resorts.
What should i do and beware of any tips you wanna share with me
i definately will not buy from them
I rather rent or do resales which people sometime give their timeshare for FREE.

Don't buy the vouchers.
Don't go to Westgate.
You don't need any more stories, I'd imagine.

 

[pacodemountainside]

David Siegel

hi

Please tell me as i am out of the US and have heard alot of complaints about westgate and would love to hear your stories on how they deceit and lie to people. Please pm me your stories.
please tell me exactly how they deceive,lie and mislay the public and advice me if i buy those westgate vouchers for a few dollars on ebay to visit westgate resorts.
What should i do and beware of any tips you wanna share with me
i definately will not buy from them
I rather rent or do resales which people sometime give their timeshare for FREE.

Check out the following thread. Posts at end tell where to download movie. Also, plug David Siegel in "Search" feature! Also, Planet Hollywood.
,
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176516&highlight=david+siegel

 

[RX8]

please tell me exactly how they deceive,lie and mislay the public

You don't need hundreds of people telling you their story. All you need to do is watch the customer's video on post #80. The ANGER in her voice and face is all you need to know about Westgate.

 

[khalil]

What about the ebay vouchers which is cheap for accomodation but i wont sign up.

You don't need hundreds of people telling you their story. All you need to do is watch the customer's video on post #80. The ANGER in her voice and face is all you need to know about Westgate.

 

[theo]

One more time, with feeling....

What about the ebay vouchers which is cheap for accomodation but i wont sign up.

As others have already tried to tell you, Westgate is a very sleazy company of consistently bad reputation that you should simply avoid like a communicable disease --- regardless of any "cheap eBay vouchers"!

 

[csxjohn]

What about the ebay vouchers which is cheap for accomodation but i wont sign up.

You say that now but when the sharks start insulting your intelligence and start to question your love for your wife and kids you may buckle. Then when you sign a paper saying you received your instructions to rescind and the sharks "forget" to include them in your packet, you will have wished you listened to the excellent advice you have been given here.

 

[carl2591]

Westgate Timeshare Resort, Orlando

for every person that finds this site and cancels a contract that is one less brick in David Siegel 70K square house..

he is one of the reasons timeshare has a bad name. Telling how hard he has it and getting up everyday trying to figure out a new way to screw the owners of his resorts..

shame shame shame.

 

[dougp26364]

Anyone looking to cancel their timeshare within the 10 days allowed after purchase. Send a notarized letter exercising your right to rescind or cancel the contract to the following address:

Westgate Resorts, Corporate Headquarters
2801 Old Winter Garden Rd.
Ocoee, FL 34761

Remember to send the letter via USPS and certified for tracking purposes and proof, once they receive the letter they have 20 days to return your refund. This is in accordance to the Florida law, also review the following statute for further information:

Florida Vacation Plan and Timeshare Act. This act is found in Chapter 721 of the Florida Statutes. Florida Statute 721.10 governs the cancellation of timeshare purchases. It provides,
"(1) A purchaser has the right to cancel the contract until midnight of the 10th calendar day following whichever of the following days occurs later:
(a) The execution date..............

Some states allow for a much shorter timeframe than 10 days. It's important to know what the laws are in the state the timeshare is sold. I believe the shortest period is 5 days.

Lawyers are really not necessary if you're within the rescind period. Just a letter stating you want to cancel.

 

[theo]

Correction / clarification necessary here....

Some states allow for a much shorter timeframe than 10 days. It's important to know what the laws are in the state the timeshare is sold. I believe the shortest period is 5 days. <snip>

Nope. There are actually at least three states in which the contract rescission period is only 3 days. Massachusetts, for specific example, is one of those states; the others escape me off the top of my head.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.S. Thanks to the link provided later (post #91 below), I am reminded that the other three states besides Massachusetts in which the contract rescission period is only 3 days are Montana, Nebraska and Ohio.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alaska has the longest rescission period at 15 days, Florida is 10 calendar days, most states are 5-7 days.

Yes, it is important to know rescission laws in the state in which a timeshare is sold. Then again, developers are required by law to provide cancellation details and instructions with the executed contract. Nonetheless, there are first hand eyewitness accounts regarding such documents somehow being "conveniently forgotten". Westgate, using a different "angle / tactic", has been reported to bury the required cancellation information within an accompanying CD, thereby "providing" the cancellation instructions (to "comply" with the law), but also making it more difficult (..while the deadline clock continues to tick away) to even find those instructions without a separate computer exercise to locate and retrieve the information.
The entire Westgate sales operation is just one stinking pool of slimy pond scum (IMnsHO). :ignore:

 

[deannak]

The ARDA has a list available on their website of the rescission periods for all US states. Note that in some states, the number of days is for calendar days, while other states use business days. Here's the link:

http://www.arda.org/uploadedFiles/ARDA/Government_Affairs/
Government_Affairs_Call_Out_Boxes/RescissionPeriodsNov2010.pdf

 

[Des]

Florida - Westgate Timeshares - YOU CAN CANCEL WITHIN 10 days after signing the contr

I would like to THANK YOU all for sharing your experiences here. Without your posts, we are over $25000 in debt and continue paying $600 every year for a place that we may never use.

My family and I were a recent victim of this scam on December 24, 2012. Instead of enjoying Christmas Eve with my family, I spent all night researching how to cancel the contract in legal terms. I found the photocopy of the contracts inside the briefcase, and on the NOTE page, found how to contact the seller and which address to send the letter to. On Dec 26th, I mailed the letter and the briefcase using certified mail with electronic receipt request on the address stated on the contract.

On Dec 28th, I sent another letter to the other address stated here and to the address where we signed the contract. All mails are addressed to the closing officer, sales manager and sales rep.

On January 4th, they refunded our deposit.

After realizing that we have the power to cancel the contract. I feel like spreading my cancellation letter to every family who attended the orientation or who I saw holding a briefcase. Only a few people will think to research and find their way out. Most of them will feel stucked and miserable for their loss.

 

[theo]

I would like to THANK YOU all for sharing your experiences here. Without your posts, we are over $25000 in debt and continue paying $600 every year for a place that we may never use.

My family and I were a recent victim of this scam on December 24, 2012. Instead of enjoying Christmas Eve with my family, I spent all night researching how to cancel the contract in legal terms. I found the photocopy of the contracts inside the briefcase, and on the NOTE page, found how to contact the seller and which address to send the letter to. On Dec 26th, I mailed the letter and the briefcase using certified mail with electronic receipt request on the address stated on the contract.

On Dec 28th, I sent another letter to the other address stated here and to the address where we signed the contract. All mails are addressed to the closing officer, sales manager and sales rep.

On January 4th, they refunded our deposit.

After realizing that we have the power to cancel the contract. I feel like spreading my cancellation letter to every family who attended the orientation or who I saw holding a briefcase. Only a few people will think to research and find their way out. Most of them will feel stucked and miserable for their loss.

Love these kinds of stories --- particularly when they involve David Seigel's sleazy Westgate operation.

That being said, each and every person who buys from a developer is also provided specific cancellation materials and instructions right along with their executed contract, as is specifically required by law. To be honest, I can't really muster up much sympathy for anyone who would spend tens of thousands of dollars of their hard earned money without even bothering to read all of the associated contract (and cancellation) paperwork handed right to them, right then and there at the time of their purchase.

 

[csxjohn]

... To be honest, I can't really muster up much sympathy for anyone who would spend tens of thousands of dollars of their hard earned money without even bothering to read all of the associated contract (and cancellation) paperwork handed right to them, right then and there at the time of their purchase.

I used to think that instruction books were the least read materials in the world but it appears that timeshare sales contracts are in the lead.

 

[timeos2]

Love these kinds of stories --- particularly when they involve David Seigel's sleazy Westgate operation.

That being said, each and every person who buys from a developer is also provided specific cancellation materials and instructions right along with their executed contract, as is specifically required by law. To be honest, I can't really muster up much sympathy for anyone who would spend tens of thousands of dollars of their hard earned money without even bothering to read all of the associated contract (and cancellation) paperwork handed right to them, right then and there at the time of their purchase.

Sing it loud! There are so few timeshares that make any sense whatsoever to buy retail (Developer) that it can almost be said NEVER BUY A RETAIL TIMESHARE!! If you fall for the slick, contrived and super pressure packed sales (and of course your "free gift, actually far from free if you buy these overpriced products) RESCIND WITHIN THE TIME ALLOWED OR YOU WILL REGRET THAT YOU FAILED TO DO SO!!!

Even if somehow you fell into a situation that made even the slightest case for a Developer timeshare purchase you would be buying yourself time to calmly and seriously study the options and make an informed, rather than pressured, decision. The offer will always still be there later, no matter what the sleazy sales weasel may say. Take advantage of the best protection from a bad purchase you have and USE YOUR ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO RESCIND ANY DEVELOPER TIMESHARE PURCHASE ASAP!!!

 

[timeos2]

I used to think that instruction books were the least read materials in the world but it appears that timeshare sales contracts are in the lead.

You really have to ask how can anyone commit to tens of thousands of dollars in a whimsical, unexpected purchase, often for an outrageous interest rate and NOT read & understand EXACTLY what they are planning to pay for? It is mind boggling to me but it apparently occurs day in & day out at the various timeshares - and worse at Wastegate timeshares as all those fancy new auto's in the employee lot testify all too well to. Wouldn't the money be better spend for YOUR car/home/family? Why support this questionable industry of misrepresentations & outright lies? NEVER buy retail timeshare.

 

[AwayWeGo]

The Old Ballyhoo & Razzle-Dazzle.

You really have to ask how can anyone commit to tens of thousands of dollars in a whimsical, unexpected purchase, often for an outrageous interest rate and NOT read & understand EXACTLY what they are planning to pay for?

Shux, that's the timeshare companies' basic biz plan -- extract big bux from low information customers.

Give'm the high-pressure razzle-dazzle & hope the suckers clients don't catch on before the rescission period expires.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[onefineham]

What to Do When Manager Won't Give Debit Card Back

It occurs to me that you would have been well within your rights to get the manager's name, call your credit card company, and report your card stolen (and then give the name of the manager as the person holding the card against your will). Hold this conversation on your cell phone directly in front of the manager holding your card. See if this doesn't get their attention.

Otherwise very sorry to hear of your difficulties.

*** My family and I just stayed at the West Gate Spa and resort in orlando and this exact same thing happen to us... we had our 3 kids and my oldest daughters friend and i kept telling them we needed to leave because we had a big day planned. The "manager" had my debit card and I kept asking for it back and was told he had given it to the closers up stairs and that I would have to wait. I was getting really upset and so the man said they would rush us ahead of everyone waiting. I kept telling the man this was all moving too fast and i needed some space to think it through. I explained i needed to work with the numbers and information they were given my self. He kept presuring me and would not give me space. I wanted to walk to my car and just take a breather and I was told if I left the building and changed my mind it was too late. I was told why would I not do this... He asked me did I want to give my children a good life or not>??? Then told me if we (my husband and I ) wanted to really help our family for the long run then we would make this deal. He told us we were getting a below market rate./ The cost was only 8000.00 before the interest rate./ My kids were really upset wanting to leave and my husband and i felt the only way to get our card back and leave was to sign/ So we did and within a couple hours I knew it wasnt a smart choice. Onces I was away and could think.... I feel so stupid... Now I just need to figure out how to get out of this!!!! Any advice would be great... This was just yesterday 7/27/2012 So I need to move fast/ The closer told me I couldnt change my mind onces the papers were signed.... But I should be able to... There should be some type of period to change my mind... I dont know but I am not against closing my bank account and having BOA reverse the charge on my card/

 

[theo]

You can lead a horse to water, but...

<snip>...very sorry to hear of your difficulties.

Rhonda's quoted post was made nearly 6 months ago now. We never did hear back from her as to whether she successfully cancelled the purchase, by following the contract cancellation instructions handed right to her along with the signed contract, right at the same time of purchase, as is required by law.

 

[marie11]

Westgate Orlando Contract Cancellation

Hi All,

Thanks to this site and information provided, my husband and I were able to successfully rescind/cancel our Westgate contract after 1 week. We are very happy!!!

Thanks,

Marie