For the last 3 years every time I stay at my resort (Blue Ridge Village), Festiva hits me with a new lie, oops I mean sales strategy. All lies lead to trying to force me to give up deeded fixed weeks for Festiva Adventure Club Points. Festiva Points are worthless and anyone who finds this thread please don't fall prey to festiva's lies and buy Festiva points or even worse give them your deeded week and several thousand dollars for points that won't sell for a dollar on e-bay. Festiva's sales are so poor that they have shut their sales office at the Atrium resort in St Maarten and rumor has it that other sales office might close in the near future. Do not let them talk you into becoming a Festiva points club member no matter what they tell you, because almost everything they say is a lie.
Every year a new sales strategy (lie) is unleashed upon unsuspecting owners by Festiva. 3 years, 3 different scare tactics.
Three years ago I was called and told that Festiva had purchased my resort (Blue Ridge Village) and I HAD to come to a meeting where Festiva would explain the changes that were occurring at the resort since Festiva had taken over from Wyndham. I was told that if I didn't come to the meeting to be informed of the changes then the weeks I owned would become worthless and I would be assessed large amounts on money. Of course when I got there without my wife I was told I had to go and get her. I told them she was packing and I handled all of the timeshares so they could just explain the changes to me. They said they couldn't unless we were both in attendance. I went back to the room and asked my wife if she wanted to go and she said no. We left the resort and were driving down the road when my cell phone rang and the Festiva rep said when are you and your wife coming? I said we have checked out and are on our way home. She started screaming at me that I had ruined her morning by not showing up for our meeting. I said I was there for the meeting, but that she wouldn't discuss anything without my wife there, and my wife wasn't coming. She yelled at me again and I was absolutelly shocked since that was the rudest timeshare experience I have ever been subjected to (this is a rather dubious honor since most timeshare experiences become rude when you say not interested).
Last year I decided to avoid the misery altogether and not answer the phone for any reason, but I still had numersous calls and messages left. I listened and the messages said that there were going to be huge assessments and loss of use of my week unless I became a Festiva member. The messages said I had to meet with them to find out about what had changed with regards to my week since Festiva took over because the week I own had become useless and I would no longer be able to trade my week with RCI unless I came to the meeting to find out what I needed to do. Near the end of the week I was at the grocery store with my wife when the Festiva sales woman came to our room and knocked on the door. My daughter told them that I wasn't there and the Festiva Rep said that she had called all week and never could get us to answer the phone. The Festiva Rep said that I needed to get in touch with them because it was urgent regarding my ownership at the resort. I got back and called her to get her to leave us alone. She started telling me that it would be detrimental to my ownership if I didn't bring my wife to a meeting. I said I didn't come on vacation to be bothered with sales calls for something I am not interested in buying. She said it wasn't a sales meeting (yeah right) and she wouldn't leave me alone until I made an appointment to get "updated". I asked her if she wanted me to come to the lobby and tell everyone I see that they can buy all the Festiva points they want for a dollar on e-bay. I asked her I she wanted me to tell everyone I see at the pool, in the parking lot, at the resort sponsored activities that Festiva Points was a ripoff? She started with the thats not true lines and I told her that I know more about timeshares and Festiva than she does. I told her that I know that they got sued and settled in Missouri by the Missouri AG for false, deceptive, and misleading sales practices, that they were being sued at the Atrium in St Maarten, that there were complaints currently filed with the Massachusett's Atty General, and that there are nothing but complaints about Festiva on the web and at the better Business Bureau. I told her to not call me again and ruin another second of my vacation or else I would spend the rest of my time trying to ruin her sales. I then hung up.
This year I decided if I ignore them and don't answer the phone they will eventually come to my room, so I just grabbed the bull by the horns and answered the phone. New sales lie (oops strategy). I was told that the time has arrived where owners have to choose between Peppertree and Festiva. I was told I had to come to a meeting to make my choice. I said so we are getting to vote Festiva out? She said it is time for owners to choose Festiva or Peppertree. I said great I choose my fixed week and I vote Festiva out as mgt company. She said no you have to come to a meeting and hear about your options. I said I won't come to a meeting, just send me my ballot in the mail. She said that isn't how it works. I said I am an owner and I need to decide whether I want Peppertree (who originally owned the resort), or Festiva, I choose Peppertree. She started some mumbo jumbo and I told her that if she was going to offer me $3000 and a million Festiva Points for my fixed week I wasn't interested. I asked her how much Festiva was paying to buy fixed weeks from owners. She said it doesn't work that way. I said listen I wouldn't sell my fixed week to you for $3000 and a bunch of Festiva points so we have nothing to talk about unless I can actually vote against Festiva being allowed to manage MY resort. She said you apparently aren't interested in making sure what you own doesn't lose all of it's value. I told her that I own a fixed week I can use every year, you sell festiva points that receive no bids on e-bay when the starting bid price is one dollar with the seller paying all closing costs and transfer fees, what you are selling is of no value. She finally said it was my loss and I said the only thing I lost was my relaxing vacation time she stold from me while bothering me on the phone trying to get my week I love and my cash for some worthless points.
Anyone reading this who is a TUG member or visitor, please don't fall prey to the sales lies. Do not give up a deeded week for Festiva points and do not buy Festiva points. You will be forever sorry if you do. Just search the web for Festiva posts, read about the lawsuit at the Atrium, read about the Missouri AG's lawsuit, read about the increased MF's and assessments at the Church Street Inn, the Atrium, the Sandcastle resort, and at Southscape resorts. Call the better Business Bureau to see how many poor victims got sucked into the sales lies and paid good money for worthless Festiva Points. If you read this before you become a victim too then you are very fortunate, because after you buy Festiva you can't get out for 30 years. Just say no to Festiva Points no matter what you are promised.
Every year a new sales strategy (lie) is unleashed upon unsuspecting owners by Festiva. 3 years, 3 different scare tactics.
Three years ago I was called and told that Festiva had purchased my resort (Blue Ridge Village) and I HAD to come to a meeting where Festiva would explain the changes that were occurring at the resort since Festiva had taken over from Wyndham. I was told that if I didn't come to the meeting to be informed of the changes then the weeks I owned would become worthless and I would be assessed large amounts on money. Of course when I got there without my wife I was told I had to go and get her. I told them she was packing and I handled all of the timeshares so they could just explain the changes to me. They said they couldn't unless we were both in attendance. I went back to the room and asked my wife if she wanted to go and she said no. We left the resort and were driving down the road when my cell phone rang and the Festiva rep said when are you and your wife coming? I said we have checked out and are on our way home. She started screaming at me that I had ruined her morning by not showing up for our meeting. I said I was there for the meeting, but that she wouldn't discuss anything without my wife there, and my wife wasn't coming. She yelled at me again and I was absolutelly shocked since that was the rudest timeshare experience I have ever been subjected to (this is a rather dubious honor since most timeshare experiences become rude when you say not interested).
Last year I decided to avoid the misery altogether and not answer the phone for any reason, but I still had numersous calls and messages left. I listened and the messages said that there were going to be huge assessments and loss of use of my week unless I became a Festiva member. The messages said I had to meet with them to find out about what had changed with regards to my week since Festiva took over because the week I own had become useless and I would no longer be able to trade my week with RCI unless I came to the meeting to find out what I needed to do. Near the end of the week I was at the grocery store with my wife when the Festiva sales woman came to our room and knocked on the door. My daughter told them that I wasn't there and the Festiva Rep said that she had called all week and never could get us to answer the phone. The Festiva Rep said that I needed to get in touch with them because it was urgent regarding my ownership at the resort. I got back and called her to get her to leave us alone. She started telling me that it would be detrimental to my ownership if I didn't bring my wife to a meeting. I said I didn't come on vacation to be bothered with sales calls for something I am not interested in buying. She said it wasn't a sales meeting (yeah right) and she wouldn't leave me alone until I made an appointment to get "updated". I asked her if she wanted me to come to the lobby and tell everyone I see that they can buy all the Festiva points they want for a dollar on e-bay. I asked her I she wanted me to tell everyone I see at the pool, in the parking lot, at the resort sponsored activities that Festiva Points was a ripoff? She started with the thats not true lines and I told her that I know more about timeshares and Festiva than she does. I told her that I know that they got sued and settled in Missouri by the Missouri AG for false, deceptive, and misleading sales practices, that they were being sued at the Atrium in St Maarten, that there were complaints currently filed with the Massachusett's Atty General, and that there are nothing but complaints about Festiva on the web and at the better Business Bureau. I told her to not call me again and ruin another second of my vacation or else I would spend the rest of my time trying to ruin her sales. I then hung up.
This year I decided if I ignore them and don't answer the phone they will eventually come to my room, so I just grabbed the bull by the horns and answered the phone. New sales lie (oops strategy). I was told that the time has arrived where owners have to choose between Peppertree and Festiva. I was told I had to come to a meeting to make my choice. I said so we are getting to vote Festiva out? She said it is time for owners to choose Festiva or Peppertree. I said great I choose my fixed week and I vote Festiva out as mgt company. She said no you have to come to a meeting and hear about your options. I said I won't come to a meeting, just send me my ballot in the mail. She said that isn't how it works. I said I am an owner and I need to decide whether I want Peppertree (who originally owned the resort), or Festiva, I choose Peppertree. She started some mumbo jumbo and I told her that if she was going to offer me $3000 and a million Festiva Points for my fixed week I wasn't interested. I asked her how much Festiva was paying to buy fixed weeks from owners. She said it doesn't work that way. I said listen I wouldn't sell my fixed week to you for $3000 and a bunch of Festiva points so we have nothing to talk about unless I can actually vote against Festiva being allowed to manage MY resort. She said you apparently aren't interested in making sure what you own doesn't lose all of it's value. I told her that I own a fixed week I can use every year, you sell festiva points that receive no bids on e-bay when the starting bid price is one dollar with the seller paying all closing costs and transfer fees, what you are selling is of no value. She finally said it was my loss and I said the only thing I lost was my relaxing vacation time she stold from me while bothering me on the phone trying to get my week I love and my cash for some worthless points.
Anyone reading this who is a TUG member or visitor, please don't fall prey to the sales lies. Do not give up a deeded week for Festiva points and do not buy Festiva points. You will be forever sorry if you do. Just search the web for Festiva posts, read about the lawsuit at the Atrium, read about the Missouri AG's lawsuit, read about the increased MF's and assessments at the Church Street Inn, the Atrium, the Sandcastle resort, and at Southscape resorts. Call the better Business Bureau to see how many poor victims got sucked into the sales lies and paid good money for worthless Festiva Points. If you read this before you become a victim too then you are very fortunate, because after you buy Festiva you can't get out for 30 years. Just say no to Festiva Points no matter what you are promised.
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Festiva has charged us a special accesment fee for our Peppertree Vacation Club Points in addition to our MF. I was upset to the point of reading our Peppertree Contract and finding State Law for North Carolina and Florida where some Peppertree properties are located. and where Festive is incorporated. My reading suggests that Festiva may not be in compliance with these laws. Timeshares (points or weeks) are defined by law as being REAL ESTATE and speak of manditory owners associations which must be organized by the developers when the first unit is sold. These owners associations elect the board which hires the management. My Peppertree Contact states that I cannot vote. This is illegal. Also if our MF are used for any other purpose than maintenance, such as recruiting for their Adventure Club and subsidizing the maintenance fees for those folks to use Peppertree Facilities, then I suspect that would not pass close scrurtiny either. If any other Peppertree owners wants to join in an owners association, post here.
