LAinDallas
TUG Member
A couple of weeks ago, my family and I decided to visit Branson, MO for the first time. Like most travelers, I went on Expedia and looked for a family-friendly hotel. We decided on Welk Resort Branson Hotel. It was a great place and with the adjoining Splash-A-Torium, it sounded like a great place, especially with two young boys.
On our last full day there, the 6th of July, we spent 5 hours of our life on what I thought would be simple 2 hour tour and presentation of their Timeshare lodges. I must admit I fell in love with the place. Beautiful appointments, amazing floorplans, brand new furniture and appliances, etc. I could actually see us vacationing there every year. Even if we didn't, we could also go to one of their sister resorts in Cabo, Palm Springs, or San Diego. We were getting 240,000 points (which was good enough for a 2 bedroom lock-off unit in the RED season) which equated to 4 vacations per year and could be traded for double with II. Plus we got 2 "free" bonus vacations each year to any resort in II's catalog (which would cost between $199 and $599, depending on where we went). All for the low price of $39,000 or a down payment of $3900 and monthly payments of $544 over the course of 10 years. And, a yearly maintenance fee of $1135.
In all my 35 years, I have never been to a timeshare, excuse me, "Vacation Ownership" presentation. We stated we couldn't afford that and after meeting the sales manager we did what most people do when they can't afford something... we bought. Well, I did. My wife was against it the whole time. Eventually we settled on (or at least I thought we settled on) an odd year deed for the 2 bedroom lock-off. Instead of 6 weeks of vacation a year, we were getting 2 every other year, or one a year, plus we still could exchange for double and we got the bonus vacations. All it would cost was $9500 with 15% down with payments of $130 for ten years. I thought I had worn them down and got a terrific deal.
Thankfully, I found this place. I read post after post. I went to ebay, and various resale sites. While I couldn't find Welk's Branson Resort anywhere, I could see the writing on the wall. I had to rescind. I had five days to do it, and it being a Friday night, the soonest chance I would have was Monday when I got home.
I read the contract backward and forward and realized I didn't get the 2 bedroom lock-off unit. I had actually only signed up for 90,000 which was good enough for the small one bedroom unit every other year. If I wanted to go on vacation each year, I'd have to go during the spring or only spend a few days each year. To make matters worse, they didn't even provide me with any information in regards to the points I would need to visit the sister resorts. The more I thought about it, the more "had" I felt. I'm in sales, and I do my best to make sure my client knows exactly what they are getting. That's the only way to having a satisfied customer. At the end of it, I realized it felt more like a car deal then a real estate transaction.
On July 9th, I faxed AND sent a certified letter to rescind my contract with a template I found on TUG. I was called by the resort manager (ignored the call per the advice I read) and he left a message stating that the only way I could get my refund was if I sent the Welcome Package back to them. On the 11th, I priority mailed it back to them. Today, July 19th, my bank confirmed my $1385 down payment was back in my account!
Thank you TUGgers for all the wonderful advice you share with absolute strangers. I'm sure we'll get to know each other soon. Hopefully, it will be when I'm a time share owner (I know DeniseM, wait 6 months... ). Anyway, thanks again to you all. I'm sure you've saved countless people thousands of dollars and sleepless nights!
On our last full day there, the 6th of July, we spent 5 hours of our life on what I thought would be simple 2 hour tour and presentation of their Timeshare lodges. I must admit I fell in love with the place. Beautiful appointments, amazing floorplans, brand new furniture and appliances, etc. I could actually see us vacationing there every year. Even if we didn't, we could also go to one of their sister resorts in Cabo, Palm Springs, or San Diego. We were getting 240,000 points (which was good enough for a 2 bedroom lock-off unit in the RED season) which equated to 4 vacations per year and could be traded for double with II. Plus we got 2 "free" bonus vacations each year to any resort in II's catalog (which would cost between $199 and $599, depending on where we went). All for the low price of $39,000 or a down payment of $3900 and monthly payments of $544 over the course of 10 years. And, a yearly maintenance fee of $1135.
In all my 35 years, I have never been to a timeshare, excuse me, "Vacation Ownership" presentation. We stated we couldn't afford that and after meeting the sales manager we did what most people do when they can't afford something... we bought. Well, I did. My wife was against it the whole time. Eventually we settled on (or at least I thought we settled on) an odd year deed for the 2 bedroom lock-off. Instead of 6 weeks of vacation a year, we were getting 2 every other year, or one a year, plus we still could exchange for double and we got the bonus vacations. All it would cost was $9500 with 15% down with payments of $130 for ten years. I thought I had worn them down and got a terrific deal.
Thankfully, I found this place. I read post after post. I went to ebay, and various resale sites. While I couldn't find Welk's Branson Resort anywhere, I could see the writing on the wall. I had to rescind. I had five days to do it, and it being a Friday night, the soonest chance I would have was Monday when I got home.
I read the contract backward and forward and realized I didn't get the 2 bedroom lock-off unit. I had actually only signed up for 90,000 which was good enough for the small one bedroom unit every other year. If I wanted to go on vacation each year, I'd have to go during the spring or only spend a few days each year. To make matters worse, they didn't even provide me with any information in regards to the points I would need to visit the sister resorts. The more I thought about it, the more "had" I felt. I'm in sales, and I do my best to make sure my client knows exactly what they are getting. That's the only way to having a satisfied customer. At the end of it, I realized it felt more like a car deal then a real estate transaction.
On July 9th, I faxed AND sent a certified letter to rescind my contract with a template I found on TUG. I was called by the resort manager (ignored the call per the advice I read) and he left a message stating that the only way I could get my refund was if I sent the Welcome Package back to them. On the 11th, I priority mailed it back to them. Today, July 19th, my bank confirmed my $1385 down payment was back in my account!
Thank you TUGgers for all the wonderful advice you share with absolute strangers. I'm sure we'll get to know each other soon. Hopefully, it will be when I'm a time share owner (I know DeniseM, wait 6 months... ). Anyway, thanks again to you all. I'm sure you've saved countless people thousands of dollars and sleepless nights!
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