Roark Travel Club/Club Resort Intervals (2008 thread)

[thetaxqueen]

I just went to a presentation in Branson, MO on this vacation club. Does anybody know anything about it?

 

[DeniseM]

Welcome to TUG!

Did you buy a week at Roark? This resort sells for pennies on the dollar on the resale market, so if you bought from the developer, I would encourage you to rescind immediately - a perfectly legal way to cancel the contract and get all your money back. Click here -> How to Rescind

I'm a Roark owner, but we only use it for exchanging. If you really want a timeshare in Branson there are FAR nicer places and you will save thousands by buying on the resale market. I got my Roark week free - someone wanted to get rid of it and it had so little resale value that they just gave it away...

Here is a link to the Branson Resorts for sale on ebay.

 

[thetaxqueen]

No, I didn't buy a week at the timeshare, this is a "vacation club" or basically a discount travel agency that buys in bulk and resells the units, cruises, airline tickets, rental cars, etc. for a discount price and this gives you access to it.

The original price quoted was $9k but the salesman came down and I did buy it for $2,500, making sure I could rescind within the 3 day period and I will still be here to be able to do it.

They profess to have GREAT prices on "vacations" because they buy in bulk and resell to their "members".

I figured the $2,500 wasn't too much and I would try to do some research within the rescision period.

 

[DeniseM]

$2,500 is WAY too much.... especially in this economy, this resort has very little value on the resale market. I strongly suggest that you rescind and do some research before you buy. If you look at the link I posted you will see Branson resorts on ebay for $1!

Just to clarify - is your week in the travel club a week at Roark Vacation Club, or exactly what did you get for your money?

 

[thetaxqueen]

It has nothing to do with a week anywhere.

What I bought is access to travel discounts on cruises, airlines, rental cars, red weeks anywhere w/o going thru rci or ii. I do have to pay for the week, but there is no annual maintenance fee. They profess to have GREAT rates, as much as 70% off retail prices.

I do plan on rescinding unless I find out it is a good thing to own. I wanted to find out what others have experienced with this "club". I did receive some nice show tickets for attending the seminar (13 of us staying at the Wilderness club at Big Cedar)

 

[pranas]

Listen to Denise unless you want to experience buyer's remorse.

 

[rsm]

cancel and do more research

Hi,

I think the Missouri attorney general has taken action against some of these "travel clubs" after people filed consumer complaints. After they bought the "travel club" they found better prices for the vacations, cruises and hotels just by looking online at discount web sites.

 

[rickandcindy23]

It has nothing to do with a week anywhere.

What I bought is access to travel discounts on cruises, airlines, rental cars, red weeks anywhere w/o going thru rci or ii. I do have to pay for the week, but there is no annual maintenance fee. They profess to have GREAT rates, as much as 70% off retail prices.

I do plan on rescinding unless I find out it is a good thing to own. I wanted to find out what others have experienced with this "club". I did receive some nice show tickets for attending the seminar (13 of us staying at the Wilderness club at Big Cedar)

I know what you are talking about. We attended the same presentation at least 5 years ago. I don't see anyone talking about great airfares or deals they get through that company, and TUG members would brag and brag if they did get such a deal, so I would guess it is not of value.

The basic gist is they are saying you will become like a travel agent, and now you will be able to book the same kinds of bargain airfare as a travel agent can. So you are basically signing up to be a travel agent and should get the same discounts. I don't think it will work as they say, and I would definitely rescind. The fact that the price came down that much, that is an indication of the lack of value, at least to me.

The problem with this kind of deal is they say you will get these discounts, and they swear they have all saved thousands of dollars on airfare, but when you have the membership, it isn't likely to work, and you will be upset, but you will have zero recourse. Best to rescind.

 

[rsm]

I just checked the Missouri Attorney General's website and there are 4 pages of complaints against travel and vacation clubs, including one by the name Roark Travel Service Network- beware.

 

[DeniseM]

I don't mean to be argumentative, but:

1) Roark Travel Club/Club Resort Intervals - the very name of your "vacation club" states that it has something to do with timesharing. In timeshare lingo "resort intervals" means timeshare weeks.

2) If you don't think it has anything to do with timesharing, why are you posting on a timeshare board?

I wish you well, but I think you've been taken...

 

[gmarine]

You have received excellant advice to rescind, which I also agree with. Whether you take that advice is up to you.

 

[funtime]

It is tough when you are looking for affirmation and feel really good to purchase a vacation club - for all the reasons that timesharing is great -- it will save you money in the end, it will force you to take vacations and it will enhance your family and friend time. That having been said, follow the advice that has been given and revoke - recind. Follow the instructions exactly and in a timely manner. Also do a search for revoke or rescind on this board and see that the advice is advice that is given accross the board to "newbies" in the vacation industry. That deal will be there after you revoke if you change your mind again. Do not worry about any personal relationship that you struck up with the sales person, it is just a business. Revoke now. Funtime
ps - I guarantee you will find something a lot cheaper that will work better for you in three months if you revoke.
pps - each timeshare has a value and the Roark timeshare is in Branson next to the Landing which has a lot of shops etc. However, Branson is overbuilt so even if you like the Roark, you can always trade into that or any other Branson resort with a little preplanning.

 

[falmouth3]

My in-laws traded one of their timeshares for a vacation club. They booked one vacation and then the club went out of business. That was one expensive vacation! And the price that they paid for it wasn't that great anyway.

Rescind!

Sue

 

[thetaxqueen]

Thank you all for your comments, I really appreciate them all.

When I purchased it, I made sure I understood how and when to rescind. I knew that my plan was to do the research when I got back to my room. All I have to do is bring back the package they gave me with a letter of rescision within the 3 day period. I did make sure it was easy to do. Since we are here until Saturday, it is only 10 minutes away and I will hand deliver it.

I did some searches and found some of the court cases and I do believe while there may be "some" value, I am not sure how much.

I will let you all know how it went so if you do go to the presentation while in Branson you will be informed too.

 

[Sandy Ontario]

Roark - Don't do it! It's misleading !!!!

Do your research!!! The presentation is very misleading. Long story short..... They ooze on fabulous cheap vacations. We went for it and got screwed. The only vacations that are discounted are the so called condo's. Everything else you can get cheaper on the internet. The most savings I seen was approx 10%. The savings on the vacations that we were quoted will barely cover the yearly membership fee. We went in that if we were paying this amount of money that we would see vacation savings, WRONG !!!!!! I pleaded with them to show me how to effectively use this membership so that I can benefit the savings that we were promised. To please show me the discounts. No one was able to provide me with this information. I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt. Why would I spend all this money if there werent any savings? We specifically stated that we like to go on "all-inclusive" vacations and their response was " we can handle all your vacation needs" but failed to communicate at regular prices.

So, I am posting my experience with Roark on any site that I can find. I will attempt to recoup my money by filing with the BBB ( by the way, they have an unsatisfactory rating...check it out). I filed a complaint with Mastercard about Roark. I'm also going to file with the Attorney General.

Check out Rip-off.com - Roark has a growing list!

 

[thetaxqueen]

I just realized that I never followed up on my recision of this "Travel Club".

When I went in to recind, they were VERY cold to me (obviously), but they did in fact credit my charge card without a word said.

I did find out, however, that they apparantly send a "welcome basket" (that you never ordered) to all new buyers and if you don't bring it back with you they ding you $40 for it. They sent it to me but at the wrong place. When they asked me for it back, I told them I never got it. They checked their records and found that I was correct. I told him I knew to bring it back because I didn't want to get charged for it. I did get a dirty look for that.

Bottom line, DON'T JOIN ANY TRAVEL CLUB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did learn my lesson and fortunately it was a free lesson

 

[samw]

Roark Vacation Travel Club

I attended the Roark Vacation Club presentation over the weekend and decided to purchase with them. After returning to my resort I noticed a gift basket sitting on the kitchen counter...it was from Roark Vacation Club welcoming me as a new member. At the same moment something told me to get on the web and do some research and I'm so glad I did! I have read so many negative reviews and reviews about missing paper work. I looked over my paper work and noticed that the papers I had made notes on that they promised and I had them initial to cover all bases was missing! I decided to rescind my contract with them. Needless to say I went this morning and boy was I treated very rude, unprofessional, and cold! Lindell is the same person I dealt with and he smuggly told me I was lying and that all the paperwork was included in my documents and that he knew nothing of the paper I was speaking of. So he pretty much sat there and lied straight to my face. He was so rude and then another man came in since we were rather loud and immediately sided with Lindell...go figure. They did not want to sign my letter to rescind the contract or give me any type of statement saying I was rescinding my contract. I left very upset and boiling hot and on my way out Lindell gave me the finger. I politely told everyone in the lobby that Roark Vacations was a scam and very unprofessional! Oh and I'm a timeshare owner, they also tried to get me to give them the deed to my timeshare to bring the cost down even more it started at 15, 900 and they were going to give me 13, 000 for my timeshare and since I was a single parent they knocked off another 400 which would have brought my total to $2, 500. I'm just so thankful I realized the stupid mistake I was about to make before it was too late. Hope this helps someone not make a terrible mistake and get scammed by Roark Vacation Club in Branson Missouri.

 

[calgarygary]

I attended the Roark Vacation Club presentation over the weekend and decided to purchase with them. After returning to my resort I noticed a gift basket sitting on the kitchen counter...it was from Roark Vacation Club welcoming me as a new member. At the same moment something told me to get on the web and do some research and I'm so glad I did! I have read so many negative reviews and reviews about missing paper work. I looked over my paper work and noticed that the papers I had made notes on that they promised and I had them initial to cover all bases was missing! I decided to rescind my contract with them. Needless to say I went this morning and boy was I treated very rude, unprofessional, and cold! Lindell is the same person I dealt with and he smuggly told me I was lying and that all the paperwork was included in my documents and that he knew nothing of the paper I was speaking of. So he pretty much sat there and lied straight to my face. He was so rude and then another man came in since we were rather loud and immediately sided with Lindell...go figure. They did not want to sign my letter to rescind the contract or give me any type of statement saying I was rescinding my contract. I left very upset and boiling hot and on my way out Lindell gave me the finger. I politely told everyone in the lobby that Roark Vacations was a scam and very unprofessional! Oh and I'm a timeshare owner, they also tried to get me to give them the deed to my timeshare to bring the cost down even more it started at 15, 900 and they were going to give me 13, 000 for my timeshare and since I was a single parent they knocked off another 400 which would have brought my total to $2, 500. I'm just so thankful I realized the stupid mistake I was about to make before it was too late. Hope this helps someone not make a terrible mistake and get scammed by Roark Vacation Club in Branson Missouri.

samw, given the ridiculous treatment you received, I would still rescind through the mail. It sounds like you may need proof through the postal service that you rescinded if they are already lying about your contract's contents.

 

[thetaxqueen]

I agree. If you don't have any documentation saying that you have rescinded, do it again thru the mail and get proof. They are NASTY people!!!

I would also get a return receipt from the USPS.

Good luck. I'm glad you found this forum and that it helped you out.