Why aren’t Wastegate owners happy?

[Jollyhols]

Steamboat Bill:

Westgate Lakes haven't given any cookies the last couple of times we visited. Shame, they were quite tasty!

But seriously, I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying a first exchange into a Westgate property and they can make up their own mind. I know some people say they had bad experiences (other than owners' gripes) but a lot of people really like the Westgate properties.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Sense Is As Sense Does.

But from an economical point of view I guess it doesn't make a lot of sense.

That's where those Motel 6 & Super 8 rates come in.

Basically, via timeshares, we're enjoying nicer, more spacious accommodations for less cash outlay than in our pre-timeshare days.

Who'd a-thunk ?

I strongly suspect it works out that way only because we bought our used timeshares at used (i.e., resale) prices.

It wouldn't have worked out nearly so economically if we had paid new prices for our used timeshares.

As a philosophical -- & practical -- matter, there is no such thing as a new timeshare. By the time anybody shows up & checks in, other people will have already stayed there.

All timeshares are used-used-used -- not that there's anything wrong with that.

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

 

[LINAND]

Steamboat Bill:

Westgate Lakes haven't given any cookies the last couple of times we visited. Shame, they were quite tasty!

But seriously, I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying a first exchange into a Westgate property and they can make up their own mind. I know some people say they had bad experiences (other than owners' gripes) but a lot of people really like the Westgate properties.

I remember back in the good ole days they used to give you a bottle of wine at check in. that and several packets of laundry detergent, dish washing detergent, dish washer powder and so on.

later they started giving tins of cookies and nothing else.

then, nothing at all.

I'm sure if I ever wanted to stay in another timeshare, I could rent one for close to the same price of what they charge for maint. fees, taxes, exchange fees and fee to Interval International. so I'm not out anything except that 8 grand that we so foolishly spent buying into the place.

I'll just be so glad when they get the thing out of our name so we will be done with the place once and for all.

 

[timeos2]

The clock is ticking - let the horrors begin!

I remember back in the good ole days they used to give you a bottle of wine at check in. that and several packets of laundry detergent, dish washing detergent, dish washer powder and so on.

I'll just be so glad when they get the thing out of our name so we will be done with the place once and for all.

You and almost every other owner with Wastegate except Steamboat who, as they are still in very active sales at his resort, hasn't been blessed with the shenanigans they will start pulling - at first minor but eventually reaching an obnoxious crescendo of owner intimidation - as they wind down the full sales effort and get busy trying to run off existing owners so they can run their little kingdom for themselves. It's not a question of if its merely when. I can even remember when we were happy with Wastegate too - but the memory is fading. Steam - enjoy it while you can as I'll guarantee the honeymoon will end as it does at every Wastegate eventually. There has never been and I doubt will ever be an exception as it is corporate culture and policy.

 

[LINAND]

You and almost every other owner with Wastegate except Steamboat who, as they are still in very active sales at his resort, hasn't been blessed with the shenanigans they will start pulling - at first minor but eventually reaching an obnoxious crescendo of owner intimidation - as they wind down the full sales effort and get busy trying to run off existing owners so they can run their little kingdom for themselves. It's not a question of if its merely when. I can even remember when we were happy with Wastegate too - but the memory is fading. Steam - enjoy it while you can as I'll guarantee the honeymoon will end as it does at every Wastegate eventually. There has never been and I doubt will ever be an exception as it is corporate culture and policy.

I've known for quite awhile what is going on with this evil company. after awhile, after the "honeymoon" period is over after say, 5 yrs they start making the owners lives miserable so we will want to sell. BUT we CAN'T sell. they have their ROFR rule. so they get to buy it back at a ridiculously low price and then charge you a "title change fee" of $150 to change the title back over to them. Westgate only has to pay what they consider is a fair rate to buy it back. then they get to sell it over and over again.

it's a game with them. they know how to play it. I've been a pawn in their game and know what is going on. I pray they are someday stopped from this rip off scam they are running. just look at their better business reports. it is shocking how many complaints they have against them.

forget about being a "happy lifetime owner" at Westgate. it will soon happen to everyone who buys into it. it is just a matter of time until they run off all their owners and replace us with new ones.

I've said it once, and I will say it again. I would hate to be in Sea Gulls shoes come judgment day. I would hate to know I wronged so many people.
to buy a timeshare back from a family for $350 when they paid 8 thousand for it is stealing. these people are thieves. crooks, bullies and liars. I lost big time with these people. I was stupid, dumb and un-informed. but I know now. and I get a kick of driving by the place when I'm in the area and giving them the finger. I do it every time and smile.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

I'm sure if I ever wanted to stay in another timeshare, I could rent one for close to the same price of what they charge for maint. fees, taxes, exchange fees and fee to Interval International. so I'm not out anything except that 8 grand that we so foolishly spent buying into the place.

I 100% agree with you in most cases, except that getting a prime February-March two bedroom ski-/out week in Park City for under $1,000 is IMPOSSIBLE. That is why i bought resale and can sell for the same price I bought it for (and maybe a slight profit). Heck, even if I get 1/2, I am still ahead of the costs to rent and I love the skier services at Westgate.

Steam - enjoy it while you can as I'll guarantee the honeymoon will end as it does at every Wastegate eventually. There has never been and I doubt will ever be an exception as it is corporate culture and policy.

I take yours (and others) warnings very seriously and I am always on the lookout for problems. Once I start to experience problems, I will sell my unit and then post about it later. Because they just added 3-4 new towers of timeshares in Park City, I would expect another 4-5 years of sales.

At this rate, I could give away my ski week for free and still be ahead of renting.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Extremely Distressing.

Shux, even if the horror stories are only half true, the picture of WestGate that emerges is extremely distressing.

How could an organization so thoroughly dedicated to shafting the customers ever be reformed ?

When company policies & practices skirt the law, or actually flout the law, what will it take to get the appropriate authorities to take action ?

Sheesh.

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

 

[timeos2]

No Rofr At Wastegate!

For those who have any doubts here, stolen from another unhappy Wastegate thread right here on TUG (SURPRISE! WASTEGATE OWNERS ARE UNHAPPY!) is the word directly from a Wastegate legal mouthpiece regarding ROFR and sales recorded prior to 2004 (or about then when they added it to all new sales):

"Regarding the right of first refusal, Mr. and Mrs. H. are not bound by this clause since it did not appear in the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions recorded at the time of their purchase of the Unit. Westgate will not restrict Mr. and Mrs. H’s right to sell their timeshare unit, and they are not required to obtain a waiver from Westgate prior to this sale. A note to this effect has been placed on their account.

I trust this response will provide an adequate resolution to your inquiry. If you have any more questions relating to Mr. and Mrs. H’s complaint, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Very truly yours,
GREENSPOON MARDER, P.A.
/s/ Marty A. Stone
Marty Stone
For the Firm
MS/vm"

Of course the OP had to fight them with a paid attorney to get the result that was clear from day 1 - IF IT ISN'T IN THE RECORDED DEED YOU ARE NOT SUBJECT TO DEVELOPER CHANGES OF THE RULES!

Since prior to 2004 no Wastegate Vacation Villa - or most other Wastegate's - had the clause it is unlikely that resales from 2004 or earlier have it. To be sure you'd have to check the original sale date/recording as that the ONLY date that counts. They cannot make unilateral changes after the original sale date as that locks in the terms. Resales after that abide by the same, original terms not anything they dreamed up since.

Wastegate owners stand up to the King and his corrupt band of sales weasels. Never let them take anymore advantage of you. You are suffering enough just owning with them.

 

[LINAND]

For those who have any doubts here, stolen from another unhappy Wastegate thread right here on TUG (SURPRISE! WASTEGATE OWNERS ARE UNHAPPY!) is the word directly from a Wastegate legal mouthpiece regarding ROFR and sales recorded prior to 2004 (or about then when they added it to all new sales):

"Regarding the right of first refusal, Mr. and Mrs. H. are not bound by this clause since it did not appear in the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions recorded at the time of their purchase of the Unit. Westgate will not restrict Mr. and Mrs. H’s right to sell their timeshare unit, and they are not required to obtain a waiver from Westgate prior to this sale. A note to this effect has been placed on their account.

I trust this response will provide an adequate resolution to your inquiry. If you have any more questions relating to Mr. and Mrs. H’s complaint, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Very truly yours,
GREENSPOON MARDER, P.A.
/s/ Marty A. Stone
Marty Stone
For the Firm
MS/vm"

Of course the OP had to fight them with a paid attorney to get the result that was clear from day 1 - IF IT ISN'T IN THE RECORDED DEED YOU ARE NOT SUBJECT TO DEVELOPER CHANGES OF THE RULES!

Since prior to 2004 no Wastegate Vacation Villa - or most other Wastegate's - had the clause it is unlikely that resales from 2004 or earlier have it. To be sure you'd have to check the original sale date/recording as that the ONLY date that counts. They cannot make unilateral changes after the original sale date as that locks in the terms. Resales after that abide by the same, original terms not anything they dreamed up since.

Wastegate owners stand up to the King and his corrupt band of sales weasels. Never let them take anymore advantage of you. You are suffering enough just owning with them.

This is great! that you for posting that.
I wish I had this information a few months ago.

 

[timeos2]

A near perfect review of why Wastegate is a diaster

From Trip Adviser - a typical response to how Wastegate puts all its efforts into the new sales/buildings and virtually ignores what we owners pay for.

Why aren't Wastegate owners happy?