Diamond Resorts reduces owner benefits again!

We've been Sunterra/DRI owners in AZ for 10 years, but I'm sure glad I stumbled into this forum. I didn't realize things were going downhill, and I haven't paid this year's assessment yet. We've enjoyed some good vacations at Sunterra/DRI (the latest was 10 fantastic days in Austria/Germany last fall), but I've just about had it. I've long realized that the actual costs for resort loding are the club dues/maint. fees (ownership was paid off years ago), and when you add in the costs of traveling, etc. it's just no great deal. These latest dues/fees increases are the last straw. Call me a conspiricist, but this does look an awful lot like DRI fee-increasing it's owners out of it's properties in order to seize them and re-sell. I'm very interested in any legal recourse being looked at.

I am becomming unhappy with this organization as well. I sent them an email regarding fee increases. No reply.

I placed a resevation online, or so I thought, but when I checked to see, no reservation had been made.

When I called I was told there was an unusually long waiting time to speak to a representative (wasn't this what the $70 was supposed to fix?)

By the way, you may want to check the BBB ranking of this company

http://www.vegasbbb.org/bbb_rated_acc_rpt.asp?bbbid=62328&tr=rated&lg=F&ex=14%2C18

Big rip-off companies like Diamond Resorts (Suntara)need to fall. I want out, am willing to just walk away and take a 16k hit- but they tell me I can't. It's not over until it's over. Sincerely, Ripped off by Diamond Resorts

What can we do? Can you suggest a way out of this mess- I am running out of ideas? No one wants a time share with over a $1000 maintence fees- they said they won't even take it back and there is almost no way to book a va-ca- even a year in advance. Your help, your topic is greatly appreciated. Sincerely

Don't do it- don't give them a dime. I guarantee you that one day you will regret it. Keep your hard earned money- rent someone else's mistake. Sincerely

Rising maintenance fees are one of the many pitfalls of timeshare ownership. This was one of the main reasons we sold all of our timeshares (rising maintenace fees and special assessments).

You would think in this tough economy that resorts would be holding maintenance fees steady or reducing them. They're biting off their noses to spite their faces.

Exhorbitant rising maintenance fees are being discussed on other timeshare forums as well.

What to do.... I don't know exactly- but I think this battle may take some time and persistence. One thing I do not like is to be treated like I am a number, cattle a follower....so on. I am on Facebook- I believe this to be a powerful forum- it's free so you should sign up. Go to groups and search for mine, it is called: (Diamond Resorts Watchdog). I'm not sure I like the name I selected much because I am certainly not defending them. I don't know what will come of it but we need numbers and Facebook is very organized. It can evolve from there and who knows. Anyway I am trying to do more than just whimper- I want to scream, I want out, I am willing to walk away- lose it all- but they won't even let me do that so .................here we go, let's go. Sincerely Facebook (Diamond Resorts Watchdog) please come.

Corey,

I have joined you on facebook, I am still looking for an atty., trying to talk to the atty general in AZ or Las Vegas. I don't want to wimper and I want to do more than walk away. I feel very cheated right now. IF we remain silent they will cheat more people with their lies and sell to yet another company who will charge for their invetment.

Laura

Hi Laura, Thanks again for joining my group. I think you will like Facebook regardless of how all this pans out- but anyway. My neighbor and friend is an attorney and said he would write a letter for me so here is what my base plan is; *Make a copy of my certificate. *Send my attorney's certified letter *Make a copy of my legal document that clearly states; on page 11-charter (d) Upon the date of voluntary withdrawal of a Member from the Club......bla bla bla *Notorize Everything *Send it all and see what happens.

What do you think about this plan- did I miss anything or do you have any suggestions?

Another powerful tool in our digital arsenal is UTube, I am a pro photog and know some about video. We could start flooding UTube with high quality videos of us failing at booking a vacation or our usless phone calls for help with opting out. Sincerely

coreys25 wrote:

Another powerful tool in our digital arsenal is UTube, I am a pro photog and know some about video. We could start flooding UTube with high quality videos of us failing at booking a vacation or our usless phone calls for help with opting out. Sincerely

What a great idea using UTube to out all the sleazy upfront fee companies and other timeshare scams out there ..... go for it.

I joined Redweek to hopefully get some answers and assistance. First off, my husband and I have not been very good owners. We have had the points system through Epic-Sunterra-and now Diamond Resorts for quite a few years, but have never really taken full advantage of the vacations - mainly due to kids' schedules and lack of funds. Now that the kids are grown, I am willing to give it some more time to see if it is worth our while to continue with vacation ownership. Seems to me that there are a lot of places on here to rent versus ownership.

To get to my main dissatisfaction - maintenance fees are just way too high and we are having trouble affording them. When we were in CA this past October, one of the guests who went to their presentation was telling me that DR has a buyback program, where they will actually buy back your points. Sounded very good to me. However, when I e-mailed them to get information on that, they informed me that they do not have a buy back program. My question to any of you - since our deed is actually paid for and the only thing we pay to DR is the yearly fees, what happens if we just let it go? Does it really adversely affect your credit rating? It seems to me in reading the forums that this ownership would be difficult to sell. Who in their right mind would ever buy our points based on any research they conduct and the comments being made by DR? So I am curious to know what will happen if we just let it go? Anyone have personal experience with that?

My other frustration with DR - and maybe this is true with many other companies - is that with the points system, I always have trouble reserving anything I want when I want it. And I hate their website where you have to plug in each search one by one!!! I wish we can plug in when we want to vacation and then see where our options are. So often I may have a place in mind, but it comes up as being unavailable.

Thank you.

maryp152 wrote:

My question to any of you - since our deed is actually paid for and the only thing we pay to DR is the yearly fees, what happens if we just let it go? Does it really adversely affect your credit rating?

There have been various heated discussions on whether not paying MFs affect your credit rating. However, IMO, the resort has the right to come after you for back fees and possibly send it off to a collection agency. In any event, the resort will prohibit you from using, renting or exchanging your unit. IF there is anything in writing, which you signed, stating you will pay all MFs and special assessments, and then the resort probably has more legal rights to collect the debt. The bottom line, though, is that by not paying the MFs, you are not hurting Diamond. All the other TS owners have to make up the difference when other TS owners refuse to pay the MFs.

maryp152 wrote:

It seems to me in reading the forums that this ownership would be difficult to sell. Who in their right mind would ever buy our points based on any research they conduct and the comments being made by DR? So I am curious to know what will happen if we just let it go? Anyone have personal experience with that?

You might find someone willing to take on your TS (especially if it is in a high demand location), but you may have to sell it for as low as a $1.00.

maryp152 wrote:

My other frustration with DR - and maybe this is true with many other companies - is that with the points system, I always have trouble reserving anything I want when I want it. And I hate their website where you have to plug in each search one by one!!! I wish we can plug in when we want to vacation and then see where our options are. So often I may have a place in mind, but it comes up as being unavailable.

How much time in advance do you plan your vacations? Do you have enough points to go to the areas where you really want to travel? As with many exchange programs, you need to plan your vacations as far in advance as possible. I am a member of RCI Points, and to get the best availabilities, I must be ready to book a unit at the start of the 10 month window. My wife and I usually plan our vacations a year in advance I know Diamond does not have the volume of TS, that RCI does, but they used to exchange via II. Have you tried that route? In any case, if you can’t rent your unit, you should at least use it and enjoy it.

Please count me in. I am in the same boat. Did anyone find an attorney for class action lawsuit againts DRI?

contact me at m_izadian@yahoo.com.

Don't spend anymore money, you are throwing good money into bad.

This is an example of how you can't even donate (give away our stupid time share), this was in my email box yesterday. Please read and join my group on Facebook - Diamond Resorts Watchdog Diamond Resortþ From: Crystal Dalke (crystal@donateforacause.org) Sent: Sat 1/10/09 4:14 PM

Thank you for your interest in donating your timeshare. Our brokers have reviewed your timeshare. Unfortunately, they have determined that due to either the property location or usage we are not able to accept this property for donation.

You might want to check with Savvy Traveler. They are a timeshare liquidation company and if they accept your property into their program they will guarantee the transfer of your property. Their number is 406-922-2561 or 877-465-8463.

Thank you,

Crystal Dalke

President

Donate For A Cause

3701 Trakker Trail, Suite 2J

Bozeman, MT 59718

406.922.2565

Fax – 406.585.1799

Has anyone found a lawyer in Las Vegas yet to sue these @#$% holes yet?

Here is a link to Neveada Attorney Geneal with the link to the complaint form. I am going to fill out and send in the form.

I highly encourage everyone to do the same here and I am sure this will also encourage the laywers to get in touch.

http://ag.state.nv.us/org/bcp/complaint.htm

Laura, My husband and I are thoroughly annoyed with the increase. We began as Epic, and then Sunterra, and now are obviously, Diamond members. Over the years we have found it difficult to book vacations, and are charged fees for whatever they can think of every time we blink an eye. We finally paid it off and have now been hit with a maintenance fee that makes it no longer worth keeping. Who can afford to pay this price?

I know that there is a class action suit be looked into by those who bought at Flamingo Beach/Royal Palm in St. Martin. They aren't allowed to have more than a 4% increase in a year, per Netherlands law.

I wonder if the US or independant states have a similar law regulating the yearly increase. If you are able to get anything together, I would be interested.

Helene

This is all good stuff to digest...thanks. I am currently doing my "do-diligence" on upgrading to points with DRI and joining "The Club". No I am not real happy with the idea, but for me "Weeks Just Do Not Work!"...period. I, like many of you I am sure , got "inspired" some years ago after consuming a few toddies at a casino in Tahoe, to put my X on the dotted line. And Wa-La I became the proud owner of a $20K vacation dream! NOT! And like many of you, Have so far found the weeks experience in RCI a disaster, you know "0 results found for your search parameters", everytime. If I wanted to use my Tahoe place every year (which we do not), not too much of a problem, they even (used to) give "owners" priorty locations like not peering out to the dumpster (which we found out not to be the case with RCI exchanges...dumpster views galore with them). But again like you-all, we did buy the farm, and now we have to feed the pigs (and cows and chickens too). And no one else wants it at any price. So we continue feed the pigs (if we do not they will die and will stink). So my only solution seems to be to take my TS into the next century with the points system (buy a few more pigs I guess), with the hope of turning the farm back to a profitable entity. But will I? (I did make the deal with a "Mr. Slick-Talk" yesterday, but still have my 72 business hour "out" window). I am going to call DRI directly on Tuesday to ask some tough questions gleaned from the legal mumbo-jumbo he he left, then make my final decision. Any suggestions, comments, advice out there I need to know? I know some of you would say keep your money and stay out of the DRI Club, but I really can't use my week as it is now and have to pay the same MF's anyway, weeks or points. What am I not seeing here?

I think if you can afford it and you like the timeshare experience (accommodations, locations etc...) then I think it has value. I, like everyone else, am frustrated with them because of their huge fee increases and shady ways of increasing fees hoping we dont notice.

However, being "in the Club" vs outside is definatly the way to go with them. You can trade to any club within their system for no exchange fee. We usually stay at a DRI property and rarely trade using II for that reason. I cant see paying II 150 (or whatever) if I can get better accommodations in the same place with no fee.

Their properties are usually a lot nicer than II or RCI properties of other companies. And we rarely have issues getting confirmations. I know others in this forum have experienced no availability, but I am not sure if that was within the club or not.

We typically book a long time out though since I have kids in school and need to plann around school vacations.

However, I just booked Valentines weekend in Williamsburg. Certain locations book up earlier than others and seasons affect this too, but that is not unlike any other accmmodations.

We have been able to get onto Disney property via II because we own DRI resorts which holds higher "weight" with them for some reason.

So like it or not, as frustrated as I am too with all of their non-sense, we still get use out of ours. We are now a family of 5 and would need to book 2 hotel rooms or a large suite so the cost comparison for us is comparable.

But, if you factor in the point system and get creative, you can get several weeks out of them.

We got duped by one of their "slick-talkers" one day too. He made promises that were not on ly untrue, but against their own policies. So just make sure you are getting the best deal you can and dont rely on pretty much anything they said.

To this day I am not too sorry that I upgraded, but I am sorry I upgraded with htis particular guy. I think we got value from our upgrade into the club( and continue too), but I wish my commission had gane to a more deserving person that the eel we dealt with.

I figure that if I get 2 weeks vacation a year out of my points I am "breaking even" kind of. Anything on top of that is gravy.