Selling Diamond Resorts Timeshare

rl134 wrote:

I have an offer from International Real Estate Solution, who has a buyer for my biannual ownership in Diamond Resorts, for almost $10,000. Anyone every heard of this outfit?

I've never heard of them but I can tell you right now that it is probably a scam. Did they phone you unexpectedly? They're also offering to pay far more then market value.

What usually happens in situations like these is that they will tell you the buyer has paid, the money is in escrow, your cashier's check is waiting, yadda yadda yadda. Then they will tell you that you need to pay some sort of bogus fee or tax to complete the sale.

Once you pay these crooks the money, they'll make off with it and do nothing for you. Oh, and by the way, you'll still own your timeshare.

Don't deal with them unless you have money to throw away.

Has anyone found a legitimate way to sell Diamond weeks? Will this transfer issue be there with weeks too? I have said too many times its all about them....owners don't matter at all....

linda671 wrote:

Has anyone found a legitimate way to sell Diamond weeks? Will this transfer issue be there with weeks too? I have said too many times its all about them....owners don't matter at all....

It is not about them, its about getting your money... Nothing is as important to them as getting you to give them more of your hard earned money and they will say ANYTHING to get your signature on a contract... of course this is all just my opinion, Diamond has made an adversary of me for life...

Wow, I am so surprised about all the hassles with these time shares, and especially DRT. I have 2 timeshares pd in full from way back in 2000. I want to sell them, one is weeks, odd years and the other is points, both now are DRW. Fees are ridiculous, and so difficult to exchanges. I thought I could sell for about 1/3 of the money I originally pd, but reading all this info on this site, tells me this won't be happening! If I just let it go and not pay my fees, etc.. what is the worst that can happen, other than have bed credit? Can they tap into any other resources one may have? Thanks for any info, I'd really appreciate it!

vivianb63 wrote:

If I just let it go and not pay my fees, etc.. what is the worst that can happen, other than have bed credit? Can they tap into any other resources one may have? Thanks for any info, I'd really appreciate it!

Have you explained to DRI your situation and asked if they will take it back. They might if you pay agree to pay closing costs and perhaps the next maintenance fee.

Also, try listing it in RedWeek's Bargain Basement for $1 and offer to pay closing costs and next maintenance fee. Timeshare Users Group (aka "TUG"; tugbbs.com) has a similar service for free in its Bargain Deals section.

PLEASE go to the ABC News website at this URL:

http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3271346&cat=20/20

and request that 20/20 investigate DRI. Be sure to make reference to the whitewash/propaganda piece CBS did with Undercover Boss on Cloobeck.

Maybe if enough people write to them they may buy into the idea, if for no other reason than to embarrass CBS News.

These DRI timeshare / points memberships have no value in any market, anyone offering a single dollar for one is being hustled for a buck, when there are many many dozens of memberships that can be had for free... We paid 54,000 $$ cash for our membership, and we could not give it away, so we gave it back to DRI... They are selling "AIR" and anyone buying it will very shortly be remorseful...

How did you give it back? Or how did you get them to take it back? They keep saying it is their policy not to take it back at all.

jocelyns25 wrote:

How did you give it back? Or how did you get them to take it back? They keep saying it is their policy not to take it back at all.

They cannot force you into being an indentured tourist, if you owe nothing on your membership, and no back fee's, just surrender your membership, tell them you will no longer pay, and no longer use their facilities... We walked away from an investment in a membership of 56,000$... How could they go to court and allege that we must continue to pay for something we are not using.. We gave them 56,000 $, that s like buying a new Mercedes from the dealer driving it home then taking it back the next day and giving it back with no refund

I agree, I wish to do the same. It is paid except latest taxes and maintenance. Can you give me the specifics on what you did... what I must do to surrender the membership? What written statements or filings must be made?

She paid $56,000! The average timeshare sucker is around $25,000. Of course DRI would take it back. It's like she prepaid maintenance fees for 31 years at a price of 1,000 per year prepaid. Now they have her membership back to sell it to the next sucker. I am a two time sucker to the tune of $29,000. But I take Vacation like a retired person. Ave. 2 vacation a year. So I recouping my so called Investment.

So timeshare people just lied to me when they said it's their policy not to take it back even all paid up because it wasn't twice the price? Or is there someone in particular one needs to talk to? Did they get a written statement that they are free of it? Has it come time that fees rolled around and they are sure they won't try to collect them?

you are not "recouping" anything. simply put, you paid them $29,000 for the opportunity to pay more on a per night basis with your maintenance fees than it would cost you to stay someplace comparable booked as a hotel suite.

josephf238 wrote:

She paid $56,000! The average timeshare sucker is around $25,000. Of course DRI would take it back. It's like she prepaid maintenance fees for 31 years at a price of 1,000 per year prepaid. Now they have her membership back to sell it to the next sucker. I am a two time sucker to the tune of $29,000. But I take Vacation like a retired person. Ave. 2 vacation a year. So I recouping my so called Investment.

jocelyns25 wrote:

So timeshare people just lied to me when they said it's their policy not to take it back even all paid up because it wasn't twice the price? Or is there someone in particular one needs to talk to? Did they get a written statement that they are free of it? Has it come time that fees rolled around and they are sure they won't try to collect them?

Jocelyns, TS developers can have any policy they want about taking back TS's. They can change their policy from one year to the next. The policy may be to take so many a weeks a year, no weeks a year, only certain weeks (that can be resold easily or already have a buyer requesting) or all weeks. Sometimes even if they say no, if you are persistent enough they will change their mind. Keep asking. In the meantime look into trying to give it away for free. Offer to pay the closing/transfer costs. If that doesn't work, try adding the next year usage for free (you pay the following year MF).

That said there are weeks and resorts that nobody wants and those are the real challenges.

I've been to Italy for a month my total lodging was $1,000 for a month I had exchange for Capri for a week 200.00 Two room in Fabro for 400.00 and I booked Assisi for 200.00 for a week. And booked Venice online for 2 days which cost 400.00 for two rooms So how much do you think it would cost you for one week in Capri alone Not counting the other resorts I just mention . My vacation also took me to Las Vegas twice, Florida every year Berkshire every year skiing. I have been on 19 weekly vacation since 2009 so. You do this and let me know if you can do better then me. My maintenance fee and exchange fees I average $135.00 a day for a room for a year and Iam getting a condo like room in resorts so if I take two vacation a year my cost goes from $135.00 per day to $76. 00 per day and if I take a third vacation cost would be $58.00. Enjoy your hotel.

You sound just like that creep at the last "update" I endured.

Tell you what: for $135 I can stay in a hotel where my room will be done EVERY day instead of twice a week, where I get a free breakfast, where I can book when I want and where I want, where I can cancel and get my money back without worrying about availability before my year is up. If I want condo like accomodations I can do air bnb for a lot less than $135. And all this does not even take into consideration the $11,000 of my hard earned cash that some lying scumbags have use of for the past 21years

josephf238 wrote:

I've been to Italy for a month my total lodging was $1,000 for a month I had exchange for Capri for a week 200.00 Two room in Fabro for 400.00 and I booked Assisi for 200.00 for a week. And booked Venice online for 2 days which cost 400.00 for two rooms So how much do you think it would cost you for one week in Capri alone Not counting the other resorts I just mention . My vacation also took me to Las Vegas twice, Florida every year Berkshire every year skiing. I have been on 19 weekly vacation since 2009 so. You do this and let me know if you can do better then me. My maintenance fee and exchange fees I average $135.00 a day for a room for a year and Iam getting a condo like room in resorts so if I take two vacation a year my cost goes from $135.00 per day to $76. 00 per day and if I take a third vacation cost would be $58.00. Enjoy your hotel.

David I give you that, Bed make once a week, no breakfast and the booking I give you. Some resort are hard to get then others. Geez you only got F#@ked $11,000. If you can go to your home resorts at least once a year and go to a resort near where you live where you don't have to fly. At least you can get back the $11,000 or take family with you to pay half the cost. It's only right that family and friend pay half since we got suckered Prepaid money. Come on man timeshare way better then Hotel plus you get so save money on meals. What it take to put an egg in a pan and throw toast in a toaster. Geez. Where is your home resort? I have a Vacation club Lifestyle not worth 2 cents and the Mizner place in Weston Fl which I do love and use. Patriot fan so I go see them play Miami which I saved $600.00. since ticket at Gillette can go for over 200.00 each minimum and parking and time hassle. Sun life is right off of 75 or 95. and I fly to Florida for free SW card. So it only cost me 139.00 exchange week since I got suckered into a May week. Even though the lying F%$^ker told I can go any week I want. Didn't tell I had to go thru RCI and pay an exchange week. Plus I forgot you can get two rooms an 8/8 unit for one Exchange Fee or even if you have to get 2 rooms for two exchange fees. You would definitely save more then Hotel and the big thing Privacy. Calling me a Creep was uncalled for. I am as honest as I come. Your the first negative critic of all my posting. How many posing do you see on here that post how much they got Screwed. Your $11,000 in 21 years is gonna get a lot of AWWW poor baby. Read about the rich sucker that bought into Manhattan club in New york timeshare. That would make you feel a little better. You can beat the system. I can help you. One thing about timeshare it forces you to take Vacation you would normally don't. Truce, Joe

Just to touch on a few points in these posts I would like to add my personal view. I have been an owner of several timeshares over the years. I first bought into a timeshare in the early 80's when they concept was new. My first timeshare was a 13 year contract for use. I paid my fees and enjoyed my stays.

I then bought three timeshares over the years. I used one in Las Vegas for my trips there and not to exchange. I still own that one. I bought the other two for exchanging. I used them for many years and had great trips. Then the industry changed. RCI was bought out by Cendant and they started selling the prime locations and weeks on the open market depriving owners of those exchanges.

I finally decided to get rid of the two timeshares that I used for those exchanges. I kept the Las Vegas property for my personal use and I love it. It's owned and managed Tricom and they keep the maintenance fees down and the property well maintained.

I have seen this industry become taken over by corporate greed and I believe DRI is at the top of the list of the greed in the industry. They seem to be creating an empire at the expense of the owners.

I still believe that timesharing is a good concept if it is run by the principles that originally started the indsutry but unfortunately that is changing. There are many satistied customers but also many people that want out of their contracts.

That is the problem. There is no exit stradegy for people who no longer can or want to pay for the ever increasing maintenance fees and assessments. Everyone has to make their own decissions when buying into the industry but when the rules change after you purchase your unit then you should be given the opportunity to opt out and that is what has to be addressed.

I enjoy the open discussion and encourage everyone to keep airing their views.

I whole heartily agree with everything you said. Yeah my Lifestyle when I first bought they told (not in contract F#@$ers) me my week goes as an Exchange fee no credit or points. So if RCI wants 50 credit for Rome resort I only had to bank the week and paid the Exchange fee. $200.00 When originally bought they would bank I think two weeks just to make me think they would bank two weeks every year. This was while I was still learning how timeshare system works with crooked RCI. This year was the first time I was going to bank Lifestyle and I get this E-mail from them bastard saying to deposit my weeks now would cost 259.00 and I think 1 bedroom only command 14 credits per week bank. How much am I going to do with that? The only good thing with Lifestyle is no maintenance fees and the club membership is good for 42 years. But they made a phantom maintenance fees now $259.00 X 4 weeks=$1036 dollars. ( they give me 4 weeks to bank every year) None of this in the original agreement. I am still waiting the answer to my banking question about that now banking weeks will only be credits. It's the third day waiting. I tried to Book a 1 week in Disney for family ( not going) 3 bedroom commanding 23 or 26 credits. So I was going to bank my Lifestyle week since I believe the credits are unlimited. Tried to call the deposit week dept. They don't answer so I E-mailed them. Still waiting.

I am finding the last few posts very interesting. DRI is definitely not a cheap timeshare. I am concerned that in order to please stockholders that the maintenance fees will go up even more over time.

I have had very positive experiences with DRI. I travel to Hawaii during the summer quite a bit and I must say that I have a deal when I use the DRI properties in that collection. What I pay in maintenance fees is still lower than what I see being offered for the same places on booking.com and hotels.com and orbitz. I compare. I also recognize that often when I am seeing stuff on the internet they are often offering the studio side of units and I am staying in 2 bedroom units. I will be at the Ka'anapali Beach Club, The Point at Poipu, Sea Mountain, Sea Village and The Royal Kuhio in July as I will be there for a month traveling to different islands. I am paying waaaaaaaaaaaay less in maintenance fees than someone who tried to do the same thing going to hotels. I can show you any comparison. No I don't get maid service or a free breakfast, but I will save lots of money on daily taxes and the room rate that is being charged. DRI can be cost effective in very expensive areas like Hawaii. Also, when I go to Europe, I am paying my maintenance fees in dollars not euros or pounds and I get a substantial savings on the exchange rate for accommodations. So if you look at things from a broader perspective then you can see savings. Not everyone pays top dollar to be in DRI's Club. There are a lot of members who have gotten their points for free and only pay maintenance fees. It becomes a big deal in the long run. I have been with DRI since 2004 when it took over Sunterra and I find it is a little more expensive than my Marriott timeshare, but offers my locations in more areas and that saves me on exchange fees. I often use the two together and it has been a great deal for me and my family. If you have enough points to do what you want to do then you will be fine and with good planning understanding the system, you could be very happy.