15 Apr Wyndham Timeshare Scams
Have you ever heard about Wyndham scams? Perhaps you are a Wyndham owner currently entangled in one? If not, consider yourself fortunate. Wyndham Vacation Resorts, also known as Club Wyndham or WorldMark, is a well-known and influential player in the timeshare industry. However, this Orlando-based company has also gained a reputation for being one of the most deceitful companies to buy properties from. Throughout its history as a top-selling timeshare developer, Wyndham has found itself embroiled in numerous lawsuits and has left many timeshare owners feeling remorseful about their purchases. In this article, we will delve into some of the legal issues that the company has faced over the years. We will also explore the negative experiences and significant complaints that dissatisfied customers have had to endure while dealing with Wyndham. By shedding light on these Wyndham scams, we aim to caution individuals interested in timeshare ownership against falling victim to deceitful companies like Club Wyndham.
Wyndham Timeshare Scams have led to Legal Troubles
Just like other major players in the timeshare industry such as Westgate Resorts and Diamond International, Wyndham has faced numerous accusations of dishonest practices to drive sales. Unfortunately, this is a common issue in the world of timeshare sales presentations. The instances where Wyndham representatives have been implicated in timeshare fraud should serve as a red flag for potential buyers to avoid attending any Wyndham timeshare presentations.
One particular timeshare scam involving Wyndham resulted in disciplinary action being taken against the company in August 2014. In this case, a couple who already owned three Wyndham timeshares were falsely assured by multiple salespeople that they could easily sell back their properties if they no longer wanted them. However, this promise directly contradicted the company’s official policy, which clearly stated that there was no existing buyback program or any form of timeshare resale assistance available.
As a result of this disciplinary action, Wyndham was fined $15,000. This incident raised concerns about the unethical lengths to which the company would go in order to persuade customers to provide their credit card details and make a down payment on a property they believed they could eventually resell.
Furthermore, Wyndham faced scrutiny from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture due to 29 consumer complaints filed between 2008 and 2013. These complaints forced the company to pay over $800,000 in investigative costs, refunds, and debt relief.
How Wyndham Scams Its Customers
If you believe that these mishaps are minor setbacks, you should listen to the testimonies of Vacation Club members and individuals who have fallen victim to Wyndham scams. The company’s reputation speaks for itself, with a dismal 1.04 out of 5 customer score from the Better Business Bureau and a C+ rating. It’s clear that numerous individuals have had disappointing timeshare vacation encounters with Wyndham.
Unethical Sales Presentations
One of the main tricks that Wyndham often uses is misleading customers about the duration of their sales presentations. Although they claim that these presentations are only 1.5 hours long, many reviewers have reported being stuck in pitches that drag on for up to six hours. Throughout these lengthy sessions, sales agents employ various tactics to persuade customers to make a purchase. They will tout the convenience of the Wyndham rewards system, promise significant savings on vacations through timeshares, and even suggest opportunities to resell Wyndham points or rent out properties for extra income. However, the truth is that many of these claims are simply not accurate.
Can’t Book the Vacations You Want
One common grievance regarding Wyndham’s points system revolves around the difficulty in booking vacations with it. Numerous owners have expressed frustration at the challenges they face when trying to secure a reservation at their designated timeshare resort during their allocated week. Many customers have reported the need to make reservations well over a year in advance or purchase additional points in order to secure their desired spot. Moreover, even if they manage to book their vacation at the preferred time, customers are still required to pay annual maintenance fees and risk losing their vacation points if they fail to make timely bookings.
Increasing Maintenance Fees
When it comes to maintenance fees, Wyndham has a reputation for consistently increasing them without providing clear explanations to customers during the timeshare sales process. Similar to other developers, Wyndham sales representatives tend to avoid discussing fees in detail, as long as they are mentioned in the customer’s timeshare contract. However, just because this is a common practice doesn’t make it ethical.
Many Wyndham customers have reported significant annual increases in their fees. This is contradictory to Wyndham’s claim of being one of the most affordable timeshare companies, as steep maintenance fee hikes suggest that owning a timeshare may not actually result in significant savings on vacations. One customer even mentioned that the amount spent on maintenance fees could have funded a trip around the world.
Furthermore, Wyndham faced allegations of withholding money from its members in the Nolen vs. Fairshare Vacation Owners Class Action Suit. In this particular case, Fairshare (also known as Club Wyndham Plus) held back a substantial sum of money that was rightfully owed to Wyndham Club Members. Therefore, not only are maintenance fees constantly on the rise, but members are also being deprived of their rightful funds.
Prohibiting Customers From Rescission
Frequent hikes in annual maintenance fees are common in the timeshare industry, but what truly stands out is the act of preventing customers from canceling their timeshares during the rescission period, a practice that Wyndham has been caught engaging in.
For those well-versed in timeshares, the rescission period typically spans seven to 10 days after the contract is signed. This timeframe provides a window for buyers to reconsider their purchase and cancel if they so choose. It is a safety net that should ensure buyer satisfaction.
Unfortunately, Wyndham has been known to employ aggressive tactics to dissuade customers from exercising their right to rescind. By assigning sales representatives to work during off-hours and even on days when the offices are officially closed, the company aims to make it difficult for clients to cancel their contracts. This underhanded strategy, internally known as “rat patrol,” reveals a callous disregard for the satisfaction and well-being of timeshare owners.
One troubling account of Wyndham’s questionable practices was detailed in a Yelp review. The reviewer shared how they tried to cancel their timeshare on the same day they signed the contract. However, Wyndham refused to honor their request and later denied that any cancellation attempt had been made. The customer continues to be stuck in a contract they no longer want, and the unwanted timeshare purchase is now causing damage to their credit score.
In an industry where transparency and customer satisfaction should be paramount, Wyndham’s actions paint a troubling picture of how some companies prioritize profit over the well-being of their clients.
How to avoid Wyndham Timeshare Scams
Why would anyone willingly fall into the trap of a Wyndham scam? This company has a track record of facing legal actions due to deceiving customers, subjecting them to lengthy and misleading sales presentations, creating obstacles when booking vacations, imposing exorbitant maintenance fees, and wrongfully denying cancellation requests within the legal rescission period. It is widely regarded as one of the most disreputable timeshare companies in the industry, yet it continues to lure unsuspecting individuals into binding timeshare contracts year after year.
Wyndham’s scams and the plethora of negative customer reviews serve as a clear indication that investing your time, money, and emotions in this company is not worthwhile. Instead of delivering on promises, Wyndham will only leave you with unresolved vacation bookings, wasted rewards points, and a drained bank account due to unnecessary maintenance fees.
What can you do to get rid of your Timeshare?
Take action! Being trapped in a timeshare agreement you cannot escape is not worth the temporary perks like a complimentary breakfast or a free stay at a Wyndham hotel. Have the numerous Wyndham scams and lawsuits convinced you to steer clear of purchasing a timeshare from this company? Or are you already entangled in an unwanted timeshare deal with them? If so, reach out to Timeshare Compliance for assistance.
We are a reputable advocacy group that specializes in assisting clients seeking release from their timeshare contracts. With over 11 years of experience in the timeshare exit industry, our leadership team employs a proven resolution process to swiftly and cost-effectively resolve your timeshare problems.
