Diamond Resorts-is it a scam?

EM-doc

What direct debit have you talked about. Did you not pay upfront for your membership and bought your points, which remain the same each year and can even be borrowed from next year or transferred to next year's points.
So what's this direct debit about? They (Diamond resorts) have not mentioned anything about the management fees, nor does it say on my contract. Did it apply to those who had become members in yester years?

Fed_Up wrote: »

D - FOR DANGER -ONCE THEY HAVE REALED YOU IN YOU ARE STUCK WITH IT. Management fees have gone up 100% over 4 years. They can raise their management fees and add on additional charges as they see fit. We cannot afford to be with this company any longer. However, if you join this club you cannot get out (unlike any other club) unless you sell your investment and guess what no one wants to buy AND DIAMOND RESORTS DONT WANT THEM EITHER - THEY CAN HAVE MINE FOR FREE AND STILL THEY DONT WANT THEM. If you die or are terminally ill or over 75 you might have a chance of cancelling your membership. I have had to retire through poor health my husband is to be made redundant. Diamond Resorts will not accept our resignation. I have cancelled my direct debits and will no doubt be taken to Court. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. There are over a 100 of us pursuing this through a solicitor.

CHR15

chris.s wrote: »

It seems unbelievable to me that anyone is still defending this appalling company.

Because he works for them????:cool:

Xendar

EM-doc wrote: »

Hi,

I (think that I) understand this points system; however, I did not know about this annual maintainance fees. They offered a trial membership for 18 months in which to use 10'000 points. They didn't for once mention anything about a maintainance fee. Can you please elaborate. Ta.

Hi Em-doc,

If you've only bought a one off 10,000 points I don't think the maintenance fee will apply to you, only full time members.

I mentioned the gripes people have had about Diamond resorts to my folks-in-law and that some people are looking into the legalities of upping the maintenance fee so much. They said that they would interested to hear if there is a legal way out of having to pay them.

One thing that people have mentioned on here which I would like to clarify is - if you've bought into a Diamond Resorts package and you want out, are you legally bound to paying the maintenance fee every year? Surely that isn't legal?


Mark

chris.s_5

CHR15 wrote: »

Because he works for them????:cool:

Perhaps you're right and he's the one who has written to me from DRI (under an alias) telling me again "zere ees no escape" and that they will pursue me if in 18 months my 'debt' remains unpaid. However it now seems that at least those who signed up with GVC 10+ years ago have a possible 'out' in the wording of their Legal Documentation which provides for resignation by giving 7 days notice and sending back the membership certificate. I won't do the latter as I don't trust DRI with it and in any case it is in the hands of a lawyer as previously noted. I do however take Antenna's point that no-one has ever been taken to court on this issue - I don't see what they could expect to get out of it. I would just like to be able to stick it to them with a conclusive 'up yours'!

Midgers_2

We purchased 13k points 3 years ago.
Since then we have had some fab holidays, however we have not been able to be choosy where we have been as we are limited to school hols.
Most hols in costa del sol (same again easter this year). Our management fees have now rocketed to a massive 1200 quid.
Does anyone else get sick of being harrassed every time you go away in the hope you will purchase more points?

yorksrabbit

Anyone who thinks they're locked in to some kind of lifetime relationship with this scummy outfit can easily unlock themselves.

Just walk away.

You don't have to keep paying anything to anyone because DR's terms are unfair and unenforceable.

Will DR sue?

Oh, right, that's great corporate PR, isn't it?

Of course DR won't sue: if you were given specific assurances about management charges rate rises and these assurances have turned out to be lies, then you were mis-sold the product.

antenna

yorksrabbit wrote: »

Anyone who thinks they're locked in to some kind of lifetime relationship with this scummy outfit can easily unlock themselves.

Just walk away.

You don't have to keep paying anything to anyone because DR's terms are unfair and unenforceable.

Will DR sue?

Oh, right, that's great corporate PR, isn't it?

Of course DR won't sue: if you were given specific assurances about management charges rate rises and these assurances have turned out to be lies, then you were mis-sold the product.

Everything you was ever told when you first bought you timeshare/points was lies,We can get you cheap flights, LIES,Availability if you book early, LIES,Yearly fees will never rise more than the inflation rate LIES,Cheap holidays for life,LIES,and still people think they will be taken to court if they stop paying the extortionate yeary fees,LIES

dealer_wins

On any thread in this board if you EVER get a member with 1 post defending the company then it is GUARANTEED that the company is a scam!!

Hence Diamond is a scam, plain and simple.

crits

dealer_wins wrote: »

On any thread in this board if you EVER get a member with 1 post defending the company then it is GUARANTEED that the company is a scam!!

Hence Diamond is a scam, plain and simple.

I cannot agree with 'dealer wins' comments stating that any endeavours to defend DRI is tantamount to guaranteeing it is a scam !! In my original thread I replied to a previous corresopondent stating that in my case, I can only confirm that none of the Vouchers presented to me when I had attended a presentation were scam as they were all put to good use although I hadn't signed up as a Member of GVC during that year,way back in 2001. Effectively,I joined a year later and have reaped all the benefits since -- so far, so good.Of course the ever increasing Annual Fees are of concern to all Members - this is an issue which has to be taken up seriously with DRI's management. Regarding all the other gossip about one not being able to quit even if one opts not to pay the Annual Fee - in this day & age, this is hard to believe. Only a Non-Paying Member can really tell us what the consequences really are & obviously there probably are many around.
Regards,
CRITS
23/2/2009

PixelPound

My parents bought into GVC (that became Sunterra, that it now Diamond Resorts) and it's worked for them. There's a couple of members groups (one that requires a small fee for server costs, and another on yahoo groups) with which most people seem to have been happy, though there seems to be a big increase in unrest since DRI took over.

As to getting out, there are options - some people have been giving points away to other members (at one time you could sell them, but the increase in people wanting to get out because of the fee increases effectively means supply outstrips demand so people give them away). DRI did have a limited time option for people to get out when there was a big rise in complaints, but don't think its ongoing. Have read of several people simply not paying and no longer using their points, none of whom have been taken to court (I think they get a letter or two warning them its a possibility for non-payment).

It's not a scam, like many of the holiday timeshare ticket touts, but its not (now) a way to have cheapish holidays. There is a big problem in their sales people (who I think are commission only) are very pushy. If you go for a free holiday (well free accomodation, though you can get your own flights rather than forced to get theirs) be aware of the fact. After the 90 min presentation, walk out, you've done the commitment.

I'd advise people to visit diamondresorts yahoo group at least, if interested in what other people think of the scheme.