Diamond Resorts-is it a scam?

Hi, I am sure I am going to be accused of working for Diamond Resorts, this being my first post and all but hey ho.

My husband and I have recently 'inherited' points from my parents in law. They signed up to a timeshare with GVC almost 20 years ago with a 2 weeks timeshare at the Kenmore resort in Scotland. When Sunterra took over they were pursuaded to change over to the points system. Since then they have kept one of the weeks at Kenmore each year which guarantees they have the week they want and they use the other week or 5500 points for holidays in the other resorts.

Since meeting my husband in I have visited many of their resorts in Spain, Tenerife, Virginia, Germany and the UK and I have been impressed with the standard of all of them.

My parents in law recently decided that the points were no longer good value for themselves as they don't travel abroad often anymore so my husband and I have gladly taken the points over.

Yes the maintenance fees have gone up a lot, we had a meeting with one of the resort managers who said the extra money was going to redecorating and modernising the resorts, this could have just been the line they had been fed from head office to placate unhappy point owners but having recently stayed in a different timeshare companies resort, Diamond resorts does seem to be behind the times with technology etc (no broadband in the cottages at Kenmore for example) and upgrading would be welcomed.

The points are only good value if you make them work for you. My husband and I own a business so have great flexibility on when we can take our holidays making the 59 day last minute booking system fantastic for us. If you only want to holiday in the UK then it most definately isn't good value but we want to go abroad, the resorts in Hawaii for example at around 4500 points off peak work out a lot cheaper than a week in the equivelant that you would book ordinarily.

Done properly on last minute bookings we could get at least 3 weeks a year out of our points and if we go for 3-4 day breaks which they have recently introduced we could get 5 or 6 holidays a year.

Because of the way we have got the points I have never been to one of the meetings, I can imagine it is a hard sell but if you are not interested LEAVE!!! If they use physical means to keep you there call the police!!!

If you are only interested in peak season UK breaks don't bother, its expensive and pointless. If you have flexibility on when you use the points and where you go then it is good value for money. At least until they put the fees up again!!

Oh dear, after reading all these threads looks like I should be counting myself lucky that I'll never on this short break (phew!!) . I came across the Dimond demons whilst shopping and thought that looks good and if I can listen to screaming kids all day at work the surely I could handle a 90 minute chat and plus I really needed a break . Gave my details and was told that the money on £69 would be taken out in 5 days . Sadly for me my partner became yet another victim of the recession was made redudant , so using my money brain I decided we needed to save and so called the "demons" to inform them of my situation and asked them to delay taking any money from me until further notice. Well to my shock!! I checked my bank statement only to discover that they had taken the money (bloody cheek) I was fumming but my partner said " what the hell let's just go enjoy the break " . I called them to book the break only to be asked " do you both earn over £30.000 a year " to which I replied " yes we do but my partner is out of work at the moment but I did explan this to one of your other staff and asked that you do not take any money from my accont , but you have so I would like to book in July please. Her responce " I am very sorry but you do not fit our criteria of earnying over £30.000" , I could'nt believe what I was hearing !!!:mad: . " fine. Well then I would like my money back" :mad::mad: and the last blow from her was " it's non- refunderble" . so looks like I've been well a truely done over .......or can I get my money back ??? .