Timeshare reviews throughout the internet offer unprecedented access to information regarding this highly mysterious yet often discussed industry. While some timeshare reviews are mixed and contain quite a bit of confusion, once again consumers seem more angry than anything else regarding resorts, presentations, and actual timeshare ownership. While nearly every company has at least one positive timeshare review, the vast majority contain several anger-filled reviewed reviews by consumers who simply cannot receive the answers they seek regarding their timeshares.

Many of the outraged timeshare reviews deal with the timeshare presentation. It seems as though those timeshare owners who decided to do research on certain companies by reading user-submitted timeshare reviews were much more pleased with their ownership, even if these were commonly negative as well. However, those who have attended timeshare presentations have been continuously subjected to some of the more brutal experiences in the real estate industry.

“However we do not make any snap decisions and told the sales people that, well you would have thought the world was ending....all of a sudden the higher up sales person accuses us of not being truthful with them, of not making sense since we want to go on more vacations and wanting to spend more time with family....why would we not want to buy into their vacation club....we had to suffer through 2 other sales people and say NO like 10 times before they would let us leave.   

It was more stressful that it should have been....and after being treated that way will never buy anything from Westgate Resorts...  You just don't treat people like that.”

-Carey F, Yelp

This is not an isolated incident, and Westgate resorts is a very common target for outraged consumers through online reviews. Many of those who attend timeshare presentations have miserable experiences and vow to not only never attend one again, but to warn others against making the same mistake.

Westgate is notorious for terrible timeshare presentations throughout the online community, but they are certainly not the only company to be accused of fraud and deceitful sales tactics. Most large timeshare companies have scathing reviews regarding these presentations, and consumers are often warned to stay far away. This is even true when considering the large prizes offered for attending these presentations.

The Better Business Bureau is a household name for filing complaints and constructing a rating system for businesses in any industry. Part of this complex rating system involves which industry the business is engaged in, and the timeshare industry is one of the most notorious for fraud and scams. 

Timeshare companies are especially targeted by the Better Business Bureau for receiving a high volume of complaints and never responding to them. While the number of complaints levied against a company holds some sway in the final score, how the business responds has a great effect on the outcome. Timeshare companies commonly do not respond to the formal complaints lodged against them, which has hurt their standing with the Better Business Bureau.

While Yelp is commonly known as a website that reviews restaurants and other food and dining businesses, they have grown into a forum for rating businesses in every industry. Timeshare reviews posted on yelp are astoundingly low, showing many problems with this industry.

“...this place would have been nice if:
1. the hot water heater worked
2. the room was closer to the pool and spa
3. the spa was hotter
4. instead of what was supposed to be in the shower, they had three huge rings...
5. the sofa bed was broken
6. the tv was broken
7. the shuttle service to the strip was slow
8. housekeeping didnt clean but expected a tip
9. did i mention the room was bad?”

-Senna H.

While anyone is able to leave a timeshare review on Yelp, this is not an isolated incident. Many timeshare companies hold low ratings on Yelp’s user-based website, showing time and time again a pattern of distrust and dissatisfaction with the industry. Not all timeshare reviews are bad, but the overwhelming majority on some of the most popular consumer websites paint a very dark picture of this industry, warning consumers to stay as far away from timeshare ownership as possible.

Complaints against the timeshare industry have been rampant within the consuming community for decades. This dark sector of the real estate market has long been plagued by rumors, accusations, and allegations of fraud and timeshare scams since its inception. Some complain that the entire industry runs of some level of fraud leveled against the consuming public. It is no wonder why so many consumers are looking for a place to lodge formal timeshare complaints.

The problem with timeshare complaints is that many believe they will fall on deaf ears. Timeshare resort reviews are a good example of this fear. Many timeshare owners have dreadful experiences with timeshare companies, and some are enraged enough to provide scathing user-submitted reviews online. However, the majority of these consumers do not launch this type of internet protest because they believe that no good can possibly come of it. The timeshare owner may feel a little better, less heated, but a timeshare resort complaint will do little for the benefit of the consumer, right?

This is actually not the case. Many timeshare complaints written as public reviews have not only damaged the reputation of timeshare resorts, but have revealed defrauded timeshare owners all across the internet. A peculiar thing happens when a public timeshare complaint is created. Other timeshare owners search for the company online and view the timeshare complaint, realizing they have gone through a very similar experience. Soon enough, the timeshare complaint has spread like wildfire throughout the consuming public and online media. The source of timeshare fraud is exposed by larger entities such as the FBI and Federal Trade Commission, and the timeshare owners win massive legal battles through fair trade laws. This can all occur because of one public timeshare complaint that a struggling owner finally decided to create in the right place at the right time.

While this type of action resulting from timeshare complaints may be rare, it happens a lot more than one might think. The biggest difference between timeshare complaints that make a difference and those that are stored away never to be seen again is exposure. This exposure is a direct result of timing and location of the timeshare complaint. It is also important to know that not all timeshare complaints need to be made public in order for them to make a difference in your voice being heard online. Lodging the right formal timeshare complaint to the right agency could mean more than any online review.

The exposure that your timeshare complaints receive have a lot to do with the companies with which they are filed. The main factor one needs to consider when making a formal timeshare complaint is how active these websites are in terms of consumer rights. If the company has many advertisements and are simply trying to drive traffic, they may not be the right place to make a timeshare complaint because nothing will be done about it. Even though your review or complaint will be visible, little will be done to create action because of it. However, those websites and companies that do tend to be more active in terms of consumer rights are much more likely to take a timeshare complaint and run with it. Furthermore, these sites often have more active users, leading to even greater action.

Credibility is another very important aspect of a company to consider when lodging a formal timeshare complaint. Websites such as the Better Business Bureau are household names that, while perhaps not being extremely active, are highly respected and nearly immune from pressure or bias. Many consumers trust websites like these and your timeshare complaint will receive much more exposure by being placed on a website with a well-known name and reputation.

It is quite often that timeshare companies become so large that they become labeled as a gigantic scam, especially when they come from such a dark corner of the real estate market. Resort Condominiums International (RCI) has been under fire from consumers for a very long time, and many have questioned whether or not they engage in timeshare scams. It is difficult to ascertain if the timeshare exchange giant is truly a global timeshare scam, as their massive amount of users and followers seems to lend credence to their legitimacy. However, their online presence is fraught with anger and bitterness, and their reputation has certainly taken a massive hit because of it. While supporters of RCI claim that some users simply do not know how to take advantage of their timeshare exchange program, many online reviewers claim that not only is there a huge RCI timeshare scam, they accomplish it though numbers rather than service.

While taking advantage of RCI’s timeshare exchange service may be a difficult process, this certainly does not mean that the worldwide company is a timeshare scam. However, some claim that the services are so unusable, it is not a matter of user-friendliness. These online reviewers claim that this is a matter of a business being set up in such a way that it siphons money from innocent, struggling timeshare owners in order to advance their own profits. This review from the United Kingdom, entitled “RCI-What a Waste of Time,” outlines the problems a family has had with booking a simple one-night stay in Orlando:

“I have been trying to find out how much it would cost me to book a hotel in Orlando International airport for 1 night in the Ramada with our families' RCI points (they are clocking up as everytime we try to book something it is unavailable or else better value to buy direct.) In this case, I was told that my hotel room would cost 18,648 POINTS PLUS £102 booking fee. I can buy direct for under £60 on laterooms! What a scam! Sadly every call I make to RCI seems to end up causing a similar amount of frustration.”

Not only does this review imply a difficulty with using the RCI exchange program due to their point system, it also accuses the company of being unresponsive when attempting to resolve this through communication. A great trademark of timeshare scams is a company being unavailable when a user attempts to call, and it seems as though RCI is guilty of this very act.

Westgate Resorts began in the garage of David Siegel as Central Florida Investments, (CFI) but has since grown to become the largest privately-held timeshare company in the entire world. While the company has achieved titanic business status, the organization has long been the subject of consumer outrage, which can be most explicitly seen in online Westgate timeshare reviews. There are many websites that allow consumers to submit timeshare reviews, and the aggregate of these reviews relates to an overall score that determines an online presence and reputation for the company. While no one Westgate timeshare review can determine an accurate depiction of the company, the sum total tell a very frightening story, one that should drive many potential timeshare owners away from this company.

David Siegel has recently come under fire from employees, consumers, and other activists for his announcement that he would fire employees if Obama was elected. No matter one’s political views, this is seen as a coercion tactic to perhaps sway his own employees into voting for Romney, because their own livelihoods depend on this. Westgate Resorts employs over 6,500 people across the United States, with an annual revenue stream of nearly $1 billion. Needless to say, there are many employees out there who are frantic on this election day, and we will see if Mr. Siegel carries through on his imposing threats. While recent Westgate Timeshare Reviews have focused on this piece of information and have a taken a downturn in recent months, their online reputation was never glowingly positive. In fact, Westgate timeshare reviews have been some of the most devastatingly negative for the entire online community, and this began long before Mr. Siegel’s inflammatory remarks.

There have been many events over the course of Westgate’s history that has lead to such negative Westgate timeshare reviews. In 2009, Westgate Resorts was found guilty of violating the United States Telemarketing Rule in United States of America versus Westgate Resorts Ltd. Siegel had to pay a $900,000 settlement, and many Westgate timeshare reviews had complained of their telemarketing practices before this case was brought to light. Westgate Resorts was found guilty primarily on the charge of violating stipulations of the national “do not call” register. This was the largest subject of consumer outrage in Westgate timeshare reviews for quite some time, but it certainly has not been the last.

Westgate timeshare reviews have not been flattering in recent days, even discounting those that focus on David Siegel’s recent election-based threats towards his employees. In fact, many of the recent Westgate timeshare reviews are based against these employees, who are often accused of bullying and pressuring consumers into purchasing their timeshares.

“We got three different people who came to our table and asked us over and over to buy some property that we NEVER even saw. I was so disappointed with this behavior and will NEVER tour with them again. They got mad and even rude with us for not buying what they had to offer but couldnt explain why everyone else got a tour and we didnt.”

-Quienna (Pissedconsumer.com)

While many Westgate timeshare reviews complain of similar interactions with disorganized and pushy sales people, the majority complain of actions that were taken after the contract was signed. Many consumers claim that Westgate Resorts is involved with timeshare fraud and make it a regular practice to scam their clients.

“The shower leaks, the toilet runs all night long, and the dishwasher leaks. I called maintenance and even talked to owner services - no fix and no new room. I repeat: if you are an owner, get everything in writing. When you make a reservation, have them send it to you in what actual building you will be in. I can't believe this is really happening. I can go on about once you're an owner, you're treated like **.”

-Dean (Consumeraffairs.com)

While no singular Westgate timeshare review tells the entire story of the company, the aggregate score and overall online reputation is staggering. Through research into user-based online reviews, Westgate Resorts will have to make major changes in order to negate their building reputation with the consuming public. This is especially true if David Siegel’s threats are carried out, and they will fire their employees based on the results of the national election.

There are numerous timeshare complaints that come through consumer activist websites every single day. The timeshare industry is one of intense speculation and criticism, and this is usually on the part of consumers. While large corporations may be impressed by this section of the real estate market, customers are not nearly as pleased with these business practices. The timeshare industry has perhaps one of the most negative stigmas within the consuming public, and many feel that this is justified. Consumers file timeshare complaints for a variety of reasons, but some stand out much more than others.

Perhaps the most common timeshare complaints have to do with timeshare cost. This is a subject of considerable consumer outrage, particularly because many of these costs are not known by the consumer by the time the contract is actually signed. Timeshare salesmen are very good at what they do, and neglecting to mention the fact that there are certain fees associated with a timeshare purchase is one of their most commonly used tactics. While this is the focus of many timeshare complaints, this practice is a legal gray area. The case for fraud can certainly be made, but it can often be hard to prove that a legal document was signed under false information or misleading statements. Whether or not this timeshare complaint can be used against a timeshare company, it can certainly be assumed that the great number of these are valid.

When the entire industry is based on a legal document that was signed under circumstances that are highly suspect, there is likely to be many complaints associated with it. This is why the timeshare industry enjoys such a reviled reputation among consumers. Even though these business practices may technically be legal, many consumer timeshare complaints argue that they are not morally right. While the laws may protect timeshare companies from the complaints, it certainly does not feel justified.

Other than cost complaints, including hidden fees and rate hikes, there are actually many other common consumer complaints that, while not apparent, are nonetheless very widespread. It seems as though the public is highly negative regarding timeshare companies, and countless complaints come through every single day.

A very common consumer complaint has to do with the timeshare presentation, and these complaints are very often made by those who do not even own a timeshare with a resort. These timeshare complaints come from consumers who are told they will receive a very attractive gift for attending a very short and appealing sales presentation. Many are aware that they will be sold to during this time, but the reality can be quite shocking. Many timeshare complaints come through by those who have been traumatized by the experience. Apparently these timeshare presentations can be quite traumatic, as consumers are mocked, insulted, and humiliated for hours on end. These hard selling tactics are the focus of a great number of timeshare complaints. Many attendees are threatened, told that they will not receive their gift, and are “held hostage” by timeshare salesmen. This seems quite outlandish, but the sheer volume of timeshare complaints that claim this to be a reality lends credence to this idea.

Many timeshare complaints that come through these websites actually accuse large companies such as Marriott, Westgate, and Wyndham of committing timeshare fraud by telling consumers that they would be able to sell their timeshare for a profit if the cost became too much to handle. Those who are familiar with the real estate market know that this is an outright lie, and it would be quite telling about the industry if this is actually the case. The timeshare resale market is extremely depressed, and selling a timeshare is incredibly difficult. It seems as though many consumers are under a different impression at the time of signing, which results in one of the most common timeshare complaints, perhaps even constituting fraud.