MEB They Lied and Scammed Me
Westgate Timeshare Resort Issues



Date of Incident: 5/25/2004

I was scammed at Westgate Smokey Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee on April 12, 2003. My story has an unusual twist.

The representative who gave my wife and me the public offering statement made verbal promises regarding a getaway promotion. He promised twelve one-week getaway vacations, which could be divided into half-week getaway vacations.

Yes, the 90 minute presentation turned out to be a half day event. It disrupted our plans to visit Dollywood theme park.

I have an eyesight disability due to an optic nerve being cut during the removal of a brain tumor on July 13, 1989. I see the world on a 45 degree axis out of my left eye. During the signing of the 26 page contract in the notary public’s office at Westgate Smokey Mountain Resort on April 12, 2003, no assistive aids or accommodations were provided at my request to view the documents. This is a violation of the ADA and the Tennessee Real Estate Broker’s Licensing Act of 1973.

According to the Tennessee Real Estate Broker’s Licensing Act of 1973, two causes for which a real estate broker or affiliate broker license (may) be suspended or revoked are:

2. Making any promise of a character likely to influence, persuade, or induce any person to enter into a contract or agreement when he could not or did not intend to keep such promise.

20. Any conduct, whether of the same or a different character from that hereinbefore specified, which constitutes improper, fraudulent or dishonest dealing.

I discovered that I was misled several days later after talking to representatives at Interval International and Westgate Resorts. I learned there was virtually no way the one-week getaway vacations could be divided into half-week vacations. The sales representative and his supervisor knew that my wife and I would not purchase the time share unless we could divide the one-week getaways into half week getaways.

I was taken advantage of because of an eyesight disability I have had during the viewing and signing of the contract for the time share. I feel the contract should be nullified, regardless of the ten day rescission period the contract says I have to back out of the contract.

American Express was initially given authorization to bill my account monthly when the contract was signed. However, I disputed the charges after discovering I had been misled and taken advantage of. Just recently American Express has declined the disputes and has rebilled my account. They’re saying this is a legal and binding contract and I have to pay the charges.

I have learned that Greenspoon-Marder, the law firm that represents Westgate Resorts, also represents American Express Tax and Business Service and Central Florida Investments. The corporate office for Westgate Resorts, which is Central Florida Investments, is in Florida. It is my understanding that the Escrow and Closing Department at Greenspoon-Marder processes in excess of 40,000 time share interval sales annually. The interesting part about Greenspoon-Marder is the fact that Florida State Representative Dave Aronberg is employed by them. He also served as assistant attorney general in Florida for two years just prior to becoming district 27 state representative. Look his biography up on Greenspoon-Marder.com.

I feel there is a strong conflict of interest between Westgate’s financial interest, Greenspoon-Marder, Dave Aronberg, and me, the person who got scammed and taken advantage of.

I have sent complaint letters to the U.S. Department of Justice, Tennessee Real Estate Commission, Tennessee Consumer Affairs, East Tennessee Better Business Bureau, and several other businesses and organizations that had any affiliation with Westgate.

I don’t know how everybody else feels, but I think the number of complaints on this web site would more than support a class action law suit. Anyone interested?

All Westgate problem reports are submitted via email by the actual person who participated in the timeshare incident. Submissions are not edited in any fashion. Names are not shown for privacy reasons.

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