Plaza Resorts Settles Timeshare Fraud

This article goes to show how difficult it can be to get back money when timeshare fraud takes place. It took thousands of complaints for "Plaza Resorts (to agree)to refund $200,000 to unhappy customers and change several business practices." The worst part? This is the second time in 6 years the company has been forced to do so.

Penny Pincher Award Goes To Timeshare Presentation Man

While we don't recommend this as a way to save money on your travels, apparently it can be done. The winner for the 2006 Penny Pincher award for the Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary went to a man that saves money on their trips by going to Timeshare presentations:

...Finally, first place goes to Tom Hagaman of Denver. He was nominated by his wife of two years, Emily, who says that her husband deserves top honor for insisting they cut costs on vacation trips around Colorado by going to time-share presentations.

"His money-saving idea has turned into my own private hell," Hagaman said. "We've had plenty of discounted dinners. We've gotten enough hot-springs passes, gas coupons, ski discounts and buy-one-get-one-free dinners to tide you over for a lifetime."

Hagaman said she's had enough.

"Now, I'm in love with my husband," she wrote, "I wouldn't have married him if this penny-pinching idea was so awful, but I'm on the edge. I want a real, luxury, non-camping (which we do often, like most Coloradoans), no shared hotel room with my 8-year-old stepson, exotic, tropical or foreign, non-couponed dinner, room-service offered, vacation. Please send help as soon as you can. I'll be here, hoping the next time-share offer gets lost in the mail."

Many penny pinchers extol the value of signing up for time-share presentations just for free accommodations or prizes or both. But some good things can be taken too far... Entire Article

Timeshare Nightmare

While this Timeshare Nightmare took place in the United Kingdom, it goes to show what happens when you try and get your money back when things with the timeshare go wrong. I'm sure many others have their own timeshare nightmare stories both with financing and in other areas...

Timeshare Presentation In New Zealand

Here's a news article from New Zealand reporting what it was like to attend a timeshare sales presentation. They compared to to being at "a used car lot" with high pressure sales tactics. We think that is a fairly accurate description and the type of treatment you are likely to receive if you attend one in the US as well.