In my opinion, this is a case where consumers must flex their muscles against those unscrupulous timeshare companies, who solicit you to attend a sales presentation, under the pretense that it is an Owner Update, and not a sales presentation (or an "event" in which the primary purpose is attempting to sell you a timeshare product (e.g. additional points, additional weeks)), when, in fact, what you are attending is a sales presentation (being called an Owner Update).
Here is my analysis of these Owner Updates (that have a primary sales agenda), and what consumers should do, to attempt to gain control of the asylum from the inmates:
(1) Say NO. Say no once. If you continue to be badgered, walk away, hang up, or call the police, if you believe that you are being harassed. You have likely gone on vacation, to vacation, not be badgered or harassed;
(2) In many cases that I know of, a sales presentation is falsely identified as an Owner Update, and is performed by a sales representative (who may be a licensed real estate or timeshare sales person); in those cases, this may be an act of deception, and a deceptive business practice, for which the marketing person/people, sales person/people, and the company's that they represent must be held accountable*;
(3) It is unlikely that the marketing person who attempts to enroll you in an Owner Update (that is really a sales presentation, being referred to by another name) is licensed by a State Real Estate Agency, but the company that they work for, and that engages in deceptive business practices, may be held accountable for their actions, in many governmental jurisdictions, by the government. You may be in a state or governmental jurisdiction where timeshare salespeople are licensed by a State Real Estate Agency; if a timeshare salesperson is deceptive, report their actions/behaviors, and that of their employer and Managing Broker to the State Real Estate Agency (and Attorney General, and Office of Business Affairs);
(4) If you believe you are a victim of deceptive business practices by the timeshare company, report that company to the Attorney General's Office, and the Office of Business Affairs, if you are in a US State or jurisdiction. Recognize that the person who attempts to "hook you," may be an employee of a third-party (marketing) company, in which case that company, and the company that they work for, may be on the hook;
(5) Recognize that the only way that we consumers can gain control of the asylum from the (timeshare company inmates, and their trade association (and their alleged Code of Ethics)), is to be pro-active, and to take the steps outlined above. Simply complaining on social media DOES NOT cut the mustard, you must, at least, make the effort of reporting the deceptive business practices to the applicable state regulatory agencies. If you are in a state, and you are of an age that you are considered a senior, it is quite possible that the company is preying on you, based on your age, and you should, in addition to the above, report your experience to the state Office of Elder Affairs. AARP has a keen interest in fraud; you should report your experience to AARP, here:
https://www.aarp.org/aarp-foundation/our-work/income/elderwatch/report-fraud/
(6) Whatever you do, give very serious consideration to NOT contributing any money to the ARDA-ROC with your maintenance fee, when you are asked to make a (not commonly disclosed as voluntary), voluntary contribution to the ARDA-ROC. Numerous parties suggest that ARDA is aware of unscrupulous behaviors by some of their member timeshare companies, behaviors that are not consistent with ARDA's Code of Ethics, and that ARDA allegedly takes no actions against these companies;
(7) In my opinion, the consummate Consumer Advocate, who has come closest to attempting to gain some control and consumer advocacy with the unscrupulous timeshare companies, is Irene Parker, of the Diamond Resorts Owners Advocacy Group, on Facebook. This is a Closed Group. You should contact the group regarding membership, and follow their brilliant strategies to combat unscrupulous timeshare companies. Also, Google: Irene Parker, timeshare, for additional information, and guidance, and read her writings;
(8) Whatever you do, do not relent.
* In some states, the timeshare developer's
marketing activities may be regulated by, and/or subject to the oversight of the State Real Estate Agency, Attorney General's Office, and Office of Business Affairs. Hence, if you believe the developer's marketing activities may have been outside of regulations that are in place to protect consumers, put your concern(s) with the timeshare developer, in writing, and forward them to all three state agencies.
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