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does anyone know if there is a class action suit growing regarding Festiva Properties. The numerous emails -just on this site alone-attest to its deceptive sales pitch. I've yet to get anything worthwhile through INTERVAL (which was "guaranteed" during the sales pitch). The straw that broke the camels back is the increase in maintenance dues.
The 2010 dues are ~30% increase over last year's...the party line is that multi-owners hae defaulted on their maintenance agreement last year..putting their properties into default. what is going on and how to stop it.
Is there ANY LAW group out there willing to help the Festiva "Adventure" Club owners. Please contact me
[protected]@gmail.com
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
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bellina;
There is currently not a class-action (or any other) lawsuit against Festiva Resorts. We are more than happy to work directly with you to address your issues and send you on vacation. Exchange reservations through Interval International, like any other resort or hotel property, are based upon availability and cannot be guaranteed; however, our Owner Services department can give you advice and guidance on how to get the most out of your exchanges.
Please contact us directly at comments@festivaresorts.com and let us know where and when you purchased so that we can be sure our sales team is providing the most current and accurate information.
Have you contacted the North Carolina Attorney General's Office? [protected] I do not see how they can legally increase the owner's fees to pay for other's who have not paid their's. This should be a cost that Festiva should absorb, not the owners. As Festiva sold it to them and they are the overall owners.
Please also contact the South Carolina Real Estate Commission [protected] and ask for the real estate commission.
Contact NC Real Estate Commission [protected] as they are in NC. They already have someone assigned to Festiva as does NC Attorney General. [protected] Also Federal Trade Commission [protected] Report has been filed with them. The more they get the more they will investigate. Also see yahoo group for up to the minute info on actions, concerns of owners. It is mostly about Festiva http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Peppertree-EquivestOwners/
Can anyone advise me on the status of the investigation. We purchased in 2014
I am extemely disgusted with Festiva! I just received my Special Assessment and now find out it is much more than projected and will now receive three of them in addition to ever raising maintenance fees which peppertree owners are paying the brunt of. I will be calling the Attourney General, Real Estate Commission, and Federal Trade Commission. Is there any organized lawsuit against Festiva? I do not see how they can continue to coerce Peppertree Owners to buy into Festiva for thousands of dollars when we already own these resorts!
I echo everyone's sentiments. We bought into Festiva last February, but when we tried to use our membership at one of their resorts we were told it couldn't be used at that resort. They are a total ripoff. I have had to hire an attorney. I definatly would be in for any class action suit against Festiva. Any Law Group willing to take this on feel free to contact me at
reggiecrowley1953@msn.com
I echo everyone's sentiments. We bought into Festiva last February and when we tried to use our membership we were denied access. They are a total ripoff. If any Law Firm wants to take this on count me in. Countact me at reggiecrowley1953@msn.com
I am in the same situation as all of you. I cannot afford all these fees either. I owned at Celebration World Resort and found out the owner left the country. Then I had to purchase with Festiva. Please contact me at nora.jarrell12@gmail.com if anyone has any other information. Thanks!
@Nora L, let me know if you have any information. I need help. My email is sharme@yahoo.com.
I can also be reached at atlantacreole@gmail.com.
Festiva since we bought it 3 years ago has doubled maintenance fees and now have started a special assesment fee of $200 due November 1, 2010.
Since I did not have it to pay, I know have 22.50 late fee and 3.00 interest.
I will be calling NC attorney generals office tomorrow to complain.
email: runback19@isp.com
Agreed. Please contact me to join in a class action lawsuit. I'm in since three years after purchasing this timeshare I am still trying to figure out how to use it. It seems I only keep paying in. skhannan88@hotmail.com.
Is there a lawsuit open on Festiva if so how do i join?
Skhannan88,
We are more than happy to assist you in understanding your ownership and learning how to maximize your vacationing experience. Please send us your contact information to comments@festiva.travel and I will have a manager call you. Thank you and have a great day.
We bought with festiva also and are experiencing the same issues. They make everything sound so worth wild, but it is not an investment, they are ripoffs.
klhauling@live.com
The information on this website is a rip off and anyone who believes it is in trouble and i pray for them.
I think Festiva needs to rethink how they are approaching us. I made monthly payments until it was paid off a few months ago (over 10 years). I made the yearly dues even when they more than doubled in one year. They are almost 5 times what they were 10 years ago. With my husband laid off and my salary cut, we can't make these huge fees. I would be willing to make reasonable payments if they didn't demand high fees all at one time that I just don't have. ALSO, the points are worthless. You can't give them away. I think the fact that I paid for something deeded that is now worthless should be taken into consideration. Perhaps they could consider letting members who can't pay the fees turn in the points and they could sell them as vacations where they have openings. If I could convince someone to buy my points for the year to help pay my dues, I would, however, you can't sell a possibility of a time and place. They need to be easier to work with and more understanding of the financial times, or they will end up in the same boat some of the rest of us are in.
To KCinNC:
We would be happy to have a representative contact you in regards to using your membership if you could write to us at comments@festiva.travel with your contact information.
Due to hardship we have requested to have our membership with festiva canceled. We are military and are now on one income. We went through the BBB and festiva pretty much said too bad, you still have to pay. I would like in on any law suits against this company
Nikki23:
We have responded to your Better Business Bureau complaint and the case is now closed. Please let us know if we can provide further assistance, [protected].
They keep wanting my mom to pay more money (thousands and thousands) and she knew nothing about these charges when she paid the first 12, 000 just for a week every other year plus 4oo every other year for maintenance. Now that same maintenance is 1000 every other year and there was a 3000 for points here and anothher 5000 for points on a different issue using scare tactics. It's called bait and switch. And don't let anyone call you up and tell you they are going to rent it for you. That is a scam too. It all sucks...anonymous
We have had the same problem with festiva ever since we joined .we have never been able to vacation where we wanted to. Only way we use the points was to ask what is available and had to take that. Now they claim to have sent us bills for the maintenance fees that we did not receive and have it us in collections. I have over we to pay what I owe but will not pay the 200 extra for late fees and interest but was told they will not waive the fee. If anyone has suggestions or has the info forany lawsuits please contact mightieb@aol.com
I notice that there is no attorney response to every ones post regarding a class action law suite, please know that both the States of TN and LA have filed against them and I would continue to encourage you to call the NC attorney general to keep the pressure applied for them to also join in and do something about this firm. Marsha Guthrie in Branson, MO couldn't have applied more pressure and less concern when selling the original time-share, matter of fact she went back in for the kill in a Member update appointment with my parents and actually pressured them into a purchase until the next day when I arrived and intervened and had the new sale for "Red Week" canceled. Buyers beware of this new approach they have called "Red-week" . Everyone needs to know that this company is a complete rip off and have no remorse for their actions, and when you see them responding on here, it's always the same message, e-mail us to help assist you, get real!
I will contact NC attorney general as we are fed up with this mess. When we bought we had a vacation yearly, then they scammed use with out realizing to every other yea, r this makes no sense and should be illegal.
Is there a class action lawsuit going on now if there is how can I join it cause I want out and I want my money back
I'm in the same situation? Is there a class action suit going on now?
I will also be contacting the attorney general's office! We had points to use-or loose by end 2017 but are told they cannot book anything at our home property until Jan 2018. This was just the last straw...we have had nothing but trouble with Festiva since our purchase in 2011.
I am in the same boat! Purchased 10 years ago and used the points 3 times. Every time I tried to use them, I did not have enough points or the time wasn't available and you lose them if you don't use them in a certain time frame. Requested release and was told it was denied because I had not paid this year's fees. Offered to pay all fees providing they would approve, in advance, release within 30 days of payment. Their response arrived today, "can not assure anything in advance but will reconsider once you pay all fees". Just another carrot to keep bleeding you. My response was to begin whatever legal process they chose as I will not be suckered anymore. Guess they will sue my estate! Vultures!
I am trying to see how to start a class action lawsuit or if one is already started because I want out and I want my 10, 000.00 back cause I was lied to about a lot of stuff and it is just a scam
Please keep me posted! I'd like to join lawsuit as well. We purchased the timeshare April 2014 and were totally lied to about the program! It is a scam!
http://wlos.com/news/local/festiva-travel-club-ordered-to-refund-customers
I called and spoke to someone in the office of the Attorney General/Consumer Protection re: the Festiva Lawsuit that was closed last year. They suggested we contact a private attorney.
I would like to join as well. I was told that I can't reserve my 2 free weeks until my 1900 Maintenance fee is paid. And there are currently only enough for 3 free weeks for all remaining members. So if I dont pay in time I wont get my 2 free weeks as promised. What a scam!
Why do we not have a class action lawsuit on Festiva I know there is enough people and all of us have the same complaint we all are gone to get together this makes no sense the way they are taking our money and making promises and we get nothing but higher maintenance every year!
Very interesting! We bought “Deeds” at Festva Resorts CHURCH STREET INN with less than 35 rooms and a “moratorium on Time Shares in Charleston “South Carolina in 2007. We were told when Fractioal Deeds all sold, there were no more to sell, better buy it now!
WRONG!
That was 10 years ago and then they started selling points, points points, Such a ripoff for deed buyers, that’s if you actually got your deed at Church Street Inn; they tried to get you to DEED in Myrtle Beach ( because it was “better “ they said once they knew you were going to buy, but being from Charleston I knew that was BS!
UNLIMITED points sales not Deeds began, still selling 10 years later.!
Just learned yesterday ( Nov., 2017) they are adding new types of ownership with no maintenance fees. Lovely!
They use this darling little place to sell, sell sell and keep rooms available to house their possible new sales pitches along with their full sales or “convert your Deeds to points STAFF and offices so all those rent when you come anytime of the year rooms are virtually impossible and will get worse.
I could not get a room in October last year for the rest of the year because they were all “booked up” with their “corporate inventory allotment” which is a huge scam!
I’m sure the rest of the Deeded owners here are very unhappy with Festiva Resorts bait and switch at The Church Street Inn!
I AM SURPRISED THERE IS NOT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THE CHURCH STREET INN!
alohabrenda.lamont@gmail.com
Please advise me. Bought timeshare when it was Los Lagos II, Hot Springs Village, AR. Trying to be released from it. Not sure what to do.
meschow1@gmail.com
I am a Festiva "Owner". I have been unable to use any of my points to vacation at any of the resorts I want to stay at - FOR 2 YEARS NOW. Every time I try to make a reservation, even as far out as I am allowed, I am denied. There are no vacancies. The salesman who sold us this turd told us we could easily reserve a week and sell it to someone else through a real estate office. Apparently this is illegal and we never should have been told this. The homeowners dues have gone from $1, 200 a year to $2.400 a year for property I cannot use. And I am still paying on a ridiculous LOAN every month for vacations I cannot take. I banked some points with RTX, they offer nothing that I can use. I am so angry at this point and all I hear from Festiva is tough [censor]. [censor] this company.
What state did you purchase this "legal mugging"? This is basically what they are doing to us. We are having the same problem as you. Thank you
My husband and I are Festiva owners as well, and we have the same problems that everyone else has. We are thinking of starting a class action lawsuit against Festiva . We live in Charleston S.C., but bought in Myrtle Beach S.C. We are so feed up with there Bull ... ! . So if we can get anyone else in the South Carolina area together, we can bring a class action lawsuit against them . PLEASE PLEASE respond back so we can stop this company from taking advantage of anyone else . Thank you, Lori
We are Festiva owners and purchased our Festiva Club at Murrells Inlet S. C. We live in Florida and would be interested in joining a class action lawsuit. karenmhollenbaugh@gmail.com
I, too, have been scammed by Festiva. I owned 2 deeded weeks at Peppertree Atlantic Beach, NC since the late 1980s. It used to be a beautiful, well kept resort. Since Festiva has taken over management of the resort, it is run down, even had bedbugs 2 years ago in our unit. One of our units was declared condemned in 2015 and has since been torn down. Owners sued and we got a whopping $1300 dollars for the settlement. That was last year, this year, we were just notified that our other unit cannot be used because of damage from the hurricane last year which is interesting since most hotels in the area are going strong after the hurricane. By the way, Festiva ended up buying the vacated property from the torn down "condemned" units. I am sure it is just a matter of time before my existing unit is "condemned" so Festiva can buy that also. I do not understand how this is legal. If anyone pursues a lawsuit, count me in.
My family is in the same boat. Basically, my in-laws we’re paying over $1000 (odd years) for only 3800 points. HOWEVER, every time they wanted to go some place - nothing was available, OR they didn’t have enough points. Now, I’m in the process of verifying whether or now Festiva can make a claim against their estate for the remainder of a 40 year contract that was not explained to them when they signed. I just got off of the phone with the NC Attorney Generals Office & will be filing a complaint. Why would someone sell a 40 year Right To Use timeshare contract to a 73 year old gentleman? He doesn’t want to bequeath it to anyone because he’d be placing them in a situation to deal with a scam operation. Prior to them switching to Festiva, they were with RCI and we NEVER had any issues at all like this & enjoyed wonderful vacations every year. I’m in tears for my father-in-law, who I love more than my own father. I will also be contacting the NC Real Estate Commission to see how they might be of assistance. Any additional input or advise would be beyond appreciated. Thank you & many blessings. Donna
tiandagay@yahoo.com. I too have the same issue with a high pressure sale that left me in tears. Fees continue to rise placing hardship and financial burden. At this point ready to just give so called investment away.
I'll chime in with my story
• What is the reserve fee for? It shows up as part of the yearly maintenance fee with no explanation even though Festiva bases their fee on a Bad Debt charge of 14% EVERY YEAR. If Festiva has that much bad debt, why?
• What is the reason the fee goes up each year? Could it be because you have lost so many members?
• Why can I not make a reservation at one of the resorts with my points but always if I pay cash? I now have 24, 000 points with RTX because I could make a reservation using points.
• Where is the resort in Key West? Chris Miracle hard sold us in 2015 to update our contract to 12, 000 points with the promise that Key West would be available in 2016.
• What happened to the other promise from Chris Miracle that we would get "points" based on our maintenance fee cost to buy gift cards on the Festiva Website, he actually pulled up a website to show the system was up and working. Ten points for every maintenance fee dollar with the ability to buy gifts cards at 2500 points for a five dollar gift card.
Let me know if there is a class action suit joe28054@yahoo.com. We've been with Festiva since 2008, upgraded over the years from 6, 800 points to now 12, 000 points. In the beginning it was OK, now it's a scam.
We have been members since 2011 and have the same problem. Aren't able to book with Festiva, transfer our points to RTX and then they have nothing available. It is so frustrating. We had to pay for a discounted vacation a couple years back but still weren't able to to use our points. I did message their Facebook page to ask why the reserve fee doubled, especially when I am unable to reserve a vacation through them.
We were 'suckered' in back in October 2017. The only thing we've ever been able to use were ALL our points to get 3 cabins at Green Mountain in Branson for a family Christmas vacation because contrary to us being told ALL resorts were pet friendly there are only 3 pet friendly resorts. The one in Branson, one in Orlando and one in Maine. When we signed up maintenance fees were $1, 790. The ones next due are $2, 000 and from what I've read this will continue to climb. Are there any active class action suits at this time - 2019? Email us at donnajerryhlr@aol.com
Please contact us Judy & Jim, with any info on a class action suit against Festiva. We have all of the above mentioned problems with fees continuing to rise.
mspincushion@me.com
I want to join as well! I'm in the same boat.
Please contact me as well with any class action law suit against Festiva as well. Unable to book anything using points but if I paid with money I can stay at one of their resorts. So over this. revelsv@hotmail.com
I think we need to all get together and file a lawsuit, I am going to look into this ASAP. Please let me know if you would like to join in.
Please contact me if there is a class action lawsuit going on, my hubby and I are also disgusted with festiva our maintenance fee started at 425 now six years
After it’s 1800 dollars. We paid over 16000 for the property upfront at the church street inn and have yet to get into the church street inn since. They call every other day trying to get money out of us, with one time stating people were in line to us our property but we had to pay a fee in order for someone else to use it 😳😳😳😳. I too will be contacting the N.C. attorney general ASAP because these people should be stopped.
I’m with you all if there is a suit. I joined the sailing vacation in 2009 with annuals fees of $300. This last year we paid $800 and have NEVER been able to use any of the properties not the boats.
Please, every disgusted Festiva owner, do the following: (1) File formal fraud complaints with the attorneys general of states where Festiva Resorts or Festiva Development Group have corporate offices (NC, SC and FL) and your home state. (2) File similar complaints with the Better Business Bureau in each of those states and your home state. (3) File a fraud complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. (4) Review your Festiva property on Google, TripAdvisor and any other travel site you can find. Be fair about the propeties themselves and ruthless about Festiva's sketchy management and marketing techniques. It is important to keep a steady stream of correspondence demanding resolution directed to Herbert Patrick Jr, CEO, Festiva Resorts, One Vance Gap Rd., Asheville NC 28805. Document, document, document, in case you need to go to court to get rid of them.
Thanks for the information. We will definitely look into doing this. Every time we do an owners update we get cornered into purchasing more points. This last time we were talked into going bi-annual with more points purchased. Reason for this was so we could sell some of our time to Advantage to help pay the maintenance fees. We were told this would give us 3 wks of Relaxing Retreats. Went to book for next year since our maintenance fees have already been paid and were told we could only book in the even year. We were not told this when we switched from annual to bi-annual. This timeshare has been one rip off after another. Anybody else have this problem?
Count us in if there is a lawsuit. We bought at Ellington Resort.