Sterling Holiday Resorts review: Beware of the biggest fraudulent time share company

I am a member of Sterling Holidays since 2017. When I joined, their relationship manager told me that I can avail holidays in any season but the respective season points will be deducted. However, I found that this was not the case, and I was not allowed to book in other seasons. Had I known this I would never have signed up.

In 2020, their representative Mr Aravind Arun offered us a "special upgrade offer" which says:

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"As discussed we have a limited period offer for upgradation of your membership from Blue STU to White STU. White season gives you the following benefits:

1. White season enables you to holiday at greater time of the year including peak times such as Summer Holidays, long weekends etc. This adds a major value to the membership as it ends the restriction of off-season usage only."

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Believing the above promise, I upgraded to white season, however I got none of the benefits that was promised. Whenever we tried to book through their website it says"NE" (Not Eligible) and even when we tried through the reservation number they are saying you are not eligible, you can book only by upgrading to Red season or only 15 days before the date. How are we to make travel arrangements just 15 days ahead? Does that make sense?

We have paid ₹324698 (three lakhs twenty four thousand six hundred and ninety eight) as a membership fee and paid ₹67196(sixty seven thousand one hundred and ninety six) as ASF. So far we have availed only 5 holidays, totaling 10 days in all, since 2017 and those holidays too only after a big struggle, arguing with their representatives. This is absolutely frustrating.

This time, trying to book a holiday, we spoke to a Ms. Dimple Vyas. When my wife said that temporary stop gap measures won't do and we need a permanent resolution, Ms Vyas suggested that upgrading to Red season is the only way. Then why were we promised a no restriction holiday when we upgraded to White?

When my wife said that she was fed up with empty promises and told Ms. Vyas that she had a very poor impression of Sterling as a brand, Ms. Vyas said, "Thank you"! - - A genuine grievance from a member is treated with sarcasm by Sterling people!

Please share this so that more people become aware of this lack of ethics in a so called "Sterling" Holiday Resorts company whose only objective is to make money. I request all corporates and individuals to avoid dealing with this fraudulent company.