Diamond Resorts review: foreclosure without notification! 137

I own with Diamond Resorts, formerly Sunterra. My loan and fees are paid in full. I am int he process of trying to donate the timeshare to a charity. I filed a complaint with the BBB and got a call from a manager at Diamond who is now willing to let me surrender my timeshare for a $250 fee. I told her I would pay it just to me out of this finacial obligation (annual Mait. fees and club fees).

You sound more like an ex-employee than an involved owner. ARE YOU?
Feeling as you write, you really should get to know the company a little better. I attended an Education and Enrichment seminar in Sedona. Really changed my understanding. Extend of yourself beyond your written disposition, it may really open your mind up.
It did mine.
TJ

Paid maintenance fees in full (including $50 late fee) in April '09. Tried to make reservation online today, June 22, and find out I cannot because now I owe them $264! For WHAT!? I am sick and tired of fooling with these crooks. They increase fees every year and then add new fees. Have owned since '99 when maintenance fees were approx. $450 and now they are approx $1000.

I own a timeshare with Sunterra and it goes up a great deal every year, and now since Diamond purchased it. I used the timeshare Nov of 2007 and stayed in Williamsburg. I sat through a supposed update on what my timeshare offered and the new ownership. I couldn't believe what they tried to talk me into buying to add onto what I already have. For a fee of $19, 000, yes, that's nine-thousand dollars
I would be able to upgrade and go to any of the resorts I already go to and book it further in advance. That's the BIG upgrade? I said I didn't want it, but would like to keep the form they wanted me to sign, which i didn't, which was to say I'm waiving my right to some other amount of money which I didn't understand. They would not let me have the sheet to show to my lawyer. That's just plain robbery.

I originally purchased "fixed" timeshare weeks from Pelican Resorts, NV at the Royal Palm Beach Club 17 years years ago. Since then, the property has changed hands a couple of times, Sunterra, et al.

As a senior on a fixed income, I can no longer afford the ridiculously high maintenance fees and opted to walk away from one of my four weeks in /09 (could only pay for three this year, which I rented out a loss).

I have been informed by Diamond that I am not permitted to "walk away" and that my lease is now terminted; further, that interest will increase on the original payment due and, if not paid, the account will be placed in a collection agency.

What I ask is this... If I surrendered my week, why would I continue to be charged for a product I am no longer using? Would this stand up in a court of law?

Originally, I paid thousands of dollars to purchase these, with an annual maintenace fee of $350. per week. I did expect the fees to rise over the years, which they did, but from $900. US in 2008 to $1, 200. US in 2009 is way out of line from past history...

Am I beholden to Diamond Resorts or to the original contract I signed?
Help!

I will transfer my three remaining fixed weeks to anyone willing to take on these fees, in otherwords, I will give them away. It seems that is my only course of action, barring selling same or dying!

I will join Class Action lawsuit in a heartbeat...

DA Snyder, Nova Scotia, Canada
annesplace@eastlink.ca

I see we are all in the same boat, I have owned my timeshare atthe Flamingo beach resort in saint maarten for 20 years now, I have sent diamond resorts numerous emails, with no response and when i get a response they have no history of all my past inquiries.Every year for the last 7-8 years I have not recieved anything from Diamond Resorts including my maintnence fees, I call every Dec to ask what the fees are, and have been blown away in the past few years of how they can go up that much, I have even emailed them with again no response.Every year I pay my fees over the phone thru a credit card and again ask why I am not be ing mailed anything they say that it was sent, I told them why would I be calling for all of these years if that was the case, and on top of that I have asked for a email from them confirming my payment, not once have i recieved a confirmation, I call back ask for the person I talked with and quess what that person is never found and again them telling me they will be sending me a email .(i have never recieved a confirmation for payment not once with them for these past years, the ony receipt I have is my American Express bill. Now all of a sudden in the past 2 months I have had Diamond Resorts call me saying a represenitive in the area wants to talk to owners, and if they can meet up with me about whats new with them and about going to a point system.I have said no, they have contacted me at least 15 times, I then asked how can their company never send me one thing or answer emails and all of a sudden know all my phone #s work, home, and cell.They cant answer that, I got in touch with someone that lives near by and has owned at the same place for just a couple of years, they have not recieved any calls from Diamond, I sence something fishy, Iam meeting with them out of curosity in a wk.please keep me informed .April B Amodeo at angeloamodeo@att.net.

Dear Ms. Amodeo...
Diamond Resorts acquired the firm Sunterra 2 years ago, hence we look forward to being of any assistance to you. As you have provided your email, thank you. A member of my staff will reach out to you to be assistance and perhaps clarify any questions.
Diamond Resorts international, you will find, to be a hospitality brand that is entirely about our members, owners and guests. Listening and caring.
Thank you,
Patrick C Duffy
Chief Experience Officer

I am investigating the possibility of a class action. Please feel free to contact my office to discuss.

Thanks,

Jacob L. Hafter, Esq.

7201 West Lake Mead Blvd, Suite 210
Las Vegas, Nevada 89128
[protected] Telephone
[protected] Facsimile
[protected] mobile

jhafter@hafterlaw.com
Visit us online at www.hafterlaw.com

This is a surprise for me. Thanks god that I found this site today. I was approached by Diamond Resort Sales folks to convert my Flamingo Beach St Marten to Points plan. Any updates from anyone, what kind a action that you people taking. The whole industry is terrible...

Dear Rahman,

This site is very helpful. It gives Diamond Resorts the opportunity to assist and clarify any questions for our owners and members before they get mislead, or worse mis-informed.
If I can help you, please feel free to email me your concerns.
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer

patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com

Mr. Duffy. It looks to me that you would attempt to "help" your owners and members before they all felt discouraged and just plain outdone with our timeshare experiences. Fees just keep climbing and we as owners get nothing to show for it except more dismay at not being able to make reservations because everything is full. You continue selling the same units over and over to more and more people without adding more accommodations therefore making it almost impossible to find a place to stay. I have owned for 10 years now and each year fees increase. I enjoy the timeshare when I am able to find a location to stay but that is getting harder and harder as times goes on. Anyone out there thinking about buying a timeshare, please, think twice.

Many positive benefits have occured in the last 2 years. I hope you are updated regularly? Especially the new web booking facility.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond and perhaps assist and clarify.
Regards,
Patrick Duffy

Mr. Duffy,

I realize you are doing your job, I do a similar one for my company, helping our customers get our products to work for them. However, we experience the same booking frustrations as many on here. Even trying to book months ahead we are told all is booked and the property we want is unavailable. We fortunately can usually book on short notice at somewhere, although usually not where we want to stay. We travel off season and on short notice and still have frustration in booking. In the travel decline of 2008 and 2009 this should not have been an issue. On the plus side, the resorts we have used (Grand Beach Orlando, Bent Creek Gatlinburg, Hilton Head) have been well maintained on our last visits. For what our maintenance fees increased they should be! I personally would not recommend DRI to a prospective buyer simply because of the booking frustration, and yes, we do know how to work the system. We do receive billing for our maintenance fees, but if we have experience like some on this site with threatened siezure of property I will probably just let you take it.

Thank you,
Please reach out to me in advance and we (DRI) will be happy to assist.
My best,
Patrick Duffy

patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com

(Replies by Patrick Duffy)
"Please reach out to me in advance and we (DRI) will be happy to assist".
"This site is very helpful. It gives Diamond Resorts the opportunity to assist and clarify any questions for our owners and members before they get mislead, or worse mis-informed.
If I can help you, please feel free to email me your concerns".
"Many positive benefits have occured in the last 2 years. I hope you are updated regularly? Especially the new web booking facility.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond and perhaps assist and clarify"

What kind of "Robotic" responses are these?! Are you even reading the complaints on this board? I don't think so! You seem to sit back with some sort of automated response system and thing you are going to appease us? We're not looking for someone to patronize us. We would like some "real" answers to these problems. If you're not going to offer anything but empty responses, why respond at all?
Mr. Duffy, why don't you reach out and take my timeshare, and I for one will be "happy"
that you assisted.

We need to file a class action.

RCI SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT.

MY BASIC COMPLAINT IN THE MAINTENANCE FEES. THEY ARE SKY HIGH. SECONDLY, THEY CLAIM THAT THE FEES GO UP BECAUSE OF FLOODING OR DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS ECT. WHERES THE INSURANCE?

Mr. Love...
DRI has a far better system of answering your questions. I assure you NO one on this post can answer your questions more honestly and accurately than DRI and myself.
Kindly email me your information so as I can assist.

patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com

Thanks in advance,
Patrick

We bought our timeshare in florida october 2006, i had my doubts at the time, but my husband and daughter and a very pushy sales person convinced me to sign the dotted line. We paid £13, 000 and could never get any accomidation eventually we got a booking for florida the following year, were again we were harrased by sales people. We have used the odd 1 week holiday wich was booked through interval for wich we had to pay and use our points . The fees have trebbled since 2006 and this years dues jan 09 were extremley high, i phoned them emailed them and could not get a reply then in april 09 i tried to pay them because we recieved a letter saying they would suspend our membership, i tried to pay online and they would not accept payment . In june we recived another letter saying we were no longer members, i then rang again and got through to a very rude bullying manager and he would not accept any payments from me. I was really upset and maddened that i have lost my membership that i have paid £1300.00 for, because we were late and didnt agree with membership fees. Does anyone know out there what happens next i am going to seek legal advice as far as im concerned we have all bought into a corrupt organisation HELP! stevetagoe@googlemail.com

Steve,
Thank you...We hear you. Would you kindly drop me an email at;
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com

Please include your information...member number etc.
We look forward to assisting you.
Cordially,
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer

I also bought in Sedona. Biggest mistake of my life. I bought just 2500 points but I have another timeshare I could get 5, 000 points for. I called several times early in the year because I banked last years 2500 points making a total of 10, 000 points for this year. I was told that I could not request my 5, 000 points from the other timeshare on the phone or on the computer. They would send me a form to fill out. It is October now and no form. I have not used any points since my purchase in 2007. No one wants these points. 2500 points is nothing. I don't owe anything on my points but I refuse to send anymore money for maintenance fees or whatever. When I don't pay that they will take my points like everyone else. It would be a miracle if I got anything out of this mess. It will be a blessing in disguise to get rid of it--lesson learned.

myduckthatduck@yahoo.com

We have had many of the same problems as others. Especially the strong-arming to buy more points to "lock in" our maintenance fee, which we declined, and then were told we needed to sign a form declining it. I of course declined to sign the form on the grounds that I don't agree with it, and I was not purchasing anything. They said they would sign the form for me and note I refused to sign - wouldn't be surprised if they forged my signature!

Recently, I had a new credit card, and tried proactively to change my info with The CLUB before my next payment, and never got anyone to respond until after my due date. And, the response was that they could not take information electronically or over the phone and I had to fill out a form (which took another few days to receive in the email) and allow processing time. Meanwhile, I get a phone call from them because I missed a payment and guess what - they took payment over the phone! Just found out that they also tacked on a late charge because they could not get me the info I requested in a timely fashion.

And don't get me started on original contracts... We bought with EPIC, and had a $500/mo maintenance fee, day use of facilities, etc. After Sunterra and Diamond, we are told no day use, maintenance fees more than doubled, and we were told our deed was for Arizona! Hmm... why do we have a member card for Daytona Beach Regency then? Their answer - they were not required to give us anything when they bought Sunterra and we should be happy they gave us what we have. No regard for our original contract whatsoever!

Patrick Duffy - if you want to help people, please tell us how to donate our timeshare, relenquish it to you, or whatever so we can just write it off. And without the $250 change fee and undocumented process to get your name off a deed.

Dear RichS,
Instead of donating or reliquishing perhaps I can help you get the full benefit of use from your membership? Please email me as indicated at top of this thread, and we will do our very best to assist, clarify and help.
Thank you,
Patrick

Diamond resorts is demanding I pay $200 dollars in late fees for maintanance fees I was told I paid. We own 4000 deeded points and recently bought another 2000 club points. I made an over $800 dollar payment and showed a zero balance, but when I tried to book online in August, the computer said I owed fees. I contacted diamond resorts and they said it was a computer error and I had paid in full. They booked my stay over the phone. They recently sent me a bill for another $700 dollars. When I contacted them they said I owed maintanance fees, that I had only paid club dues, and that my property was in forclosure. Then they said, nevermind, your property isn't in foreclosure. What is going on? I'm starting to suspect they are trying to forclose on all deeded properties, they tried to get us to convert and I refused. They lie, their system is all messed up and no one you can talk to on the phone has any knowledge or authority. They claim they don't get the e-mails sent using their stupid form and you can't document what the web page used to show. I'm stuck with a big mess and their word against mine. I will pay what I owe, but I won't pay late fees for their mistake. How can I be sure they are not secretly forclosing on my property?

Please feel free to reach out to me at patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com.
We can better manage your issue and set forth a course of clarification.
I look forward to your response to my email.
Yours cordially,
Patrick Duffy

My name is Katrina my husband and I were forclosed on without notice also. We puchase out right in 2001 as an anniversary present and our first piece of property to leave to our children. My husband called on several occasions and emailed (we still have the email) but got no response in early 2008. Finally one day we got through and they referred us to someone else who told us our paid for property was in forclosure in April 2008. I did not understand how that could be he told me to read the fine print and that they had sent us certified letter that were never signed for we had them send us a copy no signature. We did move but the house we moved from we still own and have good communication with the tenants. We are still waiting for a call back from their office. I would say 100% they are crooks. They bought the orig company they we dealt with and never notified us. We had just used our time share the year before we were on a every other year exchange. So we did have maintence fee due and had the money to pay them but never receieved the proper information to apply the payment. Still all the while RCI their co-company send us our magazine and everything else they want to offer us. We are very disappointed and tell all our friends to never use this company, they do not do business with interity. We have contacted the BBB but didn't receive a response all this has been going on since summer 2009.

Katrina,
We (DRI) mailed you notice on 2/15/2008, followed up by "Affidavit Regarding Mailing". Then certified mail on 4/23/2008, which the return receipt was signed for. The amount was $1, 251.00, not $200.00. Please be accurate.
Foreclosure notice was published in April and May of 2008 according to Hawaii Revised Statutes. (HRS)
The property was forclosed on 7/1/2008 and you called on 7/3/2009...
We have a management duty to the HOA to manage the property according to the CC & R's and all related HRS.
While we do have a business duty to the HOA, we do afford each member/owner every opportunity and many options to retain ownership. I am sorry for the outcome, but writing of this in an open forum requires a sound rebuttal of facts by DRI.
If you have any further questions please feel free to email me at;
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com

Respectfully,
Patrick Duffy

Mr. Duffy,
My husband tried on several occasions to contact your company. Like I said I have the proof. The 700 dollars was the maintaince fee that were initially due your right it was not 200. Your people sent me a copy of the certified letter which I have no problem sending back to you to show you that it was never signed for. Your company made a mistake a huge mistake. We were on vacation throught the timeshare in Kona in 2007 and had update all our information. We pay every other year. There is no way that you tried to have good customer relations with us. Your company is terriible and you seem to have no problem with it. You have all our information social security # work phone numbers and your company should have update our new address. We are still in RCI system as we just received information pertaining to a lawsuit for them in the mail today. I understand your duty to the HOA but what about the duty to us? You could never convince me other wise that you exhausted the avenue SS#, Work # or updated address to get a hold of us. I also have a copy of the email my husband sent to the company stating we needed assistance. So after you received the money that we owed were is the rest of our money that we paid? I'm sure the 10, 000 dollars we paid was more than enough to cover whatever it is your saying we owed. How does that calculate as fair?

Sincerely,

Katrina

I am letting you know via this site as well that Diamond Resorts International is also ripping off and pocketing money on the island of St Maarten.
I purchased two more weeks from an owner and she was told the MFees had to be paid.
Diamond Resorts took $1008, $1008$31, 56 $31, 56 from MY credit card but they will not reply to my emails as I am a THIRD party.
The owner contacted Diamond and was told her weeks dus to start tomorrow were foreclosed.
DIAMOND RESORTS have pocketed illegally my money off my credit card.
I visited the Prosecutor's office, the Court House three different lawyers and was told it is FRAUD.
They also have made it so no money can be paid as the resort so where do they declare that money and its collected for the resort but do they pay it for the "maintenance on the resort'
The restaurant Toppers is spreading over the beach and now my unit is really a part of the kitchen with the horrible smells of cooking from eqrly morning to late at night.
It is time SOMEBODY does something about that company that also have no customer service at all just threats. I also have never received CONTRACTS in our names!
When will someone do something against DIAMOND RESORTS INTERNATIONAL

Have you corresponded with Diamond Resorts? Reads as if you are corresponding with parties that cannot help your situation.
Who did you purchase from? Did you look at the property before buying (Toppers restaurant)?
Who is responsible for the MFees? You or the person you purchsaed from? How did Diamond Resorts come upon your credit card? Did you get a bill from Diamond Resorts International?

Before you write misinformation, your facts should be clear. Please email with your contact information to

patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com

Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer

Please include me in a class action suit. I am looking to unload my time share. Any help would be appreciated.
brendangoggin1@verizon.net

If Diamond Resorts can be of assistance to you in the usage of your timeshare. Or answer questions of features and benefits, please reach out to;

patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com

Cordially,
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer

I too have many issues with DRI. My husband and I bought with them in 2000. We now own/receive 35, 000 points per year. Our maintenance fees have went from $1, 500.00 to $4, 304.00 as of the bill I just received yesterday. This is unbelievable. Last year our bill was $4, 000.00, because we were late paying it, (hmm i wonder why?) they charged us a 25% late fee of $1, 000.00 dollars! I told my husband to just let them take it. But he would not, due to he had spent nearly $40, 000 for it to start with. When we purchased from them we had hopes that we could use this for many family vacations and then because we owned it for life we would will it to our kids to use at their leisure. Now you tell me, what kids these days are going to be able to pay those kind of maintenace fees? My husband and I are only in our late thirties, by the time we die and will these points to our children, I shutter to think what they will be then.

When you have an opportunity please call/email, and I will explain to you the difference between your purchase from Sunterra in 2000 and how Diamond Resorts International operates in 2009.

[protected]

patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com

Sincerely,
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
Diamond Resorts International

Sign me up for the class action suit also! Just received my maintenance fees in the mail yesterday too. Mine have doubled since my purchase with Sunterra. When I called to see if I could drop "The Club" portion of the fees I was told that I would only be allowed to go the the resort where I purchased the timeshare. Not that it matters, because literally EVERYWHERE that I attempt to make a booking at is not available. We bought the timeshare so that we could vacation "oceanfront". 3 different Diamond Resort people thought they would be able to find something for me this year, each time I call to complain about something, yet here I am without a vacation booked. I have this timeshare listed with 2 of those timehshare for sale companies. I just want rid of it. During one conversation with a DRI person, he said that worse case scenario, I can just turn it over to them, I would not get any money for it, but I wouldn't have to pay the maintenance fees anymore. I just talked to that guy less than a month ago. I am seriously considering that...

I'll bet if you contact me I can help you work your membership better than anyone else who reads this...!

[protected]

patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com

Sincerely,
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
Diamond Resorts International

We need your help...we arein the same boat, it is sinking fast. just spent 3. hous today both on the web and with a 3 live persons. All I wanted was a 7day trip with my family...we searched 10mos out in advance...no luck. wait...I could go to the Canary Islands in late June 2010. We can not afford to continue to pay the increased hike...we are now over $1000+ for annual fee...all the resorts have taken a hike...get this...we haveonly 5500 pts. They want tocharge me 9000 pts for a day stay in SF, CA. Come on! We alsown a week with Marriott...ithas been a joy...not kidding, a pleasure!
We need out...any suggestions...if you are alawyer out there that wants to take on this lawsuit...class action...WE ARE IN..plz contact us! Jim at [protected]. This misery has to come to an end...and fast.

Jim,
Just attempted to call you...left message on your answering service.
Please call/email so we may assist.

[protected]

patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com

Sincerely,
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
Diamond Resorts International

First off the orignal complaint is hilarious! How can you think this crap is an asset?! You dumped $11, 000 for less than 4 weeks of travel and think you got a good deal huh? They sell the same crap on eBay for $1.00 buy it now! Heck, if you're so sour about loosing your "investment", email me at nomoretimeshare@hotmail.com and I'll arrange to give you one of my many timeshares I own with them free! You just pay the transfer/RTF fees and get me out of the stupid mtc fees!
That goes for anyone on here! If your wanting more points because you think that'll fix your problems...email me! If you want another location and deeded week even...email me!
Diamond/Sunterra resorts are just like any other timeshare company. They are all in it for the maintenance fees! If you stop paying on the fees not only can you be foreclosed on but you can be leined/sued/credit ruined by the resort. How can you just walk away from something that clearly states in your contracts has an annual binding lifetime fee and you signed up for it!
I am NOT in anyway affiliated with a resort. I don't sell them, list them..none of that crap! I took some in for free - NEVER paid one red cent for the 100's I own. I just got them to rent out to local business in my state and it's been paying the mtc fees + a little. Totally not worth all the effort and work with the state of the economy but oh well.
Anyways, good luck to all. Nothing will happen though. Diamond is such a big corp. that even an arranged lawsuit will result in nothing but your hard earned money blown. Then we'll all get assessed for your cruddy attempts. LOL.