This week’s Tuesday Slot is an update by Teresa Laird first published on 23 March 2018 in Friday’s Letter from America, it tells the story of Double Purple Heart recipient Raymond Mori and his wife’s “Nightmare on Timeshare Street”. This article has also been published by OEN, opednews.com with an introduction by Irene Parker.
https://www.opednews.com/articles/Raymond-Mori-83-Two-Purp-by-Irene-Parker-Fraud-180828-295.html
At the moment Europe and especially Spain is very quiet on the timeshare front, mainly because we are in the middle of the summer holidays, with the courts in Spain on close down. But one reader did pass on a piece from one of the Anfi members forums, it poses a very interesting question on liability when it comes to private renting of timeshare apartments and weeks.
The writer starts by mentioning that members can’t help noticing that apartments are being privately rented at Anfi and the question arises of who would be liable if that renter had an accident in the apartment?
Would the resort be liable or would the person renting it out be liable if any legal action were to be brought, a very interesting point as the resort could claim that as they are not members but have rented from a private individual they are not covered by their public liability insurance. That would mean the owner of that week and apartment would theoretically be liable, but as an owner renting it out for whatever reason, be it no longer using themselves but covering the maintenance fees, they are unlikely to have any insurance cover for this eventuality.
The writer also goes on to say that this wholesale renting was not what was originally intended, it was for the sole use of members and their families, he believes this is just another nail in the timeshare coffin and would not be surprised if Anfi became a hotel in the future leaving members with little redress.
On that last point, we do know that IFA Lopesan has set aside millions of euros with the intention of buying the Cazorla shares giving them full control. It is also a known fact that IFA Lopesan have no interest in the timeshare model, they favour hotels which are mainly all inclusive and of a very high standard.
If you are an Anfi member what are your feelings on these points, Inside Timeshare would like to hear from you, now for this Tuesdays article.
Retired Marine Raymond Mori, Two Times Purple Heart Recipient, Alleges Timeshare Fraud at Age 83
An update since my original article March 23, 2018
http://insidetimeshare.com/fridays-letter-america-42/
Tuesday Talk Member’s Forum August 28, 2018
By Teresa Laird,
Purple Heart 9/29/68
“I am writing this at my parent’s last Diamond Resorts update March 13, 2018, I am convinced my parents, at age 83 and 79, would have purchased 30,000 additional Diamond vacation points for $234,295 had I not been with them. This offer required a down payment of $69,993. I kept the paper of these terms under the table because members are not allowed to walk out with hand written notes. My dad was not feeling well. He falls asleep in his wheelchair and had spent six months in the hospital after a heart attack. The stress over this expense has caused my parent’s health to deteriorate further.”
Raymond Mori before being shot down twice, a gunner, earning two Purple Hearts.
I changed their phone number to avoid Diamond’s collection calls. My mom still shakes when she hears the phone ring. She has never been late on paying a bill in her life, so this has caused her to lose weight and lose sleep. I learned my mom’s entire Social Security check goes to pay the Diamond mortgage. We have learned Diamond points have no secondary market value, so unlike your home, you can’t sell the points if you have a loan.
My parents today, Lillian and Raymond Mori, married 61 years
I have reached out to Angela Sandstede as her parents are going through exactly what we are going through. Roy Simmons is a Navy veteran. His Diamond mortgage payment is $2,700. He is a Navy veteran and a retired letter carrier.
Roy Simmons and Angela Sandstede Simmons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_nca6lMA4U&feature=youtu.be
Like many, my parents used their Monarch Grand Vacation timeshare for years without complaint. They said they were told they had to give up their deed and buy points. I’ve learned they did not have to do that. Since Diamond acquired Monarch, their annual maintenance fees have increased from $2,600 to $4,600.
I first learned of their purchase when my mom told me they had purchased an investment. She said they had invested in property. I called Diamond Resorts when my dad said they wanted to sell some points. When I asked how to go about selling points, the DRI hospitality agent laughed at me.
What they bought
4,000 Diamond points 3/12/2013 for $20,416
2500 Diamond points 6/25/2013 for $8,325
2500 Diamond points 7/29/2013 for $8,616
5000 Sampler points 5/4/2014 for $2,995
At ages 79 and 75 they were sold a Sampler trial program?
I called Diamond and told them that they needed to take back this last Sampler purchase at the very least. They said they would work with us but had to talk to my parents directly. What did they do – they sold my parents 17,000 more points over the phone at then ages 79 and 73 for $49,492. My parents said they were told they cannot cancel the Sampler, but the points could be added to something else. This is why they are in foreclosure. The caller said they would attach the Sampler points to another program. I could not believe it. Their new maintenance fees are $4,780.
My mom worked as an interpreter for the Ontario California liaison. She speaks Spanish. My dad is diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s. To think their lives have been financially ruined by this company is unforgivable. I am an advocate now. I am a veteran. I am working on a graduate degree and am active in the Veteran’s Resource Center. There is a Veteran’s Resource Center in every university. As soon as I finish my degree, I plan to make it my life’s work to warn veterans about predatory timeshare sales that can financially ruin the lives of those who served to protect us, including those who intend to do us harm. I am one of 72 veterans and active duty military and law enforcement who have reported alleged timeshare fraud. https://www.csun.edu/vrc
https://www.facebook.com/groups/DiamondResortsOwnersAdvocacy/
Thank you Teresa for the update, it is despicable that the timeshare industry allows its sales agents to behave in this manner, we have said it before and will continue to say it, you as an industry
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT YOUR SALES AGENT SAY AND DO!
It is your products they are selling, you employ them to represent your companies, the buck stops with you. If the industry can’t change its practices, then maybe it is time for major legislation forcing them to change. We have seen this in Spain, consumers there are now given the full protection of the law, the strongest in Europe, with other countries starting to follow their lead.
If you have any comments or would like to share your own “Nightmare on Timeshare Street”, then contact Inside Timeshare, remember you are not alone.
Have you been contacted by a company offering resale, claims or relinquishment and are not sure if the company or what they are offering is genuine, then use our contact page and we will point you in the right direction. Doing your homework before engaging with any company dealing with timeshare will save you money and a whole lot of stress.
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