In this weeks Tuesday Slot, Irene Parker writes about the Veterans who have reached out for help with their “Nightmare on Timeshare Street”. It is also to remember all those who served, Sunday in the US was Veterans day, in the UK it was Remembrance Sunday, there were also services and gatherings all over Europe to remember the 100th anniversary of the end to the Great War. One thing was common, to remember those who gave their lives in the service of their country.
Veterans Day 2018 – A Tribute to Those Who Served and
To those veterans we have gotten to know through timeshare
By Irene Parker
November 13, 2018
My father was a Navy veteran, but I did not grow up hearing about war stories. It wasn’t until Inside Timeshare started hearing from veterans and active duty military service members and law enforcement reaching out to us, that I heard war stories of heroism that left me in awe.
That’s not my father pictured above. It is the actor Glen Ford. My dad served in the Navy with Glen Ford. Dad always said he had the best job in the Navy. He was a cook for the nurses until his medical discharge for ulcers. He enlisted at age 36, called to the cause. Many Thanksgiving dinners were ruined because of too much salt in the dressing and when he cooked chili or shrimp, it was always enough for a barracks. He once told me he was in the monkey cage at the San Diego Zoo. “You mean at the monkey cage,” I asked? “No, I was IN the monkey cage. They turned the monkey cage into an infirmary.”
I started hearing about accounts of heroism when veterans who purchased timeshares started asking for help. Army veteran Leo Gomez contacted me. He was worried about an outstanding timeshare loan. After listening to Mr. Gomez, I said I did not hear any deception so he would in all likelihood be responsible for the loan. That night something bothered me. I called Leo the next morning and asked WHY he changed from one program to another. His reply was more than enough assurance to convince me that he had been lied to, especially since he did not KNOW he had been lied to. I asked if the sales agent knew he had pancreatic cancer, likely a result of Agent Orange exposure. He said yes because he was tired from the aftereffects of treatment. The company did resolve his issue, but with hours left to live, Leo’s wife called distraught, saying the credit card company was calling demanding to talk to him, demanding the $4,000 down payment. Leo passed away November 2, 2018.
Leo earned two Purple Hearts.
https://www.opednews.com/articles/A-Fourth-Agent-Orange-Vete-by-Irene-Parker-Fraud-180917-513.html
From Marine veteran Raymond Mori
Mr. Mori’s daughter Teresa also contacted me distraught. Despite being timeshare members for years, they were sold a trial program. As the bills mounted, Teresa delved into their contracts. She called the timeshare company and asked that the trial program be cancelled. Teresa said the timeshare customer service agent said they would have to talk to her dad. She said they “fixed” it by selling them 17,000 additional points for $49,492.
Mrs. Mori called me one day. What she described as Mr. Mori’s symptoms sounded like the symptoms experienced from a type of blast syndrome that causes brain changes that contribute to flashbacks and symptoms associated with PTSD. Mrs. Mori had explained that for years Mr. Mori woke up with horrific memories. He had spent over five months in a diabetic coma.
Teresa decided to attend a sales presentation at their resort to see what would happen. She said the sales agent attempted to sell her mom and dad $234,000 in additional timeshare points at age 83, while Mr. Mori was dozing off in his wheelchair, possibly a side effect from prescribed drugs.
Mr. Mori earned two Purple Hearts
60 Minutes aired a segment on how explosions can affect the brain. Veteran Mancini later committed suicide.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brian-mancini-brain-how-ieds-may-be-physically-causing-ptsd/
Raymond Mori in uniform Raymond and Lillian Mori
George Yamada, disabled from Agent Orange, paid US Consumer Attorneys $6,000 to get out of his timeshare contract. We helped him for free. George works as a pension administrator. He bought points he said were sold as an investment. After I suggested George file a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission, his loan was terminated.
https://www.opednews.com/articles/Let-s-Honor-our-Veterans–by-Irene-Parker-Fraud-180908-59.html
These are only three of our veteran complaints. Of the 81 military and law enforcement timeshare members that have reached out to us, 55 are veterans. Of the 55 veteran complaints, 22 resolved their dispute, but not without losing money.
Several of our veterans were scammed by a timeshare exit company. We helped one 100% disabled Agent Orange exposed Army veteran, who was up-sold by a sales agent we have 17 complaints against, resolve his IRS issue. He was issued a $170,000 1099 tax liability form, but we were able to provide him with the information he needed to get this reversed. The timeshare exit company in Branson was of no help.
I listen to members and type the member’s account as we talk, as they explain what went wrong with their timeshare. We have a list of contacts their complaints can be sent to.
Some states will investigate based on a volume of complaints, but other states seem to walk lock step with the timeshare developer and reply to all complaints filed with, “You have no proof.” In those states, timeshare sales agents can say anything, based on responses from 514 timeshare members.
Of course, there are honest timeshare sales agents. They too are harmed by the actions of predators.
When someone is helped by our efforts we suggest a donation to Whistleblowers of America. They included our report on unfair and deceptive timeshare sales practices in their report to the Joint Committee on Veterans Affairs presented March 14, 2018. Whistleblowers of America seeks justice for the military and government workers.
https://whistleblowersofamerica.org/
Veteran stories are humbling. Several developers have worked WITH us instead of against us, but they are companies that will listen to the merit of a complaint rather than auto-dismiss with “You signed a contract” or “We are not responsible for what our sales agents say.”
Veterans Day was Sunday, but there is never a day we should not remember our veterans.
NEVER FORGET
Related articles: The St. Louis Better Business Bureau Timeshare Report
Thank you Irene for this account, it is horrific that people who have given their all should be treated in this way, just to satisfy the greed of some sales agents with the complicity of their employers.
The timeshare industry needs to change, it is they and they alone who are destroying what should be an industry that promotes happiness, fun and family memories, especially for those who have served.
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