Global Exchange Vacation Club

I was called by someone who promised me that I had "won" a free trip. After that, they called me numerous times and bothered me. I finally said I would listen to them. They said that I would get a fully paid round trip ticket for 2 to Las Vegas after I listened to a 90-minute presentation. So I decided to go. I just got home, what a nightmare! I was passed back and forth between salesmen that basically told me nothing except that I needed to give them $1300 today or I will never be invited to join their club again. I don't know about you, but I don't go around with that kind of money in my pocket, so I told them I need a few days to think about it. They told me if I don't do it today, I can't ever do it in the future.

The music was playing on full blast, so it was very hard to hear and understand the salesmen. When we started asking questions, they answered us with very little information. Our salesperson got very nervous and kept looking for his manager to answer us. Finally, the manager told us that if we wanted to know more, that after we join and give them $1300 today, then I could return in a month to have our questions answered. Also, they told us that we weren't allowed to come with anyone else besides our spouse. I gave the person on the phone my in-laws' phone number and told them I wasn't going to the meeting unless they joined us. So the person at the call center made arrangements for us all to be there together. However, they said that we shouldn't tell them that we knew each other, which seemed strange. Why wouldn't I be able to travel with family? And if that was the case, why would they book us to be at the same meeting at the same time?

They continued to harass me and my in-laws that we went with and actually, they pushed my sister-in-law and the police showed up. The police told us that they constantly see people picketing outside of the office and it's a known scam. I'm terrified that I gave them my personal info and I feel very threatened by them. Now, I'm pretty sure as well that I won't get my free Vegas trip either. They gave me a piece of paper that I'm supposed to mail in to get my vouchers, but I'm very suspicious.

On November 13th 2009, my husband and I attended a seminar at the Woodland Hills branch because of an offered gift of two free plane tickets to anywhere. We asked Terra W., our sales rep. if there were any negatives with the company and what people complained about most. She said there were no negatives and that people complained about getting the vacation spot they wanted when they wanted it. The deal sounded good so we signed the agreement with Jenny L. who told us that we had 45 days to review and cancel.

On December 6th 2009, we attended the first orientation available. Red flags went up immediately. Hidden fees were exposed. We asked to speak with a rep and told Jenny we wanted to cancel the membership. She said, "Why don't you just go on a vacation and see what you think." After that I contacted an attorney and had them send a letter of cancellation. I filed a compliant with the BBB. I wrote them myself. And then I filed a small claims suit against them to retrieve my initial deposit that I gave them on November 13th.

Mr. S. got a continuance, then he didn't show up so I won the judgment. Then he filed to cancel the judgment. I won the second judgment, and now he's filed an appeal. You see when Terra W. told me there were no negatives with the company, she failed to disclose that there was an on going Class Action suit against RCI at the time we signed the agreement. They committed fraud. And I have that in writing! I am confident that I will win this appeal. Jenny L. also lied about the 45 day cancellation period. It is actually 7 days. Scandalous! They need to be shut down. I hope this helps anyone out there thinking of joining this fraudulent operation. I've spent 8 months fighting this thing. I had to send court documents to all the credit companies because they were trying to ruin my credit because I refused to pay any bills or fees. And I spent attorney fees and documents fees and time off work at the court house.

We were prohibited from receiving information, services and points in a timely manner causing us inconveniences and additional costs, to include:

1) Points purchased, bonus points and requests for points exchange were not processed for 11 weeks prohibiting us from using same for accommodations.

2) Information regarding points exchange values, sources of points and total points were never received.

3) We were notified that point values for exchanges were reduced from 32,000 to 14,000 after our membership was purchased.

4) Monies were charged on our credit card for accommodations that were never forwarded or paid to a Ramada hotel. We had to pay for the room. Attempts to have the money refunded were denied.

5) GEVC "sold" the rights to use one of our exchange time-share condominiums without specific authorization.

Attempts to collect monies paid ($3,280.60) for points and services we were prohibited from using in a timely manner, and compensation ($771.30) for use of our time-share -- Total $3,979.96 -- have been denied.

On May 4th I attended a timeshare promo at the San Jose office of Global Exchange Vacation Club. They solicited the attendance by stating you would recv one of 5 gifts. After listening to the product promo and the subsequent sales pitch, I purchased 21K "points" at cost of $8,358.00. ($835.00 deposit) Upon signing, the attention in the room is drawn to the new signee and all are encouraged applaude the transaction. They then present to you your "free gift" for attending. In this case it was airfare for 2 and 2 nights stay at one of 5 destinations.

They circled our choice (Las Vegas) and again congtratulated us. The piece of paper they later referred to as a "rain check" stated we would recv our trip "certificate" within 4 to 7 business days and to call a number if this does not occur. On day 12 I contacted the company. They had no record of my purchase/name etc and suggested I call back in a few days. Becoming alarmed, I called back the following day at the number provided. They said they were unfamilar with what I was referring to and asked me to fax them a copy of what I was given. They finally said they found my agreement but they (the number I called) has nothing to do with what was issued by the promo seminiar.

Three phone calls later to the location I attended the seminar,they said that the certificate would be issued and mailed right away. (This is on the 17th) On the 22nd still nothing recv'd. Called again and they continued with administrative fingerpointing saying they had to print the certificates and I would be recv'ing it soon. Finally, on May 30th, afterover a dozen phone calls, I recv'd a certificate for airfare for 2 and 2 nights....but instead of the Las Vegas trip they congratulated us on, the certificate requires that we pick 3 different destination choices as your first pick could not be guaranteed. This is not what I was promised. It was not within the "4 to 7 days" they promised on the raincheck. I called the company to request a refund and cancelation of the contract as the company clearly is unable to competently execute even the first transaction nor fulfill their 1st committment. I was told that I had to have cancelled the contract within 11 days !! Seems they will only honor agreements that benefit them, not the consumer. I researched and found the company president, Robert Sargent. Messages to have him return my call went unanswered.

I finally filed a complaint with the better business bureau. I continued to attempt to reach Mr Sargent and was told by an employee on 6/4 that he had recv'd the BBB complaint and would respond to that and refused to take the phone call. Though the BBB requires the company to respond to the complaint within 14 days, as of this writing (6/21) he has not. I caution EVERYONE to beware. They peddle that these vacation "points" can be willed,gifted etc. Gifts of grief it appears. One can easily project standing in some airport or hotel 3,000 miles away to find that they just "cant find any record of your reservation, flight, etc".

Each employee that I spoke with were always polite and helpful (until I filed a complaint w/BBB) yet politness can't help if you're in another country and your return flight can't be found.