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On June 2, 2010 the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection reached a settlement with BlueGreen Corporation that addresses complaints about the company's alleged use of deceptive 'contests,' misleading sales presentations and improper contracts in the marketing and sale of timeshare vacation packages in Pennsylvania. The agreement, known as a Consent Decree, resolves a consumer protection lawsuit filed in October 2008 against BlueGreen Corporation, BlueGreen Resorts, BlueGreen Vacations Unlimited, Inc. and Great Vacations Destinations, Inc., all of Boca Raton, Florida. BlueGreen contacted consumers by phone and through kiosks at shopping malls, fairs, and festivals throughout Pennsylvania, along with the use of sales facilities in Hershey and King of Prussia. BlueGreen agreed to cancel contracts and pay refunds to consumers who filed valid complaints about their timeshare purchases. The complaints include consumers who were unable to use their timeshare, false promises about when or where consumers could travel and situations where timeshare purchasers did not receive extra services or discounts that were promised during the sales presentation. The settlement applies to complaints by Pennsylvania timeshare purchasers that have already been filed with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, along with any new complaints filed within the next 30 days. Some complaints filed with the Attorney General's Office involve consumers who spent between $20,000 and $40,000 on vacation packages they were unable to use. Part of the settlement could result in more than $1 million in refunds to consumers, depending on the total number of additional complaints we receive over the next 30 days.' The settlement also includes payments for consumers who were promised various 'free gifts,' including airline tickets, hotel accommodations, gas cards and other valuable prizes. BlueGreen will pay $125,000, which will be used to compensate people who were deceived about 'free' prizes. Consumers who filed valid complaints will get a check for the value of the item they were promised. The settlement includes a l reward for each consumer who filed a complaint about BlueGreen's use of telemarketing sales calls that violated Pennsylvania's 'Do Not Call' law. Under the provisions of the state's Do Not Call law, consumers can receive up to $100 when they file a complaint that results in a lawsuit or fines against a company charged with telemarketing violations. A total of 29 people filed Do Not Call complaints about improper BlueGreen calls and each of those consumers will be receiving a check for $100. BlueGreen has agreed to change its businesses practices to eliminate future confusion about consumer rights involving timeshare purchases, to stop using misleading advertisements about free gifts or prizes and to make certain that any future telemarketing calls fully comply with our Do Not Call law.' Consumers who have not yet filed complaints about being unable to use their BlueGreen timeshare or customers who were deceived about 'free gifts' and prizes have until June 24, 2010 to contact the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection. Consumers who have already filed complaints with the Attorney General's Office, either before or after the initial lawsuit was filed in October 2008, do not need to take any further action to have their claims considered as part of this settlement. PENNSYLVANIA consumers with complaints can call the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline, at 1-800-441-2555, or Complaints: Protecting Pennsylvanians - Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General The Consent Decree was filed in Commonwealth Court by Senior Deputy Attorney General David Sumner. BBB has determined this action is considered moderate as the action may cause reasonable consumers to question the ethics of business management or question their reliability in providing products or services.
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