Recent Upgrade - Feeling lied to?

[bstratt Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bstratt]

Background
My wife and I have been BG owners for almost 2 years now. We recently upgraded in September '07 to 46000 pts every 2 years. We did that in order to get access to to some programs (Yacht club etc.) and to be able to take the vacations that we want. We have a few bumps along the way, but overall it has been a very positive experience with BG.

Current
We just got back from the BG resort in Pigeon Forge last weekend. We went through an owner update. They proposed that we go to 74000 pts every 2 years. They said that we needed 70000 to get to Gold status and they were throwing the other 4000 pts in for free. They told us that we should do it for the following reasons (there were more, but these are the primary ones):
- Gold status is going to move from 35000 pts to 50000 pts. If we went now, then we could lock in Gold status and be grandfathered in.
- We could pay all of our maintenance fees with pts. They said that we could use 20000 pts to pay all of our maintenance fees for 2 years. That would leave us with 54000 pts to use, which is more than we have now and we would makeup the expenditure in about 10 years by not having to pay maintenance fees any longer.
- We had to purchase to get access to the new resorts from the acquisition of Shell Vacation Clubs

What I found out
Needless to say, we upgraded. Looking back on it, I am kicking myself. I have a feeling that we were lied to. I have no idea if the Gold point level is going to change. From reading this forum, it seems like the access to Shell was a lie. Finally from talking to the Maintenance Fee Department at BG, being able to pay the maintenance fee for 2 years at that level with 20000 pts was a lie.

Need advice
I read the contract and it says that I have 10 days to write a letter and cancel the contract. I am leaning towards doing it.
- Does it sound like they lied to us?
- Has anyone ever gone through the cancellation process?

Thank you for your help.

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

With the uneasy second thoughts you are having, you should cancel the contract. You need to follow the instructions in the contract EXACTLY as it states. There should be no problem as long as you are cancelling the contract timely.

There are authorized resellers who can do what you want for much much much much much less money. You should hang around here and ask that one contact you if you are still wanting to buy more points.

[Holly Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Holly]

I would rescind now...the deal will still be there if you want to do it later. Then, I would contact Jim on this board...PM me and I'll give you his contact info or I'm sure he will be along in awhile. He's an authorized reseller and has helped many people here including me over the years.

BG is an excellent system, but I'm pretty sure that you can do what you need to do for much less money.

Good luck to you. Hang around here...it's a good group and you will learn a lot about making the most of your vacation time and money.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

Jump out now! Listen to the folks here for correct info. If the deal was good then it will be just as good later. Proceed with caution.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

I'd say the salesman may have stretched the truth a bit and you've found him/her out. If everything you were told was not the truth then get out now and take your time learning what the truth really is.

It's always best to go into an owners update knowing as much, if not more, than the salesman. When they start telling me things I know aren't true then the interview is over for all intents and purposes. I figure if they'll lie about one thing then nothing they tell me is acurate.

Cancel the contact now and use this and other forums to learn the real rules to the program. Then you can make an informed decision as to what's in your best interests.

[Theo Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Theo]

The assorted salesperson likely-lies (his/her lips were actually moving, right? --- then he/ she was probably lying...) ultimately mean absolutely nothing at all from a legal perspective. Only the actual content of the written contract matters, so if you are at this juncture at all uneasy for any reason, you should rescind immediately.

Follow the rescission instructions on the contract to the letter. Do not "ab lib" your own alternative means of cancellation notification (stay off the phone and never mind sending emails. Fax is sketchy too, since date and time stamping can be easily altered and forged by either the sender or the recipient). MAIL your contract rescission, and mail it ONLY to the address specifically provided for that purpose on the contract. Certified mail may not be lawfully necessary, but using it will provide retrievable, documentary proof that you SENT the contract cancellation within the contract rescission period defined by your particular state laws.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

All 3 points you made were inaccurate. I'll restate them here as a reference.

1) Any Bluegreen Owner who purchased any points from Bluegreen or a Bluegreen authorized reseller after July 1, 2006 technically qualifies for Select Connections if they currently have a Traveler Plus account. I say if you have an account because it is optional and there is a yearly fee of $49/59. If you let it expire, then you need to make another purchase to activate it again.

2) You cannot pay ALL of your maintenance fees on 74000 every other year points with 20000 points. 74000 every other year points has an annual maintenance fee of $1529.50. Bluegreen offers you today about $.05/point toward maintenance fees for your points in 2000 point increments. You would need to use about 32000 points each year to pay them off with points. You still need to pay $122.48 for annual dues and $49/59 for Traveler Plus in addition to that.

3) I have not heard any facts that state that Gold will be changing in value. I believe it will stay at 35000. Bluegreen did announce at the annual meeting on Sept 25 that there will be a new bronze level at 15000 points and a new platinum level at 60000 points. If there is a platinum level at 60000, it is very doubtful that they will move Gold to 50000.

There is another way to get to Gold level for less money. If you are interested in learning about those options, send me a private message.

[bstratt Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bstratt]

Thank you all so much for your help. It sure sounds like the consensus is that they stretched the truth and I should bail on the contract. This forum has sure opened my eyes to the fact buying directly from BG was a bad idea. I will start the process tomorrow.

I just had a few more points that came to me since the first post.
- Is Shell Resorts the same as Select Connections?
- The sales person also said that they were starting up a new version of Traveler's Plus. I do currently still have my membership, but they are starting "Preferred Traveler's Plus." They said that it is going to be an initiation fee of $1359 unless of course we bought more points, and that it was the only way to get access to the Shell Resorts.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I had my owners update at Thanksgiving. They guy doing the update was only able to provide some information as not all was fully released, but...
I last updated my points in Aug. and am in Traveler Plus. I do have Select Comfort aka Shell Vacation Club. As I understand it, Select Comfort is the Bluegreen connection to SVC, which is a different club.
I did not hear anything about another level of Traveler Plus. Since I do have access to Select Comfort, I think that the second level information was not correct.

What I heard about VIP level, and is still not fully defined, current levels of Silver and Gold would stay the same, but Platinum and Bronze would be added. The levels are expected to be 60,000 for the Platinum, and I am not sure on the Bronze. Again, not released by BG so only best guess.

I am curious, did you deal with, or know of Russ at Pigeon Forge? I won't go into my experience at Pigeon Forge, I think I could beat your problems.

Boca is the most familiar with Bluegreen and the rules and changes that have happened lately, so he may have better information than I have.

[bstratt Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bstratt]

Thank you all for your help. I have started the process of cancelling the contract. My next step is to obviously read this forum for a while and ask a lot of questions to get better informed.

For Vintner, I dealt with Lisa and a manager Donna. They seemed nice, but... I am sorry that your experience was worse than mine. It must have been a humdinger. I would love to hear that story some day!

[willettj Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close willettj]

Hello All,

I am staying at the Bluegreen Solara Surfside this week and my wife and I just went through the update today. We were told about the Select program and were told that you could only participate if you "upgraded" purchased more points after November XX, 2007 ( dont remember the date). Anyway we did not upgrade because we just upgraded back in April 07 and I am glad I found this site.

I do have an active Traveler's Plus account, so has anyone tried to use the select program? I did read some of the fine print on the program and it appears that Shell only entered a limited amount of inventory from each of the resorts into the program.. first come first serve. However, Most of the Hawaii properties showed that they had 50 or more units in the program.

I am also curious about this new Bronze level and what it will get you? I am surprised they didn't bring that up to try and sell us because we are sitting at 13,000 points right now, and I don't think we really need any more.

Joe

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

Hello All,

I do have an active Traveler's Plus account, so has anyone tried to use the select program? I did read some of the fine print on the program and it appears that Shell only entered a limited amount of inventory from each of the resorts into the program.. first come first serve. However, Most of the Hawaii properties showed that they had 50 or more units in the program.

I am also curious about this new Bronze level and what it will get you? I am surprised they didn't bring that up to try and sell us because we are sitting at 13,000 points right now, and I don't think we really need any more.

Joe

All my comments are 'As I Understand It', because I am not the expert, I don't know everything, unless you ask my wife, because I tell her I do know everything. She still doesn't listen to me.

Select Comfort-I have heard there is limited inventory for the exchange. If you want something, at the 8 month mark, which is the earliest you can put in for the exchange, do it. Just leave the Vino Bello resort alone, that one is mine in 09!

The Bronze and Platinum levels are still ‘rumored’ and no details are available or confirmed. I don't know the new information, and even within BG, it seems the information may not be standardized. I talked to a very nice lady at headquarters, and she does not know the information either. I do hope the BG defines these levels and benefits soon.

If you look for old threads about the board meeting from back in late September, I think you will find most of the information you want for the Select Connection and some info on the new VIP points levels.

[crwisconsin Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close crwisconsin]

New Bronze and Platinum Levels

The Bronze and Platinum levels are still ‘rumored’ and no details are available or confirmed.

The levels were approved at the annual meeting as well as the point levels. What is "rumored" are the perks associated with the new levels.
Charles

[spectacularone Member Find all posts View Profile Close spectacularone]

Select Connections

Okay, I have travlers plus since I bought from Pinnacle in Sep. 2007. However I only have 6,000 annual points--not Gold or Silver. Can I still get into Shell Clubs or do I have to be Gold or Silver? Can I upgrade my Travler's Plus to include Select Connections. Who do I call for that?

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Okay, I have travlers plus since I bought from Pinnacle in Sep. 2007. However I only have 6,000 annual points--not Gold or Silver. Can I still get into Shell Clubs or do I have to be Gold or Silver? Can I upgrade my Travler's Plus to include Select Connections. Who do I call for that?

Yes, you should qualify for Select Connections with your 6000 annual points. You do NOT need to be a Silver or Gold member to qualify for Select Connections. You just need to make a purchase from Bluegreen or a Bluegreen authorized reseller AFTER July 1, 2006.