Westgate Cancellation

[hfd56 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hfd56]

I am a Bluegreen Owner, but on a trip this weekend to Gatlinburg I toured Westgate to see the resort and learn about the program . Typical sales presentation and we liked what we saw just did not want to purchase without doing research first So we purchased the vacation traveler which included one week at westgate and lock in on offered prices. Seemed like an ok move untill I returned home and did my research and found that westgate was not a place I wanted to own. So to my question contract has no printed cancellation even though Tennesse law states 14 days and also has printed that this agreement may not be cancelled. Can it be cacelled or am I stuck with it ?

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

I am a Bluegreen Owner, but on a trip this weekend to Gatlinburg I toured Westgate to see the resort and learn about the program . Typical sales presentation and we liked what we saw just did not want to purchase without doing research first So we purchased the vacation traveler which included one week at westgate and lock in on offered prices. Seemed like an ok move untill I returned home and did my research and found that westgate was not a place I wanted to own. So to my question contract has no printed cancellation even though Tennesse law states 14 days and also has printed that this agreement may not be cancelled. Can it be cacelled or am I stuck with it ?

I had a co-worker that actually signed a purchased contract at this same resort. Once I got her online and helped her do a little research, she couldn't back out of the contract fast enough. But, like you, she couldn't find the information about how to recsind the contract.

I had her bring all her paperwork in thinking I'd find it since I've seen some developers attempt to hide it burried in all the other papers. It did not exist. It just wasn't there at all. At the time I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt but it now looks as if I was wrong.

We mailed a copy of the letter to Westgates home office, the sales office and directly to the salesman at the sales office. All signed return receipt. The contract was cancelled without a fight.

[hfd56 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hfd56]

I think Westgates home office is in Fl and trying to find address for gatlinburg is somewhat difficult

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

Westgate Smokey Mtn Resort????

915 Garden Rd
Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Could this be it?

I googled westgate gatlinburg

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

I had a co-worker that actually signed a purchased contract at this same resort. Once I got her online and helped her do a little research, she couldn't back out of the contract fast enough. But, like you, she couldn't find the information about how to recsind the contract.

I had her bring all her paperwork in thinking I'd find it since I've seen some developers attempt to hide it burried in all the other papers. It did not exist. It just wasn't there at all. At the time I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt but it now looks as if I was wrong.

We mailed a copy of the letter to Westgates home office, the sales office and directly to the salesman at the sales office. All signed return receipt. The contract was cancelled without a fight.

If you had any dealings with Wastegate (be thankful you don't) you'd know that mere laws or regulations such as what has to be in paperwork just doesn't apply to them. At least they don't seem to think so. If the buyer got a CD/DVD it MAY be hidden on there. Or not.

This is an organization that tends to ride the very edge of legality (see the many cases lost by them in various courts). But they still try every trick as that is how they operate. They hope the buyers/owners just accept it. Hopefully your friend got out in time as well. They should kiss your feet in gratitude. You helped save them from a living nightmare of Wastegate ownership.

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

We did the Westgate Smoky Mountain Tour and Sales Presentation in 2007

Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort
915 Westgate Resorts Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Phone (865) 430-4800

Located off Route 441 and Route 321
The Great Smoky Mountains Parkway

When you look it up on the map
The address is:

915 Garden Rd
Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Owner Relations
1 (800) 925-9999
win_team@wgresorts.com

Tennessee Timeshare Disclosure Rescission Right
http://state.tn.us/sos/rules/1260/1260-06.pdf

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

I am a Bluegreen Owner, but on a trip this weekend to Gatlinburg I toured Westgate to see the resort and learn about the program . Typical sales presentation and we liked what we saw just did not want to purchase without doing research first So we purchased the vacation traveler which included one week at westgate and lock in on offered prices. Seemed like an ok move untill I returned home and did my research and found that westgate was not a place I wanted to own. So to my question contract has no printed cancellation even though Tennesse law states 14 days and also has printed that this agreement may not be cancelled. Can it be cacelled or am I stuck with it ?

My take would be that you didn't buy a timeshare where there would be a state mandated cancellation clause. You bought the vacation traveler which is not a timeshare purchase...

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

There is no rescission period for this product..

What it sounds like you purchased is one of Westgate's escape programs- which is basically a version of the Interval International product, Leisure Time Passport, sold in combination with a week's rental at another Westgate resort (to ensure you come back and give their salespeople another shot at closing you on a full purchase!).

There is no rescission period for this type of product since it does not fall under the timeshare laws.

Try to get some usage out of it by booking some of the better getaway weeks and using the various benefits.. The Entertainment coupons, the Hertz Gold membership, and the Concierge service by VIPDesk are all nice perks. I don't know if you'll manage to get real value for what you paid- but at least use everything you can!

Don't feel too bad. I guarantee you weren't alone that weekend. The Westgate Smoky Mtns is one of the nicest resorts in the area, and they traditionally have a pretty high close ratio on tours.

On a better note- I hope Gatlinburg was a memorable trip. That is really a great area! Last time I was there an old local convinced me to put canned corn on a small hook (in place of a fly) and sure enough- the fish were hitting my line and ignoring the traditional fly baits.. Sounds crazy and I felt really dumb (I put a spoon in the can like I was eating it in case anyone saw me!) but it did actually work.. They have weird fish in Tennessee!

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

Opps, I should have read through the thread. I see you've received the address in a couple of postings.

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

If you had any dealings with Wastegate (be thankful you don't) you'd know that mere laws or regulations such as what has to be in paperwork just doesn't apply to them. At least they don't seem to think so. If the buyer got a CD/DVD it MAY be hidden on there. Or not.

This is an organization that tends to ride the very edge of legality (see the many cases lost by them in various courts). But they still try every trick as that is how they operate. They hope the buyers/owners just accept it. Hopefully your friend got out in time as well. They should kiss your feet in gratitude. You helped save them from a living nightmare of Wastegate ownership.

They got out in time with only being dinged the $50 for the new owners kit. They were very thankful after I showed them resale pricing on E-bay.

I'm certain that somewhere in all that paperwork, they signed an acknowledgement that they received the right to cancel paper but, somehow none of that made it into the packet when they left. Westgate is truely the worst of the worst to deal with IMHO.

[hfd56 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hfd56]

Ok I did buy the vacation traveler and not the actual timeshare . if this does not fall under timeshare law is it able to be cancelled ?

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Looks like we continue to discover new recruits for the Westgate Haters Club.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Off topic from the question being asked, as a former Wastegate owner, and for the jillionth time, Wastegate sucks.

More on topic, and something I have not mentioned before, in a similar situation here in Branson, concerning the purchase of a vacation club membership with the same cancellation right, there was in the voluminous fine print wording to the effect that if the purchaser used any part of the membership that they thereby waived the right to cancel.

Then, the company took the position that in using the gift for attending the presentation, which was show tickets in this case, they were using part of the membership. On camera the AG assigned to it did not disagree outright, but said it was a point they were looking into.

When the TV news reporter went to the storefront operation to do the story, the company was no longer there. There was a new company there, with the same owner and doing the same business. The story concluded with a question as to who would honor the membership that had been sold since that company was no longer doing business.

So, the short of it is that some operations claim the using of the gift constitutes acceptance, waiving the cancellation right. It would be really easy for a clause like that to be stuck in the contract.

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

I have been reading this Forum since June when we bought Bluegreen.
This is my first post so bear with me.

We were at Laurel Crest last week and also took a Westgate tour last Friday in Gatlinburg, I had not heard of Westgate and we had the time so we said why not?
It was a very nice facility and by the time it was over they had us looking at a 1 bedroom reposession for less than half price.
When we got home I did my homework and boy am I glad we did not buy.

While we were there the Westgate reps. told me that with Bluegreen we do not have a Warranty Deed, we had a Deed of Trust which expires in a given number of years. Does anyone know if this is true ?

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

I have been reading this Forum since June when we bought Bluegreen.
This is my first post so bear with me.

We were at Laurel Crest last week and also took a Westgate tour last Friday in Gatlinburg, I had not heard of Westgate and we had the time so we said why not?
It was a very nice facility and by the time it was over they had us looking at a 1 bedroom reposession for less than half price.
When we got home I did my homework and boy am I glad we did not buy.

While we were there the Westgate reps. told me that with Bluegreen we do not have a Warranty Deed, we had a Deed of Trust which expires in a given number of years. Does anyone know if this is true ?

You might want to post your BG question in the BG forum.
If you've been here for awhile, you know that if the saleswoman's lips were moving she was lying, they'll spin it every which way to sell.