Has Wyndham ever accused you of stealing?

[Maggie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Maggie]

I just returned this past weekend from an 11 day trip that included staying at two Bluegreen resorts and a 5 day stay at Wyndham’s Old Town Alexandria resort. My traveling companion was a 74 year old woman and I am 62. We had a great time but I got a shock when I got home. I had an email from the Building Manager at Wyndham’s resort telling me that the unit I had stayed in was missing it’s TV and DVD player and they were billing me for $950.00 replacement costs. I had checked out on Sunday morning just after 7:00. We walked through the lobby and right past the front desk where we turned in our keys. Surely they would have noticed two old ladies walking out with a wide screen TV.

The email was sent to me 3 ½ days after we checked out but I did not see it until 2 days later on October 3rd because we spent 5 nights at Myrtle Beach before returning home. I immediately called Mr. Fort’s phone number but got a voice mail message so I left him a message to call me. I sent him an email explaining that I had certainly not removed any equipment from the Wyndham and asked him to return my call or respond by email.

By this afternoon I had placed two more calls and sent another email and tried calling the manager of the resort. All I could get was voice mail. I finally called member services at Wyndham and got a real live person to whom I explained my predicament. In my 10 years of timesharing this is the first time I’ve ever been accused of stealing anything. However I suppose it’s my word against theirs but since you don’t have anyone check the inventory as you check out how can you ever prove you didn’t take whatever they accuse you of taking?

Has anyone else ever had this problem? I am very disappointed that I would be sent an email accusing me of stealing and telling me my account would be charged with $950.00 and then not get any response back when I make multiple attempts to respond to them. Is this any way to run a business?

Maggie

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

What a terrible story! I hope it's easily resolved.

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

Scary

I remember someone on TUG being accused of damaging a bedspread. For this reason, I've always tried to check-out in person; however, that may not solve anything.

Please let us know the outcome of this.

Nancy

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Wow, this is a first time for me....never heard of this before.

How can they prove you took a TV????
Seems awfully odd.

[Maggie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Maggie]

I guess I should add some information to this.

The person I talked to today did confirm that Mr. Fort was the property manager so the mail was legitimate even if it was ill advised or rude. He could not talk with Mr. Fort today but did promise me that he would follow through on it tomorrow. I did check on the balance on my credit card that I used at check-in and there is no additional charge charged to that account. The representative I spoke with today was quite nice and assured me that he found it difficult to believe I had taken the equipment.

This does make me wonder if in future at Wyndham resorts if I need to request a check out inspection to see that nothing is missing from the unit. This would be a real pain. There is no way for anyone to check out of this particular resort without going through the lobby. Taking a wide screen TV out through the lobby would be quite noticeable.

I've just been so frustrated at getting this email and then not being able to get any response from the resort.

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

Boy, that's terrible.

We had National Rent a Car accuse us of damaging a rental car five months after a trip to Maui. Now, I always keep my rental car receipts for a LONG time. Luckily, I still had my receipt with what I paid and who checked our car in. I went round and round with their claims department and finally got it settled. I never could figure out why we got singled out after five months - all was good when we turned the car in or the attendant would have said something to us.

Good luck. Let us know what happens.

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

There is no way for anyone to check out of this particular resort without going through the lobby. Taking a wide screen TV out through the lobby would be quite noticeable.

There is sure to be service elevators and even stairs that do not go directly through the lobby. No doubt, the manager is missing a TV etc, but the problem is his staff who have either taken the equipment or allowed someone else to. Who pays in the end, the timeshare owner! Hey, I own there, what did you do with my TV?

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

This is horrible. But a widescreen and DVD Player for $995.00 I may have to book or rent a few nights as I am in the market for a new TV. How big is the TV?

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

Boy, that's terrible.

We had National Rent a Car accuse us of damaging a rental car five months after a trip to Maui. Now, I always keep my rental car receipts for a LONG time. Luckily, I still had my receipt with what I paid and who checked our car in. I went round and round with their claims department and finally got it settled. I never could figure out why we got singled out after five months - all was good when we turned the car in or the attendant would have said something to us.

Good luck. Let us know what happens.

Reports of problems with another rental car company on other Hawaii boards led us to begin the habit of photographing our rental cars upon pick up and return....and we always inspect the wheels and under carriage when we pick up the car and before we leave the lot .... this way we have a thorough record of the condition of the vehicle.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

Sorry about your problem, but keep us informed. This is a great thread, a lot of things can be taken for granted and without good documentation can come back on you. Some great ideas on things to do. How many folks take time a the beginning of a timeshare stay to even check the inventory sheets, I know we don't do it most of the time,

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

First, I'd inform them that they had better be prepared to prove any such allagations. Next I'd want to see the copy of the police report. Then I'd make sure that any such charge on my credit card was challenged. Finally I'd drop the dime and find a good lawyer to find out what my rights were and to get this handled ASAP.

[Maggie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Maggie]

I did receive an email from Mr. Fort today saying that they have delayed charging my account while they investigate further.

I'll let you know if I hear more from them. I actually stayed in 2 different units and didn't know which unit was missing the equipment and he told me which unit it was and that is the unit we were in last. I let him know exactly what time we checked out of the unit and assured him the equipment was in the unit when we left.

I'll keep you posted on what develops. I'm glad that so far no one else has posted a similar situation. But it is a concern that they would just presume I was the guilty party. I wonder if they have security camera's over the exit doors to see who is taking what out the doors.

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

I did receive an email from Mr. Fort today saying that they have delayed charging my account while they investigate further.

I'll let you know if I hear more from them. I actually stayed in 2 different units and didn't know which unit was missing the equipment and he told me which unit it was and that is the unit we were in last. I let him know exactly what time we checked out of the unit and assured him the equipment was in the unit when we left.

I'll keep you posted on what develops. I'm glad that so far no one else has posted a similar situation. But it is a concern that they would just presume I was the guilty party. I wonder if they have security camera's over the exit doors to see who is taking what out the doors.

I'll tell him it darn sure better be more than delayed and that I'm not sure I like being acused of being a thief in the first place. I go a little further the state that there darn sure better be an apology coming in short order or this thing was going higher up the food chain.

[Maggie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Maggie]

I did receive another courtesy phone call yesterday. This did not come from the resort from from Wyndham's customer service area and they told me that they were kicking the matter up the food chain and would see to it that the matter was resolved and that I should be receiving an apology from the resort. I've received no replys to my emails to Mr. Fort.

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

I did receive another courtesy phone call yesterday. This did not come from the resort from from Wyndham's customer service area and they told me that they were kicking the matter up the food chain and would see to it that the matter was resolved and that I should be receiving an apology from the resort. I've received no replys to my emails to Mr. Fort.

If any of this has been put to you in writing, I'd be telling them that I would expect, at the very least, an extremely heart felt apology from the manager of that resort. Otherwise I would be considering any and all options available to me.

I wouldn't drop the "I'm going to an attorney" line. Personally, I feel that's over used. I'd just let them know that I was open to seeking advice about what options I may or may not have.