Westgate (Interval International) timeshare Florida

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

We have recently purchased a timeshare in the Westgate Lakes and Spa resort in Florida, however we are now wanting to cancel this. We are well within our ten day cancellation period, but when talking to our closing officer, he started quoting smallprint and making excuses saying that we will have to pay charges for benefits received after closing.

However we purchased a property that is in Pre-construction, the closing officer told us that the cancellation period will not begin until the property is opened (Jan 2010). It is my belief that the cancellation period should have began after the signing of the contracts.

We are going to send a letter to the Westgate, Florida office, basically asking for the cancellation of our contract.

Has anyone had any experience with Westgate before and have you cancelled successfully.

We attended the 'new members' breakfast and know that we should have to pay $45. are there any other hidden fees we should know about.

Any help is appreciated

Thanks

Mark

[aliikai2 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close aliikai2]

We have recently purchased a timeshare in the Westgate Lakes and Spa resort in Florida, however we are now wanting to cancel this. We are well within our ten day cancellation period, but when talking to our closing officer, he started quoting smallprint and making excuses saying that we will have to pay charges for benefits received after closing.

However we purchased a property that is in Pre-construction, the closing officer told us that the cancellation period will not begin until the property is opened (Jan 2010). It is my belief that the cancellation period should have began after the signing of the contracts.

I agree, your 10 days started at signing,
Someplace in your paper work there should be a sheet for this purpose, use it and follow the instructions. The term, Mail means mail, not FedEx, UPS, etc. Send all the documents with a return receipt requested.

We are going to send a letter to the Westgate, Florida office, basically asking for the cancellation of our contract.

Has anyone had any experience with Westgate before and have you cancelled successfully.

We attended the 'new members' breakfast and know that we should have to pay $45. are there any other hidden fees we should know about.

No knowing what you received, free Disney tixs, etc the other things they really like to charge for are the folders, documents, etc. Make copies of all signed papers and the entire contract for your records, ship the originals.

Any help is appreciated

Thanks

Mark

fwiw,

Greg

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

Never deal with Westgate sales or you will lose

We have recently purchased a timeshare in the Westgate Lakes and Spa resort in Florida, however we are now wanting to cancel this. We are well within our ten day cancellation period, but when talking to our closing officer, he started quoting smallprint and making excuses saying that we will have to pay charges for benefits received after closing.

Possible but unlikely. In any case a VERY small cost to pay vs a lifelong regret and ocst of actually buying a Westgate week at retail - or at any price really. Westgate is best avoided at any cost.

However we purchased a property that is in Pre-construction, the closing officer told us that the cancellation period will not begin until the property is opened (Jan 2010). It is my belief that the cancellation period should have began after the signing of the contracts.

We are going to send a letter to the Westgate, Florida office, basically asking for the cancellation of our contract.

Has anyone had any experience with Westgate before and have you cancelled successfully.

By all means follow up with exactly what the paperwork calls for to rescind. Don't listen to the BS about better deals, costs, etc. Just rescind &, if requested, return the paperwork. But get out!

We attended the 'new members' breakfast and know that we should have to pay $45. are there any other hidden fees we should know about.

Any help is appreciated

Thanks

Mark

That should be it - and again it is very unlikely they would actually charge you for that delicious breakfast fare. But if they do consider it a very cheap way out of a very bad impulsive decision to buy into a terribly overpriced and owner negative timeshare organization. You would regret your purchase forever and will be pleasantly relived of the stress and cost if you rescind. Follow up NOW and be done with them.

[T/S Guy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close T/S Guy]

Mail your letter NOW

The Westgate closing officer is trying to stop a cancellation. Do exactly as your paperwork says. If your are having trouble finding your paperwork, look inside your black case, you will find a secret pocket with a velcro closure. Your paperwork will be hidden in there.

Send a cancellation letter to Westgate at the address shown in the paperwork, also make a statement in the letter that a copy is being sent to the Florida Attorney General's Office. Send a copy to the Attorney Generals Office. Get a postal receipt (certified or registered mail). That way Westgate cannot say they didn't receive your letter. Good luck.

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

Wastegate sucks.

Use google and see how bad they are.

We were owners for way too many years.

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

Yep, Westgate sucks---get the rescision in ASAP. Don't believe anything they tell you.

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

Thanks to everyone that replied.

I sent a cancellation letter as well as the briefcase (with documents/cds) via the certified mail at post office, this afternoon.

Hopefully that should be it. and the downpayment should be refunded to us (almost $2000) soon.

Thanks again.

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

That should be all it takes. They were lying to you through their crooked little teeth.

A friend of our bought a Westgate timeshare last year. I got a hold of her when they were within their cancellation period. Westgate managed to forget to put the recinsion information in their sales packet. We looked up their corporate HQ address and sent the letter to their offices in Florida and the sales office in TN where they had purchased.

Don't be surprised if the sales office calls and attempts to get you to change you mind. DON'T DO IT. I wouldn't even take their calls. If they get you to change your mind you'll be past your right to recsind period and that will be all she wrote.

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

I can't think of a worse place to buy than a Westgate resort in Orlando. I think you should hang around and see if timesharing is really for you and if it is, you will get a much better idea of where to buy and how, for a small percentage of what the pink concrete jungle would have cost you.

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

Westgate managed to forget to put the recinsion information in their sales packet.

If I'm not mistaken, from what I remember reading in the Florida law, law cancellation period begins when notice is given in writing.

Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes :->2004->Chapter 721->Part I : flsenate.gov

The 2004 Florida Statutes

Title XL
REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY Chapter 721
VACATION AND TIMESHARE PLANS View Entire Chapter

721.10 Cancellation.--

(1) A purchaser has the right to cancel the contract until midnight of the 10th calendar day following whichever of the following days occurs later:

(a) The execution date; or

(b) The day on which the purchaser received the last of all documents required to be provided to him or her, including the notice required by s. 721.07(2)(d)2., if applicable.

This right of cancellation may not be waived by any purchaser or by any other person on behalf of the purchaser. Furthermore, no closing may occur until the cancellation period of the timeshare purchaser has expired. Any attempt to obtain a waiver of the cancellation right of the timeshare purchaser, or to hold a closing prior to the expiration of the cancellation period, is unlawful and such closing is voidable at the option of the purchaser for a period of 1 year after the expiration of the cancellation period. However, nothing in this section precludes the execution of documents in advance of closing for delivery after expiration of the cancellation period.

(2) Any notice of cancellation shall be considered given on the date postmarked if mailed, or when transmitted from the place of origin if telegraphed, so long as the notice is actually received by the developer or escrow agent. If given by means of a writing transmitted other than by mail or telegraph, the notice of cancellation shall be considered given at the time of delivery at the place of business of the developer.

(3) In the event of a timely preclosing cancellation, the developer shall honor the right of any purchaser to cancel the contract which granted the timeshare purchaser rights in and to the plan. Upon such cancellation, the developer shall refund to the purchaser the total amount of all payments made by the purchaser under the contract, reduced by the proportion of any contract benefits the purchaser has actually received under the contract prior to the effective date of the cancellation, as required by s. 721.06. Such refund shall be made within 20 days of demand therefor by the purchaser or within 5 days after receipt of funds from the purchaser's cleared check, whichever is later.

History.--s. 1, ch. 81-172; s. 9, ch. 83-264; s. 65, ch. 87-226; s. 9, ch. 95-274; s. 896, ch. 97-102; s. 16, ch. 2000-302.

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

Mungy:

I don't mean this in a personally critical way, but had you done that already, googled the FL timeshare law to see what is says?