ComplaintsforAmerican Resorts International, Ltd.

• Initial Complaint

  06/04/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  The last straw was in September of 2023. I called to ask for some sort of way out and they LIED and tried to get me to sign another 10 year contract. Everyime I call to talk to Mr. ********** one of the sales people try to sell me more and treat me like I'm stupid. I literally ask for a cancellation and this company lies and tries to sell me more timeshare. It is unbelievable. Mr. ********* should hold his sales people accountable for their unethical behavior instead of protecting them under the ARI ********* I proved to them that they lied. I provided the contract they tried to get me to sign to buy more instead of cancellation and all they do is make weak excuses and AGAIN TREAT ME LIKE I'M STUPID saying that I just "didn't understand". The whole company should be brought to court for elder abuse with the way ********* talks to me. I still have the email from Mr. ********* trying to "explain" how stupid I was for not realizing what they were telling me.Hi ********, You were sent two contracts for review that you discussed with **************** as options.Two Contracts sent on September 6th, ******st contract is converting what you currently own to a 10 year option with the clause.2nd contract is transitioning from ********************************* to Grand Bear ********************** also with a 10 year term.I have CCd The Director of Member Benefits ***********************************.************** ************** He will be reaching out to you.We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. The documents werent sent for signatures but for review only as you requested **************** to do.

• Initial Complaint

  03/06/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  Initially, we were sold on the idea of owning a timeshare as a better way to take vacations, especially since we frequently visited my mother in *******. We were promised great accommodations and beautiful locations to spend our time together. They assured us it would be more convenient and cost-effective than booking hotels and car rentals.However, our experience has been far from what was promised. The sales presentation was extremely long and high-pressure. Despite being promised an award, we received nothing. We were close to walking out, but the pressure continued until the end.Despite being promised three weeks of vacation time, we only received one week and had to pay extra for things like a two-bedroom accommodation. It seems every time we attempted to use our timeshare, there were additional charges.Our health issues have further complicated matters. I was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and again in 2013, and have had ongoing treatments and surgeries. My husband was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2016 and later colon cancer. Our illnesses have prevented us from taking any vacations.We reached out to *** to inform them of our situation and request a cancellation of our timeshare. However, their response was extremely insensitive. They told us that if anything happened to us, per our contract, our children would take over the timeshare. This response was not only rude but also distressing.In light of our experiences, we are requesting written communication regarding how we can cancel this agreement. We regret our decision to purchase a timeshare and do not recommend it to anyone. The company's tactics of luring and lying to people are deeply troubling.It has become a financial burden that we are paying every month, with prices continuously increasing. At times when money was tight due to putting our children through school, the payments have been especially difficult.I look forward to hearing from you about resolving this matter.

  Business response

  03/07/2024

  Dear Customer Relations Advocate:                                                             
  
  This email is in response to concerns brought to your attention by ***********************. First and foremost, we deeply regret that ************** has formed such a negative opinion of American Resorts International. However, it does not change the fact that we are not currently positioned to handle re-sales and cannot simply accept relinquishments from our members at their convenience. I can assure you that the concept of timeshare and ownership was highly promoted during our sales presentation, as most of our members would not have purchased otherwise.

  We have presented an option to change the terms of her membership.The best way to come to a mutual agreement is for ************* to continue the conversation with our team directly.  We are available by phone or email and look forward to speaking with her. 
  

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************
  Director of Member Relations
  

  
  

  Customer response

  03/15/2024

   
  Complaint: 21393193
  
  I am rejecting this response because: 

  Before *** replied to this message which you sent us., he told me in our phone conversations that he would take care of this ., 

  and that he wanted his customers (me and my husband) to be happy.  

  
  

  He also said he was going to take this to the board.,  Other than that we have not hear from him (***). 

  
  

  We have not heard from **** please do not close this case.,

  
  

  our note from *** that was sent to you was untrue .. a lot has changed - where he says nothing has changed.  Prices still keep going up and they know about  our  cancer difficulties we cannot travel. 

  
  

  Please reply so I know you got this message ,.

  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

• Initial Complaint

  01/23/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I write this complaint with a sense of urgency to sever ties with American Resort International. My pleas have fallen on deaf ears, and it is time for action.Repeatedly, I have expressed my desire to be released from the timeshare agreement. I have discussed this matter extensively with a representative named *****, yet my pleas have been dismissed. Instead of understanding my predicament and respecting my wishes, American Resort International keeps pushing for a rewritten contract that still retains me in the timeshare for another agonizing ten years.This suggested solution to release is unacceptable. The response was so disheartening. I requested to speak to a superior, but I was met with silence and indifference. American Resort International has left me feeling unheard.It is imperative that this complaint serves as a warning to others. No one should be roped into this timeshare fiasco with American Resort International. The company's actions have demonstrated a complete lack of empathy, transparency, and customer care. They prey on vulnerable individuals and hold them captive, ignoring their cries for freedom.The owner's voice must be heard. Let this complaint serve as a catalyst for change within American Resort International.

  Business response

  02/06/2024

  This letter is in response to concerns brought to your attention by ******************** regarding a purchase agreement initiated with American Resorts International.  
  
  First and foremost, we deeply regret that ******************** has formed such a negative opinion of American Resorts International. However, it does not change the fact that we are not currently positioned to handle re-sales and cannot simply accept relinquishments from our members at their convenience.

  
  However, in the interest of maintaining good relations, we are very sensitive to our members who may be physically unable to travel, or financially unable to maintain their interest in the program.  If Ms. ************** could forward any support regarding the problems she is incurring concerning her family's ability to travel or ability to pay, we would be happy to review this information to discuss how to transfer her usage rights or determine whether or not she is qualified for a specific release program we have created. According to our records, we have not hear from ******************** since 2016.  If ******************** is interested in having this discussion, she may contact us at our corporate office at ***********************, and we will be happy to provide her with the details.
  
  Sincerely,
  **********************
  Director of Member Relations
  

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  06/20/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Over the past 30 years, this timeshare has become an unbearable financial, physical, and emotional burden for us. Despite paying off the mortgage and continually increasing maintenance fees, we have hardly been able to use the timeshare. We have told American Resort International all this, but they do not listen or care. As retirees facing multiple health challenges, our priorities have shifted to focus on our health, basic needs, and mounting medical bills. ****** is in worse condition than me, suffering from dementia, memory loss, essential tremors, and advanced prostate cancer. He is unable to walk without assistance. I am his sole caregiver, which is difficult considering my own medical limitations. We cannot afford outside assistance, making the continued financial burden of this timeshare untenable. Our days are filled with doctor's ************* leaving no room for vacations. We feel American Resorts International misled and deceived us by using their sales tactics since our initial purchase in ****. In ****, after paying off our first purchase, we were persuaded into buying an upgrade under the guise of improved vacation quality and availability. The primary selling point was the opportunity to vacation in *******, which we have never been able to do. Despite promises of flexibility in location and timing, our experience has not aligned with these assurances. Our attempts to schedule vacations have been unsuccessful, and the one time our daughter used the timeshare a decade ago, it was not worth the money we had spent. After telling all of this to American Resort International, they still have not understood our situation and offered us a reasonable solution. Instead, they want to further harm us by asking us to pay them $4000, which we do not have, to be released from this agreement. Why must they keep taking our money? They have provided us with nothing that was promised but expect us to continue to pay out the nose for this timeshare.

  Business response

  07/02/2023

  This letter is in response to the concerns brought to your attention by ****** This letter is in response to the concerns brought to your attention by ************************************
  
  First and foremost, we deeply regret that ************************** has formed such a negative opinion of American Resorts Intl.  However, it does not change the fact that we are not currently positioned to handle re-sales, and cannot simply accept relinquishments from our members at their convenience. I can assure you that the concept of timeshare and ownership was highly promoted during our sales presentation, as most of our members would not have purchased otherwise.
  
  However, in the interest of maintaining good relations, we are very sensitive to our members who may be physically unable to travel, or financially unable to maintain their interest in the program.  If ************************** could forward any support regarding the problems she is incurring concerning her family's ability to travel or ability to pay, we would be happy to review this information to discuss how to transfer his usage rights or determine whether or not she is qualified for a specific release program we have created. If ************************** is interested in having such a discussion, she may contact me directly at our corporate office at **************, and we will be happy to provide her the details.
  
  Sincerely,
   *******************************
  Director of Member Relations

  Customer response

  07/11/2023

   
  Complaint: 20210142
  
  I am rejecting this response.

  Thank you for your response. However, I must express my deep disappointment at the dismissive tone and lack of understanding conveyed in your message. Your assertion that members cannot relinquish their timeshares "at their convenience" seems to overlook the fact that we are not discussing a matter of convenience, but a matter of necessity. The burden that this timeshare has become is not a choice we have made, but a situation we find ourselves in due to unforeseen health and financial circumstances. It appears that American Resorts International is more interested in promoting its sales pitch than addressing the genuine concerns of its existing members. The commitment we made was based on the information provided to us, and it now seems we were misled.

  While I appreciate your offer to review our situation, it is disconcerting that we are being asked to prove our inability to travel or pay. We have already communicated our circumstances to your company multiple times without a satisfactory resolution. I will be contacting your office as you suggested, in the hope that we can finally reach a resolution that is both fair and respectful. But I would like to reiterate that our expectation is for American Resorts International to take responsibility for the situation, and not just pass the burden back onto us.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************************

  Business response

  07/24/2023

  We appreciate Ms. ************ feedback.
  
  As previously mentioned, we are not currently positioned to handle re-sales, and cannot simply accept relinquishments from our members at their convenience. The best way to come to a mutual agreement is for ************************** to continue the conversation with our team directly.  We are available by phone or email and look forward to speaking with her. 

  
  Sincerely, 
  Angelo 

  Customer response

  07/28/2023

   
  Complaint: 20210142
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Dear ******,
  
  I find it disheartening that there seems to be no feasible solution for those of us who, due to unforeseen circumstances, find ourselves needing to relinquish our memberships. I will continue to follow up with your team however their response is the same every time we communicate.
  
  The suggestion to 'continue the conversation' implies that there may be room for negotiation or resolution, but if the company's stance is as you've stated - that you're not positioned to handle re-sales or accept relinquishments - then it feels like we are merely going in circles.
  
  I urge you to reconsider your policies and perhaps develop a better system to accommodate such situations. I look forward to a more positive and productive resolution to this matter.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************************

• Initial Complaint

  06/12/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  During the one-and-a-half-hour presentation, *** representatives repeatedly touted the benefits of their travel club, assuring us that it was a different type of program and could be canceled at any time. We were shown a variety of beautiful destinations and locations that we could visit with this travel club, and were led to believe that it was an incredibly flexible program that would allow us to travel with ease. Unfortunately, after we purchased a membership, we discovered that the program was far more restrictive than we had been led to believe. It is difficult for us to use the program, and after reassessing our travel goals, we are no longer interested in continuing with this membership. We have attempted to cancel our ownership, but *** has been uncooperative. We recently spoke with *******************************, who suggested that we pay an additional $4000 to sign another contract that would extend the end date by another 10 years - which is ridiculous. He then tried to convince us to change our contract where we would have access to a resort in ********, this is not what we want either. We are getting ready to retire and do not want to spend our fixed income on something that we are not using. We want this canceled and shouldnt have to pay a dime more to get it done.

  Business response

  06/15/2023

  Dear Customer Relations Advocate:                                     
  
  This letter is in response to concerns brought to your attention by ****************** regarding a purchase agreement initiated with American Resorts Intl.    
  
  First and foremost, we deeply regret that ****************** has formed such a negative opinion of American Resorts International.  However, it does not change the fact that we are not currently positioned to handle re-sales, and cannot simply accept relinquishments from our members at their convenience.
  
  In the interest of maintaining good relations, we are very sensitive to our members who may be physically unable to travel, or financially unable to maintain their interest in the program.  If ****************** could forward any support regarding the problems she is incurring concerning her family's ability to travel or ability to pay, we would be happy to review this information to discuss how to transfer her usage rights or determine whether or not she is qualified for a specific release program we have created.
  
  If ****************** is interested in having such a discussion, she may contact us at our corporate office at ***********************, and we will be happy to provide her the details.

  
  *******************************
  Director of Member Relations

• Initial Complaint

  06/12/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am incredibly dissatisfied with my experience with American Resort International. The sales presentation promised us a gift such as a TV or free cruise, but resulted in an extremely high-pressure experience that kept us there for 2-4 hours. Despite our attempts to leave, we were repeatedly asked to stay and talk to one more person. The salespeople kept reducing the price and pressuring us to sign right then and there, claiming that we wouldn't be able to buy if we didn't. They told us we could exchange properties and book vacations easily, but these were all lies. They sold us on a Prime Season package, promising we could book the times we wanted, but every time we called, we were not able to book the vacation we wanted. The maintenance fees that were promised not to increase have gone up, and at least two of the resorts they promised we could access are no longer available. Whenever I try to use the timeshare, they tell me to upgrade my package, and the dates and locations are never available. The last time we used the timeshare, we were forced to sit through another timeshare presentation, which was very stressful and ruined our vacation. American Resort International refuses to live up to their promises and make the timeshare accessible to us. I feel like we were manipulated and lied to throughout this entire experience, and it's frustrating to pay for something that we can't even use. Even worse, we were sold a "good investment," but I can't even sell the timeshare for a *****, let alone donate it to a charity. I spoke with *****, one of the board members at the resort. His only option for me was to pay even more money to switch to a 10 year contract. Just seems like another way for them to try and make more money off of me. Overall, my experience with American Resort International has been incredibly frustrating and disappointing. I want them to cancel my account in full!

  Business response

  06/15/2023

  Dear Customer Relations Advocate:                                     
  
  This letter is in response to concerns brought to your attention by **************** regarding a purchase agreement initiated with American Resorts Intl.    
  
  First and foremost, we deeply regret that **************** has formed such a negative opinion of American Resorts International.  However, it does not change the fact that we are not currently positioned to handle re-sales, and cannot simply accept relinquishments from our members at their convenience.
  

  In the interest of maintaining good relations, we are very sensitive to our members who may be physically unable to travel, or financially unable to maintain their interest in the program. If **************** could forward any support regarding the problems he is incurring concerning his family's ability to travel or ability to pay, we would be happy to review this information to discuss how to transfer his usage rights or determine whether or not he is qualified for a specific release program we have created.
  
  If **************** is interested in having such a discussion, he may contact us at our corporate office at ***********************, and we will be happy to provide him the details.

  *******************************
  Director of Member Relations

  Customer response

  06/23/2023

   
  Complaint: 20174064
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  We already know about the specific release program. That's what ***** presented to us. It's not a release program at all. It's a new contract that costs $4000 and keeps us locked in for another 10 years. That includes yearly maintenance fees we would still be responsible for. This is unreasonable and unacceptable.
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

  Business response

  06/23/2023

  We appreciate Mr. ******* feedback.

  
  As previously mentioned, we are not currently positioned to handle re-sales, and cannot simply accept relinquishments from our members at their convenience. 
  
  The best way to come to a mutual agreement is for **************** to continue the conversation with our team directly.  We are available by phone or email and loo forward to speaking with him.

  
  Sincerely, 
  *******************************

  Customer response

  06/28/2023

   
  Complaint: 20174064
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  The conversations I've had with your team directly have gotten me nowhere. Unless the agreement is to cancel our ownership at no cost to us, we won't come to a mutual agreement. In no way does it seem right or ethical to ask for an additional $4000 just to guarantee you can hold us hostage for another 10 years. This type of agreement is only beneficial to your company, and not the owners. What do you all even need the $4000 for? What specifically would that go towards other than new paperwork? I can only assume it's just to add more money in your pockets to continue the cycle of scamming people into purchasing an ownership that is essentially worthless.
  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

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