Royal Holiday
Complaint 85816 Details

While on vacation in Dominican Republic with my husband, we got approached by a gentlemen offering a tour of the resort. He led us upstairs for a "not a timeshare" timeshare presentation instead of the so-called tour we were expecting. The one-hour presentation turned into 4 hours. We were served several alcoholic beverages which is against the law, and they got us to sign in the contract that we weren't served alcoholic beverages. We'd sign anything after all the drinks we were given! They started off at a really high price for timeshare credits where you can use at any of their resorts around the world rather than buying into one specific location. They worked out all kinds of packages and numbers based on what we thought we could afford. I asked to keep the piece of paper they made notes on and they refused to give it to me, promising that all information would be in the contract (which of course it wasn't). They said for the package we're buying we get 5000 credits a year which is enough to go away for one week every year during March Break. We of course didn't get the catalogue of resorts until after signing and leaving the office, only to realized we can't go anywhere with the number of credits we purchased! Most week trips cost 30,000 credits!!!! We went back the very next day and wanted to cancel. They first of all did not say or follow the law that you have 5 days to cancel your contract, and second of all they told us we had to try it out first before deciding we weren't satisfied. SO we were stuck. From the beginning of the presentation they used high pressure sales tactics. You can only get this deal today, we had 3 different sales reps talk to us. When I went to my room to get my credit card they escorted us! They promised us and showed us the limo that will transfer Royal HOliday members to and from the airport (when I called to book a holiday after returning to Canada I asked about the limo and on the phone they said we take a shuttle bus and that I was mis-informed). We were promised all-inclusive food/drink cost of $35 per person per day, frozen for 5 years. WHen I called to book they told me $80 and again told me I was "misinformed" when I quoted the sales rep at $35. During the sales presentation they took us by golf cart to another resort and showed us a spectacular room with jacuzzi tub, HUGE shower, living room, free safe, free internet, flat screen tv, etc. and told us this is the minimum expectations for rooms wherever we stay as RH members and if anything the rooms will be BETTER. When I called to book I double checked there would be a living room, jacuzzi, safe, etc. and on the phone they said, no you get a regular room but not to worry because all of the rooms are nice in that particular resort. LIES! Plus, we were never even able to get a room when we wanted one, we were always told everything is booked. We paid $1500 to sign up in Dominican. I just paid another $5000 to pay off my membership to avoid paying 15% interest. Now they want to charge me an annual fee of $400 (which will most likely go up every year). I'm stuck in this 30 year contract and out all kinds of money!! I complained to the Better Business BUreau and got nowhere. They will NOT let me cancel my contract no matter what.