Complaint Review: Diamond Resort International Sampler Program - Orlando Florida

We always knew that time share sales were high pressure events. But we didn't expect lies and fraud when we agreed to sit through this sales pitch. We were conned into buying the DRI Sampler program. Basically you get a certain number of points for a fixed price without a long term committment or maintenance fees. In our case it was 20,000 points for $3995. Not knowing what a "point" was worth, we kept pushing for an explanation. We were told we could get a 3 bedroom unit during Christmas week for 5500 points. That is a good deal, about the same as what we paid on ebay. We were staying at the same resort in a 3 bedroom unit during Christmas and really liked the place. We worked out that we could come there three times and still have points left over. So we agreed. We signed the contract, but there was no mention about the value of the points, or about the 5500 points for the 3 bedroom unit. They also gave us a free Android tablet (for which they asked us to sign a $75 value statement), and a bottle of sparkling wine. That evening I had a bad feeling about the worth of "points", so we went back the next morning and spoke to the same sales guy. We asked just for our peace of mind that we would like to book a 3 bedroom unit for the following year's Christmas week for 5500 points as he had promised. He said it takes two weeks for our names to be active in the system. But he repeatedly confirmed that their 3 bedroom units always go for 5500 points during peak season, so there is nothing to worry. He said the documents we will receive in the mail will have his name, picture and contact information so we can always call him if we have any problems.

After arriving home from our vacation, I booted up the free tablet I received. In it there was a document titled "The Sampler Directory". It lists all the resorts where we can use points, and what it will buy. The three bedroom unit he told us was 5500 points is actually listed for 16,000 points. In other words, it was three times more expensive than what he told us. He also told us that our points will never expire. But we found that they actually expire in 24 months. A bunch of other things he told also turned out to be lies. We tried to call him, but he never returned the call. We only knew his first name, so he was hard to track down. 

Luckily, we found a clause in the contract that said we can cancel without penalty within 10 calendar days, so we are scrambling to find a lawyer who will draft a cancellation request to get our money back because we are still within the 10 day period.

I am surprised that their tactics are legal in this day and age. I doubt it is legal, but it would take a class action law suit. Here are the tactics they used to con us. 

(1) The reason it takes 2 weeks to get your name in the system is to stall you beyond the 10-day cancellation period. My guess is that the 10-day cancellation period is required by Florida state law. So they will do everything possible to withhold information for 10 days to prevent you from discovering their fraud during the cancellation period.

(2) Everything they told us that was not written in the final contract were bold face lies. The only way to prove this is by recording the conversation, which unfortunately is illegal in Florida without both parties' consent. I doubt any of these crooks would agree to being recorded. 

(3) Even during contract signing, they talk to you to distract you from reading it carefully.

(4) They focus on minor details and make a big fuss about it. For example, one of the clauses in the contract was about the penalty if you cancel your reservation within 7 days.  It was a small and reasonable penalty. But they focus on this to pretend they are being so diligent and honest, but their real intent is to draw your attention away from other more important points. 

(5) The reason they give you the tablet is so that they can put the documents in it and claim they were being open and honest. If they handed you a printed book, it would be easy to look things up and challenge their claims. But they are hoping that the buyers won't look at the tablets until the 10 days have passed.