| Universal Vacation Club |
| Universal Vacation Club Too all buyers beware.. Here is the crap I went through in 14 years of being a member of UVC San Diego, , California |
| 16th of Jun, 2011 by User648910 |
Jeanne K. Nushy September 26 1994
President UVC
750 Second Street STE 100.
Encinitas CA 92024 RE: VDM #6282A VDP #12199A
Delinquent Maintenance Fees Dear Jeanne Nushy After my talk I have had with Shannon Horton on the phone September 23,1994, I decided to pay the delinquent maintenance fees, under condition that the problems listed below are addressed and resolved, so I can enjoy my vacations again with no problems. If they are not taken care of though, I will document all incidents and take the needed action as need be. I have read many L.A.Times articles in the travel section where VDP has advertised packages since May, 1993. VDP was offering a special including airfare and transfers for $359.00, and 7 nights accommodations. The people that LEASE there now have gotten the short end of the stick. And the club paper says members have more flexibility, that's an understatement. Some of these people taking the specials get units NOT in the hotel section, but units in the buildings with the best views of Banderas Bay and the pool area. Plus I put VDM #6282 up for resale on 02/08/89, and paid a $10.00 listing fee, which the club failed to list in the News between Amigos. I have also paid a total of $600.00 in maintenance fees in 1989, when the club decided to change its fiscal year from June to May, to Dec. to Nov. I also supposedly received a $60.00 adjustment in 1989 for having to stay in a hotel studio for 3 days instead of my large studio in the VDP.
If Graziano will not accept this, and tell me like he did in 1989 "That he does not want my kind in his resort", then that is fine, He can buy back the units from me, and I'll enjoy stress free vacations like the one I just returned from in Florida. August 27, 1988
The first time at VDM I went on a bonus week I nearly got ripped off by the desk clerk for $50.00, for I asked for a studio with 2 beds, because my brother was traveling with me. Thank goodness that you had Sandy Hirschenson working there at the time, or I would have been out of pocket $50.00. Sandy made sure that the desk clerk was fired too for this incident. For I paid the extra $50.00 with a a travellers check, and it was missing when an audit was done. I also did a favor for a liner named Karlas because she couldn't sell 4 weeks in the VDP. She offered to take me to breakfast, but when she lost some commission, because she did not get her price, she got angry with me, and told me not to tell potential buyers that I got a great bargain for I held out with the liners. Hey if these people can't do their jobs, then why are they working? George Triggs told me not to worry about it and thanked me for he still made $8000.00 instead of $12000.00. And Karlas never honored her part of the bargain. October 29, 1989
First use of VDP facilities I was placed in a hotel studio instead of the large studio I purchased on August 29, 1988. My brother also accompanied me on this trip. It was not until Wednesday November 1, that we were placed in a large studio, that I had originally paid for. On this trip I went to the presentation this year, and a liner told me all the units in BLDG 3 were hotel studios. I had to hunt down for 2 hours a person to explain to me why I was not placed in the large studio that I originally paid for. I completely have no respect for Graziano, for he made mine and a family from Pleasanton CA stay a living hell. They had a valid complaint and so did I. Both of our groups received hotel studios instead of what we paid for, and the couple purchased a 1 bedroom unit for 4 weeks use. October 28, 1990
No major problems this year, though I had to upgrade from a large studio to a 1 bedroom unit, for their were no large studios available on week 43, which was the week assigned to me in a floating contract. And I remember that this reservation was placed in April of 1990, which is 6 months in advance. The people at RECO told me that if I wanted to reserve this week, I would have to do it 1 year in advance. Which meant I had to place a reservation in October of 1989, to guarantee a reservation. Some people like me cannot make requests 1 year in advance, for some employers like mine do not allow this. So Jeanne is this your idea of FLEXIBILITY? October 13, 1991
I had a large studio in BLDG 5 of VDP. These units are in no way as nice as the units in BLDGs 1 & 2. First complaint they have a refrigerator that is so small, it is only compatable for a midget. Overall the studios in BLDGs 4,5, & 6, are substandard, compared to the studio units in BLDGs 1 & 2, in my opinion. Second complaint I have is the desk clerk tried giving me a hotel studio in BLDG 3 again, which I totally refused since I purchased a large studio. I also purchased a unit while BLDG-2 was under construction in 1988. If I had known that Graziano was going to take shortcuts in BLDGs 4,5 and 6 and put the small refrigerators in, I would have never purchased the unit to begin with. Like I said "I DESERVE TO RECEIVE WHAT I HAD PAID FOR, AND IF I DONT GET WHAT I PAID FOR THEN I DON'T PAY MAINTENANCE FEES." July 11, 1992
This year I had a unit in BLDG 5, one floor below the unit I had occupied 1 year earlier. When it rains the whole patio is flooded and it becomes totally useless to sit out there, for the water has no proper means of drainage. And the desk clerk tried giving me a hotel studio again need I say more. What irked me is that all of BLDGs 1 & 2 were closed for maintenance from July 11, through July 25, 1992. That's 2 weeks! In the bylaws it states that a unit may only be placed in 1 week maintenance for that year. I also have photos at my disposal to prove my point on this matter. July 18, 1992
First time in unit 205 of VDM since purchase in April 1988. When I saw the unit I was quite pleased, for the unit was more comfortable and not so sterile as the units in VDP. Plus I had a nice size refrigerator that could hold more than 6 bottles of beer. BUT when I saw the bathtub, I was angry for Graziano had the drain and faucet torn up, so they only now function as a shower. But I assumed it was only being repaired. In August 1988 the bathtub was fine and working now it does not, even though I had a different unit in VDM. I also checked with other members to see if my unit was an isolated case, but they have had their bathtubs tampered with. The member in unit 105 was one example. What I fail to see is the bylaws where the developer has any right to make alterations to the units, after they have been released to the club, and bought and PAID in full by members like myself. It took the vote of members to have TVs and microwaves in the units,so what right does Graziano have destroying the bathtubs without consent. And also the pool in the VDP was not available for the members from Wednesday through Saturday, due to pumps being out of order. So the majority of members and visitors ended packing the VDM pool area. Graziano should have taken care of this. They should also get some reputable greeters LIKE BETTY WHO MADE STAY in 1990, a very pleasurable experience. Most of the TIBURONES that work there are idiots, and are are only interested in getting you into the HARD SELL Presentation, to make themselves $20.00. Stacy told me that the BUENAVENTURA trip was good, and I gave her a deposit for the tour, and attended the HARD SELL. Another person whos name is Lucilla, told me the BUENAVENTURA was dry-docked, and I told Stacy I would never do business with her again. The boat that was substituted was a TRIMARAN. Any person that has been on one of those boats knows that sea sickness is very common on them. In fact I warned some people about it, and sure enough they got seasick. I also lost half my $25.00 deposit, because I chose not take the trip. Bob Kistner should fire people like Stacy, for they are going to hurt them in the long run, and keep people like Betty, who was working on the property in 1993. I was also told they were going to be off the property in 1991, so what happened? As far as I am concerned, Betty and her friend Edna, were the only 2 reputable people I really care to deal with. July 17, 1993
I just got in to Vallarta from Cancun and when I entered VDM #205 I noticed the bathtub was still in the condition of dis-repair as it was in 1992. I managed to take photos of the bathroom in 1992, and have enclosed photocopies of the damage. I wish I brought a camera this year, for Graziano had posted a sign in the VDP lobby stating that the hotel would not be responsible if people slipped and fell on the WET marble floor when Vallarta gets one of its heavy downpours. If Mr. Soverniego refuses to be responsible for his STUPIDITY of having an open lobby without doors, then it is his problem. Marble is very slippery even when the floors have just been mopped. The Beach Palace in Cancun has the same floors, but the owner had common sense and good judgment, to have doors for entrance to the pool or from outside to the lobby, so when it rains, water does not build up in the lobby area. Graziano complains about the way Vallarta Dept of Public works builds drainage in the streets, but fails to EXERCISE GOOD JUDGMENT in his own endeavours. Better yet Mr. Soverniego should go build himself a penthouse at the VDP in Cabo San Lucas and stay there, for I never plan to visit that city in Mexico. June 1, 1994
Oh goody! I just received THE NEWS BETWEEN AMIGOS in the mail here are my latest peaves. 800 NUMBERS to contact club, use to have them but since VRI came into our forum we lost that, for RECO doesn't handle reservations anymore, except bonus weeks. VRI's DATABASE does not keep records up to date very well. I contacted UVC 1 month before my 1993 reservation last year, for I still had not received my reservation for week 29. The person who took my change of address information, over the phone changed only one of my memberships #6282A, and failed to change #12199A, so I only received one maintenance assessment, instead of two. The solution is to query members by their names, and not by membership numbers. Numbers work good only in single accounts and not multiple accounts. Any Knowledgeable, competent computer person would do it my way. FLOATING WEEK RESERVATIONS Originally when I purchased these timeshares,
I could only make reservations 6 months in advance. Then in 1989 it was increased to 1 year. In the newsletter, in now states that reservations can be made 24 months in advance. Like I said in the paragraph dated October 28, 1990: "My employer will not allow that kind of scheduling" I feel that I should have an equal chance to secure a week I desire, and not have to put up not getting it, because people who are financially independent can. SELF SERVE ICE MACHINES I just got back from a excellent vacation in St. Petersburg Florida, where I stayed at the Days Inn Marina Beach Resort. If I wanted to get ice for drinks, I did not have to fight the idiot bartender to get a bucket of ice; for ice machines are present on the property, free of charge to the guests. I have always had this problem on the VDM and VDP properties,though. JACUZZI IN VDM POOL This worked the first time I used my bonus week in 1988, in 1993 it was out of order. Was Graziano trying to take shortcuts again so he could pocket more of the maintenance fees????? Sincerely
A former member P.S. Please either get an assistant that can spell correctly, or get a software package that checks spelling, like MS WORD 6.0 or WORD PERFECT 6.0. It will even correct EXCERCISE to EXERCISE. Which was mis-spelled on both notices. Sent: Sunday, September 03, 2000 9:25 AM
To: '[email protected]'
Subject: Complaints
To whom in the UVC or RCI Management this may concern, On August 31, 2000, I received a phone call from Ms. Shannon Horton (UVC manager of member services).
The call was regarding my complaint from the unit I received in Cabo with an extra amenity (Jacuzzi), that did not work.
Well I felt some hostility coming from this manager regarding "what I expected to gain from this" (Shannon's words). The fact is I never expected to gain anything other than making sure the unit #1720 was fixed, because whether or not I own in Cabo or Vallarta the maintenance fees are NOT reflected in separate accounts in the yearly audit. What I'm upset about is Ms. Horton's attitude on her comment, and thinks she needs to be counseled on her attitude. Let me put this in a little clearer perspective. In 1995 I upgraded my VDP unit from a large studio to one bedroom with premier membership privileges. Part of the sales pitch was that UVC was building a resort in Cancun. Before I signed any purchase agreement, I asked Mr. Kistner to give me something in writing. What he gave me, was a pamphlet titled the Vacation industry review for winter 1993. This is excerpt the comments made by Luz Maria Torres. Even as the Cabo San Lucas development gets underway. The Villa Group is already looking beyond its completion to the future of the partnership. " I think we will be in Cancun in the next 4 years," Torres says. "Although that will be harder to administer and take more resources to reduce the impact of distance, we would like to aim to Cancun to give a variety of locations to our members." They used this sales tactic once again on a couple of my friends in 1999. I told my friends "they were suckered". When I questioned Bob Kistner in 1996 about Cancun, the new decision was to build full ownership condos named La Estancia in Cabo, instead of Cancun. Well let me tell you. If you are an American citizen like I am, There is no full ownership of anything in Mexico 500 meters from the shoreline. because foreigners are not allowed to own property in the vicinity I just quoted. And I will not be taken as a sucker for a second time, once is enough. When the sales staff in Puerto Vallarta uses this lie to sell timeshares, it is setting itself up for a rude awakening. Let me tell you Publishers Clearinghouse has learned an expensive lesson from their deeds of intentional misrepresentation. Whether I choose to go that route or not, I intend on liquidating my membership in VDP. And I will keep the VDM until my lodging rights expire in 2011. I have also attached the complaint I just recently wrote, and the one from 1994 to refresh your memories. I don't complain allot, but I do complain when something is wrong. Sincerely To: Universal Vacation Club A California Corporation
Re: Maintenance Fees for VDP Membership #8120
November 27, 2000 To whom this may concern Due to the fact that nothing has been resolved in the matter of fixing an extra amenity (Jacuzzi in Unit 1720) at the resort in Cabo San Lucas, I have no other choice but to deduct the reserve amount of $43.75 from my Year 2001 maintenance fees due December 1, 2000. This is because Shannon Hortons attitude on what do I expect to gain from this complaint, and the fact that Im not entitled to complain about extra amenities, because the 1 bedroom unit I upgraded to, didnt have an extra amenity anyhow. Let us see now. Here is what I purchased back in July 1995. A 1 bedroom FLOATING (not fixed) week, which means I have a different room every time I visit either the resort (VDP) in Puerto Vallarta or Cabo San Lucas. There is no excuse for not having spare parts for the Jacuzzi, because I would have even complained if I received one of the one bedrooms in Vallarta, that have washers and dryers, if they were not operational. What about that Shannon? And I know there are a few units in Bldg-1 of VDP, which has those particular amenities, because friends Ive known since 1996 have stayed in one of the units. And like I said in my last letter, I was not able to verify whether or not the Jacuzzi in #3201 was working due to a power failure. Ill resend that letter, plus the one I emailed to RCI Management. (That I didnt get a reply to). You people are paid maintenance fees EVERY year, and are expected to keep the property up. Which brings to another point. My brother just got back from Villa Del Mar in Vallarta, and informed me that both MAIN pools in VDM and VDP were down from Friday 10/20 Sunday 10/22. The Villa Del Palmar pool was down till Thursday 10/26/2000. It seems you people are more interested in keeping the WINTER season people happy, than the SUMMER season people. If Im not allowed to use my membership #8120 VDP in 2001, because Im deducting the reserves of $43.75. I will initiate civil action the San Diego small claims courts, based upon Breech of Contract, and Intentional Misrepresentation. On the grounds that falsehoods the were printed in a magazine pamphlet dated Winter 1993, and these FALSE sales tactics are still be used in Puerto Vallarta today, whether or not UVC decides to build a resort in Cancun. I informed Bob Kistner in 1996 to stop that sales pitch, but obviously he continues to do it. I will ask the court for maximum award of $5000. I will also initiate a separate lawsuit if Im not allowed to use membership #6282 in Villa Del Mar in 2001, because I DO intend on paying all the REQUIRED fees for that membership. Sincerely Shannon,
Please forward this to your supervisor so that these issues are corrected. We arrived @ VDP- Cabo on 7/1/2000. We received room 1720. This room was a one bedroom had an extra amenity. One Jacuzzi on the patio. It did not work, and I had called the front desk to repair it along with the broken shower head in one of the bathrooms. The excuse I was given was "there was no spare parts for the jacuzzi to be fixed", and the unit in room 1719 didn't work either. I also found out from a child friend of my girlfriend's son that their unit in the 2 bedroom unit they were given, did work. Rogelio at the front desk tried to give us a different room,(#3201) but due to the power failure on Wednesday 7/5/2000, we were not able to verify if the jacuzzi unit did function. Room 3201 was also in a noisy area above the kitchen and the pool bar, so we declined to take it. This gets back to maintenance. We were happy with unit 1720, and did not like being given the runaround that the jacuzzi could not be fixed. Contrary to your belief, whether my unit is in Vallarta or not. I purchased a Premier Membership in 1995 which allows me use of both VDP PV and Cabo, and that my maintenance fees from both VDM and VDP are put in a general fund to take care of all 3 resorts (VDM, VDP-PV, and VDP-Cabo). I want these issues resolved, for I plan on taking up these issues with Mr. Bob Kistner at the next owners meeting. Bob and George Triggs have always satisfied my needs, when warranted. I don't need anymore of these "Graziano tactics" because that guy can have his Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta. In fact it seemed that with the lousy maid service we had in Cabo, that Mr. Sovernigo had never really left the premises. Like you said "VDP Puerto Vallarta is a well oiled machine". I would really like to see VDP - Cabo be a welled oiled machine like VDP PV. In closing I was pleased that Cabo had a breakfast buffet, and hope VDP PV had finally decided to offer that to the guests too. |
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