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3-4-2016 When I purchased into KAANAPALI Beach Club Resort (KBC), it was owns by Sunterra; later it was sold to Embassy and lastly to Diamond Resorts International. After Diamond Resorts International purchased the resort, the maintenance fees went up astronomically from year to year. Sometimes as much as 20% or more. My timeshares are in a trust and now I fear my nieces will be stuck with this albatross which they can ill afford much like myself. On December 24, 2013 I had my owners update. Brent Wilson, the sales agent, took me to a beautiful two bedroom on the 12th floor and told me about all the plans that Diamond Resorts International had in the works.  Such as moving the gym to the dining room; moving the towel shack to where the gym was and there are plans to make an extra large hot tub. They already have a hot tub. And I said, "Hey this doesn't need to be done did you run this by your owners?" The answer was no. They had already gone public and they were doing this to make money for their shareholders; we owners no longer matter. He went on to say they wanted to be equivalent to Marriott, Wyndham and resorts of the ilk. They also want to ask for the same money as those resorts. So, when I sat down to hear what the salesperson, Brent Wilson, had to say. He started by saying they wanted an extra $100,000 from me.  He gave me many reasons why I had to pay the $100,000.  He also mentioned that I purchased off the secondary market; that my 4 timeshares were at different times of the year and if I wanted to continue using them consecutively and whatever time of the year I wanted, I had to pay this $100,000. I was in shock and nearly cried. After he said Diamond Resorts International wanted $100,000 more from me, I replied back, "You want my retirement money; no way!"  Next thing I know the manager, Chris, comes over and he says I'll lock that $100,000 in for you for 18 months. Later, he comes back and says, "I couldn't lock it in.  Apparently, your sales person from last year locked it in for $56,000 and it expired a week ago. Would you sign this waiver so that I could lock the $100,000 in?" I looked at him and I said, "Excuse me do I have a neon light on my forehead that says stupid, no way!!!" So, under duress, I signed the $56,000 contract. I explained this was way more than a year's pay; I couldn't afford that too! On Christmas Eve day I got the screws put to me by Diamond Resorts International . So I went back to my room and I had a good cry. I then called a male friend and he told me tomorrow you go back and you get that contract! That night, Christmas Eve, I wrote a letter to Stephen Cloobeck which is below. And below that letter, Brent Wilson dictated to me yet another letter and had me send it to the regional manager. I sent both letters to Steven Cloobeck. So the next day, CHRISTMAS, I went down to the sales department to get the contract back and the lady I spoke to said, "Let me call the sales manager down". I said, "No don't! I don't like him! Don't call him down." The lady next to her called him down. This "so called manager", Chris, looks at me and says, "I would appreciate you not going around the resort and telling people I'm a crook!" And I looked at him and said, "That word is not in my vocabulary. But if you feel like a crook it's because you are a crook!" They never gave me my contract back. I was so depressed and upset I forgot it was Christmas and missed the Christmas buffet. The day after Christmas Brent Wilson comes down and says, "Why are you so upset what's the big deal you have time to cancel your contract. You have X amount of days to cancel."  I don't remember exactly what the amount of days he said but he was wrong and I corrected him.  I went on to say we are in the midst of holidays and I don't know if holidays are considered in the timing with which one has to cancel the contract so this was important to me to get this taken care of. So then Brent says to me, "Well how much can you afford?" So then I thought to myself, I better give him a good figure or they won't play ball with me. So I said, "How about $10,000?" He looked at me and said, "Well how about $11,900?" So UNDER DURESS I signed the $11,900 contract. I felt like I was cornered and there was no way out; I had to pay. Because I thought that if I didn't pay them I would have to use my 4 Hawaiian timeshares at 4 different times of the year and pay for 4 flights from Michigan to Maui and at that time the flights were $1,400 which also was cost prohibitive. Let me add this. When Brent asked what can you afford? I thought THIS IS A SCAM BUT I WAS ALONE AND AFRAID! I was right on the money; it was indeed a scam! The following year I heard he got "Salesman of the Year." But he got that award by lying and cheating owners like myself. Now I have so much time I cannot possibly use it and Diamond Resorts International will not allow you to rent your time to anyone other than friends & family. You can carry points over a year but eventually I will have accumulated so much time I will loose money. You see if I cannot use my timeshare or rent it to a friend or family member, I am plum out of luck! I loose my time and money. 😭 And if you wish to sell, you have to use all your time or when you sell, you loose the time which means you loose $$. SHAME ON YOU, DIAMOND RESORTS INTERNATIONAL FOR PLACING YOUR OWNERS IN A FINANCIAL CATCH 22!!! It seems that there must be something that can be filed with the State of Hawaii attorney general regarding these deceptive practices. WE SHOULD START A CLASS ACTION SUIT IN RESPONSE TO THESE OUTRAGEOUSLY CLIMBING MAINTENANCE FEES. I CAN NO LONGER AFFORD MY KBC TIMESHARES!!! I am indeed a VERY UNHAPPY CUSTOMER AND WANT TO SELL ASAP!!! ---------------------------------------------- Mr. Stephen Cloobeck, My owner's review at KBC started at 8:00AM and ended at 2:30PM on Christmas Eve 2013. I thought they were going to simply tell the platinum members of up-coming updates. The news I got left me with one of two choices. Forfeit my timeshares or use my retirement money to keep it and go back to work. You see, I return yearly in memory of my dearly departed father. My first year use at KBC, I was here for 1.5 days when my father drown. Needless to say, my vacation was cut short and I may add Mr. Gary Manos was a class act during what was one of the roughest times of my life. Now because KBC is nearly sold out, I would have had to come at the dates on my original deeds even though I had points (See below). That cost was prohibited because I live in Michigan and I would have to fly out 4x (Currently each flight is $1,400). It was that or face an assessment of tens of thousands for each timeshare because an assessment fee is coming to KBC soon. They plan on doing a lot of renovations in the future; the assessments were so humungous I could not wrap my mind around it!!! I am not a crier but I heard a crack, then brain fog sat in and lastly my emotions could not be contained and I turned away from my agent for a few minutes and cried. PTL, my sales agent from last year, Alex, put paperwork in for me to lock in a cost, prohibiting this from happening but the paperwork expired on 11/28/13. The gentleman, Brett, I spoke with today went to bat for me and spoke to his boss & the regional manager, Kirk, concerning my situation. He took with him the below note. In lieu of looking at possibly hundreds of thousands to keep my timeshares last year Alex locked in a much, much lower price and even though it was expired the price was honored. Another $46,000+ I had to pay to keep my 50,000 points and come any time per usual and in consecutive weeks. I felt extorted. (BTW, the regional manager, Kirk came to the table introduced himself and approved the cost that Alex locked in the previous year. PTL!) I am curious as o why they ask for first right of refusal for the timeshares on the secondary market if they turn around and penalize owners for purchasing on the secondary market. Had I known I was going to be Held hostage as such, I never would have purchased on the secondary market. ---------------------------------------------- Below is the other letter which I also sent to Stephen Cloobeck & the head of KBC: To whom it may concern, I find myself in quite the predicament. I was not a knowledgeable person concerning timeshares. Consequently, I purchased on the secondary market weeks and converted what I had to points and thereafter purchased more points to be a platinum member. I could schedule to go to Maui any time of year. I own weeks, 33 in unit 705 Aug 16; 21 unit 705 May 24; 37 unit 608 Sept 13 and 6 unit 915 Feb 8. I am retired and on a meager pittance. I am unable to pay for four flights, and assessments. I purchased here because of my rheumatoid & fibromyalgia. I wanted to be here in the winter months. Now as I write you, I am not only nervous but shaking to think I will loose what money I have saved for my retirement and have to go back to work. Is there any way you could accommodate me as if I purchased from the developer so that I could have the same opportunities as them? I am requesting to trade my weeks into the Hawaii Collection a purchase just like the owners that purchased from Suntana initially?