Report Abuse

My husband and I were duped into a TS by Great Destinations. I was grieving and still am after the sudden loss of my Mom due to cancer, and also I was under a lot of medication for my anxiety/panic disorder and PTSD. We were lured to their presentation location, 70 miles away, because we had won a free vacation package. Then we get roped into sitting through a presentation showing us castles in England and the like, and that this was not a "normal timeshare, but rather a timeshare hybrid". I was crying at the presentation on and off as I have been since my Mom passed. I've been heavily grieving, and very depressed. So they saw all that going on. I kept having to walk out. Just to be told I had to come on back in. (Shoulda grabbed my husband and said we are leaving NOW!) Of course instead, I took my medicine and mellowed out to become, in my opinion, more pliable. We weren't shown what we were actually getting, because "it was all about the points system and that we won't want to stay at the location, we're going to want to trade in our week for points", but when it really comes down to it I now realize we just got a room that costs the same per night as our yearly maintenance fees are, so there's no advantage of being a "TS owner". I didn't realize any of this until we got sent to collections for the fees because we were told "we wouldn't have to pay them until we used it". We got sent to collections after I had been in the ER 3 separate times in August of this year, and had to have a procedure to remove pre-cancerous polyps. My liver is enlarged, I have mental health conditions, and stomach as well as personal issues I won't go into. I have also lost 65 pounds in a short amount of time and we are very worried about my health. I also have a laundry list of back problems and this "Inn" is by the beach which I can't even enjoy in my condition. My husband thought he was doing something nice for our family. At least that's what they had him convinced that he was doing. I think he thought that maybe it would help me to have a vacation to look forward to, not realizing what he was actually getting into or that my health was going to take a decline. It's been a very tough 4 years since my Mom passed and we also had another family member pass due to negligence from a dr last Nov. I'm not sure if there is any recourse for us? I have read not to hire any lawyers who charge an upfront fee. However, even the lawyer that I contacted for the dr negligence wanted a retainer. I have tried to do a deed back and they keep giving me the run around and I get verbal yes's, but nothing in writing and if we are going to pay off the mortgage (yes my husband mortgaged the dang thing, not realizing what he was really getting into) and the past due fees for something we have never ever used and cannot use, that they will for sure do the deed back. I had been told to write a letter to the management co of San Clemente Inn explaining the reason why we cannot use this back in June, so I did that and my husband kept calling for updates and there were none yet. Always the same thing but that it was noted in our account. So, do we just pay it off, and hope they do the deedback? I also have a friend that is interested in taking it because he has a large family and he could make it work for him. We don't have a large family at all. So, we'd be taking a huge financial loss, but it would be to save my health, because this is making my conditions worse from all the stress it is creating. Or do we find a reputable lawyer, and fight this due to fraud, deception, and that I was mentally impaired and or incapacitated at the time of sale? Like I said, this is causing me a huge amount of stress and anxiety to the point that it is interfering with my health. My last 3 therapy visits were me just crying over this. I've already fainted a few times (once on the phone with Great Destinations after being berated) and have been crying about this daily. It's also causing a strain on my relationship with my husband and our family in general as well. I just don't know what to do, but I know there a lot of knowledgeable people on this forum and I'm so glad I found it. Maybe someone can point me in the right direction. We need to get this handled ASAP so I can begin to address ALL my health issues and concerns and get our lives back. I appreciate any help or ideas and I thank you in advance. Sincerely, Stephanie