Dream Travel Condos anyone?

Yes, I would like to know the answer to that as well. Marilyn was so quick to defend Suitelife, but where are you now?? And how about Anthony?? Why do you refuse to answer? Typical Suitelife. Because you know what we say is true. Lets see if what you say on your website is true:

"For any members that would like to see actual invoices and payments for the above expenses, you are welcome to come to the office and we will be happy to show you. PLEASE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT .... as you can appreciate the reservation department is extremely busy with all that’s going on."

Let see how many appointments will be made...if they return messages.

loub65 wrote:

One more thing. Where is the talkative AnthonyA now? He seemed to have a lot to say on here, until his little "oops" about Suitelife "following suit" and " moving on to greener pastures". (I love how they try and explain the greener pastures comment - everyone knows it means leaving for a better job) He hides behind Marilyn, and Rosy and Andrew. He suddenly has nothing more to say.

Maybe he's already in Mexico with the "Special Assessment" money he has already received...

The FTC will investigate anyone doing business in the US no matter where the company is located. They have a special unit that deals with timeshare fraud. They will look into a case if enough people file complaints.

Well my first thought is that a new thread should be created entitled "Suitelife Vacations Club, Anyone?" But while here, there is a load to respond to with respect to Marilyn's hasty retort to my post. Firstly, there is more than just a handful of Suitelife members that are not satisfied with the club. Just check the Better Business Bureau, or reviews on Yelp.ca. There are many other people, who have not been suckered by Suitelife's impressive sales pitches and pressure tactics, that are not happy with Suitelife either. This may be evidenced by the CRTC's $20,000 fine levied against Suitelife last year following consumer complaints about the club's predatory telemarketing tactics.

Surely the $20,000 fine was unbudgeted. Has this amount also been added to the special assessment fee demanded of all the members? Perhaps Suitelife should offer the members proof that the $20,000 came out of Mr. Anthony's pocket instead of being absorbed by the members.

I suspect that the majority of Suitelife Club members are a pretty quiet bunch. As with most clubs (like the gym for instance), there will be some members that use the service a lot, and some members completely dissatisfied and very vocal about it, and the great majority that are rather apathetic about it. I've come across a few Suitelife members in my work like and had frank conversations with them about the club. I have a well founded feeling that a lot of people that signed on with the club end up with serious buyers remorse (understandable given the high cost), don't utilize the service enough to ever pay for the initial cost, and consequently pay more instead of less overall for their vacations. In fact, unless someone proves me wrong, I am saying that a lot of Suitelife Club members do not speak up against the club because they are embarrassed and feel like they've been swindled.

I just don't understand how Suitelife Vacations staff, at this point in time, are actually defending Ms. Tonya Williams in an online forum? Yes, I took the time to read the thread, and others, and see that she has screwed many people out of money and accommodations. This includes 3000 Suitelife members as Suitelife has seen fit to kiss $600,000 of member money away. I stand by my SHADY comment. All this cash, no insurance, no guarantee of delivery, is shady all around.

What difference does talking directly to you make? I emailed a series of questions to the club right after the Assessment Fee demands came out, and received no response whatsoever.

It's obvious you are too cheap to insure your members against loss, but for $9,000, don't you think that it might benefit you to obtain better quality legal counsel?

And with respect to the "I'm Italian" comment, the full excuse was "I'm Italian, that's just how we talk." This was minutes after my wife phoned me at work upset, saying that the Suitelife concierge was abrupt and rude to her when she was asking questions about accommodations. I even repeated Suitelife staff's excuse for talking that way to her, but she refused to ever call back and probably never will. That was our first contact ever with the Club seeking accommodations (which it ended up the Club was unable to offer us any accommodation where we wanted to go, only a resort several 100 km away).

And your explanation of the moving on to "greener pastures" comment is golden. At first glance you must be joking. Nice job cutting and pasting a google search of the term and putting it in a completely different context.

Oh, and Marilyn, if you are here, please tell me how I may not be abiding by the rules of your contract? Please enlighten me...

Agree with steven1251. I was also stupid enough to sign with Suitelife 7 years ago (they were Resort Villas at the time). Only was able to use it once as they never had anything where I needed or when I needed even when called few month in advance and even for the places where they claimed to have their own units. The one time when I did book through them on Hawaii, I was charged the additional $195 "exchange fee" and the unit was well below those "5 star quality standards" that they promised when they got me to sign. So I do feel I was scammed, especially considering constantly raising "Annual Service Fee" and Unit costs. So to steven1251's note regarding where that $20000 fine was covered from - I think you know the answer - Annual Service Fee increase increase by $10 bucks for 3000 members conveniently covers that fine, even with profit. And yes - this scam does deserve a new thread.

Also correct me if i am wrong, again these numbers?? Let's see

Dream Travel Bankruptcy - $582,030 (WHY would you advance pay someone that kind of money is beyond me) Cost to fix weeks gone bad to date - $200,000 Cost to fix future weeks* - $225,000 Reserve fund replenishment - $150,000 - lets look at this. You had $150,000 in reserves that we need to "replenish", so that means you used it, correct? So. because the 582,000 is already gone, according to you, to prepaid weeks, then lets move on to "fix the weeks". You say it cost you $225,000. Well, now you had $150,000 in reserves, to cover this, so shouldn't the "fix weeks" be only $75,000? But in YOUR version, we still need to "pay" the full $225,000 PLUS an extra $150,000 to recover your "reserves" (again, which i re-instate, that you did NOT HAVE INSURANCE FOR) So, what did your Reserved Fund pay for?

Explain to me, in case I am missing something here, why you are asking for an extra $150,000 from your members??? Just thinking out loud....

Oh, yes, I'd also to know how you "increase" your yearly maintenance fees. As an example, from 2013/14, it went from $99 to $119. As per our contract of not being able to go up more then 5%, to me that would be an extra $4.95, not $20. Same with this year. $119 to $129....again, only $5.95, but an extra $10. So, does that mean, if you have 3000 members, that you owe US a total of $57,3000.00 between us in over payments? And thats just the 2 current years. And I am just talking those with "Suitelife" not Restort Villa, as you used to be called...i can't believe you charge them $264 in 2014 and then $295.00! Which again is more then 5% So please, if I am wrong with my calculations PLEASE let me know, others wise us members will be expecting a cheque in the mail. Which also means another breach in your contract.

If i am wrong, you would think you would be fast to defend yourself

Again, just thinking out loud....

Where is the proof of this 3000 member number? When I joined Resort Villas in 2007 I'm sure the membership was around 10200. So what happened to 7200 members as there is no escape from membership? That 3000 member number is what caught my attention.

Anyone sending them more money needs to have their head examined. This sounds like a Ponzi scheme to me. They take money from people and shuffle it around through different companies. They could all be in collusion and how would anybody know. Let them sue you for future payments. Then they would have to open their books for a judge to review their finances which might result in a criminal investigation. Don't be foolish and throw good money after bad.

Oh, jackc233, apparently according to their website, you can make an appointment and go in to see these documents. I am still waiting to confirm my appointment. Maybe you should try, and see if they can book you :) I am sure Marilyn would gladly help you.

Maybe those 7200 paid the $1500 fee to get out of their contracts....yep, you need to pay them to get out of it....its called a "Transfer Fee", so no matter what, you STILL have to give them money!

jackc233 wrote:

Where is the proof of this 3000 member number? When I joined Resort Villas in 2007 I'm sure the membership was around 10200. So what happened to 7200 members as there is no escape from membership? That 3000 member number is what caught my attention.

Just because someone shows you documents doesn't mean they are real. Get copies and have them verified and make them prove their claims. If they refuse to give you copies it would indicate fraud to me and refer them to the attorney general for criminal investigation. Bernie Madoff showed his clients false statements.

Good call donp!

donp196 wrote:

Just because someone shows you documents doesn't mean they are real. Get copies and have them verified and make them prove their claims. If they refuse to give you copies it would indicate fraud to me and refer them to the attorney general for criminal investigation. Bernie Madoff showed his clients false statements.

Still not a word from the once talkative Mr. Anthony. What hole has he crawled into??? Still no answer to my request for a meeting of all members, where Suitelife can provide full disclosure, presenting notarized documents prepared by an independent accountant. If they want to be open and "transparent", what are they waiting for? Why insist on individual meetings (as they say on their web page), given that they claim they are "very busy" at this time? Is it because one-on-one they can use the same deceptive and high pressure tactics they use in their sales pitch, to convince people of their story. In a group, that is much more difficult to do.

The numbers on their web page are meaningless without independent verification. They are numbers of convenience, made up to arrive at the target figure of $399 per member. And as pointed out above, some items are double-covered. And legal fees that were previously claimed to be $9,000 suddenly became $30,000. What is being done for these fees? One claim form filed in the US court? Another wise investment by Suitelife management - $30k for a 2 page form. Have they perhaps hired a private investigator to track down Tonya Williams? Not likely, since AnthonyA as recently as 2 weeks ago seemed to be using this forum as his only source of information. Don't be fooled into giving them any more money.

From their web site:

"Dear Member,

As promised in our initial communication, this is a further update with respect to the Special Assessment Fee.

The following is an accounting breakdown on how the $399 assessment figure was arrived at (all figures are in $US). We will communicate with you with total transparency and will continue to send updates as soon as they are available.

Breakdown of Costs:

Dream Travel Bankruptcy - $582,030 Cost to fix weeks gone bad to date - $200,000 Cost to fix future weeks* - $225,000 Reserve fund replenishment - $150,000 Legal fees, expected to date$ - 30,000 Total - $1,187,030 * estimate based upon past experience to secure comparable inventory

This amount was divided by our 3,000 members and therefore a $399.00 fee was the amount levied. For any members that would like to see actual invoices and payments for the above expenses, you are welcome to come to the office and we will be happy to show you. PLEASE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT .... as you can appreciate the reservation department is extremely busy with all that’s going on."

I wonder if anyone has actually gotten any response to a request for an appointment?

It's interesting what you see when you go back and read the contract after all these years. So they need another $399 in order to avoid their own bankruptcy? I figure the $18k I paid for my almost useless membership should be more than enough compensation (probably equivalent of $30k in today's dollars). After all, what exactly did it go to pay for? Not buying properties, as they imply everywhere in the contract, because there are NO properties - all the vacation weeks are purchased from brokers like Ms. Tonya Williams. So where did the $18k go? And the yearly fee is for "upgrades and maintenance"? How, when there are NO properties to upgrade and maintain? Maybe into Mr. Anthony's pocket, to upgrade and maintain his lifestyle.

It's funny to look at the page in my Resort Villas binder that tries to explain what the annual dues go to pay for: Laundry, Garbage Collection, Furniture repair, Maintenance, Property taxes, Utilities, Parking, Insurance, Outdoor lighting, RESERVE FUNDS, Snow removal, Appliance repair? Makes it sound like Resort Villa owned properties, doesn't it? What a joke. There are NO properties! So where did my $18k go? Where did my yearly dues go?

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. I won't be fooled twice.

Here is an interesting one you may remember from back in 2010 - the last "Special Assessment":

"Dear Member,

As many of you know 2009 was a very challenging year, especially in the travel industry.

From the economy, to the swine flu to travel advisories, we were hit from all directions.

We at Resort Villas usually purchase our inventory 1-2 years in advance, and could not have forecasted what occurred.

Much of our inventory went unused. This put a serious strain on our financial resources, as our program unlike other vacation clubs allow members to pay only if they travel.

As our members have become accustomed to staying in higher end resorts and having availability just a click or call away, we continued business as usual.

Unfortunately, because of all the unforeseen circumstances, the club has incurred extraordinary costs, and must assess a special assessment to the members.

This is the first time in Resort Villas history (since 2001) that this has occurred.

We have made adjustments going forward, hopefully preventing this from happening again. We have purchased less inventory in the area of Mexico, and have added Aruba, and continue to look for different options.

Once again, We would like to mention that this has never happened before, and we will do everything possible for it not to happen again.

As per the provision for special assessment in the Rules & Regulations we are implementing this assessment for the benefit of ongoing member fulfillment operations and obligations.

Please submit $149.00 (US) to on or before April 14, 2010. Or Click here to pay online"

Note the statement that they purchase inventory 1 or 2 years in advance. Yet in an inquiry about availability 5-6 months in the future, I recently got this response:

"The request has been placed. Once our brokers send us what is available, I will forward you the information. This may not be right away as the winter season is still upon us and not all summer space is available as of yet."

So, they supposedly purchase "1-2 years in advance" yet they have to wait for brokers to release availability 5 months down the road?

And they "will do everything possible to prevent this from happening again"? I guess not, because here we are. So what adjustments did they make? If they have to wait for brokers to tell them what is available, when members ask - that means they DON'T pre-purchase inventory - they simply book it when the member requests it. So how do they get $580k in the hole with DreamTravel? Probably never happened. They see DT going bankrupt, and realize the perfect opportunity to milk some more money from members.

Even if that's not true, and there is no fraud here, at the very least its poor management.

Just like the government - mismanage our money, then go back to the trough to get more.

Even if everyone was to send them money they would demand more for another reason. It's still the same people demanding more money. Sure sounds like a Ponzi scheme to me. Demand an investigation by the authorities and a private accounting firm and verify all documents.

What I can't understand is that they expect you to pay for their bad business decisions. After all you are clients not investors or owners. Let them go bankrupt and at least they won't expect you to pay for their outrageous mistakes.

Someone should definitely start a new thread using suitelife name so anyone who googles them will see the thread.

carolep68 - Where did you get this info of the $1500 payout to relinguish your membership back to them? On the website members are not able to sell the membership. I'm sure I saw that 10200 member number on the Resort Villa site back when it was called that.

It's in our contract.... I don't have it on me right now but you can go to their website and look it up under Rules & Regs. I fogey which article, but something like Termination

jackc233 wrote:

carolep68 - Where did you get this info of the $1500 payout to relinguish your membership back to them? On the website members are not able to sell the membership. I'm sure I saw that 10200 member number on the Resort Villa site back when it was called that.

I was told by Marilyn that it's $1500US Termination fee to get out of the contract. That's on top of $17,000 and all the annual fees and extras that I've paid them in last 10 years already. By the way, when my husband and I went for their seminar and fell into their trap, we were never given the option of being a member for less than LIFE. I hear some members' contracts are for 10 years or 20 not LIFE! This really upsets me that how deceiving they had been from beginning and we didn't see it!

jackc233 wrote:

carolep68 - Where did you get this info of the $1500 payout to relinguish your membership back to them? On the website members are not able to sell the membership. I'm sure I saw that 10200 member number on the Resort Villa site back when it was called that.

Why would anyone send this mismanaged company another cent ? Obviously they violated everyone's trust and squandered nearly a million dollars. I would consult with an attorney and ask if they violated your agreement by foolishly handling the company funds. An attorney can subpoena their financial records and demand a formal audit to find out where the money went. If you send them more money what is to stop them from taking that money and filing bankruptcy just like Tonya Williams did. Do some homework before you lose more of your hard earned money. It might be a better idea to spend a few dollars on a competent attorney then this incompetent company.

Does anyone know what is the connection between Suitelife and Triad International Corporation? Both companies are located in the same suite at the same address in Woodbridge, Ontario. Triad's website says it is a private finance company. It provides financing and personal loans. It also has an accounts, credit and collections department and a legal services department.

Triad is owned by the same people. When you buy a Vacation membership, since most people don't have $15or $20k on them, and they don't want to give you time to cool off and change your mind before they have you on the hook financially, they make you apply for a loan with Triad. Then you have a period of time to pay off the balance with no interest, otherwise they charge "loanshark" level interest rates. It's just another way for them to take more of your money. I doubt Triad does anything but loan money to vacation club membership buyers. I can't see anyone off the street going to them for any other type of loan.

rosinam3 wrote:

Does anyone know what is the connection between Suitelife and Triad International Corporation? Both companies are located in the same suite at the same address in Woodbridge, Ontario. Triad's website says it is a private finance company. It provides financing and personal loans. It also has an accounts, credit and collections department and a legal services department.

It must be nice to be able to gamble with other peoples money and if you lose just demand more and start all over again. How in the world can someone get away with being so incompetent and getting as many chances as they want to risk everyone else's money over and over again. Stop sending them money. Let them take you to court. Let a judge decide if they have a right to reach into your pockets every time the fail at their ventures. Better yet report them to the Attorney General in your state and ask them to investigate. Try the FTC at 1-877-382-4357. If enough people complain they will investigate.