- Destinations
- Bahamas
- Paradise Island
- Club Land'Or Resort
- Discussion Forum
- Can't even give them one star
Can't even give them one star
I got out of my contract the same way everyone else I know did - I quit paying. They took me to court - there were around 11 for Club Land'Or on the docket but only 4 showed up - I guess the others got scared and paid. Anyhow, it was continued until we could talk to someone at Land'Or that they gave us. This was to try and settle out of court. I offered them a little less than half of the back fees I owed and for that I wanted out of my contract. They accepted. And believe me I kept the letter of release. I did lose my initial investment and all the fees I paid over the years due to harrassment, etc. I also lost monies I paid to companies to get out of and rid of this thing - don't bother wasting your money there! I still will do anything I can to help and would really like to go after my initial investment+ . I have all my paperwork from the day I started with them (Aug. 2001) and have it all in order as I was ready for court. I debated continuing in court because I know someone else who did and won, paid nothing, and got out of his contract - but if I lost(eventhough I didn't think I would) I was going to have more trouble because I lost my job in June and am currently unemployed. I really wanted out of the contract and I had14 years left. I still believe they did, and continue to, defraud, deceive and harass people. Perhaps we should also consider a picket outside their sales office in Virginia Beach. I couldn't remember where they were located until I found my initial invitation to visit - haven't driven past there yet to see if they're still in the same location.
Mary A.
Just received an e-mail from a VA attorney I contacted. He has been involved with a couple of Land'Or cases and mine is the second letter to him this week he said. I gave him some general info. and he'll be back in his office Monday. I'll keep you posted.
Mary A.
Yes, you can go in and find general court info. like names of case participants and case outcomes.
Ok, fellow Land'Or people, I just received an e-mail back from the attorney I contacted. He said that he has also received another new complaint. Anyhow, I am finally going to speak with him on Monday, by other than e-mail. He will telephone me on Monday. I will let you know what he says as soon as I talk with him. I think our help may be here.
Mary A.
In answer to your question regarding taking them to court in your state...I don't think so. I think as the plaintiff in a court case you must go to where the defendant is. (at least that is what you need to do in NYS). So I don't know how they have jurisdiction over a person that resides anywhere else but VA. I know that in a civil matter in NYS, the plaintiff needs to sue the defendant in the city of the state that they reside. But I don't know the laws in VA. As far as a class action, I gave all the information I have to an attorney yesterday. He looked it over briefly, but said that he believes that an attorney in VA needs to start the class action, but he will look further into it. I have already spoken to at least 4 attorneys, but I am starting to feel like I am back to square one (being here in New York) and my hands are tied. But, I am passionate about this and will do whatever I can. Will keep you posted about what this attorney says, but I don't know how long that will take.
Kathleen S.
I'm back after speaking with the VA attorney. He has probably handled more timeshare cases than any other attorney in VA. He said the laws in VA related to timeshares are very poor and definitely favor the developer. Land'Or is exempt from much of it because these are "right to use" agreements rather than right of estate or "deeded" properties. Therefore, they can basically funtion without having a owners association, yearly financial reports to the members, etc. They also then have the right to basically charge any fees they want and as much as they want. However, they cannot function fradulently. For instance, when I became a member, the fees were to maintain the resort and special assessments were to be for specific items. I received a special assessment letter that said it was to pay for building a new building. Using my money for a new building would be fraud because that's not what I agreed to. Likewise, I had a special assessment to pay for hurricane damage, but someone from the resort told me there was little or no hurricane damage. That is fraud. A letter I received in 2005 said the special assessment was to pay fro new roof, etc., then I received an assessment in 2007 that said it was to pay for a new roof, etc. - that would be fraud. So he said you then have to prove fraud which can be done by way of these contradictory and incriminating letters, letters from people there who know there was no hurricane damage and maybe geological and weather reports, etc. If you can prove fraud then the court would order them to submit an accounting, and the legislators would also stand up and take note. If they are found guilty of fraud, they could be closed down, but that doesn't mean you get your money back, but it would get you out of your contract. In order to consider a class action suit to do this you need people, many people, like 1000 would be great. I know there are that many out there but they all have to agree to the same problems and be willing to join the action. Everyone would have to give their names and addresses and any proof of fraud to one person. This would take a lot of time, work and dedication, but if someone wants to get it together, I can help you with people to contact from court cases, and if we get a strong enough case, I think this attorney will continue to advise. So what do you think? People can also be those who have already been to court with LAnd'Or. Does anyone want to volunteer to take this on?
Mary A.
Johns-- My wife and daughter went to Land Or in November. The conditions and amenities were very poor. The staff was nice-the conditions not their fault. When you go next month take a lot of pictures (my wife did not). Poke around (neighboring establishments) to see what was done or not done.
By the way- Mary is exactly right - the Attorney General's office does not deal with items like this. Years ago I wrote the Better Business Bureau- but it did not go any where.
If we - as a group - could collectively get all our old statements, then prove that they did not do the work, we may be succesful in documenting the fraud.
Here is a sample of what we have gone through the last year: September 26, 2008- maintenance fee $837.99 September 26, 2008 SPC fee $50.28 October 23, 2009 Special assessment $549.00 October 29, 2008 Refurbishing fee $289.00 March 31, 2009 Budget assessment $270.25 September 29, 2009 Maintenance fees $900.84
$2,897.36 paid in one year.
After all the assessments my wife and daughter were excited about a November visit. However the room obviously had not had any work done in years. My wifes most recent visit November 2009 the room had these problems: 1. Broken sliding door 2. Leaking refrigerator 3. Kitchen had bad orders 4. Dirty old carpet 5. The room was dimly lit 6. The electricity did not work all the time 7. the tv did not work at all 8. The pans in the kitchen were disposable 9. There was no dishwashing soap 10. The plastic chairs on the balcony were dirty
The rest of the resort was in horrible shape: 1. The fountain was not running 2. The water in the fountain trough was stagnant and ugly 3. The pool was clean the first day and not cleaned the rest of the week 4. The hot tub was dirty
January 29, 2010 I receive a new assessment for $699.00, Renovation assessment. Another assesment when none of the others appear to be completed.
The point Mary and her attorney makes is that there is a real chance that there is fraud because the last few assessments have not improved the conditions of the resort. The hurricane damaged roof should have been covered by insurance etc etc. Furthermore there is a level of management that our yearly maintenance fees should cover (clean water in the pool, clean rooms etc) that should meet a minimum standard.
Does anyone want to volunteer to gather the info and copies of receipts? We could all look for other land or victims. This is probably not the only website with handles complaints and we should be able to track more and more down.
Brook P.