Westgate Resorts Vacation Villas; Westgate Vilas Westgate has decided to charge me more $ because I bought timeshare as a "resale" not from them Ocoee Florida

 Like the other long time owner at Westgate Villas, we have gone to the Villas nearly every year since 2002. We bought online (ebay) in 2001. Our week did not always coincide when we could go away, so for years we have been "banking" our week and "rebooking or trading" for another week. We have always paid a fee for this service and had no issue. As of last year, we paid $175 for the trade. I just called to book this year and I was told the rules changed and since I was a re-sale - not someone who bought directly from Westgate, I now had to pay $350 each year in addition to my maintenance fees ($879 per year) if I did not use my deeded week. When I said I was an owner and when did this change, they said yes you are an owner but not a original owner. Since I pay each year for over 10 years, how did my "ownership" suddenly change? Apparently, the change was instituted in March of 2012 at a shareholder's meeting. Apparently at that meeting the people there decided to make anyone who bought from someone else a seperate class of owner!!! Since I cannot simply pay to fly to Florida for these annual meetings, I did not attend and did not have a say!

Last week when I paid my dues I asked to book for a particular week. After taking my maintenance money happily, the rep said the rebooking fee was $150, but I wanted to confirm both my husband and I could have that week, I said I would all back. When I asked today why the fee increased by $200 in 1 week, I was told that rep did not know what the fees were and was wrong.

I think this new manner of treating owners comes directly from the top. David Siegel appears to be regretting selling out the properties for all that moola over the years and wants to get back all the timeshares from all parties who are dead ( I bought from an Estate) or too elderly and RESELL for alot more  money to others. Forget about "leaving to your kids in the will".  OR he wants to push out the people who own in the aging Villas which have not been upgraded since the decore is from the 80's so that he can build those gigantic buildings where they are charging over $45K!?! We are being treated shabbily after enjoying our stays there for over 10 years. I feel sorry for the owner who has owned for over 20 years.

This company apparently rips off people who buy directly from them and then if those people want out and sell to someone else, the "resale" owners are also ripped off. This is not the same company from 10 years ago.

Beware!! Do not buy from Westgate OR anyone selling a Westgate Timeshare on the secondary market!!!!