GVC Sunterra - Is it a freebie?

by **Fred 2** on Wed Jul 05, 2006 22:47 pm

MADMAC: Could you post the company name and location of the sales agent which contacted you.

Given the present state of Sunterra europe (see e.g. Timesharetalk.co.uk - Sunterra forums, or Crimeshare.net) and the fact that Sunterra Corp is likely to be de-listed on the New York stock exchange (and the shares are being offloaded by the hedge funds) it seems immoral still to be marketing on its behalf. See my earlier post.

by **scotlouise** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 19:52 pm

my husband did the survey in leeds centre. he had a follow up call and as soon as they said 'free holiday' he hung up. both agreed that this was dodgy. i received another call today asking why we hadn't claimed the ' four free tickets, luxury european 7 nights stay in costa del sol or tenerife'. i asked if would cost anything, she said no and we were one of only five people drawn.'we only ask you to have a good time a recommend us ( this was repeated several times). i then was asked to call 0871 222 8028 to claim (why? could i not have done that without having to call a prem rate number). i called and what we thought was dodgy seemed to be confirmed. '�34.50 ADMIN FEE PER PERSON' ,'GO SEE OUR REP AT 7PM NEXT WED NIGHT TO COLLECT YOUR VOUCHER'. r u thinkin what i'm thinkin. WHAT A LAUGH!!! the only worry is that the original girl was very convincing- and thats to someone who's aware of timeshares and such scams.

by **leaeeeeeeeeeee** on Tue Jan 09, 2007 13:12 pm

it is a timeshare and it is a con, i found a website where there are plenty of people to tell you the same thing, it is http://www.ianfitter.com/blog/2006/03/0 ... e-holiday/

dont phone, dont waste your time going to the presentation they tell you you need to go to, dont pay the cost per person they say you need to pay when booking, it is not a free holiday it is a timeshare and these company's should not be allowed to operate

by **hoggart** on Fri Feb 09, 2007 15:19 pm

In a way it is a con and it certainly is a timeshare. If you are strong and just say NO you can get a nice holiday out of them for the �37.50 p/p admin fee. I attended the presentation for 2 hours said no and then went on a very nice holiday for 1 week where we then went on another presentation, but for a weeks holiday 4 hours of my time was worth it. About a year later we got another letter offering another holiday we had to do the same presentations but got another holiday and this time we decided to do the UK long weekend and took 4 of our friends and had a fantastic weekend. We have eventually signed up to the 3 year deal, we did have teething problems and were promised things that we didn't get and were lied to, but we had signed a contract and what we were promised and lied to about was all verbal so didn't have a leg to stand on where we tried to cancel it. We have now accepted that we a stuck with it but, really its not that bad. We went to Lanzerote before Christmas and we are going to Devon at the end of this month when we just wouldn't have been able to afford it normally.

by **cheesecake** on Sat Jun 16, 2007 12:47 pm

HI I AM A SUNTERRA MEMBER SINCE 1996.I HAVE ONLY ONCE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE HOLIDAY,THAT I WANTED FROM THEM.
WE I BOUGHT THEM I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE 40 POINTS WOULD GET ME .ANYTIME,ANYPLACE ANYWHERE.WHAT A LOT OF RUBBISH.YOU DONT GET MUCH FOR 40 POINTS.IF YOU WANT ANYTHING DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS,ITIS A NIGHTMARE.YOU HAVE TO BUY MORE POINTS TO GET ANYTHING DESCENT.DONT BUY INTO IT. WHEN YOU HAVE THEM,YOU CANNOT GET RID OF THEM.
YOURS NOT SO HAPPY MEMBER.

by **sunterra** on Wed Jun 27, 2007 12:49 pm

Yes it a good timeshare holiday experience with a free holiday as long as you sit through a presentation. You would need to purchase at least 80 points to enjoy a 2 week holiday abroad.

by **hoople** on Wed Jun 27, 2007 15:15 pm

GVC/SUNTERRA have made out to believe that you could sell your points when members circumstances changed but this is not so. They keep moving the goal posts so even if you cannot afford to use it you still have to pay your annual fees. When points were sold in Scotland your were told if you did not pay your management fees you would no longer be a member. No wonder they were taken to court. It is also true you cannot get where you wish to go when you won't to go. would anybody like to buy my points going for a song

by **starwars272** on Tue Aug 07, 2007 22:28 pm

Hi there is we won one off these holidy we took our 2 kids with us all you have to do is go too a 2 hours approx chat then they leave you alone its down to you if you buy or not take the holiday but be strong if you cannot afford it then dont buy but thak the free holiday

by **Squibb** on Wed Aug 15, 2007 02:50 am

We were 'conned' into buying points and as said by previous comments you get very little back if you sell on. If you do wish to sell, join one of the member web pages. One of these you pay for but the yahoo one is free. You can then advertise your points and 'transfer' them, but only to a current member.
Suggest if you wish to join, do for as few points as they will allow and then buy these cheap point off another member.
As others have said, it is a variation on a time share. We have had some great holidays with it but you have to play the system. Best if you can go any time- school holidays, as with most holiday companies, are harder to come by and expensive (cost more points).

by **mcgregoe** on Sun Aug 19, 2007 18:45 pm

hi
I'm a sunterra member for the last 12months. At first I thought it was a con, but still went on the free holiday being full aware of high pressure sales. Before you decide, do what I did, work out what your total holidays costs are for the year, remembering package holidays are always increasing. If like me, and you intend to have a big family (6), you can't go wrong.
Before I joined my yearly total holiday expenses averaged around �3 - �5k for say 3 weeks in the states. Then 1 year the two eldest teenagers didnt want to go on holiday with the family, apparently we're to fuddy duddy. I thought at last my hol costs are finally down.
But since joining Sunterra, not only do they want to come on holiday, they bring their boyfriends too. Course they pay their own flights and car hire.
Thats the secret, book cheap flights and carefully manage your points. Buy as many points as you can afford and learn how to use them to your advantage.
We've just finished dinner and they are all argueing of where to go to next year. This year we've had 2 wks in usa, 1wk in devon and still have enough points to holiday anywhere in europe for another 2 wks.
The family and I loved the resorts and couldnt go back to package deals.
The only company that i've come across that surpasses sunterra is marriotts (usa). very similiar but you own a % value of the deeds of the property. In fact if I was'nt a sunterra member, I'd consider being a member of marriott's