Misleading Sales Practices and Booking Nightmare with Westgate We purchased a Westgate timeshare in Gatlinburg and immediately regretted it due to deceptive sales tactics and broken promises. Sales Misrepresentations During the presentation, we were told booking would be straightforward and affordable, with costs through Interval International never exceeding $599 per week. We were also told our supplemental week could be split into two vacations and pressured to sign that day or lose the offer. The most alarming issue: They requested our Social Security numbers claiming it was "only for identification," but later we discovered a loan was opened without our informed consent. Booking Reality vs. Promises When we attempted our first booking, the experience was a complete disaster spanning three days. On Day 1, we called Gateway Reservations for an August two-bedroom unit. Initially quoted $349, we were then told it couldn't be booked until September. After being transferred multiple times, quotes escalated from $989 to $1,078 for a ONE-bedroom unit. This took over 2 hours with no supervisor available. On Day 2, we tried Interval International where we were promised sub-$599 rates. The lowest quote we received was $1,859—over three times what we were promised! A supervisor finally explained that the $599 rate only applies to "exchanges"—a critical detail never disclosed during sales. On Day 3, we contacted the Gatlinburg sales office and texted our rep Amber for three days with no response. We were transferred repeatedly and never connected to a supervisor. Outcome We formally requested contract termination, deed-back options, and investigation into these sales practices. We felt pressured, misled, and deceived from day one. Potential buyers: demand everything in writing and verify all claims independently before signing anything with Westgate.
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