Deseret Morning News readers have plenty of tales about the good, bad and ugly that they personally found in the timeshare industry, offered in response to a series last week about financial traps there that can ensnare the unwary.

They range from stories about how more than 900 people allege they were not given promised gifts (or were given worthless ones) by Westgate resorts; the chief of Westgate writing that his company has been portrayed unfairly; many who tell sales-pitch or reservation horror stories; and some who say how they love timeshares.

The Christensen & Jensen law firm noted that one of its clients, Consumer Protection Group, says in a lawsuit that about 900 people have assigned to it their claims that the Westgate Park City resort cheated them by not delivering promised gifts for listening to sales presentations. For example, the suit alleges that many were promised digital cameras but were given cameras that "had been rejected by the manufacturer (a fact stamped in code on the back of the camera case) and that did not work. Indeed, when connected, the camera at times caused serious problems to the consumer's computer."

It also alleges that many were promised trips, but Westgate "treated the consumers differently depending on whether the consumer had purchased a resort timeshare or not. Westgate stamped 'owner' on the certs (certificates) given to those who purchased ... to alert NRC (a national redemption center) to actually give the promised trip."

The suit alleges that so many catches were included in certificates for trips (such as not allowing use for weeks before and after holidays, and blacking out other high-season use periods) that few people, even among owners, ever received the promised trips. It added that trips were not free as promised and required a substantial deposit. The case is pending in 4th District Court in Provo.

Unfair portrayal?

Meanwhile, David Siegel, president and chairman of Westgate resorts, wrote an e-mail complaining his company had been portrayed unfairly. For example, while stories said the Better Business Bureau of Central Florida had received 509 complaints about Orlando-based Westgate in three years, he noted the BBB says Westgate has "a satisfactory record" because complaints have been resolved.

He said that despite claims to the contrary in the series, customers are warned that purchases should not be considered as investments and that Westgate will not resell units for owners.

"We actually have a list of disclaimers that the people go over and initial saying they understand that this is not an investment, we are not going to resell the week for them, we are not going to rent their week for them and on and on."