Reader comments
Westgate to pay $1million in damages

These timeshare scams are not exclusive to Utah, it's the same high-pressure everywhere you go. Mexico, Hawaii, Florida, you name it. None of the deals are worth it, people just end up caving to the pressure. In every single case you are better to rent a hotel than own a timeshare. So, all you people you bought one somewhere, you were scammed whether you believe it or not.

A timeshare company scamming people? What a shock.

You go, you deserve what you get. One born every minute. Two, if you happen to have parents that reside in Utah.

Now I can make more money from the Nigerians so I can start a chain-letter and get even richer quicker then invest in some timeshares -- so I can get a cheap travel voucher.

What's with these Utahns? Did they just fall off the turnip truck?

Can't we teach skepticism in school?
It doesn't do a bit of good to tell people to avoid
scams, when many can't even identify a scam!

Don't get lured into the "Visitor Information Center" by the trained monkey or the cute owl. These guys got what they deserved.

Woo hoo! I'm really glad to see this judgement. I'm somewhat familiar with Westgate and have gone to three of their sales pitches. We enjoy the time in Park City and the free night's stay and the $50 cash. They never offered us a cruise or air travel and we wouldn't have sat through the presentation if they had because I knew it would be nearly impossible to redeem.

I think Westgate and most other timeshares are sneaky enough in chiseling money out of the timeshare owners, so I'm glad to see them punished for deception in their marketing, at least.

I disagree with the comments calling these 900 people fools, though. It's totally plausible for Westgate to fulfill these trips and still be a profitable company. I have friends who've been given a free cruise for listening to a presentation and it was fulfilled very straightforwardly. It's just that Westgate chose to not do so.

And now they will pay. Yay!

Funny how people like to dump on Utahns when in fact people are not different elsewhere. It must make those who insult others feel superior. That's a mark of inferiority.

we have a timeshare with Westgate and love it. Yes, we paid too much, they are tricky with us on some things, and we were young and naive when we purchased a timeshare. We wish we would have gone with a Marriott timeshare, but in the end, having a condo that sleeps 8 with a kitchen, compared to a hotel room is worth it. How many of you would pay for a luxury condo for a week and justify it? Now we have one that we use for 2 different weeks a year. It sure beats cramming 5 kids into a hotel room.

the 900.00 a year maintenance fee is a joke.

Oh well, we've got it, and use it and love it.

You get what you pay for OWN MARRIOTT - I have owned for over 5 years now and have ENJOYED every Marriott location I have been to and love all that Marriott has to offer. I think those that complain are the ones that really don't have the money or did not have the money and purchased for less thinking they could travel like the best. Maintenance fees - I want them - I am glad Marriott maintains their properties to the level they need to be. I don't have to worry about going to a location in 10 years that is not keep up to standards that I like. Inflation goes not go down so MF's are not going down - either is the cost to running your home. Everyone always wants somthing for nothing???