Disgruntled timeshare owner seeks out

Photo by QUENTIN ROUX

A part-time Marco resident who owns a home on the Island, but who bought into a Crystal Shores timeshare unit specifically for beach access for his family throughout the year, is at loggerheads with the resort.

Claiming rude and embarrassing treatment from local staff at the gate, he now wants completely out of the purchase contract.

Gary Vinson says along with the purchase of the unit about a year ago, he asked for, and received three letters of authorization that would permit him and his three grown children and their families to use Crystal Shores for beach access at any time.

His son Gary Vinson II, along with his wife Wendy and their three daughters, tried to gain access more than once, but was told the letters were fraudulent, Vinson said.

Vinson then took up the issue with corporate management in Orlando, and managed to make some headway after talking to Keith Kocarek of Marriott Vacation Club International.

“He investigated and found that I was correct; that they had made the mistake,” Vinson said.

But, he added, he now wants out of the purchase contract because of “rude and unprofessional” behavior surrounding the beach access issue.

Marriott Vacation Club International media spokesman James Woelbern said the matter is being investigated.

In an e-mail response to an Eagle query, Woelbern said: “We’re looking into it, and will further discussion and resolution as is standard directly with the customer in a timely manner.”

Vinson owns a timeshare unit valid for a week in either September or October.