Our representative Larry of imagine that vacation told us that we had to send is our selection for the type of trip we wanted within 30 days and that he would be calling us the next day to remind us to send in the form We have yet to receive that call, no surprise here.  All lies.

At the presentation, we were shown exceptional rates, such as $399 for a week in Hawaii at a 5 star resort condominium. We were told that the annual dues were $159 if paid in advance and $199 if not. We were then told that the buy in (like buying a timeshare) was $8,200. Well, we weren?t interested. So the presenter, John Britt, gave us a deal (lowered the cost by $1,000) since he was from Virginia, where my husband had lived for 10 years. Somehow, he quickly got the price down to $6,200. And then, just as quickly, he got the price down to $3,269. Well, this peeked our interest, as we would get $4,000 reward points per year for life (if a property was retailed at $2,000 and your price was $600, the savings of $1,400 is deducted from your rewards total and the amount in your rewards account is all you can use to reduce your costs each year) and it was transferable by will at our death, or we could sell our interest. This sounded like a pretty good deal when considering that you are really buying into a timeshare, without choosing a particular week or home base. We asked him to show us more properties at various locations, which he did, but of course he drove, showing us what he wanted us to see. We came to the conclusion that, although we might only save about $800 per trip, the payback period would be about 4 years, and that the annual dues were actually lower than the amount one would pay to use a timeshare (usually $300-$400). 

While a rip off was successfully avoided, the big lessons learned here were simple.  Always ask to see, and review, any contract before signing.  If a deal is good today, and will be offered to others next week, there is no legitimate reason why an offer made to you cannot be accepted after you?ve done your due diligence.  Walk away if you are not given the opportunity to review the contract, or must put money down to do so.  When you ask to better understand the merchandise (in this case the breath and value of vacation values) and you are instead get only a for-you-a-better-price pitch, seriously question the value.  Finally, pay careful attention to your surroundings.  For a travel service allegedly in business for more than a decade, there were precious few indications in their offices, or on the marquee outside, that they had been in business for any length of time.  When there are no family pictures on the desks, only stock art on the walls, and the stories about families, ages, and vacations taken have inconsistencies, consider all this a red flag.

My husband and I, being professionals, never make a purchase like this without doing our homework, but it sounded pretty good for the price, knowing we had 3 days to cancel, and thinking it would force us to travel more (something I was interested in), we bought in,after 3 hours of high pressure!!!!!! 

Upon our return home, I immediately began investigating. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) was the first place I looked. They told us that ?they? only had 9 complaints that they had an A+ BBB rating. RPI (in Orlando) sells licensing to the software owned by RSI (Reservation Services International in Winter Park). According to the BBB, RPI?s rating is B- with 11 complaints in 12 months, 3 of which the BBB didn?t feel that the company made a good faith effort to resolve. RSI didn?t have a rating, but was currently under BBB review (I am not quite sure what that means, but it didn?t sound too good to me), and they had 9 complaints, all of which were satisfactorily resolved. Then I found several postings from people who said run away as fast as you can. 

imaginethatvacation scammed  us for  all most $5000 we canceled

Did not leave any message.

Left a message saying I won something

said i was in the running to win a lincoln navigator

concerned gave some info is ita scam who is it run by still looking online for positive info. really needed a car they asked me if i was between the ages of 18 and 67? weird question

Call came from bogus "708" Homewood, IL number.  Recorded message leaves an 866-343-5166 number to call back.  Same old message:  Hi, this is "Jim" from the "Prize Center" calling about "The Contest" you entered "Some Time Ago" to win a "Major Prize".  We have "Very Good News" for you.  (Notice they don't say you "Won", just that they have "very good news"!)

This is the same old tired "vacation club" scam that has generated a ton of complaints as well as legal action from Texas authorities.  Please be my guest and call this number and read them the riot act, but under no circumstances go to any of their sales pitches or give them one red cent of your money.

same old I won an award from when I made a purchase a few months ago 6-8 months.  My name was pulled as a finalist.  Same old vacation club scam.  Come make an appointment for the tour and you get a chance to scratch off a ticket for a prize, lincoln navigator, TV, $2500 cash or a vacation.  Imagine that, the same old vacation club scam.

Yep - me too - Jim from the Prize center - got the grand sweepstakes and there are winners
a new way to scam everybody

That same old "Jim" on a recorded call, yet again.  Beware, they are trying to scam VA, MD and DC residents now!  Let's find out about that "901 W. 31st Street" address in DC where they're asking people to come on July 27 -- turn over some rocks and see what comes creeping out.  The Dallas, TX attorney general has filed fraud charges against this outfit and they need to be put out of business.  Under NO circumstances give them ANY of your hard earned money, this is a total "travel club" scam!