My wife and I traveled to the Domican republic for a vacation. We stayed at the Coconut Palms resort and were a bit unhappy with it and when we ventured into town in Cabarete we were almost immediately "picked up" by a representative of LHVC and shown the way to one of the their properties near downtown. But this was just a teaser. We also saw other from our resort talking to them so this must be a common practice. next we were offered a ride to their main resort located just north of Puerto Plata City about 20 miles away. We were then shown around the resort and given alcoholic drinks and a free lunch. We were shown some of the various rooms/villas available. After another alcohilc drink we were then taken to the sales room/boiler room.

A slick talking salesman came in and began the pitch. His first ofer was for $100, 000 for a 43 year contract with unlimited weeks (52/year). There were no annual fees. That was out of the question so he next comes up with a "resale" from someone else (HA HA) for only $87, 000. We had two other o so without very many questions they offered us $45, 000 for them which was was way beyond their value. Now we were down to $42, 000. We tried to leave, but wait how about if we give you 10% off. No we said. then they went to some lower level, not the VIP package. They also offered to carry about 50% of the cost at no interest for 10 years with us getting the rest on a credit card. I was trying to figure all this out but alcohol was getting me. Then a 3rd offer was made for $20, 000 with including the time share turn over. the zero interest was still in there. They were also offering free limos to and from the airport and even for a whil a helicopter ride to and from the airport. The VIP Club package includes free alcohol and use of VIP facilities away from the commoners. A golf cart is also free of use. we still had the 52 weeks a year package with prices for the rooms based on size used. No suddenly toward the end it was back up to $24, 000 and the zero interest part was gone. All on a credit card.

One of their selling points was that they had access to over 4, 000 Sister Properties plus 4, 300 RCI Properties and properties from other exchange companies. We had been unhappy with RCI so this intrigues us.

Finally we gave in so that prompted the uncorking of champaign. Then the closer came in with paper work. the yellow working papers disappeared with all the promises. They moved us from our disappointing stay at at Coconut Palms and put us up in a nice two bedroom suite. We enjoyed the next day as best we could because it raines the next 4 days. We kept trying to get on the internet and to log into their web site to the promised 4, 000 sister properties. But everytime we did the sister properties ICON just took us to RCI. We pressed them on the website and they suddenly got very defensivea dnsaid that it was not our job to look for vacation spots and that they had access to areas we couldn't see? They could not provide us with a list of "thier own" sister resorts. All they had available was an RCI Book, a costa resorts book and one other I never got to look at. We then asked to cancell the contract and the customer representive supervisor just handed us a blank piece of paper and said make you request and she would fax it to the escrow offcie in Orlando. We did this and she promised to put a rush on it to see if they could answer us by 5 PM that day. We came back and no answer was ready. No surprize there. we came hom the next day and immediately cancelled the credit card. The card was an RCI card through Bank of America.

Our next steps will be to fax anothjer letter to LHVC and follow with a phone call to them. then we will attempt to halt payment on the card or to at least protest it.

A word to the wise. Never talk to these people. they don't know the meaning of the word truth.