Complaint Review: Bendix Co

Contacted by Mr Antonio Severino regarding our timeshare agreement at the Vallarta Gardens Boutique Residence Club in Rivera Nayarit, (Puerto Vallarta)  MX. referenced further as VG.  We purchased 2 weeks of a 2BR villa at this resort in 11/2014.  At this time an offer was presented by an American white man, the salesman named Jerry who told us we could sell our timeshare at Grand Luxxe Villa through Timely Travel and they would give us an additional 5 weeks for 7 years for rental. 

After paying $1295 to Timely Travel and a future $25,000 to be paid out of the sale we waited the 10 months.  Nothing happened and no rental money was seen.  Researched this man in Idaho and the BB said he had a false address and phone and was not legit. Figured all we were out was the ?? registration fee of $1295.

Fast forward to 2015.  Our daughter took a trip to our new resort in May 2015 and had a great time.  We booked for Feb 2016.  Two months ago we received a call from a man, Mr Antonio Severino, of Bendix Group who told us all the specifics of our contracts with Timely Travel and VG.  He issued us a contract for rental of 28/35 weeks at rental fees of $4309/wk as long as we paid the maintenance fees for a total of $26,600. We agreed to this since this gave us some money we wouldn't have had otherwise, against my gut feeling this was not right. But who wouldn't take $126K for a $26K investment?

One week later we were contacted by the same man, same company, about selling our timeshare at the Grand Luxxe.  He said he had a buyer, a Mexican Trust Co, acting for a family who had been looking for a couple extra weeks.  He sent a very official contract that indicated the buyer was Ricardo Ballesteros Family Trust and the offer was $223,000 with all fees, costs, expenses etc to be covered by the buyer.  Sounds good?

Guess what, our timeshare contract with Grand Luxxe had a penalty fee of 10 weeks @$1599/wk to be paid before the contract could be completed.  $31,980 paid under strong objections as to why. If this was going to an escrow account why couldn't they just take it out of there.  Greed, stupidity, whatever,  it was done.

Wait, there is more.  We had contracts for rental to be completed 10/02/15 and sale 10/18/2015.  NO money came to us. We get a phone call that there is a 19% tax on the total amount we were supposed to get and Mexico requires we pay that before they can release the money.  $22,923.17.  We were now scrambling to find money anywhere, robbing Peter, to pay Paul but we paid it on 11/02/15. 

BUT, it didn't arrive in time for Mexico to close their quarterly statements, 10/31/2015. Another penalty fee of $6032 due immediately to release the money.  Now we are paying 24.99% interest on cash advances on credit cards but we are sure to get our money by Friday 11/06/15 at noon. NO MONEY!  Phone is on message, Capital Holdings is messaging, neither resort has received any money.  My friend tries to find the office in Phoenix.  No luck.

So all total we are out $87,535.77 and very ashamed to have been so gullible.  We are senior citizens who have just retired and we would appreciate any advice, comment, help.  I wish we could have used a credit card, at least we would be protected by scam artist like these.