Grand Mayan Vida Vacations Avoid Mayan Resorts and their Fraudulent Misrepresentation Riveria Maya, Nationwide
This is an attempt to make consumers aware of the deceitful practices that Myan Resorts, Vida Vacations, and their partners use. Simply put, avoid MYAN RESORTS and their sale practices at all costs!! Don't believe me, a simple Google Search "Grand Myan Scam" will pull up all the information you need. I've provided a few links to make this more convenient for you. My story is very similar to the thousands of others out there but I want to publish this to as many people as possible. If you are interested in my story please continue to read and also see the response from Grand Mayan below.
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=124478
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138856
http://grand-mayan-resorts.pissedconsumer.com/grand-luxxe-grand-mayan-scam-20120423314135.html
The fraudulent misrepresentation starts when you walk through the doors. They will offer you free breakfast and a tour of the resort. The resort is huge, so it appears to be a wise choice and they claim this will not take up much of your time. What they do not share with you is the truth.
You will be attending a high pressure sales presentation that will consume your entire day to the point where you feel the need to buy something to get out of the room. Even through this, I was still able to accept the initial lie and was participating as a willing listener. What I did not realize is that everything they were telling me continued to be lies and this continued from all three high pressure sales people they forced me to listen to before I could sign out and leave. I've
been through timeshare presentations and even made a purchase in the past, but this one is much different. Previous companies may pressure you, but are not willing to flat out lie to you. Mayan Resorts does this day in and day out to hundreds of people and takes their hard earned
money. They ask for you to rent the weeks through another company they work with and you will get $1000.00 to $1500.00 back for each week you own. The only way you would not be able to rent it is if a natural disaster happens. The company they asked me to work with was Golf Marketing Connections because the golfers they work with need places to stay when they travel to Mexico for golf. This company also collects money from you (see below) to rent the weeks, but the upfront fee is worth it because it will help you pay for your investment. They will also sell your current timeshare for an estimated price that is provided to you. THESE ARE ALL LIES COMING FROM MAYAN RESORTS AND VIDA VACATIONS!!! These companies are a 'front' and it appears their websites may even be fake.
You find out about the fraudulent misrepresentation when you get home and start contacting these companies and follow the instructions you've been told. This is a scam and continues to happen day in and day out the minute your plane hits the ground in Mexico. Unless you've been burned by them before, educated about this, or much skeptical of people than I am.......you will get trapped. Just avoid these people, the resorts, and any business partners associated with them. I am only asking for a simple refund below and you can see their response below.
I have included the definition of Fraudulent Misrepresentation. A law practice that Mayan Resorts does not seem to care about and Mexico does not care to enforce.
The definition of Fraudulent Misrepresentation:
Instance of false statement where (1) the party making the statement is aware that it is false or disregards the possibility of it being false, (2) the party making the statement does so to induce another party to enter into a contract, and (3) the other party enters the contract as a result of
the statement and consequently suffers a loss.
I only asked for a refund of the following, which they refuse:
$399.00 given to Golf Marketing Connections
$3,475.00 down payment to Vida
Stop monthly payment processing ASAP!!
It appears that I will not get my money back, so hopefully I can save other people the hardship and loss. If you want to donate your money, there is plenty of great organizations and churches that can use it. This multimillion dollar company (Mayan Resorts / Vida Vacations / Golf Marketing Connections) does not deserve it though. Please do not go there, avoid doing business with them, and pass this on to anyone who travels.
Response from Grand Mayan Resorts:
thank you very much for your email. Please note that Mayan Resorts did not in any way breach the contract you have read and signed on the day of your purchase. In fact, our contract documents very clearly spell out that rentals are permitted but neither guaranteed nor endorsed by Mayan Resorts and that the membership is intended for the use and enjoyment of Member, not for rental, resale or investment. Company makes no representation regarding the market for vacation interval rentals or resales or the investment value of vacation intervals and does not in any way recommend acquiring vacation intervals for rental, resale or investment purposes. Member represents and warrants that he is not acquiring these vacation lodging intervals for any rental, resale, investment or commercial purpose.
Please be so kind to study clause 9.1. C to verify this information. The same information is furthermore provided also in the New Member Verification Checklist which you also signed and initialed confirming you understand the contract.
It is the consumer's right and responsibility to read legal contracts before or while signing or the very least within the days after the purchase and to return to member services shall any controversy arise. In fact as a consumer and by Mexican Law you have five days to fully study your contract documents and request a cancellation with a full refund with no questions asked, shall there have been any second thoughts of yours or controversy regarding what you understood and what is in writing.
Unfortunately at this point we cannot cancel a contract with a refund however I would like to mention that Mayan Resorts is willing to work with you towards and amicable outcome. This may include either financing of your agreement with us or even look into downgrade packages to reduce the financial responsibility you signed for or shall you wish to cancel your agreement at this point we would be able to do so however no monies paid to date will be refunded.
If you already have contacted your credit card institution at this point we would need to proceed by awaiting the credit card dispute to which we are required to answer within a short period of time. Once the dispute is initiated it will be upon your financial institution to take a decision.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Frank Pay
New York,New York,
USA
Reply
#7Consumer Comment
Fri, June 12, 2015
In my opinion this is a nice resort, unfortunately they are liars and thieves. You have to stay away from them and their
timeshare presentations, don't make the mistake to go just waiting for free stuff!!
Be careful! I was scammed too, 2 years ago, and it's been a nightmare for me. I was reading some articles about this
fraudulent resort and they really helped me to understand a few more things.
Take a look at these, maybe you found something of help:
http://www.timesharescam.com/blog/51-mayan-palace-timeshare-scam/
http://www.timesharescam.com/timeshare-complaints-resorts-black-list/3-mayan-palace-timeshare-complaints/
Don't give up on communicating to others what this people is really doing, we cannot let them to keep robbing people.
Good luck!
margaretsims90
Alabama,Timeshare Scam
#7Consumer Comment
Sat, January 10, 2015
Before you purchase, you need to think carefully how you will use it in your life, and if you have the money to spend; take your time and don´t make any commitments on your first visit. Also, don’t forget to do an internet search on the company, and if the company is legit they will let you come back another day if you wish to make de purchase.
Thousands of people every year fall victim to fraudulent timeshare sales practices and timeshare scams while vacationing in Mexico. The sales teams have carefully crafted and proven techniques to close sales, and are very skilled in ensuring that potential clients become timeshare owners.
Jennifer W
Hayward,California,
Mayan Palace
#7REBUTTAL Individual responds
Mon, January 27, 2014
Charles
Suffolk,Virginia,
Bliss timeshare fraud
#7Consumer Comment
Mon, June 03, 2013
We recently were taken by Vida as well. We were NEVER informed of the 5 day cancellation policy, otherwise we would have after reviewing the documents. They never informed us of the additional fees required for Vida weeks for booking which were not mentioned in the contract, nor the $99 per year for the advantage week which was a part of the deal as well. In addition, we were sold a sub par property which we were only shown a room diagram of with no actual pictures of the property displayed. I were mislead and never fully informed of the additional fees required and that there is no guarantee of being able to use the weeks purchased.
We will actively purse cancellation of our contract based upon misrepresentation and fraud with nondisclosure of the 5 day cancellation policy. It appears from the multiple postings that legal representation will be necessary with multiple firms available who are familiar with similar issues and have successfully had contracts terminated.
janie78j
Hayward,California,
Mayan Palace Timeshare Scam
#7General Comment
Mon, May 27, 2013
Timeshares are generally sold in a high-pressure environment (Mayan Palace Timeshare presentations are particularly known for that) and most advantages the sales people tout are illusory. You are promised a cheap vacation for the family, but you probably can rent a similar unit for less. You are told you can swap your unit in other parts of the country for the same quality. However, you may not be able to arrange the place and time you want. By contrast, if you rent, you can select any location when you choose. I think you'll be interested on reading this article from Mexican Timeshare Solutions about Mayan Palace:
Mayan Palace Timeshare Scam
-It's every customer's right to be educated-
Terry
Hancock,New York,
United States of America
Rebuttal to Mayan/Vida Vacations Response
#7Consumer Comment
Fri, September 21, 2012
My wife and I attended a similar sales presentation in August 2012. Let me say, first of all, that we were already owners at the Grand Luxxe/Vida Vacations (same company as Mayan Palace/ Grand Mayan, Grand Bliss). We attended an owner's update. We were enticed by a similar verbal promise that if we were to double our ownership weeks, we would be able to rent any unused vacation weeks at the rate of $2,600 per week plus the maintenance fee of about $1,200 per week. We were assured over and over again, verbally, that this would be the case. Of course, when the paperwork came, we had to sign off that no such assurances were made.
Upon return to our timeshare unit, we researched the rental issue and concluded that there was virtually no chance an unused vacation week could be rented out for that kind of money. After full consideration, we rescinded the contract within the 5 day grace period by certified letter, return receipt requested, to the address specified in the contract. Interestly, at the closing, Vida Vacations offered to ship the paperwork to our home so that we would not have to carry it with us. If we had done that, we would not have had the information necessary to rescind the contract.
We should have known better than to sign the new contract to begin with. Anything that sounds too good to be true is too good to be true. You can never rely on the verbal assurances of timeshare sales people. If it isn't in writing, it isn't true. Fortunately, we successfully rescinded the contract and our deposit was returned. The Mayan/Grand Luxxe property is exceptionally nice. I just wish the sales staff would let the property speak for itself and not resort to lies and other fabrications to push sales.