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  • Report:  #1091191

Complaint Review: Mayan Resorts - Luis Martinez

Mayan Resorts - Vida Vacations; Grand Mayan; Grand Mayan Vacation Club High pressure sales; lies about exchange/usage ability; lies about no fees; lies about closing cost and IVA Playa del Carmen - Cancun Quintana Roo, Mexico

  • Reported By:
    Grace — Boynotn Beach Florida
  • Submitted:
    Fri, October 11, 2013
  • Updated:
    Wed, June 22, 2016
  • Mayan Resorts - Luis Martinez
    Carretera Federal no. 307km
    Select State/Province
    USA
  • Phone:
  • Category:

 In August of 2013 a friend and I spent a wonderful vacation week at the Grand Luxxe in Playa del Carmen, Cancun.  This resort is affliated with VIDA Vacations.  There are four resorts on the premises; Grand Luxxe, Grand Bliss, Grand Mayan and Mayan Palace.

Our vacation started out great, until I was convinced to attend a 90 minute presentation with the lure of a free breakfast and $300 credit on our bill.  The credit was taken off the bill, and the breakfast was provided as promised, but, the 90 minute presentation turned into a 7 hour high pressure sales marathon.  The breakfast meeting appointment was at 9am... I returned to my room, exhausted and overwhelmed, at 4pm.  I own several timeshare and have never experienced such a high pressure sales meeting.

Much of what I was told was not true, and once I returned home and started reading social media about the Grand Mayan and associated properties, I felt sick.  What started out as a wonderful vacation, ended up to be a financial rip-off for me, and still continues.

I believed that I was buying a timeshare that I could use for the rest of my life, and that I could pass on to my niece. I was "given" a "bonus week" which I thought was the same as the week I bought... WRONG.   I was also "given" as a "bonus" for my purchase, 20 "VIDA weeks" that were to be used over a 20 year period, available through SFX, a resort exchange company.  I was promised a "cash exchange" of my annual maintenance by Advantage Services,ensuring that if I couldn't use my week, they would pay my maintenance for me.  They showed my how I would have access to "the world" through RCI, a timeshare exchange company. 

Also, there was an "equity exchange" of two weeks of my existing timeshare, that was to off-set some of the purchase price, as well as the annual cost (since they said they had no maintenance fee).  This sounded "too good to be true".... It was!  

First... the sales contract is for 10 years... NOT.. perpetuity! And must be renewed every 10 years at a cost of $1000.  And the "bonus week" they "gave" will cost me at least $10,000 every 10 years (renewal fee) to actually get to use it.

Promises were made for access to hundreds of different resorts through SFX, a resort exchange company, using my 20 "free VIDA weeks.  The VIDA weeks are NOT FREE... you must pay up to $999 to use these weeks, and they are not guaranteed.  The resorts in the SFX program (which is the only way you can use your "free" weeks) are fabulous, but trying to get a reservation at them is another story.

My salesman, Luis Martinez, was cordial and very good with numbers.  So good, that he made it look like a "no brainer" that I should buy from them.  Unfortunately, now I feel like the "no brainer", because much of what he told me was a lie.

The calculations used to justify the exchange of my existing timeshare for theirs was based on maintenance fees that I would no longer have to pay.  Those calulcations were shown "in perpetuity", and based on Advantage Services reimbursing me for the Grand Mayan maintenance fee. LIE!  The Grand Mayan contract is for only 10 years, NOT "forever", and the Advantage Services program is a fraud! 

There are so many conditions on the acceptance of your week into the Advantage Services program, that it's a sure thing they will NOT reimburse your annual maintenance fee as promised.  That is why the contract administrator has you sign a form that says you do not need this reimbursement to afford the resort payments.  That should have been a red flag to me!  When Advantage Services call you they make it very clear that there is no guaranteed access to their resorts.  Of course, by this time.. you are already home and it's too late!

I was told that the parent company was American, so if there were any problems, I would be dealing with an American company. LIE!  He said that as part of the sale, they would cover the Closing Costs and IVA Tax, which amounted to almost $6500 of the closing cost.  LIE!  I signed the cash-out amount because I was told they would cover those costs at the time of the closing.  I now find out that is not true!

Part of the sales calculations was an exchange of my existing timeshare for a credit against the sales price of what I was buying.  It all looked great at the time, but I was never given any of those calculations, and now I am left wondering what sort of "shell game" they played with me. Equity Acquisition Services, the company that supposedly was taking my existing timeshare (Simpson Bay Resorts in St. Maarten) called me to ask if I wanted to buy it back for $3550.  Since Mayan Resorts calculated these weeks to be worth $35,000, it's amazing to me that EAS is willing to sell them for 10% of that.  RED FLAG!  And they wanted a decision and credit card immediately.

I was told that if I had any questions, that I should contact Lance Dobbs in Member Services.  I have attempted to do that with no success.  It would seem that there are no "member services" after the sale!

I own several other timeshare, and have purchased them for gifts for my family.  I have never felt "scammed" as I do with my Grand Mayan purchase. I have contacted my credit card company to contest the deposit charge, and  I will contact a lawyer to proceed with cancelling my contrac.  Also, I will contribute to whatever social media possible to ensure that others don't experience the same situation.  Vacations are supposed to be "stress free"... and buying your vacation residence should be, too.

5 Updates & Rebuttals


Mark Miles

New York,
New York,
USA

Reply

#6Consumer Comment

Wed, June 22, 2016

I tried to sell my timeshare once, when I thought I was in no end with my membership, however this companies only take your money and never hear from them.

here is an article that made me realize that cancellation was a better option for me.

http://www.timesharescam.com/blog/83-timeshare-resales-timeshare-fraud/


wilsonf

Boynton Beach,
Florida,

Satisfactory Conclusion

#6Author of original report

Wed, November 20, 2013

Although I never connected with Mr. Dobbs, I did speak with someone from Vida Vacations, Mr. Nick Steele.  After clarifying some misunderstandings on my part, Mr. Steele and I came to a mutual agreement, and I am very satisfied with the outcome.

Thank you Mr. Steele, for your professionalism and understanding.  I look forward to vacationing at your resorts in the future.

 


wilsonf

Boynton Beach,
Florida,

Still waiting for a follow-up phone call from Lance Dobbs

#6Author of original report

Fri, November 01, 2013

Lance Dobbs, of Customer Service, has call me 3 times in the past month in response to my Ripoff Report.  Unfortunately, each time I missed his call.  The message that he left indicated that he would call back later that day, however, that call never came!  There is no 800 number that I can reach him on.... and a long distance call to Mexico is not in my budget.... since I've been ripped off by them!!!! 

I have filed a dispute with American Express for the deposit I made in August.  I have also filed a formal complaint with PROFECO, the Mexican version of "consumer protection". 

Unfortunately, I fell for the lies of the whole "Equity Acquisition Services" program, too, where they buy the timeshare I have for the amount presented at the sales meeting, and the proceeds would reduce the cost of my Grand Mayan purchase.  LIE!!!!   I have a dispute with Citibank for the charges made by EAS for their services, which are a fraud!

Don't believe anything that VIDA Vacations tells you!  It all sounds so great at the time.... but, when the dust falls, and the lies become clear.... you will be out a LOT of money.... still have maintenance fees, and unable to do anything but get a Mexican lawyer.... which I have also done!

I will continue to update my experience with Vida Vacations until I am satisfied with the outcome.  


maryg

Alabama,

Class Action Lawsuit

#6Consumer Suggestion

Thu, October 17, 2013

If you would like to participate in a class action lawsuit relating to this matter, you can contact info@arthurdouglaslaw.com


BetzabethT

Seattle,
Washington,

Mayan Palace Timeshare Scam

#6Consumer Comment

Tue, October 15, 2013

Unfortunately, the Mayan Palace timeshare sales in Mexico are in its majority a huge scam. The OPC, the one on the street inviting you makes $250-$350 per couple...so be sure he tells you any lie there is. Timeshare sales people are rotating from place to place and mostly alcoholics that look for their 8% comission. We were surprised how they work, like sharks, and some are really good showing numbers, benefits, etc...If i did not know, i probably would have bought. Be careful and NEVER make a decision the same day!! They love this, just tell them that you need to think about and they will throw in all they have..that is the sign that someting is not quite right...

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