Complaint Review: Vacation Getaway

 There's plenty of information on the internet regarding the dirtbags associated with Vacation Getaway, PM of America (Platinum Marketing of America), and Sotheby's Vacation Sales.

During my vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, my wife and I were approached to attend a timeshare presentation with an offer of $500.00 cash for an hour of our time.  We accepted and the next day we attended the presentation (which was in an upper level office at the marina - across from Senior Frog's). 

The salesman went by Greg Bloom.  I'm sure that wasn't his real name.  The pitch was a pre-development sale where the maintenance fees were waived for the first 25 buyers.  As the pitch went on, all my questions were answered with seemingly legit responses.  The salesman offered to buy our existing timeshare (for an inflated price), with that money being applied to the fractional ownership purchase of a new property being developed directly across the marina.  We were to come up with $13,000.00 down and the balance (after proceeds from the sale of our timeshare being applied as well) due on closing.  We could rent back any unused weeks for $2,500.00 per week. 

During the discussion with "Greg", he showed us how we could use a week or two and still be able to come out ahead by renting back remaining weeks.  Long story short, we signed the contract and paid the down payment by credit card.  After paying Sotheby's $995.00 to handle the sale, we thought we were good to go. NOT.  

At first, e-mail communications went well and everything seemed to be on course.  After about 6-8 weeks, there was always an excuse as to what was going on with the "buyer".  Then that buyer didn't get approved for their loan, but there were other buyers that were interested.  More stall tactics, slow responses, and continual excuses.  Eventually, all contact attempts initiated by me were simply ignored.

Due to the length of time that had passed before I came to conclusion that this was a BS deal, the credit card company wouldn't do anything.  It is unfortunate that I didn't heed the adage "if it's too good to be true, it probably isn't a good deal". 

Do your due diligence.  Don't be fooled by these crooks.  Don't sign anything, and above all DON'T GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY.  You will be RIPPED OFF!  Research everything on the internet (but don't do it at their office, they have ways to jam your computer, forcing you to use their computer which is dummied up so you can't access any real information).

I'm not saying that all timeshares are rip offs, however, there are plenty of shady people out there just waiting for an opportunity to take you for all they can.  BEWARE.