Complaint Review: Vallarta Escapes

Robert L. Dry (also known as Robert Seco and Roberto Seco) offers vacation rentals in and around Puerto Vallarta.  He operates through a company known as Vallarta Escapes that also does business as Ajijic Escapes and Manzanillo Escapes. 

He offered my family a unit at Molino de Agua in Puerto Vallarta for March 24-30, 2013 for $2470 USD.  Per his instructions, on January 7, 2013 I wired $2470 USD to his account at Bank of America in Sausalito, CA.  On January 21, 2013 I discovered that the unit offered to us was not available.  I alerted Robert immediately.  He claimed a third-party agency made an error, and he would locate another unit that met my requirements.

As of February 6, 2013, no other accommodations had been offered.  I requested a refund in full, and Robert agreed to issue it.  I exchanged over 70 e-mails with Robert and other members of his company.  Those I communicated with included William Michael (aka Michael Carlson) who is Robert's partner and a manager at Vallarta Escapes.  I also exchanged e-mails with Lydia Garcia, an attorney, who William identified as the Mexican national owner of Vallarta Escapes.   No one disputes I am owed $2470 USD.  By August, 2013, I had been reimbursed just $90 USD of the $2470 USD owed to me.

Robert's excuses include claims of staffing changes, awaiting reimbursement from another agency, bank holds and holidays, difficulty with wire transfers and money stolen from Vallarta Escapes. Two repayment plans have been agreed to, but those commitments were not kept.  Robert and his associates repeatedly expect loans and other cash and suggest these will be used to settle the debt with me.  The funds never arrive.  Another repayment plan was proposed that would continue through October, 2014.  I declined to agree to it.  Previous repayment commitments were not kept, and I had no desire to deal with more missed payments and excuses. 

I filed a formal complaint with the  United States Consular Agency in Puerto Vallarta.