Timeshare scam

ComplaintsHotelsMayan Palace

Complaint

0
Deborah
Country: United States
When we arrived at the airport in Cozumel a man approached us and said he was a "Tourist Advisory". He gave us some pointers about what to see while we are there, and then offered a good deal on a car rental. We agreed to rent a car from him and he gave us an invoice with signatures saying it was paid in full. The man also invited us to visit a newly built Mayan Palace and listen to a one-hour presentation on timeshares.

We didn't know if we would have time to do it and we said so.

When we were at the airport a week later getting ready to register for our flight home, the same man approached us and said we owe him a balance of $200 because we didn't listen to his presentation. He then showed us our invoice with fine print that said in order to get the car rental rate we received we would need to listen to the presentation. He then threatened us with police.

We paid the money with our credit card and now I have requested my bank to  cancel that transaction.

Do not get caught in this scam! It's a well played game. Do not get caught in it.

Comments

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  • 0
    Barbie Monroe
    Beware! Timeshare scams are in the order of the day and this is another scammer resorts, do your homework and search for more information: http://www.timesharescam.com/timeshare-complaints-resorts-black-list/5-el-cid-resort-timeshare-complaints/
  • 0
    Emilie Houston
    Timeshares need to be looked up as a purchase and not an investment. Regardless of how timeshares are presented, they don´t perform as well as a house or stock investment. If you look around the resale market for timeshares on websites like EBay, Redweek, or TUGBBS will find that you can buy a timeshare for far less money than what the first owner purchased it for. There are many companies offering to help people who have been victims of timeshare fraud and collect money in advance for doing so. There are companies that even offer cancellation insurance. You must be careful because this could be someone wanting to scam you again. http://www.timesharescam.com/
  • 0
    Mayan Palace Timeshare Scam
    Unfortunately you got hooked into a timeshare presentation, Mayan Palace is known for particularly hard sell tactics. ALL the transfer companies, car rental companies, etc. are OUTSIDE the airport. The people between Customs and the doors to the outside are almost all timeshare reps (couple of kids trying to make a few bucks hauling luggage for folks also). If you go back to the Riviera Maya do not stop or talk to any of these people until you get outside. If you feel you must be polite just say No gracias and keep walking with your eyes down or straight ahead. Most of them wear these really official looking uniforms and will tell you all sorts of lies, like how you have to show them your transfer papers, etc. Just ignore them and keep going.
  • 0
    Natasha Pink
    The truth is that Timeshare scams are increasing, and every day more victims fell for them. Fortunately, there are many solutions to get rid of an unwanted timeshare; however, the best way to dump a timeshare is by cancelling the contract. Timeshare cancellation has many advantages, but the most important is that once the contract is properly cancelled, there are no further responsibilities attached to the resort.
  • 0
    Jennifer Williams
    The truth is that Timeshare scams are increasing, and every day more victims fell for them. Fortunately, there are many solutions to get rid of an unwanted timeshare; however, the best way to dump a timeshare is by cancelling the contract. Timeshare cancellation has many advantages, but the most important is that once the contract is properly cancelled, there are no further responsibilities attached to the resort. http://www.timesharescam.com/blog/150-are-timeshares-scams/
  • 0
    Nadine Henderson
    Timeshare scams have been around since the beginning of the timeshare industry, but these frauds weren’t well known until recent years. What happen is that before there were not as many timeshare laws and regulations as there are now (as you can see on the article get out of a timeshare legally so many of the owners just resigned to the fact that they had to keep the timeshare they bought without thinking. http://www.timesharescam.com/blog/100-get-out-of-timeshare-legally/
  • 0
    Sophie Muller
    I agree with you. My husband and I were blatantly lied to about the mayan palace timeshare membership benefits. We discovered later and have since been trying to get out of the contract; but they dont seem to care at all if the sales people has lied or has given wrongful information; we have stressed this out to their service department but they simply do not care. All they want is to force us to stay. Sooner or later youll probably get a response here from a "Customer Service Representative" trying to apologize and convince you to contact them, DO NOT trust them! they are not able to do anything regarding  of your problem, they just want to "clean" their terrible reputation. I recommend you to read this article about Mayan Palace:

    http://www.timesharescam.com/blog/51-mayan-palace-timeshare-scam/
  • 0
    Linda Rogers
    On this struggling economy, it’s almost impossible to have a timeshare and to be up to date with the yearly payments. Before buying a timeshare, calculate the total purchase price, including the timeshare fees and the cost of travel. Then, compare these costs with other vacation packages to the same destination where your timeshare is. Keep in mind that if you try to resell your timeshare it is very unlike that you recover the amount of money that you paid for it. http://www.timesharescam.com/timeshare-complaints-resorts-black-list/3-mayan-palace-timeshare-complaints/
  • 0
    Peggy Bryant
    Common Complaints:

    The salesperson will claim that they can resell the client's previously owned timeshare for a large sum of money and the purchase of the Mayan timeshare will be covered by this resale.
    Salesperson offers an equity exchange or trade-in program.
    The salesperson says that they will rent out their Mayan weeks for a large profit and issue a check to the client within a few months so that they can pay off the timeshare with the rental income.
    Many clients have complained that when they go to cancel within the 5 day period, they tell them that their deposit is non-refundable, and they are then persuaded into a downgraded membership. http://www.timesharescam.com/timeshare-complaints-resorts-black-list/3-mayan-palace-timeshare-complaints/
  • +1
    Teresa dos Santos
    It is the same old story with the Mayan Palace timeshare resorts (owner David Chavez) who does not care about what fraud he perpetrates on timeshare buyers.  The same old adage applies, with regard to rental fees applicable, etc. It is fraud and there is right of rescission in Mexico no matter what program you buy, no matter what the horror show salespeople tell you.  Heve not met one semi-honest one representing the mayan chain yet. Yes, we got scammed and bought, never again. These are the worst operators in the business.  The name of the programs, Mayan Regency, The Dream, Mayan Palace, Grand Mayan, Bliss, Grupo Luxxe change with regard to what they wish to charge.  The upshot is if you are down the line in their program name game list you lose benefits. The tiger does not change its stripes.  Beware. This is a good article on how most of the Mayan Palace timeshare scams are being committed:

    http://www.timesharescam.com/blog/51-mayan-palace-timeshare-scam/
  • 0
    Alex
    Have Been Hired to Go Work in Mexico.. Any Employees on here that Might help with some Insite on What to Expect.?? Timeshare Sales  Thanks
  • 0
    Emilie Houston
    The timeshare industry has been into the lion’s mouth for the last couple of years, and it has generated lots of controversy and discussions in many forums and blogs on the web. However, since we’re living an economic downturn, anyone would expect that the timeshare sales collapse, but instead of that the sales seem to be increasing… but this comes with a trap: timeshare scams are increasing too. That leads us to the question: then, why keep people investing on timeshares? http://www.timesharescam.com/
  • 0
    Denisse Smith
    Timeshares need to be looked up as a purchase and not an investment. Regardless of how timeshares are presented, they don´t perform as well as a house or stock investment. If you look around the resale market for timeshares on websites like EBay, Redweek, or TUGBBS will find that you can buy a timeshare for far less money than what the first owner purchased it for. http://www.timesharescam.com/timeshare-complaints-resorts-black-list/5-el-cid-resort-timeshare-complaints/
  • 0
    Natalie Wilden
    Timeshare fraud has been around since the timeshare idea was created, but they increase during poor economy. When times are difficult, timeshare owners are stuck with properties they can´t travel to or even afford. Desperate to recoup some money to pay for bills, they can easily become victims to scams artists pretending to be their timeshare salvation who will take upfront fees -as much as five number figures in some cases- but fail to fulfill their promise. http://www.timesharescam.com/
  • 0
    Natalie Wilden
    Common Complaints:

    The salesperson will claim that they can resell the client's previously owned timeshare for a large sum of money and the purchase of the Mayan timeshare will be covered by this resale.
    Salesperson offers an equity exchange or trade-in program.
    The salesperson says that they will rent out their Mayan weeks for a large profit and issue a check to the client within a few months so that they can pay off the timeshare with the rental income.
    Many clients have complained that when they go to cancel within the 5 day period, they tell them that their deposit is non-refundable, and they are then persuaded into a downgraded membership. http://www.timesharescam.com/
  • 0
    Fabiola Curiel
    Timeshares need to be looked up as a purchase and not an investment. Regardless of how timeshares are presented, they don´t perform as well as a house or stock investment. If you look around the resale market for timeshares on websites like EBay, Redweek, or TUGBBS will find that you can buy a timeshare for far less money than what the first owner purchased it for. http://www.timesharescam.com/
  • 0
    Adina Varo
    Timeshare Fraud is not something to be embarrassed about, it is a multi-million dollar industry that preys n timeshare, timeshare scam, timeshare fraud, timeon trusting vacationers and needs to be stopped. http://www.timesharescam.com/
  • 0
    Julia Myers
    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 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. http://www.timesharescam.com/
  • 0
    Jennifer Williams
    Timeshare industry is known for being very susceptible to scams; however, timeshare properties are still a successful business for most resorts. In these times of rough economy, it is important to take care of our money, and timeshares are not in the way to achieve the financial security that we are all looking for. http://www.timesharescam.com/
  • 0
    Peggy Bryant
    Thousands of International travelers, particularly from the US and Canada, have fallen victims oftimeshare fraud while vacationing in Mexico. Resort developers hire skilled salesmen to represent their timeshares as many different attractive packages, such as financial investments, deeded properties, or vacation clubs, just to increase their sales. http://www.timesharescam.com/
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