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Hi everyone. I'm a newbie and got burned less than 30 days ago by Real Club in Cancun.
Here is a summary of our plight.
We checked into the Gran Caribe Real on December 29, 2008. That day we went to guest services to ask a question about activities. The staff person gave us minimal information and then told us that we could get more information on the hotel if we attended a meeting the next day and if we attended, we would get a free beach bag and sarong and we would be helping her get points for her reward system. We thought it was an information session about the hotel so we signed up.
The next day we reported to our meeting. We were passed from the lady who greeted us to two other ladies. Neither one told us that it was for a timeshare plan. They sat us in the lounge and gave us drinks. Eventually, Federico P. came over and started the spiel. After a few minutes, he asked us if we were told the reason for the meeting. We replied, “No we were not”. He became agitated and frustrated at that point. He calmed down and went on with his spiel that included a summary of how much we paid for our trip. This part of the meeting took place in a restaurant where they again provided us with alcohol and then a tour of the neighboring hotel.
The tour finished off in the sales room where Federico, Fabio and others used high pressure tactics and more alcohol to try to recruit us. They kept bringing us drinks even though my wife commented that she didn’t need anymore because she has a low tolerance to alcohol. They never left us alone to speak and even sent someone to accompany me to the men’s room.
The real issue lies in the fact that they lied to us about rates and switched schedules in the contract on us.
1) Selling the weeks. We were told that we could sell up to 5 weeks per year for $1000 per week or more, it seemed like a good idea. We could use the money to pay for the plan and save for our next trip. When I called yesterday, I was told to call a person at Global Research. I was told by her that we had to pay a fee of $600 up front in order to sell. It was then I started to research and found out all the complaints. There are warnings against Global Research but to do with Secret Shoppers and paying people with phony cheques. The whole thing smelled bad. In light of the troubles we have had so far with Real Club, I’m not taking the chance of paying any more money up front. I've since heard that it's not likely you'll get back what you’ve paid for the week.
2) When they were giving us the spiel, they routinely stated that the fees you pay when you book your weeks (Exhibit C) were per double occupancy for the week. The sheet they used for the demonstration had no mention otherwise. My wife asked 4 times, "and this cost is per week based on double occupancy?" and they replied, "yes".
At one point we were talking about using RCI and going to Greece on our weeks. She asked about the fee for that. Fabio replied, "Yes, you can go to Greece for $489 per week."
When we looked over the contract I didn't see the line in there that said, "ALL INCLUSIVE preferred rates (USD) prices are per person per night”, in Exhibit C. Based on the information they provided, it appeared to be a good deal for us and for our kids in the future. We agreed to take the 400 week package at a cost of $19, 985 USD.
Once we said yes, they were immediately over there with the champagne and kept if flowing all through the signing of the contract. There was a problem with some of the free items they offered in the negotiation including 3 free trips to Cancun, a cruise and a Transfer to the Royal Hotel next door. They took the contract papers to the office to fix the issues and changed the sheet that included the per person / per night section. The lady we were signing the contract with, Gricelda Vielma held the contracts while we signed and only showed the bottom portion of each sheet. They had gotten us drunk so we didn't catch it when we initialed the contract.
We called the Real Club yesterday to inquire about selling weeks and to book for next year. It was then that we found out about the switch to per person per night. When we expressed concern about the change, the gentleman, Mr. Marcos Vallado replied, “too bad, you signed the contract”.
We have done the math using the membership preferred rates and to stay in the same room we booked for our initial trip, we would end up paying more for the whole trip than if we booked again through Signature Vacations. Who would sign such an agreement if they weren’t lied to?
Now every time I call there, I get put on hold and eventually transferred to a message asking me to leave a voice mail. Also, Mr. Vallado provided my wife with a false e-mail address when she wanted to file a complaint and cancel the agreement. This is not how a respectable enterprise operates.
If anyone has any input on how to proceed to fight this and cancel the contract..
Many thanks
Here is a summary of our plight.
We checked into the Gran Caribe Real on December 29, 2008. That day we went to guest services to ask a question about activities. The staff person gave us minimal information and then told us that we could get more information on the hotel if we attended a meeting the next day and if we attended, we would get a free beach bag and sarong and we would be helping her get points for her reward system. We thought it was an information session about the hotel so we signed up.
The next day we reported to our meeting. We were passed from the lady who greeted us to two other ladies. Neither one told us that it was for a timeshare plan. They sat us in the lounge and gave us drinks. Eventually, Federico P. came over and started the spiel. After a few minutes, he asked us if we were told the reason for the meeting. We replied, “No we were not”. He became agitated and frustrated at that point. He calmed down and went on with his spiel that included a summary of how much we paid for our trip. This part of the meeting took place in a restaurant where they again provided us with alcohol and then a tour of the neighboring hotel.
The tour finished off in the sales room where Federico, Fabio and others used high pressure tactics and more alcohol to try to recruit us. They kept bringing us drinks even though my wife commented that she didn’t need anymore because she has a low tolerance to alcohol. They never left us alone to speak and even sent someone to accompany me to the men’s room.
The real issue lies in the fact that they lied to us about rates and switched schedules in the contract on us.
1) Selling the weeks. We were told that we could sell up to 5 weeks per year for $1000 per week or more, it seemed like a good idea. We could use the money to pay for the plan and save for our next trip. When I called yesterday, I was told to call a person at Global Research. I was told by her that we had to pay a fee of $600 up front in order to sell. It was then I started to research and found out all the complaints. There are warnings against Global Research but to do with Secret Shoppers and paying people with phony cheques. The whole thing smelled bad. In light of the troubles we have had so far with Real Club, I’m not taking the chance of paying any more money up front. I've since heard that it's not likely you'll get back what you’ve paid for the week.
2) When they were giving us the spiel, they routinely stated that the fees you pay when you book your weeks (Exhibit C) were per double occupancy for the week. The sheet they used for the demonstration had no mention otherwise. My wife asked 4 times, "and this cost is per week based on double occupancy?" and they replied, "yes".
At one point we were talking about using RCI and going to Greece on our weeks. She asked about the fee for that. Fabio replied, "Yes, you can go to Greece for $489 per week."
When we looked over the contract I didn't see the line in there that said, "ALL INCLUSIVE preferred rates (USD) prices are per person per night”, in Exhibit C. Based on the information they provided, it appeared to be a good deal for us and for our kids in the future. We agreed to take the 400 week package at a cost of $19, 985 USD.
Once we said yes, they were immediately over there with the champagne and kept if flowing all through the signing of the contract. There was a problem with some of the free items they offered in the negotiation including 3 free trips to Cancun, a cruise and a Transfer to the Royal Hotel next door. They took the contract papers to the office to fix the issues and changed the sheet that included the per person / per night section. The lady we were signing the contract with, Gricelda Vielma held the contracts while we signed and only showed the bottom portion of each sheet. They had gotten us drunk so we didn't catch it when we initialed the contract.
We called the Real Club yesterday to inquire about selling weeks and to book for next year. It was then that we found out about the switch to per person per night. When we expressed concern about the change, the gentleman, Mr. Marcos Vallado replied, “too bad, you signed the contract”.
We have done the math using the membership preferred rates and to stay in the same room we booked for our initial trip, we would end up paying more for the whole trip than if we booked again through Signature Vacations. Who would sign such an agreement if they weren’t lied to?
Now every time I call there, I get put on hold and eventually transferred to a message asking me to leave a voice mail. Also, Mr. Vallado provided my wife with a false e-mail address when she wanted to file a complaint and cancel the agreement. This is not how a respectable enterprise operates.
If anyone has any input on how to proceed to fight this and cancel the contract..
Many thanks
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