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Deceitful sales practices

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  • Deceitful sales practices

    We purchased the timeshare with La Jolla under the understanding that la jolla would find buyers for our two current timeshares at the agreed upon price of $5.500 USD within six months. At the end of that period when no buyer was found, I demanded reimbursement of the amount I had paid, $15.300 USD. They came back to me requesting another 6 months with the provision that I would be paid the $5.500 USD in equal monthly installments over a 6 month period. At the end of that time if no buyers were found, the Resort would take over ownership, and i would have no further obligation to those timeshares after September 10, 2008. They made the regular six-month payments and paid the $5, 500 in full. I gave them an additional week after September 10 to accept the transfer of ownership of the two timeshares since the sales manager I was dealing with, Ed Chester, was ill.

    I sent them the paper work for the timeshare transfers to be signed and returned to me by September 17. The paper work was returned to me unsigned. I sent an email stating that, since I got the papers back unsigned and they obviously had no intention of going forward with the deal, to send me the balance of the money owed me $9, 800 USD. They ignored this and cut off further communication.

    Earlier this year, the Resort sent me a bill for the maintenance fees for 2008 and 2009 by email. I responded that since he had voided our contract no monies were due. They responded that I was right and they were sorry for bothering me.

    To think that I was going to utilize the service of Fernando Lobato, the sales manager who started this charade, to help me purchase a residence since my wife and I were planning to retire in Mexico, is laughable. It is good that I found out the type person he is and by reflection, the resort itself is, before I invested any additional monies. I have tried since the beginning of this deal to make it work because I was so totally convinced by Mr. Lobato that this was a good deal. Boy, was I wrong. The time and money I have spent money for legal forms, postage, phone calls, and shipping costs to Mexico dealing with the transfer of my current timeshares.

    This situation has been the source of considerable aggravation and anxiety for almost two years now. Whereas previously my wife and I had seriously considered relocating to Mexico, we have no desire to visit there again at the moment. It's a shame that a Lobato and Resort La Jolla could make us feel this way. Since this incident happened in trying to find a resolution to getting my money back, I have found other individuals who have also been scammed by them. People like this should have any sales licenses they possess cancelled since they unfortunately represent to an extent the Mexican people.
    I am going to dedicate myself to aware future travelers to Mazatlan and Mexico to be careful about going to timeshare presentations since we are not protected by the laws of Mexico or the US.

  • #2
    What happened to you is something that we have heard over and over again. Some salesmen in Mexico will tell you most anything to get you to buy a TS from them.

    The deal with finding buyer for your current TS is also a well known lie.

    Sorry for your troubles
    Bill

    Comment


    • #3
      Hey, it's not just Mexico !

      Comment


      • #4
        We'll take over your timeshare, just buy this!

        Originally posted by 1950bing
        Hey, it's not just Mexico !
        Bing- I can always count on you to jump into the fray with some type of "timeshares are bad" statement.. For someone who seems to really have a history of negative experiences with timeshares- you sure spend alot of time here.. Are you employed in the industry or just a masochistic personality? No offense intended, just wondering... I'm actually glad you post- as I believe that it's important to give perspective on both sides of the industy's personality.

        Originally posted by Bill4728
        What happened to you is something that we have heard over and over again. Some salesmen in Mexico will tell you most anything to get you to buy a TS from them.

        The deal with finding buyer for your current TS is also a well known lie.

        Sorry for your troubles
        As usual, Bill4728 is correct.. However, some of these situations aren't actually a blatant attempt at deception on the part of the individual salesperson. Many simply aren't educated about the current state of the industry (and some developers haven't been providing sufficient instruction or updates to policy changes- either caused by bad management on the sales floor, or by purposeful negligence on the part of the developer to try and salvage sales they would otherwise lose)..

        In the past, there were a number of resellers (Holiday Group was the most visible of these) who would accept the equity trade from the developer. With the downturn in resales, and the subsequent excess inventory now being held by some of these resellers, all of these programs have been somewhat "modified".. Now, the resellers are trying to "hold" the inventory in the original owner's name until a buyer can be found. A policy that is doomed to failure, as these same resellers still have plenty of inventory in the company's name (and what do you think will be sold first!)..

        The problem is that onsite buyer's are not being told of this policy change. It's no longer a "someone will take over ownership and actually transfer title", it's now "someone will accept a listing for your ownership and try to sell it!"...

        Regardless- the end result is the same.. Uneducated buyers not understanding the terms of what they are buying, and not being prudent enough to ensure they receive some type of written promise from the developer!

        Hopefully, consumer info sites such as this one will continue to grow in both scope and visibility- and these things will happen to fewer and fewer buyers.
        my travel website: Vacation-Times.org.

        "A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking."
        ~Earl Wilson

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by sadi
          ...People like this should have any sales licenses they possess cancelled since they unfortunately represent to an extent the Mexican people.
          People like that do NOT have any sales licenses to cancel. Real Estate brokers and salespeople are NOT licensed nor regulated in Mexico. Virtually anybody can call themselves a Real Estate agent.
          John

          Comment


          • #6
            Crimeshare

            wow
            It is truly sad your desire to relocate to mexico based upon crimeshare experience. This should not reflect upon the mexican people, I amy be wrong but I would estimate 90+ percent of the crimeshare sales people are canadian, american with some british australiens.

            Having been in business in Mexico for quite a few years, Its been pretty consistent, seems every time there is a real issue/scam etc it generally involves a ringleader that is Not Mexican.
            Timeshare opc's, many are Mexican heritage that grew up north of border and got kicked out of US.

            Between opc's and sales Many seem to be unwanted or most wanted. : )
            Our experience with Villa del palmar drove crazy and made me so frustrated. Instead of fighting an uphill battle decided to buy a house here 8 years ago... best thing i ever did!

            Comment


            • #7
              Reselling t share more fees and bs

              I have heard that the re-selling of timeshares is nonexistant.
              Its simply fees and more fees for nothing,
              Years ago i got suckered to pay a company in US 495- to sell our VDP.
              well obviously that never sold.
              They gave me some song and dance..
              Get song and dance when you buy em. when you book em, when you show up to stay with upsell BS, then when you want to get rid of it another song and dance.

              Comment


              • #8
                That's the most common trap used by the salesperson; once that you acquire a timeshare it virtually worth nothing. Remember that you always have to read what you are singing! and if there is a large sum of money involve ask assistance of your lawyer.
                Ricardo Lasker

                Comment


                • #9
                  La Jolla is a name that consistently shows up. They are probably # 1 on the crooked Mexico timeshare outfits for the past year or 2. Take your complaints to PROFECO---they might even have a special section for La Jolla.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Profeco will not help you against La Jolla my friend. PROFECO's offices in Mexico city doesn't have the human resources to check in detail every complaint that they have.

                    -------------------------Ad link removed BF
                    Timeshare Scams Companies : Timeshare Fraud Complaints : Cancel Timeshare Contract : Timeshare Solutions : Timeshare Attorney : Time Share Scam
                    Ricardo Lasker

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Well, if we cannot own a house where timeshare scammers abide, I guess we need to sell our Florida place.

                      RCI Member Since 24-Aug-1989/150-plus Exchanges***THE TIMESHARE GRIM REAPER~~~Exchanging/Searching/SW Florida/MO/AR/IA/Consumer Advocacy/Estate Planning/Sports/Boating/Fishing/Golf/Lake-living/Retirement****Sometimes ya just gotta be a dick

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        La Jolla Mexico/ Fraud time share robbery.

                        This year for my annual vacation, my boyfriend and I went to Mazatlan, Mexico. While there, time share people allured us to free breakfasts, drinks, and $300 gift to attend a presentation.
                        Although we are cautious with our money (since we have very little) La Jolla Mazatlan Resort managed to get $26,000 from us with promises that they would buy the current time share we had + buy from us any unused times at their resort for 3,500/week. Since the promises were too good, I asked lots of questions for which they had – what I thought at the time -- good answers.
                        I was not drunk or stoned, not suffering from heat stroke; influenced by the beauty of the surroundings and day dreaming on the possibility of being able to afford a first class vacation five times a year, I believe now, I must have been high on the thought of “the good life.”
                        I am embarrassed to admit that I allowed them to take the little money I had. I know there is not much I can do to recover the money. The reason I am writing this is in hopes that someone reads this and remembers not to trust blindly people while on vacation, especially in Mexico, and particularly La Jolla Mazatlan, as I have read there are thousands of American citizens who have been swindled out of their savings by this particular “timeshare”, La Jolla, and I feel the need to forewarn them of the dangers of the Mexican time shares.
                        The La Jolla people, (their VP of Sales, Alfredo Marq; Sales Manager, Efrain Morales; their counterpart in the USA representing SWAP Global Vacation, Cameron Moretti, and their customer service representative,) were all fluent in English, two of them were American Citizens familiar with contract law, the banking system, property deeds, and taxes on capital gains – they offer to buy a time share we already had and were so astute in describing the deal, I eat it all up.
                        After six months of trying to get a hold of them through e-mails and phone calls that have gone unanswered, I have given up on the money, the vacation, everything. I still get mad at times (at me mostly). I am 50 years old, I have an MBA, I am a Business Consultant, I tell my clients “if it is too good to be truth, is because it is…” and yet, they took everything I had; while it wasn’t much, it was to me.
                        I am posting this for the first time, when I first came aware of what was happening I did not want to believe it; after it settled in, I went from deeply depressed and mad, to feeling embarrassed and powerless.
                        I am getting over all these feelings; I know there is nothing I can do to recover the money we lost, but I have the power, and obligation, to alert others of what happened to me, in hopes that they avoid giving their savings to a bunch of La Jolla crooks.
                        I will keep posting, with more details of what happened and how it happened in hopes that if any of your Mexican Adventures resemble any of my experience for the brief two days it took for these La Jolla bandits to take my money, you can recognize the signs and run the other way.
                        In solidarity with all those who have been robbed by an armed person; a suit guy with a sales folder in hand; a pirate; or a bully at school, remember, anyone can learn from your experience if you are willing to share it.
                        tsv
                        P.S. Since I wrote this, I have learned that the sales people (VPs, Managers, Customer Service, and others), change their name regularly to avoid being identified as guilty parties on internet postings.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          La Jolla Mexico/ Fraud time share robbery.

                          This year for my annual vacation, my boyfriend and I went to Mazatlan, Mexico. While there, time share people allured us to free breakfasts, drinks, and $300 gift to attend a presentation.
                          Although we are cautious with our money (since we have very little) La Jolla Mazatlan Resort managed to get $26,000 from us with promises that they would buy the current time share we had + buy from us any unused times at their resort for 3,500/week. Since the promises were too good, I asked lots of questions for which they had – what I thought at the time -- good answers.
                          I was not drunk or stoned, not suffering from heat stroke; influenced by the beauty of the surroundings and day dreaming on the possibility of being able to afford a first class vacation five times a year, I believe now, I must have been high on the thought of “the good life.”
                          I am embarrassed to admit that I allowed them to take the little money I had. I know there is not much I can do to recover the money. The reason I am writing this is in hopes that someone reads this and remembers not to trust blindly people while on vacation, especially in Mexico, and particularly La Jolla Mazatlan, as I have read there are thousands of American citizens who have been swindled out of their savings by this particular “timeshare”, La Jolla, and I feel the need to forewarn them of the dangers of the Mexican time shares.
                          The La Jolla people, (their VP of Sales, Alfredo Marq; Sales Manager, Efrain Morales; their counterpart in the USA representing SWAP Global Vacation, Cameron Moretti, and their customer service representative,) were all fluent in English, two of them were American Citizens familiar with contract law, the banking system, property deeds, and taxes on capital gains – they offer to buy a time share we already had and were so astute in describing the deal, I eat it all up.
                          After six months of trying to get a hold of them through e-mails and phone calls that have gone unanswered, I have given up on the money, the vacation, everything. I still get mad at times (at me mostly). I am 50 years old, I have an MBA, I am a Business Consultant, I tell my clients “if it is too good to be truth, is because it is…” and yet, they took everything I had; while it wasn’t much, it was to me.
                          I am posting this for the first time, when I first came aware of what was happening I did not want to believe it; after it settled in, I went from deeply depressed and mad, to feeling embarrassed and powerless.
                          I am getting over all these feelings; I know there is nothing I can do to recover the money we lost, but I have the power, and obligation, to alert others of what happened to me, in hopes that they avoid giving their savings to a bunch of La Jolla crooks.
                          I will keep posting, with more details of what happened and how it happened in hopes that if any of your Mexican Adventures resemble any of my experience for the brief two days it took for these La Jolla bandits to take my money, you can recognize the signs and run the other way.
                          In solidarity with all those who have been robbed by an armed person; a suit guy with a sales folder in hand; a pirate; or a bully at school, remember, anyone can learn from your experience if you are willing to share it.
                          tsv
                          P.S. Since I wrote this, I have learned that the sales people (VPs, Managers, Customer Service, and others), change their name regularly to avoid being identified as guilty parties on internet postings.

                          Comment

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