anyone been to this resort?

We lost our battle with them using Visa, our local bank, Federal Trade Commission, BBB and an attorney. They know how to cover their butts in this situation. My attorney told me to just walk away that it wasn't that much of a loss (over $15,000). Visa took their side along with our attorney general. I am trying to resolve this with Monique. She is on the board of directors with CocoSunset. I really don't plan on gaining anything but the use of the unit that we purchased there. She said there is not a contract with CocoSunset that involves the resale of timeshare or the rental of our ownership with CocoSunset. My anger is with Cindy Kidd and I would love to bring a civil suit against her. She was the salesperson that guaranteed the resale of our timeshare for $28,500.00 the rental of the fractional ownership for $2500.00 a week. Yes, as my wife warned me, "If it sounds too go to be true, it probably is." A big learning lesson. As of right now I do not plan on paying any maitenance fees in the future. Our attorney said that they shouldn't expose it to our credit rating due the the fraud they have committed.

Thanks for letting us know of your experiences, Daniel. I also think we have a case for a civil suit. The good news is that this forum has kept these thieves from getting to at least a few other people. If people had been writing about Coco Sunset in 2011, I could have rescinded my "contract" in time.

Keep posting and using the keywords "Coco Sunset" "Bahia Turquesa," "scam" and "fraud." This actually does help.

Bummer! I'm trying just to get my money back from the Scott Riggs deal. Talked to Citibank and have sent in everything, but it is getting over 18 mo. old. Will see where that goes.

After presenting overwhelming evidence to Visa at BB&T we still were denied our claim. I had the case opened three times and still lost. Time to cancel BB&T Visa account too. Scott Riggs....I hope he burns in hell!

Just got my denial from Citibank MasterCard. The form letter said I should read all of the details and that this is out of the country so they cannot go after Omnicorps. Lovely!

I just submitted to Citi Visa, but seems as well I'll be denied if you accounts are accurate. However, I would hope that this establishment won't come after us for unpaid additional fees, considering the large amount of fraud.

We seem to be in a very similar situation as you. I did find a website for Mercury that seemed very comprehensive. I spoke with the rep from Mercury and after asking a lot of questions he told me that they would not inform me that my weeks were being purchased until the end of the year... in which case I would have given them up for nothing and would not even have the option of using them. I might be able to bank some of them but this means I might never get either the rental or use of the weeks. We want to cancel in much the same way you have. How hard have they fought you on this? Are they even responding to your notifications? I am willing to take a hit on my credit if it means not losing our money. Thanks for any info.

jenf55 wrote:

Bahia sold us on 5 weeks/every other yr and rent out each week for $2000/wk through a company called Mercury Property. We got home to look up more info on Mercury and there was nothing (red flag). That's when we looked up more info on Bahia Turquesa and saw these postings. We mailed a certified letter to cancel our contract based off of law 7472 art. 40 and the fraud reported along with emailing and faxing the contract cancellation letter to any contact number we were given. The credit card company should hopefully be able to cancel the deposit once we fill out required paperwork, but we plan to take our loses if needed. This is crazy the people have gotten away with scams for so long. FYI- during the signing of the contract, there was no mention of a Cindy Kidd handling anything. I'm not sure if this person now goes by a different name...

My husband and I emailed Monique Kinsey with a scanned copy of a "rescinding contract" letter on the 8th day and also mailed it via certified mail. Of the money for a down payment we gave, we recovered (from them directly) all but $1996.00 that they charged for an upgraded room that we received when signing the contract. If you have an email I can forward you the exact letter along with emails back and forth if it may help you. I do recommend canceling any credit card affiliated with what you put down because a few days ago they charged us about $4000 for a scheduled 2 month payment when it should have never been processed. Monique is refunding this as well within the next 48 hours.

As for credit, if you are in the same boat as we are, they never asked for a social security number or papers authorizing doing a credit check; the whole purchase never showed up on our credit score and honestly seemed to be all "under the table" type action. I wouldn't worry about that aspect.

How long has Mercury been around based off the info you're finding? When we looked into it in June, there was nothing but a small property management business of 0-10 employees with no other information. Definitely check into this further if possible.

From looking up Cindy Kidd on Google, it appears that she left at the end of June and now does the same thing for Marriott time shares (there are negative comments all over about their group as well.) It sounds like they have replaced her with someone with the same tactics. What is the name of your contact from Mercury? I doubt if Scott Riggs would use the same name, but I'm sure he is involved someway.

J

Hello we are in the exact situation and are very anxious. I just email Monique by saying I would like to cancel the contract signed on July 19 th ( just coming back from a long vacation). I don't have the resigned letter you seem to have. Can you help me to get my money back! Many thanks

jenf55 wrote:

My husband and I emailed Monique Kinsey with a scanned copy of a "rescinding contract" letter on the 8th day and also mailed it via certified mail. Of the money for a down payment we gave, we recovered (from them directly) all but $1996.00 that they charged for an upgraded room that we received when signing the contract. If you have an email I can forward you the exact letter along with emails back and forth if it may help you. I do recommend canceling any credit card affiliated with what you put down because a few days ago they charged us about $4000 for a scheduled 2 month payment when it should have never been processed. Monique is refunding this as well within the next 48 hours.

As for credit, if you are in the same boat as we are, they never asked for a social security number or papers authorizing doing a credit check; the whole purchase never showed up on our credit score and honestly seemed to be all "under the table" type action. I wouldn't worry about that aspect.

How long has Mercury been around based off the info you're finding? When we looked into it in June, there was nothing but a small property management business of 0-10 employees with no other information. Definitely check into this further if possible.

Where did you find the contract cancellation letter?

Monique is the only person I have been able to talk to about this scam. She is on the Board or Directors and she told me she would bring our situation up at the next meeting. She also told me that the contract that we signed is a binding contract and we were not forced into signing it. She said she doesn't know anything about Cindy Kidds guarantee of the resale of our timeshare unit. I did mention to her that this resale contract was signed in their sales office so this also is a binding contract. I doubt she will be willing to help get us our money back but she is all we have left to work with.

Sorry to tell you all this, but Miss Monique is as big a scammer as the rest of them. I dealt with her in 2011 and told her all about what was going on. She was so surprised. Please do not believe that she knew nothing about what the sales people were and are continuing to do.

This scam comes from the top. The owner is Anselmo Baldini, and he has been in court in Costa Rica a few times regarding this timeshare development. The lies go much deeper than appear on the surface. Our getting stolen from and lied to about timeshare resales and rentals is just the tip of the Costa Rican iceberg.

Monique knows everything. Your best bet is to complain to the Costa Rican Ministry of Economy and Commerce. They also know what is going on, but if enough people continue to complain, and if the word gets out for Americans and Europeans to avoid going to Costa Rica (there are many other tropical paradise destinations out there), perhaps the Costa Rican government will start doing something about these creeps.

I am in process of trying to get out of this contract because it is fraudulent. Can you give a little more information about the law you found - and share how you worded your revocation letter? You can email me if that is easier. dcyphersvideo@gmail.com

Thanks for any help.

Hi, we did not find a cancellation letter, it was something we typed up (being within the 8 day window) and submitted to the resort

See law below (both in Spanish and translated to English): Hope it helps!

Law # 7472 For the Promotion of Competition and the Defense of the Consumer, Article 40:

In the home selling that are carried out outside of the premises or the establishment of the dealer or supplier, if and when permitted by the nature of the good, the consumer, protected to the right of retract, It may terminate the contract within a period of eight days after its completion without responsibility.

(This way continuous its numeration for the article 80 of the law of fiscal risk, No. 8343 December 18, 2002 transfer it the old article 38 to the current 41).

Law # 7472 For the Promotion of Competition and the Defense of the Consumer, Article 40:

En las ventas a domicilio que se lleven a cabo fuera del local o el establecimiento del comerciante o el proveedor, siempre y cuando lo permita la naturaleza del bien, el consumidor, amparado al derecho de retracto, puede rescindir, sin su responsabilidad el contracto en un plazo de ocho dias contados a partir de su perfeccionamiento.

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 80 de la ley de contingencia fiscal No. 8343 del 18 de diciembre de 2002, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 38 al 41 actual).

I also would like to know where did you find the "rescinding contract" letter? Thank you for your help.

I see... We probably were typing at the same time... Thank you...

this is the letter we submitted, both emailed and signed (scanned it in) to Monique and mailed via certified mail:

(Date)

To Whom It May Concern: Attn: Loan and Account Status Management of Bahia Turquesa Residences Playa del Coco Guanacaste, Costa Rica 2670-0635

(My and my husband's names) are giving you a formal written request to rescind contract number (X) initially signed (date), for the purchase of a 2 bedroom timeshare at 1 registered week and 4 corporate weeks every other year for 30 years. We are also rescinding any other incentives outlined in the contract as well. We (our names) are using our rights to terminate this purchase outlined in the contract based on signed agreements upholding Law No. 7472 for the Promotion of the Consumer Competence and Effective Defense and its By-Law, and are using our rights under Article 40 to “terminate the contract within a period of eight days after its completion without responsibility.”

At this time, it is requested the authorization by (our names) of (X amount paid) to our credit card is cancelled as well based on the legal termination of this contract in its entirety. Our credit card company has been asked to decline any charges pending that were agreed upon during this contract due to its termination.

Any further questions, please feel free to contact (mine and my husband's names).

Regards,

We were refunded the money from the resort being in the window of 8 days, but they did charge for the upgraded room because we did take an upgrade after signing.