Vida Vacations & Grand Mayan lies

I just got scammed by them to be a sales rep they We're going to hire me but weren't upfront There a disgrace to Mexico and canada the interview Was 5 minutes said I was hired no communication nothing Then 1week before the flight they send you a 1 way ticket Threw the Usa illegally they say to lie to the border guards And say your going on a 2 week vacation and your staying At the grand Mayan the sales manager names are Phil hart and Jeff shewfelt real scum bags recruiting Canadians To scam people in Mexico then insult you say they Really don't need you call you all kinds of names I alerted the border patrol about them and anti fraud Units

robertd617 wrote:

Short version: promised 90 minutes and $300, received OVER 4 hours and $0.

Longer version: Having read reviews from people who have lost their money, I should begin by saying all we lost was a half day of our vacation, but we are still mad a week later. We were convinced by Efrin Fitch, who the timeshare people themselves refer to as a "body snatcher" at the Advantage Car Rental that a pleasant 90 minutes would earn us $300 CASH "green money". At the 3 hour mark, after Nick (and Ian, and others) had used every ridiculous combination of numbers possible to make buying at Grand Mayan seem like it made sense, we told him no thanks and ask for our gift. After 30 more minutes of "survey" with Rafael and such questions as: "describe in one word why you are not taking advantage of this wonderful offer", we again ask politely for our money. After over 30 more minutes of stalling us and handing us back and forth between different people, each of whom was supposedly going to help us, we finally gave up and left in disgust, just as like several other vacationers ahead of us had done.

The icing on the cake was when we ran into Nick at the Walmart in Cabo that same afternoon. He tried unsuccessfully to avoid my family, and when I ask him (in front of his girlfriend) if he was proud to lie for a living, he acted as if he had no idea why I was upset and suggested that I go back to the Grand Mayan and "just ask for my money".

As I told my ordeal to every tourist who would listen all week in Cabo, I heard more and more similar complaints about Vida Vacations in Los Cabos, as well as complaints from people actually staying at the Grand Mayan, a subsidiary I think of Grupo Maya. My motto now: No Gracias.

These guys are scumbags they should Be put to a firing squad by the local Mexicans Give playa del Carmen to the poor and orphans Not to a bunch of rich fat people

Hello. How did your creditcard get it resolved? My saqid they would not... what did you do they scammed me.

The worst day of our lives were spent with this company. They will not do anything that they promise. Your contract will seem ok until you really take a closer look at which time you'll find that you do not even have ownership at the resort in which you purchased. Don't let the beauty of the resort sway you. You won't get to stay there anyway. You will find that you own some inferior property that you won't even want to return to. They will then have the nerves to ask you to then upgrade, paying even more money. They will state that their contract is valid and proceed to tell you all that will happen to you if you default. Their telephone number is away you go......go far far away from them.

When I returned home I contacted Bliss Resorts and tried to negotiate my way out of the contract which I paid totally on my credit card. They were uncooperative. I simultaneously called my credit card company and asked them to dispute the charges. I told them the sales person misrepresented the vacation club membership as an investment which would make money after the weeks were remarketed. After researching VIDA & Golf Network, I realized that was probably untrue. I provided copies of all paperwork including notes, diagrams, and emails. My credit card immediately credited me for the charges until the disputes were resolved. After about 3 months I was notified by my credit card that the disputed charges were resolved and that the credits would remain on my account.

You were lucky and correct there is NO investment value!! Dave An unpaid ex-employee

I have just arrived home from Mexico, where I had a big time at Mayan Palace. Actually it was supposed to be an all-inclusive package in Ocean Breeze, but turns out it was closed, and we ended up at Mayan Palace.

Unfortunately, it was part of the contract to take part of this "90 minutes" presentation, where we were supposed to have a view of the hotel. This idea looked weird, but as it was stated as mandatory and I agreed with that, nothing to complain about, and the rain helped us to accept our fate that day.

Well, the whole story you already know, the ambush was set to catch the easy prey.

Fortunately, a feeling of information asymmetry arose, after asking for information over and over and get it in small amounts, and even considering all the pieces of information I had at the moment, trying to figure that situation as a real opportunity, I finally declined all the offers, when the suspiciosness of the situation got clearer and clearer.

The interesting part is that one of the sales rep (4 of them were involved in the process) worked as an actress in my country, taking part in plays and videoclips (some available in youtube) before going to Mexico acting in order to get her comissions. More than adequate, don't you think?

I intend to write down my whole experience in my native language, because unlike US or Canadian citizens, we are not so familiar with the timeshare concept, and I think I should spread the word about this scam.

cancel Dear Readers,

This note is just to update you on a previous situation in which the user “Lorih360” reported an experience during her sojourn at The Grand Mayan Riviera Maya. I am pleased to inform you that after having direct contact with her back in October 2012, we were able to help her and we are continuing our business relationship in harmony.

Additionally, we would also like to take the opportunity to address the post made by the user "IvanC28".

Unfortunately, we have had competitors or disgruntled ex-employees go online and post similar false remarks about our company in an attempt to damage our reputation for excellence. These allegations are unfounded as many members have indeed exchanged their membership with our real estate partners.

We have thousands of happy clients that can safely attest to our dedication for our members and guests; and we strive to continue providing options for our members to improve their vacation experience for the resort that will suit their plans the best. That being said, if anyone accepts to upgrade their membership is under their own free will.

Lastly, our Santuario is a magnificent new space in Nuevo Vallarta, which serves as a lounge and bar. During the morning the Santuario is flooded with light and it is an ideal time to sit for fresh coffee, fruit and pastries. The sense of openness and light gives it a great energy and really makes you happy. Throughout the day, the bar is open and the kitchen serves light snacks and sandwiches. Evenings at Santuario are filled with exotic cocktails, interesting performances and excellent entertainment in a lively atmosphere. The performances and entertainment may vary in the future and indeed, sometimes there may be a cost; but overall, the admittance is free (although any consumption has a cost) and again, you can voluntary attend as everyone is welcomed!

It is through diligence and dedication that we keep our members happy. We do care and we have confidence all issues anyone has can be addressed as soon as we are contacted.

Each case is different and that is why we would like to be contacted at grupomayanblog@grupovidanta.com or by telephone at 1-800-292-9446.

We are devoted to provide the most spectacular vacations on the best beach locations available in Mexico and we strive to resolve any matters properly channeled through us.

We truly appreciate your time.

Sincerely, Karen Rose Customer Support Representative.

Dear Karen Rose, Untrue, I am an unpaid employee and have proof in the way of e-mails with Vida and a complaint I filed with the Canadian government. Your company is not very reputable and many parts of your sales presentation are outright lies. Dave

cancel

grupom wrote:

na Dear Readers,

This note is just to update you on a previous situation in which the user “Lorih360” reported an experience during her sojourn at The Grand Mayan Riviera Maya. I am pleased to inform you that after having direct contact with her back in October 2012, we were able to help her and we are continuing our business relationship in harmony.

Additionally, we would also like to take the opportunity to address the post made by the user "IvanC28".

Unfortunately, we have had competitors or disgruntled ex-employees go online and post similar false remarks about our company in an attempt to damage our reputation for excellence. These allegations are unfounded as many members have indeed exchanged their membership with our real estate partners.

We have thousands of happy clients that can safely attest to our dedication for our members and guests; and we strive to continue providing options for our members to improve their vacation experience for the resort that will suit their plans the best. That being said, if anyone accepts to upgrade their membership is under their own free will.

Lastly, our Santuario is a magnificent new space in Nuevo Vallarta, which serves as a lounge and bar. During the morning the Santuario is flooded with light and it is an ideal time to sit for fresh coffee, fruit and pastries. The sense of openness and light gives it a great energy and really makes you happy. Throughout the day, the bar is open and the kitchen serves light snacks and sandwiches. Evenings at Santuario are filled with exotic cocktails, interesting performances and excellent entertainment in a lively atmosphere. The performances and entertainment may vary in the future and indeed, sometimes there may be a cost; but overall, the admittance is free (although any consumption has a cost) and again, you can voluntary attend as everyone is welcomed!

It is through diligence and dedication that we keep our members happy. We do care and we have confidence all issues anyone has can be addressed as soon as we are contacted.

Each case is different and that is why we would like to be contacted at grupomayanblog@grupovidanta.com or by telephone at 1-800-292-9446.

We are devoted to provide the most spectacular vacations on the best beach locations available in Mexico and we strive to resolve any matters properly channeled through us.

We truly appreciate your time.

Sincerely, Karen Rose Customer Support Representative.

Thanks to the manager our situation has been resolved.

Response to: Karen Rose Customer Support Representative

Santuario- "performances and entertainment may vary in the future and indeed, sometimes there may be a cost; but overall, the admittance is free (although any consumption has a cost) and again, you can voluntary attend as everyone is welcomed!"

I am in disagreement with Ms. Rose in regards to everyone feeling welcome. I was told we each had to buy a drink (6 in our party) by the waitress. I asked to speak to the manager and this policy was confirmed by the Manager and capitan. I indicated that my wife and I do not drink, nor do the two children in our party. I said bluntly are you going to have security escort me from the facility if I do not buy. The answer was NO. I bought a water and was not harrased any further for the hour after we enjoyed the several shows.

Bottom line is I did not feel welcome! It made my wife, son, and daughter-in-law uncomfortable that I had to be (politely) confrontational. So Ms. Rose do not become like the sales staff makeing promises that are unrealized...

I have purchased 7-10 years ago and have very little negative to say about The Grupo Maya and now Vida. My vacations have been predominately in GM in NV and they have been wonderful. I feel obligated to point out When you get a $300 - $600 dollar "prize" to attend a presentation what do you really expect? I find it dificult to get through the owner presentation in 90 minutes. Breakfast and a tour of the facilities at GM in Nuevo Vallarta takes easily 3 hours.

Well there is nothing like ringing in the year with some humble pie. Went to the Grand Mayan resort for the short tour. 6 hours later we thought we had made an informed decision. We were wrong. The list of sites they claim sell your site for you have no website traffics, ie no one goes there but a few scammed people like me. Here is the interesting part in figuring how how to Get out of this contract. The good news is we are on day one of the 5 day period so we can get this done but still. I called the credit card company and if I send the cancellation letter, copy of contract showing the date and the certified mail receipt they will dispute on my behalf. When we read the contract in its entirety it was very different from their explanation of what it really said. Will post how this ends up but in the contract we are given two options, the first is to return to the resort and get them to sign. Okay fool me once, lots on here of people being ignore day. The second option is registered mail and a cancellation letter, many thanks to the sites with sample cancellation letters. Avoid he to good to be true options, the most likely are.

Make sure you follow the cancellation requirements to the letter. Send it receipt return and make sure it is post marked within the cancellation period. I would even overnight the letter to make sure it got there in time. I just wish people would come in here before they sign any contract.

clintonb12 wrote:

Well there is nothing like ringing in the year with some humble pie. Went to the Grand Mayan resort for the short tour. 6 hours later we thought we had made an informed decision. We were wrong. The list of sites they claim sell your site for you have no website traffics, ie no one goes there but a few scammed people like me. Here is the interesting part in figuring how how to Get out of this contract. The good news is we are on day one of the 5 day period so we can get this done but still. I called the credit card company and if I send the cancellation letter, copy of contract showing the date and the certified mail receipt they will dispute on my behalf. When we read the contract in its entirety it was very different from their explanation of what it really said. Will post how this ends up but in the contract we are given two options, the first is to return to the resort and get them to sign. Okay fool me once, lots on here of people being ignore day. The second option is registered mail and a cancellation letter, many thanks to the sites with sample cancellation letters. Avoid he to good to be true options, the most likely are.

As Don stated ..... make sure you send the rescission notice by certified mail with return receipt ..... it's the United States Post Office stamped time on the letter that counts .... not when the resort receives it. You were very smart to go to the internet to research concerning your purchase.

At the risk of sounding like a VIDA Vacations ringer, I feel compelled to write something positive about this company and the MAYAN Resorts. Arriving in Mexico, you will always have to go thru a gauntlet of people offering free breakfast, free car rental. free rides, etc. These are the operators that bring people to not only Mayan Resorts but to all others. They may or not LIE to you. Once you attend any timeshare presentation, you will be pressured no matter which company is, and this is very true, the Mayan people are relentless, almost like pit bulls; do not sit in front of them if you are not strong enough to say NO . That said, these is my personal experience. I do not own a time share, I own the rights to use, rent, exchange, or neglect to use, several weeks at the Mayan Group. I have used my privileges to use and visit, Cancun, Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta. In all those locations, on arrival, I have been approached to be updated about the company new opportunities, however, a firm declined answer, and they have not bother me any more. Their facilities and locations are par with the best available in the industry. Their service is equally good, and the Contract you sign explicitly alert you to buy only for personal use and not for rental, resale or investment purpose. They do not rent or resale your weeks however, they did offered a list of "so called" reputable Rental Agencies. However I never trusted they will provide any rental leads, they get their money and you never hear from them again. I have rented to friends and others, with no problems at all, however not as often as I wish. I have never received any promises from VIDA that they did not honor, including an offer of 2 rental weeks for the cost of one; I was reimbursed $300,00 after attending the first presentation ( I did sign_on thou). In conclusion, If you like Mexico, If you are willing to read carefully their Contract conditions, if you plan to take advantage of your weeks at their resorts, then go for it. If you think you will make money renting, if you think you will be able to "easily" exchange with other resorts, or if you think of speculating for profit, run away from this and others. I have owned condos and also timeshares. Mayan resorts have provided me with the best deal so far.

Sales representative, Dalia Venckauskas, expounded on Grand Mayan leader resort group-Cirque Sol Lai complex being built, etc. This is a new concept in timeshare ownership centering around 10,000 units purchased by owners then golfers stay (ones flocking to this area). A golf network handles al transactions for the Mayan. Mexican government taxes hotel rental at a rate of 38% of the room rate, but having this timeshare owed by you, the group can rent it out at a 10& rate to the government. It's a win, win, situation as this bring in _____ millions (can't remember how many) for the Mayan and the owner receives an annual monies. Dalia drew boxes on paper representation the 2 units we could purchase. These would be in our name, but we'd never use them as would be handled by the golf network with NO maintenance/user fees for us like our current timeshares. It would be taken care of. Over & over it was stated about the yearly money we'd receive. Or current timeshares appraised by the Mayan at outlandish retail value. We refused. A sales manager came with better offer. We could own a 3rd unit that would be ours to use or we could turn it over to the golf network for additional yearly income to us. She jumped from subject to subject-vida dollars, SFX, 1 800 Away I Go-very confusing. She assured us of the program benefits. No annual fees to pay-you only pay when you use the unit with the Mayan. We agreed after sitting there 7 hours. Papers placed in front of us-sign here, here,& here with only a brief 2 or 3 sentence explanation of what we were signing-basically, some headings were read. (Shame on us for being so trusting, we felt the fine print was a true reflection of what as stated during the presentation). This took about 12 minutes. Neither Dalia or Jean Bergoin (legal dept.) stated a word encouraging us to make sure to read over the contract thoroughly. NEVER a statement made about a rescinding clause. Both made sure to instruct us to "LOCK UP THESE DOCUMENTS in safe and DO NOT TALK to other guests about our transaction". We arrived back home 12 days later after staying a week at our own timeshare resort. We thought we had until 12/18/13 to read over this contract as we were told numerous times 12/18/13 is our due date. My wife called the Mayan to inquire about sending our current timeshare paperwork. She was told to call the golf network and the acquisition company. She spoke to Emma at the Golf Network first inquiring what month in 2014 we'd expect a check for our two units they were handling for golf renters. WHAT AN EYE OPENER!!!! Emma stated that NO funds released until our unit rented/NO guarantee!! This was NEVER relayed to us at the presentation. Wife inquired about the number of golfers who stay. She replied that some are golfers, but it's popular for couples/young families. Wife inquired about occupancy criteria. Emma stated the computer pulls which unit to be rented-no member's name attached. When asked if a record or list was kept to make sure the owners had their unit equally pulled for rent, she stated NO. So some owners wouldn't have any rental income for the year or year without being rented. My wife tried to contact Dalia through the Mayan without success. Wife googled her name thinking she might find an email address. Surprising her name appears on a website-Red Weeks under heading, "Vida Vacation & Grand Mayan Lies". What an eye opener!!! My wife contacted Petra Beck, Mayan legal dept. She listened to my wife then advised her to turn to page 5, section 9.1, paragraph C of the contract. She read it FAST and stated "if we read the contract we shouldn't expect funds from rental or investment". At the time, we didn't consider the finds from the golf network as income, but bonus monies from letting the Mayan use the units to circumvent the Mexican tax percentage. In summary, emphatically, Petra voiced, "It's your fault, you do not understand. You didn't read your contract. I don't need to hear, you were tired, hungry, rushed, blah, blah, blah. That's stupidity. Anyone signing a contract should read it." My wife explained their neglect of not bringing the 5-day rescind to our attention. Petra answered, "that's your problem, it's in the contract. It's your responsibility ." The sales staff and legal certainly made sure to remind us several times to lock up the documents in the safe so maids and others wouldn't snoop, also NOT to talk to other guests about details of our contract. It's odd we were instructed at length to protect our documents from snoops, but the legal dept. nor Dalia couldn't make a 30-second reminder statement, about the 5-day rescind. I'm sure they enjoyed labeling us "suckers". Dalia stated several times the due date on our contract was 12/18/12. Wife relayed information to Petra that the main theme of the presentation centered on the benefit of receiving funds from the golf network starting in 2014. Over & over we were reminded of yearly funds. Petra stated, "the sales department is NOT employed by the Grand Maya (this was news to us), but a subcontractor". She firmly added, "that she nor the Mayan have NO control/No authority how the sales dept. is run or what or how is presented at these presentations". My wife added, "that's a poor way to run a business, not having any say how your product is marketed-no accountability." Petra added that she doesn't work for this subcontractor, Vida Vacations. Strangely, in an email to us-dated 12/11/13, she signed off as Petra Beck, Vida Sales!!!! Who do you think pays her pay check!!!!! She assured my wife that the transfer of our current timeshares would be processed. She would contact Equity to put a rush on it. My wife share with Petra information she fund on the websites about the Mayan especially timeshares NOT being transferred. Petra replied the reason why, "It's the member's fault. They fail to fill out the paper work correctly or fail to send all the correct documentation." She also stated that it is NOT imperative to use the golf network for renting out our unit (surprise to us as this was exactly what was stated over & over at the presentation) - the golf network would handle it all. Petra informed my wife, we could even rent out our units ourselves. Petra was very uncaring and forceful in her response at times scolding and barking at my wife. A time share attorney is now representing us. We do not make it a practice of attending presentation and will NEVER do it again. NEITHER should you!!!! A total waste of a vacation day. BEWARE!!!! P.S. this is a brief summary of our wasted vacation day. The issue has been resolved to our satisfaction. April 2014

You do treat all your guests and owners this way. You are all accurately depicted!!!!

Glad to see my Dalia is still living the dream. She stated to me she was an RN. Well we too drank the kool aid, didn't ever get a contract mailed to us , payed a bunch of money to other crooks for non-existent golfers. We eventually exchange 10 grand Myan units for 3 grand luxx units at what seems a little less foolish as at least we like it, and the beds are comfortable. Will never attend any talk or update. Still is an expensive and redundant vacation choice for us but it is nice. Think about it, the golf course is empty, but they keep you all day and yak at you and while you may have noticed this empty golf corse it didn't resonate like the big red flag it should have.

Katie and Skip Oklahoma

If you paid for it with a credit card, let them dispute it for you.