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Villa Preferred Access [Villa Group] - how do i get out (2014)

M

Miket09

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I consider myself an intelligent person but I made the dumbest mistake of my life in signing up for this timeshare scam. The promises of future cheap vacations as part of this "charimans club" which doesn't even seem to exist led me to signing away my hard earned money. I have since returned from vacation and have read all about this interval international and how horrible of a company it is. We were also told we would get 4 vacation weeks a year through this discounted vacation program. I'm now seeing that this interval international only lets you trade points you have earned, which we only get bi annually. I also found out too late about the 5 day cancellation policy. I've put down 3000 already on my credit card as a deposit and I owe another 9500. I've pretty much come to peace with the fact that my 3000 is gone. Is there anything I can do to make this a 3k mistake instead of a 12k mistake? if I cancel the credit card we used to sign up will the Villa Group find other ways to get the money out of me? will they bring lawsuits against me? do I have any options? please help me
 
I have since returned from vacation and have read all about this interval international and how horrible of a company it is.
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Interval International is not a horrible company - it is one of the 2 largest exchange companies in the world, and most of the people here on TUG belong to it.

But Interval International has NOTHING to do with Villa Preferred Access - they may have told you that they were affiliated, but that is pure baloney. You have been mislead by the sales person for Villa Preferred Access - NOT Interval International.
 
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But in answer to your 'How do I get out' question. Well, the short answer is that you had 5 days to study and cool off, and rescind your purchase. There is a better than even chance that you are now a timeshare owner. You are welcome to try to plead fraud, copy PROFECO, the Mexican consumer affairs office, but really, it's an uphill battle. "I overpaid, and the sales weasel lied but I have no proof of what was said" are not valid arguments.

Now, the better news. Those are nice resorts, II is an honorable exchange company, and about half of TUGgers bought their first TS from the developer. Stick around TUG. Learn to use what you bought and.....

Welcome to TUG.

Jim
 
Welcome Mike, what you purchased is a vacation club. As resorts run out of traditional TS inventory, they can get around Mexican law and continue overselling by selling Vacation clubs, which is an option of a week or two at the home resort (Villa Group not city-specific) which they hope you do not use, and a membership in either, RCI, II or San Francisco, etc., where you get your discounted vacations. These discounted vacations that you saw in your presentation are last-calls and 1-90 day out distressed weeks that the rep magnifies into greater availability than actually exists. What you saw in the presentation book is screen shots in RCI format. BTW -you can gain access to similar availability from RCI or II for about $70/year w/o a long time commitment.

Since you are past your 5-day recision period (Mexican consumer law) your only option is to petition the Villa group with your discoveries, assuming you have now discovered that what you now own is nowhere near what was represented in terms of price and availability, and ask for the contract to be terminated and your down payment forfeited.
You would contact the VLO (the person you signed paperwork with) and contend the rep misrepresented the program (if they did) and you could only discover the misrepresentation once you had access to your account, way past the 5-day rescision period.

The VLO will say that nothing the rep says is part of the contract and only the written contract contains all rights and obligations. You will want to carefully review your contract to see if there is anything written that is not delivered on the website. This would be the basis for your request. You will notice the contract is in pigeon English as the original (and only binding contract) is in Spanish. Often the original Spanish language contract is purposely mistranslated into English to the developer's advantage. You might have to get a copy of the original PROFECO-filed Spanish language contract to prove misrepresentation.

Your odds of rescision and a refund are nearly zero. Your odds of terminating the agreement and losing your deposit are determined by the VLO's judgement, what you can prove and how much of a stink you can raise in a Profeco complaint etc.

Sorry for the bad news, but it's Mexico not the US or Canada. There are few consumer protection laws. There are no class actions and the courts seldom decide a case in a reasonable timeline but continue the case until all parties agree, give up or die. Our government also does not enforce basic international contract laws with Mexico so you are completely on your own.
 
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I have heard of only one other option. It's called "timeshare exit team" basically a legal firm that gets the timeshare contract terminated. In Denver we have a local consumer rights company that speaks highly of them. Make sure and do your own due dilligance with them as I have no direct knowledge. Also please let us know on this board if they were helpful.
 
Really? I cannot believe you are endorsing this company - they are probably a running a Viking Ship scheme.
 
I can't find it today, but yesterday when Brian posted a link to the new redesigned TUG site, there was an ad from 'The TS Exit Team'. I couldn't believe it! I had thought the same as you, Denise, Viking Ship.

Either way, with this being at best a RTU, or at worst a vacation club, I can't see how a U.S. based law firm can do anything across an international border, and with no deed to transfer, nothing to put on board a Viking ship.

One wonders if simply defaulting and taking whatever credit hit that causes is more- or less damaging than paying the remaining $9,000.

Jim
 
Jim - Those are google Ads, which google controls - they are not companies that have contracted with TUG. When you see a suspicious Ad - please report it so we can block it.
 
Woaaaaa

First, if you re-read my post I did not endorse them. I just said they were someone I heard about. I know nothing about how they work, if they work or anything else. They are just a vendor that I suggested should be considered if you are in a pickle.

Secound, I had no idea what a Viking ship compnay was until I just googled it.

I don't even know if they are able to solve the problem.
 
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I know nothing about how they work, if they work or anything else.
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A gentle suggestion: Please don't recommend a company that you don't know anything about. The vast majority of "exit companies" are not reputable, and the fact that they advertise widely means absolutely nothing.
 
Villa Group

Have you contacted The Villa Group directly? I know that they have a program called "Voluntary Surrender". They take back memberships that people don't want anymore. I'm not sure if or how it would apply to a new membership, tho. It costs about as much as one maintenance fee. Don't know how they would figure this one tho. I think you could get them to take it back but there would be some cost to it. Call member services at Resort Com International (800) 852-4755. Ask for "Resort Com". Good luck but it is a beautiful resort. We've been going every year for over 25 years and think it's the best thing we ever did. Resort is wonderful, but the sales group is HORRIBLE!!!
 
UVC is not taking contracts back anymore. They would take back paid in full contracts only when this program was in force.

One legal way out is by utilizing a real estate contract attorney. Most ts contracts have issues that an attorney can exploit and most developers do not want to go to court as it opens up a plethora of problems for them, occasionally even if they win.

Even though I have not heard of the ts exit team I have looked at their website and found that one of the owners is in my linked in connections as an attorney in Washington.

That being said, UVC is my favorite resort system. If you learn how to use your points I bet you would enjoy your membership. With the access points you can do so much more than with the older memberships like mine.

Bill
 
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One legal way out is by utilizing a real estate contract attorney. Most ts contracts have issues that an attorney can exploit and most developers do not want to go to court as it opens up a plethora of problems for them, occasionally even if they win.
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With all due respect, I strongly disagree: US courts have no jurisdiction in Mexico. The OP would have to hire an attorney in Mexico, and file a lawsuit in Mexico. That would be a very expensive proposition, with little chance of success. My guess is that they'd just end up getting scammed again.

In some instances, when people have exposed their unethical sales tactics on TUG, Villa Group has agreed to cancel their contract - this is different than taking back a paid off contract.
 
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Even though many of the international resorts have no affiliations in the USA, many of the larger resorts do. Because of these affiliations there are legal ways to challenge their contracts, especially if they are using a service in the USA to facilitate business. I recall a class action suite brought against Groupo Maya from a CA firm that was successful.

I don't consider licensed real estate attorneys scammers. It wouldn't hurt to call is all Im suggesting. It is not likely a viking ship dealio, imo.

Bill
 
There is no way to give a 100% guarantee - without using a Viking Ship scheme. Either their guarantee is false, or it's a Viking Ship.
 
I have contacted villa group directly. They passed my request on to another team. I don't know if/when I will hear back. I will keep following up. I'm even ok if I don't get my deposit back but the 12k mistake is killing me. The promises of ultra cheap vacations is what suckered us in but it sounds like what I read here and elsewhere is that these trips through II are much exaggerated. And Yelp reviews of II are simply brutal.

The 3k down payment has already hit my card. If I were to cancel my card so they can't charge me the monthly parents will they try taking legal action against me?

Also, they talked about being able to bank your points in and get a check. Has anyone ever done that? Does that actually work or is it more BS from the shady salesmen?
 
Miket09 said:
The 3k down payment has already hit my card. If I were to cancel my card so they can't charge me the monthly parents will they try taking legal action against me?

Also, they talked about being able to bank your points in and get a check. Has anyone ever done that? Does that actually work or is it more BS from the shady salesmen?
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For brevity, they will probably pursue other ways to collect from you, but ultimately, legal action, or credit score hit would be likely.

AND, if the sales weasel's lips were moving, s/he was lying. You can 'bank your points', but basically, they are for your own future use. I am unaware of ANY that result in a check back to the owner. Theoretically, one CAN reserve a villa/week then rent it to others, but there is a glut of timeshares in Mexico, and they seldom rent for enough to cover maintenance fees.

Now that you've posted here, beware of emails from entities that will promise to get you out of your timeshare. 99% will want you to pay them an upfront fee, or taxes or something else, then will disappear with even more of your money and you'll still have the timeshare. Other than a small advertising fee, don't pay anyone anything.

Sorry you find yourself in this situation.

Jim
 
Interval International is an Exchange company. You need to own a timeshare first that trades in II to become a member.. As a member you can trade your week with other timeshare in the system. You can also buy getaways which can be quite inexpensive and can be cheaper than the maintenance fees. I am typing this while sitting in a 1 BR at Four Seasons Aviara that I traded through II.
 
easyrider said:
Even though many of the international resorts have no affiliations in the USA, many of the larger resorts do. Because of these affiliations there are legal ways to challenge their contracts, especially if they are using a service in the USA to facilitate business. I recall a class action suite brought against Groupo Maya from a CA firm that was successful.

I don't consider licensed real estate attorneys scammers. It wouldn't hurt to call is all Im suggesting. It is not likely a viking ship dealio, imo.

Bill
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The Mayan actually prevailed in that class action, but shortly thereafter the beat it out of the US. They no longer have any business base in the US.
The law firm was Boise/Shiller, I'm sure David Boise didn't like the loss and the mayan got out before he appealed.
 
DeniseM said:
There is no way to give a 100% guarantee - without using a Viking Ship scheme. Either their guarantee is false, or it's a Viking Ship.
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"Viking ship schemes" are illegal as most timeshares are "mortgaged backed securities". Your placing legitimate legal services with attorneys in the same category as timeshare re-sellers who intentionally commit fraud to the client and developer to get rid of unwanted timeshares for profit.


The 3k down payment has already hit my card. If I were to cancel my card so they can't charge me the monthly parents will they try taking legal action against me?

Also, they talked about being able to bank your points in and get a check. Has anyone ever done that? Does that actually work or is it more BS from the shady salesmen?
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The Villa Group can use your points if they wanted to, but because they really have no need of the points, this probably would not be the best financial way to go. This is a service offered to those who really don't care about costs as much as you. You would do better renting the unit out on Redweek as a penthouse. This is the benefit of owning points. You can reserve any size unit at any UVC resort with enough points.

Yes, UVC can take legal action against you for nonpayment. You can take the free advice here or talk to an attorney. I have always thought a person should be proactive on this type of dispute and a letter from any attorney does hold more contemplative weight than your letter or phone call.


Bill
 
Another option is to make lemonade out of lemon. When you were sitting in front of the salesperson you must have thought that you could afford the 12K. I don't own at Villa group but as you see in this post, owners do like it. I have a good friend who bought it at there 2 years ago, loves it and does not trade out his timeshare. He goes back to Mexico every year and stays within the Villa group of resorts. If you spend time to read the ins and outs of what you own and about II, it can turn into a positive experience. I own a mix of timeshares and love II for trading purposes. I have been a timeshare owner for 17 years and I only got smarter about how to use my timeshare after I stumbled upon TUG about 4 years ago. After I got knowledgeable through TUG, I ended up owning several more timeshares.
 
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sptung said:
When you were sitting in front of the salesperson you must have thought that you could afford the 12K.
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The problem with this statement, is that the sales person told them they could rent their timeshare for big bucks, to cover their maintenance fees, and that is a flat out lie. That's how Villa Group convinces people that they "can afford it."
 
Thanks all for the help so far. So for II I'm hearing different things. Is this a website you can simply join for $70 a year or do you actually have to own a timeshare? Does anyone have experience with booking trips through them, do they actually save you money or are the good deals only last minute horrible timing type of deals you must be lucky to stumble upon?

And when you say own a timeshare, do you have to pay off the balance first?
 
Exactly Denise. I thought I could rent this out and eventually recoup the money. It sounds like that was a flat out lie amongst others. Wish I saw this site in my 5 day grace period. I did not have Internet access while in mexico
 
easyrider said:
"Viking ship schemes" are illegal as most timeshares are "mortgaged backed securities". Your placing legitimate legal services with attorneys in the same category as timeshare re-sellers who intentionally commit fraud to the client and developer to get rid of unwanted timeshares for profit.
Click to expand...

If you are so sure they are Legit, then tell me how they back up their 100% success guarantee to "take your timeshare off your hands."

What do they do with deeds that the resort won't take back, and have negative resale value?
 
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