Need help! My Dad purchased Vidanta/Vida Vacations time share on Sunday & they won't let him get his money back if he cancels

[gkmortimer]

Let me first say how much I appreciate all of you. The threads on this site have been invaluable.

My Dad purchased a Vidanta/Vida Vacations time share on Sunday (the 16th). It was the standard discount ploy as they started by asking him to pay $43,000 with him turning over all his timeshares (RHC, Wyndham & Diamond) so he could be "free" of future maintenance fees. We (his 4 kids) thought he walked away, at our urging after he called us, but in the end, without our knowledge, he stuck around. They lowered it to $7600 with $200 a year in maintenance fees and said they would take over his Diamond timeshare and unload it for him. He signed.

He is on the plane right now heading back. His wife, who is with him, just sent me an email this morning saying, "Hi Karen, he tried to get out of this and couldn’t. More later, flying back. This was not the first contract we had looked at where you had 5 days, this one you could get out but couldn’t get money back." I don't know who they talked to about cancelling - if it was the sales people or member services.

Can Vidanta do that? Not let him get his money back? If what they said is NOT true and he should get his money back, what should my Dad do?

 

[NiteMaire]

Tell him to follow the instructions to rescind. Have him send a courtesy copy (and annotate on letter to Vidanta) to PROFECO (Mexico consumer protection agency). Vidanta can't withhold the deposit/payment if he does it in time.
Telling him he won't get his money back is a sales lie tactic.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Have him go down to the United States Postal Service first thing Wednesday morning May 19th and mail his rescission letter via REGISTERED MAIL to the address (which they provided somewhere within the paperwork). Any buyer who signed the purchase agreement must also sign the rescission document.

He should retain two copies of all the paperwork, rescission papers, and postmarked mailing receipt for his records. One of those copies should then be sent to PROFECO as NiteMaire correctly stated above.

Doing these things right away should ensure a full refund, however, remember, time is of the essence. Don't waste time thinking about it; just do it. Legally, he has 5 days to mail it, however don't fool around with it and get it done! ONLY USE REGISTERED MAIL.



.

 

[ccwu]

We had one years ago. They made us pay $5,000 down payment. We wanted to cancel and not able to get $ back. I am not sure Mexico had policy for Rescind. We complained to credit card and credit card about the fault. Credit card withheld the payment and get us the refund. We had Citi card.


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[NiteMaire]

I am not sure Mexico had policy for Rescind.

They did...and still do.

 

[travel maniac]

RESCIND NOW!

As others have pointed out, follow the instructions and send the recission paperwork. You'll see many successful cases of people rescinding their Mexican timeshares. Get help from Profeco if you need

 

[jules54]

Rescind now it happens everyday. Don’t talk to salesman they will just try the give ya a better deal. Even if it looks like he traded in his timeshares he will have to go through another company that charges extra and still doesn’t get them out of his name. Just Rescind no if and or buts. I don’t know how old your Dad is, but he can rent a lot of weeks for 43,000.00
If he did it to get rid of his other timeshares tell him to just give them away. We can walk you through it on TUG.
Tell him after he Rescinded to cancel/dispute the charge on his credit card. Do not wait around for the resort to handle it and refund the money. Let us know how it goes.

 

[jules54]

Oh yeah if your Dad or his wife doesn’t want to rescind they won’t. No matter what you say

 

[gkmortimer]

Oh yeah if your Dad or his wife doesn’t want to rescind they won’t. No matter what you say

Hi jules54! They actually DO want to rescind. Just trying to help them know how to navigate the process.

 

[easyrider]

Sand in the cancellation letter, send an email and do it so there is a timestamp of when you did. Call the credit card and claim fraud.

Bill

 

[bogey21]

A timely cancellation letter is key. If you want to follow up with an email, make sure you say in it when the cancellation letter was mailed and provide the tracking number. An email that just says you are rescinding is worthless...

George

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

My Dad purchased a Vidanta/Vida Vacations time share on Sunday (the 16th). It was the standard discount ploy as they started by asking him to pay $43,000 with him turning over all his timeshares (RHC, Wyndham & Diamond) so he could be "free" of future maintenance fees. ........They lowered it to $7600 with $200 a year in maintenance fees and said they would take over his Diamond timeshare and unload it for him. He signed.

What he bought was an exit package.

(note) -an actual Vidanta RTU timeshare has a registered week and a booking window ( Wyndham calls it ARP) .
So he basically bought the equivalent of a (gym) membership - that requires $ 200 a year to keep active and not expire. My guess is that ICE ( International Cruises and Excursions) is connected to this vacation club membership

1) Rescind and copy PROFECO .
2) Contact the credit card company and dispute - listing # 1
3) Call Vidanta Member Services ( after # 1&2) and be sure to mention PROFECO

Profeco is the Mexican government agency that regulates consumer transactions ( including timeshares)

vacation club membership sales is a consumer transaction.
In my opinion - Vidanta does not desire to “ offend profeco” - even though profeco is more regulatory than enforcement.

FYI - The recent thread titled LIMITLESS VACATIONS - in the TUG Mexican Forum may give you some added
insight.

 

[dioxide45]

Don't communicate with the sales staff about rescission. They will do anything to make it so they don't cancel. They are entitled to a full refund of monies paid and no obligation if they rescind based on the instructions and address provided in the contract. Follow @TheTimeTraveler advice. This is important when wanting to send trackable mail internationally.

 

[pittle]

Have them call 1-800-AWAY-I-GO and ask for Customer Service. Explain that the need to cancel ASAP. They will help.

 

[geist1223]

Vidanta does not actually take possession on those other timeshares. They turn them over to another organization that tries (LOL) to sell them - unsuccessfully. Your Dad still ends up owning them owing payments (if not paid off) and maintenance fees.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

....... They lowered it to $7600 with $200 a year in maintenance fees and said they would take over his Diamond timeshare
and unload it for him. He signed. .........

He is on the plane right now heading back.......what should my Dad do?
[/
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One specific reason to contact Vidanta Member Services is the " trade in "

In my opinion - your dad signed "paperwork" allowing a payment to the transfer company *that would deal with
the Diamond TS. My guess is that ~$ 1600 or so of the $7600 is for the transfer company.

Vidanta sales forces do " trade ins" to gain sales. VMS will be ok with voiding the trade in paper work.

 

[jules54]

That whole trade in routine is lies. If an outside company is involved there just rescind with them also. I hate to do this exact thing with a different resort group. Rescinded cancelled credit card and sent the trade in resale company a letter also. Got all funds returned back. I’ve rescinded a couple of Mexican timeshares yep still happenes to even veteran owners who know in their heart it’s so wrong but still fall for a better mousetrap scheme. SO I NEVER JUDGE ANYONE ABOUT BUYING AND CANCELLING. I have never sent anything to Profeco. Which I could see might be necessary if you were beyond your 5 dayes.

 

[NiteMaire]

You don't need to send it to Profeco, but it can definitely help. I rescinded an exit deal in person from a company in Mexico. They initially told me I couldn't rescind at all. Then they said I had to mail it in. After telling them what I'd do if they forced me to do so (which included notifying Profeco), they relented and we rescinded immediately. They asked me how I knew about Profeco, and it definitely influenced their decision to allow us to rescind at that moment. Received my refund almost immediately.
My point is that Profeco helps ensure the TS companies do the right thing...even when they don't have to get involved.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Let me first say how much I appreciate all of you. The threads on this site have been invaluable.

all his timeshares
(RHC, Wyndham & Diamond) so he could be "free" of future maintenance fees.

Now that you have found TUG - please stick around and find out more use information on :
Wyndham - full TUG forum
Diamond - full TUG forum
RHC - Royal Holidays - you can use the search bar & discover threads.

Reading and learning may help alleviate the fear of " future MF"

 

[gkmortimer]

Thanks everyone for your incredible advice. My Dad actually did not sign a timeshare contract but signed an Equity Value Agreement with TRM (his Diamond membership) and vacation package contract with Limitless Vacations. He has sent emails, contacted his credit card company and sent off six different letters by certified mail today to all of the addresses on all of the paperwork - as well as to Profeco. It is my understanding that the credit card company said they would intervene IF Vidanta dragged its feet or resisted. Fingers crossed!

 

[Karen G]

Please let us know how it all works out.

 

[Renameduser1234]

Vidanta does not actually take possession on those other timeshares. They turn them over to another organization that tries (LOL) to sell them - unsuccessfully. Your Dad still ends up owning them owing payments (if not paid off) and maintenance fees.

You are completely right, the worst part is that they try to convince the member to buy it back from the "so called exit company" claiming it has rental value. Don't acknowledge them as they dont have possession of your other timeshare and won't ever sell it.