Timeshare Scam

[uchristine28]

We bought a timeshare in Krystal Cancun Mexico on Sept 2021 because it was presented as an investment at the time. 2 years later, we haven’t received anything in return. We already paid $7,000 including deposit. We still have owe another $7,000. They signed us up with GTS global to rent our weeks. I have emailed Global for months since August 2023 and attempted to call but no response. I stopped all payments because of this. I contacted Krystal directly and told them the situation but they said Global is a separate service. I want out of this. I stopped payments for 3 months and now, they are threatening me that they will send it to collections and my my credit will be affected. Is this true? Will it really affect my credit score if I stop my payments? I don’t want to keep paying another $7,000 for nothing in return, we’re not even using the timeshare.

What is the best option for this situation? Please help!!

 

[geist1223]

It does not sound like you have ever traveled to the timeshare.

 

[Passepartout]

We bought a timeshare in Krystal Cancun Mexico on Sept 2021 because it was presented as an investment at the time. 2 years later, we haven’t received anything in return. We already paid $7,000 including deposit. We still have owe another $7,000. They signed us up with GTS global to rent our weeks. I have emailed Global for months since August 2023 and attempted to call but no response. I stopped all payments because of this. I contacted Krystal directly and told them the situation but they said Global is a separate service. I want out of this. I stopped payments for 3 months and now, they are threatening me that they will send it to collections and my my credit will be affected. Is this true? Will it really affect my credit score if I stop my payments? I don’t want to keep paying another $7,000 for nothing in return, we’re not even using the timeshare.

What is the best option for this situation? Please help!!

Sorry that this happened to you. Here's the unvarnished truth. NO timeshare is an 'investment'. If they were, why would developers sell intervals to unsuspecting tourists? They'd rent them themself.

Sounds like you already made the decision to stop making the payments. You will get thinly veiled threats, but the only weapon they have is to cancel your membership. There are a few Mexican TSs that have deeded property. I doubt yours is one. Don't lose any sleep over their threat to your credit report. It won't happen. And if it should, you have the right to put a mitigating letter in your credit report. No one inquiring on your credit worthiness is going to hold defaulting a Mexican TS against you.

Sorry you waited so long to make yourself known to us. If we'd known you back in Sept 2021, we could've saved you the first $7,000, not just the second $7,000.

Jim

 

[uchristine28]

It does not sound like you have ever traveled to the timeshare.

No. We’ve never stayed there since they part of the contract was staying there for 7 nights and we normally only go Cancun for 5 nights.

 

[uchristine28]

Sorry that this happened to you. Here's the unvarnished truth. NO timeshare is an 'investment'. If they were, why would developers sell intervals to unsuspecting tourists? They'd rent them themself.

Sounds like you already made the decision to stop making the payments. You will get thinly veiled threats, but the only weapon they have is to cancel your membership. There are a few Mexican TSs that have deeded property. I doubt yours is one. Don't lose any sleep over their threat to your credit report. It won't happen. And if it should, you have the right to put a mitigating letter in your credit report. No one inquiring on your credit worthiness is going to hold defaulting a Mexican TS against you.

Sorry you waited so long to make yourself known to us. If we'd known you back in Sept 2021, we could've saved you the first $7,000, not just the second $7,000.

Jim

Yeah, I realized that last year. I wished I did my research before signing anything.

I was debating between paying my 3 months and continuing with it since they kept saying it will go into collections. And I’m worried they will garnish my salary for the full amount ($7,000) + penalty if that happens. It’s their “financial consultant” that’s been calling/emailing me and she’s from Miami, that’s why I was worried about my credit since the person calling is based on USA.
I also tried to cancel the membership but I was told I had to pay $5300 in full amount to be able to cancel it. It’s honestly been stressing me out.

 

[Passepartout]

Yeah, I realized that last year. I wished I did my research before signing anything.

I’m worried they will garnish my salary for the full amount ($7,000) + penalty

This isn't EVER going to happen. First, they would have to prove that you bought something with REAL value. (A deed) then get a US court to issue a suit of judgement against you. Then go after assets you might have.

The fact that this collection (might) be US based is not relevant.

To help you sleep better, have a letter drafted to them that demands that they show you the evidence they have that you actually owe this debt. Demand that ALL correspondence in this matter be conducted via US Postal Service. That stops the email and/or phone calls.

Read up on your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Jim

 

[uchristine28]

Isn’t the contact we signed in the beginning prove that I still owe them?

They also sent me this letter weeks ago.

 

[geist1223]

No. We’ve never stayed there since they part of the contract was staying there for 7 nights and we normally only go Cancun for 5 nights.

You can always check out early

 

[geist1223]

Demand certified copies of all Documents that prove the existence of a Contract and Debt.

 

[Passepartout]

Sorry, @uchristine28. I had eye surgery a couple of days ago and can't see the small print of your attachment. It doesn't look like any deed I've ever seen. There would be a very legalese description of the property. What I see here is simply an accounting of payments you've made. I think (like 99% of Mexican TSs this is a membership. And the only 'teeth' they have on you is the ability to USE a week at their resort. No pay, no stay.

Since you've already stopped paying, there is nothing more they can do to entice you to bring your account current and keep paying. It will have no more value paid off than it does now.

Anyway, a demand that further communication MUST be via USPS (that opens them up to wire fraud), I don't expect you to hear much- if anything- from them.

If you REALLY want to put a bee in their bonnet, post your details - no investment, can't use, threats to your credit etc. etc. to every travel site you can think of. It could be that enough bad press and comments on their fb pages or ads will get them to refund everything you've paid on nthe condition that you pull down derogatory comments you've posted. These outfits DO CARE about their appearance on social media.

Good Luck to you. Let us know how it all works out.

Jim

 

[AnthonyG]

We bought a timeshare in Krystal Cancun Mexico on Sept 2021 because it was presented as an investment at the time. 2 years later, we haven’t received anything in return. We already paid $7,000 including deposit. We still have owe another $7,000. They signed us up with GTS global to rent our weeks. I have emailed Global for months since August 2023 and attempted to call but no response. I stopped all payments because of this. I contacted Krystal directly and told them the situation but they said Global is a separate service. I want out of this. I stopped payments for 3 months and now, they are threatening me that they will send it to collections and my my credit will be affected. Is this true? Will it really affect my credit score if I stop my payments? I don’t want to keep paying another $7,000 for nothing in return, we’re not even using the timeshare.

What is the best option for this situation? Please help!!

Hi I’m sorry this happened to you, as it happens to me as well. I’m looking to get out of this scam. Did you find any possible solutions or agency’s to help exit the timeshare

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Hi I’m sorry this happened to you, as it happens to me as well. I’m looking to get out of this scam. Did you find any possible solutions or agency’s to help exit the timeshare

Hi @AnthonyG - and Welcome to TUG
There are no agency's that will do anything beyond take more of your money $$

Use what you bought or stop paying. There are lots of TUG Mexican forum info on both options
Read them and make your decision.

 

[Unity]

We bought a timeshare in Krystal Cancun Mexico on Sept 2021 because it was presented as an investment at the time. 2 years later, we haven’t received anything in return. We already paid $7,000 including deposit. We still have owe another $7,000. They signed us up with GTS global to rent our weeks. I have emailed Global for months since August 2023 and attempted to call but no response. I stopped all payments because of this. I contacted Krystal directly and told them the situation but they said Global is a separate service. I want out of this. I stopped payments for 3 months and now, they are threatening me that they will send it to collections and my my credit will be affected. Is this true? Will it really affect my credit score if I stop my payments? I don’t want to keep paying another $7,000 for nothing in return, we’re not even using the timeshare.

What is the best option for this situation? Please help!!

Hi, any update so far? They scammed us too last month. Luckily we have rescinded all the contracts within the rescission period after we saw this forum. Thanks to all of you who posted these experiences. We are currently fighting to get our money back (down payment through credit card) we made a dispute with our bank and still waiting for the result. We also contacted profeco and they said corresponding area will be contacted. Any help or advice here will be greatly appreciated. Thank you all.

 

[Unity]

We bought a timeshare in Krystal Cancun Mexico on Sept 2021 because it was presented as an investment at the time. 2 years later, we haven’t received anything in return. We already paid $7,000 including deposit. We still have owe another $7,000. They signed us up with GTS global to rent our weeks. I have emailed Global for months since August 2023 and attempted to call but no response. I stopped all payments because of this. I contacted Krystal directly and told them the situation but they said Global is a separate service. I want out of this. I stopped payments for 3 months and now, they are threatening me that they will send it to collections and my my credit will be affected. Is this true? Will it really affect my credit score if I stop my payments? I don’t want to keep paying another $7,000 for nothing in return, we’re not even using the timeshare.

What is the best option for this situation? Please help!!

I was able to record the incident during the harassment and threatening that we had with the agent at Krystal Cancun resort. Not sure if this will be helful with our case to get our money back? We need to expose this wrongdoing of them to stop them. Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Unity]

I was able to turn on the video on my phone and put it back in my purse during the incident of harassment and threatening that we had with the agent at Krystal Cancun resort. He threatened us to sign this new contract and we were told that this is the only way to cancel the Timeshare. Not sure if this will be helful with our case to get our money back? We need to expose this wrongdoing of them to stop them. Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Unity]

Thank you all.

 

[WorldT]

It seems there are at least three people in this thread with the same problem. If you have correctly rescinded during the period stated in your contract, you best bet to get the money you have already paid is your bank or credit card.
FYI: specifically block the resort from further charges by calling the bank or credit card company.
Under no circumstances should you pay anyone any more money for anything. Any extra payment will be lost. It doesn't matter what the promise is.
If you are past the recision period, then the likelihood of getting your money back is gone. You may be better off cutting your loses and moving on. Forget the threats, they can't do anything. As already mentioned, most likely you have a right to use which is essentially a membership club.

 

[isalyngonzalez]

We bought a timeshare in Krystal Cancun Mexico on Sept 2021 because it was presented as an investment at the time. 2 years later, we haven’t received anything in return. We already paid $7,000 including deposit. We still have owe another $7,000. They signed us up with GTS global to rent our weeks. I have emailed Global for months since August 2023 and attempted to call but no response. I stopped all payments because of this. I contacted Krystal directly and told them the situation but they said Global is a separate service. I want out of this. I stopped payments for 3 months and now, they are threatening me that they will send it to collections and my my credit will be affected. Is this true? Will it really affect my credit score if I stop my payments? I don’t want to keep paying another $7,000 for nothing in return, we’re not even using the timeshare.

What is the best option for this situation? Please help!!

I lost more than $6,000 with this fraud with Krystal Cancun Mexico. It is any possibility that we create a lawsuit together and stop this fraud to get the money back. Also my emotional health has been affected with this situation.

 

[LannyPC]

I lost more than $6,000 with this fraud with Krystal Cancun Mexico. It is any possibility that we create a lawsuit together and stop this fraud to get the money back. Also my emotional health has been affected with this situation.

How is this fraud? Was it the purchase of the timeshare that you consider to be fraud or the service you paid to a third party to rent out your TS?

As frustrating as this might be, I would not recommend a class-action lawsuit. What are you hoping to accomplish by filing a lawsuit? Very rarely do lawsuits from TS owners result in anything positive.

 

[geist1223]

Have you looked into such a lawsuit in Mexico? Do you understand Mexican Business and Tort Law?

If you tried to file in the USA how has this Mexican Organization/Business agreed to USA Jurisdiction? Does your Contract have a Clause which Country's Laws Apply?

 

[TUGBrian]

I was able to record the incident during the harassment and threatening that we had with the agent at Krystal Cancun resort. Not sure if this will be helful with our case to get our money back? We need to expose this wrongdoing of them to stop them. Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated.

have you uploaded this video anywhere? id certainly love to see it and id bet most mainstream media outlets would also love to get their hands on it given how many stories about mexican timeshares exist these days!

 

[Skyyblueplaya]

I also want to see this video
I think it would be VERY HELPFUL on their Instagram, Facebook, X(twitter) whatever they use

Oh the irony that my name is Krystal