Timeshare Warning from a Resident

My Experience With The Velas Vallarta

by Duke Phillips


Velas Vllarta lobby

Well well well............what can I say? The Velas are building some real nice resorts. Real swanky resorts no less. And they're all in beautiful Mexico. My first exposure  to them was at the Puerto Vallarta airport. It was my first time out of country, traveling by myself. I had just gone through customs and must have had a lost look on my mug because someone looked at me and asked where I was staying. I told him 'Lindo Mar' and he told me to go to a particular line at the counter and they would help me get a cab. OK, I thought. At the counter the nice girl offered me some tickets for things to do for a low price and would get me a cab to the Lindo Mar. Then she asked me if I'd be willing to attend a free brunch the next morning and attend a presentation. Since I didn't have anything in particular planned I agreed to be picked up outside my hotel. 

The next morning she was there outside the Lindo Marwaiting for me in a cab. We arrived at the Velas Vallarta and she introduced me to someone else, who got me something to drink, I think, and we chatted for a minute or two and then went upstairs to the free brunch. The thing I remember about the event was he seemed somewhat in a hurry to get me done eating and get down to business. But I guess what do you expect for free. 

salesman Dean
When we did get down to business I told the guy up front that I couldn't afford anything like this.......that I was already with TrendWest. That's where he asked me 'what if I show you a way to pay for this by renting your weekes out'? It all sounded very intriguing. Using the formula he laid out I wondered how I could loose. After a while I agreed to buy in, based on what I was told. Then I had to join a third party called Regal. Another $600. When it came time to sign the paperwork a woman, an American, came out from the back and told me that normally Mexican law would allow me a 5-day right of recession. However, because this contract was previously owned the law didn't apply to me. OK. Who was I to question her?


When I got back to the Lindo Mar (a fantastic place to stay!) I laid on my bed with the fan going full force overhead, and the only thought in my head was 'what the f**k did I do'? And I knew I couldn't change my mind and go back and cancel the contract. The blunt American told me so. 


Well that was October 2006. I called Regal often to see if any of the weeks (up to six of 25 weeks available) were close to renting. But they didn't rent. So in March, 2009 I went back down to Puerto Vallarta to see about selling the contract back to them. At the airport was the same nice girl. She told me 'yes', that they could buy it back and she could arrange a meeting the next morning. OK, that would work. The next day she picked me up again and again I had a free brunch, this one a little less hurried, and we got down to business. After complaining that the weeks weren't renting the salesman, Dean (a Canadian) told me they won't rent. Nobody want a one bed room. If I upgraded the room would be easier to rent or sell, and that each week would now rent for $2900 instead of the $2200 previous. I had a friend with me this time and we both thought it sounded good. So I went ahead and upgraded. And again they told me it was a previously owned contract, and again the usual 5-day right of recession was void. But now, more that a year later, and now with Dreams instead of Regal, they still don't rent. I've now come to the conclusion the Velas Vallarta is all a great big (how can I say this without being sued?) ****!!! Along with Dreams, Regal, or any of the other Jokers they like to front.


For anyone planning to travel to Mexico learn from my mistake! The Velas are NOT!, in my opinion, an honest company. These people really seem to lack integrity. I don't blame them for trying to sell timeshares. And I can't blame anyone for buying one. The problem I have is when they try to run a rental program. Or sell you on renting your weeks out. And when they sit across the table from you and try to sell you on their program based on renting your weeks out, but KNOW they're not renting, then to me that's called *****!!! 


These guys are a real class act. And I am one of many suckers who have been robbed by these low lifes. Again, if only they would stick to selling to people who will actually USE their weeks and not even mention anything pertaining to renting weeks out to pay for it. And then lie to everyone about no 5- day right of recission. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT is maybe the only way to communicate with this kind of business. And to open their books to examination!





view of the beach from my Lindo Mar room


Lindo Mar Sunday brunch
So, if YOU might be thinking of going to Puerto Vallarta, ask yourself if this is the type of business you would like to give your money to. Is this the kind of business that you'd be willing to do ANY business with? I now wish I hadn't. And I'm not alone! If you want a nice place to stay, try the Lindo Mar. It may not be 5-star and all inclusive, but they're only a five minute 50 cent  bus ride to the heart of Puerto Vallarta and the Malacom. Not the half hour it takes from the Velas Vallarta. AND.......they have a fantastic restaurant and bar on the beach just outside the resort. And the mango margaritas are the best! The Lindo Mar is not oversized and does not give high pressure sales presentations.  


A 360 view from the beach of the Lindo Mar 





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Profeco

by Duke Phillips
Sent an email today to Profeco asking for their help. This is what I wrote:


Hola,
I would like your help in getting my money back from the Velas Vallarta. I originally purchased it in October 2006. Then I upgraded in March 2009 because they said it would help the weeks rent. The problem is the weeks don't rent. And I know Profeco is aware of this.
When I first went to the presentation I told them I couldn't afford this timeshare. Plus I already had one with Trendwest. But they showed me how to pay for it by renting my weeks out. Plus I would make enough that I could visit Mexico again and still have money to spend. It sounded great. So I did it. Then they told me that because the contract was previously owned I would not have the usual 5-day right to rescission.
Well, the weeks did not rent. So I returned to Puerto Vallarta in March 2009 with the intention of selling it back to them and getting my money back. But they said that the problem was I needed to upgrade to a better unit. The saleman even showed me pictures of his family from Canada because he liked me. But now more than a year later NO weeks have rented. Enough is enough! I want my money back! The Velas salestaff lie to your face KNOWING those weeks are NOT going to ever rent. That's called fraud! And again they told me that the contract was previously owned and again I didn't have the 5-day right of rescission. That was deceptive business with intent to commit fraud. How can these people be allow to stay in business? I don't care how much time has passed. I have gone along with their game long enough. I WANT MY MONEY BACK! ALL OF IT!
I sent you a letter in May that I wrote to President Obama and to all my representative asking for help from my government in getting my money back from these people. And I am going to see if Senator Maria Cantwell can bring new legislation forward governing timeshare scammers and maybe educate Americans of the dangers of Mexican timeshares. Why Mexican? When I called the Velas they reminded me that 'this is Mexico'! Apparently it's ok to knowingly rob Americans in Mexico.
I have created two blogs devoted to this scam:
http://velasresortsscam.blogspot.com/

Thanks in advance for your help.
Duke Phillips.....
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PROFECO flyer concerning timeshares

by Duke Phillips
Here is a link to a 'flyer' put out by PROFECO, the Mexican agency that is supposed to look out for tourist, I think.

 http://www.profeco.gob.mx/revista/publicaciones/otas_pub_06/timeshares_abr06.pdf
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by Duke Phillips

Senator Maria Cantwell,
Thank you for your willingness to work with me on this problem.

I am involved in an effort to get my money back from a timeshare located in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It’s called the Velas Vallarta and they run a shady operation. They make all kinds of promises while trying to sell you your timeshare. I told them I couldn’t afford it ($33,000?) but they go on showing how one can rent out your weeks and walk away with enough to go back and stay at another hotel and enough money in your pocket to pay for you vacation. Then they have you sign up with a third party which will handle the rental aspect. That costs about $600. Maria, the weeks DON’T RENT!! Not one has rented since 2006. And I’m not the only one in this boat. They also tell you at the time of signing that this is previously owned so I did not have the right to change my mind after signing. This is another lie! Mexican law allows you a 5-day right of rescission. But, of course, you have no way of knowing this till you get back home unless you travel with a laptop. I am now at the point where I no longer want to play the game of waiting for the weeks to rent. On my second trip there in March of 2009, they were sympathetic but said I needed to upgrade to a two bedroom. Then it would be easier to sell or rent the weeks. Plus I had to join a new rental company, Dreams RSI. Another $650. And again I heard the same story again, that it was previously owned and no 5-day right of rescission. I’m done with all of this.  I want my money back………ALL OF IT!  






I recently started a Facebook Causes page devoted to this effort called VelasResortsScam.
You can find it here: http://www.causes.com/causes/495784. The Velas are aware of this. I intend to comb thru online forums and gather as many others to the cause as I can.

But I need the help of my government also. In a recent email from Roberto Garcia, who maybe manages their contracts (phone 011 52 322 221 0091 Ext. 5618)  (contracts@velasresorts.com), he reminded me that the jurisdiction of my contract is in Mexico, and  I get that. But that doesn’t mean they have a right to lie and deceive. I am hoping you may have some leverage and could pull some strings to convince them to cancel my account and return my money to me. All of it. They should not be allowed to profit from this. I realize President Obama is busy and has more important things on his mind, but I figure he has a large staff that works on his behalf. I tried to send a copy of that letter to Mexican President Felipe Calderon, the Governor of the state of Nayarit, Ney Gonzalez Sanchez, which is where the Velas Vallarta is located, and to Profeco, the Mexican federal agency who’s job it is to look out for tourist, but I have not heard back. 

Maria, timeshares are fleecing a lot of money out of Americans and Canadians. Besides getting my money back I would like to see a new program on the books, similar to the Better Business Bureau’s ratings, where all timeshares are graded and complaints compiled. During presentations they would have to disclose this information to the prospective buyers, whether in the USA, Mexico, or the Moon. IF they choose not to do this, then the prospective buyer should walk away quickly.  This way a consumer database is easily available for consumers. Thanks you for any help you can offer me.
Duke Phillips

VelasResortsScam@gmail.com       







Velas salesman Dean McLean
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by Duke Phillips
May 23, 2010 
Dear President Obama,

First, I want to thank you for what you are doing to get our economy back on track and for taking on the thugs on Wall Street. Also, thank you for the creation of a consumer watchdog agency. We need someone like this on our side.

But I have a problem I’m hoping you can help me with. In 2006 I made the mistake of going to Mexico and ended up deep in debt from a timeshare purchase, the Velas Vallarta in Puerto Vallarta. When I told them I couldn’t afford something like this they showed me how I could pay for it with income from renting up to six of my weeks each year. Plus, I had to pay a third party for the privilege of renting these weeks. Only problem is they don’t rent. Also, I was told when signing the paperwork that this is a previously owned contract and because of that I would not have the lawful five day right of recession. 

So I made a second trip to Puerto Vallarta in March of 2009 to see if they might buy it back from me. Instead they told me it would be easier to rent out the weeks or sell my timeshare if I upgraded to a two bedroom deluxe, which I did. Now it’s been almost four years since I first bought from the Velas and I’m still waiting for these weeks to rent out. It all seems to have been a lie. They don’t rent!  Now I just want my money back. Both of the times I have dealt with the Velas they told me the new contract is previously owned so this five day right of recession doesn’t apply to me. Nice, so you can’t go check them out on the net first. Now it’s beginning to affect me paying my bills. Is there anything my government can do to help me with this? For some reason Mexico seems to choose to keep allowing these people lie and rip off Americans/Canadians. Velas Resorts should be added to a ‘travel advisory watch list’ for unscrupulous timeshare operators, listed by country. Thanks for any help my government can do to help me get my money back from the Velas and thanks for taking on major causes affecting our nation. 

KLP





23 de mayo 
Estimado presidente Obama,

En primer lugar, quiero darle las gracias por lo que ha estado haciendo para conseguir que nuestra economía vuelva a un buen camino y por encargarse de los rufianes de Wall Street. Necesitamos a alguien como usted de nuestro lado.

Pero tengo un problema que espero me pueda ayudar. En el 2006 fui a México y cometí el error de endeudarme con la compra de una propiedad vacacional de tiempo compartido. Cuando les dije a los Velas que yo no podía darme el lujo de hacer semejante compra. Según ellos me mostraron como yo podía hacer la compra y pagar con los ingresos procedentes de alquilar mis semanas de tiempo compartido. Todo sonaba muy bonito pero la realidad era otra. Por alguna razón las semanas de tiempo compartido no se rentan. Encima de esto también he tenido que pagarle a un tercero por el privilegio de alquilar estas semanas. Al firmar el papeleo me dijeron que el contrato era revendido y debido a esto no tendría derecho legítimo a los cinco días de reflexión.

Así que hice un segundo viaje a Puerto Vallarta en marzo del 2009 con la intención de revender la multipropiedad de regreso a los Velas. Pero ellos me dijeron que seria más fácil vender el tiempo compartido o alquilar las semanas si actualizaba a una unidad de dos dormitorios de lujo. Cosa que yo hice. Hace casi cuatro anos desde que les compre a los Velas y aun sigo esperando que las semanas se alquilen. Pero no se alquilan. Ahora solo quiero que me regresen mi dinero. Las dos veces que he tratado con los Velas me dicen que el contrato nuevo también era revendido y que no tenia derecho a los cinco días de reflexión. Ahora todo esto empieza a afectar la economía de mi hogar. Hay algo que mi gobierno pueda hacer para ayudarme. Por alguna razón México deja que estas personas sigan mintiendo y estafando a los estadounidenses y a los canadienses. La cadena de Resort los Velas debería ser agregada a una lista nacional "turística de asesoramiento" por operadores de multipropiedad sin escrúpulos. Gracias por cualquier ayuda que mi gobierno pueda darme para lograr que los Velas me regresen mi dinero. Nuevamente gracias por tomar acción en las causas mayores de nuestra nación.

KLP
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