As I understand it, a representative of this company using the name David Spencer contacted my elderly mother (80) in regards to a timeshare she owns. He had a great deal of information regarding the timeshare. He told her that he had a buyer for her timeshare who would pay her $29,000 and that he would be seeing the buyer in 2 1/2 hours and she would have her money within 2 days. He then corrected himself and said because it was for a 2-3 bedroom he could get $31,000. When she advised him she was skeptical he advised her he was a good Christian with a family. He then advised her that the buyer had had to pay a fee of $3862 and she had to pay an upfront fee of $1798. He further advised her that that was the law in Florida and the fees had to be paid otherwise they couldn't sell the timeshare. She advised she might do the deal on a one-time basis and wanted her money back if there was no deal. He then transferred her to another person named Denise to go over the details and my mother again advised that it was a one-time deal that she would only proceed if there was a buyer. Denise proceeded to read my mother what my mother thinks may have been a contract. When Denise said something about no buyer my mother stopped her and told her to forget it. Denise then phoned David and he got on the phone and advised my mother that the buyer would be there in 2 hours. After reiterating that if there was no buyer she did not want to go through with the deal my mother, unfortuantely gave them her Master Card number. She then recived an e-mail containing a "confirmation package" which in fact was a coor the sale / and or rental of your rental property"eement fntract (from another "rep" Justin Quinn who asked her to sign the "the information sheet" which stated that "MGM Universal charges a one-time, non-reoccuring, non-refundable fee for a lifetime agreement for the sale / and or rental of your rental property." which she wouldn't sign. Of course no money came and she tried to contact David Spenser, who wouldn't get back to her. She then e-mailed the company cancelling the deal and asked for her money back. They then contacted her and advised her they couldn't return her money until she faxed them the signed agreement. The agreement also states that "MGM Universal Timeshare does not knowingly take on any properties that we do not believe will sell within the next 90 days". She (unfortunately) signed them and faxed them back, once again with her notification cancelling the deal. After dealing with various "reps" who kept putting her off she finally contacted Master Card only to be told that this crew had cleared her money through Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic immediately on the day that she gave them the number and well before any contract was made. On this company's web site it states that the "client" can cancel the deal and get their money back if they receive written notice within 7 business days. My mother did this twice. I spoke with their "office manager" Liz, supposedly in West Hollywood, who after a bunch of BS ended up advising me that she didn't care if my mother cancelled the deal in writing or what the reps told my mother or what the company's website said, my mother was not getting her money back. She then attmpted to lay the blame on people like my mother for the company's bad name. If you look up MGM Universal on the California Better Business Bureau website the is a warning about dealing with this company about its deceptive business practise, company has an F raiting, is not licensed in California or (I believe) anywhere in the USA. Liz also advised me that she had numerous complaint letters from the Attorney-General of California but that the have beaten them every time. Surely the government in California can shut this crew down.
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