On January 19th, I was invited to take a 90 minutes tour by the Sunset Group salesmen, for a Sunset Beach clubs presentation, at Sunset Royal hotel in Cancun, Mexico.in exchange for this, I received a free tour for 2 people to Xcaret, Mexico.
Instead of the 90 minutes tour, I spent the numerous hours under persistent persuasion from the salesperson and his manager, and as a result, I signed 2 membership contracts with Promotora Sunset beach clubs, Mexico. Contract # 24 1-13295 for a golden perpetual membership with Sunset Group and Contract # 29 1-1542 is for membership of Admirals Yacht Club.
I also got free enrollment into RCI vacation club, Sunset interclub and 5 corporate weeks of using 2-bedroom suite with no maintenance fee. I paid the down payment for the first contract in the amount of $6,010.00 USD and the down payment for the second one, in the amount of $2,800.00 USD. The total amounted to $8,810.00 USD.
On January 20th I came back to the manager of Sunset Royal Hotel, in order to cancel my contract. I spent many hours waiting for someone to do this for me, but finally I was told that I wouldnt be able to be helped that day and I would have to return on Monday, January 22.
On Monday, January 22nd, the sales manager Julieta Caradanis, informed me that I could cancel the Admirals Yacht Club contract, but not my golden membership contract, because I signed some kind of waiver that nullifies my rights for cancellation of this contract during 5 business days after the date I signed it. When I asked her to show the waiver to me and make a copy of this document, she refused to do so.
In addition, she also refused to take my cancellation letter (As I found later when I came back to New York, her action of giving me the waiver to sign, was illegal and I had my rights for 5 business days of cancellation). She put me in a terrible situation, where I had no other choice but to change my membership for another one, in a way that will make me feel more comfortable (as she stated), and she will give me a good price, wave $795.00 of administrative costs and 5 additional corporate weeks. She convinced me into thinking the timeshare is a great investment and I will make a lot of money by renting out my weeks.
I was alone, helpless, and I thought that I couldnt do anything, but accept her proposal. She cancelled contract # xx42 and upgraded my contract # xx295 to the platinum version according to which I can rent or use 2-bedroom apartment throughout the year. At the time, I didnt acknowledge the fact that she didnt change the date of signing this contract from January 19 to January 22.
The price of the platinum version of my membership contract is $18,105.00 USD, which consists from $6,336.00 USD (35% down payment) $11,768.25 finance (see page 1 of the membership purchase agreement). As I mentioned $795.00 of the administrative costs were waived, therefore, after the cancellation of Admirals Yacht Club contract, I had to get credit of $2,473.25 USD back to my credit card ($8,810.00 USD 6,336.75 USD = $2,473.25 USD), Instead I got $1695.24 USD back to my credit card, which is $778.01 USD less.
Also instead of $11,768.25 USD finance balance to be paid during 5 years period (see page 1 of membership purchase agreement and page 1 of promissory note), Ms. Julieta Caradanis included in an amortization schedule in the contract that is $12,248.25 USD, that is $480.00 USD more without any explanation about this matter in contract.
At the time of presentation I was misled in many matters: 1) First page of contracts addendum states: This contract includes two VIP weeks in 2007 and one registered week and one VIP week in starting 2010 includes one registered week plus three VIP weeks).. Due to this statement I am allowed to use or rent my two-bedroom suite each year, starting from the year 2007. First page of Membership Verification Form clause 7 states biennial Vacation Use Period. (I was explained that I could use my two-bedroom suite each year. My maintenance fees were paid every other year. That was a lie). Page 3 of Membership verification form in clause 25 states: We understand and acknowledge that as a first purchase incentive were receiving a credit from the marketing program in the amount of $7000.00 US dollars, for which we are unable to rent any of our weeks for 3 years. 2) On page 3 of Membership purchase agreement clause fifth (effective period of Membership) states that on December 31 membership shall be extinguished and therefore, the rights deriving there from. Notwithstanding the Forgoing, the owner is committed and obliged to obtain an extension of the current deal or it will make a new deal for a longer period.
I have contract for a perpetual membership. This clause states that my membership will expire in 13 years, and I can be offered a new deal, different from the one I currently have. At that time my membership would have been paid in full and I wouldnt have been protected from changes that might or might have not satisfied me. It also didnt state that Id be protected from paying additional fees. 3) Ms. Julieta Caradanis persuaded into believing that the timeshare is a wonderful investment, and I would make a lot of money from it, by renting my weeks out. Therefore I thought I could rent the apartment as a whole or to split 2-bedroom apartment into 1-bedroom and studio, and use or rent separately. I was told that my maintenance fee, $749.00 USD, for a 2-bedroom apartment would also split depending on the room size, but this was not true.
Instead in this case I would pay $519.00 USD for a studio and $649.00 USD for a 1-bedroom apartment ($519.00 USD 649.00 USD = 1168.00 USD) that is $419.00 more.
I browsed through different websites online and found that it is impossible to rent out my two-bedroom apartment for $1700.00 USD as Ms. Julieta Cardanis told me it might be possible to rent it out for amount of maintenance fee or much less.
In any case, it states that I cant rent it out or use within 3 years after purchase. Im almost positive that with these discrepancies, I would not be able to sell this membership at all, and even if I did manage to sell the membership, Id be partaking in the fraudulent schemes as well.in general, as I found from websites, if I sell a membership, Id lose at least 40% of the price that I initially paid.
This contract is clearly a horrible investment. I believe that your company is scamming me.
I looked at different websites, such as usacomplaints.com, that showed many other victims that were scammed as well, by typing in Sunset Royal or Royal Sunset or Sunset group or, Sunset in the search box.
In addition to the credit card companys involvement, I filed complaints with PROFECO, The U.S. Embassy in Mexico, the U.S. Attorney General, BBB asking them for help and will describe this deal on websites mentioned above.
I sent numerous claims to Sunset Group but have never gotten any responses.
SharonBronx, New York
U.S.A.
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