Mazatlan Mexico May beautiful beaches and great culture should have been a dream vacation instead turned into a nightmare for the past year trying to resolve my difficulties with El Cid Vacations Club.
As part of the free ride from airport to El Cid Mazatlan Marina Resort, we had to attend a timeshare meeting. We met with Rick Hohl who presented an excellent offering. It was not my first timeshare meeting and what was presented was in writing. We listend. We asked questions.
We asked to think it over and were told we needed to make a decision today and it was only valid for that day. I was given information in writing by Fernando Alonso Gonzalez and Rick Hohl. I was given a contract that appeared to be representing everything that was told to me verbally as well as shown in handwritten notes from the meeting.
Rick and Fernando offered to mail th membership package home since this was right when the airlines began charging extra for the additional luggage. Anyone who owns timeshares knows that the new member welcome package consists of multiple books, binders and weighs a lot. So accepted their offer and promise the package would be waiting when arrived home.
Nightmare began when I attemped to put my first year of points up for rent. Yes I know but again I had it in writing!!! I had it handwritten notes from Fernando, I could sale my points for $9000 all I needed to do was contact him via email when I got hom and received my welcome package. He would arrange it. He would take my points and use them for clients who are trying to book in during Fiesta which is Mardi Gras like in New Orleans and Rio according to him.
I emailed him that I wanted to place my points for sale this first year as we discussed and notified him that I never received my welcome package. I am a year later still waiting to hear from him or Rick Hohl who I subsequently sent an email too explaining my circumstances. I have called customer service with El Cid so many times via email (Aloysha Neira and Benjamin Goon) and phone without any luck.
Once i realized I was not going to be able to rent my timeshare points, I have tried to book vacations with my points.in one year time frame, I have only been able to get myself one week of vacation and it was at a Wyndham in Florida not even able to get into El Cid properties. Most ironic since I am supposedly an El Cid Silver VIP member with all these great benefits and perks.
It was on the advice of an attorney and agent who works in the timeshare industry that I have written this complaint as well as a letter to both the Mexican Profeco office, the Mexican Consulate office both in my city and Washington DC. I have notified El Cid Vacations Club in writing I am requesting a refund of my monies for breach of contract as well as false promises and to notify other Americans who are planning on purchasing timeshare in Mexico from El Cid Vacations Club to be aware of their fraudulent practices.
As of this writing, I have not heard any contact from El Cid Vacations Club except as to why I did not make my payment this month. When informed the agent who was calling for my payment, he stated " I don't know what is in your contract but you are needing to make a payment. And how did I plan on paying for it today?"
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