Creative Event Coordinators (CEC) contacted us in November asking to rent six weeks of our timeshare in Mexico for a corporate client. The company got our name by searching public property records in Mexico. The agent also said they purchase timeshares. Since we aren't using ours, we decided to sell. He told us his 6.5% commission would be due only after we received our money.
We had an attorney review the contract with CEC and both parties signed an addendum based on the attorney recommendations. CEC then turned the transaction over to a closing company in Kansas City, MO. That's when the trouble started.
First, we were asked to wire $999 to a bank in Mexico for title search fee, which would be reimbursed by the buyer. We balked at this, but CEC agreed to a second addendum agreeing they would guarantee refund.
Then it was discovered that in our original contract with the timeshare company, there was a penalty clause saying we owed roughly $3,500 in maintenance fees since we were not selling to a family member. We viewed this as an issue between us and the resort, so we went ahead and wired that money to a Mexican bank, again with the written assurance that the buyer would reimburse.
Then, we were told we had to pay Mexican taxes up front, again with written assurance that we would be reimbursed by the buyer. The argument seemed to make sense: The Mexican government has had touble collecting taxes from Americans after the sale. We wired that money too, after being told we would receive proceeds from the sale within days. We are out $9,700.
CEC is not returning phonecalls, although their phones are still active. For two weeks, the closing company has promised that our funds are being wired, and then comes up with some excuse as to why we don't receive them. We've been scammed. Since CEC is the company that contacted us originally, we are holding them responsible, and have reported them to the Texas Attorney General. We will seek other avenues as well, although don't have much hope of getting our money back. Do not do business with this company!
I believe this company is working with individuals in Mexico to collect these bogus funds.
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