El Grupo Mayan Palace bilks American citizens of "hundreds of millions of dollars, Robert Paisola reports Class Action Status Granted against Grupo Mayan - Letter from Robert Paisola on how to get out of a MAYAN Contract from
vip@mycollector.com
This is now a CLASS ACTION CASE
DO NOT PAY THIS COMPANY A DIME
Download the Class Action Case Data
LOS ANGELES (CN) - A federal class action complaint accuses El Grupo Mayan Palace of bilking U.S. citizens of "hundreds of millions of dollars" in Mayan Resorts timeshares, using "high-pressure fraudulent sales tactics that are comparable to the worst tactics ever employed by used car salesmen in a Hollywood movie."
The complaint states that the "defendants earn hundreds of millions each year from such sales by systematically misrepresenting in sales presentations and documents the value of the timeshares they are selling. Defendants as part of their scheme also have misled Plaintiffs as to their rights under Mexican law."
Plaintiffs are represented by Boies Schiller & Flexner of Oakland.
Here are the defendants: Desarollo Marina Vallarta SA de CV, El Grupo Mayan Palace, Daniel Chavez Moran, Daniel Omar Chavez, Scott Erikson, Casey Jon Owens, Canamere Inc., Huffsmith-Kohrville Inc., Preferred Vacations Inc., Premium Travel Services Inc., Resort Solutions Inc., Seven Oceans US Inc., AZM Marketing LLC, Resort Quality Controls Inc., Resort Condominiums International LLC, and Resorts International Marketing Corp.
How to Cancel Your Contract with The Grupo Mayan Resorts :
Request for Cancellation of my
Mayan Palace Regency Vacation Club Agreement CRAA Dated June 12, 2008
12/29/09
Membership Services
Desarrollo Marina Village
dba “Groupo Mayan”
PO Box 27701-464
Houston TX 77227
This is day 4 since we signed this contract. I am faxing this request because of timeliness and sending by mail the entire package to the directions as given on Section 12 of the Agreement.
We are hereby requesting cancellation of our
Mayan Palace Regency Vacation Club Agreement CRAA 2311 since it was based on illegal
sales practices and fraudulent information.
We arrived at my
Mayan palace in the
Riviera Maya on June 6, 2008 through a private Grand Mayan Rental. We attended a timeshare sales presentation on Wednesday June 11, 2008. We cancelled and signed a new contract on June 12,2008.
We have had wonderful experiences here at the Mayan Grand in Playa del Carmen. We explained to our
Mayan Palace sales representative, Patricia Manzi that we would only agree to the 90 minute presentation for future travel. I, Rita Kronen, also explained I have
Parkinsons disease and could not walk very far and tire easily as well as it would not be possible for me to travel for quite awhile as I am expecting DBS(direct brain stimulation )surgery in the next six months . WE AGREED TO 90 MINUTES ONLY!
She dismissed my concerns as a small detail and rolled right on with several lies (scam) promises
1. Lie owners guaranteed rental from the Mayan for $3400.00 a year so even if we didn’t use the property soon we could have it paid for by their rent back policy. This was offered for the first 5 years. This has proved to be wrong and nowhere in our paperwork..
2. Lie the property they brought to us was supposedly cheaper because someone had just traded it in. (a regular scam practice from your training manual.)
3. Lie our ninety minutes presentation went was well into six hours and I was shaking so bad, she brought me a blanket and a
drink that I asked for. No sticking to original agreement. I said I needed to take medication now.!
4. Lie Never answered question on right of refusal. She said you will really want this and that won’t be an issue.
5. Lie two different associates, the second one was named Arturo, came and sweetened the deal by adding weeks (which I do not see in the contract) a free cruise with upgrades to a suite on any ship ( no record of) free golf (form says 50% discount) and a value
trade in on our current timeshare in Los Cabos. And he lowered the price.
6. We asked if we could go outside and speak to each other but were followed out by sales person.
7. Lie no mention ever of cancellation policies. We did not feel well and asked to continue the next day and were given a firm no! Almost done, almost done.
We agreed to sign just to leave, by then I was in tears and they offered to walk me back to my room and the sales person offered to buy dinner to celebrate. We went back to our room shell shocked. This was now 3:00 p.m. At the room we were very upset. I called my broker, my mortgage lender and my doctor. All who said this is not a good idea for you at this time, both financially and especially for my health. With upcoming surgery, not a good time for stress or travel out of the country.
We went back to the sales office at 5:00 p.m. and waited to see Carlo Truzzolino. He did all the final papers originally and we waited over another hour to tell him we could not buy the vacation package. He told us to sleep on it, and see him at 9:00a.m. The next morning, he assured us it could all be worked out, “this is just a vacation, not life or death”.
The next morning we arrived at 8:30 a.m. and waited till almost 10:00 a.m. to meet with Mr. Truzzolino. Now the lies begin again!
8. Lie He told us there are no 5 day cancellation policies in Mexico and why didn’t I say I had Parkinsons the previous day.( which I had repeatedly.)ARTICLE 56 of Ley Federal de protectccion al Consumidor says we Have 5 business days not to include Saturday or Sunday.
9. lie. Then upon doing some research, I discovered on www.teimesharebeat.com/mex-fraud.htm that the cancellation rights can not be waived according to Mexican law. I was intentionally lied to, to make me believe I could not cancel this contract. He stated he wanted to help us but he was not allowed because we traded in property. We actually sold our Pueblo Bonito timeshare to the
Mayan Palace and then were allowed to purchase the time share back for $1. The
Mayan Palace could then take could take the loss on their taxes, and it would reduce of cost on my
Mayan palace timeshare.
Because of this “Equity Exchange Agreement” we had to waive our right to any cancellation or cool down periods. I even said “why don’t I get the normal 3-5 days” Exchange Agreement” and using that agreement was not under the same rules. In section 12, General Provisions, of the Recitals page states we could cancel. Carlo Truzzolino told us that we waived our cancellation period.
10.lie He told us We could not cancel because their legal department would eat us alive and the Mexican PROFECO means well but rarely gets involved with tourist/timeshare problems. He assured us we would loose any legal actions and be out our legal fees as well as the cost of the vacation package.
Final offer of a new deal to HELP US OUT he lowered the price to $16,520.00 and changed the room to a one bedroom, then gave us back our timeshare in Los Cabos , two weeks at the Sea Garden and he says I am so sorry but this is best for us. He even offered to lend us the monies for 48 months at 8%. Told us no commissions would be paid, transfer fees, or taxes.
I am hereby requesting you to rescind our contract since it was based on illegal
sales practices and fraudulent information: I was very ill those last 3 days of our vacation and even now feel physically ill from the pressure.
This item alone is reason to grant a cancellation of the agreement. This practice is illegal. I am also in contact with several other people that have been placed in the same or similar situations.
Patty also said that members were getting great rental prices out of Resorts Int’l Marketing which was on their list of referrals. I was asked to sell my next 5 years of Value Fair weeks back to my
Mayan palace. (But now it seams odd that my contract does not mention selling the weeks back to my
Mayan palace I was told that the two LA PLAYA weeks could be rented for $1700 each. Timeshare User group have these weeks listed for as little as $700 and you still need to pay maintenance, http://www.tug1.org/tugads/1-8dname2.html#ad26709
also:
Excerpt from RCI listing: A MAXIMUM OF TWO UNITS PER WEEK ALLOWED PER MEMBER ACCOUNT IN 4 YEARS *** NO CONSECUTIVE WEEKS ALLOWED*** 2ND UNIT MUST HAVE A GUEST CERTIFICATE *** CAN NOT CONFIRM SPACE TO MY
MAYAN PALACE OR XXX XXXXXX MEMBERS **EXCEPTIONS TO THESE RULES CAN BE CANCELLED** ]RESORT ENFORCES ¼ YR RULE] were never mentioned.
My
Mayan palace Resorts had a great reputation and I was very excited to make my first stay with you at the
Riviera Maya resort. Your resort is beautiful and according to reviews, so are some of your other locations.
I am sure you are working on all of the recent complaints I have seen about your sales tactics, I know you have settled some of them, and I hope you can straiten out the remaining complaints very soon. But after the outright fraudulent lie about the cancellation period, other lies, half truths and omissions - your
sales practices reflect on your entire chain as being “questionable” to put it mildly. Bottom line is you scammed my husband and myself with false promises, outright lies and took advance of me as I was very physically ill both days of trying to return this property and It will have long term repercussions on my health as Parkinsons deals with my nervous system.
I have copied and contacted every organization in your field and will recon tact them as soon as you do the right thing and resend this contract and return all monies deposited. The agreement CRAA 2311 is cancelled and send me verification of cancellation. Also credit the $5775.00 down payment as well as your release of our Pueblo Bonito timeshare. I will then return any original documents you so request. I will be sending this document through the mail and carbon copy the addresses below.
I feel it is my duty to tell you I have started a Dispute with my Visa card, and have started a claim with the California Attorney General Consumer Protection Agency who will be contacting you directly in the next few weeks.
I will also be filing a case with Profeco, Texas Attorney General, US Dept of Justice, and the Federal Trade Commission, RCI, Travelocity, Delta, ASTA, and a few others in the next few days.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation. I hope this unpleasant situation will be resolved ASAP.I look forward to a quick response.
Sincerely,
Ken and Rita K.
Cc
Administrative Center
Attn International Sales
Desarrollo Marina Vallarta S.S. DE C.V
Ave Lazaro Cardenas 3422, 2 Piso
Col. Chapalita C.P. 45040
Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico
Cc
International Sales
Mayan Palace Regency Club
Carretera Cancun – Playa Del Carmen
KM 48 Municipio Solidaridad
Q, Roo Mexico C.P. 77710
Also these emails to start with:
Robert Paisola, CEO, Timeshare Chronicles - Join
http://www.westerncapitalvip.com/ Now
robert@timesharechronicles.com - The Number One Way to Get the Mexican Govt Attention
extranjeros@profeco.gob.mx - PROFECO
uenlace@sre.gob.mx - the ministry of foreign affairs
mexuk@easynet.co.uk Mexican Embassy in London
mexembusa@sre.gob.mx Mexican Embassy in Washington DC
ramirezME@state.gov US Consulate in Merida, MX, State of Quintana Roo.
contact@visitmexico.com Mexico Tourism Board
uk@visitmexico.com Mexican Tourism Board in London
contucmx@mindspring.com Mexican consulate in Tucson
contactenos@consulmexphoenix.coxatwork.com The Mexican consulate in Phoenix
info@consulmexsat.org Mexican Consulate in San Antonio, Texas Attention Augustine Rodriguez
info@consulmexsd.org The Mexican consulate in San Diego
legal@consulmexchicago.com The legal department at the Consulate in Chicago
jhcastro@consulmexchicago.com The Head of the Department of Protection at the consulate in Chicago
consacramento@sre.gob.mx Adriana Gonzalez Deputy Consul Sacramento, CA
cdealba@consulmexdallas.com Consulate General at Dallas Texas
ssanchez@consulmexdallas.com Tourism and press at Mexican Consulate Dallas
jmedrano@consulmexdallas.com Outside Communication at Mexican Consulate Dallas
adewitt@consulmexdallas.com Assistant to the Consulate General at Mexican Consulate Dallas.
My daughter, Crystal, was visiting Mexico on 6/27/10 when she signed an agreement (#CRQT 2172) with Mayan Palace Regency Vacation Club for $19,564.00, which included a trade in of her existing Time Share with the Boardwalk Resort Hotel in Virginia Beach, VA. As per this agreement, the Value Calculation had an applied Trade In credit of $25,900. The timeshare that was traded in is owned by my daughter and her husband (Brian). Her husband was not present (he wasn't even in Mexico at the time) nor did he sign any paperwork. Later that evening, Crystal called her husband to tell him about the timeshare. Brian advised her to cancel the agreement as he was not going to trade in their existing timeshare. Crystal was told that she was "locked in" and the contract could not be cancelled. NO ONE mentioned Profeco or having 7 days to get out of a contract. Who knew that Mexico had a Consumer Protection Law? She has been trying since June 28, 2010 to get out of this contract. She on El Grupo Mayan Palace, Daniel Chavez Moran, bilks American citizens of "hundreds of millions of dollars, Class Action Status Robert Paisola reports
First let me say, I’m a long time user and owner of timeshares in Mexico. I own 3, at 3 different projects. I’ve attended many presentations. I must say for the most part we have found them to be informative. BUT, the Mayan Palace, Groupo Mayan, Mayan Regency or Grand Mayan, many aliases. Attended presentation in Mazatlan, Mexico. November 2007. at theMayan Sea Garden. Our salesman introduced himself as Mario Montalbo, from Texas. A very pleasant fellow. Very informative. We told him about our other timeshares. His opening price was $199,900. He guaranteed us the sale of resorts for the amount of $48,000. He clamed that Price Waterhouse would guarantee the yearly rental return of $10,000 annually. Mr. Montalbo introduced a Scottish fellow that assured us that both Gregg Norman and Jack Nicklaus were partners in this venture. We could feel safe investing because they (Nicklaus and Norman) were partners with Daniel Chavez owner of Grupo Mayan and Vicente Fox the ex-president of Mexico. The more names they dropped made my wife and I more suspicious. Making a long story shorter, we got away from there. Later we visited an Internet café. We looked up Mayan Palace, found many bad reports, about their selling practices. Also Mario Montalbo and his wife, who we also met, while on the presentation are both being sought by the State of Texas for consumer fraud. We found that Mr.Nicklaus is designing 2 courses. No references of other connection, such as rental or partnership in Mayans. Mr. Norman has projects in Mexico, however none with the Mayan Palace. They even have super sized photos of these golf icons in the salesroom. They must be breaking some laws! What is with these people? They have no regard for truth and fair business practices. Please be advised.
We got caught up the first day in Mazatlan by Mayen group Sea Garden. they signed us up with a credit card for 30,000 and want deeds to our other time shares plus we have a bill for many more thousands of dollars. They said they were not a time share but a deeded property owned for life, this was a lie as well as many more.
Any advise on how to get out of this scam...............They pushed the Golf icons on us as well.
We totally ignore the Mayan timeshare people. We seem to run into the same ones year after year in Maz. We have found them to be very pushy, then when you tell them no gracias they become downright rude to you. We stayed at the Mayan Nuevo Vallarta a few years back and attended their presentation. They were relentless, and every time we said no, they would bring in another salesperson, and on and on it went. After about 3 hours, we finally just got up and left. It left us with a very bad impression of the Mayan resorts, and we would never stay in another one again.
Lewiston...
posts: 6,959
reviews: 37
3. Re: Mayan Scam
Nov 17, 2007, 6:29 PM
With all the bad press in all locations I do not understand why anyone would go with in a mile of any Mayan TS. I personally can not imagine wasting a half a day (Or More) at any time Share Nonsense but if you are going do it, do not do the worst of a VERY BAD industry.
4. Re: Mayan Scam
Mar 25, 2008, 10:35 PM
iF i amcorrect if you buy it is becouse you like it and is a good price, not becouse you had too, nobody can push you to do anything, i said this becouse i am a onwer and like it, and about the rental remember what the old saying sais: "if you wnat something done do it yourself" i but a 2 plus 2. including a st, but i don relay on salespeople or brokers, i do it my self, and make my self a litlle of extra money for my vacation.
Edmonton...
posts: 7,113
reviews: 47
5. Re: Mayan Scam
Mar 25, 2008, 10:54 PM
Destination Expert 
for Edmonton, Travel Gadgets and Gear
I am also a Mayan Timeshare owner. I am not going to endorse or defend their tactics.
I do know that in some cases the sales pitch is "pushy" - a light word given circumstances people are put through. We experienced it, but waited for just the right moment, and negotiated a good deal - or what I thought was a good deal. I really should have researched a bit more before our trip/purchase.
I still like the Mayan chain of Timeshare accomodations: Grand Mayan,
Mayan Palace, Sea Garden. Each is in a class to itself, with the Grand Mayan being the top of the line. I hear they are offering a "whopper" now called the Grand Luxxe, even a bigger unit than the Grand Mayan Grand Master suite.
I do happen to know that Jack Nicklaus designed the golf course for the
Nuevo Vallarta location, and Greg Norman designed the course at the
Riviera Maya location (near Playa del Carmen).
I also know that there have been reports of unscrupulous sales staff at various locations. I wonder if this Mr Montalbo was seriously evaluated before being hired into the sales staff. However, there are lots of places in Mexico where reference checks are not always conducted.
I am curious though of the name of the "Scottish fellow" of which you mention you spoke with at the
Mazatlan Mayan Sea Garden sales staff. Could you personal message me with his name if you recall it. I want to know if its someone I dealt with back in December. My wife may need to have some words with him when she returns on a trip to the Sea Garden in April, if it is the same fellow with which we dealt.
wa state
posts: 2,711
reviews: 1
6. Re: Mayan Scam
Mar 26, 2008, 11:23 AM
The little Scottish guy has been at the Mayan for several years.
I used to go back each trip just to watch his face turn red as he realized that no matter how bad he tried to push his resort on us he couldn't &he was going to have to fork over the $$$.
I don't know his real name but I gave him a spanish name that is very fitting; Richard Cabeza
My advice to anyone that wants to go on one of these presentations is; if you can not walk into a new car salesroom without the urge to buy, stay away from timeshares.
Phoenix, Az
posts: 87
reviews: 4
7. Re: Mayan Scam
Mar 26, 2008, 12:29 PM
About a year and a half ago, I attended a time share presentation at the Mayan. I'm not sure of the name of the fellow but he started us off at $199,000 also. I thought it was an error and had him write it out for me and checked where the commas were. After the next closer came in, I think we were down to about $2000 at the end. It was pretty hard to understand it at that point although I really tried. So we were on our way to our $200 Anerican cash prize and taxi ride back when we were stopped by a fellow in the lobby. He said he wanted to just make sure that the sales presentation was professional and that we understood what was being offered. Kind of a customer service survey as he said he was not employed by the timeshare group and was representing the hotel. Very nicely presented. Then he asked what the final price offered was and when I told him around $2000, he started asking how much it would take to close the deal. When we finally said no at around $900, he thanked us and we got our money and taxi ride home. So we started at $199,000 and we were offered $900 at the end. Now that is whacky!!
wa state
posts: 2,711
reviews: 1
8. Re: Mayan Scam
Mar 27, 2008, 1:45 AM
csquare,
I have always liked that too, from $199 k to 2 k in 2 hours.
We listened to the B.S. inside one day out of curiousity, the cheap price (Our offer was $950) & was for 5 weeks (1 per year for 5 years) that could be used during the slow season but there was a $200 booking fee each time you used it, so you were still paying $400 per week & they would not gaurantee a room for any given week in any given year.
Basically they were offering nothing that I could not get through RCIs extra vacations for less $$$.
calgary
posts: 1,343
reviews: 5
9. Re: Mayan Scam
Mar 27, 2008, 1:02 PM
$199,000.00. Wow. I know that the first offer is never serious and is really just meant to make the subsequent offers seem great by comparison, but that is kind of overdoing it. For that price you could buy a brand new condo outright and have full ownership. $900.00 is a lot closer to the true value of a time share. At least one of the many new developments springing up north of El Cid Marina was offering presales of full ownership units starting at $120,000.00.
I would consider using some of the equity in my home to finance an outright purchase of a vacation condo. The cost could be significantly subsidized by renting the condo to vacationers during high season and unlike a time share it would have a re-sale value and given that the Cerritos/North Shore/Nuevo Mazatlan or whatever you call it area is booming it would probably even appreciate. A time share is not an interest in land, you are really just paying rent in advance and if the company you contract with goes bankrupt you could be left with nothing.
10. Re: Mayan Scam
Mar 27, 2008, 3:39 PM
The most recent timeshare issue that I have heard and seems to be surfacing is that condo units in timeshare buildings are being sold to full time owners leaving VERY limited availability which of course makes your timeshare totally useless. Your option...quit paying maint fees and loose whatever you invested....
“ Mayan Scam ”
Nov 08, 2007, 1:26 AM
First let me say, I’m a long time user and owner of timeshares in Mexico. I own 3, at 3 different projects. I’ve attended many presentations. I must say for the most part we have found them to be informative. BUT, the
Mayan Palace, Groupo Mayan, Mayan Regency or Grand Mayan, many aliases. Attended presentation in Mazatlan, Mexico. November 2007. at the
Mayan Sea Garden. Our salesman introduced himself as Mario Montalbo, from Texas. A very pleasant fellow. Very informative. We told him about our other timeshares. His opening price was $199,900. He guaranteed us the sale of resorts for the amount of $48,000. He clamed that Price Waterhouse would guarantee the yearly rental return of $10,000 annually. Mr. Montalbo introduced a Scottish fellow that assured us that both Gregg Norman and Jack Nicklaus were partners in this venture. We could feel safe investing because they (Nicklaus and Norman) were partners with Daniel Chavez owner of Grupo Mayan and Vicente Fox the ex-president of Mexico. The more names they dropped made my wife and I more suspicious. Making a long story shorter, we got away from there. Later we visited an Internet café. We looked up Mayan Palace, found many bad reports, about their selling practices. Also Mario Montalbo and his wife, who we also met, while on the presentation are both being sought by the State of Texas for consumer fraud. We found that Mr.Nicklaus is designing 2 courses. No references of other connection, such as rental or partnership in Mayans. Mr. Norman has projects in Mexico, however none with the Mayan Palace. They even have super sized photos of these golf icons in the salesroom. They must be breaking some laws! What is with these people? They have no regard for truth and fair business practices. Please be advised.
11. Re: Mayan Scam
Mar 29, 2008, 7:25 PM
ok about the 199 000, i got a is becouse if bigger i am a owner of a 49 900 and a vacation club thats 199the both are diferent , very diferent.
Edmonton...
posts: 7,113
reviews: 47
12. Re: Mayan Scam
Mar 29, 2008, 9:34 PM
Destination Expert
for Edmonton, Travel Gadgets and Gear
Price does make a very big difference.
However, sometimes some very inexpensive prices that show on eBay are only for rental weeks which cover the maintenance fee. These are not selling the contract out-right.
It requires a lot of research to know one from another.
13. Re: Mayan Scam
May 13, 2008, 10:50 PM
yeah I mean unfortunately for the timeshare industry in mexico there are a bunch of scammers out there. The only thing you can rely on is the reputation of the company. I know that the ones that have been around for many years must be doing things right, the ones that keep growing. My husband and I have been owners at the mayan since they started out in mazatlan and we are just amazed that every year we go to any of the properties they seem to be growing and they always look great. I know that some people complain about them here, but a bunch of us out there are happy. I guess its like everything in life, when you love it you tell your friends. When you dont like something you go and tell everyone online. I dont regret my membership at all. It really has been the best investment in our happiness and our children.
14. Re: Mayan Scam
May 13, 2008, 10:55 PM
My sister in law married one of the Mayan salesmen. He told her that back in the day, under the leadership of a sales director that worked briefly int he company, the salesmen had little supervision. Therefore each oft he said whatever they wanted. However, they have had several successful sales directors that truly care about customers and they realize how important reputation is. He told us the Greg Norman golf corse was planned for the development in Baja and in rocky point. He says they do have agreements with greg norman to use their logos. This company is definitely one of the ones out there that are suffering as a result of other scammers in the time share industry. All it takes is one visit to the mayan properties to realize how hard these people work for ourbusiness. They have THOUSANDS of employees working there, and the properties keep growing and growing.
Edmonton...
posts: 7,113
reviews: 47
15. Re: Mayan Scam
May 13, 2008, 11:18 PM
Destination Expert
for Edmonton, Travel Gadgets and Gear
I won't doubt that some of the Mayan Sales staff are, though somewhat aggressive, smooth and persuasive, can be forthright about the company's future development plans.
However, development plans are just that - plans.
I would like to see a further accountability on the part of all timeshare sales staff, Mayan or other, that allows potential clients to check out information before the final pressure sale.
16. Re: Mayan Scam
Jun 08, 2008, 8:33 PM
Hi everyone, I Know about the mayan "Scam" , but i have read Lili's reply and i am very impressed where you said that happines and for your child ( mine in this case jejeje) and i have to say, Happines and Health are more expensive that everery timeshare in the world, if i can get 2 weeks ayear where nobody screams around me or goes crazy in front of me in the car line, its very very place!!!,
lest se, 199'900= 16 weeks of me and family time
Ill paid it ( only that i dont have the money and i got 2 plus 2 weeks only but i enjoy , i dont complain.
BC Okanagan
posts: 3,036
reviews: 8
17. Re: Mayan Scam
Jun 08, 2008, 8:54 PM
MmmmMmmmm more shark steaks!
18. Re: Mayan Scam
Jan 11, 2009, 5:27 PM
Does anyone know if the principal in Malan Palace, Daniel Chevez, is related to Hugo Chavez from
Venezuela?
19. Re: Mayan Scam
Jan 11, 2009, 5:29 PM
Is the principal in Malan Palace, Daniel Chavez any relative to Hugo Chavez from venezuel?
Edmonton...
posts: 7,113
reviews: 47
20. Re: Mayan Scam
Jan 12, 2009, 6:53 PM
Destination Expert
for Edmonton, Travel Gadgets and Gear
? Daniel (Chavez) related to Hugo (Chavez)? NO, not to my knowledge.
MMayan Palace Complaints & Reviews - Mexican Timeshare took hundreds of millions
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Mayan Palace
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Mexican Timeshare took hundreds of millions
Complaint Rating: 
Company information:
Mayan Group
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LOS ANGELES (CN) - A federal class action complaint accuses El Grupo Mayan Palace of bilking U.S. citizens of "hundreds of millions of dollars" in Mayan Resorts timeshares, using "high-pressure fraudulent sales tactics that are comparable to the worst tactics ever employed by used car salesmen in a Hollywood movie."
The complaint states that the "defendants earn hundreds of millions each year from such sales by systematically misrepresenting in sales presentations and documents the value of the timeshares they are selling. Defendants as part of their scheme also have misled Plaintiffs as to their rights under Mexican law."
Plaintiffs are represented by Boies Schiller & Flexner of Oakland.
Here are the defendants: Desarollo Marina Vallarta SA de CV, El Grupo Mayan Palace, Daniel Chavez Moran, Daniel Omar Chavez, Scott Erikson, Casey Jon Owens, Canamere Inc., Huffsmith-Kohrville Inc., Preferred Vacations Inc., Premium Travel Services Inc., Resort Solutions Inc., Seven Oceans US Inc., AZM Marketing LLC, Resort Quality Controls Inc., Resort Condominiums International LLC, and Resorts International Marketing Corp.
Check this website www.bsfllp.com/.../Mayan%20Civil%20Initiating%20Docs.pdf
An Attorney from California helped other members, they were misrepresented by Mayan sales team, don't let this happen to your family and spread the word.
Mcfly  Send email
| Feb 27, 2012 |
Mexican Timeshare took hundreds of millions
has anybody actually gotten there money back? I have lost all hope.
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LucyM047 Send email
| Feb 23, 2012 |
Mexican Timeshare took hundreds of millions
Mayan Palace is willing to lie people to have a few more bucks on their pocket. is sad how they are willing to do ANYTHING to get your money.
here is another blacklist of Mayan Palace where people are telling their story about how they are being scam and lie by this resort.
http://www.timesharescam.com/timeshare-scam-mexico/mayan-palace-timeshare-8
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Mayan Palace Sales Send email
| Feb 23, 2012 |
Mexican Timeshare took hundreds of millions
LOS ANGELES (CN) - A federal class action complaint accuses El Grupo Mayan Palace of bilking U.S. citizens of "hundreds of millions of dollars" in Mayan Resorts timeshares, using "high-pressure fraudulent sales tactics that are comparable to the worst tactics ever employed by used car salesmen in a Hollywood movie."
The complaint states that the "defendants earn hundreds of millions each year from such sales by systematically misrepresenting in sales presentations and documents the value of the timeshares they are selling. Defendants as part of their scheme also have misled Plaintiffs as to their rights under Mexican law."
Plaintiffs are represented by Boies Schiller & Flexner of Oakland.
Here are the defendants: Desarollo Marina Vallarta SA de CV, El Grupo Mayan Palace, Daniel Chavez Moran, Daniel Omar Chavez, Scott Erikson, Casey Jon Owens, Canamere Inc., Huffsmith-Kohrville Inc., Preferred Vacations Inc., Premium Travel Services Inc., Resort Solutions Inc., Seven Oceans US Inc., AZM Marketing LLC, Resort Quality Controls Inc., Resort Condominiums International LLC, and Resorts International Marketing Corp.
Check this website www.bsfllp.com/.../Mayan%20Civil%20Initiating%20Docs.pdf
An Attorney from California helped other members, they were misrepresented by Mayan sales team, don't let this happen to your family and spread the word.
THE LAWSUIT
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http://www.bsfllp.com/practices/040_docs/000003/_res/id=sa_File1/Mayan%20Civil%20Initiating%20Docs.pdf |
PUERTO PENASCO: Something interesting is going on in dusty little Puerto Penasco (akaRocky Point), up near the top of the Sea of Cortez just 60 miles south of the Arizona border. It involves Daniel Chavez Moran, founder of the Mayan Palace Resorts/Grupo Vidanta, and the Fiesta de Cortez resort.
A little history is required for this (grab a snack and put your feet up…). Way back in the early days of Chavez’s empire what eventually became the Mayan Palace/Grupo Mayan/Grupo Vidanta was known as Grupo Vidafel.
It all started in 1974 with the Paraíso Mazatlán (Mazatlan Paradise), a resort located at the far north end of the Golden Zone in Mazatlán. This resort was a pioneer development for timeshare in México. Construction of a second resort named Paraíso del Mar (Sea Paradise), located on the same property, began in 1979. That resort opened its doors to the public on June 15th, 1980.
Grupo Vidafel (Vida Feliz, or Happy Life) began in 1984 with a resort named the Costa Brava Hotel which was built a few steps from the Paraíso del Mar. The resort’s name was later changed to Vidafel Mazatlán. Today this resort is known as Sea Garden.
Then the group made a move into Puerto/Nuevo Vallarta, and began its massive expansion.
Got it so far?
Well, before Vidafel expanded to Vallarta, and before it began its Mayan Palace Resort in Acapulco (which was responsible for the name change to Grupo Mayan), Chavez opened a small resort in Puerto Penasco called the Fiesta de Cortez. He also purchased 25,000 acres about half an hour south of Puerto Penasco where he eventually built a Mayan Palace Resort– he was always ahead of his time in his choice of locations.
That massive resort development, now called La Jolla de Cortes, has a Jack Nicklaus golf course and an international airport, and is also slated for luxury resorts, several real estate communities, lakes and canals interconnecting the Nicklaus Design and Greg Norman golf courses, five-star beach clubs and high-end retail, and more.
You can see the man thinks big.
Anyhow, sometime in the late 1980s or very early ’90s, timeshare sales began at the Fiesta de Cortez. Though it never took off in a big way, that’s where things first got interesting.
There had long been rumors that there was some kind of bad blood between Daniel Chavez and his brother Ignacio. Whether it’s true or not I have no idea, but at some time around 2006 Ignacio ended up in control of the Fiesta de Cortez and the grapevine said it had something to do with a settlement between the brothers.
With the big real estate boom ongoing, Ignacio decided to renovate the property and add new condos. He obtained a condo regime designation from the state of Sonora, which authorized him to sell the individual condos.
At the same time that he was pre-selling full ownership condos, he was also selling 10-year right to use timeshare weeks at ridiculously low prices. Meanwhile, he had a contract with Mayan Palace to house their OPCs on the property.
Let me just say things didn’t go well. It seems that Ignacio’s son, Eduardo Chavez, had been selling timeshares and full ownership to Arizona residents (many of them elderly) at least as early as 2002-2003, using a rental pitch and promising a return on investment. But several of those people (one of whom spent a whopping $100,000 for a condo that was never built) never saw their title, one had his supposed purchase sold out from under him, and in all it was a huge mess.
In one case a couple was allegedly told by Eduardo they would own their condo free and clear and could sell it, likely making a tidy profit as real estate prices climbed. In addition, he asked for a loan to help pay for upgrades on the property, offering the penthouse as collateral.
The repayment terms, according to the contract signed and notarized in Tucson, were for 60 monthly payments beginning Dec. 15, 2003.
Subsequently, the penthouse was sold to a different investor and both the timeshare profit payments and the loan payments soon stopped. The Fiesta de Cortez was partially closed.
In 2007 Ignacio and FIESTA DE CORTEZ HOTEL URBANIZADORA VACACIONAL DE PUERTO PENASCO, S.A.,DE C.V. were served with a cease and desist from the Arizona Department of Real Estate. Among other things, the cease and desist said:
Mr. Chavez-Moran (owner of Fiesta) engaged in offering to sell, or advertise the selling of condominiums offered by Fiesta for a development known as Fiesta De Cortez Suites and Hotel Resort aka Fiesta Golden Resort (the "Property"). The "Property" is located in Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico. Mr. Chavez-Moran failed to notify the Commissioner of the intent to sell condominiums or ever applying for a subdivision Public Report [A Public Report serves as license to a subdivider to sell and market (wherein disclosures are made) in order to protect the consumer.] with respect to the "Property". Further, he failed to file copies of advertising materials used in connection with sales of condominiums with the "Property."
...
Arizona Consumers who have filed complaints with the Department have lost approximately $378,318 earnest monies due to illegal activities of Mr. Chavez-Moran.
As the complaints piled up, Ignacio said that he was sorting through the contracts his son had written and promised that everything would be resolved. At least one of the people with such a contract subsequently filed a lawsuit in Arizona charging Chavez with breach of contract, consumer fraud and racketeering.
Shortly after the cease and desist was delivered, the Fiesta de Cortez corporation was dissolved, and Ignacio filed for a name change to Golden Hill Boutique Resort. That didn’t help much, because by 2008 the whole global real estate market was in free fall, the economy was tanking and Puerto Penasco’s boom was essentially over. Ignacio’s hoped-for boom was over, too. The Fiesta de Cortez, which was already partly closed, stayedpartly closed.
Fast forward to 2011: Whew! Word on the street is that Daniel Chavez Moran/Mayan Palace has taken control of the Fiesta de Cortez again (what IS it called these days?), and plans are reportedly being made to fix everything there (and boy oh boy do thingsneed fixing!).
It is true that there are actually some satisfied condo owners at the property, and some of the original timeshare owners also make an appearance there. It is also true that besides the Fiesta de Cortez, the only other active timeshare property in the area is the Mayan Palace. (The planned ILX resort in the Las Conchas area never made it off the ground, and when Diamond Resorts Intl. bought ILX out of bankruptcy DRI declined to include that land parcel in the purchase).
So with both the Mayan Palace and the Fiesta de Cortez, Grupo Vidanta is the only timeshare game in town and probably will be for some time.
OPCs are still being housed on the property and there are rumors about new timeshare sales and/or using it as a hotel OPC location to book prospects out to the Mayan. Whatwill Chavez do with the Fiesta de Cortez? That’s what I’d like to know…
A 2008 filing against Daniel Chavez Moran was filed in front of a by a U.S. federal district judge in a case against Chavez Moran and Grupo Mayan Palace, a luxury destination location he first developed in 1974. The court heard the issues related to arguments made by the plaintiff against Daniel Chavez Moran, Grupo Mayan Palace and the other vindicated defendants, Desarollo Marina Vallarta S.A.
de C.V., Daniel Omar Chavez, Scott R Erikson, Casey Jon Owens, Canamere Inc., Huffsmith-Kohrville Inc., Preferred Vacations Inc., Premium Travel Services Inc., Resort Solutions Inc., Seven Oceans US Inc., AZM Marketing LLC, Resort Quality Controls Inc., Resort Condominiums International LLC, and Resorts International Marketing Corp. It should be noted that in PACER, Chavez Moran or Grupo Mayan Palace, is now known as Mayan Resorts.
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