Consolidated Resorts Tahiti Village- The Scam Continues, Robert Paisola Investigates...Again!

Hi Mr. Robert Paisola

I found your name on the internet and I am hoping you can help me with some information. My wife and I went to Vegas over Easter. We ended up signing on the dotted line for a time share with Consolidated Resorts Tahiti Village.

Looking back the cost was ridiculous in my opinion. $25K for 10 years at a terrible interest rate. We signed on March 23 and once home I sent a notice of cancellation along with all the material they gave us on March 26th. It was signed for by them on March 27th so I am within NV's 5 day cancellation period. I have tried numerous times today to call them and talk to a live person to no avail. How long should I wait to hear from them? Should I contact my bank to ensure that they don't take anymore money than the down payment that they already have taken?

Should I expect a full refund to include my down payment and closing costs and paperwork fees? According to NV law they have 15 days from date of signature to get my money back to me. Should I expect to hear from them with a better deal (which I will not take) or will they just refund the money without calling me? Sorry for all the questions but I made a huge mistake here and I don't want to get caught in a jam for the next 10 years.


Thanks
Ryan

Consolidated Resorts Scams Fox News Media Anchor, Robert Paisola Investigates

Dear Mr. Paisola,

I hope you can help me.

5 years ago, my husband and I got roped into buying a timeshare from Consolidated Resorts (Tahiti-Las Vegas) through many misrepresentations and high-pressured sales.

They threw in all kinds of extra incentives including 5 FREE TRIPS to our choice of locations worldwide. The catch - we had to buy the airfare THROUGH THEM - which cost more than the actual trips, we would later find out.

We bought a 1-bedroom, every other year for $8,995.

After we agreed on a price, they said they need a down payment of more than $2,000. We paid it.

2 days later we got cold feet and called and asked to cancel the sale. They said the person we had to talk to was not in but someone would call us back. No on called and when we called again once we returned home they said it was too late.

We financed it for 14.9 percent - BUT our sales people swore up and down that since this is a deeded property that we own, we can refinance through our own bank for a lower interest rate. Our bank, of course said no, since they have no recourse to repossess.

So, we have been paying our $160/month for 5 years... thinking we must be paid off soon, we called to check on our balance (we never get any statements) and they said we still owe $4,952. I asked how that is possible and they "mentioned" the $1.98 finance charge - PER DAY!!!! We have been paying $60 per month for finance charges per month on top of the interest!!!! They NEVER mentioned this as we would have never agreed.

And, they claim we owed $8,995 AFTER the down payment. This was NOT our original agreement.

I am beyond sick over this entire thing.

By the way, we have NEVER spent even a single night at Tahiti. The thought of it makes me want to cry. We also pay nearly $200 in maintenance fees every year.

Can you please offer advice as to what we can do???

I have lost more than a few nights sleep over this and I just want out.

Thanks,

JULIE

Planet Hollywood Towers by Westgate in Las Vegas, Pure Hell, by Robert Paisola

Planet Hollywood Towers by Westgate in Las Vegas

Dear Robert,

Please excuse my approach. I obtained your email address from advise that you have provided to another timeshare owner on allexperts.com. I am in a similar situation to Sunhee who purchased a timeshare at Planet Hollywood Towers by Westgate in Las Vegas.

My wife and I live in the UK and signed for the timeshare in September. I have made several communications to Westgate explaining my wish to cancel, but have yet to receive a response. As I'm sure you understand It's not very easy to get hold of them especially as I live in the UK. I have even sent an email to the salesman that we dealt with, without any response.

I really hope that you can help my wife and I as we don't know where else to turn and we are now 6 months furher down the line. The next step for us is contacting our credit card company (who continue to process payments). We don't feel that this would be productive at this stage as it would only involve another party to deal with and we would rather correct the issue at source.

I look forward to your response. If you require any further information (I'm sure you will) then please don't hesitate to request it.

Many Thanks in advance for your assistance
Rick

A Mayan Resorts Cabo Member Gets Royally Screwed- Robert Paisola Investigates

Dear Mr. Robert Paisola,

Your web-site intrigued me. I am a Mayan Resorts member – bought 2 bedroom suite at Regency level in Cabos. Very excited and actually have been invited to use the GRAND Mayan level every year with special letter invite until our Regency is built (not started yet – new Marina area where the golf courses are).

We were so excited to be able to even get through the phone line on July 31 (one heck of a crazy and frustrating way to reserve your winter vacation I would say – that should be disclosed to prospective owners – quite disappointing process). Anyway, like I said, finally we get through and had to accept a Sunday to Sunday reservation which we did quite happily. We were heading to Los Cabos with our family of 6 adults and 1 baby (21 months). Had to make lots of non-refundable air flights (we are in Canada across the border from US at Detroit MI) so we fly out of Detroit – we all got our passports and took time off work – first family vacation in a long time – so anxious to show our kids the area that we fell in love with enough to buy ownership there.

Then the fateful message is left on our home phone late Saturday afternoon from Dallas – “we are sorry Mr. and Mrs. Weber – we will not be able to honour your reservation at the Grand Mayan tomorrow” (this was 12 hours before our flight time). I thought I was having a heart attack. We had prepared so much for this vacation – took care of every little detail so that this would be the vacation of all vacations for my family – and believe me, we have all been through lots of sorrow this year and we all needed this very badly. At this point, we were already heading to Detroit in order to catch our flight out early Sunday morning – we just happened to check messages at home to listen to this most disturbing message. Luckily we had our computer with us – we were in a panic – no assistance from Grupo Mayan and no followup messages – they did not answer the 1-800-421-4161 number (probably because they were closed late Saturday afternoon). This was disgusting and appalling – there was no turning back – we had already spent $3500 US on 6 adult non-refundable flights. We called the Grand Mayan directly and e-mailed them directly – both responses were apologizing for the strike, but re-directed us back to 1-800-421-4161 where no one would answer. We spent significant long distance phone calls waiting and waiting – there was not even a spot to leave a message – the calls were simply disconnected after their message. We were so frustrated at this point. That we decided to call Jairo Romero who sold us our ownership last year. He was kind enough to give us his personal cell # in case we ever had a problem – well, you may know him and realize that he has moved on from the Mayan Resorts – however he was kind enough to re-direct us to the Royal Solaris (where we stayed last year and took the presentation at the Mayan and bought at the Mayan). Because we were RCI members, we got a rate of $1745 per couple - $5,500 US on my credit card, but at least my family got their vacation. I was positive that our ownership would compensate us for this terrible disaster was the strike was over.

Well, after the strike ended on the 6th day of our vacation, we were allowed to tour the facility (we were staying just 2 doors down). As you know, it was not completed last year so we were so excited to see it. Alexandro (the concierge) had been assisting us by e-mail with every detail (including a crib) and was also looking forward to meeting us. He obliged our tour and felt very bad about the strike and the fact that we were not assisted by Dallas. We faxed over our credit card receipt to the Dallas location and he assisted in doing that for us. We waited while he made a phone call to confirm receipt. They told him that they would need our final checkout statement so when we got home, I went directly to UPS and faxed it to them and received a confirm.

Still nothing back from Dallas, so I called there yesterday. They are telling me there is nothing they can do and will not compensate me other than give me my week back (gee thanks - $640 maintenance fee paid last year for this trip already) – there is a big difference from $5,500 US to $640 US wouldn’t you say?

We are disgusted and want all prospective Mayan buyers to be aware of how terrible they treat their owners. They have not heard the last of me, but I was interested in your web-site since you actually train their sellers. Perhaps you should be training the owners too.

Thanks for listening.


Sue & Fred

Another Victim comes forward of the Playa Del Sol, Robert Paisola Investigates

First of all ... Who am I? Good Question...

http://www.allexperts.com/ep/1843-74995/Time-Shares/Robert-Paisola-CEO.htm

That should resolve that question.

Hi Mr. Paisola,


I was scammed into buying the Playa Del Sol Grand before it was built. They promised me it would be MUCH nicer than the Mayan Palace. Ive been making my payments and when it was opened, I booked a week and went. It was a disasster and nothing like they promised me. I stopped making my payments and exchanged several letters with them back and forth fighting over this.

Finally I just said keep the money you collected and the time share and I walked away. Happy with the outcome I now see a bad note on my credit file. I called them to settle but they are insisting I pay them $5000 to remove it. Can you help me with this? Is this up your alley? If not please let me know where to go. I really appreciate your help.


Charles

Tahiti Village- Never Ever Buy From these People and Tell them To Go to Hell, Robert Paisola Investigates

Robert-

I tried for 4 days to reply at the bottom of the allexperts.com page, but it says you weren't accepting new questions.

So, I hope this is the right way to go about this.

My husband and I bought into Tahiti Village 11/06, I think it was the day right after we got married, which was also my birthday. My husband originally wanted to go just to get the "free" perks---and when you fill out all that detailed paperwork, well, needless to say, the seller/promoter that was working with us made a complete fuss over us and gave us the royal treatment. We were initially turned down after having ran a credit check and me giving them a credit card w/insufficient funds. But they were able to fanagle the paperwork and "work out a deal" so to speak. We had both filed for bankruptcy [me 13 and husband 7] in the early 2000's. After this, every single month after that financially we went downhill.

Bought Grandview back in early 05. At least we have a deed and the HUD for it.

Also have Moon Palace, Cancun ... only to find out we don't really own anything-- $20K-some later--that's almost all paid off.

I just asked for the contract and the deed [after 1 year of not receiving it] from Tahiti.

I just recently had to pay about $1300 to get caught up with Tahiti-- found out that $800 of that I had to pay was 2/3 of it was over due maintenance fees, and 2-1 time fees, a transfer fee [ what the heck am I transferring? I only paid for 1 year [that I had to pay for] with Interval International, and a general fund fee [I thought that was what maintenance fees were for]. And I had to pay for Feb and March. Tahiti Village is relentless in collecting--- after being only 1 day late, I started getting phone calls--and I made the mistake of answering 1 of them--- more than 10 times a day. I made sure to tell them they were calling a cell phone number, which is also a work phone number [for me it is the truth, I don't have a landline], and not to call here. It didn't work. I have collected 85% of their incoming calls by answering them and immediately hangning up, so I have documented proof of the harassment.

I appreciate it when you say to take care of family first--- but we both have government jobs, and when they both threaten court if we default [both being Grandview and Tahiti Village] we can't have that on our records--much less wages being garnished--or even face termination.

I am currently not working, in a heated battle in a denied work comp case, and my husband is working 80+ hours a week just to keep the major bills paid. Our tax refunds have literally flown out the window, $10K to catch up on past-due bills, including our home mortgage. I also am going to be having major surgery first part of April, where I will be wheelchair bound for 1/2 a year.

We just want out of this headache. We've learned our lesson--- we never used either one of them, and have no intentions of doing so--we can't even use Grandview as our week falls during a very busy time for us at work and we have no chance of getting vacation during that time.

We've tried just offering them back--- they can keep the $ already invested. Won't happen, even with my "story". I'd be hauled to court for default and have to pay the difference between what they could re-sell it for. {I've seen both properties listed on eBay for 1 penny--and not sell :( }

I only wish I would have known about you earlier--- we would have never gotten into this mess. I see I'm not the only one though. I'm glad you're out there, fighting for us, exposing the dirtiness that timeshare people do to get a $.


I hope this is enough information.
Thank You--All the Best

Amy Smith

Me By Melia, When in Cancun Mexico- The Only Place to Stay, Robert Paisola Reports

March 03, 2008
New York City, (The Associated Press)
Robert Paisola Reports "The Me by Melia Hotel" Nothing but Perfection


The Me by Melia also known as "The ME" has long been one of Cancun’s most fabulous hotels, with a prime location on a quiet street directly on the Hotel Zone with Oceanfront access and incredible beaches. The ME Hotel property underwent a $15 million renovation after Hurricane Wilma, which established the baseline for all of the hotels in Cancun.

When you arrive at this one of a kind property, you are personally greeted and provided with a warm cloth to refresh and rejuvenate from your trip from the airport which is a short 20 minute drive. The Zen Like features are unlike anything we have ever seen, with aroma therapy induction throughout the property.

This art deco property has been carefully structured to ensure that your entire stay is as simple as the motto "Everything is possible"

The Marble floors gleam, the interior lighting is one of a kind and the lobby is nothing but a "welcome home" feeling that we have never felt before.

All of the approximately 400 rooms all look out on the water (to varying degrees) and have plenty of space. The swank, sophisticated SALT Restaurant serves an incredible buffet with traditional continental fare along with a top-notch international wine list; dining experiences include dinner on the beach in the Maxim Grill, accessible from the pool or from your own private beach cabana.

Whether or not the art deco ambience is your cup of tea, there's no denying the superiority of the service: A beach attendant brings ice for the bottled water you grabbed from the minibar, or sets your tote bag on a stool so it doesn't get sandy; a spa attendant adjusts the temperature of your shower before you step in. And everyone is polite—and friendly—to a tee. The Chief Concierge Mr. Lucio Aleman along with the properties Managing Director, Raul Petraglia continue to ensure that the experience at the ME HOTEL IN CANCUN is nothing but a worldwide destination where "Anything is Possible"

Robert Paisola Reports Live from Cancun Mexico and can be reached at robert@robertpaisola.com or 1-877-517-9555