Amid all the rhetoric about business and other relations between the USA and Mexico there is a Mexican company which Has scammed hundreds of US citizens out of thousands of dollars. Especially appalling is that the Mexican officials have made no effort to curtail their fraudulent conduct.
The company is Royal Holiday club with headquartyers in Mexico City and offices in almost all major Mexician resorts. Written comments and complaints on the internet give Royal Holiday a D grade for serivces and product, but an A+ in corruption.
Their main scam is in the sale of memberships. They promise all sorts of incentives, which are seldom delivered, to by a membership. In addition they have scammed many people by connecting them with a company that offers to buy other time shares for sufficient monies to cover much of the cost of the membership. The company, International Leisure Group (ILG), does not have offices where they say they are doing business from and phone nubers that connect unknown addresses. They, Gene Cantrell or Jack Lewis,even correspond with the victims giving them assurance and excuses about the purchase of the time shares. The Scam is not at the local sales level. It is well known and sanctioned by the corporation. A corporate financial officer at Los Tules, Luis Tello, participates in the closing of the sale knowing part of the agreement includes ILG's offers. Royal Holiday should be avoided at all costs. They have scammed over 400 people to date in the last few years. They also have associated companies in they US that they use to give them the appearance of legitimacy. RCI is one of those companies.
Accounts of some of their scams are posted on the internet at:
www.thequeakywheel.com
www.royallyscammed.com
www.royalholidaysucks.com
Other sites also exist exposing Royal Holiday
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Reader Comments:
Posted by lzsolluna on 04/15/2008
We are also victims of Royal Holiday Club--
same persons named above gave us the run around--
we have sent numerous letters of complaints here in the USA to BBB's as well as PROFECO in Mexico
so far no one has been able to help-- we also have tried to get Bank of America to reverse the charges but they are unwilling to do that---
Any adivise on this??
Posted by mandiees on 01/11/2009
RCI is another timeshare company out there that has been accused of fraud regarding Mexican timeshares. There is a site dedicated to exposing their fraudulent activities, and it is a great resource for people looking for timeshare scam information. RCI VIP - http://rcivip.com Hope this helps someone!
Posted by arminila on 07/07/2009
This company is a fraud. They made me sign an agreement by telling me many lies, and eventhough I send them the matrial back with cancellation notice within 5 days, they ignored it and now their account collection is harrassing me at home, work, day and night. I wish someone would file a lawsuit agaist this company.
Posted by vcolonna on 01/22/2010
I have also been scamed by Royal Holiday. I purchased a $3000.00 package in Naussau at tye Wyndham Resort, which they use as a venue. When I tried to contact them via e-mail or telephone, e-mails do not respond and phone numbers do not work. Is Wyndham Resorts involved with them? This is a big scam that has been going on for a long time and it appears there is no recourse for us and no apparent way to stop them. Are ther any class actions law suits pending aganist them that people who have been taken advantage us can become part of.
Posted by jpwaisfeld on 02/23/2010
I was also victimized by this company in Punta Cana.
They serve me drink after drink. Eventually I agreed to give them a $500 deposit. The next day I realized that it was a mistake and asked for a refund. They agreed to refund the deposit and gave me a signed letter in company letterhead stating that I would get my money back. It has been two months now and nothing.
Posted by buymeapint on 04/14/2010
I to was done over by the Royal holiday Club in Jan 2010 at the Caribe club princes in Punta Cana. Everything looked great but they got a lot of alcohol into me! As far as i am aware it is illegal for them to serve you alcohol whilst trying to sell you a package! If you are under the influence they are duty bound to tear up the contract! That is how dodgey the buggers are!
I rescinded the contract in 8 days of signing and stated, compus mentis, unfair contract and failure to state a cooling off period.
I got a written response 6th April! They say i can't cancel the contract and that they don't agree with my claims! They really don't know what the law is! i had studied building law for 2 years so i have some idea!
They try to call me everyday hounding me to pay up or down grade! i just laugh at them down the phone and say they can't touch me! so sue me!
They can't touch you legally! if they send a debt collector sue the agent!
See a lawyer and spend a few bucks getting a letter sent to them, written and email! Use this letter if the debt collector turns up! They can't take you to court as the contract is grossly one-sided and very restrictive, they will loose! as they fail to declare a cooling off period and they tell you it is 5 days! well they will find that this is 5 days from telling you! well in Europe!
Ignore the calls. change your numbers and send back the letters un-opened say "not at this address"
You will not get any money back! it will cost far too much and time to do that so wave it good-bye!
lesson learnt! So don't do it again! i wont!
If they do try to sue me! well they have to get me to the Dominican Republic! As far as i am aware they haven't signed up to the international law club made between countries!
Good luck! hope this helps!
Posted by getemmy on 05/30/2010
We were duped by Royal Vacation Club while in Cozumel earlier this year. When we tried to cancel our contract, we were told that it wouldn't be a problem just to send back all of the material they send us and the money (approx $10,000) would be put back onto our credit card. Guesss what? That didn't happen. We contacted Visa disputes immediately and just the other day (4 months later), Visa won our case and the full amount has been refunded.
Remember this. Usually your credit card will have it's own policy. Ours had a two week madatory refund policy which overrides and "rules" the Merchant has.
Unfortunately, as much as we loved Mexico, this whole process has turned us off and now we will travel to different destinations and just hope that no time share folks approach us!
Do not get involved with this scam of a company! If you do get roped in, cancel your credit card immediately so no further payments can be taken out and ignore any threatening correspondence - it's not worth the paper it's written on!
Posted by stankie2 on 11/15/2010
My husband and I were also scammed at the Wyndham Resort in Nassau. We paid $4,000 for a vacation package in January 2009. Every time I call to inquire about reservations at one of the resorts, I get a different story. Every time I ask to speak to a supervisor, there is never a supervisor there. I've left messages with my phone number and, of course, never get a call back. This company is terrible and we were definitely scammed.
Posted by awr9201 on 01/19/2011
My wife and i were also victims of the Royal Holiday scam. We were in Cozumel at the Park Royal hotel on vacation when we were told of such a great deal for future vacations. All lies. I have tried to book trips to mexico and cruises but i have to pay the all inclusive fees even tho i use points. This cost is as much as paying for the vacation out of pocket. Please do not fall for this scam.
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