Grupo Mayan--[2009 thread--revisited Jan. 2011]

Beware the Grupo Mayan scam in Mexico

WE ATTENDED WHAT WAS TO BE A "90 MINUTE NON-TIMESHARE RELATED PRESENTATION" AT MAYAN PALACE IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR. ON THE 7TH HOUR, HAVING 2 SMALL KIDS IN THE TOW, WE WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT. AFTER REPEATEDLY SAYING "NO" TO 6 OR 7 PUSHY SALESPEOPLE WE WERE LEAVING THE RESORT BUT AT THE LAST MOMENT WERE INTERCEPTED ** ANOTHER AGENT, HELENA DANIELSON. SHE SOUNDED SO CONVINCING THAT WE BOUGHT "PARADISE WEEK" PACKAGE FROM HER FOR $3000. Every word she said turned out to be a lie. BEWARE OF THESE PEOPLE, THEY'LL SAY ANYTHING TO GET YOUR MONEY, BUT THEY ARE A COMPLETE FRAUD ! WE LOST THE ENTIRE DAY OUT OF OUR 6 DAY VACATION PLUS $3000.

During the presentation, the words "Grand Paradise Club" never came up. I had my iPad with me and could have Googled it on the spot to find out about this scam. But Helena led us believe that we were buying discounted weeks from "Advantage Services" (another shell company in this scam food chain). We were shown a booklet with numerous hotels and resorts that will be available for booking to us. A month later, our welcome package arrived in the mail. As we tried to use the booking system, however, we discovered that inventory available at the website is extremely limited and nowhere close to the one we were shown. For the discounted so called “fast weeks” price manipulation is used where an additional mandatory all-inclusive fee must be paid at check-in that brings total cost of reservation well above market price. Cruise certificate also turned our to be a worthless piece of paper, as other posters on this board indicated.

The website is a joke with many links that are totally inaccurate or broken and does not meet commercial website design guidelines. Only few reservations can be made online, other inventory has a “call” banner next to them. When we called for a reservation, we were told that these discounted weeks were not available. We realized that these weeks are no more than “bait and switch” to get customers to call so that Grand Paradise Club can push other stale inventory to them. Also, GPC charges additional reservation fee of for each reservation made – a fact never mentioned in our contract.

We have filed dispute with Mastercard - had anyone have any success with that ? I will post again once I get a response from the credit card company. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD SO THESE BUSTARDS ARE OUT OF BUSINESS ASAP ! I've seen a post on TripAdvisor.com about setting up a website for a class action - GRANDPARADISESCAM.COM and GRUPOMAYANSCAM.COM. I will let everyone know when they go life so people can join the CLASS ACTION lawsuit. It's a shame Mexican government tolerates this kind of scam going on for years in their prime tourist areas. No wonder Mexico has the reputation it does.

Search the Mexico forum for "Karen Rose" - she is a customer service representative for Grupo Mayan and has occasionally posted her contact information and offers to help.

Sorry you had such a bad experience. Their sales practices unfortunately give all the Mexican resorts a bad name, but trust me and thousands of others, not all Mexican resorts engage in such tactics. There are groups that are straight-up, honest, and not pushy.

This doesn't sound like it is the Grand Mayan

It sounds like another resort

Greg

think you need to double check your info....

I agree with Greg. I think you have the wrong resort. Have never heard of or been presented with "Grand Paradise Club" during any presentations.
Search for Karen Rose as suggested since they monitor forums for Grupo Vidanta and does investigate/clarify contract or purchase issues.
Our web site does not have any call banners. Grupo Vidanta does not have access to cruise lines or give out certificates.
Grupo Mayan Scam, which Mayan Palace location since there are at least 5? You mentioned leaving the resort....you did not stay there? If you have made a mistake about the resort you visited for the presentation, are you willing to come back and correct? You do know that there are other resorts with similar names and use the name Palace or Mayan in them.

Tropical lady said:

I agree with Greg. I think you have the wrong resort. Have never heard of or been presented with "Grand Paradise Club" during any presentations.
Search for Karen Rose as suggested since they monitor forums for Grupo Vidanta and does investigate/clarify contract or purchase issues.
Our web site does not have any call banners. Grupo Vidanta does not have access to cruise lines or give out certificates.
Grupo Mayan Scam, which Mayan Palace location since there are at least 5? You mentioned leaving the resort....you did not stay there? If you have made a mistake about the resort you visited for the presentation, are you willing to come back and correct? You do know that there are other resorts with similar names and use the name Palace or Mayan in them.

Click to expand...

From the description, it sounds like it is a 3rd party vacation club. I remember when I first attended a GM TS presentation years ago, after I refused, they handed us off to another person at exit that tried to sell the vacation club for like 3K or so. I doubt Karen Rose can help here as I am sure this company is independent except for some type of marketing arrangement.

Mike

Mike,
You may be right, but I think that this would have come up before if it was a sales practice. Never heard anyone mention it. Thought OP might have confused the resort since I do know that Moon Palace has such a program and there are other Mayan named resorts.
But this does bring up those "special" discover/try us offers that we were pressured with at the ends of both the Wyndham and Marriott presentations in Pompano Beach ad Palm Beach during summer 2010. For $1900 or whatever we got a week/weeks/points to try the system, then come back and that was applied to the purchase price. There was not an understanding of NO until the door shut behind us. Of course we did not bite....
Sad to think this is industry wide.

If you Google...grand paradise club membership...you will see many references to Mayan Palace and Grand Mayan, etc.
I think the OP has the correct resort, regardless of which of the 5 she attended.
Ron

what has happened in the last 5 days???

Grupo Mayan Scam has not been back since the day of posting 7/14.
We suggested contacting Karen Rose since none of us were familiar with this sales tactic.
Just like some other posts, it would be appreciated if the OP came back with some information or feedback they received from the company after posting.

After about 5 months back-and-forth with the credit card company we got full credit ($3000) for the mistake we've made with Grand Paradise Club. I felt so stupid for believing even a tiny portion of their lies ! We supplied credit card with all the facts proving that Grand Paradise Club/Grupo Mayan is basically a fraudulent operation, including excerpts from this site. Their salespeople are exploiting the fact that Western business culture is based on trust. If you are not trustworthy, you don't stay in business for long. Well, apparently not so in Mexico, where they rely on constant influx of first-timers lured in their spiderweb by free "gifts" offered at the airport. The gifts, by the way, are not even worth the 6+ ours of vacation time a typical victim would waste on a supposedly "90 minute non-timeshare related presentation". That's why the first question they ask travel-fatigued people at the airport is - "Is it your first time in Mexico ?". First timers are their primary target. Half way through the process, GM found me and offered to "settle" provided I removed my posts from TripAdvisor, scam.com, redweek.com, mescam.com and other sites. I saw some people retracting their posts, but how could I be sure that I won't be scammed again ?! Just search for "Vera Christopher" on scam.com forum - this lady from the UK has fought for 3 years with no result ! Grupo Mayan demanded that I execute all paperwork and remove my posts UPFRONT. So they ask to be trusted with MY MONEY having lied to me and thousands of other victims before but they's won't trust ME with anything ?! That's what defines crooks ! The "settlement" required that I sign a bunch of legal mambo-jumbo surrounding all the rights to ever make details of the settlement public. I ran it by my lawyer and he stated that this so called contract is basically non-enforceable piece of crap as a person can always hide under a different nick which is not traceable back to the individual. All it is designed for is to scare s**t out of honest law-abiding citizens. Nonetheless, there was always a chance that my signed settlement could have been used in credit card dispute as a proof of my dropped claims, so I decided to press with the credit card first. Glad I did. I guess other posters where less lucky in their credit card dispute process and had to succumb to Grupo Mayan demands. My gut feeling was that they won't part with the money easily, always trying to sell you something else, just as they do after an unsuccessful timeshare pitch at so called "exit interview". That's where I was belittled by Helena Danielson for not having "faith in humanity". I do have Faith in Humanity, Helena, but YOU are NOT part of the humanity as I define it ! After we wasted whole day away from our 6 day vacation, my 2 small kids were sweaty from the heat and dehydrated, but they would not even allow kids to use swimming pool ! Imagine if you are treated like that BEFORE they grab your money what would it be AFTER you sign on the dotted line ! GM has a whole investigatory department stuffed with English speaking American and Canadian ex-pats who traded their integrity for a perpetual vacation mode lifestyle in Mexico. Their job is to cut losses and sweet talk internet posters into removing or retracting their posts. Their typical line is "Everyone has complains. Apple has complains. Honda has complains". Yeah, right. As if dropping a name or two of great companies next to a scam operation would somehow cleanse them from their wrongdoing. Search scam warning blogs for Honda or Apple or Best Buy. I am sure the'll appreciate it if you let them know of any hits !

Thanks for coming back and updating us. Im glad they only got you for $3k, others get taken for much worse. Hopefully you get your money back. Those of us who follow this board recall Vera Christopher. She was a woman on a mission to say the least.

I'm so glad your perseverance paid off and that you posted your detailed update! Good for you for not letting them intimidate you.

Thanks for posting, and now that you are on TUG, look for rentals and/or resales!

And oh yeah, I certainly remember Vera.

I also purchased the paradise weeks when I was in Cabo earlier this year. I didn't think I was getting something for nothing or it was too good to be true.

When I got home is when I realized most of what they told me were lies. As far as I am concerned, the presentation took place at The Grand Mayan, Grupo Mayan was mentioned as well as Grand Paradise and other names. That makes them all guilty in what I consider a scam.

I did dispute the charge with my credit card company. I spoke to the sales rep in Mexico as well as the rep at The Grand Paradise. I kept a log of names, dates and what was said and provided all that info to my credit card company.

It took about 4 months, but my credit card company found in my favor.

I wish the best for those that are trying to get refunded for a service that was based on lies!

We are all exposed to scams. Unethical sales tactics are used in all industries. They are "risks of doing business". The "costs of doing business" are the costs of unraveling actions that have gone too far, if you follow what I'm talking about. Sorry for the gobbledygook; my wife tells me it is one of my many faults.

So recently, I was asked if had ever heard of Grupo Vidanta or Grand Luxxe or a company referred by GV or GL offering to buy five years of excess weeks for $4,500 per week. The economics sounded great! I told my friend that I have never received such an offer.

Also, other friends have been offered items through the Vidanta Sales organization that I have never seen nor heard about. In fact one of our fellow Tuggers once asked why he was not offered the opportunity to buy a particular product, when others were given the "opportunity to buy."

These instances of differing offers to buy or sell seem to be real, or they would not be cropping up all the time. They also seem to be part of the sales process, which as we all know is very sophisticated and disciplined.

It is good to know that Grand Paradise Club seems to be the GV company that offers low priced deals. Another company called something like Global Alliance supposedly buys excess weeks from GL members.

Times are tough for everyone, and timeshare sales are suffering. I am sure we all will see more new offers that may not deliver what is promised.

It is good that you stuck to your guns. Congratulations!

Cancelling contract

We were told at the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya we would have a 90 minute presentation on Dec. 14. It lasted SEVEN hours. We requested many times to leave. After getting ill, we finally gave in and purchased with them. I asked about rescinding the contract but the salesman told me I couldn't. However, I found the Profeco website and they inform me that I have five business days to rescind. So, yesterday I contacted my credit card company to dispute the charge. Tonight (Dec. 18) I emailed Karen Rose, Ruben Garcia, Brad Fox and Salvador Gomez Letipichia, Profeco, Advantage services and my attorney that I was rescinding the contract within the five days allowed by Mexican law.

I hope that Grupo Mayan does the right and legal thing and processes my rescinding contract quickly.

Today, Dec. 19, 2011, the company quickly responded to my wanting to cancel my contract and is settling the issue.

Do you have a page anywhere within the contract that you signed with instructions as to how to rescind? It would be good to send a letter with proof of mailing from the post office to prove that you sent it within the five days that the law allows.

Grupo Mayan--Mayan Palace--Vida Vacations

How many times does the concerned customer service department have to be e-mailed before they will respond? I have sent complaint e-mails to the different customer service addresses with absolutely zero response. How about it Karen Rose?!!!!!!!!!!

Dear "Mouse":

Please check the emails being used to contact us. The email to reach the Customer Support area we personally check and have used to achieve communications with our clients and members is grupomayanblog@grupovidanta.com. We constantly receive emails on that account and take care of matters immediately. We are confident there are many clients that can attest to that.

Another way to contact us, which is faster, is by calling us at 1-800-292-9446.

For any other querie about your contract if you are a Mayan Palace member, you can use customerservice@mayanpalace.com or our generic email which is customerservice@grupovidanta.com

Hoping this information is useful, we look forward to continuing this dialogue by having you use our proper communication channels.

Sincerely,
Karen Rose
Customer Support Representative.

dkburgess said:

We were told at the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya we would have a 90 minute presentation on Dec. 14. It lasted SEVEN hours. We requested many times to leave. After getting ill, we finally gave in and purchased with them. I asked about rescinding the contract but the salesman told me I couldn't. However, I found the Profeco website and they inform me that I have five business days to rescind. So, yesterday I contacted my credit card company to dispute the charge. Tonight (Dec. 18) I emailed Karen Rose, Ruben Garcia, Brad Fox and Salvador Gomez Letipichia, Profeco, Advantage services and my attorney that I was rescinding the contract within the five days allowed by Mexican law.

I hope that Grupo Mayan does the right and legal thing and processes my rescinding contract quickly.

Today, Dec. 19, 2011, the company quickly responded to my wanting to cancel my contract and is settling the issue.

Click to expand...

On Dec. 22, a refund was issued to my credit card to cancel my contract.

dkburgess said:

On Dec. 22, a refund was issued to my credit card to cancel my contract.

Click to expand...

Congratulations and thanks for letting us know.

Just curious.....

Mouse,
You state that you emailed customer service several times without a response. Karen Rose and customer service have made themselves available for quite awhile now in these threads. Even if you had called, there is a 72 hour response to an inquiry, the info which is given to you with all the other details. Can't complain.....she responded within 43 minutes of your inquiry.
Just to help the rest of us understand........what is the general nature of your issue that you could share? The info might help someone else.
Also...this is a new one....what is Vida Vacations? Thanks.

quick response Mayan Palace customer service

I agree Karen Rose responded to my post very quickly. The only problem is that she is stating I should check the e-mail addresses I am sending my complaint to. I have checked and double check the addresses and so far besides the response from Karen Rose I have received a generic, automated response from one e-mail account stating that they have received my e-mail.

Vida Vacations---Mayan Palace

Tropical lady said:

Mouse,
You state that you emailed customer service several times without a response. Karen Rose and customer service have made themselves available for quite awhile now in these threads. Even if you had called, there is a 72 hour response to an inquiry, the info which is given to you with all the other details. Can't complain.....she responded within 43 minutes of your inquiry.
Just to help the rest of us understand........what is the general nature of your issue that you could share? The info might help someone else.
Also...this is a new one....what is Vida Vacations? Thanks.

Click to expand...

The general issue with Mayan Palace is the sales tactics that I have found numerous other people have experienced the same problems. I have read a lot of complaints and I have been trying to settle my dispute privately per Karen Rose's suggestion to other people on this and other forums. Vida Vacations brands are:Grand Luxxe, The Grand Bliss,The Grand Mayan,The Bliss and Mayan Palace. Web site www.vidavacations.com.

When I went into the web site for Vida Vacations I realized that since we are owners we have not used that term and forgot that site as it seems to be geared for non owners. Thanks for the reminder.......
Yes, the sales tactics can be high pressure along with other Mexican resorts mentioned in other threads. Our last "update" several weeks ago in Nuevo was the most pressure we have had out of 4 in 4 years. The others were informative and ok. At this point we know what to expect/anticipate, but this was a surprise. Anyhow, I just told him what I thought of him, no upgrade that day due soley to him and ended conversation. On to Cancun!!
I hope your concerns get resolved to your satisfaction.