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In March of 2006 we purchased a timeshare at Playa Del Sol, Los Cabos. We were told we could post our weeks and make $1,000/week, or resell the deeded unit at any time and make money. The complex wasn't finished until August 2007 and they are now fully booked through 2009, which makes it impossible for us to book any vacation time, post our weeks as rentals, or resell the deeded unit at any price. This company has fraudulently represented itself and stolen our money and we will be taking legal action against them.
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I'm looking for a site where members can talk to one another about problems and hopefully some resolution.
Hopefully thru TOC we will be able to contact more of our members. Going to Perfecto with a class action complaint, as opposed to a single complaint, may help our case.
My 2010 RCI deposit has not been made because of PDS's inability to bank my week yet they want an upgrade fee which is now due. I'm not sure I want to give them more money for nothing in return.
We need to contact more members now.
If you are a Costa Vida-Costa Sur Owner,please email me and I will send you an invitation to my Costa Vida owners website which I started about 15 years ago. It is free to owners and there are about 1000 members.
Gerry,
Is this Gerry Williams from Kansas? If yes, my husband Marty and I met you and your wife in Los Cabos 2 or 3 years ago. We often wonder what ever happened to you and your Mexico properties. I see you are still an owner, as we are too.
Sheila
Rosemary??
We are at CostaVida for the next ten days. We heard that there was an owner's group, but haven't figured out how to be a part of it. We extended our 3 weeks for the next 20ish years.
I am the Oglesby's daughter. Are you the Rosemary we know?
Thanks
Ginny
rhowells93
thanks
Dave
We own week 28
Please send me your full name and email address and I will send you an invitation to our website of 1500 Costa Sur owners
rhowells93
I saw a posty by you referring to a Costa Vida owners wwebsite. We are original Costa Vida fixed week owners and owners of a PDS 1 week membership.
Would appreciate receiving access to your site.
Thanks,
Jim
Please send me your email so that I can sent you an invitation to the free website
If you are a Costa Vida-Costa Sur Owner,please email me and I will send you an invitation to my Costa Vida owners website which I started about 15 years ago. It is free to owners and there are about 1000 members.
costavidaowners. groups.yahoo.com/.../...
also email costavidaowners
Thanks,
Ken
I have also just started a yahoo group.
costavidaowners. groups.yahoo.com/.../...
also email costavidaowners
Thanks,
Ken
thnks so much
Kris
Please advise, thank you
I bought in 1994 and paid much less than current owners. Used the exchanges and lots of getaways through RCI for 16 years. It was worth it to me to cut my losses and to be rid of the extra expenses and continual problems with the various management companies. I have one other timeshare in Cabo with II and it's proven to be a much better purchase. We just got stuck with bad management companies. I know lots of other people that are pleased with their Mexican TS purchases.
Larry
tugbbs.com/.../...
Jan
When they're baiting you - they're your best friend & then....that changes!
We purchased in 2007 @ PDS Los Cabos with all the promises as to how we can make money off this time share. #$%^ you can't even book a week yourself.
2008 we managed to get into PDS Grande in Nuevo Vallarta - paid more than I thought we should have to upgrade & then as soon as we're there they are trying to book an appointment with you to squeeze yet more money out of you!!! (BTW - we didn't book an appointment).
Then this email comes stating this extra assessment!!!!! What a bunch of crap!
Furious in BC Canada!!! JM
Count me in on any fight!!!
susan
I think that between the owners already posting here and the owners on Tug that we have a good base for writing a complaint to Profeco to get the ball rolling.
Do we have a volunteer to write something up?
Here is the letter I wrote to PROFECO.
Dear PROFECO representative,
I am a member of the Playa del Sol Grand Resort in Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit MX. I purchased my "timeshare" in March of 2006. Since I have been a member I have paid my maintenance fees regularly on time. I have received a notice that the company wishes to charge an extra ordinary fee. Our contract states that they can implement such a fee after providing a detailed notice which outlines the unforeseen expenses that were not budgeted for by the operators. I have not received any budget statement showing that this indeed is an extraordinary fee. I am therefore contesting this fee.
I have been in contact with the PDSG organization but have not received anything to back their contention that this fee is within the terms of our contract.
I wonder what your Ministry might be able to do to assist me in determining a satisfactory outcome to this situation. Please reply and I will make all necessary documents available to you or follow whatever advice you might like to offer.
Sincerely,
Gordon Burkholder
P.S. This issue seems to have struck a nerve among the members of the PDSG as verified by the large number of emails on public bulletins such as TUGG. It might prove insightful to refer to these sites for more information.
GB
I wonder if this is what you had in mind?
Gord
I was wondering if you received any response to your inquiries. We too received notice of these special fees which is substantial.
I would be interested in finding out it there is any resolve to this or what our options are.
Your comments would be appreciated.
Have you checked your purchase agreement to make sure that it actually refers to an 'extraordinary fee' as older purchase agreements do NOT have that addendum. I advised PDSG that my PA did not include any such agreement and asked them to send me a copy of anything with my signature as to 'extraordinary' fees.
Thanks, CB
My response to PDS' attempt to charge me the extrs fee is below. I would sure like to talk with other folks on this list about this, and file a class action if possible. How can we organize this? I look forward to hearing from you!!
To Playa del Sol Club:
I have received your email advising me of an extraordinary fee assessment on my membership. I have checked my Purchase Agreement, and there is no clause or provision for collecting such a fee.
I find your email quite disconcerting, especially since you sold off the resort that I originally signed up at—PDS Los Muertos. Los Muertos was the resson I purchased my timeshare. I do not fancy staying at a high rise hotel like the Grand. Since the sale, I have used my membership instead at Los Cabos. Last year’s stay was without the restaurant or the bar/entertainment area. In fact, I was thoroughly disappointed and dismayed at the condition of PDS Los Cabos. The place was deserted of staff, although there were plenty of members staying there.
Checking my records, I have paid a continual 10% increase per year since purchasing at PDS. Your email indicates another 10% increase for this coming year. This means that my original yearly maintenance fee has risen from $349 to $624! Next year the cost will rise to almost $700.
All indications are that PDS will not be around in the foreseeable future, and I will have wasted my hard-earned money on a development that has never shown me a financial statement, a development that I do not see improvements in, a development only selling off its properties.
I will not be paying the assessment of $464 billed to me via the email below. My Purchase Agreement does not allow it.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss this further.
Sincerely,
Ellen Caffrey Garza
ecgarza
(773) 474-0503
We have taken a similiar stand and have gotten the PROFECO agency to set up hearings for us. The purchase agreement that I have (2006) does allow for the Extraordinary fee but is specific in how it is to be achieved.
We are also disillusioned with the management of the resort as they sold off Los Muertos the year after we purchased and we had tried to book in to stay there but were unable; they were in the midst of selling it off.
Last summer we received a letter telling us that the Los Cabos resort was shutting down for 3 months and that our reservation would have to be changed. This resulted in all kinds of problems; airline tickets had to be cancelled, etc.
As I said, PROFECO has begun to talk with the management about my concerns. They stated in their letter to me that they would only deal with one contract at a time. This I take to mean that they will not enter into a class action discussion with PDSGroup.
I am looking forward to hearing more from PROFECO and will keep this forum updated.
Gordon Burkholder
Janet
I am another Playa del Sol member since 2004 (from BC). I would like to join in the fight for some sort of restitution for purchasing a timeshare that no longer exists. My inlaws had a timeshare in Cozumel that was sold as an all-inclusive hotel...they were given "credits" to use the resort in lieu of having their unit sold out from underneath them.
Thanks for keeping us updated...will keep checking in on this site!
Michelle
Thanks
Interestingly the email we received from PDSG accompanying the Extraordinary Fee assessment says "This year we must increase the fees by 10%..." while the Maintenance Fee Payments page of their website says "2010 and 2011 maintenance fee rates will only increase by 5% for both years".
We're very interested in following your lead with PROFECO - would you suggest we send a letter similar to yours or, since you've started the process, could we join your effort?
By the way, we are also TUG members and are folling this issue there as well.
Thanks
Dear PDS Club,
We are joining other PDS owners in providing our formal notice to challenge your establishment and request for payment of these Extraordinary fees.
We have received your email advising of an extraordinary fee assessment on our membership. There is nothing extraordinary about your proposed use of this fee. All of the items stated in your notice are covered by our annual maintenance fee. A fee which we have paid faithfully since we purchased our membership.
We have carefully read our original membership Purchase Agreement including article 9 Maintenance Fees. We would like to refer you to section C, which states in part ... The club may "at any moment, through a detailed report... establish Extraordinary fees it deems necessary for unforeseen expenses that were not included in the budget and whose purpose is to pay for unforeseeable expenses concerning the operation and maintenance of the Resort..." First, we have not received any "detailed report", or budget, or financial statement. Second, your email states the extraordinary fee is, in fact, not to cover "unforeseeable expenses concerning the operation and maintenance of the Resort" but rather to pay for a "renovation program". The annual budget is the proper place for renovation-related expenses, including but not limited to replacing out-of-date or worn-out fixtures such as those listed in your notice, including TVs, mattresses, pillow tops, pillows...replacement electric stoves, refrigerators and microwave ovens...bathroom blinds and shower curtains. Providing WiFi in guest rooms is an "unforeseeable expense"? In 2010? This, too, would be a line item in a competently-prepared budget.
To restate our position, if maintenance items are not being properly budgeted for, they can hardly be considered "unforeseen expenses".
We echo the sentiments of disappointment, bordering on anger, voiced by other owners who, since joining the PDS Club have lost a resort and have seen Howard Johnson take over the Costa Sur property. We bought our unit partly because PDS would take our unused weeks and rent them (the Playarental program) on our behalf. This program was cancelled two years ago. Now we are being asked to pay costs which should rightfully be borne by the developers & operations side of PDS Club.
Sincerely
D&J
Early in August we called Trading Places to transfer our 2010 weeks. Trading Places returned our call and left a message saying that PDS will not transfer them as we have not paid fees. As our maintenance fee payments are up-to-date, this can only be because we have not paid the Extraordinary fee assessed in June.
We believe this is wrong because, one, those weeks accrue to us upon settling the yearly Maintenance fee. Two, because if we had arranged to transfer them before the Extraordinary fee notice had gone out, they would have been transferred. Hence, we request that those weeks be transferred to Trading Places immediately so we can benefit from our membership. Time is of the essence because we do not want to lose those weeks.
Sincerely
D&J
This is the response I received almost immedialtely after I sent me email to PDS:
In your contract, in the membership purchase agreement, under point #13, the second to last paragraph, it states that Playa Del Sol can amend the internal by laws and use agreement at any time. We have amended the by laws to include the option to charge the extraordinary fee. You can view the new rules and regulations on our website www.playadelsolpv.com with the password pacifico.
The special assessment is mandatory, otherwise your use rights of the account will be suspended until it is paid.
The contract also allows Playa Del Sol to increase the maintenance fee by up to 10% each year.
We did sell the Los Muertos property, however we also got some inventory back at that resort for every year between May and October. If you would like to book for this, please call us at 866-867-5292.
Thank you.
Service Center Playa del Sol Group
playamail
I will email my rebuttal to the group soon.
It seems we need to do a few things as next steps:
1) Find a way to reach out to all PDS owners to see how many would join together in a complaint against PDS.
2) Speak with an attorny to see what possible courses of action we may have.
I'm going to speak to a few attorney friends with experience in real estate contract law and will post when I learn of anything.
Thx!
Dear PDS:
First of all, you need to read the membership agreement that was signed by me and PDS. My agreement's point #13 does not contain the language you state in your email. In my agreement, Point #11 refers to by laws and use agreement, but in no way states that these can be amended. I suggest you read the agreement that I signed to understand what I am referring to.
Posting bylaws on your website with no date, and not duly notifying every PDS member in writing is unethical and illegal.
--Ellen
Ellen Caffrey Garza
ecgarza
(773) 474-0503
Re timeshare rental rip-offs. That's funny that you are sending these warning because when we bought into Playa del Sol Grand in 2006, it was one of the salespersons for Play del Sol Grand, Steve Henline (who sold us our "fractional") that recommended Larry Peters from vacationweeks.com. We paid $500 upfront on his recommendation and they did nothing for us except take our money. Perhaps you would like to add their name to the list of scammers.
Thanks
Michele's response was:
Thank you for contacting Playa Del Sol.
Any suggestions for resale companies that the salesmen offer are just that, their suggestion. Playa Del Sol is not affiliated with any resale company. Part of your contract which you initialed next to states you are not purchasing the timeshare for rental or resale purposes.
Thank you.
After my husband read that, he decided to send her a message.
Dear Respondent,
There is a distinct and purposeful gap between what the sales representative team says and what the PDS Group supports. I feel that the disconnect here is truly the reason why so many people have such great disregard for the timeshare industry. Forget what we initialled. Your industry is dishonest in the way that it entices people into contracts with sales reps who have no backing from the management team. I feel sorry for anyone who has to try and prop up this type of activity by referring to what was initialled in a purchase agreement. It is not something I would wish to be a party to.
Sincerely,
Gordon Burkholder
Profeco has received are information and is going to meet with PSD. They said they would only deal with one contract at time.
Regards, Janet
This whole thing just stinks!!
Maltija, I also noticed the disparity between a 10% increase in maintenance fees and the area we were referred to by PDSG from their web site, stating that fees for 2010 and 2011 increased only 5%. I think we should all use this particular 'disinformation' in our individual letters to Prefeco as I have a feeling that Prefeco will need hard evidence to get PDS to relent in any way.
Ellen, would you mind telling us when your contract membership agreement was dated. I think it would be helpful to know when exactly PDS inserted 'extra ordinary' into their contracts. I do NOT have an agreement with PDS as I bought resale. When I paid my transfer fee, I was given all rights (but there was nothing about all responsibilities except paying for maintenance fees) of the previous owners who had to have purchased pre-2006 and probably a lot before that.
I'm thinking that 'bad press' will help our cause. I'm considering writing something on Trip Advisor re PDSG. Even though it might only alert 'hotel guests' to the issues we are facing, it might seriously impact PDS's ability to attract new Buyers.
Finally, I wanted to add that I believe these extra fees are going into the sales/marketing budget. In the US, it is illegal to use 'owner's fees' in any way towards sales and marketing...so perhaps Prefeco might be able to take a look at that.
Keep the faith! CB
We didn't get a response from PDSG except from a member service person named Michele who copied a page from the Members Agreement that says they can charge a fee. So we went to PROFECO with our complaint. We copied the pages of our agreement to them and outlined our argument
• no copy of the budget was provided
• the assigned uses for the money is not extraordinary but rather routine maintenance and should be covered by those fees
We also went into other details with PROFECO as to why the PDSG was in breach of our Members Agreement and we asked them to try to get back our original purchase price for the 2 bedroom lock off unit that we purchased.
They are arranging for a meeting with PDSG to present our case but we have not heard back about the dates or anything else. PROFECO is not a law firm nor do they act in any legal proceedings but they will mediate disagreements between parties like us and PDSG.
Gordon Burkholder
I feel with the maintenance fees continuing to rise and then the extraordinary fee assessment, they are purposely trying to price us out. So...we don't pay and they get our thousands of hard earned money for nothing. Major scam!!!
In January I booked two weeks for January 2011 in Los Cabos. Of course I had to pay for my 2011 maintenance fees of 1398.00. (up from the original 846.00)Then later I get the e-mail about my extraordinary fee assessment of 946.00 and was told if I didn't pay it we would not be able to stay for our scheduled two weeks in 2011. Keep in mind, I JUST paid them 1398 dollars for our 2011 maintenance fees! Im not a happy camper!
Count me in on any joint efforts to make this right!
Debbie Trautman
debbie.trautman
YOU JUST GOT RIPPED OFF I AM SURE THEY ARE STILL BILLING FOR PDGRAND AND THERE IS NO MORE PGS GRAND. THE ONLY PLACE LEFT IS HOWARD JOHNSON WHICH HS ONLY 100 UNITS LEFT FOR THE THOUSANDS OF PLAY DELSOL OWNERS LETS GET ON THE BAND WAGON AND TAKE ON THIS COMPANY THROUGH THECOURTS ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO START THIS WOULDBE GREAT. READ MY OTHER POSTING IN HERE ABOUT FRAUD AT PDG
www.timesharescam.com/ I just thought I'd inquire prior to contacting them. I'm soooo tired of scams! After being ripped off like this - you become skeptical of everyone....how unfortunate that is.
Cheers all! JMinBC
I have just finished a telephone interview with a lawyer from G&G law. The lawyer says that he can not help me recover any of the costs because of the time lapse between when we purchased and now (4 years) and that there is nothing we can do to sue them for changing their company restructuring (from time share to hotel) because we purchased a "service" not a piece of property. What we are left with is the option to CANCEL our membership. This protects us from having fees and interest accumulated over the years and having the claim sent to a collection agency who may not try to reclaim any money until it gets to be "worthwhile".
Gonzales and Gonzales would charge a flat fee for cancelling the contract payable after it was achieved. We are weighing our options before going ahead with this action.
I have contacted PROFECO and advised them to let PDS know, at the January hearing, that we are offering to accept cancellation of our membership.
Hope this helps.
I'm glad to see this thread continues to gain momentum, as it re-enforces the issues each of us are facing with their PDS investment. It appears we share common frustrations (ever-increasing annual fees, difficulty to secure rental weeks, lack of upkeep and development of resorts, misinformation as to investment, etc)
I am committed to getting resolution in some manner, and feel our next steps should be:
1) Speak with an attorney in the real estate contract field to explore our legal options as a group. I know a few but need to see if they handle Mexico contract or would have interest in our situation.
2)Hit PDS where it hurts. We need to tarnish their brand/name/reputation, which could keep consumers from renting or purchasing their properties. There are several ways we could do this through sites like Facebook, vacation-rental sites such as VRBO, etc.
Thanks again for everyone's participation-
Had a bad year so bill the owners! What a crock. Asked to speak with someone in upper management but was told to direct correspondence to Maria (I was speaking with her) mmondragon
Highly Agitated in KC
This is the email that we received from Profeco regarding their meeting with "Playa del sol representatives".
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Burkholder,
We would like to inform you that during today’s hearing, the legal representative of Playa del Sol manifested that the extraordinary fee will be applied only to the Howard Johnson Hotel’s improves and they offered as conciliation proposal the remission of the interests generated by the failure to pay the extraordinary fees.
As well, the provider presented the following list of the concepts to be invested:
Concept Cost in Mexican Pesos
1. Double sofa bed model pegaso in fabric vinilbull ivory $1,714,440.42
2. Mattress model special edition double pillow top queen size $606,485.88
3. Mattress model special edition double pillow top double size $39,584.16
4. TV LDC 32” LG MOD. 32LD350 $312,364.80
TV LCD 26” LG MOD. 26LD350 $665,306.40
6. TV 32” stand $33,196.42
7. Quilt light laminated fiber $162,817.60
8. Ceiling fan 52”five blade south wine (winsdor) SKU 655852 $398,573.62
9. Duvet smooth 200 h white Egyptian cotton $369,436.35
10. Pergola 40m2 $51,678.00
11. Drywall galleys $378,872.83
12. Black out curtains $814,516.67
13. Treatment plant repair $50,489.44
14. Umbrellas replacement $31,517.20
15. Terrace chair repair $77,034.67
16. Clock radio for rooms $49,029.12
17. Bunks replacement $44,787.60
18. Microwave replacement $35,292.40
19. 24 refrigerators replacement $104,229.84
20. Bedding and towels replacement $494,643.44
21. “Volado balaustrado” repair $109,522.27
22. Facade painting $694,886.69
23. Palapa repair $143,718.43
CAPITAL TOTAL TO INVEST IN HOWARD JOHNSON HOTEL $7’238,705.82
Therefore, in order to have the elements for the conciliation procedure we ask the provider to show us documents regarding your complaint that consists in:
• The adhesion contract duly registered with PROFECO at the time of its signature.
• Proving conclusively that gave notice to the consumer on the establishment of the extraordinary fee with the acknowledgment of receipt.
• Proving conclusively that gave to the consumer the rules of the time share contract.
• Proving conclusively that the rules of the time share contract contains the ordinary and extraordinary fees.
It’s important to mention that if the supplier doesn’t present us these documents on time we will fine them for each document missing.
We need your response about the information above before the next hearing, which was scheduled for January 10th 2011 at 12:00 hrs Mexico’s city time, otherwise in accordance with the article 112 second paragraph and 116 of the Federal Consumer Protection Law, your file will be sent to a temporary record, for un period of 10 days in order for you justify your omission. In the event of not doing so, your complaint will be filed as a solved matter, in the case that you want to take your claim before competent Mexican Tribunal.
In case there is no conciliation agreement reached between parties, in accordance with Article 116 of the Federal Consumer Protection Law, your file will be closed without prejudice to your rights in case you decide to take the matter to the Mexican Tribunals.
Thank you in advance!
Fabiola Sánchez Álvarez
Department of Conciliation
Services for Foreign Residents.
Federal Consumer Protection Agency
that means that probably somme 20,000 owners of PDG Group are just out of luck. they had us attend a meeting with the new Compasscooperative and they tried to get $5,000.oo off of us for another scheme (which probably is just as bad as thelast onewe got into) we paid $16,000 for our timeshare in 2002 and now we have nothing. I guess there is no law against this type of fruadulant companies. I also wish we could get all the PDG Group owner names and do a class action suit against them. any sugestions?? I have posted this on another site butso far no e-mails to me.
Lets band together and see if we can do something.
my e-mail is "missfloy2002
please give meinfo or feed back as to what we can do..
wanted to ask you if you believe that the 'conciliation'proposal ...the remission of the interests generated by the failure to pay the extraordinary fees....means that they will remit back the extraordinary fees?
or, from Profeco: that if we have a contract that does NOT include allowingforextraordinary fees that we will not have to pay?
I was told by Carolina at PDSG that she would bank my weeks at II...three weeks later it is still not done. I was sent instructions from Profeco a while ago, but seem to have lost them ...going to look today.
Has anyone been able to use or exchange their 2010 weeks? (Since they came up with this garbage mid year, it seems it certainly can't apply retroactively.
With Profeco, I wonder if Gordon and Janet can ask to see 'the agreements' between Molinaro and HJ and also Bellaire to see if he even retains ownership or if the agreement somehow prevents his charging whatever he feels like it....
Finally, I've noticed they are renting mounds of studios and 1bds on II's Getaways for Nov and Dec for $35 a night.
Hello, I think what they mean is that PDSG are willing to give up the interest charges on the "extraordinary fee" that we haven't paid. Profeco can't really do anything, they are only mediators. We will have to go through a lawyer to argue this.
Janet
HORRIBLECOMPANY WILL SOME ONE suggest how to start alaw suit against them
K & R
the position I am in. I wrote it off as a very expensive lesson in life. Twenty thousand initial purchase and another four to take it off my hands. TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND and I am going back down for my last already paid for vacation in a couple weeks. That is gonna be a big fat HELL NO to a refresher update. My only consolation is that I am reasonbly sure smarter people than I have fallen for this scam. I wonder if all T/S company use these tactics or if this is a PDS thing. I would guess there are good and bad out there. I am seeing ads popping up everywhere from the company I just used to take my timeshare away. I believe they resell these things to the Expedia's of the world but not sure. Good luck to anyone fighting these jerks.
I don’t have much to offer. My PROFECO complaint will be heard next week. I’m appealing the extraordinary fee because it is not in my signed contract. Someone on the TOC list is talking about a class action suit. I would also be happy to join it, but I don’t know if anyone is actually working on this. Perhaps post the question on TOC. I would also be interested to know if anyone has gotten relief from PROFECO. Do you know?
Ellen Garza: 773-474-0503
Thanks!
Hi Ellen,
We just wrote to them requesting cancellation (via email). I told them that I would pursue legal action and a refund of monies paid if the cancellation was not processed. I was going to pursue this legal action on the grounds that they had me sign away my legal rights to 5 day cancellation period and sold me a second program to rent out our timeshare that they later claimed to be fraudulent. This was an illegal contract. We have been livid but felt stuck. We never stayed at PDS but traded because we were sickened even to return. As the fees increased and the fraud became more apparent based on other's accounts, we got "guts" and pursued the cancellation and prepared for legal action. This cancellation was the first thing to go our way but I feel that they just didn't want more problems or fewer. I don't want to say much more until I have confirmation of them closing the account.
We do own bluegreen now that we bought via resale. Couldn't be happier !
Then I spoke with Carolina at member services ...she said that she didn't know WHY my 2010 weeks weren't banked into II as I asked and said that she wuold do it right away BUT when she tried she said there was a problem with the password. So I went back yesterday and today and still....a problem with the password or II system. I asked her how many members there were and she said @9000. She said that everything will be fine and not to believe the salesman at the update.
I'm hoping that she will indeed bank my 4 weeks from 2010 as I already paid those dues. I will not pay any more dues until just before I want to use the property next year...and of course won't pay until I get a solid ressie. But I think it is more probable that we will all have difficulty in dealing with the new company IF they can sell inventory to others either as new 'Compass' members or to expedia whatever. So...perhaps our best offense is to scream bloody murder on the internet on different sites including trip advisor, tug, etc so that no one will buy in to the new management and they might then honor the old members. I think we need to align with Costa Vida (sur) owners using the web site created just for them....so hopefully the creator will allow the rest of us access to his site....numbers help.
there are now about 1100 owners on my Costa Sur website
Thanks
We are at PDSG/Bel Air Collection in Flamingos right now. Due to some of the floors in Building 2 being renovated, there are fewer people here now than I have seen in years. My husband and I took a walk around the floors under renovation and saw stacked new mattresses, old ductwork removed, some painting, and some furntiture. I hear sawing and hammering during the day above our unit (we are in Bldg 2 on the second floor). The grounds are as beautiful as ever. The regualar staff is as friendly as ever. There are less American channels on the TV...probably the enhanced cable package has been discontinued. Our unit does not have working AC but the temerature outside is cool and brisk and we haven't needed it. There are plenty of empty chairs at the pool, mainly because people like me have been confronting the people saving chairs (in a loud and embarrasing way). PS: It's RUDE and SELF CENTERED to reserve chairs for people who don't use them! We had no trouble booking for 2012. We heard through the VACATION program that the Bel Air Collection will be marketing to hotel brokers like hotels.com more. There is NO INFORMATION about the new owner, plans for reno completion, assurance for current paid owners, what's happening to your extrodinary maintence fee funds, etc. This causes everyone to think the worse and become paranoid. Bel Air would be wise to come up with a monthly newsletter about our properties and their progress and a "concern department" where you could talk to a live person toll free. This would calm alot of nerves. This is still a beautiful resort although it needs lots of repairs at this time. The peacefulness here this January is most rewarding. There are no TIME SHARE sales presentation at this time, but there is a VACATION program being offered with a continental breakfast. Time Share presentations in PV are really DESPISED so Time Share may go underground and reinvent itself in a year or two. There's not enough money or gifts available to want to waste a day of your vacation when you know they aren't being honest about what you are buying. If you like this resort (as we do) I wouldn't give up on PDSG/Bel Air Collection too quickly. School is still out whether it will meet your expectations in the future, but like anything in Mexico, it takes time to see results. PS: It currently does not meet the ****STAR rating shown in Interval International books while under renovation. Our room is next to the new model and the model looks VERY NICE. If they all look like this (and I'm not naiive when I say this)when the reno is complete, anyone would be happy to stay here.
To some of you.....hang in there! To the rest of you with unmet expectations, good luck with your resolutions...you have a right to more information about your investment.
I am very interested in the hearing outcome and your next plan of action ( if any). We too, are victims of the playa del sol.
Sincerely,
Kerri Grabowski
Thanks for the email. You can send pics directly to me. suzyandkiki
Kerri
I just found out Bel Air has something going with PDSG and just paid my entire bill of 700 plus dollars. I've been trying to get a confirmation number so to exhange with Interval. First time since 2005 I've had a problem with this. I'm curious to what everyone else fee's were this year? Has anyone else had problems with exchanging?
I am still in dispute with PDSG as a result of the extraordinary fees assessment. Profeco has now concluded its second hearing with PDSG and they fined them 6000 pesos for failure to provide documents. But we are nowhere near a resolution.
PROFECO is a toothless dog; they can not even collect the fines assessed on the companies they deal with. This speaks volumes of the sincerety of the Mexican government's effort to regulate the TS industry.
But change is something that only occurs when someone with authority gets the right kind of motivation. So I am suggesting that all PDS members file a complaint with PROFECO about this extraordinary assessment and take them to task.
At the very least it is making someone go to the meetings. That surely is a cost item and perhaps when the fines to PDS accumulate to millions of pesos someone in government will take an interest.
As Margaret Meade said, " Never doubt the power of the individual to effect change."
there will probably be changes in the way reservations are made in the future. BTW: There is another groupo in PV called Bel Air located in the Marina area. I was told the one related to PDSG is not related to the company in the Marina area which apparently does not have a very good reputation. It was much cooler than usual this year so if you go, bring a wind breaker or sweatshirt. Still the weather during the day was very pleasant and the PV area is as safe as it usually is. Many downtown shops have closed and more upscale ones are moving in. Basillo Badillo has a new sidewalk and many overhead wires are being buried. There is alot of new construction throughout the area...just waiting for the economy to turn around.
If you go to PV, please support the IFC, PEACE, and especially PURR (the no kill cat shelter). Take a tour of this facility and donate money to them...they are doing really great work helping the stray poplutation in PV.
In February I called II and asked them if they could do something to pressure PDSG into banking my 2010 weeks. A rep said she would file a complaint and call me back. Never did. A couple of weeks ago I called II again and although I spoke with a rep who kept saying this was between me and PDSG, he did contact them and tell them they had to call me or I would file a complaint. I rec'd a call but it was clear the person calling wasn't interested in doing much...she only said well, you owe maintenance fees...I said NO I DON"T OWE FOR 2010 and those are the weeks taht I 've been trying to bank. She said I had to call someone else to verify that I'd paID for 2010. Finally, Carlos (from the resort) called me to ask if I had been trying to access my account. I said no, that I'd turned the problem over to II (an exaggeration). He told me that his records showed that I had paid for 2010. I asked if Carolina was there and he forwarded my call. Carolina expressed surprise that my weeks hadn't been banked and she banked them for me. II confirmed that the weeks had been banked.
So while I now have 4 weeks to use from my membershjip fees for 2010 ($1260)I'm not sure if I want to do anything about 2011. Yes, they want about $2200 (mf plus extraordinary) and that is SO much more than I pay per week for Paradise Village. But do I wnat to lose my initial investment? Which was supposedly DEEDED forever?
So here's what I think:
The resort is nearly empty and trip advisor and expedia are offering nights for $50 (I admit I haven't checked recently) I don't imagine that they will get much business in the summer months.
The gentleman who started the Costa Sur site says he has @ 1500 members and tho their problem is somewhat different from the PDSG problem, I think we really do have a common cause.
Carolina says there are 9000 PDSG members. So PDSG and Costa Sur = 10,000 people. What if we all went to the costa sur website (email address is in one of the above posts) and each of us tried to reach other owners (I still have several email addresses from people I met in my weeks there) and then tried to approach Bel Air with a proposal. Bel Air needs to build trust with US or else we can go to allt he travel sites and truly damage their business (last year I posted to trip advisor and warned everyone about the issues) . I'd need assurances that I can get weeks booked AND that they show me proof that the IVA taxes are really being paid to the govt because Paradise village isn't charging those taxes. My contract does not allow for extraordinary fees and I 'd expect THAT to be honored for at least those of us who bought a contract before they changed that particular thing in the agreement. Finally, I'd like some assurances re who actually owns the property now and whether they will agree to honor our deeds and agreements. If not, we all lose our initial investments, but we can badmouth them out of business if we each take the time to post on the various travel sites, with II, with Profeco (let those 600 meeting fees add up, and I agree with Gordon that eventually the govt might see a way to make some bucks).
I know that several people have paid their extraordinary fee and so far they have booked and stayed at the resort. But I really can't afford $2200 for two weeks in a 2bd (or 4 in a studio/1 bd). On the other hand I just HATE that Bel Air will get my weeks back for free if I don't pay or sell.
(sorry this is so long, I really just wanted to post that I finally did ...at least....get my 2010 weeks.
Best! CB
DID SHE SHOW YOU PHOTOS OF HER HOME IN MEXICO?
jOINED IN 2006 1 BEDROON L/O AND UPGRADED TO "NO MAINTENANCE FEES IN 2008.
WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN 2011? hAVE NOT BEEN DOWN SINCE '08 DUE TO ILLNESS
John Kindle Ottawa Canada
drjkindle
Thank you
I am more than happy to join a group law suit.
Let’s see what happens. I mean, you are right, what can they do? They've already extracted the "purchase" price from us to the tune of thousands of dollars.
From What I heard, the properties of nuevo vallarta and los cabos were sold by playa del sol to the Belair group, including the members.
Playa del sol kept the costa vida property, the one in centro has been closed for members since awhile now.
I have been a member since 2002 and had several issues in the past, things do look a litle different now, just called and they help me out making my reservations for this year... I was also informed that we now have access to the Grand (Now Bel Air Vallarta), the pds los cabos (now bel air los cabos) and the costa vida property... additionally they have mazatlan and cancun as regular belairs which we can use with the membership and they told me they would be opening a new bel air in Riviera Maya (Near Cancun) in October... I don't know, but things do seem quite different.
The number that they gave me for questions and all is 1877 437 0816... hopefully this helps you.
Cheers!
I was shocked that they actually told us.
We were able to cancel our contract with Belair through Profeco. Before we cancelled we were contacted by many companies saying they had a buyer for our timeshare and of course offering more than what we paid for it. Before we cancelled our timeshare we went along with one of the reseller companies and when it came down to it, before we received thousands of dollars, we had to be the Mexican taxes on the amount to the sum of $1300. There was the scam, once we paid that we would never see any money from them. The timeshare business never ceases to amaze me. The amount of spin off scams and lawyers that will charge you $1500US to cancel your contract. Well like I said we were able to do it through Profeco meeting with Belair reps and they finally agreed to let us out of our contract. Yes we lost what we paid for it but at least we are done with. I am still getting calls from all over the states interested in our timeshare and when I do answer them I feel good telling that we are done with that.
Janet
I wish there was someone from legal or government that would help put together a class action against this behavior.
Thank you!
Thank you.
Plz send any info that helps me get the right info to the right people to get out of this mess!
Thx again Janet
Janet, please send. Thx.
could you send me a copy of the cancellation letter. I have been billed by Bel Air, but I will not pay the fee as I will just walk away from this scam. I'm a bit worried that they will attempt to send us to collections. My email is NYCountry714
Thank you for helping out.
Larry
Hi,
Can you please send me a copy of your letter? I, too, would love to get out of my contract - it may be more difficult for me since I'm still payIng a credit company for the initial investment! If I stop paying them, I'm afraid of the legal/credit implications!
Thanks!
Would you be willing to send me that info too? Kiddo01
Really appreciate it!
Hi
So even if we have paid out our loan and "own" whatever it is we own, do we have to cancel a contract? If we just walk away and quit paying the maintenance fees is that ok? I am still waiting to hear back from them about our membership and to clarify the change to our weeks, so I may ask this question also. I would like the letter so that I can send it just in case. It is aileen
Thanks!
>I would like the letter so that I can send it just in case. It is aileen
I also would like it; thank you very much. Send to vygotsky99 a t yahoo.com. Thanks!
I just got the same letter from my email after a shor converstion with a rep from CMS. What should I do? Anyone please help
I believe they are making us relinquish ownership, so they can simply con and scam new people into buying timeshares!
My email is NYCountry714
Thank you,
Larry
I was in the middle of sending letters, then, saying I wanted to cancel etc. I had sent $116 which they called "overdue" -- my mom passed away last year, but my name was on it as well and I received this before Christmas. They had added $482 as the 2012 fee. I stated I was cancelling since it had been more than five years (their salespeople indicated five years then you can "walk away"). So then I got a new bill with the $482 PLUS $20 something that they had added as a new late fee.
Also, when I *FINALLY* got someone on the phone -- after much transferring and mumbling where you honestly don't know whether they've answered "Playa del Sol" (not logical?) or "Bel Air" -- and much transferring during which your "muzak" is actually a calliope tune, I'm not kidding, adding to the sense of ludicrousness....
So finally a nice soft-spoken fellow, "Moses", says he will follow up and phone me back. Half an hour later which I am perhaps unfairly picturing as him talking to a guy sitting next to him -- he phoned me to say, "I have talked to some people and I can assure you, you won't get any more bills like that."
This wasn't entirely satisfactory so I asked, "But can I get something in writing? I need the cancellation stated in writing." I had all along thought it was highly fishy I was getting statements with a kind of (cheap) photocopied "Playa del Sol" at the top when now it's Bel-Air. And other times I'd tried to phone, I got either a busy signal, or something that sounded like the phone picking up -- then going dead.
After my insistence I wanted some thing in writing, "Moses" just kept repeating his remark, and "you don't need to worry about it and just ignore it" -- and this just made it sound even more fishy.
So I was extra disappointed after I got off the phone, that I had even sent the $116 (yes, the cheque already had gone through). So even though I'm a tenacious person and I'm tempted to try to get the $116 back through Profeco, basically I am resigned.
I'm mainly disappointed we didn't know the five-day rule, back then, because I know my mom immediately regretted having signed.
We still have a Mayan Palace membership which I am relinquishing my part of to my sister. My mom and I enjoyed many "resort" vacations there in PV over the years.
Thanks to everyone here -- and good luck!
L. Rightmire
We have used the time share every year since then until January 2011. In January 2011, while staying in the resort, we were told that Playa Del Sol is in the process of being purchased by Bel Air Collection Resort & Spa Vallarta. We were told that we have to pay $750.00 special assessment fee, if we want to reserve the time share for the next year (01/2012). I declined, since paying this and the usual maintenance fee (due per contract when the time share is used), would amount to over US$1,000, which does not make any economical sense, because it is equal to advertized hotel prices at the resort which range from US$130-150/night x 7. In the remainder of 2011 and beginning of 2012, I tried repeatedly to remedy the situation. My latest attempt took place in 01/2012. There I was told, that from now on the maintenance fees due upon using our week is US$775.00.
This means that after the take-over of the resort by Bel Air Collection Resort & Spa Vallarta the maintenance fees were doubled. They reached a level comparable to the price of the rooms in the resort if rented using the hotel option.
Can we do something about this? They took our 23,000 dollars for a time share deed, to just make it impossible to use what we bought after just 6 years.
I feel, that this amounts to fraud by a scheme which is intended for time share owners in the resort to either pay the very high costs, or not to come to the resort at all, resulting in open units which can be further rented by the company to other customers.
Nils Lambrecht
310-500-5701
I feel I was part of a major scam due to misrepresentation without a path for recourse. I've looked into several companies that have offered to purchase but they too, were part of a scam for more moeny.
We have so many people in this grop, I would think there is action we can take, ideally legal. The other alternative is to hit them where it hurts and use every social media platform to alert all consumers as to what Playa Del Sol/Bel-Airre is really about. Perhaps we could make enough noise that it would impact their tourist business and they would address the issues of their owners.
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