Timeshare resale scam - Sierra Rentals and Resales

Timeshare resale scam. I have a long series of emails and documents in my possession to substantiate the following: I had contracted with Sierra Rentals and Resale otherwise known as Sierra Resort Services to rent weeks (5 weeks 2009, 5 weeks for 2010) for my Cancun Real Club membership in Dec 2008, for a one time upfront fee of $689.

It was not a guarantee but of course no weeks were ever rented. Name of agent, Jim David, 866-516-2521. This initial agreement I now believe probably to be a scam based on what followed which resulted in a bigger sophisticated scam. In June 2010 I was contacted by Sierra, Katherine Diaz, Corporate Sales Sierra Resort Services 866-516-2521, who said they have a company who is trying to purchase 25,000 weeks and offered to purchase my 80 week membership. O! ver several weeks of negotiations I agreed to sell.

Then with a new person, Victor Frank, Sierra Corporate Sales 800-530-7607, they set up the contract to go through a third party Escrow company "Gibraltar Escrow Company" (name of agent Vivian Price 011-521-669-164-6900, Mexico). I'm pretty sure Sierra was based out of Mexico even though their address was Las Vegas. Both Sierra and Gibraltar indicated that the required Fees to be paid up front ($963.00) by the seller would be returned if the sale fell through - they said they collect from both buyer and seller to protect both if one backs out. Then just before closing Sierra (Victor Frank) indicated that Gibraltar indicated that a tax by State of Quintana Roo of $622 was owed at the time of closing because of a recent reclassification of the timeshare from real estate�to�.right to use foreign investment property.

I wired the tax to what I thought was the State of Quintana Roo, and expected the sale of my time ! share to be deposited into my account ($14,071.00usd) on Oct 2! , 2010. Nothing happened. Neither Sierra nor Gibraltar will answer phones or emails. Even the Sierra Rentals and Resale web site is gone. One only gets Vivian Prices' voicemail now.

I'm now sure this is a complete scam and that the Gibraltar title company is not legitimate and part of the scam.

Click Here To Post Your Own Complaint

Disagree with this complaint ? Post your response on-line.

Comments  

 

-1 # Reply / Comment Instructions — Jay 2010-10-29 14:30

- To send any comments to the writer.Click "Re ply" then fill the form.
- To post a general comment. Just fill the form and send.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

 

 

+1 # RE: Reply / Comment Instructions — Shannon 2010-11-04 18:47

I have went throught the same exact chain of events that you posted. Now I just want to know if there is anything we can do? Do you have any suggestions?

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

 

 

0 # RE: Reply / Comment Instructions — Harold Espinosa 2010-11-15 23:56

I am getting emails to gether to report whats been done and to encourrage you with info. I have posted some info already on the T.O.C. sight. timeshareownerscommunity.com/.../... I too have been scamed!

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

 

 

0 # Kim — Kim Hanson 2010-11-16 18:59

I think I have too been scammed and just found out 5 minutes ago. I have been trying to contact Sierra and have been getting a busy signal. I even emailed my contact at Marival to ask if she knew anything and have not heard back. Now I see what has happened. I joined Sierra last year for $689. I called in june to see if there was any rentals of my weeks and was told that it wouldnt be till later in the year. They said they would use my points and as well use my accelerated points. Now I am wondering if they used my points and they are gone. It is late and now I must wait till the morning to contact my resort. That amount of money is alot to me as my husband and I bought this timeshare just before he died in 08. I was informed about Sierra in March 09 when I took my kids there, from the sales person at Marival. (I in no way blame her). I came home and called them to arrange selling my points, thinking it was a way to be able to vacation now on a very fixed income (one income). What can we do? They have closed shop, obviously and I am sure are gone like the wind. I will be contacting my resort tomorrow to see what they say. Right now I am just dumbfounded and upset.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

 

 

0 # RE: Kim — Karen P 2010-11-17 14:27

Hi Kim - The exact thing happened to me and my home resort is Marival as well Did you find out anything from them before I call myself? If so, who would I talk to? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Karen

Quoting Kim Hanson:

I think I have too been scammed and just found out 5 minutes ago. I have been trying to contact Sierra and have been getting a busy signal. I even emailed my contact at Marival to ask if she knew anything and have not heard back. Now I see what has happened. I joined Sierra last year for $689. I called in june to see if there was any rentals of my weeks and was told that it wouldnt be till later in the year. They said they would use my points and as well use my accelerated points. Now I am wondering if they used my points and they are gone. It is late and now I must wait till the morning to contact my resort. That amount of money is alot to me as my husband and I bought this timeshare just before he died in 08. I was informed about Sierra in March 09 when I took my kids there, from the sales person at Marival. (I in no way blame her). I came home and called them to arrange selling my points, thinking it was a way to be able to vacation now on a very fixed income (one income). What can we do? They have closed shop, obviously and I am sure are gone like the wind. I will be contacting my resort tomorrow to see what they say. Right now I am just dumbfounded and upset.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

 

 

0 # Marival contact — Tania Kimberly 2011-07-13 17:32

Hi Karen!, my home resort is Marival also. When I have questions about the timeshare I talk to Guillermo Pereyra.

The contact is: gpereyramarivalresorts.com.mx
Toll Free US: 1.866.334.8515
Toll Free CA: 1.800.996.8164

I hope this information can help you. Regards. Tania K

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

 

 

0 # I owe money should I pay — Cody 2010-11-23 12:29

2 Years ago my wife and I were on our honeymoon when we did the timeshare thing. We listened to the sales pitch and about 4 hours later decided to go through with it. We set up a monthly payment plan. 4 months after signing up we were contact by Sierra Resorts to sell 10 weeks and we paid an up front fee of $688 of course we have not seen any of the money for the sales of the weeks. I have also contact the company with a false email saying I would like to sell weeks to see if they get back to me and nothing.

Our timeshare is with Royal Elite Sandos Resort.

I am looking for help regarding cancelling our contract. We have been paying Monterey Financial (which I think is a scam too). Coming from Canada I wonder is it possible if I can cancel my contract and begin not paying my fees.

There is not too much on the web about how to do this. It looks like I should attempt to book something and once they do not follow through that gives us full grounds to cancel our membership as they did not follow through on their end of the bargain.

Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

 

 

0 # Marival Owner — Jimbo 2010-11-30 16:44

I too have an issue with Sierra! Surprise! Surprise! I bought at Marival Feb. 14/2010 and took the Sierra offer, paid my $694.84 US and thought "What a good deal!" WRONG!!! So far all I get is a busy signal on the phone (800-613-6023) and all my e-mails have been returned or failed to go through... I have tried several addresses and get the same "failed" message. I will now contact Marival and see waht they have to say...

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

 

 

0 # Royal Elite Sandos Timeshare owner — Claire Thorsen 2011-01-18 23:08

I too select Sierra Club Rentals at the same time I purchased a timeshare with Royal Elite and Sandos Resorts. The Gold Membership for $694.84 was to rent unused weeks. No additional contacts were made by Sierra Rentals except to attempt to get me to purchase a platinum membership for an additional fee. If our unused weeks were used by other renters, no rental dollars were forward ed to me. Phone calls were not returned, but more frequently busy. URL were not accessible, phone calls to Sando Resorts resulted in them reporting they no longer worked with Sierra Rentals. This followed by phone calls from a sales agent in Orlando who for a fee of $700.00 would rent and/or sell the my timeshare. He would not agree to an after rental or sales commission. Is this another scam?

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

 

 

0 # Scam — Jay 2011-01-19 20:40

Yes -very likely is. Go to TUG (Timeshare user group) - those who ask for money up front are pretty mucy always scams. I wish I had understood this before I was scammed!

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

 

 

0 # timeshare — Jeanette Karabetsos 2011-06-05 14:17

we have a timeshare at christmas mountain, by wisconsin dells. does anyone have a timeshare there?

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

 

 

+1 # RE: Timeshare resale scam - Sierra Rentals and Resales — Jeanette Karabetsos 2011-06-05 14:20

have timeshare at christmas mountain. is there anyone else that owns timeshare there?
we have been there for about 30 years and hardly use it anymore. we just pay the $$$
kids are grown and there is no use for it anymore. we no longer travel. help me.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote | Report to administrator

 

Refresh comments list
RSS feed for comments to this post

Add comment

Name (required)

E-mail (required, but will not display)

Title

Notify me of follow-up comments

Refresh

Send

Cancel

JComments