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My wife and I stopped at Cozumel during a cruise. Our excursion was cancelled due to the weather so we wandered around for a bit before we ended up talking to Justin at El Cid about an RCI membership.
We were tempted with a free, all inclusive day pass just for listening and "keeping an open mind" about RCI. The presentation was supposed to last only an hour.
After an hour and one-half we we're totally confused about the whole program. Then the pressure began. We had several people coming and going from our table and we couldn't tell what was what anymore.
At that point I put an end to the presentation. I told Justin that I was not going to be signing anything at that point and if I couldn't take information away to do some research, then we weren't interested.
He immediately got angry with us, slammed his presentation booklets closed and called over the manager to "show us off the premises". I wanted to pop him in the mouth but we gathered up our things and walked out. Glad we did.
You may want to visit this website: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/travel/rci.html
It probably won't make you feel any better but might find something useful.
Good luck.
The best advice is NEVER buying a timeshare anywhere. It is a scam and the so-called timeshare you buy is sold over and over again to other people. It is very difficult to sell your timeshare now and renting isn't in the deal. It will cost you more to buy a timeshare and maintenance fee than to rent a hotel room or a full ownership of a condo. Don't do it. There is good information about timeshare scams: http://www.timesharescam.com/blog/68-timeshare-scams-mexico-vs-us-why-are-there-more-situations-of-fraud-in-mexico/
TRUE! This is a complete ripoff! You spend thousands of dollars and can get better deals on expedia. Total nightmare. And you call for help THEY DON'T LISTEN they just say the same things over and over again "you signed the contract" The contract does not reflect the sales pitch and I learned that the hard way. And no refunds. completed awful mistake getting involved with them.
Kathleen,
You have a right to be concerned if someone there interests you in a purchase. Suspect a scam if salesperson tries to sign you up to a contract by offering you deals like renting out your timeshare for a "guaranteed " amount by a certain date.If I had it to do over as an owner, I would not go for this 5-day "cooling off " period. I would be in touch with my lawyer, and if having him check out the deal took 2 months or more--so be it. If the salesman balks at this, walk away ! Believe me it's NOT worth it. As far as fees for your stay---surely you would check this out with the owner first.
I am going as a guest of a timeshare holder to stay at the ElCid in Cozumel in Feb. Due to illness they are not able to use their points so I am going instead. I already have the reservation. After reading all of this I'm very worried they will harass me during the entire stay and might even try to extort fees for staying on the property. Should I be worried? Please answer if you can I'm very concerned. Thanks much
Marylin P. I f nobody wrote their opinions we wouldn't have this forum, would we? Same goes for complaints.
I for one am not in the habit of making false accusations. I have a legitimate case here and I intend to see it through to my satisfaction.
I'm not interested in doing any more business in Mexico outside of a vacation or two there. You say you have had good rapport with the sales staff at El Cid. Not so with us. Perhaps you'd like to buy my timeshare at El Moro. It's up for grabs. Give you a good deal!
WE have stayed at the El Cid El Moro, 3 times now and a have found the accommodations and amenities second to none.
Our complaint is with their sales staff and in particular, Rui Veloso, who drewup an addendum to our contract which agreed to rent out our points (308, 000) to help pay for said contract.That was in '07 with a guarantee of payment of $10, 000 By Jan, 08. Nothing materialized, and we are $12.000 US in the red. Can't afford timeshare . Will sell. Anyone interested contact me at barcaroll@telus.net---"Muggins"
I have been a member of El Cid Vacations 5 years and I own a couple of other timeshares, El Cid is by far the best one I own. Yes, I have problems every once in awhile, but my Salesman Rui has allways helped and taken care of them for me, which by the way no others salesman has ever done, they are usually not there or fired. It´s too bad there are web sites like this that anyone can say anything in these forums, wether it is true or not.
Marylin P.
we are at the same point. I hope that losing the 4000 us/5000 can$ will be the end of it. I will try to make them miserable too. Rui would you all believe grew up in Kelowna BC and his parents still live here. They must be so proud of him. Will try to get a story in the local newspaper since he is a home boy they might be interested. I think it is too costly for them to pursue us for the rest. Luckily I am old enough that I don't have to be concerned about credit ratings any more.
My fiance and I just returned from Mazatlan last week where we did purchase the El Cid Vacation Club. I paid $5K down and will be paying $300 for many years...at 12% interest. We were told A LOT of things about being able to use the airlines and the points from Boise to Mazatlan would be only 30K points--which turned out to be totally false. I have yet to book anything becuase "we're not in the system yet" but am not pleased about the misrepresentation on several items--not just the airline points. I'm feeling pretty bad about the whole thing now but will try and book one of their "experiential vacations" to see how it goes. Has anyone had success with cancelling the contract? Even if I lose $5K, it's better than $15 more but I don't want my credit to be affected. Any thoughts?
Johnny Montalbo, is John Montalbo, Juan Carlos Montalbo. He did the same thing here and has evaded IRS for some time. He stole earnest money from people by allowing them to think they were all buying the same house. Austin TX is where you need to check on verification, 2001 July I believe. There was a big scam he had going on here including bank fraud which caused some banks to close the business he was working at to close. He doesn't dare come back to US, he is afraid of going to jail. But he has always done this type of scamming, it is nothing new to him or his brother who also resides in Mexico. Mario Montalbo, Anna Montalbo, they too have stolen and used other peoples credit for thier own gain.
I sympathize with you folks that are going through this, It is about the same thing that happened here in Austin TX in 2001. He had a "ring" of hoodlums working for him then.
my husband and I vacationed at the El Cid Marina in Mazatlan in 2005 over the Thanksgiving holidays. We enjoyed our time there and yes went to the presentation for the time share. We bought it and have used it twice since then. We took all of our kids down the last time. Enjoyed tennis, golf, salon visits, fishing and of course the pools at the Marina. The staff remembers who we are everytime we go to the Marina. The last time we were there my husband caught a fish, kind of small. We had the resturant cook it up for us and we fed most of the guests that night! We love it at the Marina and wouldn't go anywhere else, unless we heard there was another El Cid resort with the same greatness! We did however schedule a week for our friends to go to the El Cid this next week. Our friends had to make a last minute emergency cancelation. When I checked on the website on cancelations it said any cancelations done under 59 days before checkin would recieve 75% of your points back. I was fine with that. But when I called the El Cid number to cancel, John told me I was wrong and needed to read my book I was given when we purchased out time share. I told him, actually read to him the information word for word off the website and it never mentioned that I would loose 100% of our points due to last minute cancelation. When I asked him why wasn't this information on the website he said it was in the book. When I asked about what I read to him from the website, his remark was "You canceled to late". I would think canceling under 59 days to include and up to reservation day? Wouldn't you? Warning, do they change the rules as they go along? I'll be reading through my "rules" book. As with everything these days, nothing seems to be too good. We would go back however due to the great times at the El Cid Marina.
my wife and i purchased 308, 000 points during our visit to mazatlan for new years. we just returned from el cid in mazatlan, where we just spent 10 fabulous days playing golf, fishing, dining, having fun and just relaxing. we took our son and his family. everything that we were promised was delivered and then some. we are planning to take another of our children and her family with us to el cid cozumel this fall/early winter. we have bought an additional 300, 000 points and we have already booked a mediterranian cruise for the spring. we are also contemplating a ski vacation to lake tahoe in late winter. we are just beginning to scratch the surface of all the ways that we can use our el cid vacation points. while at the el cid this june, while swimming at the private owners pool, we had opportunities galore to chat with other apparently satisfied owners, who all were as pleased as we were to be there. there were even two sisters from east texas who were so happy that they changed over their points from wyndam to el cid just so they could total enough points to move up to vip status with el cid. happy with our investment, sorry you're not!
My husband and I, both educated , intelligent people - were also, I think, suckered in Cozumel last Fri ( March 8, 2008)...
I am trying to rescind now ( within the 5 day time period )...
Has anyone else been able to successfully rescind their contract?
Any suggestions for help?
Does anyone have anything good to say about El Cid ?
If so, I'd love to hear it also.
Thanks.
I agree... the thieves ripped us off too. Rui was the best example of a salesman feedin you anything he could dig out of the garbage and sugarcoat to fit his presentation. From the moment he opened his mouth, the lies began to flow.