I am writing this review in hopes that other people will not be ripped off in the future. I am aware that I will never get my $5,000 back. Please read this if you plan on visiting any vidanta resort, this could save you A LOT of time, money and actual verbal threats to your family.
Let me begin by saying the resort itself is spectacular, I would recommend staying with Vidanta as a resort hands down.
This review, however, is not about the resort itself. This is about the predatory lying that happens when you are sold a timeshare, and the threats my family received from agents of the timeshare sales department.
We decided to do the timeshare presentation because my wife and I were truly enjoying our stay, and thought that maybe we would like to sell our current timeshare in lieu of Vidanta. We met with Jesse Winters, a Canadian citizen that had aspirations of being a weather man in his youth. He was friendly and presented himself well, as do all Timeshare salesmen. We spoke at length ( 4 hours) and had figured out a fairly good deal. There were 2 things that the deal hinged upon.
1st. Being able to sell our current timeshare. Now I understood that the sale of my current timeshare was not for sure, but when I was told that I would need to pay over $900 for the company they use to sell my current timeshare, I informed him that I could not afford to pay that immediately. "Don't worry about it, we will have the company break that into 6 easy payment, we do it all the time" that's what he said. Turns out the timeshare resale company has never done that, nor were they willing to. They told me that I was lied to, and that I would need to pay the full amount up front. They then told me that the $900 was only good for 6 months with them, and if I wanted a longer term , I would need to pay over $500 more.
2nd. Jesse Winters (probably not even his real name) tells me that I will have an unlimited number of these "ambassador passes" which allow anyone I give them to the ability to stay for a week at Vidanta for the price that an owner would (a little under $1,000). He tells me that I myself cannot redeem them, but since my wife and I are not legally married (after almost 15 years shes my wife in my mind), that she can book the rooms, and I can stay with her. On top of this, he tells me that we will also get $300 credit every time anyone uses one of our ambassador passes, so its like we are getting the room for $300 off every time. Now this right here ladies and gentleman, this is the ONLY reason I decided to buy this timeshare. He tells me multiple times " just remember, you cannot book them yourselves, so you just get someone else you travel with to book them". It sounded fantastic. IT WAS ALL A LIE. Later I would receive the ambassador passes in the mail (they are certificates) and it clearly states that the issuer of the certificate (ME) is barred from staying in the room booked. I think, oh, well maybe they don't check IDs. YEAH, THEY DO.
So those are the 2 big lies, there was little stuff throughout the presentation, but hey, its a timeshare presentation, they lie about a bunch of little things. Like where they will be building next, or what they plan on doing with the resort.
Now Jesse had also told me that Vidanta is also a US company base out of TX, so we were safe knowing that we were dealing with a US company that would abide by US laws and court judgements. This is not the case. We will get to it later, but Vidanta is based in Mexico
Now when you buy with Vidanta, they want $ down on the sale, they made some excuse for a reason why, but this is why. The company had me put $5000 down on my purchase. Now in the US if a timeshare company lies to you about what you are getting, you receive your $ back and the contract is voided. But this is not an American company as they claimed, this is a Mexican company. Now If I want my $5000 back, I will need to hire a lawyer in Mexico and fight the company for it. And I'm not too sure where the laws in mexico stand on fraudulent timeshare sales.
I found all this out while speaking to the reprehensible representatives from the Vidanta timeshare sales at the Mayan Rivera. I spoke first to Carlos, he seemed nice and helpful at first. Then I pushed to get my $5k back, and that's when the mask came down. When I threatened to sue, he laughed. And then when I persisted, and explained that I would be sharing what happened to me here online, he stated that Vidanta would "RUIN MY FAMILY" that "DONT I LOVE MY FAMILY, BECAUSE WE WILL RUIN YOUR FAMILY" that is a DIRECT QUOTE of one of their senior account managers. Because I was lied to heinously and want my money back. Well guess what, that whole Mexico/US thing cuts both ways.
Please do not buy a Vidanta Time Share. They are liars and will treat you like scum the second they have the down payment.
But do visit it using an ambassador pass. I believe u can stay for under $1000 for the week.
MVKagainstVidanta@gmail.com read more