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Author: Kelly H.
Date: 2016-03-14 04:27:30
During our stay at the Occidental in Cozumel, we were constantly heckled by staff all over the resort about coming to the Occidental Club for breakfast but if we did to make sure we came back to them and not talk to anybody else. We ignored them the first day. That night our stay was horrible due to the AC not working in our room. The next morning we got up to rent a jeep for the day and used one of the people that stand around trying to get us to the occidental club. He said he had the best deal. We paid for this and realized the jeep we rented was horrible and really not in the best to feel safe to drive. There was a hole in the passenger side where the heat from engine came through. Being upset at the situations the first day. We spoke to management. They sent us to someone that was in charge of occidental club.
They heard our frustration and sat down with us about these packages. They showed us these rooms in a different part of the resort which were what we were expecting prior to coming to this resort and some much better due to them being suites. They offered to move us there for the week if we would come to their breakfast. We accepted and did. My wife and I were impressed that night because we felt they were taking care of us. Next morning, we went to the breakfast as promised. We ended up there for the majority of the day missing our vacation but figured it was worth it considering we vacation a lot. Occidental made several promises about this program and that it was not a timeshare.
They said by signing up in the Royal we would get plush treatment and two bedroom suite with an additional room several times a year for our guest. We could do this within 30-60 days and also had exclusive rights to Holidays and high times with the Holiday package included. These people wined us and dined us. They made several promises about how great it was. We even spoke to some other guest about it to question and they said it was ok just to make sure. They did not say it was excellent or horrible because thy were just getting in the program too. We ended up buying their highest package and paid close to $28,000 to get this treatment as so we thought.
Salvatore at this location was the head sales guy that we kept in ties with and said he would always take care of anything we need especially as we come back to any of the resorts of Mexico. They even gave us a couple free trips to other Occidental resorts and RCI for signing up on the Royal membership, a $75,000 membership. We felt confident that this was a good thing for all the trips we take to Mexico, US, and Europe with the family. Several months later after paying $28,000, we tried to book a trip with our family to go to Xcaret Occidental resort for the Christmas break. My wife tried to book it as we were told 60 days prior to the trip and had already bought our plane tickets. Occidental than told us that they did not have availability.
We were very frustrated to hear this considering what we have paid and what we were promised. My wife immediately got in touch with Salvatore and he tried to work his magic for what they told us they were trying to make happen. He then told us that he could get us rooms but they would not be what we purchased. It also came out that what we were going to spend over and beyond what we spent on this Royal was a lot more expensive than what we were promised as additional expenses. Hell, we have stayed at high end resorts and would never have paid this much money out of pocket on top of this "Royal" membership treatment we had already were paying for. After they could not fulfill their promises, we wanted to cancel this Royal Club Membership because they did not due as promised to us. We have had never used any of this membership nor any of their free trips that were given to us.
We were severely mislead and it came at a high price. They are fighting us on this for getting refunded our $28,000 plus we are paying 1500 a month in this contract. We have been scammed and I would not even step into one of these resorts. I cannot believe that we have found ourselves in this position be cannot believe there is no recourse for these type of things. We were set up!!!!!! Do not get caught in this trap. They will not honor their verbal agreements for there are clauses in their contracts that what they say and do are completely different. They set you up to treat you only to get your money. Once they have it, its all down hill from there. Occidental Vacation Club is a money trap and a complete Hoax job!!! Beware!!!!!
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Author: Gwen Bradford
Date: 2016-02-18 23:21:24
I bought a timeshare at Occidental Allegro Aruba in 2003. I have not been able to get a reservation now for 4 years. I bought what they called an "optional all-inclusive" which means I do not have to purchase the all-inclusive additions. Every year they tell me that they do not have any optional all exclusives available, but if I upgrade and agree to pay the all-inclusive, magic, they have a room for me right away. I have never been scammed like this before and I have tried for 4 years now thinking if I just reserve earlier it will make a difference. Well, it won't. I have paid for my timeshare in full, have paid my maintenance fees annually and I cannot get a room there. Please folk, don't make the mistake I did or wait as long as I have to realize they made a fool of me. My next question, what now. I don't want to sell it to anyone because I wouldn't transfer this hoax knowingly. Stop paying the fees and just let all the money I've invested evaporate???? Shame on you Occidental, shame on you.
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Author: Ukay
Date: 2015-03-12 04:22:20
We just got sucked in for 10,000 Canadian. I think we will cut our loses and save the $25,000 (US), we end up paying if we go ahead with it. Are there any Canadians on the thread with their experiences? I'm thinking of notifying Market Place. I was told there is no way I will get my deposit back.
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Author: Mrs.Kasper
Date: 2015-03-09 18:31:51
This just happened to my fiance and I. We just got home and sent three different certified cancellation letters. We closed our bank account and reported it as a fraud. We will persist until our money is returned. I hope things have worked out for all of you as well..
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Author: Sad in the sand
Date: 2015-01-11 06:41:45
We have the same sad story except we used the money from insurance claim from our 18 year old daughters death. We thought it could be a new tradition, it's now a nightmare. By the way, we cancelled within 5 business days!
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Author: emcrosenberg
Date: 2014-12-28 01:15:35
please help , this just happened to me in november
This company is flat out an exploit of innocent people on vacation.Its a month or so after and we have zero plans of using any of this crap
I want out but being ignored.
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Author: 2docs
Date: 2014-12-16 22:28:11
Mr. Ignaura Tejeda Solimán - I would appreciate speaking with you privately regarding my issues with the Timeshare. Please send me a message with a number where I can reach you
Thank you in advance.
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Author: 2docs
Date: 2014-12-16 22:22:40
Count me in. Bought one in Aruba and this has become a ridiculously expensive vacation
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Author: Jamie Karl
Date: 2014-12-10 16:06:49
Mr. Ignaura Tejeda Solimán, I would like to speak to you about my vacation package. I am having much difficulty trying to book vacations with our package that is paid in full. I feel I am getting the run-around when we call. Things the sales guy told us that the booking agents claim are false. I have been unable to get a response from the sales agent via email.
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Author: Jamie Karl
Date: 2014-12-10 15:38:29
I would consider joining your suit, Laura Downey, my wife and I were also scammed and have paid our club off, over 14K.
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Author: flt6356
Date: 2013-09-14 16:45:48
so your saying you cannot book and save money, as a owner in grand cozumel I would pay $1288 in march sat to sat and booking anywhere else its $300 a night saving over 800 dollars and I deposit my developer week into myplatium rewards and I can get a balconey on a caribbean cruise for almost 400 per person for a week or a hawaiian cruise for 700, I am new to the club but see some very good booking potential, and yes I bought the 33 year contract with myplatium rewards
forgot to say that yes in certain off season called season II the rates get close but in season I you will save every time
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Author: lauradowney36@yahoo.com
Date: 2013-05-01 22:04:00
My Expedia example's stand for themself. I have showed the price is less with Expedia and I expect the refund as promised. I will use that as my proof in court along with Mr. Namnum's email promising a full refund if I could book for less elsewhere. The truth is on my side and I will not stop until I receive my refund as promised.
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Author: Ignaura Tejeda Solimán
Date: 2013-04-30 17:20:34
Dear Mrs. Downey,
We would like to address some of your concerns:
Our commitment as a company is to offer our members superior accommodations, facilities and service while not having to pay more for COMPARABLE accommodations. Our facilities are bigger, regularly remodeled and with better furniture and décor package, than regular hotels rooms usually sold through on line travel agents.
Additionally our service levels are higher. In every affiliated property we have dedicated club staff that caters to ours member’s needs, members only lounge and specific areas that regular hotel guests can’t have access to. That makes our product very different.
We understand that any of on-line players could best our price usually for very specific booking windows; we are not so sure they can compete with our level of accommodation’s and services. It is not part of product offering to compete with these agencies.
Even so, tailored for those cases, we implemented and published our Discount Pledge (which you can find on our website). This pledge states that if you find a better rate than what you are trying to book or have booked, we will not only match that discounted rate, but grant you a 15% discount on top of it. Obviously accommodations have to be comparable.
Our contracts are very clear regarding the cancelation period. After buying the membership, you have up to one week (depending on location) to cancel it and receive a full refund. Internally we usually allow up
to 30 days.
In your particular case, for over 14 months after buying you showed having no issues with your purchase, including two positive feedback calls within the first 60 days. 14 months later you started communications with customer service and eventually Mr. Namnum indicating dissatisfaction, centered mostly on the price differential when compared to online travel agencies.
Although you refund requested was long overdue and that based on your written commitment (our contract) the company incurred in all the expenses associated with the sale including taxes, registration, fees and commissions, in an effort to solve the situation instead of sending your account to delinquent collections and the possible negative effect that may have on your credit history, we accepted your cancelation request and agreed on a refund amount
We mailed you a standard disclosure document which you declined to sign. We tried our best to make things happen, but you walked away promising to do your best to tarnish our reputation on line.
In regard to your constant statements that Mr. Namnum lied to you. What Mr. Namnum said regarding refund was that if you found, in one particular holiday you wished to book, a better price for a comparable holiday, he would refund you right there and then, both examples that you sent in did not meet that criteria.
We do our best to fix things; give a good service and find a middle ground, what we can’t and won’t accept is unreasonable blackmail. We have more than 24,000 happy families that speak on our behalf. We work day after day to serve them and provide them with exceptional vacation experiences.
We create ample channels for our members to communicate their issues, giving us an opportunity to fix them. We are believers of open communication; we strongly believe in our product and have nothing to hide.
Regards,
Ignaura Tejeda Solimán
Social Media Coordinator & Community Manager
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