Vallarta Gardens Timeshare Scam

Reading all these stories concerning Vallarta Gardens brings back many memories of our experience there May 15, 2018. We purchased at Vallarta Gardens and We were promised that we would be able to make lots of money from renting out our weeks. This was the worst business decision my husband and I have ever made. All our information has been distributed to so many scammers out there wanting us to sell but they all ask for money up front for fees or taxes or whatever. Has anyone had any dealings with 625 Hathaway LLC out of Colorado? I am in the middle of a deal but can’t verify this company. Wendy S.

Dear Dan and Tina Haskell,

I have studied your conveniently well presented story but you forgot to mention that as per the terms and conditions for the promotional package, also signed by both of you, you cannot attend to other presentations in the bay during the stay at Vallarta Gardens. I guess you missed to mention that the taxi you were requesting was for attending Velas presentation Saturday morning, you confirmed that during your appointment with Vallarta Gardens sales team on Monday morning. You have to be very cynical to come and make these kinds of accusations. By the way, Paradise Village invented timeshare fraud over 30 years ago.

tinah343 wrote:

Vallarta Gardens Scam My wife and I booked an all-inclusive resort with Grand Riviera Resorts (Edgar Perez), and I had to prepay before he would book it, which was supposed to be at a resort in Playa del Carmen for five nights. Edgar called me and told me they didn’t have any availability, so he booked me the Occidental in Nuevo Vallarta, and we were ok with that because we had stayed at Paradise Village before which was just a couple blocks away. We had to cancel a couple times in 2020 because of Covid. We rebooked for Jan. 22-27, 2021, and a few days before arrival, Vallarta Gardens called for flight details so they could pick us up at the airport. I called Edgar, asking why it wasn’t Occidental, he said it is, it’s the same thing. We arrived on the 22nd, and no one was there waiting for us with our name. We took a taxi to Vallarta Gardens, and it was not the Occidental. I called for a taxi the next day and the Concierge asked where we were going and I told her we were going downtown for shopping and browsing, she said the taxis weren’t running until 11:00. We had to walk about a half mile out of the resort and get our own taxi downtown. On the 25th we had to go to their timeshare presentation as part of the package deal with Grand Riviera, our presenter was William Castro. They tell you it’s a 90 minute timeshare presentation, it was four hours. At the end of the presentation we told them we were not interested, so they told me I have two options, either buy the timeshare or leave the resort. I told him we will leave, then he told me I needed to pay for the three nights I had already stayed, and I told him I already paid Grand Riviera. My wife and I went back to the room and packed our bags and carried them a half mile up the road to leave the resort. When we got up there the guy would not let us leave, so when the door opened I walked out, and he blocked my wife from leaving, then I grabbed her bag and pulled it out of his hands, he grabbed my wife’s arm and she pulled away. On the street there was a vendor selling pineapples, and I asked her to call us a taxi, the guy followed us out and called the police. When the policeman arrived he didn’t speak English, so we tried to tell our story, but he was not understanding. After about 20 minutes the guy said we could leave. Then the policeman said the taxi could take us, so we went to Paradise Village and we had to pay them for two nights until our flight home on the 27th. I checked my bank account and Vallarta Gardens had charged my credit card $2,481, plus $253.91, and my debit card $253.91. I did not authorize any of these charges. When we first arrived at Vallarta Gardens, they told us that they need a credit card to put on hold for any incidentals, or charges. I gave them my debit card first and he said it needed to be a credit card, that’s how they had both my cards to charge both of them. They told us at the presentation that they are not a timeshare, they are a gentlemens club. Paradise Village and everyone else told us that’s because they lost their credentials and they are fraudulent. After googling Vallarta Gardens, I read all the scam stories and lies they tell, a lot of their stories are just like ours. Grand Riviera Resorts is just as crooked as Vallarta Gardens, and I want my $2,000 back from them as well.

wendys589 wrote:

Has anyone had any dealings with 625 Hathaway LLC out of Colorado? I am in the middle of a deal but can’t verify this company.

Have you paid this company any money? How did you come to hear of them? What are they promising you and for how much?

Wendy, don’t do it, no one legit would buy your timeshare from Vallarta Gardens because they are worthless. They do not deliver what they promise (2-4 weeks trade for each week at VG, being able to sell your weeks). These are scammers that now call you to buy your timeshare. Don’t give them any money!!!

Any third party company asking for upfront fees are Scammers!

Yes!

Biggest scam out there. We lost about 7000 dollars ! It’s been so long it’s hard to remember..When we realized we couldn’t get anything that was supposed to be offered we stopped paying. After about Four years we were contacted by a collection agency in Oceanside Ca. They bothered us for about a year and filed with the credit agencies, Our credit was ruined until we fought and filed proof that we were scammed. The credit agencies removed their claim and I didn’t hear from anyone until recently four years later! Another agency in Oceanside Ca. Called Monterey financial must have bought my supposed debt.. Now it starts all over again..This time I will completely ignore them ,I’m too old to care anymore.

For me and my wife have been no pressure during the sales experience. That is not to say that all timeshare companies are ethical and transparent. There are plenty of examples of abuses within the timeshare industry. However, Vallarta Gardens have been very open with us. it is not uncommon to find unhappy timeshare owners everywhere you turn. Other's have obtained great value out of their timeshares and view them as highly valuable and desirable property in their estates. Visit the place and really understand what your getting in for. On our side we are very pleased.

Agreed best to ignore them.

Note to everyone: this Tom T was sent by VG. No pressure, eh? No one else has had a good experience. Quite the opposite: a nightmare.

We are vacationing from Canada and were invited to a presentation by Vallarta Gardens. We own other timeshare and right to use programs in Mexico and USA so these programs are not new to us. They do a good presentation and we decided to sign up and were invited back the next day for another meeting. They now offered us a different unit for more money and a better offer on our trade-in timeshares. They will not let you use you your phone so doing any checking of these groups online is not possible while there. When we got back to our condo we decided to check out Vallarta Gardens and Arrow Marketing Group (they were going to market the trade-in timeshares and the weeks you were not going to use at Vallarta Gardens).

This site provided us the most information about both the organizations and so today Mar.13/21 we have executed out right under Mexican Law to terminate the contract within a 5 day period. We have contacted our credit card company about the deposits and have yet to hear back however I think getting our money back is going to be troublesome.

Thanks to this site for some very good information.

Rick R.

Orlando T, you are totally clueless, and work for Vallarta Gardens, you're admitting that Vallarta Gardens is a scam by stating that Paradise Village started the timeshare fraud 30 years ago, and you're also stating that your resort is a piece of crap, because your so afraid of anyone going to another timeshare presentation. I don't understand how Vallarta Gardens is still in business after all the people thay've screwed over, that's what I told you when we were there, that's no way to run a business. Just remember, what goes around comes around, hopefully my bank can see right through you guys and give me my money back that you fraudulently copied and pasted my signature onto the statement. Your lies will catch up to you, and I will do everything I can to warn others about you. I'm corresponding with "Profeco" at the moment, and working on a class action lawsuit.

I was coming to this forum for that exact question myself. My friend stated she got a call about this resort. They promised her 6 days, all-inclusive for 2 ppl @ $400. You just needed to buy your own airfare. While I myself would never make a purchase like this over the phone giving a stranger my CC information I just had to know if anyone else had any first hand experience with this gimmick.

janetk255 wrote:

Has anyone attended the 5 night stay they offer for $199 (as long as your listen to the presentation)

I personally have not had this experience but many others who have have reported their experience on timeshare-related websites.

When anyone is offered a stay like this, that person should deduct at least two, maybe three nights, of the stay to see what it would realistically be. The first night, you can't check in until late afternoon and you need the rest of the evening to get settled. The last night, you have to check out by 12 noon. You have to spend essentially one day for the presentation since these seem to last for hours.

So for an offer like this, I would consider it as three usable nights at most. Also, one would have to read the fine print. If certain conditions are not met by the person, there is usually significant charge to the credit card.

Just last year my wife and I got a timeshare with Vallarta Gardens, the decision to get our timeshare into our names was very fact-specific decision. We have been asking questions and reading our timeshare contract carefully it will help you avoid costly mistakes. ( If you get all the facts clear ) We have clear that only we are able to use it, and we are fine with that. I think that that's where a lot of people have trouble getting their way.

We were told in no uncertain terms that we could rent our unused timeshare out for cash. They were very specific about this, and the paperwork said so as well. Unfortunately it was not true, and their excuse is that it’s a different company that rents it so they are not responsible. Not only was this part of the agreement untrue, but we also could not find ANY trades for our week. We’ve had good timeshares before, and I enjoyed being able to trade (RCI, for instance). Not here. The time here is not recognized as worth anything anywhere else. It IS a nice place to stay, but that’s it. Their timeshare presentation is all lies. Please, everyone, do not let them talk you into it. You’ll be sorry! Best thing is to not go there at all.

Ok Guys, I bought into a 4 to 5 weeks Vallarta Gardens Villa Partial Ownership, just TODAY!

So, this is my honest perception of WHAT I WAS SOLD !

Yes, the Vallarta Gardens seems to be well kept, and its really just like one of the HIGH-DOLLAR costing Luxury Resorts we have visited in San Carlos, Bahia De Kino, Mazatlan, Tulum, Cancun, Playa De Carmen, other parts of the Yucatan Peninsula, just this past year alone.

Other than the Sonora desert coast on the Sea of Cortez where San Carlos and Bahia de Kino are on, all of the other vacation areas were mostly very tropical and JUNGLE LIKE, just like the entire property of Vallarta Gardens!

But, I was told by my Vallarta Gardens tour guide, that most of that humungous amount of spectacular foliage you see all over the property were IMPORTED from other areas of Mexico and planted there.

So, just like, even most of the NEGATIVE commenters stated on here, and on Trip Advisor, The PLACE is indeed fabulous!

Also, as was stated on here, they OFFER you several different Villa accommodations to choose from, based on your needs, and also on your budget, just like buying a NEW CAR!

The Villa I selected was a one bedroom in The Hamptons, which cost me $44,000 and some change, including 9% in closing costs and taxes. It was for 4 to 5 weeks per year. I paid for 4 weeks, but there was somethings that kept saying 5 weeks in the most popular winter vacation season, but I forget to get them to explain the difference.

If I didn't show up at all that year, they would use my time to invite NEW guests to stay in my place. Mind you, guest who they can then PITCH the same "presentation" to and its tour packages.

But, here's the thing.

Just like others mentioned on here, we were in the Nuevo Vallarta WALMART shopping mall looking around, for really nothing in particular, and one of their STREET PITCHERS started his spill, which we had been ignoring the hordes of them who are everywhere in the entire area, for all month long. But, this day we had a dental appointment, and we had over an hour to kill, so I decided to STOP and LISTEN!

The main difference from most others on here who are complaining, many of whom went to Vallarta Gardens just to receive one of their advertising/promotional FREEBIES, or perhaps a CHEAP $199.00 Puerta Vallarta area All-Exclusive Vacation, WE WENT there LOOKING TO BUY into something, JUST LIKE what their street guy was pitching!!!!

They have a bi-annual, or every two years maintenance fee of $1100 or so.

However, they waive it every 2 years after you make your payment, IF I didn't show up for usage during those two years...

Instead of ME paying THEM, they will not only refund my maintenance fees from the previous 2 years, they will even deposit a $3000 cash bounty BACK into my bank account in exchange for me "selling" my 4 to 5 weeks of usage back to them during those 2 years.

Disclaimer: DO YOUR OWN DUE DILLIGENCE!

Now starting today, I have from 5 business days, or some say on here, 30 full days, to allow my LEGAL SHIELD Lawyer to review my signed paperwork FREE to me, as a part of my annual LEGAL SHIELD Membership benefits.

If what they SAID is not 100% TRUE, based on what is WRITTEN in the Contract, I have a choice to ignore it, and hope for the best, or put my American Express charge into a disputed against them, per both of their contract, and Mexican Law. (American Express dispute process & Vallarta Garden's Mexico Timeshare Law)

But, here are the hip-kickers, that really made me decide to JUST DO IT, without thinking about it for at least a few days FIRST....

1. I just retired at age 62 several months ago, from being an over-the-road, 125,000+ miles per year truck driver for the last 22 years! And I decided NOT to collect Social Security YET, so any extra income from this Mexican vacation property OWNERSHIP would be a PLUS, to me!

2. For the last few years, I have been dating a Mexican Citizen, who is also pretty much retired. We had already been PLANNING to live both in Mexico, and the US for parts of the year, and we had plans to travel a lot more in the places we liked all over Mexico. Eventually travelling all around the world, while we both were still "young" enough to enjoy it. So, their GUARANTEED lowest price Travel Concierge Service would also be another PLUS!

3. I had the DISCRETIONARY MONEY ON HAND, and that amount wouldn't at all compromise my long-term financial security, IF it didn't work out and I LOST 100% of it!

4. They PROMISED by "contract" that they would deposit money into a type of annuity fund that guarantees a steady yield, and it would be enough to COVER my investment cost over 10 years, IF I wanted to just sellout at the MINIMUM.

5. At any time, I could list my 4 or 5 weeks back with them, and they would just resell it to someone else, based 100% on REAL MARKET values at that time, just like selling a HOUSE!

6. I will get a DEED that will allow me to virtually instantly become a Legal Permanent Resident in Mexico, based on their property OWNERSHIP laws, without having to LIVE in the Mexico nonstop for a few years!

7. I can also immediately get a Mexico Bank account, based on that same law of Mexican property OWNERSHIP!

8. I can also use my weeks, similar to an AirBnB property, where I can "SELL" my own vacation time to anyone else, and at whatever price I want. Or I can just allow ANYONE I want to vacation there at no extra cost to them during my time.

9. They have 10 fully manned and stocked FISHING BOATS that are owned by the property, and the only thing you have to pay for when you used them is the GAS, which for me is at a fixed cost for the next 4 years.

10. All the 1+ bedroom Villas comes with everything you have at home, including a MODERN refrigerator, washer/dryer, and all appliances, but the one you OWN isn't LOCKED, meaning you can upgrade it to a more spacious Villa at anytime they are available, simply by paying an extra fee, and its extra maintenance cost for that year.

Now, this NEXT part they fully explained to me, and I kept asking them several questions about it to make sure I understood it.

But, its still really hard to believe.

In ADDITION to giving me that $3000 bounty for "selling" my 4 to 5 weeks back to them, and not using them myself, with a 4 weeks OWNERSHIP, they will also pay me $12,000 per year, so they are able to rent out my weeks to OTHER Villa sales prospects that year!

This part is a PROMOTION, that will last for only the next 10 years of my Ownership, while they are completing the NEXT construction phases of increasing NEW Villa capacity.

This benefit is designed to help Vallarta Gardens Promotions be 100% guaranteed to have inventory available for those who they invite to come down for one of their "5 Day/4 Nights, ALL-Inclusive Vacations". When during the Winter season I chose to OWN 4 weeks in, close to 1 MILLION people just willy nilly decide to pay the highest prices, just to be in one of the HORDES and HORDES of "vanilla" Puerta Vallarta area hotels.

In other words, having this inventory available, and not having it being used by an OWNER will help to guarantee they will have opportunities to SELL more and more of their increasing number of NEW Villas, on top of any relisted for SALE Villas, over the next 10 years!

I'm typing all of this from MEMORY, so I may have some of the details incorrect, or a few of the numbers incorrect, but that's the gist of what the presenters said, and what the paperwork I SIGNED, as a part of my Vallarta Gardens Fractional Ownership Contract!

Again, now I have at least 5 business days to let my LEGAL SHIELD Lawyer review these entire Contract that I already signed, as a part of my LEGAL SHIELD annual Attorney Retainer Membership!

Guys, we are all constantly being SOLD STUFF by professional sales people, all throughout the year, right? Particularly, HIGH-DOLLAR STUFF that can be, or has a history of being "shady", its always best to have a Lawyer on retainer that will look over the paperwork during the COOLING OFF PERIOD of the Contract!

Having a LAWYER on retainer all year long, only cost a FAMILY less than $1 per day.

In these days and times, its almost CRAZY not to keep a Lawyer on retainer for all of the many different LEGAL issues, just like this, that any individual Family Member may have at anytime all year long!

Curtis, I hope your attorney reviews your contract and finds all the details that your sales guys promised. You obviously have a good memory, so they will know what to look for. As they say, "If it sounds too good to be true....." Regarding the "deed" portion of your contract: Mexican law denies property ownership for foreigners anywhere within 60 kilometres (30 miles) of any Mexican coast. I may be mistaken, but you have a RTU contract. You might quiz your attorney on this subject. It does sound like you got the deal of the century. Beats driving a truck!

John, I kind of thought it was a great deal for ME, after just a few minutes of listening to their sales pitch, but mostly based on my OWN goals for coming there in my own car...HINT, HINT.

And yes, my presenter did say Non-Mexicans can own property in Mexico, but only within 50 miles of any ocean. I asked him about the border, and he said he wasn't sure about that. But, the CLOSER gave me those details, by saying its also within 100 miles of either international border. But, that part only came up from ME having a question, that I had already been researching about the possibility of becoming an AirBnb property owner in most of the hottest travelled parts of Mexico.

Thus, why we've been traveling so much...SCOUTING those places out for ourselves.

He mentioned Non-Mexicans must transfer their deed and title into a Mexican bank trust, with you being the principle trustee. That seems legit, because it seems to be just a like South Dakota TAX SHELTER FOR THE RICH, in that respect.

About being a truck driver, I actually still miss it at times.

Trucking was often a LONELY existence, but otherwise it was a great way to make an above average income on your own terms to keep you completely out of DEBT, without anyone telling you how much they will "pay you" for your time. NOW just since I quite, the pay is constantly growing through the roof, because there is a huge shortage of qualified drivers!

johni116 wrote:

Curtis, I hope your attorney reviews your contract and finds all the details that your sales guys promised. You obviously have a good memory, so they will know what to look for. As they say, "If it sounds too good to be true....." Regarding the "deed" portion of your contract: Mexican law denies property ownership for foreigners anywhere within 60 kilometres (30 miles) of any Mexican coast. I may be mistaken, but you have a RTU contract. You might quiz your attorney on this subject. It does sound like you got the deal of the century. Beats driving a truck!

curtise28 wrote:

Ok Guys, I bought into a 4 to 5 weeks Vallarta Gardens Villa Partial Ownership, just TODAY!

If you bought it TODAY, you're fortunate. Under Mexican law, you have five days to rescind your purchase. You do not need Legal Shield (or any other legal firm or representation). You do not need Profeco. You do not need any of these cancel/exit/relief firms. Just follow the instructions given to you in your "owner's" package on how to rescind your purchase. Follow the instructions very carefully and closely including where to send the letter and what to write.

You do not need to provide any reasons. It does not matter what the sales people said to you during the presentation whether they lied or were truthful. Just write up a simple letter stating that you are exercising your legal right to rescind the purchase.