Anonymous
map-marker Leon, Guanajuato

Insulting telephone exchange two days ago

from Dr. David Stea, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, resident in Mexico for 30 years

I have been a member of Villa del Palmar, Puerto Vallarta, for almost two decades, with very mixed experiences.

Two days ago I was involved in a telephone exchanger with ado UVC representative in Las Vegas that was, quite frankly, insulting. I will not give the person´s name, which I do have, because my evaluation is directed to the staff as a whole. If the person with whom I spoke is representative of your Las Vegas office, your staff needs much more coaching in customer relations.

On the basis of this experience I can never recommend UVC fo anyone at all concerned with personal relations.

In Mexico, politeness is positively valued. You need to know this.

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User's recommendation: do not deal with UVC

1 comment
Guest

They need to throw this in the trash. You did not explain what happened.

Manolo G Syx
map-marker Bahía De Banderas, Nayarit

LIARS AND THIEVES

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They are liars, they lie about everything, they hook you, they steal your money. They lie about the properties, the time, the weeks, the places. Everything is a fraud. Don't buy with them. They don't show their faces, they lie and steal.
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Loss:
$17
Pros:
  • Any
Cons:
  • Its a scam

Preferred solution: Full refund

User's recommendation: DONT BUY VACATION TIMESHARE

ARYAN Y Wju

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

ACCOUNT NOT OPENNING

WHEN I AM GOING TO LOGIN MY ACCOUNT HE IS SHOWING PASSWORD ERROR . THEN I FORGET MY PASSWORD THEN TILL SEEING PASSWORD ERROR
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Preferred solution: ACCOUNT NOT OPENNING

Anonymous
map-marker Lakewood Township, New Jersey

Bait and switch or bait and do not deliver

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This company is a SCAM! The workers either lie to you, give you the run around or ignore you completely! DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING FROM THIS COMPANY phone number 888-490-**** website www.universalvacationresorts.com
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Anonymous

Stay away

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Paid the 500 prepaid for 4 nights in a hotel in exchange for sitting through a 60 minute timeshare presentation. No return calls or emails to book the trip. Lesson learned. Stay away.
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Shona C Vyf
map-marker Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco

Buyer Beware

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There are no deals for members once they have your money except for free wifi! No deals on all inclusive packages, have to pay the daily Resort fee, had to go to a so called members meeting where all they do is try to up sell you, transportation costs from airport are ridiculous compared to local cabs, was told at Members Meeting our original salesman was a liar. He had told us we could shorten our contact by buying off the end however told this was untrue BUT for another ten thousand we could buy that option? When purchased we were told members received free transportation to & from Resort -NOT! We were told we could upgrade however, Villa del Palmar in PV told another couple they could upgrade for a charge of 90 dollars per night! Anyone we met that is not a member had oceanview and were upgraded! It is cheaper to buy an all inclusive vacation on line including air than it is to belong! All we did was donate money to the developers! Completely disgusted and disappointed!
View full review
Loss:
$10000
Reason of review:
Not as described/ advertised

Preferred solution: Better rates for members!

Anonymous
map-marker Johns Creek, Georgia

SCAM!

This is a total scam. Do not fall for it! Don't buy their trips/points/timeshares/whatever they want to call it! There are annual fees that they tell you you won't have to pay if you forfeit that year's points/timeshare. This is not true. You pay a massive upfront lump sum and also have to pay annual fees, on top of resort fees, on top of other fees! It is so complicated and there is no way of refunding! I regret making this purchase and feel as if we were lied to in order to buy it. The whole thing is shady, convoluted and confusing. Just do yourself a favour and book a trip through Expedia or Travelocity.
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Raymond S Pcz
map-marker San Diego, California

Disabled customers not wanted

We are members with a 2-bedroom unit at Villa del Arco in Cabo and have been part of UVC for 18 years. My wife developed multiple sclerosis and we absolutely need a handicapped accessible room. We booked several months in advance and requested a handicapped room. With every contact with the resort leading up to our trip, we emphasized this necessity. We initiated email contact with the concierge at the resort in advance to ensure this. Sure enough, after traveling nearly 3,000 miles to the resort, we were informed that no handicapped room was available. The first night was a nightmare and it left my wife in tears. Finally, the second day they came up with a one-bedroom accommodation that was accessible. But the entire time they maintained that they could not guarantee an accessible room for anyone. We tried to reserve for 2019 but were told again that a handicapped room could not be guaranteed. I subsequently traded emails with someone at UVC, who said he was sorry for our inconvenience. But the upshot is that Mexico doesn't have an ADA, they are not required by law to honor a request for an accessible room, and they were not going to change their policy. He noted that we had previously traded some time through RCI and his recommendation was we should use our membership to trade for somewhere else. My advice: If you are disabled, or if you think there is the slightest chance you could become disabled in the next 30 years, never ever become a member.
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Pros:
  • Lovely resort met many nice people who work there
Cons:
  • Refusal to guarantee a handicapped accessible room
Reason of review:
Poor customer service

Preferred solution: Full refund

Emily A Lad
map-marker San Diego, California

Deposited week to Interval International

I requested 1 week to be transferred in April 2018 when my account was current. They apparently had a clitch and didn’t do it. Now I’m pass due and they won’t transfer the week After speaking to them over and over no one is helping me to transfer my week.
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Reason of review:
Order processing issue
Anonymous
map-marker San Diego, California

No concern for the customer

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I have been a timeshare owner at Villa Del Palmar for many years. I made a reservation at Villa Del Palmar Cancun with my 2 bedroom timeshare about 2 to 3 months ago. I made a change to the reservation 2-3 weeks ago and was given my confirmation. Fast forward to this week--I received an e-mail telling me my reservation was changed to a 1 bedroom without my consent due to a mistake on the part of the reservation staff of the Vacation Club. They want to give me a studio I could use sometime in the next few years, which I have no use for. I recently went to Villa del Arco in Cabo with my timeshare on the all inclusive plan and was nickeled and dimed to death so I have no desire to go again. You are charged extra for just about everything and you are charged a mandatory tip fee. I am a very good tipper but no not agree with this being mandatory. I would not be taking this trip to this resort if but it was picked by my traveling companions as a graduation present. I told the Club I do not want the studio I just want to be compensated the difference between the maintenance fees of a 2 bedroom and a 1 bedroom. They will not do this--why I have no idea! I had another couple I was working with to take the other bedroom. It is a good thing I had not finalized that arrangement. These people will tell you anything to get you to buy or upgrade but do not stand by their customers. All they care about is money!
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Reason of review:
Not as described/ advertised

Preferred solution: Price reduction

2 comments
Guest

Specificity would have been great! What do you own: Elite Residence Club; Villa Preferred Access; VPA Club; Gold; or Loreto?

I assume you do not own a Cancun membership. Where do you own? Cancun is a newer resort, and you do not automatically have exchange rights, if you own at Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, or Nuevo Vallarta.

People who own in these resorts, often can exchange into Cancun with lesser accommodations.

You say you have been nickeled and dimed, yet you don't provide any supportive statement. Do you mean you are responsible for resort fees and taxes?

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1427177

How about ten dollars per device per day for wifi? Ridiculous when you consider that Starbucks will let you use theirs for free even if you buy nothing.

How about an "all inclusive menu" that makes you pay extra for Lobster, in Mexico, when they are cheaper per pound than roast beef? How about making you sign a slip for every damn bit of food or sip of a beverage you order and then adding on tips for themselves when you aren't looking?

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Anonymous

Me to!

Have you considered a class action law suite since there are number of dissatisfied customers? Is anyone an attorney or married to an attorney or have a good friend who is an attorney? Need 100 words. Misrepresentation Fraud Disingenious Poor customer service Difficult to reach agreement Very friendly sounding customer service personnel Nothing is done in writing for documentation Customer service personnel promised to get back but never do Told me hotel did a soft credit check and I didn't meet requirements Requested copy of email No copy provided Told that I was not qualified to participate in the program because of my age Nothing documented Reservation at resort cancilled Everything verbal over the phone Attorney at Law Attorney General State Attorney General Better Business Bureau Has anyone checked to see if this outfit has a licence to do business in Florida What organization in Florida issues licenses to do business Do they accept complaints about businesses? Surely that is 100 words! Has anyone called an attorney?
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Reason of review:
Poor customer service
1 comment
Guest

You don’t need just any attorney. To be successful you need an attorney: (1) licensed to practice in Baja California Sur, NayariT, Jalisco, or Quintana Roo; (3) experience practicing before PROFECO; (4) knowledge of timeshare laws; and (5) expertise in class action.

Eathel Viy
map-marker New York, New York

Zero customer service. They just want your money up front

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I made the foolish mistake of joining them. When I emailed them to get answers to simple questions, they claimed not to be able to find my account. They kept asking for more information, which I provided and still claim not to be able to locate an account. They refuse to provide me with answers to my questions about how to use my banked points and the status of my account. It takes two days for each "response" which is always a variation of "We can't find your account" or "You can check our website" none of which answer my concerns. It's clear that once that you have signed up, they don't care about you.
View full review
Loss:
$2000
Reason of review:
Poor customer service

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

Anonymous

What a joke

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I find it very disappointing that as a member of UVC for several years, we are unable to book a trip to this hotel and are being told that there is no availability; however, if I go on the Villa Del Palmar website, there is total availability that week. Customer service told me that there is a limited number of rooms for members....wait? What??? I asked what the advantage to being a member was and she told me that we could book 24 months in advance......so? Thanks for nothing, UVC. Nothing but a scam. Over the years, there has been nothing but problems with this group...hard sells, pushing for upgrades, etc. Disappointing to say the least.
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Reason of review:
Poor customer service
1 comment
Guest

Think of "Villa del Palmar (VDP)" and "Universal Vacation Club (UVC)" as two separate entities. UVC Club is the sum total of memberships sold by VDP's sales team.

When you purchase a timeshare from VDP, typically you receive bonus weeks, redeemable during a specific period (based upon availability). VDP's web-page provides inventory still owned by VDP. As a UVC member you do not automatically have a right to claim VDP weeks.

VDP rents units (like a hotel rents rooms), to provide revenue to continue their sales program. AS VDP sells timeshare memberships UVC's inventory increases and VDP's inventory decreases.

Anonymous

Annual Point Rollover Program

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Beware, if you don't call and tell UVC you want your points rolled over they will charge you $200 "for not making a phone call"?! No reminder email, no reminder phone call.....

just $200 for a phone call that their CUSTOMER must make. When you pay for the timeshare they tell you the points accumulate for 5 years, very nice. Just stay current and pay your maintenance fees and your set. Unless you don't call them an rollover your points?

Why Sorry, this is not a reasonable process and will drive customers away. I can only image what the BBB would say to this type of process.

View full review
Loss:
$200
Cons:
  • Unreasonable points rollover process
Reason of review:
Rollover Points Process

Preferred solution: Allow a one time mistake and eliminate the payment.

1 comment
Guest

I got a phone call yesterday telling me I had won a holiday through Universal Vacations but they wanted $250 pp before I could claim my prize. I just thought it was a scam as it is happening so much so could anyone tell me if this sounds right and legitimate. I would appreciate any input.

Anonymous

Backed off on Offer

While on Vacation At Secrets in Punta Cana I attended a UVC presentation. It gave me a 2 Night 3 Day free Vacation. When I called I asked to extend my vacation package to more nights. They said I needed $199 dollars plus $20 dollars. Indicated to them I first wanted to know the cost for a 6 night/7 day stay at a specified resort. Was transferred to another person. This person (John) ended up offering me a 7 night/8 day stay for $1568.00. I asked if it included the $199 dollar activation fee. He said yes and transferred me to Esteban for payment. Esteban stated that the 6 night/ 7 day stay would be $1568. I the said no, that John said it was to be 7 night/8 day package. Estaban then called John to ensure it was 7 night/ 8 day package. Esteban got back and concurred that the agreed package was 7 night/ 8 day package. Esteban then took my deposit. The next day I noticed that the change was not on the credit card. I called Esteban and 5 days later was told they decided not honor their agreement.
View full review
Cons:
  • Vcr not honoring their agreement
Reason of review:
Problems with payment
Anonymous
map-marker Burbank, California

HUGE LIES, DONT BUY HERE

This group has just gone down hill. you cannot ever get your week and always have to stay at substandard older locations. Then when u arrive and go to say Arco it is empty and or only people who are NON owners are occupying the premises. They NEVER give u an upgrade even though they said during sale they will ALWAYS HONOR, most especially if you upgrade membership. TOTAL LIES, trapped in a foreign country with a bunch of liars not my idea of a good time. AVOID AVOID. I have tried to book and go online and can book all day long for less as a non owner....SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM
View full review
Loss:
$25000
Cons:
  • Most everything
Reason of review:
Problem with delivery

Preferred solution: Full refund

3 comments
Guest

Your complaint provides insufficient information. Did you request to occupy your home resort 11 months before the first date of occupancy?

If you waited until 4-6 weeks before occupancy, it is understandable that no units were available. You purchased a timeshare membership. You did not purchase, and you were not guaranteed access to the entire resort. Developers: (1) place sufficient units into the timeshare pool of units to cover all sales; (2) reserve some units for promotional sales; (3) enter into contracts with on-line travel agencies (Expedia, Apple Vacations, Travelocity, Hotels.com, etc.; and (4) conduct direct sales.

As a timeshare owner, you do not have a right to the promotional sales, travel agency contracted rates, or occupancy of the direct sales units. You ARE in competition with all other timeshare owners requesting the same week. The earlier you make your request, the more likely it can be confirmed. Always ask to be placed on a waiting list.

More units may become available 30 to 60 days before travel.

Timeshare exchange companies are dependent upon BOTH developers and members for inventory.

At the beginning of the year each participating developer provides a specified quantity of units for availability of the exchange company members. The exchange company is dependent upon those developer provided units and the units you (the members) deposit for exchanges.

Guest

Same thing happens if you try and exchange your week with Interval, another big scam they *** you into paying for, only off season resorts available, nothing during good times to go.

Guest

scary--- won't consider the villa group as a holiday option

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