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I got an e-mail from a woman who was successful in getting her contract cancelled and all money back. Royal Holiday is now calling her and pressuring her to quit the Yahoo Royal Holiday complaints group, and not helping others with problems. I have her permission to repost her SqueakyWheel site here since she is going to have to remove it. Squeaky Wheel's policy is that resolved complaints are removed.
Update May 24,2007: Letters cancelling contract received, they are going to call me to have me discontinue my telling others about the problems. I am interested in hearing what they need to say to me. Since they are continuing to contact me I do not feel this is completely resolved. Only when they are finished calling me will I consider this resolved. I want them to leave me alone.
They also did respond to the BBB of Southeast Florida, whom I complained to.
Update April 29,2007: I have heard from BookIt.com and am satisfied I was wrong in blaming them for any part of the scam. I received a letter from our California State Attorney General's office stating they are keeping a file of complaints, and if it warrants when enough complaints show a pattern of abuse they could take action.
Also, Royal Holiday has reversed both charges for the down payment and the balance to my MasterCard account. The total was over $27,000.00
My Experience:
While at the Park Royal in Cozumel 0n April 04, 2007, Fernando De Leeuw, the project manager, promised that we could get 100% of our money back. This was in a form of a certificate that I have found is worthless. People who have sent them in have never heard from the annuity company. He promised us all the services that other members have not gotten too. I have seen accounts of people who never were reimbursed for the air fair coupons they were given, why would they treat me any differently? Where I really took the bait was when the legal representative, Helene Lacouture, got us to put the full amount on my credit card by offering a discount. They led us down the garden path, and when I did research on them for complaints I knew I would have to fight to get my money back. They could offer us anything, it is now apparent they had no intention of delivering any services. Even though they had the no reconsideration period clause in the contract, I believed we had the guarantee of the money back. Now I know that Mexican law gives five days. Sellers do not tell buyers they have that time. When I called Royal Holiday they told me I could still cancel by sending an e-mail to an address that rejected it because it's mailbox was full. The people I talked to on the phone told me I could cancel, but no one would answer the numbers they gave me. I calculated the worth of the points by dividing the contract amount by thirty adding it to the anual dues (which can go up) and figured out the worth of the points. Then I went to a resort, took the number of points, divided it the value of the points and compared the two amounts and found it cost $301.00 more to use the program than to rent the condo for a week. Some bargain. I have been trying to get them to respond to me and reverse the charge on my credit card and they ignore me. I would hope that someone with authority would just do the right thing and put the money back in my account. I filed a fraud case with MasterCard demonstrating a pattern of misrepresentation with the accounts posted on different Internet sites. I found out more by researching a lot of sites. I believe the thing that helped me the most was reacting fast. If you are becoming aware you too are a victim of this fraud, use the support of others though the Internet. I was strengthened knowing I was not alone, others had gotten results, and others were being warned not to fall for this.
The most helpful group is a yahoo group: [protected]@yahoogroups.com
If you have access to any bulk mailing lists send links to these sites out and warn Americans about these Mexican scams. Also, go here to write the Mexican Administration for Tourism: http://www.sectur.gob.mx/wb2/secturing/sect_8509_mailbox
As you can see, if you are persistent, you too can get all money returned and out of the contract. Do what she did, and you too will have good luck. Mexico does not have class action suits, and since these agreements were signed in Mexico, you can not file a class action suit. What you can do, is use the power of the Internet, be heard, share your story, and as others join in we are more powerful than a class action suit. People who put things like this on the Internet are pressuring Royal Holiday. They are going to have to change their ways or go out of business because we are speaking out.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
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My husband & I have also been lied to - we bought only a trial membership but are not able to book the holiday places we were told we could. How do we begin to get our money back? I don't know where to start. If you have any suggestions for us please let us know.
my wife and me have the same problem. We cancelled the membership the next day we signed the contractin Cancun-Mexico, but we could not get ou money back. We are calling royal holiday almost every day but nobody is helping us.
we are thinking to sue Royal hollidays if we don't get our money back.
We are fighting the same thing. It is over six weeks since we tried to cancel our contract.
My husband and I got a membership at Royal Holiday Club. At first we weren´t happy because we only had 5, 000 points and it
wasn´t enough to stay where we wanted. Then we added 5, 000 points and from then on we have really enjoyed vacationing with our family. We have stayed in different hotel in Puerto Rico and Orlando. The only time we didn´t find a reservation was for
Canada and we really didn´t book with enough time.
Royal Holiday gives us the opportunity to go to different hotels each year and depending the hotel we even have space or points to
invite other famiily members.
If you are interested just be sure to ask all the necessary questions. I don´t believe buying it outside US territory is a good idea, but otherwise I think it´s much better than other companies were you have to pay to be able to stay at a different place each year and
even pay fees to other companies. The option for cruises needs to be improved, too. If you want a membership you can enjoy be sure they have places to stay near your home so you can get there without taking a plane (We don´t always have the money
to travel far).
We´ve had years of nice vacationing and the service has been good.
Make your own judgements once you have all the information and evaluate your situation. Otherwise you could be missing out.
this company has been arond for many years helping families with enjotable vacations. why is it only a hand full of complaints. you just can't please every one. I can asure you that at least 99% of ROYAL HOLIDAY CLUB customers are very very happy.
If they are so good and feel the complains people post are not fair to royal. Then why not just follow the rules and let people out when they want to instead of harassing you and use treating tactics about ruining your credit and sending you to collection even take legal action againsts those how want to cancel. I purchase a membership with them and upgrade two years later. iI have only used the hotel one time and can no longer afford it. I just want to give it back and even knowing I already paid them $18, 000 I know I will not get this money back. But they are not satisfied they want more and more. Again of they are so good why not just take it back and resale it instead of threatening people . Can you answer that.
They keep increasing the membership fee! and did not roll over points as promised - scammers
This company has the worst customer service ever. I have set my payments to be automatically taken from CC. I have only been paying since March 2010 and they have missed 2 payments. How the F can this happen if I am set up for auto pay? They can not figure out why this has happened. The customer service people are very rude and not very helpful. My designated person is never there and he never calls back. Every time I call they say he is on Lunch! But that person will be happy to help, but yet they cant and say he will call me back. I have 3 phone numbers all with call display and voice mail. When I do get a hold of him he says he has been trying to reach me on all my numbers. I really wish I had seen this page before I got suckered into this scam. I was told a bunch of lies and i am not happy. I cant wait to go back to Dominican and see these [censor]s that sold me this...
I have been trying to book a resort on the website but everything is unavailable. I want to cancle my membership. The royal hoilday is a scam.
ALL AROUND THE WORLD GOVERNMENT SHOULD INVESTIGATE ASAP THIS ROYAL HOLIDAY CRAP SCAMS! LAW SUIT, LAW SUIT SHUT THIS [censor]ED UP [censor] DOWN FOREVER AND EVER!
How many of you have really got money back and got the contract cancelled?
we've also spent over $30, 000 and have been nothing but lied to. and for three years now, we get to pay $1000. annual member fees. this is definitely a scam, the question is how do we get out of it?
Id compare RHC to pyramidic scheme because... so similar... because the ones started this system might have disappeared as well... or they are just anonymous on the 'bottom' to gain the most The first ones (on the bottom) gains the most... and we, the members lose the most... the top of pyramid.
... and this is how I see it... for me it looks like theres only members of RHC existing for real any more meaning theres of course other 'shareholders of RHC' as well, but for how long? Investpeople come and go. This whole thing is based on taking money out of our pockets... all these tricks used in this... So called invest people come and go... start new businesses..
but what I really think of the system is that we the members of RHC are the real owners of RHC... and finallly the only ones because I dont think theres any other.. for real... or propably financial institution sort of... at least they gain their profits... but... And thats why we dont get any tools because the secret would be discovered.
The way I see it!
And if theres gonna be a lawsuit.. who to sue? For real? RHC? But who is it? US?
And we all know how f.e. fractals work...
But is it a real business when the real owners have absolutely no rights in their own business?
The way I see it.
If there was people in charge... not just hired employees... we would know about them. But f.e. for me theres absolutely none.
One more thing... and because the employees dont give at least for me any tools... only took my money... as a matter of fact I see it stealing from the owners pocket... made by hired employees (?)... or financial institution (as outsider). But how many employees f.e. would do that... in a real business life? We call it in a certain name.. that kind of act.
Its a partnership between employees and the owners, should be at least. And because the financial group told me to be only a payment collector in this RHC case... they cant be the owners...
...or they lied :).
Following Royal Holiday Press Release I found in net. Theres these old news to be found... And Im sure if Im not allowed to copy it here someone removes it in that case from the website. For now its a big fat lie in Europe - RHC. Theres no members in Europe--- just few (two of us with no real service?)...
Nothing to add... or taken off...
? All these news are a scam to me as well. Just a lie. And its my truth... my point of view.
The news:
Royal Holiday takes over Europe.
June 08, 2008
Royal Holiday
www.royal-holiday-pressroom.com
pressroom@royal-holiday.com
Royal Holiday's has reinforced its European operations in response to the remarkable expansion the company has had in this market in recent years, opening direct lines of communication with its European members.
This has resulted in important benefits for Royal Holiday’s European members, since a large number of well trained vacation advisors are helping these members to plan and make the vacation of their dreams come true. Since the Club is taking over all the operations in Europe, the office is empowered to deal with each and every aspect of the membership: from making payments to planning a cruise, from checking for availability to booking an airplane ticket, from rolling over the unused holiday points to finding the ideal resorts to fit the member's wishes, this Service Center helps members make the best out of their Royal Holiday membership. By dealing with its members directly, Royal Holiday is closer to them, providing a more straightforward and personalized service.
Before servicing its members directly, Royal Holiday used to work through the valuable assistance of Nexus Leisure, a company that worked alongside Royal Holiday for many years and always provided a professional and efficient service. Royal Holiday wishes to thank Nexus for their support all these years, which was vital for the development of the company’s European business.
Royal Holiday is certain that this is only the beginning of a major expansion in Europe and another step in its commitment to provide world-class service to all of its members worldwide.
Royal Holiday
Vacations for Life
The previous message: ... Nexus leisure... worked alongside Royal Holiday...
And by googling in net you can find that Nexus is a division of GLL (Greenwitch Leisure ltd.). Always another company involved...
RHC took 14.000, 00 from my pockets for free. They can take it.. because what they are. Doesnt matter if its a crime or not... dont you guys get it? Its a game.
Sorry about that GLL... wasnt quite correct this time. Just made a mistake. And the previous thread was meant to totally different place as a respond to another complaint---
But its a game ---- I hope you guys notice those tricks used in this. If no one can do nothing to get justice in this must be 'mafia' behind :). That'd explain to me their behaviour ----
But to even say loud these--- no one shouldnt be doing it. Or ofcourse these tricks can also be copied f.e. from mafia 'they' seem to use in this... high interest rates... just forcing people.. to pay... methods 'they' used to got you into this... you just start to see the picture.
And because they do nothing in my case - isnt that obvious that its nothing but a scam anyway to all of us? Its not just about 'RHC' .
How many of you---americans/canadians just gave up in this battle and let them took your money for free? And how many of you this is working (a membership)? How many of you this is a real business scenario? And how many of you this is nothing but a total... whatsoever?
But if its a scam to you guys also we know by now what party is behind. And I believe its possible to make a class action against 'RHC' because its not actually what its suppose to be. We can make a class action against IFG. They fool people globally in this.
We went on a vacation to the Bahamas June 2012 and was convinced to talk to someone about "vacation timeshare." We purchased a small package after about 4 hours of discussion on how we could go anywhere in the world from a safari in Africa to an amazing stay in Australia. In addition we where given (2) 30, 000 bonus credits just for signing up that could be used over 3 years. We where shown a book that had several places of interest however when we got home and received our book it was half as thick as the one we where shown as well as half of the hotels that we where shown during the presentation the where not in the book. On Friday Feb 08, 2013 we called to set up a cruise to take for our honeymoon. We wanted to use the bonus credits and was told that we would have to pay an activation fee of $1300 per 30, 000 in order for us to use them. It states in our contract that after dues are paid these credits could be used, which from our understanding that meant our $450 annual fees. When asked to speak to a supervisor we where told that she was in the hospital and there was not another manager on duty and she would have to call me back the following day. Which we have not heard from. We have been given 7500 credit to use per year which doesn't come close to getting a full week stay at any of the location that are listed on their website. I have tried to cancel but haven't been successful. My attorney is drafting a letter to send on our behalf but I can't find a corporate address for them. If any one can help me with that I would be grateful. My email address is are2301@aol.com. Thank you in advance. I hope my story help other who maybe considering signing a contract with Royal Holiday.
Information: AnaCap acquired IFG Int. which uses name First Names Group nowadays and RHC is one of their companies. I dont know how many 'branches' they have been creating out of IFG int though (?) by now. But at least First Names Group is former IFG Int. which is a parent of FNTC= First National Trustee Company as well. FNTC (at least) circulates the holiday club business among the other business.. it says in FNTC's website that FNTC is a market leader in designing flexiblelegal structures for the shared ownership industry. And..manages over £2.5 bn worth property assets... among the other things. But my truth is more complicated, because it says that FNTC/FNG ownes f.e. many holiday clubs itself, people working inside the company at least own, and thats the truth. And only that 'little detail' makes it in my eyes illegal business all together. Its about a hiding business and because of the high protection of the trustees they can continue their rip off -businesses and keep collecting our money for not getting cought. All looks normal legal. letigimate business outside, doenst it. I bet no americans had no clue before. Well made websites with 'no connection' information.
Propably its all about fractals as well, and that also makes sense.. f.e. what RHC is in Mexico. Its been split business... branches branches branches... but how legal is that? Or is IFG/First Names Group the owner of entire business (without splitting...) Complicated? And we were suppose to know nothing about nothing... what they do. They tried to hide it all so badly from me for instance and thats only unbelievable. I never faced business even near this before. I didnt know such businesses even exist, and how come it can ever be even near legal. Ignoring ignoring... at least what they did in my case. Nothing but ignoring, and thats sad.. but theres always existing information somewhere.
And First NAmes Group's website tells how important the customer is... I use other words that the website, but the main thing is the customer :) as they have showed me by all the illegacies :), unbelivable. Even when they are equal to RHC they count RHC obviously as a customer and Im nothing, nobody. Just a girl whose money they needed in their business I guess. Money for free because they forced me to give it to them for free by the way they all acted... keep acting.. - theres obviously no tools to try to get justice in this... there would be if I was english f.e., but as a finnish girl, no same tools here, and still IFG did nothing but ignoring (?). Odd, is it? Only court -possibility for me even if it was a police matter anyway, so what can I do except accept my destiny? I cant fight Isle of Man by myself, I know that by now. I see it corrupted, and besides my english skills are not too good :). They have tools to be safe Im sure of that, and who would believe me anyway... Court doesnt mean justice to me, in some countries might, but in some doenst... And if nobody investigates them because theres boarders between countries... hard to get tools to investigate... well.. and if theres only me or just few of us in entire Europe who this happened like this. What can I... we do?
I hope this all works better to you guy. But doenst change tha fact what its all about, a fraud. False information... lies... etc.. just lies everywhere, what else could it be anyway?
It seems like this is a very common problem in Mexico. My wife & i bought into a Royal Elite Timeshare in Playa del Carmen. We stayed in sandos caracol resort & signed contract for royal elite. we've found out in the last few months that availiablity of resorts that we require are very limited (sales person shown us extensive range of hotels). flight deals are no better than booking myself. we enquired to stay lanzarote sandos dec 2012 the ai rate is in total $1900 for the week. i feel that this is going to be costly in the long run, not the ideal deal that was sold to us. This is a forum with more complaints about this company:
http://www.timesharescam.com/timeshare-complaints-resorts-black-list/6-royal-elite-sandos-timeshare-complaints/
I'm in the process of calling the BBB and PROFECO and seeing what they can do. Possibly the attorney General also!
I hope someone would answer me in this. Just one question: does RHC exist in Mexico?
Me and my husband were on honeymoon last month when we were tricked by giving us a lot of alcohol into signing this contract. We were not in the right frame of mind to be signing the contract. I was so sure that I didn't want to make the deal and even said I won't be signing anything until I had done my research however the guy was talking for three hours upto the point at which he offered me a drink and I made the biggest mistake of taking it. It didn't feel like a strong drink but I can assure you I could not think straight after having it. My husband also had a few beers. We told them we couldn't afford it being newly married we have yet to be settled and this wasn't the right time for us to get into such a huge commitment and payment. Yet they were successful in their sales and we ended up paying a huge sum of deposit. I still think how the hell were we so stupid! So disappointed in ourselves but feel we have been used terribly and taken advantage of.
The very same day we went back to the office in Punta cana bavaro princess where this took place but they were shut. We went back the next day to speak to them and they said payment was taken and contract can not be cancelled now. We were so upset it ruined our entire honeymoon! We emailed every email we could find for royal holiday to officialy cancel the contract straight away but nothing's been done so far apart from them offering more deals to convince us that they're helping us. However we just want out we can not afford this! Can someone please let us know a way to get out of it! We are looking into cancelling the credit card but does any one know what the consequences of that would be? Any help will be greatly appreciate!
+[protected]
Thank you
BV
I apologize my earlier comments written with so lousy English, but it doesn't change the fact that what happened to me is a proof of very nasty illegal business. Over 14.000, 00 was stolen by rhc/fntc, and only thing I got in return was one lunch in Bahamas 2009... It's criminal.. And I know fntc's etc guys business in Isle of Man is not legal if they are capable doing anything near this my case proves.
I compared rhc business to mafia in some of my earlier threads. Maybe IFG is that mafia?
I wouldn't complain about IFG if they didn't lie to me, banned me and kept my money. It's money laundry. That's why these writings are what they are.. And what I mean by IFG is also FNTC and FNG(First Names Group) Isle of Man...
In this business seems to be only agents.. Always another agents, never the company of RHC even when irs located as registered company in FNTC/FNG (IFG) address in Isle of Man.. Also Switzerland with the head of FNG guy there too.
I just hate what this business is all about and also I hate to understand that no matter what they do we can't fight back. That's why this business should be put down generally...
One more to go :). Im aware American members have no idea what Im complaining and talking about here, and again sorry about my English. But RHC is something else than Mexicans, thats why I dont understand these class action talks etc. You guys are really lucky over there if you really get any justice in this for real. I doubt anyone got money back for real, maybe just pennies compared what they already paid to 'rhc', but for what price?
Id take many of my previous messages back and try to write in different way, but this also have helped me to improve my English a little bit, and unfortunatelly cant edit those messages afterwards. But I hope people read between lines and understand what this business is about when its always about companies dont even exist for real to us.. just agents after agents.. companies come and go.
Bv15: Are you British? Because if you are, Im very happy to find other Europeans who they scammed. And if so Im also amazed to be honest because I really thought Im the only one European they scammed like this. RHC is registered business there..
Sari, if you click on her name you can see she is from England. But she was not scammed, she simply had a change of mind. She used the alcohol as an excuse to try and get her contract ended. Let's say she really had a few too many, this is not the club's fault but her own, and if her husband and her drink too much that they cannot think straight they need to take AA classes or whatever program is offered in England to stop her drinking problem.
I dont understand the point youre saying 'say it as it is'. If she too many drinks in that pitch it wasn't her fault.. And besides I don't believe they were allowed to sell those memberships to us as Europeans. That's why the representatives abused a drinking lady the same as they abused my lack of English as European.. Etc.. Etc.. It was a scamming tool.
Sari you must be four years old. You don't understand the point, anyone over the age of four would understand the point. If her drinking is what made her sign the contract she obviously has a drinking problem.
I think a lot of the people that post on this site have low IQ, Sari seems to be one of them, and bv15 is another. Low IQ and alcohol do not mix. Yeah they have a right to sell a share to anyone Sari.
Well you got one think right. Not very smart people fall into scams luke RHC, so i admit.. But admit also my lousy English.. But I do recognize also scams in these comments 😊. Well, KR... 😃 you guessed all wrong, I'm not that old 😃
And for those who read these and are scammed the same way by rhc, I hope my threads also help a little bit.
Well if you don't want me to guess wrong about your age, perhaps you should stop acting like you are four year old?
I'm sorry if I didn't do any good to this original posting.. A person started this tread. Just wanted to open up peoples' eyes of something I guess. Maybe no one took my writings seriously, but at least tried to make a point with my terrible English. I hope I have improved it since many of these comments I made.
For me this all means totally different scam as it does to you guys in States. Europe-America means a real scam to me in this. Europeans and Americans use all those tax havens to run rhc. What Europeans do is unlawful in Europe. And what Americans do is unlawful in States. That's why rhc is existing only in tax havens! I'd totally free Mexicans from charge. It's Americans and Europeans run business in many of those Caribbean countries!
We will gladly give our royal holiday away
Even sell for $1.00.
Any takers?
I bought a timeshare with Royal Holiday and they lied to me at everything, every time I check for travel dates are not available and it's cheaper to booked flight and hotel with Expedia. The service is really bad, I asked to speak to the manager and was told that I cannot talk to her and that I cannot cancel my membership.
Its been a nightmare for me! I was doing a research on internet about this fraudulent resort and how to get out of this fraud, i found this information and i want to share it with you, i hope it helps someone:
http://www.timesharescam.com/blog/189-how-to-cancel-a-royal-holiday-timeshare-membership/