Contract Number: 444503

My husband and I were scammed by Royal Holiday while on vacation in the Dominican Republic in 2006. We were deceived and pressured into purchasing this timeshare in the Dominican Republic, and bought the silver points package of 20, 000 credits. We must have been there for at least three hours or more with these devious salesmen who make a living out of ripping people off. We were going back forth about not being interested and how we just wanted to enjoy our vacation, but they mislead us into believing that if we joined we would get discounted airfare tickets (70%). We thought it was awesome, discounted airfare, unlimited reservations at the Bavaro Princess and Ocean Blue Hotel plus an added bonus certificate to be used within 2 years as an incentive. We purchased based on the fact that the annual payment was not a maintenance fee, but a fee that was paid for a travel agency with RH that gave us discounted airfare tickets. When we came back to the USA we realized we had been conned, so we tried canceling but it was too late.

We've made numerous attempts to get out of this sleazy company with misleading business practices, but unfortunately we have been able to get out. We would like our money back or at least part of it.
We filed a complaint with the BBB and this caught RH attention so they contacted us, and asked us that if we agreed to remove the complaint they would pay us 1, 000. We took the 1, 000 to pay for the annual fee of $795.00 last year 2009 . The annual fee started at $495 and we were told that this would never go up. We've called RH numerous times but since we didn't remove the complaint with the BBB they refuse to speak with us and transfer us to the legal department which are so rude and even hang on us. At this time we want NOTHING to do with ROYAL HOLIDAY CLUB we want to leave this nightmare behind us. We proceeded to file a complaint with the FTC Federal Trade Commission and we are still waiting. This company is sleazy and underhanded, and we would happily join a class action suit. I have invested many thousands of dollars, we are extremely disgusted.

we when santo domingo for vacation an they told us we can go there many times they we wants with some payments an we can take vacation all the times we whent first years them the second years the room are more expence an final never reserve with then

In October 2006 I and my husband went to Dominican Republic for selebration our 21 Aniversary. There we were "caught" by royal-holiday sellers who offered us "perfect" deal we canot refuse it. They promissed that they give as apportunuty to buy vacation packages directly from the Head of Travel Tourizm Industry who sells to Apple Vacation company and Master Travel company. The whole prize for 30 years vacation was 14K. Every year for 15000 points we can invite up to 8 friends to be with us at not less then 5 stars hotel in ambassador room. Plus we, as member of their club, can buy airplans tickets with up to 50% discount." We did terrible mistake to trust that proffecional layers! We paid 40% down payment by Amex credit card and sign "preliminary" contract. The sells manager mr. Pena who informed us that he is christian - what means lie is not acceptable for his nature- said that when we came home we will recieve all documentation for study and permanent contract to be signed. Only after that the charge will be in effect. Also he told if we refuse this offer we never will have this chance again. We fell secure because we paid by credit card and knew that we can stop payment if something wrong. We didn't get any documentation when we came back home. Month later I tried to call Mr.Pena to ask him about documentation but he hanged up on me as soon I introduced myself. I thought it was accident and recalled him but he hanged up before I said one word. The contract has to be in effect on Jan.1, 2007, but already on 12/20/2006 I requested my credit company(AMEX) to help me to cancel this contract and refund my money. They even changed my credit card account, but up to today royal holiday succsessfully charged my account. Unfortunatelly AMEX suggested that this company acting by law. Now when I found many responds of deceived by royal holiday club customers it will be easier to prove fraud action to my credit card, that it was lemon cotract and help me to take my money from thiefs. We have to fight to locked up this "robbery" club to get our freedom.

Royal Holiday advertises that they sell "vacations for a life time." This is untrue (nightmares for a life time). This company has aggressive sales practices, and will deceive the consumer to get him/her to sign a contract, and will unlawfully not allow the consumer to cancel his/her contract.
Stay away from this vacation club! They sell their club memberships at vacation spots throughout the world, however many complaints have been filed concerning membership purchased in Mexico. We have been battling with this company for over a year attempting to cancel and receive a refund to no avail. Two words of warning, STAY AWAY!

While we were on vacation in December 2008 (November 28th to December 5th) in Cozumel my wife and I were approached to visit a resort and get a free lunch in exchange to visit the resort with the pretense that the resort was just rebuilt after the huricane and they wanted tourists to rediscover it. So we went.

What we got there was a sale pitch for a "holiday membership" with which we could travel the world for the next 30 years with our travel cost fixed (not getting higher year after year). After three hours of talks where the offers seemed always better and better, we signed... The worst mistake ever.

We signed a contract for 30 years, for 30 000 points per year, for 25 0000$US of which we a downpayment using our credit card for 8 750$US, having to pay 450$US per month for the balance for the next 3 years.

Almost immediatly that same night we started to have second thoughts but we decided to sleep on it. Before leaving Cozumel, the day after, we call their help-desk from the airport and told them we wanted to cancel. But they told us they could not do it yet because the contract had not been processed yet and was not in the system. They told us to call back when we were back home.

So the next Monday I call back, and still the contract was not in the system. I tried calling again during that week and finally I did receive an e-mail on December 20th sending us our password to access the site, stating that we had requested it! I call the helpdesk and they told us that they can't cancel our membership because we were passed the 5 days cool-off period!!!

During the Christmas holidays we were not able to contact anyone and then in January someone in Finance (Nancy d'Argence) contacted us to welcome us to the club. I told her I wanted to cancel my membership but she told me she could not do anything for us except refinance. So she gave us a refinance offer which would have cost us thousands of dollars more in the end (for lower monthly payments). We refused.

She then said that the only thing we could do was to resell our membership. And when we bought the membership I specifically asked if it was resalable and they told us that they sold easily, quickly and for a profit. So she gave our names to their sales department which in turn gave them to a broker in the States (Global Resort Services), which contacted us. I talked to the broker and they told us that we could get 29 000$US for our membership! Wow, we're even making a profit. We had to pay 600$US for the account and the publicity they would put out.

I called the broker about once a month but nothing was happening. So in April I started to do more researchs on the Internet and realized that there were a lot of people in the same situation as I was and moreover the only information I got on people that had been able to resell their membership was for about 10% of the price!

So I'm now in communication with a law-firm in Mexico that specialize in this kind of rip-off (I can't tell their name yet because I still not on a retainer with them).

So this is was they promised us: fixed vacation cost (about 2 weeks) for the next 30 years.

This is the reality: you have to pay an annual fee (465$US now) that can and will go up with the years; you still have to pay for your food, which will go up; and finally you reserve based on a point-basis, so today with 30 000 points I can get 2 weeks, but in 2 years it could cost me 40 000$.