Heavier Fines for Fraudulent Time Share Sellers

by Maureen Dietrich

Jan 15 

mazmessenger.com

 

Beginning this year, sanctions against time share salesmen committing fraud will increase.

The tougher penalties are a result of an alliance between the municipal government and Procuraduría Federal del Consumidor (Profeco, or consumer protection) to stop time share sellers from accosting tourists and offering false promises.

Official Mayor, Salvador Reynosa Garzón, said beginning today fines of 50 to 250 minimum salaries will be assessed against time share sellers who work outside their authorized areas, who accost tourists and who do not honour promotion offers.

He has met three times with Profeco, said Renosa Garzón, to validate time share projects and guaranty their completion. (from Noroeste)

Balboa Towers Sold to National Investors

by Maureen Dietrich

11 Aug 14  

mazmessenger.com

 

A group of national investors has purchased the abandoned 52-room Balboa Towers which sits on prime real estate in the Golden Zone, said Fernando Alanís Cárdenas, president of the Timeshare Association.

The owners are applying for permits and once that is accomplished will begin remodeling the Balboa. Before its closure, it operated as a mixed timeshare and hotel location and will probably retain the same format, said Alanís Cárdenas. 

(from Noroeste)

Profeco Detects Fraud in Three Mazatlán Time Share Condos

by Maureen Dietrich

1 May 14

mazmessenger.com

 

To put an end to the bad image fraudulent time shares have given Mazatlán, a monitoring and assessment program will be created.

The Sinaloa branch of Profeco (federal consumer protection office) has pinpointed three condominiums selling time share fraudulently.

Profeco delegate, Jorge Alan Urbina Vidales, said following an operation conducted in the port during Semana Santa three condo projects selling time share accounted for 80 percent of complaints, some of which were lodged with the PGR for fraud.

The delegate told reporters his office will begin an investigation of the complaints in coordination with the Secretary of Tourism and the Procuraduría General de Justicia (PGR) and will apply the weight of the law against those time share companies defrauding tourists.

He advised that the three condo projects under scrutiny are Sábalos del Sol, Punta Pacífico (formerly La Joya) and Marina Grand.

The majority of these businesses, he said, present a contract to potential buyers outlining the buyers´ obligations and penalties. However, none of the contracts establish the responsibilities of the time share company. Nor do the companies post prices in plain view and they have been found to collect unauthorized payments from clients.

Many of the complainants are foreigners, the Profeco delegate said, and that is the image of Mazatlán and Mexico that they walk away with.

Fernando Alaniz Cárdenas, President of the Asociación de Clubes Vacacionales de Sinaloa, applauded the investigation into the “pseudo-developments.” He pointed out that none of the three time share developments accused of fraud is a member of his organization.

To put an end to the bad image fraudulent time shares have given Mazatlán, a monitoring and assessment program will be created in conjunction with the municipality, Sectur, Profeco and the PGR specializing in crimes against tourists with the objective of assisting victims in finding a solution in their cases.

Alaniz Cárdenas said they are not going to abandon tourists with this problem. Until now the complaints have been isolated and if the client does not check with Sectur or his association, they have no protection against fraudulent operations.

According to data from the Asociación de Clubes Vacacionales de Sinaloa, there are 4,000 time share units in Mazatlán.

(from Noroeste)