SECTION 5.4: INVOLVE OVERSIGHT AND CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCIES
OK, so up to this moment you have done everything discussed above, including INSISTING with Lourdes Garcia for a minimum of 2 weeks, and received no results.
Well, time to take it out of these people’s hands. Now is the time when you involve governments — either your own, or the one in the country where the hotel you visited operates in.
Depending on the country in question, one or several agencies can be involved in having your contract canceled and your money refunded.
Let’s go one by one:
1.DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (Punta Cana, Samana, La Romana or Rio San Juan)
Punta Cana is by far the most popular destination for Bahia Principe, and just as well where the majority of Privilege Club sign ups take place. Statistically, this is where it is most likely that you signed up.
Here is the bad news: No agency with real teeth exists here. In our research, the DR government is either unwilling or complicit in allowing Timeshare schemes like Privilege Club ruining hundreds of families’ vacations week after week.
A few options exist, with low likelihood of their involvement and your success:
A.Your embassy in the DR
B.Your state or province’s own Consumer Protection Agency
C.Ministry of Tourism: info@sectur.gov.do
D.PROCONSUMIDOR: info@proconsumidor.gob.do
2.MEXICO
If you signed up in Mexico, which is the second most likely case, congratulations: the single most active agency we discovered in our research is Mexico’s consumer protection agency -- PROFECO.
PROFECO stands for Procuraduría Federal del Consumidor. They HAVE taken action to defend former members of the Privilege Club who have bought and not received their refunds, especially when they requested so within 15 days from the date of purchase.
They can be reached at phone number (55) 5625 6700
3.JAMAICA
In Jamaica, there is an agency overseeing real estate developments called the REAL ESTATE BOARD OF JAMAICA, who HAVE taken action for former Members.
They can be contacted here: info@reb.gov.jm
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Checklist before moving forward:
A) Did you CALL or EMAIL the appropriate institution in the country where you signed up?
B) Did you follow up for an official decision?