“Vacation Clubs”. When people hear those words they don’t really know what it means, what they are getting, and whether it’s a scam.
Luckily, we got your back! We sent in the Credit Carrots review team to sit through a four hour presentation in Mexico on one of the most popular vacation clubs around. We also sat down for another two hours with the sales managers in the presentation center to really dig deep.
Check out the Unlimited Vacation Club review below!
Unlimited Vacation Club boasts some of the best all-inclusive properties in tropical destinations. Our team recently headed out to Secrets Capri Riviera near Playa Del Carmen in Mexico to learn more.
We believe their most popular membership level is the “Gold Tier” so we will focus our review on that level.
What do you get with Unlimited Vacation Club?
This vacation club is sold as “an exclusive travel club whose members get VIP privileges at properties in Mexico, the Caribbean, Panama and Costa Rica, including guaranteed preferred rates and special offers”.
Depending on which tier you buy, you essentially get a certain number of weeks at their resorts. Also included are special discounts for other travel partners.
For example, their Gold Tier members would get two weeks (for two people) every year at their resorts on top of special deals with other timeshare platforms.
The resorts under Unlimited Vacation Club are some of the best properties around so we were very intrigued. The list we were given for the Gold Tier included:
- Secrets Resorts & Spas
- Breathless Resorts & Spas
- Dreams Resorts & Spas
- Now Resorts & Spas
- Reflect Resorts & Spas
- Sunscape Resorts & Spas
With the affiliate timeshare offers, you can also stay at properties that are included in their partner network. We were told that we can stay at any of their affiliate locations for $499 a week. This seemed like an unreal deal as some of the locations such as Hawaii would charge you that much for two nights.
However, further research into this affiliate timeshare partner program revealed some massive red flags. First, some of their partners have a 1/5 rating on consumer affairs. There are lots of complaints regarding the lack of dates available which results in you not being able to use this service. Check out this review from one of their customers below:
“YES, I refer to this company (there are more out there) as a SCAM. The representatives LIE and are highly unethical. Any American citizen should have the right to get their money back from wrongful sellers who lie to make a profit.”
This doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, and really got us to start grilling the vacation club sales representatives on the details.
How much does Unlimited Vacation Club cost?
After we were given the details of what membership included we were very intrigued even though some of the fluff such as affiliate timeshare partners raised some red flags. The Gold Tier mentioned above was listed at $70,000 USD for a 30 year contract (yes 30 years).
You know what? $70,000 for 30 years isn’t that bad considering that’s $2,333 a year. Even a single week at one of their resorts would cost around that for two people.
However, the devil is in the details. Our friends at Unlimited Vacation Club wanted us to either pay $70,000 all at once, or put 20% down and pay for the rest over 48 months.
Let’s just think about that for a second. They are essentially asking you to pay for 30 years worth of vacations up front. We understand they need cash flow to build new resorts, but they should go get that from a bank rather than squeezing it out of their members. It would be much more fair if the payments are divided out over 30 years.
Most people wouldn’t pay $70,000 all at once so their 48 month financing option (with 20% down) is what people who buy this usually go with – but guess what their interest rate is. Sixteen percent (16%). After some haggling, they dropped the interest rate down to 9%. Our unsecured line of credit from the bank has a much lower interest rate than 9%.
If you actually went ahead with this, you’re paying over $20,000 in just interest over a period of 48 months. We were told the interest rate was so high because Mexico has very high lending rates which is probably true, but it doesn’t change the fact that this is a bad deal financially.
After we told them that there’s no chance this package makes financial sense, they reduced their price and offered a term as short as 15 years. However, all of the same problems mentioned above remained.
Should you join Unlimited Vacation Club?
We strongly recommend you stay away from this for a few reasons.
Financial. You don’t have to be a math whiz to figure out that paying for 30 years worth of vacations up front is not a good deal. Since vacations are not physical products like a car, or house you are really getting nothing for the money you throw down. Combine that with the crazy high interest rate, and you can see that this vacation club does not make financial sense.
High Pressure Sales Tactics. If a product or service is truly good, the company selling it rarely has to resort to high pressure sales tactics. After we said we were not interested in getting a membership and would like to leave, we were stuck there for another two hours as they rotated through another four people with rising seniority to try and get us to sign. We couldn’t just walk out the door as we needed them to get us a taxi to get from the sales center back to our resort.
Risk. $70,000 is a lot of money. We urge you to think about what you would do if something goes wrong. If these vacation clubs were based out of the US, then you have lots of legal options you can take to get your money back. However, if you sign their contract in Mexico then there is not an easy way for you to take action to cancel your membership should you want to opt out.
We found that a large number of unhappy customers have been posting online about their difficulties with cancelling the membership. When we asked the sales center manager about this, they said we can simply stop paying anytime – which in our opinion is a complete lie. You’re signing a binding contract, and there can be repercussions if you break that contract – even if it’s in another country.
How to Cancel Unlimited Vacation Club
If you were pressured into signing a contract, and are within a five (5) day window then you can likely get it cancelled. However, it will require some work and you will have to read the fine print of the contract to make sure that this cancellation clause was included.
The best resource we have found for helping people cancel their UVC (and other types of timeshare memberships) is: https://mescam.com/Refunds.htm. While the site is geared towards Mexican law, the information and techniques are largely applicable to these programs.
One of our readers was able to get their UVC membership cancelled within the five day window, but there were some headaches. Their account of events is shown below.
We put $3,800 on our credit card as our initial payment and left feeling excited about how we were going to use the benefits. The whole sales process took almost 4 hours so we were glad to finally get to our vacation.
The following evening, my wife had expressed some concerns that we had made such a large purchase without more research and, to put her mind at ease, I Googled “Unlimited Vacation Club reviews”. It didn’t take long to see that feedback on UVC was almost universally negative. We started to feel sick. I immediately pulled up the contract and read it front to back.
It’s a terrible contract that gives UVC the ability to take away benefits with little or no notice and leaves the purchaser with almost no recourse except for a very short cancellation period of 5 days. I’m certain that short windows is why they try and get you in the sales office at the beginning of your vacation so that your cancellation period expires before you take the time to look closely at the membership. I sent a cancellation email that night.
We got a confirmation the next day that the email was received and had been forwarded “to the appropriate department” and someone would be in touch in “48-72 hours”.
Of course, three days later, I’d heard absolutely nothing. In the meantime, I contacted a lawyer back in the States and continued to research how to bring the nightmare to an end.
Ultimately, one of the most helpful resources I found was https://mescam.com/Refunds.htm. While the site is specifically geared towards Mexican law, the information I found there helped steer me in the right direction. After the 72 hours had elapsed with no further contact, I followed up my initial cancellation request with a modified version of the mescam.com cancellation letter via email.
The gist of the email was that I expected a full refund minus the $400 we had received and used as luxury dollars. If the refund had not been received within the 15 days specified in the contract, I would contest the charge with my credit card company as fraudulent. I said I would show them the cancellation email chain as well as the contract and, should the credit card company process the charge anyway, I would sue the card company in an American court.
This seems to be the crux of getting your refund. These companies work very hard to leverage the laws of other countries to make it difficult to get your money back. We signed in Costa Rica and the contract itself specified that it would be arbitrated under the laws of Panama, both of which have very limited (or no) consumer protection laws.
The threat of taking the conflict to an American court and causing problems with the credit card company seems to be the way to get them to honor their refund terms. I had also specified in my second email that my lawyer had instructed me to only communicate with them in writing so they should contact me by email and not phone.
Of course, I got three calls over the next few days from the salesperson from Dreams but I let them go to voicemail. I got no further communication from UVC or Dreams, but on Sept 23rd (11 days after the cancellation request) I had a refund for the exact amount I’d requested show up on my card.
– Kyle
We hope this review has been helpful, and urge you to do your research before spending big bucks on a vacation club membership!
Woman
October 7, 2019 4:56 pmTo echo with many others, I would like to share my personal horrible experience with UVC. Hopefully this will help others to be careful before they sign any contract, especially when company is registered in the country that USA laws protecting consumers are not applicable ( like UVC in Dominican Republic).
In 2016, I stayed in the Secrets of the Vine resort in Cancun with my family. I was approached by the vacation club representative, who asked me if he can talk to me for 20-30 min about great services that they can offer. After several hours in the cold air- conditioned room ( I was in the swimming suite coming for 20-30 min chat) surrounded by 4 different men who were pressuring me to sign for the services, I was forced to sign an agreement. No time was given to me to discuss the offer with my family and I was not informed that there is a 3 days cancellation possibility. I was told that the package was customized to my unique needs and that I have one in a life time opportunity for the exceptional services and with unique rates if I pay for everything in full.. ” Everything” was outlined on one paper sheet that magically disappeared when I Pad was brought to me for signatures. I was not given an opportunity to read everything carefully.
Upon my return to USA, almost every week I got a call or e mails from Vacation Club membership, with various ridiculous offers. Numerous time I asked not to bother me , because I am very busy ; I said that I will call when I need services. No matter what I tried to do ( block caller ID, speak with supervisor )…my privacy was not respected.
Eventually I decided to take a trip to the Zoestry resort in Cancun using 7 free nights that I have in agreement . Twice when I was trying to book , I was told that there are no rooms available, and that I can only use 2 nights for 1 ( something that was not explained to me). I was told that Secrets Playa Mujeres, is next to the best , and they have some rooms Available , but for 7 nights for I still can’t use 7 free nights and need to purchase rooms . Only then I was explained that what unlimited club offer is : 25 % off hotel room rates…again this is something that was not explained to me when I was forced to sign agreement. Only then I also discovered that my package is just a basic and cheapest package . Al I was also told that headquarters of UVC are in Mexico and not in USA.
I decided to go back to Cancun in 2017 to deal in person with the UVC team. Upon my arrival I was trying to make an appointment with the team who signed me for the membership ….they were literally avoiding me….upon numerous calls and requests ….one of them, Carlos came to talk to me…. told me that he will get back to me next day when he will speak with manager. He disappeared from the resort for the length of my stay …. I was told that he had family emergency and will not come to work. …The others refused to talk to me and told me that decision regarding my contract can be only made by Miami headquarters ….Actually company is registered in Dominican Republic where neither USA or Mexico rules on customers protection apply.
Eventually , after my return to USA , my case was assigned to the quality assurance person named
Eblyn González Hernández, who was in Mexico. She is the most rude, unprofessional and
condescending person I ever met. When no meaningful solution could be reached with her, I asked to speak with manager. Also, when i asked to speak to someone in a higher position, she told me there is no one else. This is by far the most frustrating process i have ever experience when cancelling.
She refused to accept my request for cancellation which I submitted and told me that only cancellation form that she sent me she will accept ( that form was stripping me of any rights and refund). Last week I received UVC request for annual payment …again something no one told me about , when I send them e mail about my case , I was told that Mrs Hernández closed my case in 2017 ( which happened without my acknowledgment). Customer service sent me an e mail : “We have escalated your case to the Quality Assurance Department. You will be contacted in the next 24-72 business hours.”…….and than I received an e mai from Ms Gonzales ” If all you want is to continue with the cancellation, there is no other option than cancelling without refund.” ……Nothing more to say.
If you look up UVC profile on Better Business Bureau there is a statement ” Complaints on file with BBB allege that consumers were pressured into signing contracts for Vacation Club Memberships for thousands of dollars and consumers found after purchasing packages that they did not realize the savings indicated in the sales presentations.”
I did not used any of my “free nights ” or services and have no plan to travel in near or far future to the Country where there is so much injustice, food poison ( I had each time I was there) and risk of Zika virus which possess risk for the males and females trying to conceive babies.
Robert
February 1, 2021 3:50 amI am on the same boat as you. Difference I was there 2 days before elections when I signed. I was told I’d have until January 30th to cancel. I actually have been trying to cancel since January 15th and have been bounced around too. I called my credit company for charge backs on the payments I’ve made as I’ve been given the run around. Only thing I can’t remember is if I have them my SSN or not
UVC Customer Experience
February 13, 2023 2:53 pmHola, Juanita/Frida. Hemos recibido tus comentarios en Facebook. Para que podamos darle seguimiento a tu caso, compártenos tu ID de socio, email y número de teléfono al cx@unlimitedvc.com. Por ese medio podremos brindarte la asistencia adecuada. Saludos. FV.
Virginia
December 4, 2019 6:16 pmWe are very pleased with our UVC membership. We did our research, asked a lot of questions and worked out what we felt was a good fit for us and signed up as Gold Plus members. We are getting ready to take our 4th trip in Feb.
Tracey
December 26, 2019 10:48 pmI am really happy to read your comments. We purchased the pearl level a few weeks ago and reading everying, I was getting really nervous! Do you have any tips and tricks that would be beneficial?
Suz
October 3, 2020 9:31 pmUnless you plan to use this service 3+ times a year it really is a waste of your money. Not just your money but you’re ENERGY, TIME, and BRAIN CELLS.
Each time I book or make a payment, in fact, anytime I connect with UVC its never a pleasant experience.
The Reps are not rude but the service they offer are limited in what you need and if they find a way to accommodate you there are always fees.
I can literally spend that same amount of time instead of arguing with them about all the additional fees, I could have searched through google, put together my own trip and decent deals and prices and been done. Feeling good about it too, that I was able to get a good deal without hidden fees and being transferred around from one rep to the next. Its exhausting!
Example experience today. I called about a late fee. I’m on automatic withdrawal, however my card was hijacked so I canceled it, when I saw payment was declined, I called to re-set up my auto payments with the new card and discuss late fee and covid remediations.
First rep: yes we can waive the late fee. But for any other compensation on the annual fee, which the annual renewal fee is completely separate from your $20k-$30k-$40k membership purchase.
Oh and don’t forget your annual renewal fee is for UVC. Then there is the annual renewal fee for RCI. And on top of that the annual renewal fee for UVC Lifestyle Collections.
That 3 different branches collecting annual fees and you didn’t even use half those service or know how to.
The first Rep gives me a number to call Finance dept. She could not transfer me.
I dial, second rep just says hey to be current and use our services you have to pay the annual renewal fee. I disputed what I could about all these ridiculous fees when this year due to covid I have done 0 traveling, can I at least receive 20% off or 1-2 nights applied to next year? Nothing.
So I let her process the annual renewal fee, however she processed the entire charge and did not honor what the first rep promised of removing the late charge.
Then she says you’ll need to talk to customer service. I push back. She gets me a ‘supposedly’ supervisor whom repeats what she said to me that to be current I needed to pay.
I said I was promise by the first rep, we continued back and forth and got no where.
I told this ‘supposedly’ supervisor that appears to have no authority that this doesn’t seem very fair or customer service when everytime I call I am getting more and more upset. I have to speak with multiple reps, spend hours on the line and get charged all these additional fees.
Why can’t I just call and get the service I paid for? Why can’t it be that simple without additional fees. We hang up and him just apologizing and nothing else.
I call back to customer service to the forth rep about the 2 issues I’m having. Repeat myself and she started to say you’ll need to talk to finance and I cut her off and said Look, ice already talked to customer service then they sent me to finance and I’ve take to 2 other people from finance and now I’m back to customer service can you just get me to someone that can handle my issues.
I do not want to explain myself multiple more time and keep getting passed around its already been an hour.
She put me on hold and finally corrected the charge, removing late fee. Continued to advise there is nothing get can do regarding the annual fees.
The only offer they have is to defer payment.
I didn’t take my chances. Because if I defer, watch there be a fee for taking that option.
Then there’s a processing fee for that.
Then there is the interest accruing.
Yeah. No Thank You.
Joining this make you feel like you are just getting burned everyone you interact. It doesn’t make you feel like you want to call and utilize there services. Feels much l like a penalty than a reward. How sad!
Another experience I remember booking a trip to Thailand and I didn’t even book my flight through UVC/RCI/UVCLifestyles and all got charged a $20 service fee. I literally could have done it by myself on the website, but there isn’t an option for you to select between your CASH you earned from points VS your Credits you’ve earned. It only has the credits but I wanted to apply the cash. So that’s why I had to call and pay an extra $20 just to talk to a rep.
Unreal. That’s how they get you. If you are intelligent enough to search google, know your office points, know your flight sites and deals, know your hotel sites and deals, know how to bargain shop for your own activities and excursion deals, You are better off Spending that extra hour doing your own researching than to join the UVC membership and get burned financially and emotionally.
sarag
December 14, 2020 2:15 amthis is a Scam .I grown up in Asia where has lots of scam . so when they approaching me I felt something is wrong .but i refuse ,then they gave an better offer ,I pulled my credit card .gave my ID .ready to sign ,then they sales lost patient to my question . I felt something wrong ,then i kept on asking . then i decided go home first google the review .then the salesman went crazy . I get mad .left the door . Mexican are super money hugery It rude my vacation .I don’t feel safe anymore .I cant believe this is happening in star hotel . lets all make compliant when we back to USA . until they remove this hotel from expedia.or stop scam pp .they will scam take your and sell your information
Warning Fraudulent Company
February 18, 2021 11:37 pmI have never been so angry in my life. WARNING!!! DO NOT SIGN UP FOR UVC-Unlimited Vacation Club Its all FRAUD!!! ? They will take your money. And Yes Im F***ing PISSED!!!
UVC Customer Experience
January 27, 2023 10:11 amHello, Nico. We also received your message on Facebook, and we are already assisting you by that means regarding this situation. Regards. FV.
Tracy Ledvina
June 5, 2021 6:56 pmThis is a scam. After saying no several times, and listening to their presentation for over 3 hours (was supposed to only take 90 minutes max) they gave me their “best offer.” I would get a cheaper rate if I chose not to go during holiday weeks, After trying to book a trip I realized that they snuck some things by me as I was trying to finish it up so we could begin our vacation. Some resorts you have to pay 2 for 1 day, and I could on a only book a trip April 15-Dec. 15. I would have NEVER agreed to that! They are world class scammers!!! Check the fine print before you sign.
Tenley Lippie
June 20, 2021 8:48 pmUnlimited luxury? Unlimited noise is what I found. Loud music kept me from going to sleep. A loud guest was disturbing many. Three different songs playing in my ears at one time at the pool. This is day two. I want to go home
Thomas Turek
April 7, 2022 3:46 pmWe joined UVC in 2018, finally caving in on the pressure cooker sales job. We were offered a “Double Stay Getaway” which promised a free day on a future stay. We agreed to the deal and booked a trip to Secrets Riviera Cancun. We never got the free night certificate and have contacted them 4 times over the last month. Getting the runaround now and probably will never get a resolution. Wish now we never would’ve joined.
UVC Customer Experience
December 16, 2022 8:00 amHello, Irene. We are sorry about what you mentioned. In order for us to follow up properly with your request, please share with us your member ID, phone number, and email address to cx@unlimitedvc.com. We will further assist you by that means. Regards. FV.
UVC Customer Experience
January 24, 2023 8:55 amHello, Amy. We are sorry for the inconvenience. For proper support, please share with us your member ID, email, and phone number to cx@unlimitedvc.com We will further assist you in this situation by that means. Regards. FV.
SR
March 2, 2023 6:46 pmWhen was the above article written? With all of the talk in the comments differing re: head quarters etc, does the advice still hold water?
I have done some research and will be following similar steps as outlined in your reader’s example (Kyle); however, outside of the 5 day cancellation with reference to Mexican Law stating a possible out. I will also be contacting a lawyer to review prior to sending.
What is the worst that can happen? They say no and we use the benefits as outlined in the contract until the next milestone ‘out’ in the contract (50% paid)…if the contract and benefits are not upheld on their end, they are in breach; therefore, cause to cancel.
I definitely will NOT be calling and dealing with anyone over the phone – that will go nowhere.
Yes…No…I feel I am on the right track, Credit Carrots, what do you think?