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BEWARE if You Pre-paid SDO MF for 2014

Quiet Pine

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Because I prepaid this year’s MF, the statement for my SDO 2BR2BA lockout EOY showed a credit of $569. HOWEVER—last year I paid $574. Why did they ding me $5? I was clear about excluding ARDA.
A phone call finally got the rep to credit me $5. He was unclear about why it happened, mentioned ARDA a couple of times, and I think they tried to squeeze the ARDA fee out of me and thought I wouldn’t notice.
I hope others who find the same discrepancy will call and fight for the credit. If it happens to many and many resist, perhaps they’ll stop this chicanery.
My husband rolled his eyes and couldn’t believe I spent time on the phone for $5, but I dislike the feeling of being conned.
 

Yolie912

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What is ARDA? I have that on my invoice as well.

Thanks
 

Quiet Pine

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What is ARDA? I have that on my invoice as well.

Thanks
The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) is a timeshare political action committee--basically a lobbying group. I understand it works on behalf of the developers, not people like us. Many might disagree. Search ARDA and you'll find lots of discussion on TUG. The $5 is voluntary.
 
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rickandcindy23

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Starwood should make that fee voluntary by not even adding it to the bill. Ask for it in addition and don't make me subtract it. I am in the same exact boat on two weeks I need to get corrected. :rolleyes: I have a credit for 2016 on two of my weeks, but they are now crediting that $5.00. It's BS.
 

TrojanRickus

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Starwood should make that fee voluntary by not even adding it to the bill. Ask for it in addition and don't make me subtract it. I am in the same exact boat on two weeks I need to get corrected. :rolleyes: I have a credit for 2016 on two of my weeks, but they are now crediting that $5.00. It's BS.

I had a problem designating my SDO week to II because they kept saying I had a $5 balance in my account. You guessed it...It is BS. They would not let me deposit my SDO week in II until I paid for it.
 

VacationForever

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I did the pre-pay online earlier this year and had no issue with being given full credit. I just paid the balance minus $5 without any issues. Did all of you call in to pay instead of doing it online thru mystarcentral?
 

BocaBoy

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The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) is a timeshare political action committee--basically a lobbying group. I understand it works on behalf of the developers, not people like us. Many might disagree. Search ARDA and you'll find lots of discussion on TUG. The $5 is voluntary.

ARDA-ROC definitely lobbies for the interests of timeshare owners. Many disagree with that statement, but most have not taken the time to distinguish between ARDA and ARDA-ROC. The ROC stands for Resort Owners Coalition and they have done a lot of good for timeshare owners. I especially like the work they do in opposing unfair taxes on timeshare owners.
 

Ken555

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ARDA-ROC definitely lobbies for the interests of timeshare owners. Many disagree with that statement, but most have not taken the time to distinguish between ARDA and ARDA-ROC. The ROC stands for Resort Owners Coalition and they have done a lot of good for timeshare owners. I especially like the work they do in opposing unfair taxes on timeshare owners.

While this is true, they do an abysmal job of informing their constituents (ie. us?) of their performance. And the group is tarnished by the simple fact that timeshare systems automatically charge the fee from us rather than making it an opt-in decision, which would lead to more credibility and transparency.
 

Sugarcubesea

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Starwood should make that fee voluntary by not even adding it to the bill. Ask for it in addition and don't make me subtract it. I am in the same exact boat on two weeks I need to get corrected. :rolleyes: I have a credit for 2016 on two of my weeks, but they are now crediting that $5.00. It's BS.

I just got my first SDO MF bill and not only do I have the $5.00 ARDA fee but I also have a SVN Membership Fee of $134. I thought this fee was only for the mandatory resorts?

Can anyone tell me if that is accurate?
 

LisaRex

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I just got my first SDO MF bill and not only do I have the $5.00 ARDA fee but I also have a SVN Membership Fee of $134. I thought this fee was only for the mandatory resorts?

Can anyone tell me if that is accurate?

You are correct. You need to call and ask to either be allowed to use StarOptions to exchange, or get a refund of the SVN fee.
 

Riggo

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I find the way SDO displays the ARDA-ROC fee highly deceptive. They include it in the "Total Due" when in fact it is not part of the "Total Due". Either something is due or it is not due. In this case, it is not due, but the bill includes it as due. This is just wrong, deceptive, and unethical. I am sure many fall victim to this ruse and would not pay it were they aware it is completely voluntary. Whether ARDA benefits the owners or not is not the point. How would you feel if when you go to pay for your groceries, they have added in $5.00 for a lobbyist and you don't see the fine print on the receipt that says you have to ask to subtract it? This is just bad business and the Board members have an obligation to change it. I could not in good conscious serve on a Board that allows such a practice.
 

Quiet Pine

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Happened again for 2016 MF

Again I pre-paid MF, for 2016, and they siphoned off $5 for ARDA. A phone called resolved it quickly, but I don't see why I need to be proactive about this. I paid $590--you can see I was credited for only $585.

Maintenance Fee Details

Total Due $ -585.28
Projected Fees for Next Year $ 590.28
 

DeniseM

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While this is true, they do an abysmal job of informing their constituents (ie. us?) of their performance. And the group is tarnished by the simple fact that timeshare systems automatically charge the fee from us rather than making it an opt-in decision, which would lead to more credibility and transparency.

They also allow assorted scammers to join ARDA - not just legitimate businesses.
 

Ken555

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They also allow assorted scammers to join ARDA - not just legitimate businesses.


Really? Perhaps we should have a list of those companies on TUG...


Sent from my iPad
 

alohakevin

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I find the way SDO displays the ARDA-ROC fee highly deceptive. They include it in the "Total Due" when in fact it is not part of the "Total Due". Either something is due or it is not due. In this case, it is not due, but the bill includes it as due. This is just wrong, deceptive, and unethical. I am sure many fall victim to this ruse and would not pay it were they aware it is completely voluntary. Whether ARDA benefits the owners or not is not the point. How would you feel if when you go to pay for your groceries, they have added in $5.00 for a lobbyist and you don't see the fine print on the receipt that says you have to ask to subtract it? This is just bad business and the Board members have an obligation to change it. I could not in good conscious serve on a Board that allows such a practice.

Seems as though there is a new pac for Kaanapali. Its the Maui Timeshare Ohana or MTO. Shows up on bill and is included in the total due. In the fine print it instructs you to "deduct $10 if you do not wish to contribute". Also

Didnt know the associations filed a lawsuit against the County and Maui County Council. Who gets to pay for that I wonder? Should be interesting.
 

LisaRex

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Didnt know the associations filed a lawsuit against the County and Maui County Council. Who gets to pay for that I wonder? Should be interesting.

They are trying to get a ruling on the property tax situation, I believe. Maui Council created a classification just for timeshares that's 65% more expensive than what hotels pay. They also make us pay the VAT, which is double taxation. We can't be both tourists AND residents.
 

okwiater

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They are trying to get a ruling on the property tax situation, I believe. Maui Council created a classification just for timeshares that's 65% more expensive than what hotels pay. They also make us pay the VAT, which is double taxation. We can't be both tourists AND residents.
You're not both tourists and residents. You're tourists and transient property owners. So, you pay real estate tax on the property and a Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) on the number of nights you stay. I'm not saying it's fair, but it's at least consistent.

I always thought it'd be interesting to buy 27 weeks in a Hawaii timeshare and then insist on a waiver of the TAT since you'd no longer meet their definition of transient. Do you think it would work? :)
 

Sugarcubesea

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You are correct. You need to call and ask to either be allowed to use StarOptions to exchange, or get a refund of the SVN fee.

ok, this has been a pain... they insisted I pay the SPN fee (because the csr stated that I qualified) or my bill would be delinquent, so I paid and its been a hassle to get my money back...
 

Sandy VDH

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The rub is that EVERY bill these days seems to ask for an ARDA contribution. Ok, if I am going to donate, I am going to do it once, not for every MF bill I have.
 

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ok, this has been a pain... they insisted I pay the SPN fee (because the csr stated that I qualified) or my bill would be delinquent, so I paid and its been a hassle to get my money back...

Did you buy direct from SVO or via resale?

In any event, you should call financial services since this is an mf/payment issue. If you are still getting hassled, ask to speak to a supervisor and they should escalate you to Resolution Services.

-ryan
 

Sugarcubesea

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Did you buy direct from SVO or via resale?

In any event, you should call financial services since this is an mf/payment issue. If you are still getting hassled, ask to speak to a supervisor and they should escalate you to Resolution Services.

-ryan

My SDO is a resale and I think I have the issue of having to pay this SVN Membership Fee of $134 resolved. If I don't see this credit on my bill, I will be calling them back.
 
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