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I really hate it when a management company changes horses in midstream
I really don't mind rules. I find them to be necessary to keep everything running smoothly. What I don't like is when a management company allows a rule to slide, then reverts back to enforcing the old rule.
In this case it's paying MF's in advance to reserve for the next year. Don't get me wrong. I understand the need for this as people will reserve a week, then at the end of the year won't pay their MF's which can cause problems for the resort, exchange companies and those that have confirmed exchanges. I suspect that with the downturn in the economy this problem has become more acute.
What I don't like is the fact that any management company gets away from a rule, you base your plans for vacation based upon the current actions of the company and then they change back. It tosses a wrench into making vacaiton plans. If you start with a rule then stick with that rule. It will keep everyone on the same page and there will be less discontent. If you're going to get away from enforcing that rule, then make the change and stick with that change. Going back and forth only confuses and frustrates the situation of making vacation plans.
This will be the second time in 10 years I've seen what I consider a major change back to the written rule for a timeshare. I guess I should feel fortunate that, after 11 years of timesharing, it's only happened twice. In this case it's not that big of a deal because the MF's for this particular unit are less than $300. It's nice to know now that there has been this change or else I'd have received a larger surprise in September when I will be reserving the second unit we own that's managed by the same company (Southwind Management). Granted that's not a huge bill either but, at ~ $600 it would sting the budget a little more. Especially since that close to the time our car insurance is due and a few weeks before we embark on a W. Med. cruise. At least knowing in advance, I can plan to pay the MF's on that unit before the end of the year when they are normally due.
It will also add the burden of keeping track of when and how much of 2010 MF's were paid. This particular company does not have online billing/payments and they have not sent out receipts in the past when payments have been made. I suspect a good thing to do will be to request a receipt be sent after my payment has been confirmed and keep that receipt in my files. Otherwise when the bill comes due at the end of the year I could be looking for records to prove payments had in fact been made.
In this case it's paying MF's in advance to reserve for the next year. Don't get me wrong. I understand the need for this as people will reserve a week, then at the end of the year won't pay their MF's which can cause problems for the resort, exchange companies and those that have confirmed exchanges. I suspect that with the downturn in the economy this problem has become more acute.
What I don't like is the fact that any management company gets away from a rule, you base your plans for vacation based upon the current actions of the company and then they change back. It tosses a wrench into making vacaiton plans. If you start with a rule then stick with that rule. It will keep everyone on the same page and there will be less discontent. If you're going to get away from enforcing that rule, then make the change and stick with that change. Going back and forth only confuses and frustrates the situation of making vacation plans.
This will be the second time in 10 years I've seen what I consider a major change back to the written rule for a timeshare. I guess I should feel fortunate that, after 11 years of timesharing, it's only happened twice. In this case it's not that big of a deal because the MF's for this particular unit are less than $300. It's nice to know now that there has been this change or else I'd have received a larger surprise in September when I will be reserving the second unit we own that's managed by the same company (Southwind Management). Granted that's not a huge bill either but, at ~ $600 it would sting the budget a little more. Especially since that close to the time our car insurance is due and a few weeks before we embark on a W. Med. cruise. At least knowing in advance, I can plan to pay the MF's on that unit before the end of the year when they are normally due.
It will also add the burden of keeping track of when and how much of 2010 MF's were paid. This particular company does not have online billing/payments and they have not sent out receipts in the past when payments have been made. I suspect a good thing to do will be to request a receipt be sent after my payment has been confirmed and keep that receipt in my files. Otherwise when the bill comes due at the end of the year I could be looking for records to prove payments had in fact been made.
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