Sunterra MF Bill 2008

[Eileen A. Member Find all posts View Profile Close Eileen A.]

Just received the first of many for my 2008 Sunterra MF. I own 30,000 pts via a UDI at Scottsdale Villa Mirage.

MF was $1,739.46 but I was also charged $258.43 for "Base Flex Ownership". Does anyone know what that means?

Does anyone pay the $5 Arda-Roc $5?

Thanks!

Eileen

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

Just received the first of many for my 2008 Sunterra MF. I own 30,000 pts via a UDI at Scottsdale Villa Mirage.
MF was $1,739.46 but I was also charged $258.43 for "Base Flex Ownership". Does anyone know what that means?
Does anyone pay the $5 Arda-Roc $5?
Thanks! Eileen

Wow, they're early! All UDIs similar to the one you have that I own have this fee, I take it that this is the first bill you've actually seen since your purchase. This is a base fee for the UDI and then there's a charge/pt. This is the reason that small UDIs at SVM or Cypress Point or wherever, say for 1000 SunOptions, have humonguos maintenance fees as the Base (which is fixed for all the UDI owners) overshadows the charge/pt. They usually go without bid on eBay!

ARDA-ROC 'donation' is up from $3 to $5? While they purport to support the owner, this organization is 95% developer focused. You decide.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Wow, they're early! All UDIs similar to the one you have that I own have this fee, I take it that this is the first bill you've actually seen since your purchase. This is a base fee for the UDI and then there's a charge/pt. This is the reason that small UDIs at SVM or Cypress Point or wherever, say for 1000 SunOptions, have humonguos maintenance fees as the Base (which is fixed for all the UDI owners) overshadows the charge/pt. They usually go without bid on eBay!

ARDA-ROC 'donation' is up from $3 to $5? While they purport to support the owner, this organization is 95% developer focused. You decide.

Polo Towers has been sending out bills early for the last few years. Since an owner had to pay their next years MF bill prior to depositing next years unit for exchange, it made sense to get the MF bills out as early as possible. There were also complaints from owners that getting the bill in November or December was inconvenient as it fell around the holiday season in the U.S. and made for a money crunch. I guess most people didn't plan for that bill ahead of time.

At any rate, my MF bills for the next year started coming out around June or July even though they were not due until the end of the year. I've received two bills so far for my Polo Towers units for 2008's MF. The only reason I have not paid them yet is that I was not at a point I was ready to deposit them with I.I. That and I was busy studying the choice of joining Club Sunterra with those units.

I'm making assumptions here but DRI could be using the same early billing that they've had success with at Polo Towers. I've found it nice to know my MF's early and be able to plan and/or pay them early so that I could make firm plans for the next years usage. At any rate, having the option to pay the bill in full now rather than during the holidays is a nice option, even if I do put money aside each month so that the sting of all my MF's in December isn't so tough to take.

With Polo Towers this was a case of something the owners asked for and the developer, BOD and HOA provided. All of my other ownerships wait until late in the year to release the surprise bill that is known as the MF. I never know how much they've all gone up until the last minute. Last year with our Marriott's Ocean Pointe that little extra SA for Hurricane damage was a bit of an ouchy. At least they forwarned us of it but they only gave us an idea what it "might" be.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

Polo Towers has been sending out bills early for the last few years. Since an owner had to pay their next years MF bill prior to depositing next years unit for exchange, it made sense to get the MF bills out as early as possible. There were also complaints from owners that getting the bill in November or December was inconvenient as it fell around the holiday season in the U.S. and made for a money crunch. I guess most people didn't plan for that bill ahead of time.

At any rate, my MF bills for the next year started coming out around June or July even though they were not due until the end of the year. I've received two bills so far for my Polo Towers units for 2008's MF. The only reason I have not paid them yet is that I was not at a point I was ready to deposit them with I.I. That and I was busy studying the choice of joining Club Sunterra with those units.

I'm making assumptions here but DRI could be using the same early billing that they've had success with at Polo Towers. I've found it nice to know my MF's early and be able to plan and/or pay them early so that I could make firm plans for the next years usage. At any rate, having the option to pay the bill in full now rather than during the holidays is a nice option, even if I do put money aside each month so that the sting of all my MF's in December isn't so tough to take.

With Polo Towers this was a case of something the owners asked for and the developer, BOD and HOA provided. All of my other ownerships wait until late in the year to release the surprise bill that is known as the MF. I never know how much they've all gone up until the last minute. Last year with our Marriott's Ocean Pointe that little extra SA for Hurricane damage was a bit of an ouchy. At least they forwarned us of it but they only gave us an idea what it "might" be.

I don't think they're that far ahead. NONE of my Sunterra contracts have been billed and my Williamsburg resorts haven't even decided what the fee is going to be, yet.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

I don't think they're that far ahead. NONE of my Sunterra contracts have been billed and my Williamsburg resorts haven't even decided what the fee is going to be, yet.

I'm assuming that the base UDI fee's and Club Sun membership fee's don't change. It wouldn't take long to modify the billing of those fee's if they haven't changed.

In order to change the time frame on declaring MF's 6 monhts earlier and begining to bill them, not to mention making owners aware of any such change would take a little longer. Without letting the owners know ahead of time that such a change was being made would cause a negative knee-jerk reaction amongst the ownership.

It is something that I can see possibly happening in the future and it could be the reason the UDI bill has arrived a little earlier than expected. Or it could just be that somone is a little quick this year on some of the accounts.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

As time goes on and on prices go up and up. With such high costs,timeshares are fast becoming a huge cost and a loss. Some now are not worth the costs and all the other ones will follow. As I have said before, they are just not worth what one pays for the things. They all come with
" forever fees " and get harder and harder to get rid of.
B & B for me !

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

As time goes on and on prices go up and up. With such high costs,timeshares are fast becoming a huge cost and a loss. Some now are not worth the costs and all the other ones will follow. As I have said before, they are just not worth what one pays for the things. They all come with
" forever fees " and get harder and harder to get rid of.
B & B for me !

I guess it all just depends on your point of view. While there are inherent difficulties with timeshares, you have other problems with any other form of travel. It just depends on what you comfort level is and right now, I'm still comfortable. I guess you could say the same thing about driving a car anymore. The cost of private ownership of a car gets ever higher and public transportation is available yet people still choose to drive cars. I have rarely seen my insurance bills get lower, taxes always seem to go higher, new car prices climb ever higher, resale prices if you buy new from the dealer are always at a loss but people still buy new cars, trade them for a loss and are happy to have their own transportation rather than rely on public transportation and/or cabs.

The cost of living might continue to rise but it's still very popular.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

Bing is a naysayer and posts useless posts like the one quoted below. It added NOTHING to this thread discussion.

As time goes on and on prices go up and up. With such high costs,timeshares are fast becoming a huge cost and a loss. Some now are not worth the costs and all the other ones will follow. As I have said before, they are just not worth what one pays for the things. They all come with
" forever fees " and get harder and harder to get rid of.
B & B for me !

I guess it all just depends on your point of view. While there are inherent difficulties with timeshares, you have other problems with any other form of travel. It just depends on what you comfort level is and right now, I'm still comfortable. I guess you could say the same thing about driving a car anymore. The cost of private ownership of a car gets ever higher and public transportation is available yet people still choose to drive cars. I have rarely seen my insurance bills get lower, taxes always seem to go higher, new car prices climb ever higher, resale prices if you buy new from the dealer are always at a loss but people still buy new cars, trade them for a loss and are happy to have their own transportation rather than rely on public transportation and/or cabs.

The cost of living might continue to rise but it's still very popular.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

I know. I often wonder why he bothers hanging around timeshare forums when timeshare obviously does not work for him. Maybe his time would be better spent on sites like Trip Advisor or maybe Cruise Critic if he could get into cruising.

[Arline Member Find all posts View Profile Close Arline]

Maybe Bing is involved with a company like Timeshare Relief and just here to get business.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

what is ment by, " if he could get into cruising " ??????

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

what is ment by, " if he could get into cruising " ??????

You know...you get on a big boat, and you eat a lot, and you sun yourself by the pool....

[winger Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close winger]

Not sure if this means anything, but I just made my first CS reservation with Sun Options and have NOT yet paid my 2008 MF (at my home resort) nor the $151 Club Sun due.

I really do not expect to pay until Jan 1st (or late December is my normal time to pay)

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

Not sure if this means anything, but I just made my first CS reservation with Sun Options and have NOT yet paid my 2008 MF (at my home resort) nor the $151 Club Sun due.

I really do not expect to pay until Jan 1st (or late December is my normal time to pay)

You can make all the 2008 reservations you'd like, they make you pay in advance only when you borrow (ex: use 2008 points for a 2007 reservation).

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

Sorry, my posts do add to what is discussed here. I am here for the consumer. I want them to be informed, not just one sided opinions. Timeshares can be down right dirty and people here know that but don't want to admit it.