Galway Bay Cottages IRE - Help with sudden increase in maintenance fee

[senorSamba]

I own two timeshare weeks. The new owners inherited the management company from their father. They sent out the 2013 annual bill recently and have doubled the maintenance fees to about $900 per week. In the letter they stated that if the fees are not paid they will cease to operate on Jan 1, 2013. The units were sold as deeded weeks. I spoke to one of them and they they received many calls from people saying they will not pay. They said they would refund the 2013 fee if they close. Not sure if they can or would do that or in what timeframe. Any help here on what to do?

Thanks,

SS

[philsfan]

Where is the timeshare located? If you don't want to give the name, narrow it down to the state/region and country it is in.

[senorSamba]

It's outside the USA and the contract, deeds, etc are all under foreign law.

Any advice or ideas?

[Carolinian]

Foreign laws can vary a lot, including the legal relationship between management and the members. There is the English trustee system, the shareblock system common in Australia and South Africa, cooperative ownership, deeded systems, and various others. It would be very helpful to know the country involved if not the resort. Does your resort have a governing board to which the management answers? Who controls it? We need more information to offer any suggestions.

If it is in Europe, the Timeshare Consumers Association may be able to offer some advice or it might be good to additionally post at www.timesharetalk.co.uk where you would get more European readers.

[joycapecod]

The country is Ireland. I too emailed the new management and stated that for $919 per year I could own in a Sheraton, Hilton or Hyatt...I could also own at Fitzpatrick Castle for that amount. I have yet to hear back.

Joy

[tonyg]

Sounds like an ideal time to decide whether or not you want to continue your ownership. Some of that decision should be based on who is running the resort and why the fees increased. Also, you should look into what the laws are and what the contract to buy states.

[GrayFal]

I own two timeshare weeks. The new owners inherited the management company from their father. They sent out the 2013 annual bill recently and have doubled the maintenance fees to about $900 per week. In the letter they stated that if the fees are not paid they will cease to operate on Jan 1, 2013. The units were sold as deeded weeks. I spoke to one of them and they they received many calls from people saying they will not pay. They said they would refund the 2013 fee if they close. Not sure if they can or would do that or in what timeframe. Any help here on what to do?

Thanks,

SS

The country is Ireland. I too emailed the new management and stated that for $919 per year I could own in a Sheraton, Hilton or Hyatt...I could also own at Fitzpatrick Castle for that amount. I have yet to hear back.

Joy

That is a BIG jump for such a little resort...I hope it works out.

[JLB]

The country is Ireland. I too emailed the new management and stated that for $919 per year I could own in a Sheraton, Hilton or Hyatt...I could also own at Fitzpatrick Castle for that amount. I have yet to hear back.

Joy

How did you know all that?

Do you own there, too?

[catwgirl]

I think they are hoping everyone will default and then they will own it outright and be able to sell it. ??

[tonyg]

I think they are hoping everyone will default and then they will own it outright and be able to sell it. ??

That is a very likely possibility.