Direct Transfers Blog

Club La Pension Exposes Special Assessment Robbery

October 10, 2011

Direct Transfers has noticed a rise in special assessment fees, and we’re sure you have, too. Especially if you’re a current timeshare owner, the threat of special assessment fees lingers close over your head. As consumers attempt to navigate the choppy waters of the economy, special assessment fees appear as sharks out of the depths to throw off all sense of stability.

All over the world timeshare companies are discovering and implementing the quick fix of special assessments.  Special assessment fees are simply fees levied when a timeshare resort needs money that is unavailable in their budget. For the average consumer, this looks like taking out a loan, saving up, or going without. For timeshare companies, it looks like charging consumers more.

The problem with special assessment fees is that there is very little accountability with them. For example, look at the classic case of Club La Pension in New Orleans. In 2009, they charged each owner over $900 in special assessment fees in addition to regular maintenance fees starting at $500. In 2011 they followed it up with a special assessment fee of $1584.

Owners unwilling or unable to pay – all classified in the same category by timeshare owners – were immediately reported to debt collection agencies, damaging their credit history and resulting in irritating harassment from debt collectors. Direct Transfers has seen too many timeshare owners with wrecked credit histories because of timeshare companies.

On top of that, the resort was closed for renovations – which the special assessment fee was paying for – meaning that owners were unable to stay at the resort they paid $2000 for in one year. Maintenance fees were not lowered or cancelled during this time.

This is a prime example of what timeshare companies are able and willing to do. With little government regulation to stop them, most timeshare companies are free to extract money from consumers will no regard to customer satisfaction or even morality. Because of the difficulty of escaping a timeshare, they count on the fact that those customers will remain indebted to them for life.

However, timeshare companies haven’t counted on Direct Transfers. We’re dedicated to putting an end to situations like this. Timeshare companies shouldn’t be allowed to charge what they want when they want with no regard to the average budget and household needs.

We believe you shouldn’t have to choose between getting braces for your child and having debt collectors calling you. We believe timeshare companies are out of control. But best of all, we believe we can get you out of the timeshare trap before your next special assessment fee shows up. Call us today and escape.

Filed under: News,Timeshare Articles,Timeshare News