POLL: Do you pay the ARDA donation on your Maintenance fee bill?

[DeniseM]

Please vote in the poll ABOVE.

Please note that your vote is visible.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Missing - just 'No' - as my reason is not because I think they represent Developers...

 

[DeniseM]

Missing - just 'No' - as my reason is not because I think they represent Developers...

Your wish is my command….

 

[Gophesjo]

Hi Denise,

I think another response would be helpful for us multi unit owners, which response would be 'Yes - but just once.' Thanks,

Joe

 

[Gophesjo]

Even if they primarily work for developers - which I agree they do - they nevertheless gather and publish useful information. So, I can give 'em $3.00 a year.

It's like a subscription (except for the magazine ones from II).

 

[artringwald]

Yes, because I pay on line and I'm too lazy to contact them to explain why my payment is short of what they billed.

 

[SueDonJ]

No, not as a component of the MF's bills. But I have donated when the website has information about something ARDA-ROC is doing that may help owners.

For example, a few years ago there were grumblings from Hilton Head that the local authorities were looking to change the timeshare property taxes to a model very similar to the one instituted by Maui - essentially, transferring a major burden of property taxes to the timeshare owners from than residents. I'd read everything Syed shared here about the situation in Maui and ARDA and ARDA-ROC's opposition to what was proposed there, so wanted to support whatever effort they anticipated at Hilton Head. I don't understand completely what transpired and how much effort if any was expended, but Hilton Head timeshare owners have so far dodged that bullet.

 

[DeniseM]

Sue - on [my] MF bill, they include $5 for ARDA - it's automatically included in the MF, unless you actually deduct $5.

 

[Passepartout]

My resorts each want $3. I'm real good at math on that level.

Jim

 

[BM243923]

My resort adds $3.00 and when you do not pay it they right it off my account.

 

[Rent_Share]

I know Canadians spell funny (those extra u's) but don't they write it off when you send your cheque $3.00 short

 

[SueDonJ]

Sue - on my MF bill, they include $5 for ARDA - it's automatically included in the MF, unless you actually deduct $5.

It's a separate item; the MF's are sub-totaled and the ARDA contribution listed on the next line. If you pay online you input the amount you want to pay into each field, so you're not paying the ARDA contribution unless you input into that field. It's as easy to understand on the invoice that's mailed out; there are two amounts in the "Pay This Amount" field, one labeled "Amount Due" and the other "Amount Due - (with $5.00 per week voluntary ARDA-ROC PAC contribution)"

I don't know if every Marriott resort bills the same but for my two the online and invoiced set-up is exactly the same.

I read that Starwood thread the other day about the exchange deposit problem due to non-payment of the $5 ARDA contribution with an MF pre-payment, and was happy for two things - that Marriott doesn't require pre-payment for exchange deposits and that I've never seen a Marriott TUGger have issues with the way ARDA contributions are billed or accounted for. The fact that Marriott plays the game of making it easy for ARDA/ARDA-ROC to collect from owners always generates complaints, but we don't often see complaints that the way Marriott does it is misleading or confusing.

 

[DeniseM]

It's great that Marriott does it that way - on all my resorts, it's included in the total, and you have to deduct it.

 

[SueDonJ]

It's great that Marriott does it that way - on all my resorts, it's included in the total, and you have to deduct it.

That system makes it very easy to understand why there are so many complaints away from the Marriott forum - I'd be LOUD about it too if that's what I had to deal with.

It still is a sort of subliminal thing, though, isn't it, that a voluntary contribution is at all a part of the MF's billing. I'm sure there are hundreds of people who pay it simply because it's included with the bill, although I wonder if Marriott's process of making it easier to differentiate between required and voluntary amounts leads to a lower percentage of Marriott owners relative to the industry paying it?

 

[DeniseM]

That was dumb, I just realized that I wrote, On "your" MF bill, instead of on "my" MF bill in post #8 above - corrected.

 

[SueDonJ]

That was dumb, I just realized that I wrote, On "your" MF bill, instead of on "my" MF bill in post #8 above - corrected.

I edited the copy in mine; go ahead and delete these last two posts.

 

[DeniseM]

No biggie

 

[dioxide45]

My resort adds $3.00 and when you do not pay it they right it off my account.

Should they even be including it in the bill for foreign owners? Didn't Westgate or DRI get in trouble for that a few years back. The contribution is to a PAC the ARDA-ROC. Making it a political contribution. They shouldn't be seeking political contributions from foreign owners.

 

[MuranoJo]

Don't get it on our MX t/s membership fees. Probably wouldn't pay it if we did.

 

[LannyPC]

I know Canadians spell funny (those extra u's) but don't they write it off when you send your cheque $3.00 short

It's nice to see that you spelled "cheque" the Canadian way even though this BBS indicates that it is a spelling error.

 

[BM243923]

I know Canadians spell funny (those extra u's) but don't they write it off when you send your cheque $3.00 short

Not sure if this comment applies to me, but I checked my account balance online and the $3.00 fee has a minus sign beside it. Therefore they wrote off the extra $3.00 charge and my account shows zero owing.

 

[bnoble]

None of my weeks give me the opt-in/opt-out, so I've never paid it, but not due to any principle.

 

[CalifasGirl]

For WorldMark owners, it's a completely separate mailing. It is not combined with our maintenance dues.

 

[SueDonJ]

For WorldMark owners, it's a completely separate mailing. It is not combined with our maintenance dues.

This is the best system of all that are mentioned here, other than the ones where the timeshare developers/managers/HOA boards don't act as direct conduits between ARDA-ROC and Owners.

 

[silentg]

What are ARDA ?