[ 2012 ] Fairmont / Sunchaser / Northwynd official thread with lawsuit info!

[TS Migraine]

Thanks for that tidbit truthr. So , I haven't read WoW by Wankel, but based on his application of Virtual warcraft tactics to real life business tactics, I say this is yet another argument proving these warcraft type video games can corrupt the minds of avid addicts and our impressionable children.

 

[truthr]

Thanks for that tidbit truthr. So , I haven't read WoW by Wankel, but based on his application of Virtual warcraft tactics to real life business tactics, I say this is yet another argument proving these warcraft type video games can corrupt the minds of avid addicts and our impressionable children.

According to a bio I read he is in his 30's and yet this bio says:

"Kirk Wankel is a Chartered Accountant with fifteen years of experience including over six years of senior management at the Vice President or Chief Financial Officer level."

How can someone in their 30's possibly have this type of experience in addition to acquiring their CA level?

In addition, from what I know of WOW (which is not much) it would take an enormous amount of playing time to achieve this:

"During his extracurricular time, Kirk has spent six years as a World of Warcraft raid leader. Over the past year, he took on the challenge of combining his business experience with his extracurricular activities to develop, write, and publish the 102,000 word non-fiction book WoW Factor: an insider’s look at the real skills developed in the virtual World of Warcraft."

It is no small wonder that whatever businesses he is involved in end up in disaster - he appears to be too busy playing rather than working.

 

[condomama]

Rafter Six

Did you see the article in the Herald on Saturday regarding the Rafter Six Ranch financial difficulties? Mention is made of a partnership with a timeshare company that fell through, and of course, here we know from documents posted here that it's Northwynd that backed out, leaving Rafter Six in a lurch. To their credit, the article has a very positive overtone, with the owners trying to make the best of a bad situation and trying to find new backers while maintaining the business.

 

[Sunset2013]

Please keep us posted. We are to check in June 20th and so far they have confirmed the unit.
Interesting since the new court date they have not cashed our May 31st " Go cheque".
Any One Else able to check in let us know. How have others remittance been accepted or not?

 

[Spark1]

Here's a link to FAQs regarding the upcoming renovation project:

http://www.sunchaservillas.ca/owners/faq.asp

Many of the questions people are asking here are addressed. I'm so not happy about this:annoyed:

This does not mean anything. If there was a trick survey, people would of been thinking that their renovation part of their maintenance fees would be paying for this major renovation cost. Nobody would agree to what they are trying to do. Timeshare should be outlawed in Canada, there are to many crooks involved in this racked. I laugh at these news articles saying how Colin Knight fell on hard times, because of the 2008 melt down. The Alberta Government allowed him to write off over 43million . Do you you think he went out broke. Just maybe he could have some of our renovation money in his bank accounts. Just remember once they got your money they quite answering their phones.

 

[TS Migraine]

So perhaps we should take a page out of Wankel's WoW book and apply virtual experience to real situations and pay him with "virtual" money! See how happy he is when he takes our Virtual Money to the Bank?
Virtual money should suffice to pay for renos to Virtual property ownership, right?

 

[Beaverjfw]

The people behind FRPL

For those trying to look into the deep dark past of Fairmont, Northwynd and the tangled mess of companies involved, I came across an interesting site. There is some good info about the investment firm FRPL and the people behind. it. Have a look
http://frplfinance.blogspot.ca/2010/02/frpl-finance-web-site.html

 

[TS Migraine]

For those trying to look into the deep dark past of Fairmont, Northwynd and the tangled mess of companies involved, I came across an interesting site. There is some good info about the investment firm FRPL and the people behind. it. Have a look
http://frplfinance.blogspot.ca/2010/02/frpl-finance-web-site.html

This excerpt is taken from the side link to the Calgary Investment Opportunity MEMORANDUM of the above noted website by Beaverjfw: It apears promises of financial return on FRPL made February 24, 2010 were questionable at best, and there was investor/insider information that wasn't allowed to be leaked:
"Nothing contained in the Memorandum shall be relied
upon as a representation or promise of the past or future performance of FRP.
Any estimates or projections contained herein have been prepared by FRP and are based on information
currently available. They involve signifi cant subjective judgments and analyses and, accordingly, no representation
or assurance is made as to their attainability by FRP or FRPL. Actual results will differ from
any estimates or projections made and the differences may be substantial.
Recipients of this Memorandum agree that fi nancial and other information contained herein is of a confi
dential nature: i.e., they will not, directly or indirectly, disclose or permit their agents, representatives,
employees, offi cers, directors or affi liates to disclose any of this information and they will use the Memorandum
and any related information only to evaluate a potential fi nancing by FRPL of the properties of
FRP and for no other purpose.
If a recipient of this Memorandum or the shareholders of FRP or FRPL choose not to pursue a transaction,
the Memorandum and any other related material must be returned to FRPL. The Memorandum
recipient may retain no copies.
All questions about this investment opportunity should be directed to:
Mr. Ed Nycholat, CA
Manager of Operations
FRPL Finance Ltd.
Suite B, 220 - 42nd Ave SE
Calgary, Alberta T2G 1Y4
(403) 451-1161
edn@frplfi nance.com
Mr. Rex Schinnour
Sales Director
FRPL Finance Ltd.
Suite B, 220 - 42nd Ave SE
Calgary, Alberta T2G 1Y4
(403) 451-1166
rex@frplfi nance.com

 

[condomama]

Lea Williams-Doherty

Tonight on CTV news, Lea Williams-Doherty interviewing Northwynd and affected owners in the Calgary area. More at 6 p.m. newscast.

 

[truthr]

Tonight on CTV news, Lea Williams-Doherty interviewing Northwynd and affected owners in the Calgary area. More at 6 p.m. newscast.

You can read about it here: and probably watch it later after it has aired

http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/owners-of-fairmont-timeshares-face-dilemma-1.1320057

 

[browger]

Lea Williams-Doherty on Calgary CTV tonight

Here is the 'video' on Calgary CTV tonight. We should all post this on Facebook and also ask our families to spread the word and this video

http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/owners-of-fairmont-timeshares-face-dilemma-1.1320057

 

[TS Migraine]

I know a CA who knows Kirk Wankel. When I asked if she knew him, she said "boy do I" so I am curious to hear her story. I will relay what she knows about him when she gives me the scoop.

 

[SentimentalLady]

Currently at Riverside

Currently at Riverside. Two buildings closed for major renovations, though it doesn't appear they're very busy there. (I remember how long it took them to build the Rec Centre!) One building has very low occupancy. Not sure how full the other buildings are....there are fewer cars than I'd normally expect, and it seems VERY quiet around here.

Not sure about Hillside, as we were only up there briefly today.

On check-in we were required to sign a very long new form that had only been introduced two days earlier. If we're injured etc. in any way, we cannot sue. It is mandatory to sign the form.

Also received a little green sheet with everything else upon check-in:


Renovation Project Fee

Friendly reminder to our owners: The deadline for the renovation project fee was May 31st. If you have already contacted the Vacation Ownership Services office with your decision and have made arrangements for either the "Freedom to Choose" or "Reason to Stay", thank you!

If you have not, kindly contact the VOS office at 1-877-451-1250 as your account is considered overdue. Resort Villa Management Ltd. has the right to restrict usage. To date we have chosen not to; however this could change at any time.

We appreciate your attention to this matter.

Enjoy your stay!

Resort Villa Management


(We had paid to go by the deadline because we felt we had no choice.....we had two weeks booked here and family plans and a two-day trip to get here.... The time was just too short between the deadline and our reservations to take a chance. It would be too devastating and disappointing, and too costly to come all this way only to be turned away. But this whole thing is so wrong. Still wondering if we should join a group, because there are so many other things we'd rather spend that $5000 on.)

 

[TS Migraine]

Currently at Riverside. Two buildings closed for major renovations, though it doesn't appear they're very busy there. (I remember how long it took them to build the Rec Centre!) One building has very low occupancy. Not sure how full the other buildings are....there are fewer cars than I'd normally expect, and it seems VERY quiet around here.

Not sure about Hillside, as we were only up there briefly today.

On check-in we were required to sign a very long new form that had only been introduced two days earlier. If we're injured etc. in any way, we cannot sue. It is mandatory to sign the form.

Also received a little green sheet with everything else upon check-in:


Renovation Project Fee

Friendly reminder to our owners: The deadline for the renovation project fee was May 31st. If you have already contacted the Vacation Ownership Services office with your decision and have made arrangements for either the "Freedom to Choose" or "Reason to Stay", thank you!

If you have not, kindly contact the VOS office at 1-877-451-1250 as your account is considered overdue. Resort Villa Management Ltd. has the right to restrict usage. To date we have chosen not to; however this could change at any time.

We appreciate your attention to this matter.

Enjoy your stay!

Resort Villa Management


(We had paid to go by the deadline because we felt we had no choice.....we had two weeks booked here and family plans and a two-day trip to get here.... The time was just too short between the deadline and our reservations to take a chance. It would be too devastating and disappointing, and too costly to come all this way only to be turned away. But this whole thing is so wrong. Still wondering if we should join a group, because there are so many other things we'd rather spend that $5000 on.)

It is not too late to retain a law firm. If the BC Court Petition Fails and the owners succeed in proving these fees are not legitimate, then Sunchaser will be found inelligible to demand the Stay or Go fees, then a Class Action may be launched to have your money refunded to you; same applies to those who may have paid to stay.
Which Riverside buildings are closed? I did a booking for week 52 of this year and then an II Deposit. They booked me a unit in the two hundred building at Riverside. My exchange power may be seriously limited if it is closed!

 

[TUGBrian]

new article on this today, lists the lawyers and contact info for those involved in the case if any owners are interested

http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/owners-of-fairmont-timeshares-face-dilemma-1.1320057

 

[TS Migraine]

For those trying to look into the deep dark past of Fairmont, Northwynd and the tangled mess of companies involved, I came across an interesting site. There is some good info about the investment firm FRPL and the people behind. it. Have a look
http://frplfinance.blogspot.ca/2010/02/frpl-finance-web-site.html




The following excerpt comes from a TUGG blog # 9 concerning the assesment fees at Rancho Banderas in Puerto Vallarts August 23, 2011. Does this all sound too familiar; is history repeating itself in 2013 with Northwynd Sunchaser Fairmont ? The major names are all the same: Collin Knight, Patrick Fitzsimonds, Kirk Wankel, Doug Frey- the guy Leah Williams Doherty interviewed..I wonder how the lawsuits at Rancho Banderas played out?:

In a letter to all timeshare owners, Mr. Fitzsimonds says:

“Our goal is to earn your confidence and participate together with you in our various capital and operational initiatives to significantly improve our properties and your vacation experience. I sincerely hope that you share our enthusiasm, and I look forward to a positive future together.”

I have talked to Mr. Fitzsimonds on several occasions. He at first was pleasant, but as time has passed he has shown he is just a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

My first conversations with Mr. Fitzsimonds were to assessments lowered and remove the old staff from their positions. Mr. Fitzsimonds gave me the run around and told me over and over how sorry he was, but he was not going to do anything about it. He told me he was going to go over everything with Mr. Stychin and get to the bottom of things.

Well after Mr. Fitzsimonds met with Mr Stychin he really had nothing to say but that he would keep the same crooks to watch over our investments. Mr. Fitzsimonds has kept the complete staff of Fairmont Resort Properties! All the same people who treated us owners like second class citizens as they laughed in our faces and hung phones up on us.

Mr. Fitzsimonds at one time offered to buy back my timeshare for what I paid for it. I told Mr. Fitzsimonds that this would not be fair considering how much money was invested in it and also how much the cost of the timeshare has gone up. Mr. Fitzsimonds has quite taking my calls and has metamorphosed into the true weasel he is. I am sure from all the posts and blogs that I have read that Mr. Fitzsimonds and his cronies are connected and the same as the old company. Tell me why do I still pay my assessments to Resorts West Management? Why are all the corporate addresses the same? If you read the complaints you will also find that the crimes are not concentrated only on Rancho Banderas, but they spread to all the resorts under the Northwynd name. Justice will be served one day Mr. Fitzsimonds and your true self will be shown.

The Future:

I have received many emails asking to join a lawsuit. I am continuing looking for a lawyer to represent us. I am filing charges in Mexico and in Canada. I will be sending word out to the media and see if we can put a stop to this injustice. This company owns many time shares and I would not be surprised if their fraudulent dealings run deeper then Rancho Banderas. During this time of economic hardship it is unconscionable that a company would steal money from hardworking people. I am still baffled that this type of company is allowed to go on ripping people off. Everyone knows they are breaking the law, but nothing has been done. Please help us on our quest to bring this company to justice and send its management to prison where they belong.


This is a list of all the people form Rancho Banderas and Fairmont properties that should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law (I am sure there are more, but these are the only ones I have dealt with):

 

[TS Migraine]

Bolg # 10 TUG August 23, 2011 Rancho Banderas owner. I guess these guys never went to jail based on Rancho Banderas, cuz they are still up to their tricks here in Canada: Northwynd Resort Properties - Fairmont Rancho Banderas Time Share Fraud

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Latest Information:

I have found out that the people named on the Northwynd website are all former Fairmont Resort Properties employees. Please help us on our quest to bring this company to justice and send its management to prison where they belong. Attached here is a current list of management from Northwynd Resort Properties and Fairmont Resort Properties.


Patrick Fitzsimonds; Chief Executive Officer
Doug Frey; Vice President, Development
Eleanor Fornataro; Vice President, Communications / Corporate Services
Chris Van Der Deen; Vice President, Operations / Member Services
Kirk Wankel; Chief Financial Officer


Patrick Fitzsimonds; Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Fitzsimonds has been involved in the capitalization and development of residential and resort-based real estate in the U.S. and Canada over the course of the past 34 years. He acquired a Masters Degree in Business Administration and went on to executive positions with Shelter Corporation of Canada, Qualico Developments and United Inc.. Patrick's areas of experience include construction, design, cash management and financial structure.


Doug Frey; Vice President, Development

Mr. Frey is a University of Alberta alumnus and has been involved in real estate finance and development for over 20 years. His career path includes increasingly responsible positions with National Trust and Morguard Investments Ltd., and most recently as co-founder and principal in Foxbridge Development Ltd., a real estate development company active in Alberta and British Columbia.


Eleanor Fornataro; Vice President, Communications / Corporate Services

Ms. Fornataro has worked in the timeshare industry for the past 14 years, first with Royal Host Vacation Club, and most recently with Fairmont Resort Properties Ltd.. Eleanor brings valuable experience in the areas of program development, client services, and communications.


Chris Van Der Deen; Vice President, Operations / Member Services

Mr. Van Der Deen has many years of experience in the hotel and resort sector. As General Manager of several Royal Host properties in the early 2000s, Chris developed a keen appreciation of the many facets of hotel management and guest services. Beginning in 2005 Chris led the management team of Columbia Villa Management (later Resort Villa Management) at one of Canada's largest timeshare resorts in Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C., and also took on the General Manager role at Lake Okanagan Resort in Kelowna, B.C.


Kirk Wankel; Chief Financial Officer

Kirk Wankel graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelors of Commerce in 1995 and obtained his Chartered Accountant designation in 1998 while working for Arthur Andersen. Kirk has over a decade of industry experience including positions as the Vice President of Finance for BW Technologies Ltd., Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Fair Sky Resources Inc., and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Blackline GPS Inc. Kirk has been the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Northwynd since November, 2010.

 

[den403]

Reportively RCI and INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL has confirmed with a few inquiring Sunchaser members that if you have a current membership with either of them and you continue to pay your yearly membership fees to RCI or II you will be able to book getaways and discounted hotels as long as you membership fees are up to date.....this will reportively continue even if you no longer own a time share.

Has anyone else heard this?

Update:

Now reportively RCI aren't sure of what will happen

Best to call for yourself !

 

[Quadmaniac]

Reportively RCI and INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL has confirmed with a few inquiring Sunchaser members that if you have a current membership with either of them and you continue to pay your yearly membership fees to RCI or II you will be able to book getaways and discounted hotels as long as you membership fees are up to date.....this will reportively continue even if you no longer own a time share.

Has anyone else heard this?

Yep. Doesn't matter whether you own a timeshare or not, pay the fees, get the membership.

 

[Spark1]

Reportively RCI and INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL has confirmed with a few inquiring Sunchaser members that if you have a current membership with either of them and you continue to pay your yearly membership fees to RCI or II you will be able to book getaways and discounted hotels as long as you membership fees are up to date.....this will reportively continue even if you no longer own a time share.

Has anyone else heard this?

This is true. I phoned II a few weeks ago and let them know what Northwynd was up to and at that time i told them i would not invest one thin dime into a company that has a D- rating with the BBB Calgary. This lady i was talking to said she worked for II several years and never ever heard of anything like this before. I told her as long as these crooks have anything to do with this resort we will never go back there. I said the part i did not like about this was not being a member of II and she said sir you are grandfathered into the system and all you need to do is keep your dues paid. She said they would get rid of Sunchaser from my file and business as normal. People be smart do not sign anything with these guys until the court case is over. Read over the cancellation document carefully, especially the last paragraph stating just because you signed that document doesn't mean you are released. It will be up to northmont the manager when you will be let go and you will be responsible for all costs incurred up to that point. The RCMP were telling people not to sign anything until after the court case. This makes since because if you pay these guys money and they loose this case now you will have to fight to get your money back good luck.

 

[den403]

Now reportively RCI is saying your membership will terminate at the end of your 2013 points usage unless you remain an owner and have paid your 2014 maintenance fees and dues.
They weren't sure yet what to do if you've prepaid for the next few years and are to reply with a response by the end if the week. The supervisors have to discuss it with the upper mgmt ad they can't answer that question.


Interval International would give nothing in writing stating anything but said the calls are recorded.


They were asked to get all their staff on the same page as they would be likely getting lots of calls soon

Recommendation :call and ask for yourself?!

 

[fairmontlvr]

For those trying to look into the deep dark past of Fairmont, Northwynd and the tangled mess of companies involved, I came across an interesting site. There is some good info about the investment firm FRPL and the people behind. it. Have a look
http://frplfinance.blogspot.ca/2010/02/frpl-finance-web-site.html

if you go to this site, then on the left hand side click on "Blogs on FRPL Finance ". someone was really speaking their mind about what they were thinking of FRPL. I can't repeat or copy what they said as i am sure it would get flagged by the moderator of this site.

I do remember back in 2010 listening on 630 Ched radio station about this FRPL and wondered how they could be offering such a high rate of return at 12% per year over 3 years. I just googled Canadian rates back in 2010 and Bond rates at the time were 3.5%, 3 year GIC'S were 1.43% and 3 year conventional mortgages were 4.5%.

At the time I thought they were extremely attractive but fortunately I never did buy into them as they apparently only paid the investors for a few months. In reviewing the list of creditors during the bankruptcy, i noticed 630 CHED was among the companies FRPL owed money to.

What were they thinking, who at of Fairmont Resort Properties decided to set up FRPL Finance offering such high rate of returns at a time so much higher than other investments and an economy in the tank?

 

[SentimentalLady]

It is not too late to retain a law firm. If the BC Court Petition Fails and the owners succeed in proving these fees are not legitimate, then Sunchaser will be found inelligible to demand the Stay or Go fees, then a Class Action may be launched to have your money refunded to you; same applies to those who may have paid to stay.
Which Riverside buildings are closed? I did a booking for week 52 of this year and then an II Deposit. They booked me a unit in the two hundred building at Riverside. My exchange power may be seriously limited if it is closed!

400 and 800 are closed right now. Who knows when they'll do which building. The exchanges never guarantee a unit number anyway. Maybe book your exchange sooner rather than later?

 

[TS Migraine]

Spark1, I have been pushing for people to retain Docken Klym precisely because, when Northwynd is found at fault, we will need a Class Action suit to recover monies paid to Northwynd under coercion of the Freedom to Choose letter. I agree, NO-ONE should give them a dime until the Court has determined the legality or NOT of what they are trying to do. Any money they get from owners now, willnot be held in a reno or maintenance fund, they are going to use it to support themselves through another bankruptcy and to FIGHT us Legally. If we all unite under one law firm, not only do we have strength in court, but we are united by enough numbers to overthrow this management company.

 

[TS Migraine]

Further more, signing ANY agreements, Stay- Go - or Otherwise, designed by Northwynd at this time to SERVE ONLY THEIR SURVIVAL and Financial obligations puts you at risk of future legal battles. When you first decided to buy a TS, you weighed that decision carefully, and probably asked yourself all the necessary security of investment decisions. Being coerced into "just being done with it" or "saving your resort so you don't lose your original investment" may not be as rational a decision, and you DONT want to threaten the legal precedent set by your original TS contract/purchase. $500.00 to retain a lawyer may sound like a lot of money, especially when we are all suspicious of the fees chargd by lawyers, but it may be false economy in this case, based on Northwynds past resort shenanigans, to NOT have Legal Counsel.