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[ 2017 ] I bought timeshare, got hit with maintence fees that were in arrears

L

LobstaLady

TUG Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2017
Messages
12
Reaction score
3
Location
New Brunswick, Canada
Resorts Owned
Attitash Mountain Village
Discovery Beach Resort
i bought on eBay, from timesharemommy, it was Groupwise that handled the sale. I purchased a week 9 at Discovery Beach Resort on March 21. I was told completion could be 180 days, waited, inquired, was told it would be sent out. I received a bill from VRI for $670 for fees that were billed Nov 2016 for 2017 usage. This was unexpected, What can I do? The week I purchased was already passed when I bought so no deal involved with using in purchase year. I have t been able to reach Groupwise. Can they sell a week to you and stick you with past maintence fees? I believe they were the billed owner in Nov 2016.
 
What does your purchase agreement say? What did the estoppel say?
 
Our grantee acknowledgement states we are responsible for all future yearly assessments and real estate taxes in connection with said property and will pay same when due 1/1/2018.
I have no clue what estoppel even is.
 
Groupwise would be the broker and not the seller or the owner. You need to go back to them non stop until you get a response. Brokers do this all the time. Sloppy closings without checking past due fees. Even the good ones. The good ones though will make it right when something goes wrong. Keep at it. This is not the best outfit out there but also definitely not the worst. They have been around a while so keep trying to contact them and don't give up. They need to cover those fees or reverse the sale if your agreement did not state fees begin in 2017.
 
Saintsfanfl (Who Dat?) is mostly correct. Groupwise is a PCC (PostCard Company), which likely sold the interval under a Power of Attorney granted to them by the actual owners (who previously paid Groupwise a very hefty upfront fee). A separate (but "very closely related") PA entity likely handled the actual deed transfer details. Chances are good that neither Groupwise nor the "closer" ever bothered to obtain an estoppel from the resort at any time; estoppel document would have verified unit / week details and status of the owner account at the date of estoppel issuance.

If Groupwise had PoA before issuance of that unpaid maintenance fee bill in Nov.2016, then Groupwise plainly should pay that bill and any imposed late fees now (out of the hefty fees already paid to them by the departing owner). If Groupwise obtained PoA after issuance of the Nov. 2016 maintenance fee bill, still apparently unpaid, it seems to me that the contract language would determine exactly who must now assume responsibility for that unpaid bill.

Depending ion the dates of events, OP should either look to Groupwise to pony up for the unpaid fees to make things right, or attempt to reverse the transaction and refund any and all monies paid (the latter option being highly unlikely to be exercised willingly). Then again, the money paid to the "closer" for their services is now water under the bridge and surely won't be refunded in any scenario, so the new grantee might decide that it's just not worth the bother to chase GroupWise, particularly if s/he acquired the ownership for peanuts. :shrug:
 
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I was unaware that Groupon dealt with timeshares?
 
dioxide45 said:
Groupon <> Groupwise
Click to expand...

Got it, thanks. I somehow missed the post somehow bringing "Groupon" into a conversation about PA-based PCC GroupWise. :shrug:
 
Don't you love Autocorrect.
 
Nag said:
Our grantee acknowledgement states we are responsible for all future yearly assessments and real estate taxes in connection with said property and will pay same when due 1/1/2018.
I have no clue what estoppel even is.
Click to expand...


There are several important dates in any real estate transaction. the date the purchase and sale agreement is signed (at this point you have a contract) , the date the deed is signed, the date the deed is recorded in the local land records, and with regard to condos (and timeshares) the date the condo association accepts the new owner and updates their records.

Your contract ought to specify where, along this timeline, you become responsible for the fees. From what you have posted here, it seems clear to me the the previous owner is responsible for any fees billed before the date your agreement became a contract (the date the last person signed it) and you are responsible for any fees billed after that date.
 
So, it’s Groupwise? Not Groupon? Got it,Thanks
 
Nag said:
i bought on eBay, from timesharemommy, it was Groupwise that handled the sale. I purchased a week 9 at Discovery Beach Resort on March 21. I was told completion could be 180 days, waited, inquired, was told it would be sent out. I received a bill from VRI for $670 for fees that were billed Nov 2016 for 2017 usage. This was unexpected, What can I do? The week I purchased was already passed when I bought so no deal involved with using in purchase year. I have t been able to reach Groupwise. Can they sell a week to you and stick you with past maintence fees? I believe they were the billed owner in Nov 2016.
Click to expand...

I have the same problem with Groupwise AKA TimeshareMommy (and I also purchased a unit at the Discovery Beach Resort). The deed was recorded over 2 months ago. I just contacted them and they said it will take an additional 3 months to transfer. That's ridiculous! Also, the account has a balance and its in collections.

I'd never buy from them again and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone (especially after reading that someone else has the exact same issue). I'll post if there is a resolution but if you don't see a revision to this posting... then there's still an issue.
 
Nag said:
i bought on eBay, from timesharemommy, it was Groupwise that handled the sale. I purchased a week 9 at Discovery Beach Resort on March 21. I was told completion could be 180 days, waited, inquired, was told it would be sent out. I received a bill from VRI for $670 for fees that were billed Nov 2016 for 2017 usage. This was unexpected, What can I do? The week I purchased was already passed when I bought so no deal involved with using in purchase year. I have t been able to reach Groupwise. Can they sell a week to you and stick you with past maintence fees? I believe they were the billed owner in Nov 2016.
Click to expand...

Groupwise is a "Postcard Company". It is unlikely that they were ever the owner of record, but merely acted on behalf of the actual owner under a Power of Attorney granted by the actual owner (from whom they collected big bucks at some prior point in time to help them get rid of the timeshare).

Denise earlier asked the fundamental question --- what does the purchase contract say? If Groupwise is involved, I'll bet that you never saw an estoppel (and I'd further bet that Groupwise never even bothered to obtain one). Whether there is any potential resolution lies in the content of the purchase contract and specific representations found therein (...or not).
 
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Most sellers on eBay guarantee a clear title. Take a look at both the original listing if you saved it or can find it and the sales agreement you signed. You can still contact eBay to register a complaint against them if the seller refuses to make this right. EBay will take action if they refuse.
 
I am looking at a couple of listings by them on eBay. I asked for the Vacation Ownership Interest Details (Wyndham) and they didn't know what I was talking about. That is not a good sign. I'll be looking elsewhere.
 
I am in process with one from them........it started out fine. They were really responsive but now have not heard back from them...,, I will keep you posted
 
"We do not provide the estoppel prior to the sale." Message from timesharemommy29
 
I am following up on my purchase from Groupwise aka ebay timesharemommy29... To clear things up. Still not transferred and still an unpaid balance on the account (8 months after the purchase). They actually are/were the owner of the timeshare AND they were the title / closing company. They purchased/transferred the unit from an owner to themselves and over a year later, they sold it to me. Not sure why it took them so long to list it for sale. But anyway, it's 8 months later I have still not had the unit transferred to me. There's still an unpaid balance on the timeshare account. I am pretty sure that they are trying stick me with the balance. Others in the message board have mentioned contract language and such but Groupwise is located in Pennsylvania. Sure I can take them to court but I doubt that will do any good and it will cost me time and money.

Word of advice, NEVER DEAL WITH GROUPWISE
 
Nag said:
i bought on eBay, from timesharemommy, it was Groupwise that handled the sale. I purchased a week 9 at Discovery Beach Resort on March 21. I was told completion could be 180 days, waited, inquired, was told it would be sent out. I received a bill from VRI for $670 for fees that were billed Nov 2016 for 2017 usage. This was unexpected, What can I do? The week I purchased was already passed when I bought so no deal involved with using in purchase year. I have t been able to reach Groupwise. Can they sell a week to you and stick you with past maintence fees? I believe they were the billed owner in Nov 2016.
Click to expand...

Could you give me an update with your transfer from Groupwise at the Discovery Beach Resort? I have the same exact issue as you at the same resort and unpaid fees. Thank you.
 
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