2023 MF's Discussion Thread

[aka Julie]

Will MVC ever get their act together?

I have yet to receive any notification that our 3 MF bills are ready. I have to go look for them and find out 2 of them were dated November 11 (it's now November 28). How long does it take them to notify us? I have been signed up for ebilling for many years. The bill for the Club Dues has not appeared yet, but the amount shows up in my payment area.

I bet the Vistana folks are so glad to be a part of Abound. If MVC didn't have their act together, they should have delayed the launch.

This is the first year I've been thoroughly disgusted with paying my MF.

Rant over.

 

[SueDonJ]

Will MVC ever get their act together?

I have yet to receive any notification that our 3 MF bills are ready. I have to go look for them and find out 2 of them were dated November 11 (it's now November 28). How long does it take them to notify us? I have been signed up for ebilling for many years. The bill for the Club Dues has not appeared yet, but the amount shows up in my payment area.

I bet the Vistana folks are so glad to be a part of Abound. If MVC didn't have their act together, they should have delayed the launch.

This is the first year I've been thoroughly disgusted with paying my MF.

Rant over.

I noticed the same thing with Barony Beach Club's MF's, Julie. This is the first year that it was posted to the website without the email notifications going out simultaneously, and it is strange that the invoice is dated Nov 11 but it wasn't posted to the website until yesterday. I was able to get the invoice and Operating Budget by signing in and clicking on "Maintenance Fees/Club Dues" in the dropdown box under "ACCOUNT," then wait through a bit of lag until the amount shows up, then click on "View Statements and Budgets."

************ Something Else ************

There's an ongoing thread related to ARDA-ROC fees in the Vistana forum, ARDA fees seem to be not voluntary ... It was started by a Vistana owner but it covers all the systems so if you want to talk about it, please do it there. There reason I'm putting a comment here is because Marriott owners who don't read the Vistana forum might want to pay attention to the amount that's being suggested as an optional contribution this year - my Barony amount increased from $5.00 to $10.00. Again, I just want to call attention to the amount for Marriott owners, but if you want to discuss the topic I'm asking you to go to the linked thread. More importantly, remember that this is a totally voluntary contribution.

 

[DRH90277]

Newport Coast maintenance fees - Has anyone seen anything on these? Seems pretty late.

 

[seagila]

Marriott Phuket Beach Club

2023 Thai Baht 36,124.48 (2022 - 35,078.69) inclusive of 7% VAT

An increase of 2.98%

With a strong USD and the current exchange rate, the increase for US-based owners is effectively lower than 2.98%.

 

[vol_90]

With a strong USD and the current exchange rate, the increase for US-based owners is effectively lower than 2.98%.

It will be negative for those converting USD to THB this year. I paid close to 30 THB to the $ in 2022. Right now the THB is just above 35. Just remember there are times when this flips and the THB has strengthened against the USD in a given year. Owners of the Phuket Beach Club weeks need to be aware of exchange rate risk as all MF's must be paid in THB.

 

[MOXJO7282]

Newport Coast Villas 2BR (all units are 2BR):

Condo reserves 77.35
Master reserves 82.13
Master operations 121.06
Condo operations 171.96
Replace reserves 365.60
Operating fee 791.66
-----------
Total 1,609.76

Increase 12.4% ($177 over 1,433 in 2021)

This is the resort with the highest increase for me. Disappointing.

 

[mjm1]

This is the resort with the highest increase for me. Disappointing.

We are disappointed too. Our Desert Springs Villas I increased just over 10% and NCV over 12%. I attribute both larger increases to being in California with higher salaries as a large component of the increase.

Best regards.

Mike

 

[MOXJO7282]

We are disappointed too. Our Desert Springs Villas I increased just over 10% and NCV over 12%. I attribute both larger increases to being in California with higher salaries as a large component of the increase.

Best regards.

Mike

That being said, NCV with taxes is still cheaper than any of my HHI Marriotts.

 

[VacationForever]

That being said, NCV with taxes is still cheaper than any of my HHI Marriotts.

...and way cheaper and smaller absolute dollar increase compared to my 2 Desert Springs Villas 1 (red) weeks.

 

[GetawaysRus]

...and way cheaper and smaller absolute dollar increase compared to my 2 Desert Springs Villas 1 (red) weeks.

I've always thought that the lockoff feature at DSV was worth something, especially compared to NCV (which doesn't lock off), and that should figure in when comparing maintenance fees. But I've never known what sort of value to place on it.

Anyone care to make a guess about that? Any TUG wisdom on this?

Clearly if you use your 2BR unit at each resort for your own stay, that value is zero. But I doubt that we all do that, especially the DSV weeks owners.

 

[VacationForever]

I've always thought that the lockoff feature at DSV was worth something, especially compared to NCV (which doesn't lock off), and that should figure in when comparing maintenance fees. But I've never known what sort of value to place on it.

Anyone care to make a guess about that? Any TUG wisdom on this?

Clearly if you use your 2BR unit at each resort for your own stay, that value is zero. But I doubt that we all do that, especially the DSV weeks owners.

You are absolutely right and thank you for reminding me that the 2BR L/O is why we chose DSV I over NCV. I have always locked off the 2BR at DSV, since we bought in 2013. We had initially used it to trade in II but for the past 3 years, we rented out the 1BR side and deposited the studio side into II and traded back into DSV I for 2BR for when we travel in winter.

 

[aka Julie]

Has the Trust not reported maintenance fees on DC/Abound Club Points yet for 2023? I thought they usually come out much earlier than any weeks ever do.

I finally got an email today (12/14) that my invoice was ready for Club dues. The invoice is dated 11/19. On the ball as usual. Also they are finally acknowledging on their website that there may be issues accessing via Apple devices. Earlier they told me Chrome works best. I don’t use Chrome and refuse to download it just for them. Funny even the smallest on-line business works on most platforms. Why cant MVC?

 

[winger]

... Funny even the smallest on-line business works on most platforms. Why cant MVC?

BECAUSE MVC is in the travel & hospitality business, and technology is not their thing

 

[bazzap]

BECAUSE MVC is in the travel & hospitality business, and technology is not their thing

Presumably though they do pay a huge sum of money to outsource their IT to a company whose business is technology?

 

[timsi]

BECAUSE MVC is in the travel & hospitality business, and technology is not their thing

Hospitality is not just about the resorts, it is a whole experience that starts with booking and customer service before, during and after the trip. If they do not understand that we interact with the company a lot more than just during our vacations, we have bigger problems. Aside from that, today you can’t be in any business with a large number of customers and NOT be in IT.

 

[winger]

Presumably though they do pay a huge sum of money to outsource their IT to a company whose business is technology?

Do you know when that outsourcing started? If recent, maybe it's taking time to get things rolling. Or maybe Marriott chose the wrong company and/or being cheap with things (and you know that saying).

 

[bazzap]

Do you know when that outsourcing started? If recent, maybe it's taking time to get things rolling. Or maybe Marriott chose the wrong company and/or being cheap with things (and you know that saying).

I have been trying to find out (hopefully someone on here knows?)
I had thought that it started a long while ago, but I did see someone suggest that it was more recent.
It would certainly be good to know when and who.

 

[SueDonJ]

I've finally updated the compilation in the first post in the 2023 MF's sticky thread - sorry for the delay but life has been very busy.

Feel free to take a look and add any that are missing. Also, it'll be helpful if any non-US owners can add a post confirming the 2023 International Owner Services Fee to the thread.

Thanks!

 

[bazzap]

I've finally updated the compilation in the first post in the 2023 MF's sticky thread - sorry for the delay but life has been very busy.

Feel free to take a look and add any that are missing. Also, it'll be helpful if any non-US owners can add a post confirming the 2023 International Owner Services Fee to the thread.

Thanks!

I have added it there, as well as here.
The 2023 International Service Fee is $34.50 (per week!)