ARDA- ROC - Wyndham Recommends Voluntary Contribution

[ddavid1073]

I received an email from Wyndham last night recommending that I contribute $10 a year to a "non profit advocacy group" called ARDA-ROC. When I looked up the group it's says it say it is "The ARDA Resort Owners’ Coalition (ARDA-ROC) is a non-profit organization formed to represent the interests of timeshare owners at the federal, state and local levels of government."

When I look up the relationship between Wyndham and ARDA_ROC a Wyndham page came up and has the following description;

The ARDA-ROC organization:

• Supports strong timeshare rental, resale, and transfer consumer protection laws, which protect owners by holding companies that use deceptive business practices accountable for their actions.
• Continues to defend against potential onerous timeshare tax legislation for owners all across the country.
• Supports non-judicial foreclosure legislation which enables both owners and homeowners’ associations to save time and money, should the need arise.
• Works to protect your privacy to ensure your personal information is not shared with third parties for commercial purposes, unwanted solicitation, or fraudulent activity.
• Supports studies and research conducted through ARDA’s International Foundation to support ARDA-ROC's legislative positions.

I haven't really looked at this in depth but that first line "holding companies that use deceptive business practices accountable..." could be the definition of Wyndham sales. I think they mean timeshare exit scoundrels. Having Wyndham recommend it makes me suspicious right away.

This is a PDF link of their accomplishments by state. Many of these, to me, look like wins for the HOA more than owners. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.arda-roc.org/sites/default/files/2020-05/ARDA-ROC%20List%20of%20Accomplishments_May.pdf

Thoughts?

Links are below;

ARDA-ROC: Timeshare & Vacation Owners' Advocacy Coalition

ARDA-ROC protects the rights of timeshare and vacation owners. Join the leading coalition advocating for fair policies and responsible vacation ownership.

www.arda-roc.org

A Timeshare Owner's Guide to ARDA

Learn more about you can support the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) and its initiatives to protect timeshare owners.

clubwyndham.wyndhamdestinations.com

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

Simple: don't pay it.

TS

 

[TUGBrian]

can find a good number of threads on this "voluntary donation" on TUG.

Are you contributing to a timeshare developer lobbying organization [ARDA-ROC] without knowing it? [MERGED]

American Resort Development Association–Resort Owners’ Coalition (ARDA–ROC) is an organization that does lobbying to benefit timeshare developers. Sometimes their lobbying also benefits timeshare owners, but it's the developers that help fund ARDA–ROC. How do they fund it? Check the statement...

tugbbs.com

 

[artringwald]

organization formed to represent the interests of timeshare owners

What they really mean is to represent the timeshare developers. Sometimes those interests are the same as owners, but not usually. I always opt out, but they don't make it easy to do that.

 

[paxsarah]

For Wyndham owners, if you haven't recently, log into your Paymentus and make sure that autopay isn't turned on for the ARDA-ROC "account."

 

[ddavid1073]

can find a good number of threads on this "voluntary donation" on TUG.

Are you contributing to a timeshare developer lobbying organization [ARDA-ROC] without knowing it? [MERGED]

American Resort Development Association–Resort Owners’ Coalition (ARDA–ROC) is an organization that does lobbying to benefit timeshare developers. Sometimes their lobbying also benefits timeshare owners, but it's the developers that help fund ARDA–ROC. How do they fund it? Check the statement...

tugbbs.com

I see

can find a good number of threads on this "voluntary donation" on TUG.

Are you contributing to a timeshare developer lobbying organization [ARDA-ROC] without knowing it? [MERGED]

American Resort Development Association–Resort Owners’ Coalition (ARDA–ROC) is an organization that does lobbying to benefit timeshare developers. Sometimes their lobbying also benefits timeshare owners, but it's the developers that help fund ARDA–ROC. How do they fund it? Check the statement...

tugbbs.com

I see what you mean. Very interesting. Two separate groups one that represents timeshare companies - ARDA and one that supposedly represents TS Owners - ARDA ROC. When you look at the makeup of the boards for both companies it seems their both comprised of Hilton, Wyndham, etc.. company reps. There is one person one the board or ARDA-ROC listed as an owner representative, Sverre Thomassen, whose been the rep for 25+ years. Total BS I believe.

 

[ddavid1073]

TS Owners representative on the board of ARDA-ROC.

 

[ddavid1073]

This is the board of directors of ARDA-ROC the TS Owners lobbying group. Does it look like they represent us? See the owner representatives, Sverre Thomassen's Linked in page info posted above.

Directors​

Travis Bary, RRP, Capital Vacations	Michael Brown, Travel + Leisure Co.
Janice Feirstein RRP, Daily Management, Inc.	Jason Gamel, ARDA
Ada Grzywna, Bluegreen Vacations	Don Harrill, RRP, Chair, AIF
Neil Hutchinson, RRP, Hilton Grand Vacations	Robert Miller, RRP, Global Alliance for Timeshare Excellence
Richard Muller, RRP, VRI Americas	Annie Roberts, Wyndham Destinations
Jared Saft, Westgate Resorts	Lisa Siegert-Free, RRP, Christie Lodge
Sverre Thomassen, Owner Representative	Kimberly Tramontana, RRP, Breckenridge Grand Vacations
Robert Webb Esq., RRP, Baker & Hostetler	Scott Weisz, Marriott Vacations Worldwide

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

For Wyndham owners, if you haven't recently, log into your Paymentus and make sure that autopay isn't turned on for the ARDA-ROC "account."

How do you do this? I don’t see this option anywhere in payments/autopayment, but maybe somehow I’m missing it?

 

[ddavid1073]

can find a good number of threads on this "voluntary donation" on TUG.

Are you contributing to a timeshare developer lobbying organization [ARDA-ROC] without knowing it? [MERGED]

American Resort Development Association–Resort Owners’ Coalition (ARDA–ROC) is an organization that does lobbying to benefit timeshare developers. Sometimes their lobbying also benefits timeshare owners, but it's the developers that help fund ARDA–ROC. How do they fund it? Check the statement...

tugbbs.com

Thanks Brian. Very informative. Trying to fund an organization through TS Owners voluntary contributions that in all likelihood is going to lobby against laws/rules that would help TS Owners. Ironic Hypocrisy with a capital H.

 

[paxsarah]

How do you do this? I don’t see this option anywhere in payments/autopayment, but maybe somehow I’m missing it?

Here's what it looks like in my account. Note that this is at the bottom of the page after logging in, after I've scrolled down through 8 resale contract "accounts" that have no payments attached to them (former loans by former owners). You can see that my autopay on my owner account (maintenance fees) is active, but the ARDA account is not.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Do not pay this ARDA fee. Just seeing Michael Brown on the list of directors is reason enough not to pay it. Consider the punishment and downgrade of benefits Wyndham has made over the last 3 years. And here he is on the board of ARDA, probably telling other hotel-type timeshare CEO's how to go about limiting owner benefits for resale and for rentals. I am aghast that anyone would even consider paying this fee.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Here's what it looks like in my account. Note that this is at the bottom of the page after logging in, after I've scrolled down through 8 resale contract "accounts" that have no payments attached to them (former loans by former owners). You can see that my autopay on my owner account (maintenance fees) is active, but the ARDA account is not.
View attachment 93050

Weird, that’s not on my account at all. Maybe that means I’m not being charged for it? I scrolled down to the bottom of my 5 contracts and there is nothing further down there.

 

[kaljor]

For Wyndham owners, if you haven't recently, log into your Paymentus and make sure that autopay isn't turned on for the ARDA-ROC "account."

Thanks for this info. My Autopay was not activated for ARDA, but I was glad I checked.

 

[pedro47]

Are ARDA-ROC fees split between ARDA and the timeshare resort collecting this fee liked 50/50 or 60/40?