Do HGVC owners have to pay a contribution to ARDA-ROC?

[artringwald]

Now that Diamond Resorts has been purchased by Hilton, I'm wondering if HGVC owners have to pay anything toward ARDA-ROC as part of their maintenance fees. ARDA-ROC (American Resort Development Association - Resort Owners Coalition) is a 501(c) 4 non-profit third-party organization sponsored by American Resort Development Association. Although ARDA-ROC is often pictured as being good for the timeshare owners (us), it's really a lobbying organization for the timeshare developers. Diamond Resorts has always added a line item in the MF statement:

2021-ARDA-ROC Voluntary Contribution - $7.00​

In the fine print they say:

Your billing invoice includes the total amount of your assessments including a voluntary ARDA-ROC contribution. Rest assured you are not required to contribute​

to ARDA-ROC, it is a voluntary line item and not a maintenance fee charge.​

Many DRI owners don't realize what it is and that it's optional, so they pay the full amount listed on their statement. That's why I'm asking if HGVC tries to get owners to contribute to ARDA-ROC. It is certainly not an organization that represents the best interests of timeshare owners.

 

[Sicnarf]

No it is voluntary.

 

[Ty1on]

Many companies try to automatically collect ARDA donations, and you are right, ARDA does not protect the interests of owners in any way, shape, or form. This is a good reminder for all of us and enlightenment for those who never realized they don't HAVE to pay that "due"

 

[GT75]

It will be on most (maybe every) HGVC MF bill but as option automatically checked. I always uncheck the option.

 

[artringwald]

It will be on most (maybe every) HGVC MF bill but as option automatically checked. I always uncheck the option.

I'd be happy if that's what DRI did. They just tell us to subtract $7 from our payment, and eventually, the $7 balance will go to $0. I usually wait a couple of weeks, and if it hasn't gone to $0, ask them how long I should wait before I call back again if it still hasn't gone to $0. A check box would be much easier for me and them, even if the default was to have it checked.

 

[TUGBrian]

always fascinating that a "voluntary contribution to a political lobby" is the default option for hundreds of thousands of timeshare owners every year.

 

[kanerf]

I believe it is a check mark on the bill that you can just uncheck.

 

[Ty1on]

always fascinating that a "voluntary contribution to a political lobby" is the default option for hundreds of thousands of timeshare owners every year.

Not when you consider the gullibility of paying $40,000 for something you can't give away the day after the rescission period ends. Or the cynicism of the one selling that thing.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

It should be opt-in vs. opt-out. Deceiving? Absolutely by design! And the $5 balance will stay on your bill for a few weeks if you pay online. Vistana does the same. Ignore it and it eventually will go away. This is one item at a timeshare where you can walk away from paying and they will not come after you.

 

[GT75]

It should be opt-in vs. opt-out. Deceiving? Absolutely by design! And the $5 balance will stay on your bill for a few weeks if you pay online.

I agree. I think that it is $10 for my KingsLand MF. The other thing is that the "optional" contribution shows up on every single bill. For example, at Valdoro I get 3 separate bills (1/2 MFs in January, Taxes for me are bill separately because I have EOY & EEY deeds and 1/2 MFs in June) Every Valdoro bill will have this optional charge.

But HGVC does make it easy to uncheck (which I do everytime).

 

[dayooper]

It should be opt-in vs. opt-out. Deceiving? Absolutely by design! And the $5 balance will stay on your bill for a few weeks if you pay online. Vistana does the same. Ignore it and it eventually will go away. This is one item at a timeshare where you can walk away from paying and they will not come after you.

I don’t remember seeing that on my statement after I paid, but I probably don’t really look at my statement after I pay. I always make it a point to not pay as well.

 

[GT75]

@artringwald, this was a very timely post because HGVC MFs bills are starting to hit our accounts. This is a good reminder to all HGVC TUG members that contributions to ARDA-ROC are voluntary.

 

[pedro47]

@artringwald, this was a very timely post because HGVC MFs bills are starting to hit our accounts. This is a good reminder to all HGVC TUG members that contributions to ARDA-ROC are voluntary.

When does HGVC start sending out MF'S bills for 2022?

 

[GT75]

When does HGVC start sending out MF'S bills for 2022?

Each resort (most - there is at least one exception) is at different times between now and first of year. But the early ones should be starting soon. Our club dues have just hit our accounts.

 

[pedro47]

Each resort (most - there is at least one exception) is at different times between now and first of year. But the early ones should be starting soon. Our club dues have just hit our accounts.

Thanks

 

[rickandcindy23]

I pay my MF's for Wyndham every month. I hope I am not paying ARDA fees. I never thought of that. I should look into it. ARDA hasn't protected me at all from Wyndham's new rules to "get owners back on vacation," which is stopping me from renting what I own.

 

[chaparrusa]

ARDA IS A FARCE , IT IS AN ORGANIZATION TO PROTECT THE TIMESHARE COMPANIES (SHARKS). IT WILL DO NOTHING FOR YOU .

 

[NOLA47]

Thanks for this info. I remember seeing it on my HGVC invoice but I can’t recall the choice I made. This year, I will be better prepared to respond. Thanks so much for introducing and explaining this subject.

 

[FunnyFarm]

How do you opt out when you are on Diamond monthly payment plan for maint fee.
I never see a bill it is on auto-pay

 

[artringwald]

How do you opt out when you are on Diamond monthly payment plan for maint fee.
I never see a bill it is on auto-pay

Here's what is says on my DRI statement.

What is the ARDA-ROC Voluntary Contribution? Do I have to pay it and is it part of the maintenance fee?​

i. ARDA-ROC (American Resort Development Association - Resort Owners Coalition) is a 501(c) 4 non-profit third-party organization sponsored by American Resort​

Development Association that works to preserve, protect, and enhance the vacation ownership experience through smart policy and sensible regulation. It is a​

lobbying coalition group that works with leaders in the timeshare industry to advocate for local, state and federal policies that provide consumers with a wellprotected​

and enriched vacation ownership experience, which is funded by more than one million timeshare owners who voluntarily contribute to support the​

coalition.​

ii. Your billing invoice includes the total amount of your assessments including a voluntary ARDA-ROC contribution. Rest assured you are not required to contribute​

to ARDA-ROC, it is a voluntary line item and not a maintenance fee charge.​

a. For owners who are paying their maintenance fees in full that do not want to contribute, please deduct the ARDA-ROC line item from the total invoice​

amount when making a payment.​

b. For owners paying with the monthly payment option, please note that the ARDA-ROC line item is shown as an example of what your total invoice​

amount would be should you choose to make a manual contribution. If you do no not want to contribute to ARDA-ROC, this line item will be​

automatically deducted from your total invoice and no further action is needed. If you would like to make a contribution, a payment can be made by​

contacting owner services at the phone number listed on the front of your invoice.​

iii. Please be assured that non-contribution will not result in reprisal or otherwise affect your membership.​

iv. Contributions to ARDA-ROC are not deductible for tax purposes.​

However, I have deeded weeks. If you own points in a trust collection, you may not have a choice. When the trust owns the underlying weeks, they may choose to make contributions without your knowledge. I'll be posting something on the DRI forum to find out if points owners have a way to decline contributing.

 

[BocaBoy]

I don't particularly like the way it is added to maintenance fee bills, but I do think they do good work that is in our interests as owners.

 

[artringwald]

I don't particularly like the way it is added to maintenance fee bills, but I do think they do good work that is in our interests as owners.

They lobby to help the timeshare developers, but occasionally the owners also benefit. For example, they work hard to prosecute the "get rid of your timeshare" scammers, which certainly helps both the developers and owners. More likely though, they will push for legislation that helps the developers and hurts the owners.

 

[TUGBrian]

something like this? and that sliver should be much..MUCH smaller!

I do agree somewhat regarding the upfront fee companies, but that only came about after the upfront fee companies started really making dents in developer pocketbooks.

I can give them credit for the expansion of the developer deedback program, but while its touted as a great success (and admittedly its far better than it was say 5 years ago), based on reports a good % of those "arda approved deedback programs" dont provide much help for the owners who really need it!

 

[TUGBrian]

this might be better

 

[dioxide45]

ARDA did also work to fight Hawaii counties when they decided to try to tax timeshare owners disproportionately.