Marriott Aruba Ocean Club Owners Being Ripped Off By Marriott - READ IF AN OWNER

[Luckybee]

The simple fact is that rain wasn't involved in the situation yet the original post was worded (purposely or not) so it sounded like yet another Marriott Management outrage of incompetence. Your post also supports that misconception as the whole thing turned out to be a fire sprinkler problem. So "things should be fixed by now" doesn't apply to this. The on going and often speculative charges lead to this type of error and there are most likely others like you that now think the roof is still a problem and once again the Board/Marriott has blown it thanks to an incorrect posting. It really undermines any credibility of those crying wolf. The original post didn't ask for verification but sounded like someone had uncovered yet another roof/building leak problem after they were supposed to be fixed. "Why is the building still leaking?" is not an appeal for verification it is yet another accusation of faulty work done. Artful changes to "clarify" after being called on an obvious error doesn't change the original post.

A post asking "I hear there were some ceiling tiles that were damaged by water. Does anyone know what happened?" would have allowed for the proper response from someone in the know and not resulted in a false impression of roof problems. Its all in the wording and the assumptions being made.

The simple fact is that no one knows as yet what caused the "flooding" this time. Simply because one person was told by someone working on it that it was sprinklers doesn't make it so. OC history is filled with numerous examples of misinformation which has been given out by persons doing work on the OC over the years . As an example we personally experienced, when we couldnt get the AC in our room comfortable and the halls seemed to be very warm, we kept asking about the problem. We were repeatedly told there wasnt one. Through our own digging we found out that there in fact was a significant problem with the one tower condenser and that it had been on order for a couple of months from Florida. We were also told that the staff and workers had specific orders not to tell the guests about the AC issue.
When the stairwells were being repaired for the umteeth time from water damage, we were told that it was that the "paint hadnt cured properly". I could go on and on with examples as Im sure many others could as well.
Lets just say Im going to reserve judgement on this one.

 

[timeos2]

Let The King handle it in song

The simple fact is that no one knows as yet what caused the "flooding" this time. Simply because one person was told by someone working on it that it was sprinklers doesn't make it so. OC history is filled with numerous examples of misinformation which has been given out by persons doing work on the OC over the years .

Is there anyway we can have a link to the classic Elvis Presley song "Suspicious Minds" playing automatically on this thread? Seems that the line "We can't go on together with suspicious minds" would just about wrap up the whole thing.

Can you imagine working under these conditions? Every move dissected by at least two or more opposing groups with one offering congratulations for a job well done while another wants to dock your pay or have you fired for outrageously inappropriate actions. It is almost an unworkable situation that sounds like its getting worse. What a nightmare for owners both for enjoyment of their ownership and their wallets.

 

[AwayWeGo]

The King On U-Tube.

Is there anyway we can have a link to the classic Elvis Presley song "Suspicious Minds" playing automatically on this thread?

Click here for that tune via U-Tube.

Who knew it was a timeshare song ?

Live & learn, eh ?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[modoaruba]

Oy! So this is what I came back to?
Can't wait to get back.
Look at the bright side, the expensive chandeliers were not in the ceiling yet.

 

[lovearuba]

I agree with that one

Oy! So this is what I came back to?
Can't wait to get back.
Look at the bright side, the expensive chandeliers were not in the ceiling yet.

This is good news, imagine the water from the fire sprinklers flooding the new chandeliers? That of course is assumming it was fire sprinklers.

 

[lovearuba]

HMM

Any thoughts on why Frank Knox has the exact number of votes from the proxies as he does from the votes cast during the meeting?

Guess that must be his lucky number. :ignore:

 

[modoaruba]

Guess that must be his lucky number. :ignore:

Double coupon day!

 

[ecwinch]

Double coupon day!

Good one!!!!!

 

[AOC LOVER]

Paradise

Just finished 8 wonderful days at the Ocean Club. The facility and the staff are simply outstanding. I think those of us who are owners there are very fortunate.

 

[Zac495]

Just finished 8 wonderful days at the Ocean Club. The facility and the staff are simply outstanding. I think those of us who are owners there are very fortunate.

I agree - beautiful place - if you go annually, the fees aren't too bad - 2 bedroom for 1650 - probably can rent for 2500. But if you go only every few years, better to rent or trade in. Glad you had fun!!!

 

[modoaruba]

Just finished 8 wonderful days at the Ocean Club. The facility and the staff are simply outstanding. I think those of us who are owners there are very fortunate.

Totally agree.We go twice a year since 1998.
The knowing that we will be coming back makes it feel like a second home.
Always had a great vacation there. Yes we are fortunate.

 

[marksue]

letter from AOC Board

Some owners just got an email from the AOC board regarding the letter they got from our lawyer requiring the release of names and addresses of all 8750 owners. As soon as I can I will attach the letter or at least copy it as an attachment.

They are trying to trying to get everyone to check a box that says they do not want their contact info released, because Aruba law will require them to.

They are trying to scare the owners that the info would get into the hands of telemarketers (isn’t that what Marriott uses our contact info for). The letter from the lawyer stated the reason for the names and telemarketing was not listed.

If any owner did not get the letter drop me a note and I will forward it. I am working on this weekend to get a version on here.

 

[lovearuba]

letter

Hi
I did not receive it yet, lots of others. Mark, you may want to also take note of those who let you know they did not receive the letter. I usually get lots of correspondence from them so I expect to receive it.

 

[APerky1]

Received Letter from AOC today

Hi All,

I just received my letter in the mail from the Board. Why the request for names and addresses? Normally, I would not want my information released for privacy concerns, but if this is for a good reason, I'll be glad to release.

Haven't been reading the boards in the last few weeks, so bring me up to speed please.

I'm renting my unit out in September to a close friend for $1300.

 

[AOC LOVER]

Shameful Waste

I received my letter today. 35cents postage times 8,570 members. That's $3,000 wasted. Probably legal costs too. What a shame. All to keep more than one side of the story away from the owners.

Too bad the Board members aren't made to pay from their own personal pockets for their misfeasance.

 

[AOC LOVER]

Why do our Board Members Hide?????

This is elementary stuff.

Why aren't our Board members on line, participating in this discussion? If they are sure their position is just, why do they not explain it fully, and respond at least once to each critic?

If we succeed in ousting these Board members, we should elect only those candidates who agree in advance to take the time necessary to maintain reasonable 2 way communications with members, even those who may disagree with them.

 

[marksue]

aperky, The board doesn’t want you to hear the facts of what is going on with the Ocean Club. Allan Cohen, myself and the group of concerned owners have requested from Marriott the list of all owners so they can be contacted regarding the calling of a special meeting. We want to give the owners the opportunity to have a say. Instead they send out a mailing trying to scare the owners that the names will be used for telemarketing. That is not why it the truth, but this is just typical of how the board has been operating. They are trying to keep the owners in the dark.

Let them give out your name and the only information you will get is from the Aruba Attorney who is working with us, to get a list of owners to call a special meeting. Drop me a note if you would like more info.

AOC lover that is what we have been trying to do. Hold the board and Marriott responsible but yet they keep giving us more reasons to wonder what they are afraid of by their actions.

 

[lovearuba]

intentionally misleading letter

I got the letter and I feel it was totally misleading. It is an attempt to keep folks from signing it by the underlying threat that their personal information will be given out.

 

[Dean]

I got the letter and I feel it was totally misleading. It is an attempt to keep folks from signing it by the underlying threat that their personal information will be given out.

But the truth is their personal information would be given out and that the members, BOD and MVCI don't truly know how those names will be used. Given the dissent, I would think it only natural for the other side to be distrustful of such a request and the intentions involved and to realize there are no real guarantees that the addresses won't be used inappropriately or at the least, end up in the wrong hands inadvertently. I believe I posted twice much earlier in this thread that the group should be able to have the BOD mail anything that was reasonable though the requesting group would have to pay the postage. Email addresses should not be included even if the info is otherwise released, IMO.

 

[Luckybee]

I got the letter and I feel it was totally misleading. It is an attempt to keep folks from signing it by the underlying threat that their personal information will be given out.

I havent seen the letter yet. Based on history I find we here in Canada are usually about a week or two behind in getting snail mail from Marriott.

Are you saying that the letter does not indicate the real reason the info would be provided ie :"a group wishing to apply for a special meeting" or some similiar wording. Or are you saying they are adding to that with the threat of telemarketing? Reason I ask is that I would be surprised if they only used the telemarketing threat which could potentially have them running afoul of Aruban law if/when this goes in front of a judge. It is one thing to be misleading, but quite another to simply provide innacurate info. Anyone have a copy they can scan for me ? My curiousity is piqued...lol.

 

[Retired to Travel]

No, thanks...

As an AOC owner, I would be quite upset with MVCI or our BOD if they were to provide my contact information to just ANYone requesting it, including another owner or group of owners. We declined to sign up with the beach solicitor in February when we were in Aruba, partly for privacy concerns, and we would not want MVCI to circumvent our decision. Any release of personal information had better be done on an “opt-in” basis, or MVCI might find themselves in a lawsuit for violating their own privacy policy. I can’t imagine that many owners would prefer to have their contact information released without specific permission to do so. Once it's out, the spread of this info cannot be controlled.

 

[Luckybee]

As an AOC owner, I would be quite upset with MVCI or our BOD if they were to provide my contact information to just ANYone requesting it, including another owner or group of owners. We declined to sign up with the beach solicitor in February when we were in Aruba, partly for privacy concerns, and we would not want MVCI to circumvent our decision. Any release of personal information had better be done on an “opt-in” basis, or MVCI might find themselves in a lawsuit for violating their own privacy policy. I can’t imagine that many owners would prefer to have their contact information released without specific permission to do so. Once it's out, the spread of this info cannot be controlled.

Except they have to deal with Aruban law, which as I understand it will force them to release the info unless objected to by the member.

 

[Dean]

Except they have to deal with Aruban law, which as I understand it will force them to release the info unless objected to by the member.

Based on the info I had from another resort several years ago, I'm not sure that's the case. My understanding is all they had to do was provide access, not the list itself.

 

[Luckybee]

I guess time will tell

 

[ecwinch]

This is elementary stuff.

Why aren't our Board members on line, participating in this discussion? If they are sure their position is just, why do they not explain it fully, and respond at least once to each critic?

If we succeed in ousting these Board members, we should elect only those candidates who agree in advance to take the time necessary to maintain reasonable 2 way communications with members, even those who may disagree with them.

It is not as simple as one would might like it. The BoD makes decisions as a group. For one member to come on to TUG and post in response to questions, that would presume that they have the authority to speak for the entire BoD. Something that no member of the BoD has.

They could come here and provide their personal opinions on the issues, but that has certain challenges also. There is a previous post in this thread on that issue.

And that was something not even Allan was willing to do when he was a BoD member. It was only after his term expired that he appeared.