RCI Suspended Eagle Village Tamiment

[nellevad]

This is where you need to get contact information for the BOD and start emailing them, writing letters, letting them know what you want. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but you need to make your voice heard.

Petitioning the BOD would make sense in a normal situation. But don't forget, over 50% of the timeshare interest is now owned by 'the partner". The partner now carries the vote.

 

[LisaC]

Until the resort closes, it is open--and if it is open, the owners are obligated to continue contributing to its ongoing operations. We own at a Hawaii resort with a similarly uncertain future, but until it happens, nothing has happened.

So, this means they could take away our ability to trade and its legit? I bought it with the assumption to trade and never go to the Poconos.

 

[dioxide45]

So, this means they could take away our ability to trade and its legit? I bought it with the assumption to trade and never go to the Poconos.

The only thing guaranteed is what you have deeded to you. Nothing above and beyond what you have on your deed is guaranteed.

 

[bnoble]

So, this means they could take away our ability to trade and its legit? I bought it with the assumption to trade and never go to the Poconos.

Correct. What you own is the usage rights to your week at that resort. Everything else is subject to some other third party agreeing to go along. Your resort and RCI are completely different (legal) entities and they are not beholden to each other unless they decided to work together. And, RCI has decided not to work with the resort.

 

[nellevad]

So, this means they could take away our ability to trade and its legit? I bought it with the assumption to trade and never go to the Poconos.

Yes! You bought a timeshare interest in a deeded property run by Eagle Village Property Owners Association . This Association took control of the resort once Newton International of the Poconos, (the developer) sold all the timeshares and deeded the resort to the Association. This deed would have been recorded in Pike County. So, as you can see, RCI has nothing to do with our property other than allow you to swap this property for another in their system. Once they don't like a property, they will pull their services. Therefore no more swaps for EV. But you are still a member of RCI and can buy something else in their system to give you points. You should have been given the Declaration for EV which states your obligation to the resort when you bought. You are legally bound to the resort. I am curious how you bought at EV? And are you a weeks owner or a floating points system member?

 

[nellevad]

I'm thinking that EV needs to bring back a rental service for all their owners. They used to have a realestate company that did that. That would help all the remaining private owners who would never visit or use their units. Of course they would take a commission that could be as much as 40%, but anything would help. Also, I am sure the new partner will be renting.

 

[LisaC]

Yes! You bought a timeshare interest in a deeded property run by Eagle Village Property Owners Association . This Association took control of the resort once Newton International of the Poconos, (the developer) sold all the timeshares and deeded the resort to the Association. This deed would have been recorded in Pike County. So, as you can see, RCI has nothing to do with our property other than allow you to swap this property for another in their system. Once they don't like a property, they will pull their services. Therefore no more swaps for EV. But you are still a member of RCI and can buy something else in their system to give you points. You should have been given the Declaration for EV which states your obligation to the resort when you bought. You are legally bound to the resort. I am curious how you bought at EV? And are you a weeks owner or a floating points system member?

I am a weeks owner and just bought it from a friend about 22 years ago.

 

[mcara00]

It only costs $20 more to wait to pay until after the meeting in February - that’s my plan and I may even wait longer. I may or may not pay this year - but definitely will not pay an assessment in any coming year and am likely done after 2024. I’ll get my credit needs arranged this year and take the credit hit in 2025 rather than continue to pay into a black hole. For anyone who still wants to save EV - it seems like throwing a lot of good money after bad when a large organization can now do whatever they want (since they now own a majority of the votes) and is still trying to get you to help pay for it. You can always buy another (and better) timeshare - even in the northeast somewhere close to whatever big city you live in - for a very modest amount of money (maybe just $1).

 

[nellevad]

It only costs $20 more to wait to pay until after the meeting in February - that’s my plan and I may even wait longer. I may or may not pay this year - but definitely will not pay an assessment in any coming year and am likely done after 2024. I’ll get my credit needs arranged this year and take the credit hit in 2025 rather than continue to pay into a black hole. For anyone who still wants to save EV - it seems like throwing a lot of good money after bad when a large organization can now do whatever they want (since they now own a majority of the votes) and is still trying to get you to help pay for it. You can always buy another (and better) timeshare - even in the northeast somewhere close to whatever big city you live in - for a very modest amount of money (maybe just $1).

I just want to restate what happen to me in 2023. I have 2 units at EV. I double paid on one and left the other one deliquent without knowing or checking back later to make sure things were posted. I heard nothing from Concord. There was no letter telling me I was late. In May I received a letter from Concord's collection agency-Blackwell. By that time the penalty fee was 200. The letter said the fee was going to increase if not paid. If you want to stop paying, I can see your point, but you will be in for some headaches. Blackwell will contact the credit rating services and continue to charge you. I spoke with them, they are not nice. Perhaps, wait a year, see how things pan out this year. If renovations are started, RCI sends a promise to reinstate, ads produced to rent the units etc., you could have an easier way to exit in a year or 2. Just hate to see you go through that when we all could possibly exit gracefully. I have tried to sell over the years, and will continue to try to sell. If this plan for the area by this Oaks Group (Oakes???) is going to be successful, (and I'll give them a chance because we kinda dont have a choice), we have to help until we can get out. But I am pretty sure this company is not going to invest in EV, just to let the owners renege on their legal obligation without penalties.

 

[LisaC]

It only costs $20 more to wait to pay until after the meeting in February - that’s my plan and I may even wait longer. I may or may not pay this year - but definitely will not pay an assessment in any coming year and am likely done after 2024. I’ll get my credit needs arranged this year and take the credit hit in 2025 rather than continue to pay into a black hole. For anyone who still wants to save EV - it seems like throwing a lot of good money after bad when a large organization can now do whatever they want (since they now own a majority of the votes) and is still trying to get you to help pay for it. You can always buy another (and better) timeshare - even in the northeast somewhere close to whatever big city you live in - for a very modest amount of money (maybe just $1).

I totally agree with you. Why should we pay on something that is going down to the ground. The fact also they never let us know what was going on until now when they want their maintenance fee. The RCI was removed back in the beginning of October and they were un-reachable. Tried numerous times and no response.

 

[Saworkman01]

I am also planning to wait and see what information comes from the meeting. Has anyone seen something stating what the partnership is exactly? I don't want to assume there is a new majority owner if no details are known yet. I would love to see the resort make it but if it must be stripped for parts fine just don't deceive us or keep us in the dark.

 

[Volkyro]

I just want to restate what happen to me in 2023. I have 2 units at EV. I double paid on one and left the other one deliquent without knowing or checking back later to make sure things were posted. I heard nothing from Concord. There was no letter telling me I was late. In May I received a letter from Concord's collection agency-Blackwell. By that time the penalty fee was 200. The letter said the fee was going to increase if not paid. If you want to stop paying, I can see your point, but you will be in for some headaches. Blackwell will contact the credit rating services and continue to charge you. I spoke with them, they are not nice. Perhaps, wait a year, see how things pan out this year. If renovations are started, RCI sends a promise to reinstate, ads produced to rent the units etc., you could have an easier way to exit in a year or 2. Just hate to see you go through that when we all could possibly exit gracefully. I have tried to sell over the years, and will continue to try to sell. If this plan for the area by this Oaks Group (Oakes???) is going to be successful, (and I'll give them a chance because we kinda dont have a choice), we have to help until we can get out. But I am pretty sure this company is not going to invest in EV, just to let the owners renege on their legal obligation without penalties.

You're making this seem a lot scarier than it is. Once you tell a collection agency they can only contact you via mail, they have to stop calling (or you can file suit). You can also respond, in writing (use certified mail), with a list of documents and licenses they are required to hold in your state in order to collect a debt along with a request for them to verify that debt. 90% of the time, that stops both the calls and the mailings. One phone call and tearing up a lot of letters is about the extent of what @mcara00 would be facing if they chose to stop payment.

 

[Rhondita920]

There is no way many of us could possibly be at the meeting on February 10th, but we could be there virtually! I have attended many meetings these days virtually. I may call and ask if it could be an option.

 

[LisaC]

There is no way many of us could possibly be at the meeting on February 10th, but we could be there virtually! I have attended many meetings these days virtually. I may call and ask if it could be an option.

I think a Zoom meeting would definitely be a great idea.

 

[mcara00]

You're making this seem a lot scarier than it is. Once you tell a collection agency they can only contact you via mail, they have to stop calling (or you can file suit). You can also respond, in writing (use certified mail), with a list of documents and licenses they are required to hold in your state in order to collect a debt along with a request for them to verify that debt. 90% of the time, that stops both the calls and the mailings. One phone call and tearing up a lot of letters is about the extent of what @mcara00 would be facing if they chose to stop payment.

I agree. I suspect there are a few owners who are hoping hard that EV can somehow be saved and so would like to see current owners not give up. I can understand that - back in the 1980s and even early 90s, it was a nice place. But I am over 70 and live many hundreds of miles away from EV and have no reason to vacation there. And I have no interest in being a landlord for a vacation rental. I was planning to give up on it soon anyway. I always thought the property would make a nice commuter community for those only needing to go to the office in NYC or eastern NJ once or twice a week.

 

[slarney77]

I inherited my timeshare at eagle village in 2016 I have never been there I used RCI every so often I would check out the reviews on Yelp or whatever and it was very hard to find a good review everybody said the same thing it was run down I moved to the West Coast and RCI didn't have many places to go when you had a dog so I decided to you know try to sell my timeshare or deed back they at eagle village told me to call this number they'll give you I can't remember the guy's name and they'll either tell you it's around 3 or $4,000 or he'll try to get it back to 1500 the price they were giving people to deed back during covid the lady my mother bought the timeshare from used to own two weeks and she said when she first got at the place was wonderful they had skiing nightclub shows that a bunch of amenities but that was many years ago when they still had a hotel there . I went to one of those places that they said they'll buy timeshares and they say there's no value there it appears that the board of directors have ran this place into the ground I would wonder if they own any stock in the company that's buying it or are they part of the bord of the company that's buying it. You would think that would put this meeting that they told you about during on the bill which I didn't get till January on zoom or Microsoft teams so people who don't live near there or out of state could participate in it

 

[moreyzoo]

Yes, there is an amendment clause. I have attached a pic. An amendment would need to be recorded in Pike County and could be looked up. I believe our current MF's are only sufficient (or not) to pay for utilities, taxes and wages. We would need a true, transparent budget sheet to see. They do not provide that. Also, I know that it sounds like a terrible place to go to, when you read reviews. But if you have ever visited, you would see its charm. It really could make a comeback with an injection of cash, which is what this Oaks Group is offering to provide. View attachment 86857

We cannot attend the meeting next month so I have sent a letter to the board of directors letting them know how many of us feel. Pull the plug, sell the assets and distribute the profit if any, to the current owners.

 

[Sammy1234]

The more I think about it, the more I think this partnership is a take over by the Oaks Group. This type of business deal just happened to the Historic Hollywood Beach Resort in Florida. The Chetrit Group bought out more than 50 percent of the timeshsare owners and condo owners. Then, with the majority of the voting interest, voted to close down the Timeshare Association. Then they had the building condemned by the city, forcing the remainder of hold-out owners to vacate the premises. It now stands empty, waiting for redevelopement plans. Just for fun, I have a hypothesis and ran some numbers. If there are 68 units at EV, and 68 x 51 weeks equals 3468 units. If more than 50% are now owned by the Oaks Group, lets say 2000, then they now owe maintenance on 2000 units. That would be 2000x760=$1,520,000. So in essence they bought out Eagle Village. There is no way an outside business is going to hand over money to a timeshare to fix it up so it can be part of RCI again for nothing. They will spend this year and maybe next year using our maintenance fees along with the 1,520,000 they sunk into it to fix it up. They will continue to buy up forfeited units. Then in the future, when it is all fixed up, use their majority to vote for it to close, and offer to buy out the remainder of owners (for pennies) who are in good standing, which will be less now that RCI is out of the picture. It will take years to renovate all those units and before RCI will reinstate it. People will stop paying as bnoble has suggested. So, the Oaks Group could pick up the property for perhaps $2,000,000 (or 3,040,000+ if it takes 2 years)--land and all the renovated buildings. If I was the Oaks Group, I'd be giddy over this partnership coup. I mentioned before EV was a sitting duck. I think it will be no more by 2027.
Well, that was fun. LOL.

I cannot find the post, but someone had suggested that since most of us cannot attend the meeting on February 10th, would they be able to offer Zoom. Would someone on this thread be able to contact them and ask if this would be possible. I would, but right now, we have an attorney and are not allowed to contact them. Plus what about if everyone files a complaint with the Attorney General's Office. I will get the information on how to do it. I think some of these reviews that mention mold, roaches, mice droppings, no heat, no locks, rotten wood on steps, bathrooms that are not cleaned between guests, etc, would definitely get the Attorney General's attention. Just checked Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office website, and at the bottom, there is a contact option. When you click on that, there is an option to file a complaint about a business. PLEASE EVERYONE, file a complaint, even if a couple of people file a complaint within the next couple of days, it might help.

 

[Sammy1234]

We cannot attend the meeting next month so I have sent a letter to the board of directors letting them know how many of us feel. Pull the plug, sell the assets and distribute the profit if any, to the current owners.

I just posted on a prior post asking if someone can contact them about doing a zoom meeting since most of us cannot attend the February 10th meeting. I would, but we have an attorney and are not allowed to contact them. I also mentioned that it might be helpful if everyone files a complaint with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office. If you go to their website and go to the bottom of the page and click on comments, it has a link to file a complaint. Just mention or take screenshots of some of the reviews that mention mouse dropping, roaches, no heat, mold, etc and say that there is no way you want to stay at a place like this for health reasons, I think we might get their attention and possibly help our case to be able to get out of our timeshare obligation. If anything, it can't hurt. So please everyone consider doing this.

 

[LisaC]

I cannot find the post, but someone had suggested that since most of us cannot attend the meeting on February 10th, would they be able to offer Zoom. Would someone on this thread be able to contact them and ask if this would be possible. I would, but right now, we have an attorney and are not allowed to contact them. Plus what about if everyone files a complaint with the Attorney General's Office. I will get the information on how to do it. I think some of these reviews that mention mold, roaches, mice droppings, no heat, no locks, rotten wood on steps, bathrooms that are not cleaned between guests, etc, would definitely get the Attorney General's attention. Just checked Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office website, and at the bottom, there is a contact option. When you click on that, there is an option to file a complaint about a business. PLEASE EVERYONE, file a complaint, even if a couple of people file a complaint within the next couple of days, it might help.

Exactly where did you file the complaint with within the Attorney General Office website. I took a look at it and wanted to know what options you had clicked on?

 

[Sammy1234]

If you log in to myaccountinfo.com and select OPTIONS the ESTATEMENT HISTORY the below is attached to the 12/27 Billing PDF. I will be present for this meeting on 2/10 in person. I don't see how "partnering" with a group will fix the problems we have. It's apparent that for several years the units have been neglected. The office staff have a reputation of being unavailable and when reached unhelpful. Throwing money at this problem will not correct our situation if management is not corrected. It is most likely already too late. I'd be fine with selling the property off at this point which is sad.

Dear Eagle Village Property Owners Association Members: As Eagle Village POA enters into its 40th year of making family memories, we have also been tasked with the responsibilities of trying to keep the resort up and running with limited resources. Over the years we have lost over half of our membership, but your Board of Directors still made adjustments to keep your timeshare interest in place. These decisions however have come with a price. The decline in membership over the years and low annual fees has limited the budget ability to afford unit renovations, facility improvements and rising costs of maintenance with an aging property. Currently about 70% of Eagle Village POA are also members of RCI. RCI is a timeshare exchange company with over 4,300 affiliated resorts in 100 countries. Recently Eagle Village Owners who are also RCI members received a letter pertaining to their RCI membership. Your Board of Directors is cognizant that this information has caused confusion and unpredictability. You will be pleased to know that your Board of Directors has been exploring all avenues to have Eagle Village POA RCI memberships reinstated. This process has been long and tedious, but your Board has made a decision to bring Eagle Village POA into its next phase of new life. Your Board of Directors is working on partnering with The Oakes Group to help Eagle Village address its needs to help the association’s members in making new memories and vacationing experiences. The Oakes Group and its ownership’s affiliated companies last year acquired 200+ acres of land neighboring Eagle Village including the newly renovated and opened Amphitheater at Poconos Park and The Lake House at Poconos Park. In the last year the Poconos Park property has hosted various events ranging from concerts, 4th of July Fireworks, a motorcycle show, Halloween, private special events and more. Currently, Poconos Park is hosting Poconos Lights, a Drive-Thru Christmas Experience with over a mile of lights.. They recently had a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of The Lake House at Poconos Park to begin accepting 2024 & 2025 bookings for weddings and other events. The Oakes Group will immediately endeavor to coordinate RCI reinstatement for Eagle Village Property Owners Association Members and will work on plans for unit renovations, facility improvements, operations, marketing and more. With our ownership continuing to dwindle and the rising costs this move to partner with The Oakes Group is a great accomplishment, and we believe the outcome of this partnership will benefit everyone. Eagle Village POA Board of Directors is pleased to announce that our 2024 Operating budget will not change. This is a conscious decision by your Board of Directors, always recognizing the need to upgrade and improve Eagle Village, but also trying their best to keep your dues much lower than the industry average. Attached is the Proposed Operating Budget for 2024 and a Budget definition sheet to help you better understand where funds are needed. The budget reflects an Annual Maintenance Fee of only $760.00. There will be no Annual Maintenance Fee increase for 2024. Your 2024 Annual Maintenance Fee payment is due before January 31, 2024. The meeting of the Board of Directors to consider adoption of the Proposed Budget will be held on Saturday, Feb 10, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at our Recreation Center. If you plan to attend, please call Eagle Village office @ 570 588 5380 ext. 7100 on or before 3pm ET on Feb 1, 2024.

After reading Eagle Villages letter has to why they can't keep up with upkeep is a joke. They say so many members have left - well why do they think people left? Pretty obvious to me, they are not using the maintenance fees to do with what they are suppose to be used for -"maintenance ". Obviously that has not been the case and that is the REASON people are leaving. If they were doing maintenance and upkeep, people would not be leaving. Think about it, Eagle Village, how many people want to stay at a " resort" when they read the reviews and read things like, it looks like a third world country, mouse droppings, roaches, no heat, leaking roof, unit not cleaned after previous renter, rotten wooden steps, no locks on the doors and this is just a couple I can think of off the too of my head. I say, "check please!"

 

[Sammy1234]

Exactly where did you file the complaint with within the Attorney General Office website. I took a look at it and wanted to know what options you had clicked on?

I went to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office website and at the very bottom after an article about online dating services, it says contact, under that, its underlined Contact Us, click on that. Then on the page that takes you to, right above the word Name, its says, to file a complaint about a business , click here, the word here is in blue ink. That takes you to the page where you can file an online complaint. If you still need help, please let me know. I urge everyone to file a complaint. As I mentioned in a previous post where I asked someone to contact Eagle Village to see if we can do a zoom meeting for the BOD meeting, I can't contact them or file a complaint because we have an attorney.
If they won't agree to a zoom meeting, ask if we can stay overnight at one of their wonderful condos .

 

[Sammy1234]

Also, I was also thinking with some of the complaints like I mentioned above, roaches, mice droppings, mold, no heat, I think it would be a good idea if everyone called the Pennsylvania Department of Health. We should not have to stay at a place we are paying money for that will jeopardize our health. I just checked and to file a complaint with them, you can call 1-800-254-5164 to file a complaint. We CANNOT continue to let them collect maintenance fees and have rental units that some people have posted on the reviews, that after one night, they packed up and moved to a hotel. These people at Eagle Village need to be held accountable for.

 

[Sammy1234]

Exactly where did you file the complaint with within the Attorney General Office website. I took a look at it and wanted to know what options you had clicked on?

 

[Sammy1234]

Hi, did you see my above post? In the above post, I explained where on the website you can file a complaint. If you cannot find my post, I would be happy to repost it, just let me know. Thanks