Resort no longer exists that continues collecting fees

[bresearcher]

Hello! I purchased a timeshare unit in 1989 at Village Caraibe Vacation Club in the Playa Dorado, Puerto Plata region of the Dominic Republic. I have not visited the unit in over 30 years and just discovered that the resort no longer exists. From my research, the resort potentially changed its name to Fun Tropicale in early 2000, which is listed as being Permanently Closed. The resort also appears to be completely abandoned in satellite imagery.

However, a Texas-based PO Box has been requesting maintenance fees on a yearly basis, which I have been paying without looking too closely into this. I have tried to contact the individual associated with the PO Box, but there were no replies. I will no longer be sending payments. How should I proceed in this situation to avoid any legal issues?

 

[Patri]

There probably won’t be any, or they will be in your favor. The company will realize it has been busted by yet another clueless client, and will disappear from your view.

 

[Ken555]

Wow

 

[tschwa2]

It is possible they re-deeded (not sure if it is a deed or a rtu) you somewhere else and you either didn't receive the paperwork or did but it got lost in the shuffle. In either case, I don't think you need to worry about ramifications in the US if you stop paying.

 

[Passepartout]

However, a Texas-based PO Box has been requesting maintenance fees on a yearly basis, which I have been paying without looking too closely into this. I have tried to contact the individual associated with the PO Box, but there were no replies. I will no longer be sending payments. How should I proceed in this situation to avoid any legal issues?

Oops. I wouldn't worry about ramifications, but also wouldn't lose much sleep chasing a refund of all those MFs you paid. It's gone, just like the resort.

 

[dioxide45]

Did you perhaps purchase into a network of resorts that gave you the ability to book multiple properties? So even if one goes away you still have the ability to stay elsewhere?

 

[bresearcher]

Thank you all for the responses! I will not chase back the MFs paid in the past, but I hope they do not come after me for collections even though the resort is closed. The fact it was closed was also confirmed via e-mail from the individual collecting fees, who said that the resort has been under "renovations" since the pandemic.

Did you perhaps purchase into a network of resorts that gave you the ability to book multiple properties? So even if one goes away you still have the ability to stay elsewhere?

I don't believe so. The request for maintenance fees has been coming from an individual in Texas working under the same name as the original resort. I have no notices of association with other properties and do not see any partnerships online. My specific unit in the old resort would also have been re-assigned to a unit in another property if this was the case.