TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Atrium timeshare update

So we have been Atrium owners for 27 years and gave it back after this last SA was issued with a 2 week time period to pay it. Our friends returned theirs with no fees, they tried to get $ from us, we contacted North Carolina AG and fought about the fees and our other friends agreed to pay an exit fee. They told us we'd be paying the SA for at least 2 more years which makes this an unacceptable situation. Our contract said if we inform them and do not pay the maintenance fee, then we can walk away. I sent all this info to NC AG and Festiva/whomever they are named this year finally agreed to no fee....like we were ever going to pay anyway. We're just dying to know what everyone else decided to do.

Glad you finally got it resolved to your satisfaction.

You made a wise decision.

We spent many great annual family vacations over 40+ years in SXM. We bought timeshares for most of that time but sold them a few years ago. Many times during those years we spoke to people that simply walked away from unwanted timeshares without any penalty. Often I would recommend that people read their original timeshare contracts. Most never did. We learned that most timeshare contracts originated in Netherland Antilles had no mention of any payment beyond the annual maintenence fee. People paid "exit fees", "transfer fees", "termination fees" that were not legally enforcible but resorts were able to get $ they should not have gotten with this bluff. Some resorts threatened to negatively post on credit reports. We learned that if that posting appeared it went away as soon as the timeshare holder disputed the post. Most credit agencies are not timeshare proponents.

Last year in the sales office at Divi they tried to sell me on a "relinquishment" add-on to my existing contract so that my kids don't "have to" take over the contract when I die. I know that can be an actual problem with US-based deeded timeshares, but Divi's contracts are right-to-use and all based in the Cayman Islands now. As if they're going to go through the trouble of suing anyone internationally to try to collect a thousand dollars a year in maintenance fees. I feel like we get a good value for our timeshare, but I despise the sales game. I don't know how those folks go home feeling good about themselves.

Yes, we knew we were not going to pay the three assessments, but I still wanted NC AG to know the kind of business ethics these people have...they were helpful...because they kept on them....and all we were expecting was nothing but to vent....quite frankly...but our friends were going through an extended illness, fighting with insurance companies and they just didn't want to deal and they were charged a lot. I felt sick when I found out they paid....it was less than the original offer, but we knew they didn't have to pay but they were just worn down and wanted done with them. I'm just wondering where the rest of the Atrium folks are and what they did...hoping they did not get stuck paying. We do care about the people and the island but some things that have happened through the years has b een tough to take...we will return but still angry right now. Getting there is always difficult and a 12 hour day...so we'll take a break and get back in the future...in the meantime, Happy New Year to all and be safe there.

Not paying them, let them know, zero response. I don't think they have a case.

I'll have to look at my original Flamingo contract as I don't need my July 2bed at Flamingo any more and would just give it back as I only use my 3 May weeks now and have many in the bank to tack on to those.

We owned at the Atrium from 2000 to 2017. We paid one assessment fee to Festiva or whomever years ago but after the hurricane we figured its time to leave timeshare world even though the Atrium was one of the only resorts that did not sustain much damage. Our contract stated we could give our unit back with a reason so with that I sent a letter with our reason and was able to give the week back. Our friends did the same thing and they were not able to give it back. Both of us owned our weeks outright and were up to date with MF AND had the same contract but she was not able to do so and walked away with no recourse. We never heard from them again. We have stayed both there and the RP without being held hostage to MF. Its amazing what you can find online!