TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Atrium assessment.

Not directed at you Tom, but you touched on this info.
SXM AMF's based on a 1 bedroom unit per info I have received in early 2017: Sapphire $850.00, Towers $1025, Royal Islander La Plage $793.00, Simpson Bay Resort $1100, Flamingo $1450, La Vista $822, Divi $943.00, Sea Palace $700, Oyster Bay BR, $1113.00, Les Cottages $600. Atrium at $785.82. Factor in how often you pay a SA and how much that is and you can better compare cost, lots of other factors to consider.

I am and have been a bargain shopper for what I have purchased on SXM. Mostly off of ebay, only one I purchased direct and that was from La Vista and that was just so I could have two weeks in a row in the same 1 bedroom 2 bath unit. Not sorry about any purchase I have made, no regrets. With that said I do not ever suggest somebody purchase or not purchase, it is an individual decision. I only suggest that the person really research the ownership, AMF's and their history including items like Special Assessments. Then you are eyes wide open. Also, never finance and with that don't give them your SS# when you purchase.

I would also note that the quantity of places for sale on SXM has seemed to go down over the last year plus. Guessing that is a result of a better economy in the US.

Cheers with a West Coast "train of thought", I have been recently been told that is different. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />
T

Rick and Grace: that is exactly the same reason I bought a timeshare at the Atrium in 1996 - it forced me to take a vacation or lose the AMF money. It worked for several years, and I met some wonderful people and made some wonderful memories. After Festiva bought the property, things changed, and I realized that I could meet wonderful people and make wonderful memories in a lot of places - Mexico, Scotland, Belize, Costa Rica... but the purchase of the timeshare was a major step in helping me to realize what was important in life. I'm still glad I walked away from it, but I'm not sorry I had the experience.

I asume that was because you had a reservation for a stay prior to the end of April. My fixed weeks are for May and supposedly via the grapevine they are to be ready by then.

Todd,
Thanks for the additional information. My hope is that everyone makes informed decisions based upon accurate information. Many are concerned that they are being asked to pay assessments or maintenance charges that are not clearly understood or defined. Others are considering ending their timeshares and are being misled with misinformation about their credit ratings being effected. We can all benefit with facts that dispel rumors and half truths.

True.

Just rec'd an email from Patton Hospitality. Subject line "Important Information about Deeded Weeks". Being the optimist I am, I thought we finally had options and info regarding my time share weeks in 2018. Wrong...a reminder that maintenance fee invoices would be coming out in a few weeks and due by Jan 01, 2018. Had the nerve to say "we are here for you" I have absolutely no issues with the Atrium itself nor its employees. However, when the only contact one receives from corporate is emails regarding special assessments and maintenance fees with no updates regarding people's cancelled or future weeks, it is like adding insult to injury.

That's exactly what I did also.

How are these companies allowed to sell these contracts and tell people they are owners?

I was always told I owned the right of use. Not the resort. Was made very clear to me during presentation. Some people only hear what they want to hear and don't read the contract.

Read your contracts the timeshares there can not sue you legally in USA they must go to SXM courts . Any threats of USA credit ruinning is false an illegal without a St Maarten court order.

Yet from what I read here, the same contract says they can't ever charge a special assessment?? The only protection that timeshare owners have is the integrity of the developer or current owner. I would expect no protection from the SXM government or the court system. People like Andrea at LaVista treat their timeshare owners fairly and with respect. Many of the others rip them off, any chance they get.

https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/news/38312
http://www.courts.maine.gov/opinions_ord...o%20Dismiss.pdf
http://www.fox8live.com/story/22799...re-upgrades-class-action-lawsuit-b-l.php
http://wlos.com/news/local/festiva-travel-club-ordered-to-refund-customers
http://bangordailynews.com/2016/02/29/bu...ent-with-state/
These are a few of the cases brought against Zealandia/Festiva over the last few years. Zealandia is the holding company that owns Festiva, and has their own in house aggressive collection agency. Be careful out there, for they can be cutthroat.

actually...NA court for Atrium. I think NA is no longer in existence. https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/22528.htm

On this: "Read your contracts the timeshares there can not sue you legally in USA they must go to SXM courts . Any threats of USA credit ruinning is false an illegal without a St Maarten court order."

Any actual experience folks have in Atrium not being able to hurt your credit if you "walk away".

I am surprised at how few people take the time to read their original agreement. Mine makes no mention of Exit Fees, Penalties, damage to credit rating and even states that there will be no additional cost for transfer, yet many are paying transfer fees even if they are walking away from their timeshare and it is going back to the resort. It does state that if I stop paying maintenance fee, I will no longer have timeshare. That is the goal of a termination.

Not replying to any one specific on this thread, but if you are an Atrium owner and have not already gotten involved with our litigation case, you still have time to join. Go to this FB site and answer the questions, and then you will be asked for an email address in which we need info for the lawyers. Here is the FB site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/639137756475621/

Carol, you are absolutely on-target: "The only protection that timeshare owners have is the integrity of the developer or current owner. I would expect no protection from the SXM government or the court system." For example, look at what happened to the timeshare owners at the Caravanserai. It went up for auction and was purchased by a US citizen who said he was turning the timeshare building into a hotel, and then obnoxiously kissed the timeshare owners goodbye. The end? Hah!!! To all Atrium owners: the government will not help you; there is no agency to help you; you are in this alone. There is no class action on the island. Get yourselves a good lawyer.

As for the scubaman timeshare debate and gratitude, all need the show gratitude to the cruisers. Cruisers provide fresh fish for the island who will eventually come by air and possibly buy a timeshare.

Repeatedly on cruises we have asked shipmates what they did on SXM and some have been lured to spending the day at a timeshare presentation.

Have heard similar discussion at airport when leaving including a guy in Jan 2011 who couldn’t get over his new good deal at caravanserai.

Timeshares began as a way to stabilize resort hotels from ups and downs in occupancy.

They did this to the Maui Marriott after our many stays. During our last stay, they pitched us a low level garden view, fixed week, for double what we’d paid for ocean view. We have been back to Maui but not to the Marriott since.

Scuba is right, many of those places would be closed if not for timeshares.

I have decided to walk away. they are starting to turn up the paperwork. there has to be a way out, it cant be a life sentence.

is there a site other than fb