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Re: Special Assessment / Class Action Lawsuit! (by Mary D.):
jeff1112 wrote:====== We owned at Palm Aire at the time of the hurricane. It took some damage, but from the first it was said that the Santa Barbara was worst hit. Since it was a single tall building rather than a group of lower buildings, I suppose this makes sense. (Not that hurricanes always do make sense). Palm Aire was partly closed for a time, but I believe it is all up and running now. I notice that the current directory indicates that they hoped to have Santa Barbara open by the end of this year, but January or February may be more realistic. I'm sure you are aware that Florida insurance companies have been hard hit and are trying to keep their losses down by paying....conservatively with "all deliberate speed". Wyndham and the owners association should certainly be keeping owners posted in detail as to what is going on. MDadahiscout wrote:patricia678 wrote:======== If reopening is scheduled for early 2008, might it not be best to hold off for a bit and not divert your fees and assessments into defending against class action suits? Isn't a nicely renovated Santa Barbara ASAP what you really want?jeff1112 wrote:haroldw42 wrote:I have some information on the insurance. I also have received information on other issues about Santa Barbara. I'm about to send out my second demand letter requesting copies of the estimates and bids. I have also contacted the Florida State Attorney Generals office and placed a complaint of fraud against the Santa Barbara Board and Wyndham Resorts. They will be accountable to me for my property and my money they are spending.emilyw28 wrote:You can be assured this is NOT a one time thing. This is our 2nd special assessment in 12 years. There will be another after the next hurricane.My letter said Santa Barbara may be open in January 2008 but the target month is February 2008. In any case, though, the letter promised alternative accommodations in the Ft. Lauderdale area.My week is in February and I'm planning to go assuming I'll have accommodations somewhere nice.
I wouldn't sell now. It's a bad time. I'd really try to pay these outrageous fees under the assumption it's a one time thing and continue to fight and learn all we can about how much the insurance paid, whether the insurance was adequate, and whether the Santa Barbara management had been keeping up the insurance premiums.
Does anyone have information on this?
We're not alone. Together we can ensure accountability.
Jeff,
Should all owners contact the Florida State Attorney Generals office? Would that be helpful? How did you submit your complaint? Phone?Email?Snailmail? I have to admit I have felt for years that they have been taking advantage of us but to be honest I didn't know what to do about it. So if you have some suggestions of what we should be doing has owners I am sure we would all be interested. Thanks Trish
The possibility of hurricanes in Florida is not exactly "news" nor are they anybody's fault. If this has become all too clear, consider rolling your Florida ownership into a new purchase elsewhere in the FF/W system. Great new place in Wisconsin Dells! Of course, we can't guarantee against an occasional tornado! MD
You must be CRAZY! This place has been closed for almost 3 years now. Wyndham and the Board of Directors were supposed to have insurance to pay for hurricane damage. I found out Wyndam has a $200 million dollar blanket insurance policy and that our board may have purchased an insurance package from them? Isn't it amazing that I can not find out what exactly our insurance covered, or if we had insurance at all. If this building was not adequately covered then Wyndam and the Board have some serious legal problems. Why are the owners paying to rebuild this building if it had adequate insurance? Several people that I know have already lost their interest in this place because they can't afford to pay multiple "assessments". In my opinion we have been scammed by both the Board and Wyndam, but that will be for the law and the attorneys to decide.
My question to you! Why are all the Wyndam Resorts in the area OPEN and have been since shortly after the hurricane that closed the Santa Barbara?
My opinion is this place was not insured and Wyndam and the Board is covering up this fact by charging special assessments to cover the cost of the repairs. That is FRAUD! A reasonable person would expect their Board of Directors to adequately insure the interest they were assigned to maintain!
Yes, all owners should contact the Florida Attorney Generals Office and provide the paper work you have received from Wyndam and the Board. You should also contact the local law enforcement and file a complaint for fraud. I plan on doing that ASAP.
The owners of this place need to hold the Board and Wyndams accountable.