Posts: 186
From: Manteca, Ca USA
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 09-13-2004 16:29               

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Today in the mail I received a letter from First Resorts. It indicated that they had taken over management of "my resort". However, they failed to mention which resort to which they were referring. (I own at three different SA resorts.) When I attempted to email them at the email address noted in the letter, it came back as undeliverable.
Any information about this would be most helpful.
Thanks
Karen
PS The email address given was info@firstresorts.co.za

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Posts: 2558
From: Idaho-God's Country.
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 09-13-2004 16:44               

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Read the post by Joe L that was posted a few hours before yours. It lists a website for First Resorts.

Phil

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Be careful of what you wish for...

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Posts: 1025
From: Scarborough, Ontario, Canada , Owner at Harbour Inn and Resort Club, Brechin, Ontario and a Lowveld week
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-14-2004 18:51               

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I got the same form letter in the mail today. We own at Lowveld Lodge.

Dori

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Posts: 227
From: wake forest, nc usa 511K Fairfield pts, wk 26 Deercreek , wk 35 Sandcastle Cove, wk 7 Seapointer (SA), 2 Sudwala wks, RCI pts, Bluegreen pts
Registered: May 2001

posted 09-15-2004 04:11               

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I sent them an email yesterday, and it came back undeliverable. They said that I had a virus attached. I don't think so, but I guess I'd better check it out teresa

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Posts: 691
From: Birmingham, Al, USA Disney OKW93 WDW;Landmark 2002 PCB,FL;Tenbury,SA2003
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 09-15-2004 09:08               

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got the same!

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Posts: 2928
From: Bellevue, WA; own in New York, Hawaii, Mexico, South Africa, Texas (RCI Pts.)
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-15-2004 15:43               

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I got two copies of that letter from First Resorts. On one of the mailing labels with our address were numbers that correspond to the unit number and week number at Qwantani. The other letter didn't have any similar info but I'm guessing it was from Durban Sands.

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Posts: 514
From: Wisconsin
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 09-15-2004 20:50               

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I received one today. The only SA resort I own is Durban Sands.

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Posts: 604
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-15-2004 20:51               

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I received this letter also. I thought it was for the Seapointer, b/c this is the only SA resort I own. I just replied to another tugger about this letter with the contact info (before I read this post).

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Sandy

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Posts: 713
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-16-2004 05:44            

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Received one too. We own at Perna Perna Umdloti, Seapointer, Mt. Amanzi and Chakas Rock Chalets. No clue as to which resort is involved.

Diane

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Posts: 288
From: Indiana; Owner Kona Coast I & II, Kahana Falls, Durban Sands
Registered: May 2001

posted 09-16-2004 08:02            

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The First Resort website is slower than molasses, but listed below is the list of resorts in their resort portfolio.

Evelyn

Bella Vista
Kowie River Chalets
Port Alfred Sands
Qwantani
Bushman's Nek
Club Hacienda
Corona del Mar
Durban Sands
Hole in the Wall
Iphiva Lodge
Ithaca
La Montagne
Lake View Cabanas
Margate Sands
Marine Terrace
Midlands Saddle & Trout
Oceanic
Palm Park
Perna Perna St. Lucia
St. Ives
Tenbury
The Palace
Bothania Hills
Highveld Spa
Gethlane Lodge
Lowveld Lodge
Sanbonani
Waterberry Hill
Desert Rose
Little Eden
Hastings Hall
Keurbooms
Knysna Chalets
Mount Sierra
Perna Perna Mossel Bay
Port Owen
River Club
Seapointer
Silversands
Stilheuwels

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Posts: 2011
From: Wrightwood, CA, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-16-2004 15:13               

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I got one and we own at Lowveld. Would that be with the Cape Town address? They didn't specify and I don't know SA geography at all.
Liz

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Posts: 271
From:
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-18-2004 06:28               

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Our letter must apply to our Durban Sands unit. Does anyone know if this will be a good thing, was there improvement in need? Ann

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Posts: 5681
From: North Carolina
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-20-2004 04:16               

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Wasn't First Resorts a new name for one of the businesses of Club Leisure, run by the Lamont's? For comments on such matters, there are numerous posts at www.crimeshare.net/77.html

[This message has been edited by Carolinian (edited 09-20-2004).]

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Posts: 986
From: Auburn, IL USA , Qunu Lodge Pearly Shells, Silversands(6)
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 09-21-2004 03:34               

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With six weeks at Silversands, I was very concerned to see it on that First Resorts list. I emailed my concerns to Colleen DeKlerk at the resort and she assured me that there has been NO change to resort management. Gooderson Leisure Corp. manages Silversands, among others, and does an excellent job. Paying levies has always been very easy, and any questions are promptly and politely answered.
Resort managers probably can't claim credit, but the huge new Ushaka Marine World water park just across the street will no doubt increase the demand for SS weeks.

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Posts: 1784
From: CO--but since April 22, Arizona
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-21-2004 11:35               

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Thank goodness for TUG; I received my letter yesterday and had no clue which resort they were referring to--nice to be able to come here and get answers.

Pat

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Posts: 5681
From: North Carolina
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-21-2004 15:07               

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quote:

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Originally posted by Carron:
Our letter must apply to our Durban Sands unit. Does anyone know if this will be a good thing, was there improvement in need? Ann

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Ann - I would suggest you read the posts on the South Africa board on Crimeshare, including the archived posts there to get an idea of what you may be in for. Look at the predecessor companies of First Resorts on the First Resorts websites, and look for those names at Crimeshare. I am happy that my SA resorts are NOT on this list!

[This message has been edited by Carolinian (edited 09-21-2004).]

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Posts: 2011
From: Wrightwood, CA, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-21-2004 18:34               

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So, what action should we take? Does anyone have any suggestions other than be concerned, be very concerned? Thanks,
Liz

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Posts: 5681
From: North Carolina
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-22-2004 03:49               

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From reading the posts at Crimeshare, it would appear that the biggest concern would be if one of the other Club Leisure Group companies like Flexi Club, Star Club, CRI, etc. acquired a large enough block of timeshares for their points clubs to get control of the HOA board at your resort. The most you can do from the US is probably scrutinize all board candidates, and try to vote for those who seem to be independent, and will look out for members interests rather than for the interests of the Club Leisure Group.

I wonder if there is anywhere else in timesharing that companies get lifetime management contracts. I wonder how many resorts on this list have such contracts.

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Posts: 2011
From: Wrightwood, CA, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-22-2004 18:04               

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I am just printing up the material from the link to read through it more carefully. Am I correct in understanding that if my resort, Lowveld Lodge, does NOT go to points, everything is still OK? And then if it does go to points, which I don't want anyway, what would be your suggestion? Sell, give unit back to resort, stop paying fees????
Thanks,
Liz

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Posts: 5681
From: North Carolina
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-22-2004 20:07               

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The South African points clubs own blocks of inventory at various resorts. The problem comes in when they get a big enough block to get control of the HOA board, as they have at several resorts according to the posts. Then there seems to be a recurring problem of them not paying their levies and the board looking the other way when they get control.

A resort can also have problems if a points club goes belly up, as one of them did two or three years ago. At that time Dik weeks were being sold in blocks of 5 for peanuts in the points club's liquidation. Fortunately their block was not big enough to cause Dik a permanent problem or for them to have gotten control of Dik's board.

It takes some reading to go through, but there are also some interesting posts in the archives which you can click on at the end of the regular board.

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Posts: 455
From: Upstate NY
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-23-2004 18:05               

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Questor strikes again ;-(

I received the letter a week or 2 ago and assumed it was for Durban Sands. Pretty professional to send a letter without enough info as to determine the resort. At the time, I thought it wasn't good news since Questor was on the list. Owners of Panache (multiple problems!) remember all the trouble we had trying to get Anita Credmore and Questor to take levy payments and spacebank weeks. From the other posts, it sounds as if we could be in line for more fun ;-( Darn.

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Bill

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