I agree, just got the assessment and it is BS $1, 1512 for a 2 bedroom unit. I would like to see documentation on where they are authorized to even do this by what I agreed to when I bought the unit YEARS ago, before it was Bel Air. They need to raise their rates to outside bookings instead of screwing over their owners. I am told, places like this only reserve 30% of their inventory for owners, the other 70% is for outside bookings. Very pissed off right now at this BS charge. I never even go to Mexico anymore, always bank it because of all the crime there now.
I sent this email to Bel Air with no response (relacionepublicas@belairownerscircle.com):
Please explain to me why this is Extraordinary Fee is due outside of saying it falls under Section 9.C., because it DOES NOT.
We bought in 2006 and my Club Regulations under Section 9.C. say Extraordinary Fees are fees for "UNFORESEEN EXPENSES that were not included in the budget and whose purpose is to pay for UNFORESEEABLE expenses concerning the operation and maintenance of the Resort... that are URGENT, necessary and indispensable for their total or partial preservation... ( this is talking about something like a hurricane that was UNFORESEEN - not expansion of several resorts).
This billing DOES NOT fall under an Extraordinary Fee. This was a planned expansion of the resort for the financial benefit of the actually owners of the resort at the expense of the "club members", not something UNFORESEEABLE and URGENT. It is an expansion expense, not operational or maintenance, and SHOULD NOT be passed on to the owners as an Extraordinary Fee. Our annual fee is supposed to cover the operation and maintenance of the property. This fee was $389 when we bought in 2006 and us now $1, 100, it has gone up significantly to cover such costs.
Further, this supposed Extraordinary Fee is to come with a "detailed report directed to the Members". I DO NOT consider the billing letter and little brochure you sent listing all the expansions you did a detailed report of why this Extraordinary Fee for expansion of all of your properties in Mexico was so urgently and unexpectedly needed and not a foreseeable expense? We need a report of the actual damages to the resort, the cost to repair, etc. if this was an ACTUAL unforeseeable expense and extra contribution to repair needed from the Members.
Further, it does not seem right that I am being charged fees for ALL your Mexico properties when I bought it was connected to one property (Playa Del Sol Grande) - not the operation and maintenance of your 3+ Mexico properties.
I also contacted the consumer protection in Mexico yesterday http://telefonodelconsumidor.gob.mx/. To file a formal complaint with them, you need to send via Email in English and Spanish (google translate is ok):
1. Copy of your contract.
2. Copy of driver's license of signors to the contract.
3. Statement of your complaint.
I do not hold much faith in this process, but if a bunch of us file with them then maybe.
I also posted much of what I posted above on the Bel Air Vacation Club Facebook page. There only response was to "contact us to discuss". When we contacted them, they don't really care what your contract says and spout of irrelevant references and pretty much laughed when told they were going to be reported. They know the amount they are charging is too low for anyone to really want to pay a Mexico attorney or to spend a lot of their time fighting about it, that is how they get away with it. People just cave and pay the fee. Since they also have an office in Las Vegas, not sure if there is a way to file a formal complaint in the USA.
