Manhattan Club Lawsuit

I just checked the website you provided and it states that the property must be your primary residence. So I don't think this applies to us timeshare owners.

sharonm483 wrote:

irenes93 wrote:

An interesting side note: TMC owners 65 years or older are eligible for the New York State Department of Taxation and Revenue Basic STAR Tax Relief program on real property in New York State. Timeshares are considered real property. It amounts to up to a 25% reduction in real estate taxes on real property.

Submit Form RP-425 Application for School Tax Relief (STAR) Exemption to your local assessor. By signing the form, you are attesting that your income for the tax year referenced in Question #1 of the application form was below $500,000. (New York City and Nassau County residents please refer to the section below for the application and instructions)

http://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/star/apply.htm

I believe in order to qualify for the STAR exemption, the residence must be your primary residence (owner occupied).

Follow-up on 25% property tax reduction for real property owners in New York. You have to be a full time New York State Residents to qualify. Also, contact the New York State Dept. of Taxation and Revenue to make sure timeshares are included. Timeshares are considered real property in New York but there may be an exemption somewhere not noted on the main site.

Hi, I am one of the timeshare owner. I did not aware the lawsuit is going on. Would you please tell me what is the lawsuit about and what should I do. The tax and maintenance fee is increase every year. I just could not pay for it. Want to sale, no one even was ask.

Thanks,

my email wmrxu@hotmail.com

Jia Xu

Corrine,

The AG does not seem to have the list of owners from the Manhattan Club. Every week I get emails from TMC owners who heard about the investigation. These owners did not hear about the investigation from the AG's office. If you read the court documents the AG's office states TMC has not supplied the list of owners as requested.

Irene Smalls

I have been in touch with Manhattan Club participants for many months but have to report that they are doing a good job, at this point, of releasing NOTHING about the status of the case. The AG's office continues to say that it will not make Schneiderman available for an interview and they have now taken 3 weeks, and counting, to answer one important question: are third party resales of Manhattan Club intervals precluded, or blocked, (in effect) by the July 2014 ban on sales and transfers by the club? This is a serious practical question for RedWeek readers and owners who cannot sell their Manhattan Club units, even if they try. That's because the club, even while precluded from selling timeshares, has the right to match and purchase any third party offer. TMC also charges a $1000 transfer fee to "approve" a third party resale. These are passive roles but still put the club in the middle of the paperwork on any pending transactions. In any case, the AG has not provided clarity on this issue, so RedWeek will continue to pester his press office about it until they clear the air.

jeff,

i wish you were wrong or at least mistaken, but that's not so by any means.

in effect, i interpret your (this) last redweek.com post to read: SHAREOWNERS, YOU BEGAN THIS "JOURNEY" AS VICTIMS, AND CURRENTLY YOU'RE IN THE IDENTICAL POSITION AS WHEN YOU STARTED THIS TRIP--- VICTIMS.......as a new yorker, i am quickly losing faith in eric schneiderman, or at the very least, i'm extremely concerned over his lack of dissemination of adequate information to us shareholders of property in NEW YORK CITY/STAT. the attorney general knows quite well the reputation of the timeshare industry at large. he needs to take this knowledge and present it at a higher (perhaps federal) level. might he be doing this?.............YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE! WE SHAREOWNERS NEED AND DESERVE ANSWERS. THIS MANHATTAN CLUB ISSUE IS BECOMING A BLACK MARK FOR NEW YORK CITY, EFFECTING SOME 18,000 UNITED STATES, NEW YORK AND FOREIGN OWNERS. SOME OWNERS DON'T EVEN REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DEFRAUDED, CHEATED, LIED TO AND SCAMMED.................AND THAT LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ARE TAKING PLACE AGAINST THE MANHATTAN CLUB. just read some of the posts in the redweek.com manhattan club lawsuit forum; many have said that they were unaware of the lawsuit. the ny mayor, governor, and appropriate legislators must be made aware of shareowners' dilemma and the the disgraceful financial position we are in due to the MANHATTAN CLUB'S BUSINESS ACTIVITIES WITH US............SHADES OF MADOFF, PERHAPS? the fact that legal proceedings against the MANHATTAN CLUB have been established by the nys attorney general, and has been proceeding for over one year. should be make much better known to influential new york city/state political officials. MANY OF THEM ARE MR SCHNEIDERMAN'S BOSSES. he needs to answer to them and to us NOW.

keep in touch,

chris

I have been in touch with Manhattan Club participants for many months but have to report that they are doing a good job, at this point, of releasing NOTHING about the status of the case. The AG's office continues to say that it will not make Schneiderman available for an interview and they have now taken 3 weeks, and counting, to answer one important question: are third party resales of Manhattan Club intervals precluded, or blocked, (in effect) by the July 2014 ban on sales and transfers by the club? This is a serious practical question for RedWeek readers and owners who cannot sell their Manhattan Club units, even if they try. That's because the club, even while precluded from selling timeshares, has the right to match and purchase any third party offer. TMC also charges a $1000 transfer fee to "approve" a third party resale. These are passive roles but still put the club in the middle of the paperwork on any pending transactions. In any case, the AG has not provided clarity on this issue, so RedWeek will continue to pester his press office about it until they clear the air.

I've been an owner at TMC since 2000 and for a while my investment seemed to be a good deal. I bought my unit with the sole purpose of depositing my week and trading it for accomodations at other RCI properties. When I purchased my unit the maintenance fees/taxes were reasonable. Over the last 15 years they've risen over 400% to where I'm currently paying nearly $2200 yearly. It's reached the point that for what I'm paying TMC in fees I can book a luxury hotel room for a week anywhere in the world.

Now I'm in a sticky position in that I can't deposit my week because I refuse to pay my maintenance until the investigation by the AG is completed. I can't even give my unit away. Believe me, I've tried. No one wants to take on such ridiculous fees. In the meantime I'm getting annoying phone messages from TMC threatening that they're going to begin adding interest and penalties to the fees I owe.

Sorry to say, join the crowd...you are not alone...

I wonder what would happen if several thousand owners wrote to Gov. Cuomo with a copy to the NYTimes reporting our circumstances & stating that although several dates were set to go to trial, nothing has occurred. Furthermore, having given TMC power of attorney, they pay the real estate taxes directly and those of us over 80 cannot get any relief. Furthermore, the AG requested owners to submit copy of deed, maintenance fees, etc.; now I did not expect a personal reply but cetainly if many of us submitted this information the AG has enough proof to go forward with this thievery! Let's act now!

We are in the same situation except our fees per week are $3,196 since we own penthouse units. Can we get the AG to allow the Manhattan Club to take the units back? Even if we have to pay the transfer fee it would be worth it to get out of paying future fees.

joelr105 wrote:

I've been an owner at TMC since 2000 and for a while my investment seemed to be a good deal. I bought my unit with the sole purpose of depositing my week and trading it for accomodations at other RCI properties. When I purchased my unit the maintenance fees/taxes were reasonable. Over the last 15 years they've risen over 400% to where I'm currently paying nearly $2200 yearly. It's reached the point that for what I'm paying TMC in fees I can book a luxury hotel room for a week anywhere in the world.

Now I'm in a sticky position in that I can't deposit my week because I refuse to pay my maintenance until the investigation by the AG is completed. I can't even give my unit away. Believe me, I've tried. No one wants to take on such ridiculous fees. In the meantime I'm getting annoying phone messages from TMC threatening that they're going to begin adding interest and penalties to the fees I owe.

I am an owner for last 20 yrs . Always have trouble with reservation & sky high increase in common charges .i wish I can get rid of it or get something out of it by winning lawsuit . I like idea of putting in NY times & addressing governor .

Hi Chris,

I personally contacted all the New York City Council members, the Official New York City Tourist Agency, and the New York City Consumer advocate in reference to the Manhattan Club scam. I particularly sent information to the Manhattan Club's City Council member. Only one City Council member responded and it was not her district. I did get a form letter from the NYC Public Advocate. Checking the link given by the Attorney General's Office in response to my Freedom of Information request there were three documents. None of which were illuminating or helpful to our cause. I get emails each week from TMC owners who heard, not from the Attorney General's Office, about the investigation. It is clear that despite the AG demanding TMC release the list of owners TMC has not done so. Where are we as TMC owners in this investigation?

Irene Smalls

we are totally status quo from when this forum began (it seems like ions ago!)

it appears our advocates have about as much power as we do in getting and passing on essential information for us to make intelligent decisions.

off my soapbox, and back to reality..........NOWHERE!

chris

irenes93 wrote:

Hi Chris,

I personally contacted all the New York City Council members, the Official New York City Tourist Agency, and the New York City Consumer advocate in reference to the Manhattan Club scam. I particularly sent information to the Manhattan Club's City Council member. Only one City Council member responded and it was not her district. I did get a form letter from the NYC Public Advocate. Checking the link given by the Attorney General's Office in response to my Freedom of Information request there were three documents. None of which were illuminating or helpful to our cause. I get emails each week from TMC owners who heard, not from the Attorney General's Office, about the investigation. It is clear that despite the AG demanding TMC release the list of owners TMC has not done so. Where are we as TMC owners in this investigation?

Irene Smalls

We have been owners since 2002 and have 7 consecutive or non-consecutive nights per year. In our occupancy rights it states under " Bulk Bank" with exchange company The Management Company's right to remove from inventory available for reservation by Owners, and deposit with RCI, that number of seven (7) consecutive night occupancy periods which the Management Company reasonably believes will be necessary to accommodate the number of owners will use their Ownership Interests for exchange purpose each Use Year. From the number of RCI guests one meets in the lobby, we all know that they have exceeded this level a long time ago. Does anyone know if the AG is aware of the written promise from 2002 Beryl

"Does anyone know if the AG is aware of the written promise from 2002 Beryl?

beryla3,

pls explain what "written promise" is.

thanks

chris126

Is Redweek, or anyone else, keeping a list of Manhattan Club owners? Is it one that could be shared with other owners as representative of a critical mass? I don't know if I am on any list of owners or know, specifically, what impact I could have. We have been owners of a penthouse unit for more than 10 years and are astonished and angry to be forced to pay the outrageous rise of maintenance costs while having to book accommodations a year in advance. Having only recently become aware of the Redweek website and expressions of frustration over the AG's silence so far I am wondering if owners are taking it as a sign that the AG is shrugging this off. Or does anyone know if this is AG policy when any matter is being investigated. But, short of picketing the Manhattan Club, I wonder what might, at least, bring this to the attention of the press in a dramatic way.

i have noted on many..........too many, occasions that 1) owners HAVE NOT BEEN AWARE THE EXISTENCE OF redweek.com manhattan club forum (OR OTHER FORUMS WITH THE SAME GOALS AS redweek's) until recently. 2) many owners are NOT EVEN AWARE THAT THE NYSAG HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST OUR INFAMOUS MANHATTAN CLUB OVER ONE YEAR AGO. some owners are also of the mistaken notion that the AG'S LAWSUIT IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT, WHICH IT ISN'T.

WE HAVE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ALL MANHATTAN CLUB OWNERS TO PASS ALONG THIS ESSENTIAL INFORMATION. A LIST OF OUR FELLOW OWNERS IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE FOR US TO HAVE AVAILABLE.......................DOES ANYONE HAVE OTHER CREATIVE IDEAS ON HOW TO OBTAIN THIS LIST?

keep in touch

chrisv126

once again I mention the NY Times if enough of us write to them....also, how about Shame on You on TV???? We have to get the "ear" of someone out there who wants a juicy story!

Reading these posts I get the feeling that we are emailing to ourselves. I'm interested in anyone who thinks it a good idea to chip in and run a small ad compactly expressing our grievances, in the real estate section of the NY Times. I have no problem sharing my email address and phone number. It's leoyesleo@gmail.com. Phone: (413) 623-5418. I'd like to hear from you. Let's talk.

Lots of frustrations being expressed here. It's understandable, but we're just 'yelling' at each other. Nothing much (VISIBLE TO US) has happened since the last filings. Here is a good summary for those who are new to this MC lawsuit section of Redweek: http://blog.redweek.com/2015/06/eichners-seek-dismissal-from-manhattan-club-investigation.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RedWeekTimeshareBlog+%28The+RedWeek.com+Timeshare+Blog%29

No one knows more about what's going on, or has tried every avenue more than Irene. I suggest that you take her assessment and knowledge to heart.

On the issue of gathering 'everybody's' email... all 18,000???, that's been tried by volunteers in the Yahoo group as well as by the AG. If the AG and the Court can't get the Eichner's to comply with legal orders and filings... we'd be wasting our time trying to discover 18 thousand names and addresses - and then what, anyway???

If you google Ian Bruce Eichner, you'll find that he's involved in many mega projects in NYC...so he's no small potatoes, even for the AG to tackle. But Schneiderman is no pushover either... I don't know what choice we have other than to have 'faith' in the legal process executed by the top legal minds in NY State.

There HAS been publicity (Interviews with owners including Irene) on CNBC, articles in the NY Post and elsewhere about the issues/problems. The big meeting this summer with Redweek and others

The wheels of justice turn slowly, let's hope that the AG keeps up and speeds up the effort to get to a just closure of this case.