FORGET TIMESHARE IN MANHATTAN

I had gotten a phone call from some guy named Phil who works in the marketing department for the Manhattan Club, a timeshare in midtown Manhattan. Offer was Broadway tix, dinner or a $100 Visa card. I agreed and he said that a letter would be sent to me for the date that I had chosen. The weekend went by and no letter was received. I understand that the letter specifically says that you must present the letter in order to get the gift. I called saying that I didn't receive the letter and wanted to reschedule. This next person, Jose, says that he would make a point to send the letter on Wednesday for my Friday appointment. The letter never came and I called on Monday to reschedule. They told me that the letter was coming from Philadelphia. Now, that's really far away from New York City! They finally agreed to give me an appointment and note that I would not have a letter to hand in. Now, they did try to email that letter, but my printer just isn't doing well.

The appointment was made for 3 p.m. Due to some transit problems, I didn't arrive until about 3:30. You had to hear the arguments going for not giving me a tour due to "nobody available". I was relentless on this since I traveled into Manhattan and they were the ones who solicited me in the first place. They finally found someone.

I listened to the timeshare schpeel including this whole thing involving a point system. The woman kept asking if I had any questions and just didn't. I got it. So, we are finally ready to see a timeshare unit as she tells me that the maintenance fee is about $2,000! That maintenance fee is for a week at the Manhattan Club.

Wait...it gets better! I view a unit, which looks like a fancy-ish hotel room with a bath and a half, bedroom, living room and semi-kitchen. That means that there is a small refrigerator and a microwave.

Now we go to the price of buying the week of this one-bedroom unit. Would you believe $33,995! In other words, if I were to buy and spend 7 nights at this hotel for the next ten years, I would be paying $44,000. You do the math and no one says that the maintenance fee will stay the same.

The selling point is that I could trade points and get more vacation elsewhere. They tried to explain how I could do this. I didn't care. In 1982 I purchased a one bedroom unit with a bath and a half and full kitchen in Provincetown for $4100 and I have now ceased to complain that the maintenance fee has gone up to $535.

After Judy did her thing, she summoned the manager to do his thing. I still declined. The woman was doing her utmost to get me to put down a deposit to think about it. I said that I didn't want to and she said that I'd be stupid to pay more if I decided later on. They always do this with timeshare!

Well, they didn't have a $100 Visa card but handed me a check for $100. I hope it doesn't bounce. As for the letter...it's like, "The check is in the mail".