Original Message:
Re: RCI Weeks Class Action Settlement Decision Required by Nov. 20, 2009 (by David W.):
jane281 wrote:Are Canadians allowed to take part in this lawsuit? I also found out that RCI had negotiated with DND and offers our weeks to Government Employees (Canadian and American - Provincial, Federal and Municipal). Some weeks can be purchased 12 months in advance for as little as $329.00 per week US. When one checks the GETO site and then extra vacations, the same weeks appear. For RCI members, the cost is significantly more. I suppose that is because we pay membership dues and government employees do not have to. Anyway I have approached RCI with this inequity and only received their standard answers.JM
YES! Canadians and any Member of RCI regardless of where they reside or their citizenship can and should OBJECT to the proposed Settlement!
Hi, my name is Dave and I am a timeshare owner who resides in Virginia.
I am an avid member of the Timeshare Users Group (TUG), and I am also a member of Timeshare Forums.
Just recently I started posting here within Redweek.com.
I go by the same USERNAME: Goofyhobbie at all sites.
I have been working closely as a volunteer with fellow TUGgers on a project that many consider to be vitally important to all timeshare owners, and indeed the future of timesharing.
If you have been an RCI Weeks member at any time between January 1, 2000 and August 31, 2009 regardless of where you live and even if you are not a member now, you are automatically a member of a class action lawsuit pending in the U. S. Federal Court in Trenton, New Jersey.
RCI is accused of removing highly desirable weeks that were deposited by members into the Spacebank® , and RENTING them to the general public, often times at a price that is lower than what the owner pays in annual maintenance fees. RCI admits to doing this but claims it has the right to do so.
The attorneys who started the lawsuit in 2006 have made an agreement with RCI's attorneys to settle the case, but it must be approved by Judge Peter G. Sheridan at a "Fairness" Hearing to be held on November 30, 2009.
The proposed settlement is considered by many RCI Weeks members to be very unfair.
If you are a member of the class and do not like the proposed settlement, you are urged to send an objection letter to the Court.
It can be as simple as one sentence e.g. “I object to the terms of the proposed settlement.”
BUT, YOUR OBJECTION MUST BE Postmarked by November 20, 2009.
For information about how to file an objection go to:
http://rciclassactionlawsuit.com/TUG_member_information_and_instructions_for_RCI_class_action_settlement.html
Look for Informational Instruction # 6 to access a Form Letter to make your objection.
WE DO NOT AS YET HAVE WHAT I CONSIDER A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OBJECTORS. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE IT UP TO THE OTHER GUY TO OBJECT FOR YOU. IF YOU DO NOT OBJECT WE MAY END UP WITH THE CURRENT SETTLEMENT WHICH WOULD BE A TERRIBLE OUTCOME!!
If a large number of objection letters are received by the Court, we are hopeful that the Court will either force a trial or force the parties back to the negotiating table.
You have the right to separately file a claim for ONE of five special one-time benefits being offered in the Settlement. YOU CAN BOTH OBJECT and File a Claim for one of the benefits; but you must do both on or before November 20th.
You can file a claim on-line at:
http://www.weeksprogramsettlement.com/
Or
You can do so by mail no later than November 20, 2009.
You may apply for the special benefit whether or not you choose to file an objection to the settlement. It is not an either/or situation.
If you are no longer an RCI member, you may claim a $15 payment. Current members have other options.
For additional information about this lawsuit, there is a long discussion going on at the Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forum for Exchanging:
www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100107
The subject of the thread: UPDATE: RCI CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT - must read for all RCI members.
Please consider passing this information on to any other timeshare owners you know.
Many TUG members are printing out the Form Letter and instructions at http://rciclassactionlawsuit.com and offering it to people they know who are timeshare owners.
Best Regards
Dave