St. Maarten News – Bruno Sitbon and his family are attempting to buy Sapphire Resort and return it to the pre-eminent state it was in before the Verdiers stopped maintaining it to the satisfaction of timeshare owners. As a result, the Sitbons say, thousands of timeshare owners have walked away from their Sapphire timeshare weeks, Jeff Berger reports in his electronic newsletter St. Maarten Weekly News.
Some Sapphire timeshare owners have drafted an online petition regarding their plight. Here is the full petition text:
“For many years we have owned timeshare weeks at Sapphire Beach Club Resort in Sint Maarten. We and thousands of other Sapphire timeshare owners all pay annual maintenance fees that by contract must be used to pay for required maintenance and renovations of the resort.
Clearly, expenditures on maintenance are not being made as required in all timeshare contracts. Timeshare owners know this all too well, by virtue of the long-standing deterioration of furniture and appliances in many units and the general condition of the resort. The Resort developers are not complying with the contract they have signed with Sapphire timeshare owners.
RCI, Resort Condominiums International, the timeshare trading company that normally enables Sapphire timeshare owners to trade their weeks for stays elsewhere — and allows owners at other resorts to trade into Sapphire – many months ago severed the trading relationship with Sapphire.
That move resulted directly from numerous complaints about Sapphire received by RCI from both Sapphire timeshare owners and from owners at other resorts who expressed great disgust after trading into Sapphire. RCI for more than two years has allowed no trades into or out of Sapphire because of the deplorable condition of the property. Government inspectors have confirmed many violations from building codes.
The hotel continues to deteriorate every year. Often, nothing works — elevators, air conditioning, water in apartments that has scalded some of us, unhealthy pool water, leaks, flooding, mold and mildew in our apartments …and countless issues with decrepit or non-functioning appliances, filthy or non-working Jacuzzi whirlpools, and much more.
Many of us have pictures proving the validity of these complaints. When we try to complain to the Verdiers, in the rare times when Jean Verdier is there, he (the father) pretends not to speak English. Usually he refuses to see timeshare owners in his office.
His son, Philippe, who is now supposed to be in charge, seems never to be present — or at least timeshare owners are told that when we seek him out. As a result, we are reduced to sending emails or letters which no one bothers to answer. This horrible mistreatment of timeshare owners must stop.
Years of requests for audited financial statements from Sapphire have never been answered, which fuels the widespread belief on the part of timeshare owners that their hard-earned funds are either going into the pockets of the developers or to their numerous projects on other islands and not into the contractually required maintenance of timeshare units at Sapphire.
But if we refuse to pay our maintenance fees, we risk losing the weeks we have bought. We do not receive what we paid for and are reduced to posting public complaints in petitions. We hope St. Maarten courts allow this sale instead of the continued abuse of Sapphire Resort timeshare owners, which worsens the already tarnished image of St. Maarten timesharing and gives yet another black eye to St. Maarten as a desirable location for warm-weather winter vacations. We hope the courts hear our plight and solve these long-worsening, totally intolerable problems.”
I was just there last April 2016.It was dirty,unkept,services were terrible.Rude employees but some of them were still
friendly.A lot of appliances were broken or barely working.
Now,I’m told by my friend who also owns there, that they want another special maintenance fee this year. I have yet to even receive my bill for this year because every stinking year, I have to get in touch with them to get a maint. bill sent to me and they demand a late fee.Honestly, it is my belief that the owners want this place to be vacated in order to sell it. Somebody prove me wrong!!!!!!
We’ve been owners since 1994. Seldom did we receive any communication from the tenants association, except for the yearly budget with folllowing year’s maintenance fee. Along the way (at least 12 years ago) we stopped receiving even that, so we paid it when we we using our week (#1).
What is happened in 2016 since January?
Hi all,
could someone help me? I own week 49 and cant go and want to switch, they told me since I have non high season time I can switch to Late April. I cant find the email address Im supposed to communicate with them thru there, I guess, does any of you owners know the email address? Basically me and my friend want to check out the conditions. I haven’t been back in years but have owned since 1993 when it was gorgeous. Please help. Tracey 712-320-2125
We gave back two weeks last fall because we could not stand to stay there any more due to deplorable conditions. We have owned since it was new. Not being part of RCI was the final straw. We were there 4 weeks and the elevator never worked. They did not care we were giving back the weeks and did not ask why.
My wife and I own 2 units:
week 47 (contract 21381-1 unit 336) and week 24 (contract 29058-1 unit 134)
I’m wondering what everyone is doing about the recent “supplementary budget” charges. I see a fair number of complaints on this site, but I haven’t seen any resolutions. I would like to “give back” 1 of my units at the very least, but not sure how to proceed.
Thanks for any help/suggestions you can provide.
Been an owner for 20 years. Visiting this year and am hoping for an improved experience. I also want to be involved in enforcing compliance by the owners, if possible.
“Sapphire Beach Club Summer 2016 Newsletter” states that new s/s kitchen appliances, unit painting, furniture painting, new led tv’s, new wifi system, etc have occurred in all of building one. Is this true? Also, “[email protected]” and “[email protected]” don’t get you to where they are supposed to, as stated in the newsletter. I still have the feeling of ‘being taken for a ride’, I still don’t trust the Tenants Association Board.
Stopped paying maintenance fees after two floods in two different villas and got sick from the mold. Impossible to stay there. Please let me in on any court action. It’s shameful for what they did to this place. The island will slowly take a turn for the worst!!!
My husband and I have owned Villa 4, Week 15 since the resort first opened. Our Contract #0004 was one of the first signed. Over the years what was once a truly magnificent resort is now a shabby, broken-down remnant of what it once was. We have not paid “maintenance” for 2015 & 2016. In 2014 I spoke to the on-site manager and was told that no improvements were planned. Six months later I wrote to on-site management and received no response. A few months ago I wrote to the “new” head of SBCTA (Bob Stiffelman) inquiring about proposed repairs. I have not received a response from him either! Is the plan to have us all give up our units so they can then be refurbished and resold? I will gladly join any class action suit.
It is sad that such a beautiful resort has fallen to this level. We had paid our yearly fees and kept getting notices that it was due. It’s beyond difficult to reach anyone by phone. Finally it was cleared up, but we were still denied banking our 2016 week because of the Sapphire’s notorious record keeping. Very tired of dealing with the Sapphire and would be happy to join in any legal action as well.
Original owner, 2 February weeks, my maintenance and assessments were always paid. The once beautiful resort is a disaster now. Hoping the Goverment of Sxm steps in. The last thing the island needs is more bad press.
I have also been an owner for 20 years and dont want to go back with those conditions. Would like updates for a petition/ class action.
Paul B,
We own:
Unit 309
Week 24
Contract 80068-1
Would be interested in learning if the sale ever went through or if there’s an update regarding the investigation – thank you
Please send me info, I have owned a deluxe studio since it opened, very upset about all of this, could someone please let me know what is going on? Thank you
Hello. Do you have any up to date info on status of the complex? I need the week of march 4 to the 11th of 2017 to finish my holiday. Had heard money was being spent on repairs but later heard it was mostly on that resturant. Have had offers to stay there but have turned them down several times. Can you assist with any information miss? Thanks so much.
Hello all,
I inherited a week at Sapphire from my folks and have never gone there but rather deposit the week to use elsewhere. With RCI not accepting deposits from Sapphire as of early this year, I relinquished my ownership on the grounds that I would not be billed for current year’s maintenance fees. As expected, received a letter indicating that they accepted our request to relinquish only to subsequently receive multiple bills (and late fee) for the maintenance fees. I have no intention to pay but am worried that they will send this to collection and destroy my credit – which they did some years back – only recently came off credit report. I would be interested in thoughts and experiences of others. Happy to join in legal action as well.
Can you tell me how you relinquished your weeks?
Wk# 42 penthouse 385.Owned for 15 years,We would love to be involved in any actions to force the repairs or the return of our investment. What the owner has done is criminal…please keep me informed of any information that may evolve. Thank You
We have owned there 18 some years own weeks 20&21
Got very sick from mold and place is awful we are interested in a class action suit as well as this is total negligence on the Verdiers!!!!!! Please keep us informed on this situation….
Please contact me! I own in week 22 in building 3 unit 335 (Jr suite). I’d love to sign this petition I’ve just heard about! I’m in northern NJ. I’m very dissatisfied with Sapphire since Verdier sold it to Wyndham! Wyndham scams people!!
Look forward to hearing from you! Doris L. Corea
We also own 2 weeks. I haven’t paid 2016 fees yet, but since they are “back in” RCI, I think I might pay and bank with RCI.
We own week 30 (Unit 243) and week 31 (unit 121) since january 2008. We always paid our fees, but this year we decided not to pay. We also think that we should get part of our maintenance fees (already paid before) back as this money has not been used to improve the resort. We just don’t know what to do to get our money back.
I haven’t heard of any retribution being made to former owners at the Sapphire. If anyone does please let me know. Unfortunately I believe we will never see that day!
As for the maintenance fees that continue to come. Respond back to the email and/or letter stating the information regarding your relenquishing your week. Did you send a formal document and have it notarized? mention that in each email along with the contract number, units and weeks even though it is listed on the bill.
I received several notices that I owed right up to the notice that my unpaid fees would be sent to collections. I once again listed the information of the document relenquishing my weeks, noted the dates of the reminders I continued to receive and asked them to PLEASE UPDATE THEIR ACCOUNTING RECORDS. I WOULD BE VERY UNHAPPY IF MY CREDIT WAS RUINED BECAUSE THEY SENT A COLLECTION AGENCY AFTER ME! I haven’t received another bill since June 9, 2016.
Be sure to keep copies of everything in the event they do send to collections.
Been an owner since the early 2000’s. I refused to pay them anymore money. I know I will likely loose the week but I don’t go there anymore because it is so bad. I know recently RCI let them back in but its hard to imagine how they did that. The maintenance and improvements that were needed would take more than a year to do especially at the pace things are done in St. Martin. Be interested to hear what others are doing and any action that is being taken to recover the money we paid for the benefits we did not receive.
Just received notice from RCI that Sapphire is no longer on probation. Not exactly sure what they did to accomplish that, but apparently you can book your week(s) into RCI.
How very convenient that RCI would reinstate Sapphire after people relinquished their time shares rather than pay for a run down resort. I know personally of people relinquishing for a total of 7 weeks. I personally lost approximately 95,000 points. Who is going to profit from the resale? Why did RCI reinstate them? If anyone can get these answers I. would appreciate a response.
I contacted the Sint Maarten Tourism Bureau for assistance. Promises were made but never heard back. Lesson learned, we lost our investment, was ignored by RCI and Wyndham, then the government of Sint Maarten. NEVER invest your money in the islands — buy in the US where you at least have some representation.
My wife and I have been owners for more than 20 years and have seen the continued deterioration of the beach club. Apparently, the owner refuses to spend any money to make the renovations that are sorely needed. We love the island and for the last two years we pay to stay at another resort because of the horrendous and unsafe conditions at the Sapphire.
I would be happy to be part of any class action suit against the Verdier family as they have been negligent in their obligation to keep the club safe, clean and a place to enjoy a vacation.
I would be willing to go in on a class action suit to try to get some money back from the original purchase and the 12 years we paid maintenance fees.
Mary,
Did you ever hear from anyone re: potential legal action? I relinquished ownership due to poor conditions and lack of participation with RCI and they are trying to collect maintenance fees even though I no longer own the week.
Thanks.
Melanie Young
Hi Melanie,
I too received several notices of maintenance fees due despite the fact I relenquished my timeshares in October 2015.
What I did was email them back to remind them of the date I relenquished my shares. When I received the email saying my unpaid fees would be sent to collections I went a little mad and listed all of the responses to them regarding this issue (I assume you kept your emails), I listed my Units, listed all of the emails I had received for the collection of the fee and suggested that they had best update their accounting information. Mentioning that if my account went into collection I have all of the documents to prove I no longer owned at the Sapphire. Eventually you will get through to them. Good luck!!
Hi Laura,
I never heard from anyone regardless of the emails I sent. I did, however, give up my two weeks (owned for 11 years) rather than pour more money into a bad investment. Last year I went to see the Sapphire while we were on a cruise and it definitely needed a great deal of work. Keep checking online to see what is happening. You can search for the newspaper in St. Maarten and you may get some news. Government people never answered me other than to tell me they would get back to me and they were watching the situation.
I’m still interested in joining a class action suit against the Sapphire. We really don’t have any rights in the islands but it would be great if we could get some compensation for the money we invested over the years.
How did you relinquish your timeshare? We are looking to get out of Sapphire Beach. We are looking at timeshare exit team, but it will probably cost 10 years worth of maintenance.
Hi Mary, let me know regarding your class action suit(if it can do good).Count me in.I own 2 weeks there and one is a villa.
I am waiting to hear about the results of the court date from March 8 but have not any results. does anyone have any info on that issue
I would like to participate in a petition.
Thanks for considering this.
Karol and Booker Goodwin
28132-1 unit 112 week 25. Just got my maintenance bill and it went up again.Now 790$ and no improvements and you can get in touch with them over the phone to resolved the issue I want to know what we can do to resolve it’s probably because I want keep my timeshare but not continue with this kind of problems
Unit362 Week 10. Contract 32203-1
I did some quick math, and they are collecting 4-5 million per year in maintenance fees. I just received a second bill for 2016 maintenance fees even though I have email confirmation that they received my payment for same. I would like to see a class action lawsuit on this issue. I would also like to be reimbursed some of the fees from previous years for maintenance not performed. This is blatant theft of our money due to flagrant breech of contract. I would be willing to donate funds to pursue this action on behalf of the owners.
24107-1 unit 402 week 16. Just got my maintenance bill and it went up again.Now 901$ and no improvements at the club
We are conducting an investigation of the Sapphire Beach Club and the Verdiers. We are in contact with the government of Sint Marteen.
We are attempting to get them to provide us with a complete list of all timeshare sales transactions and owners. Once we receive that list we hope to contact all owners and Bruno Sitbon to plan further action.
If you are a timeshare owner please send us your name, email address, and any pertinent information, including your contract number. We will keep you informed.
Would love to hear what you have planned. Have owned since 2003..probably not paying my fees this year
Hello,
What is the email address to send information about this place. I own week 26 and 27 and after being there, can’t figure out why I would pay maintenance fees.
I could barely get any answers from owner services down in the basement, but witnessed two separate guest reservations first hand, who just checked in while waiting for owner services to come up. Upon my departure and hour or so later, checking out talking about conditions of rooms are sooo bad.
Owners services, staff, everyone knows that none of the money is being applied to keep up the place, nor putting any money in for YEARS…
We have at Sapphire Rom 362 week 16
Adress
hövelnstr 8
23566 Luebeck
Germany
please keep me updated on Sapphire situation. i am an owner since 1993 and I am frustrated with the place
We “WERE” owners at The Sapphire Beach Resort until last fall when we relinquished our 2-weeks. When RCI decided to suspend the Sapphire we attempted to contact someone at RCI to find out what was going on with no results! We also contacted the government of St. Maarten and was promised to receive an answer several times. However, no answer ever came. I read in a St. Maarten newspaper that the Government had threatened to close the Sapphire down if repairs were not made. While I was on a cruise I went to look at the Sapphire and was very disappointed at what I saw. Looking at another year of maintenance fees, which increase often, as well as hearing that there may be “another” additional fee for maintenance, I and others got together and decided that since RCI was not giving us information and we could not get information from the St. Maarten government it was time to cut our losses and stop paying into a resort that appeared to be spending our fees elsewhere.
Suprise, RCI has reinstated Sapphire Beach Club without notifiying us prior to the reinstatement that there was a possibility. Now we have no timeshares and all is lost. I’m not sure if I am more upset at the Sapphire or RCI. We attempted every avenue to find out what was going to happen before turning in our timeshares. Can’t help but wonder who is selling them now! I would have preferred to keep getting the points and using them elsewhere.
We have been trying to give back our week since Dec 2015 please tell us how you were able to return yours. We haven”t got back any replies from them and have sent at least three letteres and phone calls. Thank You Don 607 797 4332
Hi,
I’m sorry that I haven’t been checking this site. I have the email address of the person you need to contact for information on relenquishing your weeks. Unfortunately, the published email address was wrong on different publications.
is the correct address.
I met with Eunice and she is actually a very nice person ~~ she just works for people who have done anything with our money but maintain the resort that used to be a gold crown.
We filed written notification pursuant to paragraph 8 of the ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS to our Lease Agreements. Listed the Contract Number, Unit and Week of each. This document needs to be signed by the people who are on the Lease Agreement and have it NOTARIZED!!
TO: Lessor, Sapphire Beach Club
Timeshare AVV
Cupecoy Beach, Sint Maarten, NA
FROM: Leesee Names
RE: type of document.
You can then email it to Eunice. You won’t get a response immediately; however, in a week or two check back with her to see what progress has been made on cancellation of your lease.
I also mailed a copy to the Sapphire at the address we paid our maintenance fee.
RCI certainly owes us an explanation as to why Sapphire has been reinstated. Unless a miracle has happened and all the fees for the past 10 years have been poured into the Sapphire, I doubt it is a resort that RCI should sponsor.
Let me know if you need any more information.
By the way, I was sent several maintenance fee reminders after I relenquished our weeks. I have a copy of the confirmation that our weeks were relenquished from Sapphire; copies of every maintenance fee reminder we received and my response to each email. When I received the email stating that if I did not pay my account would be turned over to a Collection Agency I went a little ballistic and reminded them that they needed to update their accounting information immediately!! Haven’t heard from the since. ASK FOR A CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT OF EVERY EMAIL YOU SEND TO SAPPHIRE. YOU WILL GET ONE. Print and keep in a safe place. It doesn’t go away overnight but it will eventually.
re my earlier response.
I mentioned preparing a document
TO:
FROM; Owners names and address
RE: Notification of Surrender of Lease Agreement(s)
Be sure to list contract number, unit number and week(s)
Lastly ask for a response to your email and give your email address. Be sure to have this notarized.
Email to:
For numerous fee billings you can also contact Gina Guerina
to ask for confirmation that you no longer owe a maintenance fee at the Sapphire.
Hello Paul, just noticed this post online and looking for more information. We are owners and purchased in 2000. Our last visit was 2009 and the conditions of the resort were bad at that time. We keep hearing about problems with elevators and such and I require crutches and sometimes a wheelchair for mobility so we have been very reluctant to go back as I don’t want to be stuck in a room for a vacation, not to mention safety issues. We also have not been getting responses from management so if you have any information on the current status of the resort and why RCI went back I would appreciate it. Also, if you need anything from us regarding any actions from owners just let us know. If there is a list to update us on conditions, action, etc. please add my email address listed above. Thanks in advance for any information you might be able to provide. Harry & Bruce
contract 70973-1 we have tried to give back our week sent thee letters with paper work no repl called no replay emails no reply. Don 607 797 4332
Paul,
I am a owner of week 12 Deluxe studio, could you please give me any info of status Of Sapphire beach club. I have owned here from the first year it opened. Thank you
I own 3 units and have not paid maintenance for 2015 or 2016. I just want out since I obviously will not use the timeshare in the state that it is in.
Thank you for leading the charge to protect us!
I have owned 5 weeks at Sapphire for many years. I just received the annual Tenants Association board meeting minutes. Again, it is just like every prior year, here is all we (the Verdiers) are doing but we need more money. The Verdiers won’t go to the bank and borrow at historically low interest rates and do a massive renovation, they again come back to the timeshare owners for more money through another special assessment. They pulled this same scam in 2007, 2010 and 2013. Every justification is exactly what they have said in the past. They are asking for thousands of dollars and yet they admit they are slapping paint on everything and calling it renovated. Out of all the special assessments I have paid, I do not see it reflected in the quality of the rooms or facility. I am appalled that the new manager thinks scamming the timeshare owners again is ok. THE TIMESHARE OWNERS ARE NOT A BANK. And to add insult to injury, the special assessment is due immediately. Do they think the timeshare owners have no other financial obligations or life than to wait for them to contact us with their hands out for another butt load of money!! If there is legal action in the works I would be interested in participating.
PS, here are the new board members and president:
Mr. Alain Haertig
Mr. Christian Martial
Mr. Gerald Kennedy
Mr. Jacques Barth
Ms. Jeanine Davoren
Mr. Mark David Libon
Mr. Patrick Amblard
Mr. Patrick Philemon
Me. Paul Velten
Mr. Robert Stiffelman, President, contact info is:
As a side note, there is no way to contact anyone at Sapphire except the person whom takes payments, Valerie Jackson, otherwise, good luck.
Please contact me with information.
May I ask who you are? In what capacity are you going to represent Sapphire owners?
Paul, if you are able to share your email list with me, I can add these folks to a private Facebook page I set up for current Sapphire owners to communicate with each other. We have about 160 members as of now, trying to improve on that exponentially but only want true owners. Anyone else who sees this and would like to join the page can send me a private message on Facebook with your ownership details (units, weeks, when you bought) and I will add you to the page.
Paul,
We just found this posting. We, too, have been trying to get a status update on Sapphire. A little over a month ago a friend forwarded an (unsubstantiated) BLOG that stated that the court had ordered the Verdiers to sell Sapphire to Bruno Sitbon. At about the same time we received a “Special Assessment” from Sapphire. We have not paid the “Special Assessment” but have paid ALL yearly maintenance fees. We intend to use our unit this year. But, CANNOT get a confirming email reply from Sapphire OR answers to our many questions.
Any insights or suggestions you can offer would be greatly appreciated!!
Regards
Hello Paul,
My wife and I own 2 units:
week 47 (contract 21381-1 unit 336) and week 24 (contract 29058-1 unit 134)
I’m wondering what everyone is doing about the recent “supplementary budget” charges. I see a fair number of complaints on this site, but I haven’t seen any resolutions. I would like to “give back” 1 of my units at the very least, but not sure how to proceed.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
My husband and I have owned at Sapphire for many year and are very disturbed by its continuous deterioration. Please inform me if anything can be done.
Janet Greene
I own timeshare in Sapphire since 1995. I own unit 335 in week 22. I haven’t stayed there in a very long time. This due to all the add on fees, uncleanliness and mismanagement! I stay nearby in Arbor Estates where I’ve stayed since 1984. It’s a lovely little community where I rent directly from the owner!
Please keep me posted on the affairs as they progress! I’d love to divest myself of this white elephant!
Thank you so much!
Doris L. Corea
Hi Paul,
My father bought a Sapphire Beach timeshare in 1997 or 1998: Unit 328, Week 36, Contract 70853-1. My father passed away last year and we have been trying to contact the resort to no avail for months now. We would really appreciate any information you might have on this topic.
for the records we own week13 units 341 and342. Please keep me informed thank you
I am not sure if I agree with Bruno and family taking over. Didn’t have a great experience with them as well. Made lots of promises and did not come through and never returned ANY emails or phone calls
Brenda,
If you have an email or phone number for Bruno Sitbon I would appreciate you emailing it to me!!
we try to change again our Studio 362 week 16- in 2016 by RCI
Sapphhire : impossible
RCI : yes if sapphire gives it free
We asked for the General Manager
we got the Name Jan Borsje
no answer
I am SOO excited to finally read the Truth about this once beautiful resort but for several years ignore disgusting situation. The facts are real we have paid years of maintenances fees and as stated the place is close to being a dump. Hard words but Come On the elephants are in the room. We/timeshare owners should not have to pay anote maintenance fees further any longer for at least 3-5 years AND we should get a copy of their finances NO QUESTIONS!!! I have been complaining for years and especially one of the most recent incidence I became deathly sick from heavy mold/mildew smell that I experience from day one 2005. They actually shut down that unit admitting to Horrible mildew but a year later I was assigned to that very room horrible mildew smell and because they claimed they had no room. Calling pleading due to severe health reasons inhaling mold not to mention the dust clogs in the vent so I was left with no altertive but to sleep out get to jacuzzi that was broken a wad making this annoying knocking noise the whole night I could go on and on and on but ……….