Dear members,
With regard to the recent exchanges re the 5% charged on maintenance fee payments by credit card, please note the following.
It is a simple calculation of numbers. The Resort requires $xxx to cover its expenses which are covered by payment of the maintenance fees in full. If we receive $xxx less the commission charged by the credit card companies, then we will be short of funds. Therefore, to make up the short fall we add a fee for credit card transactions – which also covers the administration involved in such transactions. Note that the additional % is only applicable to the payment of maintenance fees and if you pay your incidental account at the Resort (food and beverage, telephone calls, government taxes, energy surcharges etc.) by credit card, there is no additional as this is considered as part of the cost of doing business for ancillary services offered by the Resort.
For the record, the credit card clearance is through an Aruban bank and not the bank in the USA. The bank account that we set up in the USA – like many other Resorts – is to facilitate ease of payment for our American members. This is very necessary not only because of the speed (read slowness) of the mail to Aruba but also, if we deposit a foreign check into our Aruban account, it could take up to six (6) weeks to clear. Hence, nearly all Resorts have accounts in the USA into which members can deposit payments, get them cleared within a few days and then the Resort will transfer the funds into Aruba as needed.
I cannot speak for the other Resorts that do not charge such a fee but, to hazard and educated guess, since their maintenance fees are higher, maybe there is some provision for such commission calculated into the maintenance fee - just like some Resorts choose to handle the energy surcharges and include them into the maintenance fees as well.
I hope this clarifies the situation.
Regards
Andy Osbourne