more info on NY approval of BCV

[Disneyolic]

I called the Attorney General Dept of Real Estate this afternoon and was given a little info. The representative that I first spoke with told me that the request for BCV came in on 11/16/2001. He then told me to get more info I would have to speak with Arthur Walfish (sp?) and transferred me to his office as he was in charge of this matter. I spoke with Arthur personally. (note - he was a bit condescending when I was trying to explain that I was just a "regular" person and not a law firm, etc.) He did not have a clue on the BCV off the top of his head and said that he would call me back tomorrow (friday) with info. Here's hoping that he actually calls me back! Maybe some other NYers could call too to get the ball rolling... I so much want to purchase BCV and still get the current incentives!!!

addendum - Arthur called me back and said that he was not handling this case and gave me the name of Lisa Wallace. I called her office and left a message. Okay - here's hoping, again, that she will now call me back.

 

[JonHM]

If she doesn't call you back, go ahead and post her phone number and I'm sure she'll get quite a few calls... ha ha

 

[ripleysmom]

Yes please...I'll take that phone number!!

 

[JonHM]

was searching the site of the Attorney General of NY - hard to sift through, not very well organized, and there are links to LOTS of divisions, in lots of different locales. Here is one that *might* be the one that handles this kind of thing (the following is a quote from the site)

REAL ESTATE FINANCING
120 Broadway
New York, New York 10271
(212) 416-8121

The Real Estate Financing Bureau's main function is to protect the public from fraud with regard to real estate offerings, including cooperatives, condominiums, syndications and real estate investment trusts. To carry out this responsibility, the Bureau requires the filing of prospectuses or offering circulars, which must disclose information concerning all material aspects of the offering. In addition, the Bureau investigates complaints and, where appropriate, initiates civil or criminal actions to enforce the law. Many complaints received are from tenants in buildings undergoing cooperative or condominium conversion and concern allegations of improper disclosure, tenant harassment and misleading information provided to tenants.

Disneyolic - is that the office that you called?

 

[Disneyolic]

I called an 800# at first but was given a specific # for Lisa Wallace. It is the same office I believe. I am glad you did some homework for me. I feel a bit reassured after reading that - that I called the correct place. I'm still waiting for that call. I'll post later whether she calls back or not. Thanks again Jon.

 

[Disneyolic]

Not surprisingly, I did not receive a call back from Lisa Wallace. I was gung-ho on this matter at 1st but I guess I will just see what happens now. If anyone gets any info, let me know. Thanks.

 

[BIERMUGG]

REAL ESTATE FINANCING
120 Broadway
New York, New York 10271
(212) 416-8121

Wow i was in that building today!! 1 block from ground zero. I wish I would have Known after i was finished with my Meeting would have loved to knocked on some doors. But i thought the approval was coming from Albany?

George

 

[Disneyolic]

I thought it came from Albany too only because everyone on these threads said so. But the number I was given is definitely a 212 area code. Do I wish you knew too. It may make more sense why they were backed up due to 9/11. Still, it doesn't help us at all.

 

[BIERMUGG]

Even more of a reason to Give New York DVC'rs more time.

 

[michpoit]

I called the same number in NYC too on Thursday. I was transfered to Kevin some one and got his voice mail. I left a message but did not get a call back. I'll have to call again tomorrow. Did you have a direct number for Lisa Wallace or was it the one listed in the other posts?

 

[Disneyolic]

Here is the # for Lisa Wallace. (212) 416-6384. This is a direct # to her - or at least a voice mail. There shouldn't be any reason why I can't post this # as it was given out to me freely from Attorney General real estate office representative.

 

[Disneyolic]

I called at 9:24 a.m. today and left yet another message with Lisa Wallace. This time I gave her my cell # so there will be no busy phone (just giving the benefit of the doubt).

 

[Disneyolic]

Yet, again, another day goes by w/o a return call. Should I keep calling every day to show I mean business or is it probably just too late by now?

 

[ripleysmom]

I called and left a message too Disneyolic....nada....

 

[michpoit]

I called again today too and got no return call. I think that we should keep calling them until they get sick enough of hearing from us on a daily basis and call us back!

 

[Disneyolic]

I will make that call, again, this morning. I feel better that others are trying to call too. Thanks.

 

[Disneyolic]

Well, Lisa Wallace did call me back this afternoon. She was very polite and told me that they were still working on change of wording in the contracts for the BCV. The approval will not happen before 4/30 deadline on incentives. I asked her how long we were looking at - a couple months or what? She said no and that she hoped to have it all done by the middle of May as she was going on leave then and wanted it all to be completed. I guess that is good news regarding buying before the price goes up in June. Lisa suggested to me to call the DVC and ask them about extending the incentives for NYers.

I called the person I have been dealing with, Michelle MacAlister. She said she would relay it to management. She was under the impression that it was brought up before and they had decided not to extend incentives for us. She was going to relay the new info I told her to management again, tho.

The next step for you all out there is to call DVC and ask if they can possibly give us the extension! Maybe with enough of us...

 

[CarolMN]

She was very polite and told me that they were still working on change of wording in the contracts for the BCV.

I'm not from NY, but I have been following this wondering why NY always seems to be one of the last states to approve a DVC property.

I can't help but wonder what "additonal protections" NY is insisting on getting for its residents. Doesn't it seem like common sense for DVC to have sent them something very similar to what they approved for VWL? Maybe DVC did. We'll probably never know.

Anyway, hope it is worth the aggravation you all have been expressing. Good luck with the efforts to get DVC to extend the incentives for you.

 

[BIERMUGG]

Will do, thanks for all your hard work. Does anybody have a email or snail mail address we can also write too?

 

[Disneyolic]

Biermugg - I'm not sure whose address you want but I would figure to write DVC directly to management.

Disney Vacation Development, Inc.
200 Celebration Place
Celebration, FL 34747

It probably would be good to send a formal letter expressing our concerns. Can't hurt.

By the way, I forgot to mention that Michelle (from DVC) did tell me that they were going to have new incentives some time afterward but they would probably not be as good as they are now and she could not really talk about them.