wristbands

Can someone please tell me what is the purpose of wearing a wristband when at the swimming pool and how it can be enforced?  Another ridiculous, petty rule in my view, this place is getting more like Colditz every day.  No the wonder the Spanish think we are mad!

 Hi angelita

 Two years pas tin  August when i was sitting by the pool 4 Spanish lads all came and sat near me, all carrying crash helmets(strange gear for the swimming pool) They stayed there for  a few hours used the pool and then rode off on their mopeds to where ever they came from(certainly not Roda). This really ------ me off. Im paying for the privllage of a nice swimming pool and grounds and they drive in and use the facilities FREE!!. I believe the problem was much worse on phase 3, Last August no problems , the people who are intitiiled to be there wear a little green band to prove it  And the poor guy who checks that you have one still gets abuse from some people round the pool , not form the illegals but from the owners themselves. !!! I have heard it first hand and it is not nice,I can only presume , owners for some reason dont know about it but we were written to last year by the community.  I honestly cant see the problem of wearing a small green band if it is going to deter strangers coming in and using the pool, . In other resorts the communal pools seem to be gated and you need to have a key to get in to the pool area, the lay out of Roda would make this system impossible and even look like Colditz with so many gates!!!.  

Hi Celtic.  I take your point but these occurances are hardly everyday incidences, it would be interesting to see how many times this has happened. Another point I would make is where were security when this happened?  Surely 4 guys on mopeds driving through  the security gates should have been checked.  In comparison to other golf resorts we pay one of the highest in community fees and a large part of that goes on security, checking the swimming pool area is for them to do not us.  I am an owner and also resident here I dont want to go hunting around for a wristband everytime I want a quick dip in the pool.  When I have mentioned this latest 'rule' to my friends who live here in Spain and yes some do  live on golf resorts they laughed. 

I also would be very interested to know what the Spanish think of this, not much is my guess.  As I write this now there are 2 large Spanish families on holiday by the pool and some Repsol guys renting an apartment.  None are wearing wristbands and I wouldn't dream of interfering. If a Spanish person came up with this one I'll eat my hat! 

Hi angelita,
, The problem seems only to be during the month of August, and last year the security man was only employed during this month for phase 2. There were many problems with whole families coming in during the day and spending time in the pools on phase 2and phase 3 tney can ride /walk / drive through the gates on RodA without being stopped as the golf course is open to the general public , no one has ever asked me where I'm going in the last 4 years.I Agree it's not everyones cup of tea.

Hi Angelita

Yes it was a Spanish guy that came up with idea for wristbands. Our current president. So get your hat eaten!

The problem in 2009 was dire. There were many Spanish families entering the resort and having a nice day out for free, and as Celtic has said because the golf course is open to the public then people driving in are not challenged. Has anyone ever stopped and challenged you?

There was a major problem with cleanliness of the pools. Where do you go when you haven't got an apartment to return to when you want to go the loo? And I don't just mean urine . . . . mothers were seen holding their children over the pools for them to have a pooh. Plus some just even sqatted down on the grass. The litter left by these intruders was also a major problem as they would bring a picnic with them and just leave their rubbish behind on the grass.

Andd it wasn't just outsiders. Owners from the villas and somtimes even the townhouses were using our pools. So not paying any P12 community charge and using a big pool for free.

Personally, I think it is a small price to pay to keep the pools clean and litter free. It's not such a big hassle to put a wrist band on - I keep mine by the door to remind me to pick it up on my way to the pool. We also rent out our apartment and have had Spanish, Portugese, Italian and French renters as well as ENglish and no one has complained about it yet.

If you see people without wristbands you do not need to challenge them. All you have to do is ask Gregorio to get them to leave.

Now if you want this to happen again and are prepared to fish the solid matter out of the pool then please raise this as a matter at next year's AGM.

Alo note that it is not your community fee that pays for the Security service. It is the Entidad fee that covers this.

Hi Pommers

Hat eaten and I'm extremely surprised as the Spanish on the whole tend to be very tolerant people.  In answer to your question about being challenged then yes I have, more than once in face though cant remember when exactly a few years ago I think but with a different security company.

As far as the 'poo' business is concerned of course this is not acceptable nor intruders but again my point is where was security?  One of the main reasons I bought my apartment was because I was told it was going to be 70% residential (mainly Spanish)  which is not the case at all.  Perhaps if there were more familiar faces around the pools instead of a bunch of holiday makers then 'strangers' would be more noticable.  I have had my apartment now since 2007 and every year there seems to be more and more rules and regulations. I have lived in Spain for over 9 years and never known anything like it. 

I am aware that it is the Entidad and not the community fees that pay for the security thanks, its still my money at the end of the day!

 

 

Hi Angelita,
I too have had my apartment since 2007, and as you are aware the size of the resort has doubled, How can we expect the security men to check every pool on the resort every hour. if I rang security to report strangers round the pool then I would have to go and point them out to security making me feel quite uncomfortable and obviously the person who is pointing the finger,. How else is security going to know who should be there and who shouldn't unless you have some form of proof like a little green band!

We also have the green wristbands on La Torre Golf ( Polaris )  and also have the same problems as you guys, locals coming from near by towns etc etc. also people have bought  fake wristbands, so one idea  for the  new wristbands they could have  a micro chip in them, making very hard to copy, but these barnds are not cheep. Our security do a great job if you have no band you will told leave, they  go around to all the pools many times a day in the summer.keeping the free loaders out.

 

This message was last edited by newworld on 15/07/2011.

This message was last edited by newworld on 15/07/2011.

I agree that the wristbands are a necessary evil.   In summer 2009 we saw lots of families arrive, use the pool area for free, then get in their cars and leave.  

We're just back from Roda, everyone around the pool wore wristbands. For the first  day we didn't have any, we were approached very politely by Gregorio about this, we explained we were owners, gave him the apartment number and he went off and brought us back 5 green wristbands - no problem.  It's much better than sitting on our balcony getting angry about people using our facilities for free (or eyeing everyone sitting at the pool suspiciously.)  In an ideal world our resort would be private, but it's not - at least this is one way of keeping the pool areas private.

Are these wristbands only in use on a particular community?

Thanks

Yes pal, they are only used at the moment on phase 2apartments.

Hi all.

Yes wristbands are good idea. I Had 8 issued for our apartment Unfortunatly our Key Holder Lost all of them.and coffee table as well. and they are Mar Menor in the Square. and they will not admit. so what is my Option.

acune

Acune, the wrist bands were lost by your tennant, and the coffee table was kindly replaced by the tennant.

 

 Regards, Steve.

 

This message was last edited by steve and anita on 20/07/2011.

When you rent your property I am asuming that yiou take a security deposit of at least 100 pounds and if you have a good keyholder it is their responsibility to check the property and, if there are any problems, notify the owner and not refund the deposit until the items have been resolved

Something like wrist bands should be on the property inventory so an easy check and just saying the tennants lost them doesn't really explian it

I am sure that these can be replaced by the community but there will be a charge

On La Torrs 25 euro each to replace lost  wristbands. or go tp local village and you can by a fake one for a euro.lol

Hi ,

We paid you  management fee.  to look after our apartment. Replaced coffee table does not match with our furniture  colour set.

You should not have returned deposit. without  checking it out.

thanks

 Guys, I hope you can keep your differences of opinion off discussion boards.

 

Just to add to what has been said, wristbands were introduced last year only by P12 community after we had been told they worked quite well at La Torre and we had many outside visitors in 2009.. Originally it was planned to give wristbands only to owners who were up to date with their fees but we were informed legally that was not possible in Spain.

It is indeed a cheap alternative to locked gates etc. and most people do not seem to have an issue with using them once they know why they were introduced. Perhaps if they were used all over Roda, security could be asked to monitor the pools but for now P12 has to ensure their proper use themselves, which means we all have to join in and contribute a little as well as ensuring it is easy to monitor.

I am sure Gregorio and whoever works at weekends will get to know those that live there and make allowances but it is worth remembering that not all owners know who others are. It is their job to inform security, not ours, so no need to get involved on a personal basis.

There are many concerns and problems not just in P12 but all over Roda but rest assured most of us would like both a community and a resort we are pleased to live in or visit

We're visiting our apartment on Phase 2 next week.  We haven't got around to collecting our wristbands yet.  Do we collect them from Housing and do we need to order them beforehand?

Thanks

 

To give an update on wristbands.  I have been here all summer and worn begrudgingly the said wristbands.  I would say they have been a kind of success as it really depends on whether or whether or not Gregorio or security are here.  If they are around, they are worn if not people dont bother.  Some people are fine with it, some people not.  I have to say there has been noone to my knowledge been here that shouldn't have been. There was one family that got shirty with Gregorio as they were by the pool on their last day, suitcases plonked on someones terrace getting tanked up with bottles of wine and glasses without armbands. The only other incident has been with myself because the steps to the pool around block 50 are broken as I realised when I tried to get out of the pool and nearly broke my bloody foot, apparantly it had been reported already but I did have a word with a colleague of Gregorios who promised it would be reported Monday forthwith. If it isnt I shall have a word again as it is positively dangerous!

David

 

You do not need to order wristbands, they are yours by right as an owner, even if fees have not been paid, but hopefully debtors will be reminded of non payment when trying to collect.

You can either collect them from Housing, showing some proof of ownership OR if you are unable to get to the office, contact them beforehand and ask for them to be left at the security gate, where you will be able to pick up.

i understand it is a pain for residents or regulars having to wear wristbands and it is a shame some owners get stressed with those checking if people are entitled to be there. Once again I stress, while not perfect, it is a relatively cheap and easy alternative to ensure the pool areas are not swamped with outsiders which has happened before.

From reports, it sounds as if generally most people are using them and it is causing little offence but keeping interlopers away, which would appear to be money well spent.

Gregorio is normally good at reporting problems and hopefully any problem with steps will get sorted, but it is August and getting work done can be a pain.

 

Direct contact with Housing may be a good idea, stressing the urgency of the steps.