Calling fellow Summit Lodge - Platinum development owners
Hi I've bought a unit in Summit Lodge and looking to connect with others buyers in the development to share some experiences and find out how things seem to be progressing. We've made 1st stage payments so far, and waiting to be pay the second once requested by Platinum who seem to have gone a bit quiet. My understanding is that it is now delayed to being ready for the Winter 09 season, but not really sure what the latest actually is. Can anyone share any experiences on this development? Thanks C

summit lodge
been there 3 weeks ago not very much happening, 3 workmen outside sorting scaffolding, do you know anything about Seattle ski construction as that is who I have my contract with? roba

Platinum are now trying to off load other completed apartments {That no one will buy} to buyers of Summit Lodge because they say the developer cant raise money to finish it. Again Platinum using bullying tactics and show total disregard to contracts. They say it is nothing to do with them, that it is 'Seattle Ski Construction', but the likes of Aaron Tracey who is a Director of Platinum is also a major shareholder of this company along with other Platinum people, basically the same company but when something goes wrong Platinum walks away. Talk about ripping people off. Its not the first time they have done this though. They also did the same by not paying out on rental contacts in Sunset Resort on the coast. They are not to be trusted..

Correct, they are not to be trusted. They owe ex-investors in sunset resort about 500,000 euros, which they are never going to get. Avoid anything this company is involved in unless you want to get stung. And these are facts, not slanderous comments, as they have been taken to court in Ireland over this so hopefully the post will not get deleted.

interesting if you search Seattle Ski Company who are the constructors of Summit Lodge, you get straight thru to Platinum's brochure. They also have same address in Sofia

these posts are very worrying. I have made the 40% payment to platinum and havent heard anything to say they wont be ready in November although did get an email saying they would update me in a couple of weeks from now. I must admit the last photos i have seen didnt look like it was progressing well. I though platinum were trustworthy but not too sure now and cant afford to lose my payment so far. Has anyone tried to cancel their purchase and get any money back?

Yeah I have been onto them loads of times. When they do reply, you get fobbed off and its always lies. Any of the updates you may have got of building progress is off buildings A+B but they tried to tell me that one of those was building C. Complete and utter lies, all that is there for C is a hole in the ground. Waste of time speaking to Izabella who is supose to be manager of this project. Spoke to one of the directors and he tried to fob me off by saying its just going slow because of the downturn. He eventually owned up to the fact that building had not been started and that there was no point in starting it yet because the developer didnt have the funds. I asked for my money back and was told there was no money, plain and simple and then he said sorry about that. Then after a few words he offered me an apartment of same size in Whiteoaks. At the end of the day Platinum are not to be trusted, and are not the company you may have thought they were. All they are, are bullies and liars and dont take rsponability for anything. The line they give is 'we are only selling agents' , we're not the developers. But on the other hand when you go onto there web site they boast about all the Best Development awards which they have won. Like with contracts ,they take out of them what suits, shower of gangsters.........

Summit Lodge
Could someone please contact me and give me a really good description of where Summit Lodge is. I will be in Bansko next week and will be taking photographs of developments. I may already have picture of it from my last visit. I will try and get as much up to date information as possible. I was in Bansko about 2 weeks ago and there was no building going on anywhere just hundreds of half built developments littering the landscape. The situation in Bansko is really bad, much worse than most people realise. What sort of relocations have you guys been offered?

Why Pamella, are you buying there or is it just information for your website that you are looking for??????? You seem to show alot of interest in alot of developments...........

Summit Lodge
We are getting enquiries about Summit Lodge all the time. It seems to be one of the really problematic developments in Bansko. Im going there again so I thought I'd get some up to date photos for the many enquirers. Problem is locating these developments, they don’t put any signs on them and people give me instructions like.... the third one on the right of the gondola... not much help for taking pics. Last time I spent hours wandering around Bansko trying to find developments.. Wondering what your guys take is on what’s happening and if there is anything that we can do to help. I had forgotten how cynical everyone is on this site.

Sure the developers name is only a cover up for Platinium so that you cant sue Platinum in the event of something going wrong. Then they use there famous line 'Its not our fault'. The last comment is correct, Platinum is the one that asks for the payment/installments. I found this strange too and in fact when I was buying and recieved the contract ,I questioned the fact that it was with 'Seattle ski construction'. I told them that I didnt want to sign this because I didnt know who they were and that I thought it would be with them Platinum as they call themselves a development company. At that time they had a good name and they said this was normal that all there developments had different names on the contracts but they were all basically Platinum people who owned these other companies. Looking back they really scammed people as you have absolutely no comeback with Platinum. They will just dissolve the other company that the contracts are with and basically start fresh again under a new name. They have already done this with management companies they set up on the coast so as to avoid paying guranteed rental that were signed when purchases were made. Believe me, they are not to be trusted one bit.

Summit Lodge/ Whiteoaks
We're buying in Summit Lodge and have made the 2nd payment. We inquired on Tuesday as to what is happening and have been offered an apartment in Whiteoaks instead. We have been sent photos and it is virtually complete. We're sorely tempted to go for it as" a bird in the hand" and all that. Does anyone know anything about Whiteoaks? I know you can go on about dodgy Platinum appear to be, but we are obviously a fair way in (60%), and are just after a speedy resolution. Thoughts anyone?

Cordwangle, I was sent photos of Summit lodge block c months ago showing the progress but it was lies block c has not even started so I would not trust any photos they send you. You would be better off to go out and see what exactly you are getting and get platinum to pay for that. After all they broke the contract. Whiteoaks does not have cert 16 building certificate and although it might look finished, are you confident that all the services are in place and also that it is up to Building standards. That is why cert 16 is so important. If your contract says building completion act 15 you might think its actually completed but its not and once you hand over your last payment on an Act 15 contract you will have no comeback and the developer can take as long he wants to finish it off or he may never finsh it. Bet if you confront Platinum about this they will try to tell you it is fully finished and that it is the slow Bulgarian system that is the problem and of course not them. So dont say you have not be warned!! Ask them is it ok to give them the last payment when they recieve Act 16 cert and see if there so confident then. Which block in Sumit lodge were you buying. By the way did they compensate you in any way ie, reduced price. After all that is not where you chose to buy and they have broken the contract. If you broke the contract they would screw you!!! Also they keep mentioning recession as the cause for all this. Funny though how there not reducing there prices to suit. Like I said they suit themselves.

Sorry to put a positive spin on this but we have purchased in Whiteoaks and we recently visited Bansko and our apartment. Its lovely - that is, Whiteoaks is in a great spot, it stands out as a very nice development, we were very pleased with our apartment - only very minor snagging issues and the complex is nearly finished. We met Angelina (local rep) who was very helpful, etc. Even though it does not have Act 16, the utilities are connected. Our apartment doesn't have the kitchen fitted yet but that's just a minor issue. We are really looking forward to getting Act 16 and having the opportunity to stay in our own apartment, next visit. PDI provided accommodation for us while in Bansko for a nominal fee. Of course, if you do intend to switch to a Whiteoaks apartment, I strongly recommend that you visit the apartment first to ensure it is what you want. Apartments differ in size, etc. and I think you should be wary of apartments on the top floor as I understand that the roof cuts in quite a bit. Ours is on the 3rd floor and its a one-bed. The only negative thing I have to say is that the road leading up to Whiteoaks is not done - but this is not PDI's fault. If you go there, you will see that many developments are affected by this. Its our understanding that the road will be done - PDI have paid the necessary monies to the municipality. Legalities, etc. need to be sorted between the developments concerned to ensure that ALL developments pay up for this infrastructure. Funding is also an issue for the municipality as infrastucture in and around Bansko requires attention. The recession has affected Bansko and Bulgaria like everywhere else. Building work has slowed down and even stopped on several developments. There was activity on Whiteoaks and on Summit Lodge. Of that, be grateful. We have invested so much of our time and money with our apartment, we have tried to stay as positive as possible, even though the negativity we read from time to time just wears you down! Our place was meant to be finished two years ago - but that's life - that's the risk you take when you buy off plan. Yes, there are many reasons for the delays, its more complex than some people make out. I hate all the negativity about PDI and to be honest I'm sick of reading about it. Make your own informed decisions - don't rely on other people's word for it - even mine! Go there, see for yourself, etc. and then make a decision!