When renting, how can buyer verify your ressie?

[MMCD]

When I rent from some owner, I call the resort and verify the seller is not a crook by verifying that the seller does have an actual reservation. I pretend that I am them and calling to confirm dates and type of room.

I am an owner renting BWV to someone. I encouraged them to verify that I have a reservation by calling BWV front desk and pretend that I am me (I gave them my name). When the potential buyer called BWV front desk to verify my ressie, it did not exist and therefore the buyer thought I was a fraud. I called myself and was shocked that it could not be found and that I had to do this through member services.

The potentail buyer had a 3 way conference phone that he called me and then member services. I was very uncomfortable that he had to hear me give my member number to member services. When he listened to the conversation, he found me not fraudulant after all. Later the potential buyer decided not to rent from me after all. So now I am worried that the this potential buyer may have written my member number down. (He promised that he did not.)

So how do I avoid this from happening again? How does a potential buyer verify if the ressie actually exist from DVC without having to go through member services?

Thanks,

MMCD

[Disney World Mommy]

Welcome to my world ........... LOL For the last month and a half I have been doing yet the same thing! Had ressies made by the "member" and I'm NOT the member and it's been a huge pain calling day after day for a wait list to come through and Member Service almost always REFUSES to talk to me because I don't have the MEMBER NUMBER I can call all day long and "say" I'm the member - but with no number -- no talk!

HOWEVER, once I finally got the ressie number out of someone at Member Services, that's usually all it's took for them to at least "talk" to me and let me know whether or not my wait list had come through or not - and that's "sometimes" - (sometimes I'd just have to hang up and call back and try a different CM) - VERY FRUSTRATING but they can be very very difficult and I'd most certainly be very very leary if a "stranger" heard your member number - you really better call member services and get a passcode put on there if you can .... (explain the situation ......)

Again, I know it's "safety" but sheesh to just get "general info" or "make requests' (which I've done by the way with no problem) they can really be sticklers about the whole member number thing and I can't help but take offense to it when I'm such a planning controllist .... (hard to let someone else have control ....) sheesh it took me till I actually had the paper in my hand from our relatives before I'd call and cancel my exisiting ressies at CSR and WL because I'm so paranoid ........ :)

[Regina]

.they can really be sticklers about the whole member number thing and I can't help but take offense to it when I'm such a planning controllist

Disney World Mommy, understand that toll free number isn't "free" at all. It's paid for by our dues. I'm disappointed that they talked to you at all. It's called Member Services because it's paid for and provided for Members.

MMCD, I simply would have sent the renter the paper confirmation as proof of having the reservation. That's all that they would have gotten had they made a reservation in the traditional manner.

[dianeschlicht]

Sorry, but I agree wholeheartedly with Regina. MEMBER SERVICES is for MEMBERS. When we donated 5 nights in a studio to our son's private school for a fundraising project, I just sent the confirmation sheet to the winners. It does NOT have my member number on it, and I was always led to believe that they could NOT call member services.

[DebbieB]

I am an owner renting BWV to someone. I encouraged them to verify that I have a reservation by calling BWV front desk and pretend that I am me (I gave them my name). When the potential buyer called BWV front desk to verify my ressie, it did not exist and therefore the buyer thought I was a fraud.

I believe the resort does not get the reservation into their computers until 5 to 7 days before arrival. Before that, you have to go through member services.

[MikeScott8]

I got the reservation confirmation number from the person who rented me points, and before I sent payment I called and just said "I want to conifrm the dates on ressie #blahblahblah" and they asked my name, I believe, and since it was in my name it was no problem and they confirmed the dates at resort for me.

Mike

[WebmasterDoc]

When renting points, it is the member's responsibility to make requests and provide the written confirmation to the renter. If you wish to provide a conference call to reassure your renter that they have a reservation, that is your choice.

I would be very hesitant to provide a member number to anyone in any form. These issues are part of the risk of renting and the process, IMHO, should be spelled out before entering into a rental agreement (was a written contract provided as specified by DVC?), to minimize any misunderstanding during the process.

I know that many have rented without finding the need to use a conference call to confirm anything- the written confirmation, with the renters name listed, will suffice for most people.

Good Luck!

[drusba]

Usually the member should put your name on the reservation and then provide you with the reservation confirmation once he receives it. Thereafter you should be able to call Member Services with confirmation number (for example to make any reservations; when I make ressies for my daughter she has done that). Those who mentioned above that MS is paid for by our dues and thus non-members should not use the phone or service are actually incorrect. Your dues do not pay for Member Services or its 800 number. Member Services gets its operating income from money generated by rentals of units during the breakage period (i.e., those units rented that have not been reserved 60 days or less before a date).

[Chuck S]

Member Services gets its operating income from money generated by rentals of units during the breakage period (i.e., those units rented that have not been reserved 60 days or less before a date).

Actually those units are not rented through MS but through CRO, MS doesn't have anything to do with cash ressies, except booking cash ressies to DVC members.

[drusba]

If you check your disclosure documents you will find a lot of provisions on a company called the Buena Vista Trading Company and what it does and how it gets its money to operate. BVTC is Member Services. CRO may do the actual rentals and receive a fee for it but BVTC sets them up and its income comes from the money generated by such rentals.

[PamOKW]

Drusba I have to differ on who pays MS phone bill. A few years back, they sent out a notice advising people not to share the #800 with non-members since members were indeed footing the bill. At that time, they were getting a lot of general WDW calls coming in. I'm not sure if it's still there, but at that time they added a message at the beginning of the MS choices advising people to hang up and call the 407# for information if they were not calling for MS business. On the Operating Budget it's contained in "DVC Reservation Component".

[MMCD]

I have rented other timeshares from owners. I don't accept a faxed paper to me of the ressie is proof of ownership per specified nights. Someone can type up anything on computer and send it to me. I've always been able to call the actual resort to verify that the owner does have a reservation.

With a lot DVC owners renting out their ressies, there's gotta be another way.

MMCD

[PamOKW]

With a lot DVC owners renting out their ressies, there's gotta be another way.

DVC is under no obligation to help members rent out their units for cash. Somehow people have been making these arrangements in the past. I wouldn't want to see DVC make any changes and certainly not any that would cost other members even a dime.

MMCD, I think posting here is a good way for you to find out how people are handling this. Hopefully, you'll get some ideas. There seems to be a need for a lot of trust on both sides when arranging stranger-to-stranger rentals. One way to make renting easier is to do it within your own circle of friends and family, if possible. Let it be known that you've got time for rent and you may be able to deal with someone you know (or a friend of a friend) rather than a stranger.

[drusba]

As to the "Disney Reservation Component" charge on the dues, I do not have the docs with me right now but I believe that is for a $1 per member annual fee called for in the documents to be paid by the Association to BVTC (i.e., Member Services). Whether that goes to the 800 number ultimately I do not know but the $1 fee remains the same regardless of any amount of use of Member Services or the phone line.

As to suggestions for confirming reservations, what I mentioned above is how it has worked when I have made ressies for my daughter and her family (who of course is not a renter) and she has been able to call MS to make restaurant ressies once she has the confirmation number with her name on it. The first time I put her name on a ressie I asked if she could call with the confirmation number and make restaurant ressies and MS said fine. Of course, I did tell them she was my daughter so they knew it was not a rental.

[WebmasterDoc]

I don't accept a faxed paper to me of the ressie is proof of ownership per specified nights.

The renter can be sent the confirmation from DVC with their name on it. I would hope that the actual letter (not a copy or fax) would satisfy most renters.

[mikesmom]

As soon as I had a reservation number, I sent it to the renter. When the actual paper reservation arrived I made myself a copy and sent the original to the renter.

Yes, some trust is involved. I had the renter send me a certified check so obviously if I had been out to scam them I would have had the money in hand before they had a ressie.

[Regina]

I just want to verify what PamOKW stated about being advised that we pay for that toll free number. I know that we received a notice in regard to this.

FYI, Disney doesn't have toll free numbers for the general public to begin with. That's why the MS message begins with directions to hang up and call 407-W-DISNEY if you're not a member.

[nuthut]

All the renter has to do is call member services, give them their name and member services will be able to confirm the reservation. However you will not be allowed to modify it in any way except the request. Never give you number to anyone else. With that number they can make short arrival ressies and use the time before you get the confirmation in the mail. No need to pretend or anything, just give them you name and they can look it up and confirm it. They will also make Dining ressies for a guest of a member.

[MMCD]

This is BEFORE money has exchanged. I would never send money before verifying the ressie. So what it seems like the suggestion is to:

Give the potential buyer the MS 800# and the ressie# to make sure the ressie exist. Then after the money is exchanged, have MS resend a confirmation paper with the buyer's name.

I had tried CRO and used my DVC ressie number. CRO could not decipher the ressie number. I told them it was my DVC ressie. They told me to call MS because CRO does not record any DVC ressie.

MMCD

[Donald's#1Fan]

Tell me if this is a possibility: What happens if you make a reservation for someone renting your points and then when the confirmation letter comes you send it to the person who rented the points and tell them that if they don't send payment within X amt. of time that you would cancel the reservation. Would this worK?

[WebmasterDoc]

...if they don't send payment within X amt. of time that you would cancel the reservation. Would this worK?

All aspects of a rental arrangement are negotiable between parties. You can (and should) agree to any conditions before beginning the process. Both parties need to feel comfortable with any aspect of the rental.

In most cases, the member should state what his/her rental policies are BEFORE making the reservation. That way the renter will know what is expected of him. These policies should include reservation confirmation and payment expectations.

If the arrangements aren't comfortable for your situation- don't do it!

[dianeschlicht]

After re-reading this thread, I am glad I don't rent points out! It seems like the confirmation letter should be sufficient, but then I am a Minnesotan, and I trust everyone!;)

[disneyberry]

(i assume many DVCers try to avoid this scenario due to complications mentioned below, but i have to ask about this since i may be about to take part in a transaction like this very soon)

a renter wishes to get a last-minute ressie within 5-10 days of when you first initiate discussion about the transaction?

in this case, there is not enough time for the renter to receive the paper confirmation statement in their name.

reading the above posts, does this mean that if you don't have paper confirmation in your name, then your ressie is not guaranteed? the owner could potentially cancel the ressie after receiving payment?

:eek!: (i'm the potential renter, hence the paranoia)

[WebmasterDoc]

The problem with a short time reservation (less than 30 days before) is that if the member makes the reservation without getting payment, he will be penalized since those points will go into a holding account with different use restrictions. This is a risk assumed entirely by the member.

Trust is a key ingredient of any of these transactions. Even if the renter has the written confirmation provided by DVC, the member could still cancel the reservation- so the letter is no guarantee of anything other than the fact that the reservation was made at some time.

I'm pleased to report that we have never had a complaint of any problem with a transaction made thru the Rent/Trade Board here at DIS. That is no guarantee that it can't happen, but should still be somewhat reassuring.

Both parties should be clear what is expected in terms of payment, confirmation and cancellation policies. If these issues are not clear...ask. If they are not acceptable...don't agree to the rental.

Good Luck!

[disneyberry]

one more question.
let's say owner and renter decide to close on the deal.
the arrival date to the resort is in less than 5 days.

does this mean that the resort already has downloaded the reservation into their local systems? i.e. renter can call the resort directly and confirm the reservation w/o having to call Member Services?

[WebmasterDoc]

Yes, I would expect that, once within 5 days, the resort should have access to the reservations made either thru DVC or thru CRO and a phone confirmation would be simple with the resort itself. Actually, i would be disappointed if it were not that way.

Good Luck!