Legitimate DVC owner

[DisneyDreamer99]

I'm about to rent points from someone and I'm wondering how I can verify if they are actually a DVC owner.

I remember seeing a web site address somewhere on these boards where you could check a persons name to see if they owned with DVC, but of course now that I need it I can't find it.

Thank You!

[DisneyKidds]

Here is the website where deeds are recorded.

http://officialrecords.occompt.com/wb_or1/or_sch_1.asp

[DisneyDreamer99]

Thanks so much for your help DisneyKidds,

[Chuck S]

A reminder, rental offers are not allowed on the regular DVC boards, only the rent/trade board. The above two posts have been edited to reflect that policy.

Thanks.

[DisneyKidds]

My most humble apologies.

[Chuck S]

My most humble apologies.

No problem.

[JimMIA]

Keep in mind that the site above is only for the WDW resorts, which are all in Orange County, FL. You'll have to look elsewhere if the owners contract is at Vero or Hilton Head.

[Granny]

I'm about to rent points from someone and I'm wondering how I can verify if they are actually a DVC owner.



I would make sure that you get a copy of the reservation in your name. A non-owner would have no way of getting that unless they talked some owner into doing that for them...highly unlikely.

Also, I'd strongly suggest that you read a thread we call the Point Rental Primer at the following link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1255828

[spiceycat]

Granny suggestions is good.

because the owner name & address will appear on all DVC confirmations.

just say you want the orginially - the orginially is in color not black and white.

okay I hate the color - a yellow - someone say it was gold.

[Sammie]

YFI: not all members are listed on the link given. So they might be legit but not be listed.

[angiepangie8]

Great then what do you do????? I typed in the name last name first and nothing came up for that person.

[Plutofan]

Remember if they just recently purchased their points it usually takes awhile before their deed is recorded by the county. If I do recall we were in the Disney system right away when we purchased AKV but our deed was not recorded for several weeks to a month later as I recall.

[Deb & Bill]

Great then what do you do????? I typed in the name last name first and nothing came up for that person.

1. Take their word on it, or
2. Find another owner to rent from, or
3. Forget about renting a DVC reservation from an owner if you tend to worry over it too much.

[JodyTG]

1. Take their word on it, or
2. Find another owner to rent from, or
3. Forget about renting a DVC reservation from an owner if you tend to worry over it too much.

I agree with this post. It takes a lot of trust to rent and it sounds like you have none, or very little and will be high maintenance. Just call CRO and go that route for your reservation.

[kimberh]

Great then what do you do????? I typed in the name last name first and nothing came up for that person.

It really takes trust on both sides. Most owners will require a deposit, some require payment in full, you will receive a written confirmation with your name on it. You will have a certain time frame to pay the owner the balance. If you are flying in, Disney will mail you your luggage tags for Magical Express. I would have a email address, house address, phone number, cell number, full name of the owner. Make a phone call to the owner, if you don't mesh, find another owner, ask for references, check those out.

If you have talked with the owner and you still don't feel confident, then renting from a DVC owner may not be for you. I rented before I bought, I know what you are feeling, I am not trying to make light of it. My owner sent me a letter with more information than I asked for, that made me feel better, but this was months after I was into the rental period.

[angiepangie8]

Oh great now I'm being called "high maintenance" just because I want to be a little cautious before I send someone $1000s of dollars.
:rolleyes:

[Chuck S]

Oh great now I'm being called "high maintenance" just because I want to be a little cautious before I send someone $1000s of dollars.
:rolleyes:


Hey, I'm right there with ya. I could never send off that kind of $$ to a stranger without some sort of references or a deed on file.

Also be sure you have full conact information, phone, address, email, etc.

Make sure you have a written contract (or at least an email you agree to) that spells out payment methods and date, the aforementioned contact info, refund/cancellation policies of the owner, etc. It is for your protection AND the protection of the owner.

[JimMIA]

Great then what do you do????? I typed in the name last name first and nothing came up for that person.
Check the instructions on that site carefully -- it's very particular. I believe you enter last name (no comma) and then first name. Or, I think you can search by last name only.

For type of search, you are looking for a deed. If you type "deed," you'll get absolutely nothing. You have to type "d" in that box.

FWIW, I don't think you are being "high-maintenance" at all. I think you are going through the right process.

But I wouldn't put a ton of confidence in that website. Sometimes things show up and other times they don't. There are a lot of reasons why an ownership might not show up. Also, the fact that someone has a DVC account is not absolute proof the transaction will go smoothly. It's a good indicator, because I don't think there are many shady people who own DVC, but it's not absolute.

An alternative might be to ask the owner to make the ressie in a conference call with you. They would call MS, give the security info on their account which is required, and then bring you into the conference call. Their privacy would be protected, and you'd be able to make your requests, DME arrangements, add DDP, etc. all in one phone call (which saves everyone time and effort). And obviously, if they are making arrangements directly with MS with you on the line, you know they're for real.

Now, that's still not an absolute guarantee everything will go smoothly. In a worst case scenario, they could turn right around and cancel your ressie out from under you. But I have never heard of that happening here.

Bottom line, the whole process is based on mutual trust, because both parties have some risk. If you are not comfortable with the owner, or they are not comfortable with you, it's time to move on. If trust with this individual is the problem, find someone else to rent from. If you don't like the uncertainty of the process, renting is not for you and you should call Disney CRO.

[Deb & Bill]

Oh great now I'm being called "high maintenance" just because I want to be a little cautious before I send someone $1000s of dollars. :rolleyes:

Sorry, but you do seem a little high maintenance.

Unless you are getting a reservation for less than 31 days out (or close to 31 days), you'd probably be sending a deposit initially and the remaining based on the contract. If you want something 31 days or sooner, you'll need to pay the member in full because of your lack of planning. You might want to establish a relationship with a member so you can rent from them in the future.

Even with the original confirmation letter from DVC, even with a three way call, even with a written contract, even with a copy of the members DVC web site points information, even with the most scupulous research on your part, someone looking to steal your money will still be able to do it.

For 100% confidence, you probably should just make a reservation through Disney directly.

[angiepangie8]

Sorry, but you do seem a little high maintenance.

Unless you are getting a reservation for less than 31 days out (or close to 31 days), you'd probably be sending a deposit initially and the remaining based on the contract. If you want something 31 days or sooner, you'll need to pay the member in full because of your lack of planning. You might want to establish a relationship with a member so you can rent from them in the future.

Even with the original confirmation letter from DVC, even with a three way call, even with a written contract, even with a copy of the members DVC web site points information, even with the most scupulous research on your part, someone looking to steal your money will still be able to do it.

For 100% confidence, you probably should just make a reservation through Disney directly.

Actually I personally am planning on a vacation for June of 2008 so I don't think I will suffer from a "lack of planning."

I do not have a problem renting, but I would like some proof of ownership and maybe a reference or two before I commit to anything. It’s true that someone could still steal your money after you have taken proper steps: 3way call, written contract, references, info on the owner such as phone # and address, and proof of ownership. However, it is a lot less likely.

You may think that taking these steps makes for a “high maintenance” renter. However, I think that not taking these steps makes for an “uninformed and naïve” renter.

:teacher:

[salmoneous]

An alternative might be to ask the owner to make the ressie in a conference call with you. They would call MS, give the security info on their account which is required, and then bring you into the conference call. Their privacy would be protected, and you'd be able to make your requests, DME arrangements, add DDP, etc. all in one phone call (which saves everyone time and effort). And obviously, if they are making arrangements directly with MS with you on the line, you know they're for real. With all due respect, no, you don't know they're for real. If you are dealing with a scam artist, all you will be doing is conferencing in with scam artist #1 and scam artist #2.

That's my biggest problem with all these hoops people are suggesting renters put owners through. They don't actually protect the renter.

[crisi]

With all due respect, no, you don't know they're for real. If you are dealing with a scam artist, all you will be doing is conferencing in with scam artist #1 and scam artist #2.

That's my biggest problem with all these hoops people are suggesting renters put owners through. They don't actually protect the renter.

Yep, it would take a little work to create the DVC stationary, but even that is doable in our current technology world. A scammer interested in scamming can pull this off - down to you checking the deed (that's as simple as claiming to be someone with a deed registered - identity theft doesn't take a rocket scientist to pull off).

This takes trust. Fortunately, scamming is very rare. But if you can't afford to lose your money, renting isn't a good option. And it isn't scamming that you should be worried about - its cancellation policies. DVC owners don't have a lot of flexibility when it comes to cancelling - and no one knows when their father will need sudden surgery or when the kids are going to break a leg.

[angiepangie8]

So maybe there are few hoops the owners have to go through to sell their points, but if they know what these are ahead of time it really shouldn’t be that hard on them. For example, a rental contract, a way to prove ownership, and references. Is that really all that hard?

Here are a couple places that give tips to renters:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1442533

Important Things to Know About Renting DVC Points
Renting points means you pay the DVC member directly (often by giving him a one-night deposit up front and paying the balance 30 days before the trip, though arrangements vary widely) and he makes a reservation in your name. The transaction requires trust on both sides.
I have rented points on four occasions and in each case had no problems at all. In fact, for years I had never heard of anyone being ripped off in a DVC rental situation, but in 2006 I heard of some instances in which renters were the victims of fraud.
If you are renting, be very careful!
• Ask for references and check the references.
• Get the owner's full name, address and phone number before sending any payment. To the extent possible, confirm that the information is valid. (For instance, call and talk with the owner. Also, consider going to Google and typing in the person's name and contact info to see if you find any mentions that will help you confirm the owner's identity.)
• Confirm that the person is a DVC owner by running a search at the Florida Comptroller's Office web site.
• NEVER pay a total stranger by using a "cash equivalent" such as Western Union or money order. I also don't recommend paying by check (especially cashier's check). The safest way to pay is to use a credit card. (That isn't difficult. Members of the public can pay and receive payments by credit card through PayPal.) Personally, credit card payment is the only method I would ever agree to use, because it is the only method that provides you with some protection against fraud.
• There should be a written contract or letter of agreement, signed by both of you, spelling out exactly what the rental will cost, when payment is due, dates of the stay, etc.
• Make sure the owner sends you the confirmation from Disney. Be aware that Disney Vacation Club will not speak with renters or give them any information. Only DVC owners can speak with DVC about reservations.
• If something sounds "off," don't proceed. It's not worth taking the risk.
the above is from: http://www.mousesavers.com/dvc.html#rentpoints

[Muushka]

Sorry, I just posted about how I can trust others. A little on the sarcastic side....

[kimberh]

So, did you decide to rent or did you decide to book through Disney?

[crisi]

Well, if this is your first rental, you won't have references. So yes, in some cases, it is that hard.

Keep in mind that the vast majority of people who rent are casual renters. They have extra points this year. This isn't a business for them, its a way to get rid of points they can't use. At the price per point, it isn't a huge profit to people who purchased recently, either - and it can be a lot of bother.

On the other hand, there are people in the business of renting points. They will be able to provide references, a contract, and proof of ownership. They also run the risk of having their reservations flagged by Disney as violating the contract (though there are only rumors of that happening).

There is a line in the middle that may be the best option - someone who rents often enough to understand the process and be able to provide references, but doesn't rent so often that you risk having them shut down between now and the time you want to travel.

[Deb & Bill]

...• NEVER pay a total stranger by using a "cash equivalent" such as Western Union or money order. I also don't recommend paying by check (especially cashier's check). The safest way to pay is to use a credit card. (That isn't difficult. Members of the public can pay and receive payments by credit card through PayPal.) Personally, credit card payment is the only method I would ever agree to use, because it is the only method that provides you with some protection against fraud.
...

However, many members will not accept Paypal because of the concerns they have with guaranteeing the they get their money in a timely manner. Or at all. Paypal can be another scam, too.

And like others have stated, it is so easy to just get a name off the FL Comptroller's website and say that is you.

So, like I said before, if you need a 100% guarantee, you'd be best to work directly through Disney and forget about renting a reservation from a member.

[angiepangie8]

[QUOTE=crisi;20165784]Well, if this is your first rental, you won't have references. So yes, in some cases, it is that hard. QUOTE]


I understand if it is an owners first time renting that it might be harder for them to provide a reference. However, they may have a reference from when they rented (if they have rented B4) or maybe all of the other things that you find with that owners policy outweigh the fact that they don't have references.

It basically just comes down to what the renter is comfortable with.

I'm just saying that it's smart to be a little cautious and not just blindly hand over $$$$$$.

[angiepangie8]

So, did you decide to rent or did you decide to book through Disney?


Not sure it that question was for me or the original Thread creator. I actually am planning to visit WDW in June of 2008 and I am keeping my options open. I actually would love to rent. I'm looking into the AKV, but also may want to check out some options for the BCV. I just want to be smart about it if I do decide to go that route.

:teacher:

[crisi]

[QUOTE=crisi;20165784]Well, if this is your first rental, you won't have references. So yes, in some cases, it is that hard. QUOTE]


I understand if it is an owners first time renting that it might be harder for them to provide a reference. However, they may have a reference from when they rented (if they have rented B4) or maybe all of the other things that you find with that owners policy outweigh the fact that they don't have references.

It basically just comes down to what the renter is comfortable with.

I'm just saying that it's smart to be a little cautious and not just blindly hand over $$$$$$.

I completely agree - which is why I'm not very likely to rent points, nor do I rent my own points out. Blindly or not - risk is too great for me. My own points I can easily give to family or friends. I might rent if I needed a few extra - but given the transfer restrictions, we are much more likely to add a night on cash.

[DisDaydreamer]

angiepangie8. Did you see this thread. Sounds a lot like your rentor.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1539806 :confused3

[Mtnman44]

I agree. This whole renting thing has me totally puzzled. I would never do it. I understand with friends/family or once in a while with a few points left over. But multiple thousands of dollars deals over the internet with strangers.....? Sheesh, just book a hotel resevation the normal way. JMHO of course...

[QUOTE=angiepangie8;20166185]

I completely agree - which is why I'm not very likely to rent points, nor do I rent my own points out. Blindly or not - risk is too great for me. My own points I can easily give to family or friends. I might rent if I needed a few extra - but given the transfer restrictions, we are much more likely to add a night on cash.

[kimberh]

Not sure it that question was for me or the original Thread creator. I actually am planning to visit WDW in June of 2008 and I am keeping my options open. I actually would love to rent. I'm looking into the AKV, but also may want to check out some options for the BCV. I just want to be smart about it if I do decide to go that route.

:teacher:

I was asking you, I didn't post on this Thread in 2006 to the original poster. ;)

[angiepangie8]

I was asking you, I didn't post on this Thread in 2006 to the original poster. ;)

Nice Point

[Canadian Tom]

May I suggest you try to find someone close to where you live so you can do the deal in person. This may releive a little stress on renting. Canadian Tom

[angiepangie8]

Thanks good suggestion
Actually I am dealing with someone currently who I am feeling fairly comfortable with.

[tarheelmjfan]

However, many members will not accept Paypal because of the concerns they have with guaranteeing the they get their money in a timely manner. Or at all. Paypal can be another scam, too.


We're thinking of renting points for the 1st time, so I've been reading the DVC boards. This info confused me. Why wouldn't the owner get their money in a timely manner through Paypal? We've sent & received money through paypal many times, & the process is very fast. Certainly faster than sending a check, & in most cases faster than sending a MO. The only time we've experienced delays is when someone used an electronic check thru Paypal. That was still as fast as it would have been for a regular check to clear. It seems that accepting immediate payment (no electronic check) with Paypal would be the fastest form of payment, other than face to face. What is a faster way to receive payment? Just curious. That info may come in handy someday. ;)

[Mtnman44]

The PayPal payment can be reversed by the account holder if an unauthorized person made the payment, or they claim such, or if they decide they didn't get what they paid for, etc. It's basically a risk of additional hassle and possibly getting stiffed on the deal, especially if the chargeback comes AFTER the reservation has been used.


We're thinking of renting points for the 1st time, so I've been reading the DVC boards. This info confused me. Why wouldn't the owner get their money in a timely manner through Paypal? We've sent & received money through paypal many times, & the process is very fast. Certainly faster than sending a check, & in most cases faster than sending a MO. The only time we've experienced delays is when someone used an electronic check thru Paypal. That was still as fast as it would have been for a regular check to clear. It seems that accepting immediate payment (no electronic check) with Paypal would be the fastest form of payment, other than face to face. What is a faster way to receive payment? Just curious. That info may come in handy someday. ;)

[tarheelmjfan]

The PayPal payment can be reversed by the account holder if an unauthorized person made the payment, or they claim such, or if they decide they didn't get what they paid for, etc. It's basically a risk of additional hassle and possibly getting stiffed on the deal, especially if the chargeback comes AFTER the reservation has been used.

Thanks for the explanation. I guess I was thinking most rentals would be paid for several months prior to check-in. Can you even dispute a charge, after that long? In our experience, Paypal doesn't automatically refund money, without the person making a good case for it. It seems to me that would be the best way to assure both the owner & renter are safe in the transaction. At least, there's a 3rd party involved. It's a shame that there's unscrupulous people in this world requiring people to protect themselves from fraud. :sad2:

[Desnik]

Just an FYI, I entered my name in that link provided to search for legit DVC owners and my name didn't come up as an owner, neither did my husbands. We own at 2 resorts and one was a new add on but the other we have had for 2 years. So, I wouldn't rely on that link/search feature.

Before we bought into DVC we rented points about 3 times from "strangers" here on the DIS. I had no problems at all. It was a great experience. I just made sure the person I rented from was a "regular" on these boards, got references and paid deposit through Paypal, got my original confirmation from the member, then sent the rest of the money 30 days prior to the trip. It was simple.

[crisi]

Thanks for the explanation. I guess I was thinking most rentals would be paid for several months prior to check-in. Can you even dispute a charge, after that long? In our experience, Paypal doesn't automatically refund money, without the person making a good case for it. It seems to me that would be the best way to assure both the owner & renter are safe in the transaction. At least, there's a 3rd party involved. It's a shame that there's unscrupulous people in this world requiring people to protect themselves from fraud. :sad2:

Apparently Paypal treats "intangibles" like a DVC rental differently than they treat tangibles - and its much easier to dispute the charge. I don't know this from experience, just second hand.