Bonnett Creek learns from DVC (or NOT) - update in post #44

[Dean]

Originally Posted by DebbieB

I can see charging a fee on an RCI exchange, DVC did not get any dues money on that reservation. But if I rent my points, I have paid the dues on those points, the renter should not get hit. It does not cost DVC any more money if I'm staying in the room vs my renter.

Actually no matter who stays in the room, the options provided have (or should have) already been paid for. It's basically a way for DVD to pay for a program that should and would be provided otherwise without exchanges. It does not save the members anything since the services would and should be covered by the 12% maint fees. While I am aware of many other timeshare that charge extra fees for things like resort fees, AC, mandatory vs optional AI, even parking and some of them charge members less or not at all compared to non members, I'm not aware off hand of any that simply charge exchangers for services routinely provided just because they can. It's not a big deal and when I exchange in, I know about the fee up front but I disagree with the fee in principle.

[delmar411]

well there goes my plan of possibly exchanging into BC. We would never use their transportation so I'm certainly not going to pay for it.

[Dean]

$12 a day doesn't make or break an options but it may shift the balance, esp if they upgrade their transportation accordingly.

[JimMIA]

Originally Posted by bcrook

All that about Wyndham, and throw in the annoying attempts to get you to an update every time you check in...DVC is much more relaxing for booking and checking in. Bluegreen wears me out too!

Depends greatly on the resort and your tactics. At our home resort (Great Smokys), they don't hassle you. You just check in, easy and painless. Later they call you to "see if it's okay if we bring by your welcome gifts." We say no, and that's the end of it.

At Bonnet Creek, they are much more persistent. We don't even go to the "parking pass" desk, and we unplug our phone as soon as we walk into the apartment.

Wyndham is a very nice system, with a few minor annoying fees, and a really sleezy sales organization. The sales group is an embarrassment to a good company.

[Brian Noble]

I can see charging a fee on an RCI exchange, DVC did not get any dues money on that reservation.

Sure they did. The owner who exchanged *out* paid the dues on the points they used to do so.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by Brian Noble

Sure they did. The owner who exchanged *out* paid the dues on the points they used to do so.

I understand and agree but the $95 goes to DVD not to DVCMC. In essence they're getting paid twice for the same service. But the $95 fee doesn't go toward offsetting the dues which was the point I was trying to make.

[Niagara2]

We booked through Expedia and paid a per night price in full. I wonder if this fee will be added on in March as it was a travel site booking vs. an exchange. .

[JimMIA]

Originally Posted by Niagara2

We booked through Expedia and paid a per night price in full. I wonder if this fee will be added on in March as it was a travel site booking vs. an exchange. .

You should check with Expedia for clarification. That's who you rented from.

My gut instinct says that if you booked through Expedia, you are probably actually renting directly from Wyndham...rather than from a Wyndham owner. If that is the case, I think Wyndham would honor the price you paid without additional fees. But the only way to tell for sure is to check with Expedia.

You could call Wyndham Bonnet Creek directly -- but trust me, from the things I've seen, the staff there is clueless about how this charge will be applied to individual reservations. It's not their doing, and I don't think they have any idea how it will play out from one ressie to the next.

Expedia is a reputable company; I'd expect them to honor the price they quoted you.

[JimMIA]

Originally Posted by Dean

I understand and agree but the $95 goes to DVD not to DVCMC. In essence they're getting paid twice for the same service. But the $95 fee doesn't go toward offsetting the dues which was the point I was trying to make.

Right, DVC is double-dipping. They are collecting from the owner's "dues" and they are also collecting for some of the same "benefits" from RCI exchanges.

As to whether RCI exchanges should be charged those additional fees, clearly the dues have already been paid by the owner who deposited the points into RCI.

If this were a legitimate reimbursement for some service (which it is NOT), that $95 fee should be credited to the account of the owner who deposited the points, has already paid for that service, and who made the exchange possible!

If DVC tries to claim some justification (transportation, DME, EMH, "Welcome Home" greeting, etc.) they're lying and defrauding both the exchangers and the owners who paid dues on their points.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by JimMIA

DVC is double-dipping. They are collecting from the owner's "dues" and they are also collecting for some of the same "benefits" from RCI exchanges.

As to whether RCI exchanges should be charged those additional fees, clearly the dues have already been paid by the owner who deposited the points into RCI.

If this were a legitimate reimbursement for some service (which it is NOT), that $95 fee should be credited to the account of the owner who deposited the points, has already paid for that service, and who made the exchange possible!

If DVC tries to claim some justification (transportation, DME, EMH, "Welcome Home" greeting, etc.) they're lying and defrauding both the exchangers and the owners who deposited their points.

Semantics I'm sure, the fees go to DVD and DVCMC but not to the membership budget.

[JimMIA]

Originally Posted by Dean

Semantics I'm sure, the fees go to DVD and DVCMC but not to the membership budget.

I don't think it's semantics. I think we are saying the same thing.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by JimMIA

I don't think it's semantics. I think we are saying the same thing.

That's what I meant, LOL.

[keishashadow]

Originally Posted by JimMIA

You should check with Expedia for clarification. That's who you rented from.

My gut instinct says that if you booked through Expedia, you are probably actually renting directly from Wyndham...rather than from a Wyndham owner. If that is the case, I think Wyndham would honor the price you paid without additional fees. But the only way to tell for sure is to check with Expedia.

You could call Wyndham Bonnet Creek directly -- but trust me, from the things I've seen, the staff there is clueless about how this charge will be applied to individual reservations. It's not their doing, and I don't think they have any idea how it will play out from one ressie to the next.

Expedia is a reputable company; I'd expect them to honor the price they quoted you.

expedia/hotwire/priceline (name your own and direct bookings) will indicate in the fine print before you book whether there are any 'current' resort fees including parking charges, etc. I'm 'negotiating' with Expedia now as to accommodations i booked in Cancun wherein their site stated the unit had an OV balcony but the hotel's says the type of room i booked doesn't. Corresponded with hotel who indicates it's merely a request and the majority of all units have french windows that don't open. Expedia has lots of disclaimers of the CYA nature and a long list of complaints of this nature if you dig around on tripadvisor.

[scubadiver]

I looked at my conformation I have for a stay at Wyndham over Thanksgiving. The conformation outlines the $12 per day fee, but it does not say Bonnet Creek Owner, Access or Presidential owners are exempt. I am an Access member. I will be calling on this in the morning.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by scubadiver

I looked at my conformation I have for a stay at Wyndham over Thanksgiving. The conformation outlines the $12 per day fee, but it does not say Bonnet Creek Owner, Access or Presidential owners are exempt. I am an Access member. I will be calling on this in the morning.

My guess is you'll owe the fee but they may waive it for owners who would not pay the fee otherwise. If you think about it, would you ask about Wyndham Plus owners as well.