Another dream up in smoke, thanks to interival internat...

[idofabric]

Yes once again, for the second time in 2 years Interval International has screwed up our ress. a for DVC swap. Exactly like they did the last time! They booked us into DAYTONA !!! instead of WL. Thanks goodness our timeshare company had the whole transaction noted..with requests and everything! And of course nothing is open in II now down at WDW. I am honestly sick to my stomach! I can't stop crying and am so upset! And yes, I know that in the long run it is not earth shattering.... but if I could sic all the Villians on the res dept at IntInter'tl I would do so!
And, oh boy, In.Inl is`going to consent to reund the booking fee, isn't that nice of them?
Wish I had know about DVC before we got the zillion of points at the other place we own. At least we have so many points that we get great service from the place we own at.

I am NEVER gonna be able to stay on site! sigh, must be a mass conspiracity or something. Wish I could blame my bad spelling on all this...

Sorry about the whining! If I could sell all the other points we own and buy DVC before Feb 1st, I would do it in a heartbeat!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm sorry this happend to you, twice, that's terrible.

Have you considered renting points directly from a DVC member?

Bobbi

 

[kaw1106]

I agree with Bobbie, the best way would be to rent points from a DVC member. I see you or your spouse are military, have you looked into Shades of Green?

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

What about a direct trade by placing an ad on the TUG website? There must be a DVC owner that would like to go to some of the resorts you can book at w/II. There's quite a few on there right now. Here's a link if you want to check it out: http://www.tug2.net/ads/flexchg.html

 

[Dean]

A direct exchange would be your best option however I doubt most DVC members would have a lot of interest in a one to one exchange. Most DVC direct exchanges involve either very high profile properties OR an asynchronous exchange of say a DVC studio for a 2 BR someone else or 5 days not weekends for 7, etc. Renting out your ownership and renting from a DVC member is like the best option.

Of course you could always buy a few DVC points to get a foot hold and/or sell what you own otherwise. DVC is not hard to trade into if you can go off times, it is very difficult during peak times.

How does your system work? Do you have access to II directly or must you go through your system. To be honest, it sounds like it is your system at fault and not II. They must be searching by region rather than by specific resort codes. You should make sure you ask for specific dates, not week numbers, and by resort code, not name.

 

[Cinderella]

Sorry this has happened to you - it's awful. What timeshare do you own? Where is it at? Maybe you could try getting a member to trade with you. You could try here on the rent/trade board, or over on TUG. I have used all my points up, so can't help myself - sorry.

 

[idofabric]

How does your system work? Do you have access to II directly or must you go through your system. To be honest, it sounds like it is your system at fault and not II. They must be searching by region rather than by specific resort codes. You should make sure you ask for specific dates, not week numbers, and by resort code, not name.

We call our timeshare direct and they call II.
Both times II has admitted they messed up, how ever they were not able/willing to do anything about it other then a letter of apology... which is not to usefull if you want to sleep someplace for 7 days... like WDW!

The orginal res in both cases were made with the resort codes. There is written notes and a recorded note made of both cases. Still doesn't matter if there isn't any place to trade into.

Our timeshare doesn't use week numbers. We can stay as little as 2 nights and as many as we have points, so that is not a problem.

II also took the wrong amount of points in exchange. The superviser at II said it was a new common practice to automaticly book someone into a "50 mile +/- radius" if there was a mistake or problem. They are not required to notify you if they do this acording to there policy... and it happens automaticly...

Any way I had posted about getting the res at WL and was so excited that another DISer called II and booked one of the weeks I posted was available.

We have a "request" in for any week from May 25 to July 31 of this year. OR for (hahahhehahhe!) a week Dec. 18/19 to Dec 25/26... which I understand is a hot time for DVCers...

I have spent at least 5 hours on the phone with our timeshare. They want me to fax info on the MYW and dining plan that would have been available if we could stay at WL. And what it would cost if we were to book the 2 BR Villa at WL for a week...

That came to over $10,000! I would NEVER do this except as a trade. I do not have a healthy money tree, more of a debit tree, in our back yard! Who on earth COULD do that? It was based on a week stay with 8 people with tickets and food et.... wow!

So we will prob get to go, but not the time, place or stay we wanted.
And of course it is not the end of the world! But still... it would've been nice.

We might try the trade thing direct. I have been burned so many times now that I am more then a little leary of it though.

Thanks for all the good ideas, and lisening to the rants/tears!
Something will work out.... hear the sound of the crossing of many fingers!

 

[Steamboat Bill]

I know that this will not be the same as on-site Disney property, but you can see if you can get a reservation at Hilton Grand Vacations Club on International Drive. It is VERY close to Downtown Disney and is a very nice proerty.

 

[gppnj]

I'm sorry you had this problem, and I hope you get your stay eventually.

 

[In Luv with Disney]

I know that this will not be the same as on-site Disney property, but you can see if you can get a reservation at Hilton Grand Vacations Club on International Drive. It is VERY close to Downtown Disney and is a very nice proerty.

I also own at a very nice property right near DTD...Sheraton Vistana Resort. It is an II resort.

 

[Dean]

If the search is set up correctly to start with, this isn't likely to happen. So it's very likely it could have been avoided if done correctly up front and that goes back to your system. It still sounds like the original set up was for a regional search, II does not routinely confirm resorts not on your search without your permission though it has happened at times. And when it does happen, it's not usually done with something so different. knowing how things generally work, I'd still be willing to be most of the problems was on your side of the system. But the question is how can you prevent it from happening again. You should go over to TUG and see if others can help you figure out what is happening and how to prevent it in the future.

See if you can get direct and online access to II so you can check things are set up correctly. But as I noted, the times you want to go are very unlikely to be available. You can get DVC but at other, lower demand times.

Which system do you own?

We call our timeshare direct and they call II.
Both times II has admitted they messed up, how ever they were not able/willing to do anything about it other then a letter of apology... which is not to usefull if you want to sleep someplace for 7 days... like WDW!

The orginal res in both cases were made with the resort codes. There is written notes and a recorded note made of both cases. Still doesn't matter if there isn't any place to trade into.

Our timeshare doesn't use week numbers. We can stay as little as 2 nights and as many as we have points, so that is not a problem.

II also took the wrong amount of points in exchange. The superviser at II said it was a new common practice to automaticly book someone into a "50 mile +/- radius" if there was a mistake or problem. They are not required to notify you if they do this acording to there policy... and it happens automaticly...

Any way I had posted about getting the res at WL and was so excited that another DISer called II and booked one of the weeks I posted was available.

We have a "request" in for any week from May 25 to July 31 of this year. OR for (hahahhehahhe!) a week Dec. 18/19 to Dec 25/26... which I understand is a hot time for DVCers...

I have spent at least 5 hours on the phone with our timeshare. They want me to fax info on the MYW and dining plan that would have been available if we could stay at WL. And what it would cost if we were to book the 2 BR Villa at WL for a week...

That came to over $10,000! I would NEVER do this except as a trade. I do not have a healthy money tree, more of a debit tree, in our back yard! Who on earth COULD do that? It was based on a week stay with 8 people with tickets and food et.... wow!

So we will prob get to go, but not the time, place or stay we wanted.
And of course it is not the end of the world! But still... it would've been nice.

We might try the trade thing direct. I have been burned so many times now that I am more then a little leary of it though.

Thanks for all the good ideas, and lisening to the rants/tears!
Something will work out.... hear the sound of the crossing of many fingers!

 

[idofabric]

Dean, we own Sunterra. We have never had a problem with them EXCEPT when using II. We do have direct access to the II web site and even that did not prevent the problems. As I said, II has ADMITTED that they screwed up, both times. I was not told that by Sunterra, but by an II rep them self. The first time was when I called II's phone # and talked to them. Even after II said they had made the mistake they were not willing to do any thing OR refund the points/money. They just offered to let me make an exchange somewhere else at a different time. It wasn't till I called Sunterra and them call that II did a complete refund.
I rechecked/talked to DH. Last year we called II directly. I had been on there web site and saw that there was a Grand villa at OKW and called II and booked it. Got a confirmation number and all. After 2-3 months I had still not get a letter as the II rep had told be to excpect. So after a while I called them again, and they said , Yes, they still had the booking/res. And the II rep checked. Then they came back and said ? no idea what the problem was but while they could see that they, II, had made the ress. it no longer seemed to be real and wasn't sure what to do, and I should call Sunterra. The money, points and everything had been transfered. At that time Sunterra was in negio. with II for a new contract, and the day I called I got lucky ( haha !) as the II people were phyiscally in Los Vegas at Sunterra corp office when I called to fix the problem. So Sun and II got together, while I was on the phone, and II told Sun/me that it was a "Ghost" booking. And it did happen sometimes and that II's system had made a mistake based on what WDW resort had told them, So Sorry nothing we can do about it, as we(II) can't control WDW and the resorts there... , said the II rep that talked to me. I did not think it was a WDW problem, but not knowing for sure and no way to find out... The II rep said that WDW sometimes put things in the system that wern't really there.. .and when I asked why WDW would do that the II rep said she did not know, and it wasn't II's problem... it was a WDW glitch in there booking system.... Got a refund of $ and points. No stay at WDW resort.

This time I went through Sunterra. They called, asked for the resort USING the II code, DWL. There was availably, as both Sunterra and I could see it on the II site. We booked itusing DWL as the resort code. II AGAIN admitted THEY screwed up. The booking came back with a confirm # for WL on the date we desired. AFTER that II' system "burped" and then it got messed up. Or so II said, the II rep said that sometimes when a booking is made the system will confirm it for the requested resort, but then when it finalizes it further down line in the process the II system will no longer have that resort so they will automaticly assigne a different resort within 50 miles.I doesn't happen to often.... ( I think it must just be my luck!, or the system sees my name/ account and it blips, DH saids electronics are and I have an allergy to each other, even when removed several times...) So sorry again.

I don't really care who messed it up. I am still so mad about it all I can and have screamed. And cryed. I have spent a ton of time on the phone with Sunterra and we have a 3 month time frame request for a stay. I have little hope of getting it, and at this point I will NEVER trust II agian. Or at least not till I physical check in at a WDW resort!

I think that when a company admits that they are the one making a mistake, and it has happened 2 x's in as many years that they should do something to make me happy, or at least offer... I do know that II will not do that. And I have no idea at this point if I could be happy with any thing II did. And I know that is not reasonable... but I am just know I won't trust II again not to mess up. Sunterra has been working on the problem and I have talked to them at least once a day since this happened. I checked the TUG site and talked to some others and have seeen that this is not a common problem with II, but it has happened several times... I guess I am just not meant to exchange into WDW...

We usually stay at the Cypress Point or Embassey Grand Beach. And there is room there now, but when you get all excited about staying on site, esp. when you never thought you would be able to... it just isn't the same!
So we will get down there in May, only it looks like we won't be on site. But on the other hand, we will have a much larger 3 BR and more of us will be able to go down for a longer time for the same number of points...
Guess this trade off won't be as bad as it could be, as we all get to go to WDW. Just not on site... Oh, well.
Someday, maybe a WDW stay will happen. And if not who can be unhappy once they get down there. I just wish that since II has ADMITTED they caused the problem that they would fix there system so it doesn't happen to ANY one again. And then put me at the head of the line in the fixed system to get a res at WDW. I wouldn't care if II called me 3 times a day to check if the days they had open was good for me! Like that would happen!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

What a nightmare!!! Don't worry...you'll get there someday.

 

[Dean]

idofabric, did you look on the website to make sure they had the search set up correctly when it was first set up? Did you talk to II directly after the problem occurred, sounds like you may have? While I've heard of Ghost deposits, never from DVC. There are a few things that can happen that could cause this on II's part and possibly on DVC's as well. They could have entered the wrong dates for a deposit, someone could have pulled your deposit to fill another order, possibly one having a dispute as well. DVC does have direct access to II's system but I don't know if they enter their own deposits or not. I guess they could have had the same problem but knowing how large DVC is and the way they work, it's hard to believe if DVC made the mistake, they couldn't and wouldn't find a unit to satisfy it. It's also possible two people were working on it at one time plus several similar other scenarios that would explain it being there but not really available. I can assure you it's EXTREMELY unlikely that DVC would deposit April this year being at or so close to Easter, you did say in 3 months.

As for making another reservation without your permission that didn't meet your needs, II doesn't normally do this. But at times with this type situation they will put in a "courtesy hold" as I've been told. II has a department dedicated to this exact type of situation, did you talk to them directly?

One of your issues should be preventing this type of thing again. And some of the ways to do so are to put in the request yourself online which you may not be able to do if you're using Sunterra request first. But you should always check online to see the request is put in correctly. Don't get mad, try to figure out what happened and do your best to keep out of the situation in the future. I'd still recommend TUG and ask the question there as it related to Sunterra and II, maybe someone there has specific knowledge that will help you.

 

[idofabric]

Thanks Dean, it was when I went to check the confirmation that we found it was incorrect... I had checked the II site to find what was available. The last time I called II directly, which was a year ago, they would not deal with me. I was told I must go through Sunterra to get to II, by the people at II. I then checked with Sunterra and they said, no, I could go direct... but II did not seem to like that. So I didn't do any thing else with II.
The only reason I booked the May stay into WL was because II had it on there site that a 2 br was available... so I did book through Sunterra.

The only upside is that Sunterra has given me a 2 br for free the same week and II has admited fault... So I guess Sun. is going after II... but I don't know. I won't be on site, but I will be at Cypress Point, which is where we usually stay offsite. So I know my way around and have the timing down getting to each and every park/DTD.

I have keep the request in for any date this summer, and that week before Christmas. I don't exepect or hold most hope that we will get into a place onsite. But at least we will still get in a free stay trip.

And at this point I don't think I am going to get a better deal then a free room! And I am not unhappy about that. On site would still be nice... but who in there right mind would complain about a free stay?

 

[Dean]

Thanks Dean, it was when I went to check the confirmation that we found it was incorrect... I had checked the II site to find what was available. The last time I called II directly, which was a year ago, they would not deal with me. I was told I must go through Sunterra to get to II, by the people at II. I then checked with Sunterra and they said, no, I could go direct... but II did not seem to like that. So I didn't do any thing else with II.
The only reason I booked the May stay into WL was because II had it on there site that a 2 br was available... so I did book through Sunterra.

The only upside is that Sunterra has given me a 2 br for free the same week and II has admited fault... So I guess Sun. is going after II... but I don't know. I won't be on site, but I will be at Cypress Point, which is where we usually stay offsite. So I know my way around and have the timing down getting to each and every park/DTD.

I have keep the request in for any date this summer, and that week before Christmas. I don't exepect or hold most hope that we will get into a place onsite. But at least we will still get in a free stay trip.

And at this point I don't think I am going to get a better deal then a free room! And I am not unhappy about that. On site would still be nice... but who in there right mind would complain about a free stay?

I'm assuming you cannot do the exchange on line yourself. A 2 BR at WL would not have lasted very long. Have a great trip.