As a renter, how can I confirm my reservation?

[darylcote]

I recently rented points from a DVC member and have received the confirmation in the mail with the reservation #. I was expecting to be able to independently verify my reservation with DVC member services but they stated that they have not been verifying confirmations from renters for the last 3 months due to past troubles. I'd like to verify the reservation before I send a check to the DVC member. Has anyone encountered this situation before?

 

[browniemtb]

This is a good question. With the current rule change that non members can not call MS it would bother me as well. You have the letter and confirmation # and now I guess you have to trust who you are dealing with that they are on the up and up. Also remember even if you where able to call and confirm that owner still has control of those points and technically could cancell the day before you get there. But and and big but...have faith and trust.......

 

[Chuck S]

There is no way to independently verify the ressie, renting is a matter of trust and faith. Even IF Member Services did verify, it would mean nothing...the DVC owner could cancel the minute you got off the phone. Ressies are transferred to the resort computer system 4 to 7 days prior to your arrival, you could possibly call the resort directly and verify at that time...but in all probability, your rental agreement would (and should) call for full payment before that time.

The paper confirmation you have received is as good as it gets.

 

[JimMIA]

Member services stopped taking calls from non-members in August. I assume from your post that you received a photocopy of the hardcopy reservation confirmation. That is really the only confirmation any of us would have at this point too.

You can set up a three-way call between you, the owner, and MS to confirm the reservation if you like, and if the owner is willing. If you do, that would be a good time to add the dining plan and DME if you want either or both of those, because the owner will have to do that for you anyway.

Just prior to your trip -- I believe three or four days prior -- your ressie will be in the computer of the resort where you are staying. At that point, you'll be able to call the resort directly for a last minute confirmation, but you won't be able to change anything about the reservation. All changes must be made by the owner.

Have a great trip.

 

[OhMari]

I have a rental agreement that the owner and I both signed. The owner is also willing to do a 3 way call in January. It is blind trust, unless you know the owners.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Cost is low and risk is high.

But so many people wouldn't be doing it over and over again if they were getting ripped off.

And thats on both sides rentees not getting ther rental and renters getting their Paypal and CC reversed.


Only on occasion do you here that things went wrong.

 

[Granny]

Member services stopped taking calls from non-members in August. I assume from your post that you received a photocopy of the hardcopy reservation confirmation. That is really the only confirmation any of us would have at this point too.

Jim brings up the point I was going to say...that is, you have as much confirmation of your reservation as any DVC member ever has.

If you are not willing to take that as the confirmation, then buying reservations (renting points) is probably not for you.

As others have said...hopefully you have a written agreement.

 

[BurkeTribe]

I recently rented points from a DVC member and have received the confirmation in the mail with the reservation #. I was expecting to be able to independently verify my reservation with DVC member services but they stated that they have not been verifying confirmations from renters for the last 3 months due to past troubles. I'd like to verify the reservation before I send a check to the DVC member. Has anyone encountered this situation before?

If you did your research on the pointrenting member, I wouldn't worry about it. A DVC confirmation letter with the correct information (preferably the original letter) is a good sign you haven't been defrauded.

As has been suggested, you can call the resort a few days or even the day before you go there if paranoid (and get the name of the CM you talk to so you can jog his/her memory if there is a problem at check-in) . I admit I always do call, not because I'm worried about being scammed, but because I'm worried about a computer foulup sometime between the reservation's creation and check-in causing a check-in nightmare . Anything else is generally pointless, since things could happen to the reservation in the longer intervening time.

 

[kimberh]

If you really have doubts, see if you can pay with paypal. I rent and I have rented on two occasions. I have made a call on one because it was a very quick one and there was a error with the name which I was able to clear up with the reservation number (I thought). When we arrived, we had the same problem at the security gate, again I gave the name that was on the computer and went to the front desk, with the confirmation number and started the story over. Within 5 minutes we were good to go. That piece of paper you have is very important. Have you asked for references? That is always a good way to feel secured. I would make sure that I pay on time. It is business and Disney will not hold your reservation if they are not paid on time.

 

[jmatias]

I understand your concern. Prior to the calling change in August I would give the renter the confirmation # over the phone and they could call MS themselves to check on the ressie. At that time I asked for 50% payment upon reservation and confirmation.

Now I make the ressie, email the confirmation # to the rentee. When I get the mailed confirmation I'll fax it to the rentee at which time I'll ask for the deposit. Deposit received...then I'll mail the confirmation. It gives the rentee a bit more reassurance.

I've also copied the reservation from my account on the member website and emailed that.

I totally believe a comfortable and confident rentee makes for a successful rental experience.

Hope that gives you some options.

Jen

 

[Deb & Bill]

I understand your concern. Prior to the calling change in August I would give the renter the confirmation # over the phone and they could call MS themselves to check on the ressie. At that time I asked for 50% payment upon reservation and confirmation.

Now I make the ressie, email the confirmation # to the rentee. When I get the mailed confirmation I'll fax it to the rentee at which time I'll ask for the deposit. Deposit received...then I'll mail the confirmation. It gives the rentee a bit more reassurance.

I've also copied the reservation from my account on the member website and emailed that.

I totally believe a comfortable and confident rentee makes for a successful rental experience.

Hope that gives you some options.

Jen

What happens if your non-member (rentee) has decided against your rental by the time you get your confirmation to them? Are they still required to go through with the rental? Do you have a written agreement with them? I have heard of lots of owners who thought they had a firm agreement with someone only to be told the reservation wasn't needed when they called or e-mailed with the reservation information.

 

[JimMIA]

As a practical matter, I don't think there is any real way to compel either party to do anything in a rental...with or without a contract. Rentals go through seamlessly in most cases because they are in both parties' interests, not because someone is made to do something.

To me, the primary usefullness of a contract is it (hopefully) clearly spells out each party's responsibilities, which each understands and agrees to. Virtually all of the issues I've seen here with rentals have been misunderstandings, not fraud, and a contract helps avoid those ahead of time.

However, the costs of enforcing a DVC rental contract would probably be far more than the value of the rental, so I don't think they're particularly useful in that regard.

 

[salmoneous]

To me, the primary usefullness of a contract is it (hopefully) clearly spells out each party's responsibilities, which each understands and agrees to.

On a similar note...

There is often (not talking about DVC-rentals specifically here) misunderstandings between when people are TALKING about a deal, and when people have AGREED to a deal. The nice thing about a written contract is that it forced people to commit.

 

[skibum]

We have been involved in numerous vacation (Vail, Maui, and DVC) rental transactions, primarily as the owner. What we have found is that trust is the most important factor, and the easiest way to put that at ease is good communiation. We give the people renting from us our home phone, cell phone, e-mail and home address. We respond promptly to their calls and messages. We used to do this pre 'net - with the internet, people can find out quickly if we actually exist.
We do not use a contract, but with e-mail we have a "paper trail" of what has been promised by both sides (dates, dollars, non-refundable...), which I believe is as good as a contract, without the hassle.
We have been burned before (people asking us to extend their stay, and they will mail us a check later), but figure that some day they will have to meet their maker. And we do believe in karma - both good and bad.
The best advice is the same that JimMIA has had - if it doesn't feel right, don't do it!
Most of us here want to share the magic - it is not just a business deal.

 

[crzy4mickey]

I've been reading a lot on the DVC boards recently as we would like to rent points for a future visit. Mostly reading to get familiar with the process and DIS members who rent frequently. But after reading recently about people who have got burned i'm very cautious. I have some good tips under my belt, unfortunately from other peoples mistakes but nevertheless good tips. So one tip I would like to use is checking references, how would I go about doing that? There isn't any member rating in place like Ebay has, is there? Also should there be a written contract, some renters don't use them.

 

[salmoneous]

But after reading recently about people who have got burned i'm very cautious.

Keep in mind that reading the DIS gives you a very distorted picture. People with problems are much more likely to post a complaint. And even with that bias, the number of problems is tiny. (Note - for comparison check out just about any DIS board, and you'll see problems with booked-through-Disney reservations, offsite reservations, travel agent woes, etc.)

Personally, I don't see a lot of value in checking references. A crook (or flake) can come up with them just as easy as a legitimate renter. I *would* insist on a written contract, as well as non-internet ways of contacting people (home address, independently verifiable work number, etc.)

If you follow basic caution and don't do anything that doesn't smell right, the odds of a problem are tiny. And if you aren't willing to take even a tiny risk, you are probably best off not using the DVD-rental market.

 

[Granny]

I've been reading a lot on the DVC boards recently as we would like to rent points for a future visit. Mostly reading to get familiar with the process and DIS members who rent frequently. But after reading recently about people who have got burned i'm very cautious. I have some good tips under my belt, unfortunately from other peoples mistakes but nevertheless good tips. So one tip I would like to use is checking references, how would I go about doing that? There isn't any member rating in place like Ebay has, is there? Also should there be a written contract, some renters don't use them.

I think that if you are now very cautious, then Dani and Stacey are probably happy that their tales have encouraged others to treat these transactions in a more businesslike manner with everyone aware of the risks.

As for checking references, you would ask the other party to provide some and then follow up on them. I did so via e-mail and phone calls, and while they could have been bogus I was able to get a better comfort level. Keep in mind the reference thing goes both ways...as an owner I requested them from the renter, and I would have provided them had the renter asked for them.

As for your last question....how many times would you turn money over to a complete stranger without something in writing to make you feel better? Yes there should be a written contract that serves mostly as a clear communication of expectations and limitations of the transaction.

 

[abner1776]

As a DVC member, I would be really leary about doing a 3 party phone call to MS to confirm a ressie...the member must give personal info to MS over the phone to confirm that they are who they say they are and the last thing I would want is a stranger listening into the conversation.

It really come down to trust..

 

[JimMIA]

As a DVC member, I would be really leary about doing a 3 party phone call to MS to confirm a ressie...the member must give personal info to MS over the phone to confirm that they are who they say they are and the last thing I would want is a stranger listening into the conversation.

It really come down to trust..

A conference call is actually easy to do without compromising your account information or privacy. You just put the renter on hold while you do your MS identification stuff, and then conference the renter in. You'll have to check the operations manuals for your phone if you haven't done it before, but it's easy to do.

 

[Granny]

A conference call is actually easy to do without compromising your account information or privacy. You just put the renter on hold while you do your MS identification stuff, and then conference the renter in. You'll have to check the operations manuals for your phone if you haven't done it before, but it's easy to do.

I think it's important to say, again, that a 3 way conference call offers absolutely no more protection for a person buying a reservation than any other method.

As soon as the 3 way conference call is over, an owner can call MS back and undo ANYTHING said during the 3 way call.

I guess I don't see the advantage of this though I see it often suggested as a strategy. I suppose if nothing else it gives someone a better feeling that the person they are dealing with does, in fact, have the right to make reservations for them. But since I provided the confirmation sheet to people before accepting any money from them, that was moot in the manner that I handled my transactions.