Associate versus regular member?

[Simba's Mom]

What's the difference? On another board here, someone said that her husband is the member and she's an associate member. I didn't know that a spouse could be an associate member. Is it possible that someone can be "just" an associate, not a regular member and not know it? The reason I'm wondering is that all the DVC correspondence comes in my name, not both of ours. But it seems that whenever we've signed anything, they've needed both signatures.

 

[vicki_c]

An associate is not a true owner of the real estate interest, just someone the owner has added as an associate that can make reservations. If you look @ your account on the DVC member site, it shows. Mine says my name and then lists my husband as "associate".

So my husband cannot do / get anything that requires the membership card without me - discounts, DVC APs, etc.

 

[Simba's Mom]

An associate is not a true owner of the real estate interest, just someone the owner has added as an associate that can make reservations. If you look @ your account on the DVC member site, it shows. Mine says my name and then lists my husband as "associate".

So my husband cannot do / get anything that requires the membership card without me - discounts, DVC APs, etc.

Thanks! So I guess that since DH has gotten several DVC APs without me, he's a regular member.

 

[Greysword]

DW is listed as "Purchaser" and I'm listed as "Additional Purchaser", so it seems we are both members. I don't know for certain what the limitations on an Associate member would be, as I haven't had the need to read the info in the documents (I probably read it but ignored it until later, since it didn't apply to our situation).

You can probably find the info in your documents.

As for why a spouse may not be a member; if the member had their points before getting married or one party decided not to be on the documents for some reason, then they wouldn't be a full member. They could be, but they likely need to be on the deed, so DVC can get the annual dues from them if required. This would take a little paperwork, though.

 

[n2mm]

I'm the "lead" on our account so all documents come in my name. As mentioned, there is the "purchaser" (me) and additional purchasers (my husband and my daughter). This means all 3 of us are owners and all 3 of us get all of the perks (all 3 of us have membership cards in each of our names). This was especially important to us that my daughter be an owner so that all members of her household be able to get APs at the DVC discount. We actually have 2 different addresses on our account, so whoever is getting an AP at the DVC discount needs to be living at one of the two addresses. I just wanted an easy transition when the times comes and all of my properties end up with her and her family by rights of survivorship. This may not be the right decision for all families, but it was for us. Whenever I add on, all three of us need to sign the documents. I don't have any associate members on my account(s). OP, you can log into the account online and see how you are listed. Actually all owners should have an online account if they ever registered and activated one.

 

[disneynutz]

If you go to the member website and look under "My Membership Profile" you will see listed who the members and the associates are.

Bill

 

[JimMIA]

As I understand it, an Associate can do anything with the account except sell it. They can not only make reservations, they can also cancel, bank, borrow, exchange through the various options, etc, etc.

But they're not an owner, so they don't get a membership card and they can't sell the DVC contract.

 

[jvelasco]

As I understand it, an Associate can do anything with the account except sell it. They can not only make reservations, they can also cancel, bank, borrow, exchange through the various options, etc, etc.

But they're not an owner, so they don't get a membership card and they can't sell the DVC contract.

That's been the case with me. I am an associate on my mother's membership. When I call to make reservations, I give them her member #, my info, and then go ahead with whatever I'm doing. Never had a problem.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm the associate, and so far I've been able to do everything we need to do. But yes, DH needs to be with me when we might use the DVC card for a discount, and he was there when we got APs. He would need to be with me for legal pool hopping as well.

He's the name on the loan; I didn't want to be on there, and either we couldn't do that and put me on the deed, OR we got confused, but that's how it worked out!

And honestly I never even activated my account... I activated his account with my email, etc, and while I told him the info back then it would be difficult for him to do much of anything with DVC if I weren't readily available.

 

[fitnessmouse]

I am the sole owner, my husband is the associate.
WE both have the blue member cards, but my guess is that was a mistake.

We actually have three cards.
two in my name
and one with my husbands name

 

[n2mm]

What's the difference? On another board here, someone said that her husband is the member and she's an associate member. I didn't know that a spouse could be an associate member. Is it possible that someone can be "just" an associate, not a regular member and not know it? The reason I'm wondering is that all the DVC correspondence comes in my name, not both of ours. But it seems that whenever we've signed anything, they've needed both signatures.

Wanted to mention that I'm pretty sure you are both members. I've added on many times and when I do ALL orginal members must sign every add on contract. If both of you signed the contract, then both of your are members. It's just one of you are the purchaser and the other "additional" purchaser. As mentioned, logon to the member's site and check out your profile info. You should see it all there.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Well, I logged onto the member's site, but I couldn't find the specific info. But I did find their definition of "associate" vs. "regular" member. In it, they mentioned that associates don't receive cards (although someone here proved that's not necessarily true-they do make mistakes). But since DH has a card. I'm going to figure he's a regular member.

 

[DenLo]

Dorothy, when I log on to the member website and look at my profile information. It says the following, except I altered our names.

Individuals on Membership
Purchaser MR WIL LO
Additional Purchaser MRS DENISE LO

Also when I'm logged on and looking at our contracts it indicates the additional purchaser is logged on and when Wil logs on it shows the Purchaser is logged on. Wil receives all of the mail and emails regarding our account. Once in a while I too will receive an email.

It doesn't really mean anything as we are both purchasers/owners.

 

[rescuetink]

........ They could be, but they likely need to be on the deed, so DVC can get the annual dues from them if required. This would take a little paperwork, though.

I wonder how hard it would be to get my DW to be listed as a "Member" and get her own card??? We have paid our loan off so all we have is MF. Will they just let you add someone on like that so she can have a card??

 

[disneynutz]

I wonder how hard it would be to get my DW to be listed as a "Member" and get her own card??? We have paid our loan off so all we have is MF. Will they just let you add someone on like that so she can have a card??

The people who are members are the same ones who are on the deed as owners.

Bill

 

[vicki_c]

I wonder how hard it would be to get my DW to be listed as a "Member" and get her own card??? We have paid our loan off so all we have is MF. Will they just let you add someone on like that so she can have a card??

You cannot do that without conducting a real estate transaction, from my understanding (I checked into it very briefly a few years ago) - so new paperwork, change title, etc. Way more expense & hassle than I needed to deal with!

 

[cloudnut220]

And just to throw another wrench into the mix, my husband and I are actually additional purchasers. We essentially purchased an add-on to my Dad's membership, but they did it for us as a new master contract so we have our own member number. The benefit? We got add on pricing.

 

[bumbershoot]

Dorothy, when I log on to the member website and look at my profile information. It says the following, except I altered our names.

Individuals on Membership
Purchaser MR WIL LO
Additional Purchaser MRS DENISE LO
....

It doesn't really mean anything as we are both purchasers/owners.

And to give the associate view...



Individuals on Membership
Purchaser MR ROBERT
Associate MRS MOLLY

 

[tommiemcd1]

are you able to check in if you are not listed on the reservation but you are an associate member of the party checking in?

 

[disneynutz]

are you able to check in if you are not listed on the reservation but you are an associate member of the party checking in?

In person no, online yes.

Bill