Banked Point Frustration

[Gregowa]

I just got off the phone with member services and am feeling really frustrated. I called to make a reservation for November - December and discovered that I stand to lose 20 of the points I banked last July. The reason is because I supposedly did not tell member services to use my banked points prior to the trip we took last December, which is our use year, instead of the new 2014 points. I had booked the December trip last February. When I banked in July there was evidently no reallocation of the banked points to be used for the December trip. I have always made reservations for December early in the year and banked points by July and have never had a problem of the banked points not being allocated to the upcoming trip and my account has always been automatically adjusted. I have never had to request the banked points be used for trips booked in the new use year once they were banked. It has always just happened. Member services is now telling me the only option I have is to use the 20 points by December 1, that there is nothing they can do at this point since our trip last December has pasted. If banked points can only be used for new reservations, then points have to be banked early in the year and prior to any reservations being made at the 11 month mark for home resorts. This negates the ability to book any other quick trips during the use year without borrowing from the next year. How stupid is that? It only makes sense that there is an audit of points and sheduled trips when points are banked for the next year. I banked 147 points last July and used 220 in December. I will use another 91 ithis coming November and still stand to loose 20 banked points. It is like points are being stolen back by DVC because they are not fairly allocating points. As much as I love Disney, I am beginning to wonder if it is worth it anymore. Trips are becoming more work then relaxation with all the planning that they now require as well as the ever increasing costs and decreasing benefits. I'll quit my rant and get off my soap box now! Thanks for commiserating!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

First - I'm sorry that you have this happening. You still have an option such as renting out the points prior to them expiring so that it's not a total loss. 20 points still gets a studio for 2 nights at some times of the year or you might find someone looking just for a single night.

IMO MS should never take it upon themselves to reallocate points without being requested to. I'm very amazed that it sounds like they have in the past - perhaps you had a difference in calling in to do it before and using banked coming up with MS at that time vs doing it online or just not mentioning an existing reservation this year so they did not? Anyway - it's not the norm for them to do it and I wouldn't look at it as something that's gone away - just something different happened along the process for you this year.

 

[DebbieB]

Anytime you make a reservation, always confirm your point balances by use year to make sure it was done the way you wanted it. You have to watch your account when you make any transactions, which is easier now that it's online. I agree with Kathy, they would not automatically reallocate a reservation when you bank, you have to request it.

 

[Sandisw]

Typically, in order for the bank points to be put into an existing reservation, you have to request that of MS. Or, bank the points before making the reservation. I, too, am surprised that MS had taken upon themselves to do this for you. When you bank, do you call or do it online? Maybe that was the difference? But, as mentioned, at least you are aware that if you are going to bank points after you have booked, follow up with an email to MS asking them to reallocate for you and then monitor you account. Unfortunately, once you take a trip and points are used, there is no way for get the other ones back. This happened to me a few years back so now I always bank my points prior to making the reservation and then if I change my mind and want to travel, I borrow.

 

[Judique]

Typically, in order for the bank points to be put into an existing reservation, you have to request that of MS. Or, bank the points before making the reservation. I, too, am surprised that MS had taken upon themselves to do this for you. When you bank, do you call or do it online? Maybe that was the difference? But, as mentioned, at least you are aware that if you are going to bank points after you have booked, follow up with an email to MS asking them to reallocate for you and then monitor you account. Unfortunately, once you take a trip and points are used, there is no way for get the other ones back. This happened to me a few years back so now I always bank my points prior to making the reservation and then if I change my mind and want to travel, I borrow.

This is how I've done it. Also, MS can't reallocate (or shouldn't) if there is no availability. Maybe that is what happened?

 

[Sandisw]

This is how I've done it. Also, MS can't reallocate (or shouldn't) if there is no availability. Maybe that is what happened?

The only time MS won't reallocate points if there is no availability is is someone wants to change the home resort of the points being used. For example, if I book VGF with my VGF points and then free up some of my BWV points, MS won't reallocate and use my BWV points and then free up my VGF points. However, in terms of banked vs. current, MS will not have any problem changing those, but it must be done prior to the trip you want them to be used. Once you travel, what they can't do is retroactively swap out points that were actually used. It sounds like this is what happened in this case. The points were banked by the OP, but never asked MS to complete a reallocation because in the past, the OP says it was done automatically.

 

[Dean]

I just got off the phone with member services and am feeling really frustrated. I called to make a reservation for November - December and discovered that I stand to lose 20 of the points I banked last July. The reason is because I supposedly did not tell member services to use my banked points prior to the trip we took last December, which is our use year, instead of the new 2014 points. I had booked the December trip last February. When I banked in July there was evidently no reallocation of the banked points to be used for the December trip. I have always made reservations for December early in the year and banked points by July and have never had a problem of the banked points not being allocated to the upcoming trip and my account has always been automatically adjusted. I have never had to request the banked points be used for trips booked in the new use year once they were banked. It has always just happened. Member services is now telling me the only option I have is to use the 20 points by December 1, that there is nothing they can do at this point since our trip last December has pasted. If banked points can only be used for new reservations, then points have to be banked early in the year and prior to any reservations being made at the 11 month mark for home resorts. This negates the ability to book any other quick trips during the use year without borrowing from the next year. How stupid is that? It only makes sense that there is an audit of points and sheduled trips when points are banked for the next year. I banked 147 points last July and used 220 in December. I will use another 91 ithis coming November and still stand to loose 20 banked points. It is like points are being stolen back by DVC because they are not fairly allocating points. As much as I love Disney, I am beginning to wonder if it is worth it anymore. Trips are becoming more work then relaxation with all the planning that they now require as well as the ever increasing costs and decreasing benefits. I'll quit my rant and get off my soap box now! Thanks for commiserating!

This was your mistake, not that of MS. They will never automatically change points in an existing reservation.

 

[supersnoop]

The only time MS won't reallocate points if there is no availability is is someone wants to change the home resort of the points being used. For example, if I book VGF with my VGF points and then free up some of my BWV points, MS won't reallocate and use my BWV points and then free up my VGF points. However, in terms of banked vs. current, MS will not have any problem changing those, but it must be done prior to the trip you want them to be used. Once you travel, what they can't do is retroactively swap out points that were actually used. It sounds like this is what happened in this case. The points were banked by the OP, but never asked MS to complete a reallocation because in the past, the OP says it was done automatically.

They also won't reallocate within 30 days of the reservation.

In this case, it sounds like the OP always called in to bank points in the past and the cast member was proactive in allocating those points to existing reservations (or the OP asked without realizing it). This seems like a misunderstanding and/or shortcoming of the online system.

 

[gdrj]

Years ago I messed up banking points (I think it was that you use to have to bank sooner than you do now). Anyway totally my issue. After speaking to a supervisor and I took full responsibility for my mistake, I asked if there was anything that could be done. They allowed a 1 time mulligan and restored the points. I would recommend waiting till next week when the Poly resv's calm down and see if there might be an opportunity to have them help you.

If not don't blame them, self-responsibility to understand what we own and what we can and cannot do. The scenario that the OP has is confusing (I probably have not had enough caffeine), but it looks to be an issue that she is creating.

 

[Sandisw]

They also won't reallocate within 30 days of the reservation.

In this case, it sounds like the OP always called in to bank points in the past and the cast member was proactive in allocating those points to existing reservations (or the OP asked without realizing it). This seems like a misunderstanding and/or shortcoming of the online system.

I think that the only reason they don't within the 30 days is because any freed up points are going to be put into "holding" which puts restrictions on them, so it would certainly make little sense for the change. I don't think it is related to the online system but rather the OP not realizing in the past when he/she called, that a CM must have taken it upon him/herself to simply change things up without a formal request.