Banking/Borrowing Questions

[margaretCT]

I called member services with my questions, but they left me more confused than when I called, so I thought I ask for help from the "experts" here.

I own 100 Vero Beach points, October use year, and want to book a beach cottage, Sunday - Friday, 300 points, February 2009. My thinking is I would make the reservation 11 months in advance, March of 2008, by banking 100 10/07 points, using 100 10/08 points, and borrowing 100 10/09 points.

Is this correct?

TIA.

Margaret

PS I know the 2009 point schedule isn't out yet, just making an educated guess at 300 points for 5 nights in February.

 

[bicker]

Sounds correct to me.

 

[LisaS]

You are correct. With an Oct UY, a Feb '09 trip falls in your '08 UY. So you can bank your '07 points (any time between Oct 1, 2007 and Mar 31, 2008) and borrow your '09 points to get the 300 points you need to book the trip. You can book the trip in March '08. Beach cottages are popular so you might want to book day by day.

 

[margaretCT]

Thanks, bicker and Lisa. That's what I wanted to hear!

Margaret

 

[PamOKW]

For 2009, when Easter falls on April 12, you're probably right that most if not all of February will be in the Magic season -- or 300 points for 5 week nights. When Easter comes earlier, a large part of February falls into Premier Season (like in 2008) and 5 weeknights goes up to 390 points.

 

[Dean]

The only issue is that some people have had trouble borrowing from the second use year. Yes I know that the rules suggest you can but you it has been an issue for some.

 

[margaretCT]

Dean, that was my concern. Do you know what the issue has been with borrowing the second use year and have members been successful?

I've finally laid out a long-range plan (13-year member) which includes a trip to Vero every three years. Hopefully the second year borrowing won't throw a monkey wrench into those plans, might take me another 13 years, lol.

And, Pam, I will watch that Easter holiday. Any time during the Magic season (300 points) is fine with me, as long as I'm out of Connecticut in the winter!

Thanks,
Margaret

 

[Dean]

Dean, that was my concern. Do you know what the issue has been with borrowing the second use year and have members been successful?

I've finally laid out a long-range plan (13-year member) which includes a trip to Vero every three years. Hopefully the second year borrowing won't throw a monkey wrench into those plans, might take me another 13 years, lol.

And, Pam, I will watch that Easter holiday. Any time during the Magic season (300 points) is fine with me, as long as I'm out of Connecticut in the winter!

Thanks,
Margaret

Unfortunately what I've seen on this BBS suggests it's a case of YMMV. We've seen people who were able to borrow when it was two use years ahead and we've seen others that were told they had to wait until their use year opened so they'd only be borrowing one year ahead. In your case I'd lay out very carefully in writing what you want to do for the one large trip and send it by email to DVC. Spell out use year and the fact you want to borrow the 2009 use year points into the 2008 use year when you call in March of 2007. Do not clutter your request with any of your other thoughts and plans. Keep it singly minded and state you want an official ruling so you can plan now. That way, if they respond favorably, you will have written proof of their interpretation. Then when the first day opens up to make the reservation day by day, call and make the first day. Once you've gotten that day reserved, review your plan. IF you get a different response, ask to speak to a supervisor. If you need it, you'll have the written response to fall back on. IF they respond that you can't do that you'll have time to argue with them and if that is unsuccessful, plan accordingly with a transfer possibly.

 

[greenban]

Dean's advice is always great, but I have developed a workaround solution.

If I get an experienced MS-Advisor, they will let me borrow from next year's UY without problem. In fact I have already borrowed most of my 2008 UY for several Grand Gatherings in 2007. If the advisor says it can't happen until my UY starts, I thank them and simply hang-up and call right back! Sometimes I have had to call three times before getting a knowledgable advisor!

This is especially necessary when reallocating points, transferring into/out of a future Use Year, and sadly sometimes when borrowing.

Last week a new guide asked me for a credit card to 'guarentee' my Dining Plan. I simply asked, "Oh when did the policy change?" and was placed on hold for 10 minutes, before he came back and said, I didn't need to. He sheepishly admitted he had gotten CC # from Owners for the past month.

Now (in this age of CC scams), if it isn't required, where does he enter the info in the ressie system?

If it is required, why has no other guide ever asked me?

Makes one wonder......

-Tony

 

[bicker]

I've never encountered any problems whatsoever along these lines. I just borrowed 104 points from UY 2008 for a UY 2007 trip, for which I'm using a bunch of UY 2006 banked points. Again, no problem whatsoever.

 

[margaretCT]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll follow Dean's advice and email MS (I was thinking about doing this anyway) and see what they say. If they say no, then I'll follow greenban's advice. In other words, I'll just keep going until I get the answer I want.

In any event, I'll let you know what MS says when I hear from them.

Margaret

 

[margaretCT]

If anyone is interested, here is the response I got from MS. Looks like I'm okay! Thanks everyone for your responses.

Margaret in CT


Hello Margaret,

Thank you for contacting Member Services.

You are correct in your plan. You may bank your October 2007 Vacation
Points into your October 2008, use October 2008 and borrow the Vero
Vacation Points from your October 2009. You will be all set, please
give us a call in March 2008 to book at the eleven month window.


Have a Magical Day!

 

[nmere]

You are correct. With an Oct UY, a Feb '09 trip falls in your '08 UY. So you can bank your '07 points (any time between Oct 1, 2007 and Mar 31, 2008) and borrow your '09 points to get the 300 points you need to book the trip. You can book the trip in March '08. Beach cottages are popular so you might want to book day by day.

What do you mean "book day by day"? Are talking about booking one day at a time? How does this work?
Nick