Banking Question re MS Closed today

[ChickieToo]

I was going to call MS to ask about my banking window since the rules are changing on January 1, and today is a banking deadline for me. However, there are a couple of threads indicating that MS is closed today, so I can't call and I need a question answered. Maybe someone here can help.

I own 150 VWL ans 150 BCV both with a June UY. I only have a few points left in each account, let's say 50 in VWL and 16 in BCV. I know under ordinary circumstances I would be able to skip this banking window because both my remaining points are well under the 100% or even the 50% mark, and I could just sit on them until I decide if I want to use them or bank them before my next banking window at the end of February.

However, because the banking rules change on January 1, am I still going to have that flexibility? February 1 will be my "new" banking date as it is four months from my UY renewal date of June 1. Do I have until Feb 1 to decide what I want to do with these points, or should I bite the bullet and e-mail MS and bank my points now?

I'd welcome input from someone who knows how this will work.

TIA

 

[1000th happy haunt]

This article from dvcnews.com should help you.
http://dvcnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=221&Itemid=2

 

[kab407]

I spoke to MS yesterday about banking my remaining points (after book WLV for April ) I also have a June UY. We have until Jan 31 to bank under the new banking rules.

 

[n2mm]

They were open at 9:30AM today when I added another day to my reservations! Did they close early??

 

[Uferlives]

Yes,they are closed, and I just got finished firing off my email rant to MS. I've got to say, that is pretty poor planning on DVC's part. There are exactly 8, count them, 8 dates in the entire calendar year that are "100% bank" dates-- and today, November 30, is one of them. If you are going to have a "special event," why for goodness' sake hold it on one of those critical dates, leaving nobody home?? Perhaps it was some kind of MS holiday event. Great-- but do you have to hold it on November 30??? Could I have attended to my business before today? Maybe-- but maybe not-- we just settled on our 2008 vacation plans last night. I'm sure I am not the only one out there who called MS today, looking to bank points under the deadline wire, only to find out they were closed. Yes, I know, it is the LAST day-- but that is what LAST days are for!! You don't get to April 15 only to find out that the IRS and Post Office are closed, and you REALLY needed to complete your tax return by April 14!! Yes, I know I can now bank online-- but I can't do that, because what I needed to do with MS today was cancel an existing reservation (we had to change our plans last night) to get BACK the 2007 point that I need to bank. I can bank online, but I can't cancel online, and thus, I can't get the 2007 points that I need to get back in order to then bank them. I can only hope that MS will do the right thing in this situation. OK, I'm hyperventilating now. Rant over-- but I still think this is one of the most stupid things I have ever seen. At least have ONE person there to answer the phone, or something!!!

 

[Caskbill]

Yes,they are closed, and I just got finished firing off my email rant to MS. I've got to say, that is pretty poor planning on DVC's part. There are exactly 8, count them, 8 dates in the entire calendar year that are "100% bank" dates-- and today, November 30, is one of them. If you are going to have a "special event," why for goodness' sake hold it on one of those critical dates, leaving nobody home?? Perhaps it was some kind of MS holiday event. Great-- but do you have to hold it on November 30??? Could I have attended to my business before today? Maybe-- but maybe not-- we just settled on our 2008 vacation plans last night. I'm sure I am not the only one out there who called MS today, looking to bank points under the deadline wire, only to find out they were closed. Yes, I know, it is the LAST day-- but that is what LAST days are for!! You don't get to April 15 only to find out that the IRS and Post Office are closed, and you REALLY needed to complete your tax return by April 14!! Yes, I know I can now bank online-- but I can't do that, because what I needed to do with MS today was cancel an existing reservation (we had to change our plans last night) to get BACK the 2007 point that I need to bank. I can bank online, but I can't cancel online, and thus, I can't get the 2007 points that I need to get back in order to then bank them. I can only hope that MS will do the right thing in this situation. OK, I'm hyperventilating now. Rant over-- but I still think this is one of the most stupid things I have ever seen. At least have ONE person there to answer the phone, or something!!!

Since you say it's a 100% window, then that must mean you have a June Use Year.

Relax. Under the new rules, June use years actually retrograde on January 1st.

Yes, during December you're in your 50% window, but beginning January 1st, a June Use year becomes a 100% window again. You actually have to the end of January to bank your points.

I made this chart quite awhile ago. It shows the banking windows for the various use years as we transition from the old rules to the new rules. This is for 2007 points only. 2008 points will be entirely under the new rules.

 

[ChickieToo]

Thanks everyone! Thanks for the link 1000th Happy Haunt, that's perfect. And kab407, thanks for the first-hand update.

 

[ChickieToo]

Somehow your post wasn't on the thread when I posted, so thanks for going to the trouble and making that chart!

However, I do a gree it was kind of poor planning on the part of MS. There are a lot of people who don't fully understand the banking changes.

Joanne

 

[Uferlives]

Thanks so much Caskbill. June, indeed, is my use year. I will sheephishly admit that I did not even know about this transition from the old rules to the new rules (boy, could they make this any more complicated?). Did I miss an announcement somewhere?

What I do know is this-- every time I have logged onto my account for the last 3 months I have seen the little red highlighted flag informing me that November 30 was D-Day, so to speak. Hopefully when MS responds to my rant they will patiently explain to me what you just indicated in your very helpful chart. That said, I still think it is incredibly bad planning to vacate the home office on the last day of any month, in any business, with no advance warning to your customers/clients.

 

[Uferlives]

Thanks so much Caskbill. June, indeed, is my use year. I will sheephishly admit that I did not even know about this transition from the old rules to the new rules (boy, could they make this any more complicated?). Did I miss an announcement somewhere?

What I do know is this-- every time I have logged onto my account for the last 3 months I have seen the little red highlighted flag informing me that November 30 was D-Day, so to speak. Hopefully when MS responds to my rant they will patiently explain to me what you just indicated in your very helpful chart. That said, I still think it is incredibly bad planning to vacate the home office on the last day of any month, in any business, with no advance warning to your customers/clients.

 

[GoofysGal33850]

Thanks so much Caskbill. June, indeed, is my use year. I will sheephishly admit that I did not even know about this transition from the old rules to the new rules (boy, could they make this any more complicated?). Did I miss an announcement somewhere?

What I do know is this-- every time I have logged onto my account for the last 3 months I have seen the little red highlighted flag informing me that November 30 was D-Day, so to speak. Hopefully when MS responds to my rant they will patiently explain to me what you just indicated in your very helpful chart. That said, I still think it is incredibly bad planning to vacate the home office on the last day of any month, in any business, with no advance warning to your customers/clients.

All November banking deadlines have been extended to 12/8. The website has not been changed (the little red flag) because we are still under the old banking guidelines... that should change on 1/1/08.

June UY do indeed have January as a 100% window; between 12/9 and 12/31 June UY will be in the 50% banking windows.