BLT Oversold and we got bumped :-(

[msp2mco]

This thread raises a lot of questions. I agree with another poster that the OP should ask to be on a 3-way call with the DVC member and MS to really find out what is going on. The OP seems to understand the DVC system, and that would help her figure out what really happened. Unfortunately, if the DVC member really did do something underhanded or cause the error, it isn't DVC's fault that this happened and DVC shouldn't be expected to compensate for it. One may never know what really went down here.

 

[crisi]

This thread raises a lot of questions. I agree with another poster that the OP should ask to be on a 3-way call with the DVC member and MS to really find out what is going on. The OP seems to understand the DVC system, and that would help her figure out what really happened. Unfortunately, if the DVC member really did do something underhanded or cause the error, it isn't DVC's fault that this happened and DVC shouldn't be expected to compensate for it. One may never know what really went down here.

If something fishy is going on, the member isn't going to do a three way call. And my own main evidence for fishy has gone away....this wasn't a rare short notice reservation, it was an existing reservation that she was able to take. I think this one is going to need to be chalked up to "its a trust relationship" along with "timeshares are different than hotels." And depending on how the member negotiated with member services if this was a member services error, the renter may not have a lot of push room to get compensation. The member may be sitting on "new" points - "oh, you don't want SSR, that's fine, I'll just cancel everything and refund your money." Also, with a name other than the members on the reservation, and member services not bending over backwards for renters, the member would have had to have been pretty savvy to negotiate on behalf of a renter, not let the word "renter" slip or imply this was a cash exchange, to be in the best negotiating position.

(Frankly, I would never make a good DVC landlord, because if my own renter was in this situation, I'd be offering them an apology, but not undertaking negotiations with DVC for compensation on their behalf. That's too much headache for too little profit, and too much like what I do for a living in the real world now.)

OP, SSR is a lovely resort and this may not be the vacation you planned, but you'll have a great time. The resort is very relaxing and the theme pool area is one of my favorites.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you are staying on points I would expect a refund of points plus moving the group in the studio to SSR as well (and refund of any points associated with that). But since you are on a guest (or is it a rental? I saw where the OP said they were given the reservation by a friend, then later they say it's a rental) reservation, it's tricky. Return of the points won't benefit you at all. If the studio was paid for with cash, they can move those guests to SSR and then refund the difference between BLT and SSR if there is a difference. I can't say that you should expect a free dining plan for 8 people for a week, or extensive monetary compensation. About all you can demand would be the refund of any actual cost difference between the two resorts.

Or, they could move your party to a monorail resort that has room for you.

 

[LisaS]

Also, with a name other than the members on the reservation, and member services not bending over backwards for renters, the member would have had to have been pretty savvy to negotiate on behalf of a renter, not let the word "renter" slip or imply this was a cash exchange, to be in the best negotiating position.

I agree that there doesn't appear to be anything fishy going on given that this has happened to others in the past. But I did wonder if, when faced with having to move a guest, they opted to move someone who appeared to be a renter.

 

[crisi]

I agree that there doesn't appear to be anything fishy going on given that this has happened to others in the past. But I did wonder if, when faced with having to move a guest, they opted to move someone who appeared to be a renter.

Does that surprise you? It doesn't surprise me. It creates a much weaker negotiating position for the owner to "get something" out of the deal and much less of an incentive for the owner to want anything.

 

[Dean]

I agree that there doesn't appear to be anything fishy going on given that this has happened to others in the past. But I did wonder if, when faced with having to move a guest, they opted to move someone who appeared to be a renter.

I doubt it has anything to do with the rental situation. Hopefully we'll get a more clear answer at some point.

 

[spiceycat]

I agree that there doesn't appear to be anything fishy going on given that this has happened to others in the past. But I did wonder if, when faced with having to move a guest, they opted to move someone who appeared to be a renter.

when it happened in the past -- DVC was generally upfront with what was going on - when it was the golfers - they say that and gave everyone involved their points back plus a 2-bedroom and studio at OKW.

when it was maintence - again they were upfront and moved them to either the same villa or a better one - think that move was from BWV to BCV????
don't really memory.

but to be told it was overbookings. that is one reason why DVC system was better than CRO at the time. DVC could not overbook - but CRO could and did fairly often.

when it is a DVC unit and this one definitely appears to be a DVC unit - then the new system allows overbooking - which is very, very scarey to me.

since DVC is no longer being as generous as in the pass. with CRO now if you book a moderate which they then overbooked they don't send you to a deluxe (which they did) - they send you to another moderate or a value (may give some money back if they do the value - but don't think the new things you sign even agree to that).

if I had planned for BLT and was told LAST MINUTE that it would be SSR - would be MAD. this is highly unfair and it definitely sounds like DVC is taking advantage of a non-member.

now if was told even a month or more ago - that might be better. but the week before you are to arrive.

Now I agree that CRO (WDW) has done this several times in the past. but DVC has not. Got told when I asked about overbooking that the DVC system could NOT - it the new system allows overbooking - this will be a big problem.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Did anybody see the episode of Undercover Boss where the CEO was the head of a slimeshare company?

He stated that "all timeshares overbook as part of the business model." That made me raise an eyebrow. My very first thought was...I wonder if DVC does that.

PS, I looked for a youtube video and didn't find it.

OP, I hope everything turns out. I hope you end up in a resort on the monorail line.

 

[LisaS]

Does that surprise you? It doesn't surprise me. It creates a much weaker negotiating position for the owner to "get something" out of the deal and much less of an incentive for the owner to want anything.

Given the number of reports lately where "MS told me I'm not allowed to rent my points", I wondered if this was another tactic to make people nervous about renting if renters will be the first to get bumped in an overbooking/room out of service situation.

ETA: When faced with an overbooking situation or a room out of service unexpectedly, somebody is going to lose their reservation. I wonder how they decide which guest to choose? Is it totally random or do they look at who is going to be staying in that room?

 

[dbs1228]

I would really push for a 2 bedroom and studio at SSR since you are not only losing location but a bathroom which will make getting ready a bit longer in the morning. Good luck.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I would really push for a 2 bedroom and studio at SSR since you are not only losing location but a bathroom which will make getting ready a bit longer in the morning. Good luck.

The OP can't push for anything. The member has to do that. And without all the info from the member, who knows what is happening?

 

[shalom]

He stated that "all timeshares overbook as part of the business model." That made me raise an eyebrow. My very first thought was...I wonder if DVC does that.

I find that hard to believe, because, at least with my TS, the points system units are separate from the units the TS salespeople and the like have access to. They are separate divisions and the TS salespeople do not have legal access to the owned units, nor can the home company rent them out (unless the owner hasn't paid for so long his account gets suspended). If the guy on TV meant that people who get one of those "free weekends if you come in for a sales presentation" don't usually end up in the resort but are instead booked into a local motel, then, yes, of course they do that. However that has no impact on the points owners, because it's a different set of units.

But overbooking the owner's units is rare, to the point where I don't think I've heard of it before. In our system, people only get moved if they're fully booked when sudden maintenance issues crop up -- or there's a hurricane and the resort is damaged. Although I assume DVC is set up differently, or they wouldn't have been able to bump the owners for the PGA golfers as crisi mentioned.

 

[dbs1228]

The OP can't push for anything. The member has to do that. And without all the info from the member, who knows what is happening?

I was making that suggestion based on OP saying she did in fact see the original reservation for BLT, and the member was working with her. I should have said ask the DVC member to push for it. I realize there could be more to it but from all OP posts it seems like a legit bump out of BLT.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I find that hard to believe, because, at least with my TS, the points system units are separate from the units the TS salespeople and the like have access to. They are separate divisions and the TS salespeople do not have legal access to the owned units, nor can the home company rent them out (unless the owner hasn't paid for so long his account gets suspended). If the guy on TV meant that people who get one of those "free weekends if you come in for a sales presentation" don't usually end up in the resort but are instead booked into a local motel, then, yes, of course they do that. However that has no impact on the points owners, because it's a different set of units.

But overbooking the owner's units is rare, to the point where I don't think I've heard of it before. In our system, people only get moved if they're fully booked when sudden maintenance issues crop up -- or there's a hurricane and the resort is damaged. Although I assume DVC is set up differently, or they wouldn't have been able to bump the owners for the PGA golfers as crisi mentioned.

What part of that do you find hard to believe? I absolutely saw this on the television show Undercover Boss. I have no reason to lie about it.

In my honest opinion, the CEO of the company was a real slimeball. I can't tell you anymore what company it was...maybe Diamond something...I do remember that one of the properties was around Williamsburg.

Whether or not the statement is true about industry standards, I do not know, but...the man absolutely said it.

Can anybody back me up?

Edit: OK, I looked undercover boss up on the net. The CEO was Stephen J. Cloobeck of Diamond Resorts International. The clip at check-in is no longer available on the CBS site.

 

[dbs1228]

I saw the episode of Undercover Boss and yes you are correct the CEO did they booked the rooms, something to do with the percentage of last minute cancellations and no shows.

 

[nunzia]

What part of that do you find hard to believe? I absolutely saw this on the television show Undercover Boss. I have no reason to lie about it.

In my honest opinion, the CEO of the company was a real slimeball. I can't tell you anymore what company it was...maybe Diamond something...I do remember that one of the properties was around Williamsburg.

Whether or not the statement is true about industry standards, I do not know, but...the man absolutely said it.

Can anybody back me up?

Edit: OK, I looked undercover boss up on the net. The CEO was Stephen J. Cloobeck of Diamond Resorts International. The clip at check-in is no longer available on the CBS site.

Yes..I also saw that episode..slimey arrogant guy..and yes I remember him saying that about overbooking but I attributed that to his slime-ness and didn't think it was standard practices as I see timeshares as more than hotel rooms since they are 'ours' and we pay taxes and other costs, this should NOT happn unless there was some big glitch in the system or if several rooms had suddenly been taken out of service for some reason. If it was me and I was the owner I'd be making quite alot of noise over this one.

 

[Dean]

Now I agree that CRO (WDW) has done this several times in the past. but DVC has not. Got told when I asked about overbooking that the DVC system could NOT - it the new system allows overbooking - this will be a big problem.

I know DVC has done it at least once prior. I know of at least 2 guests that arrived at BCV only to be sent elsewhere. It's not been a major issue though. Unfortunately on this one, I doubt we'll get the rest of the story. IF the member in question is one of this group and they haven't said anything, it's not likely they will. I doubt the renter will ever know more than they do know.

Did anybody see the episode of Undercover Boss where the CEO was the head of a slimeshare company?

He stated that "all timeshares overbook as part of the business model." That made me raise an eyebrow. My very first thought was...I wonder if DVC does that.

PS, I looked for a youtube video and didn't find it.

OP, I hope everything turns out. I hope you end up in a resort on the monorail line.

I am confident it's not a routine practice and when it happens, it's by true mistakes. However, all timeshares I'm aware of have some type of statistical issue that could get the members. DVC can (? does) anticipate breakage inventory and take it early. That's one reason I prefer Bluegreen's method of booking directly to a room rather than X number of reservations per night.

 

[shalom]

What part of that do you find hard to believe? I absolutely saw this on the television show Undercover Boss. I have no reason to lie about it.

I beg your pardon; must have phrased things very poorly. I didn't find it hard to believe you -- never had any doubt he said that. I just meant that the slimeball was assuming everyone works the way he does. I found it hard to believe that what he said reflects reality.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I beg your pardon; must have phrased things very poorly. I didn't find it hard to believe you -- never had any doubt he said that. I just meant that the slimeball was assuming everyone works the way he does. I found it hard to believe that what he said reflects reality.

Thank you!

 

[johnsbelt]

What part of that do you find hard to believe? I absolutely saw this on the television show Undercover Boss. I have no reason to lie about it.

In my honest opinion, the CEO of the company was a real slimeball. I can't tell you anymore what company it was...maybe Diamond something...I do remember that one of the properties was around Williamsburg.

Whether or not the statement is true about industry standards, I do not know, but...the man absolutely said it.

Can anybody back me up?

Edit: OK, I looked undercover boss up on the net. The CEO was Stephen J. Cloobeck of Diamond Resorts International. The clip at check-in is no longer available on the CBS site.

Sorry for the late response, but I saw that as well. And yes, he mentioned overbooking because the person who he was being trained by really disliked being put in that position (overbooking).

John