Can I unborrow points for upcoming trip due to family emergency?

[I Run Long]

We've had devastating news. My DH's daughter has been given a terminal diagnosis and we just aren't able to go on the trip we had planned this September. We borrowed 146 points for the trip and was wondering if anyone has been successful in getting points like this unborrowed. I understand I may lose the points and there are more important things to worry about at this stage. I was going to call member services to inquire but don't know if it is worth the call.

 

[KrzyAsian]

The worst that could happen from calling is them saying "no." I would call and see if you can get a one-time exception, but don't go in expecting that it will happen. Alternatively, you've got enough time to try to sell/rent the reservation and recoup some cash for a future visit.

 

[mort1331]

Call, they are good at changing things as pp said. We have had points put back in as one of our trips had to be changed.

 

[Chuck S]

As KrzyAsian said, it certainly never hurts to ask. I experienced an emergency years ago, when traveling with some friends. We were driving down, and the couple I was traveling with were about 20 years older than I at the time. We were all tired, so we stopped in Lake City for the night, and we were to check-in at Disney the following day. Well, the older lady passed in her sleep. So I of course called Memeber Services and explained the situation. I had borrowed a handful of points, but the majority were current use year. Under DVC Rules, since iot was check-in day, the points should have been considered "spent." MS refunded the point to the current use year, but did not unbank the few banked points. The points did not go into "holding" status. I was very grateful, and was able to use all the points during what remained of the year. And the hotel in Lake City, even though the police were investigating and held us there for a couple of days, did not charge us for the rooms. Her son contacted our local funeral home, and they had an associated one in Lake City that took care of returning her home. After we were able to start the drive home, there was some paperwork that needed signing, so were were able to stop in Tallahassee at another associated funeral home and sign some paperwork.

 

[Sandisw]

When my dad passed away and we had to cancel a few days before, the CM I borrowed for me, without me asking.

I am sorry to hear about this difficult family situation. Give him a call.

 

[cruisehopeful]

As the others have said, call and let MS know and ask if they have any options. They will either bank your points or not. If they don't bank them, you can keep the reservation and rent it out through one of the brokers.

 

[KPeterso]

Another vote to call to cancel. I had to cancel last minute a couple years ago due to a family health issue and not only did they take my points out of holding, but they unborrowed the few borrowed ones I had on the reservation.

 

[robotsneedlove2]

So sorry for your sad news. I'm another vote for giving a call to see if MS can help you out.

 

[Moneypenny]

I'm so sorry to hear that!

Just agreeing with the others to give them a call. I had to cancel last minute about a week ago due to my dad's death. I didn't even have to ask them to take the points out of holding, they just did it after explaining what would normally happen. The cast member even offered to bank the points for me and then reallocate the points in my upcoming January reservation to use the first-expiring points.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

I'm so sorry to hear that!

Just agreeing with the others to give them a call. I had to cancel last minute about a week ago due to my dad's death. I didn't even have to ask them to take the points out of holding, they just did it after explaining what would normally happen. The cast member even offered to bank the points for me and then reallocate the points in my upcoming January reservation to use the first-expiring points.

I’m sorry to hear about your dad and also very glad that the MS rep took care of your family. I think this is how the program ought to work (and makes me feel more loyalty to DVC).

 

[cheryl.UK]

One year I forgot to bank points as my dad died in May. I rang member services in June and they banked them for me.

 

[davidhr]

Last week I had to call to change some plans due to an unexpected non-emergency change of plans. The cast member offered to un borrow about 150 points as a one time courtesy without me asking for it.

 

[GGGT]

So sorry to hear this news. As many have said, my guess is that MS will reverse this without hesitation. Best of luck.

 

[Becx N Gav]

I'm so sorry to hear this.
I do hope you can get this organised by MS - please let us know!

 

[DVCjj]

Definitely worth a phone call. I've had an emergency recently (I had sudden hip replacement
surgery) and DVC was wonderful. I had 2 separate BWV rooms reserved literally for this week. It was sickening to cancel and I can't get that trip out of my mind as I'm in some major pain.

Again, DVC was wonderful. So kind and helpful. I'm sure she didn't think I was lying as I was crying when I asked to cancel.

 

[Pens Fan]

I'm so sorry for your situation, but definitely call them and ask. We were on a month long trip in Jan when we got the call we needed to come to Nashville as my MIL did not have much longer to live. We arrived two days before the massive ice storm hit that city which complicated things even more once she passed. We really couldn't predict how long we'd be there for many reasons. I made several calls to MS cancelling plans a few days at a time. Every single time they were so kind and helpful. We did not end up losing any points or have any go into holding. Some of the points were banked and they even took the time to go through each of our reservations for the remainder of our UY and found places to swap them out with points that could be banked. I never expected anything but was so, so grateful each time they helped us. They were wonderful each and every time.

 

[MeridaMonkey]

I am so, so sorry to hear this…it’s never a guarantee but it’s absolutely worth calling to ask the question, given the circumstances I would think MS will do everything they can to help. My family and I had to leave the Riviera resort a day early in February due to a family emergency, both the resort staff and MS were absolutely wonderful; the Riviera general manager made sure we got our points back for our last night since we were leaving prior to check-out time and MS moved our points out of Holding and back into the original use year.

 

[I Run Long]

I wanted to come back and thank everyone for their kind words. They really did help me to hear them. I did call MS and I didn't even have to ask. They offered to unborrow the points and return them to their original use year. They were so understanding and unbelievably helpful. Hugs to all.

 

[cheryl.UK]

And that's why we all love Disney. When there's a genuine problem, there's no 'Computer says no' (The Brits on here will get the reference)