Cancellation policy?

[Jennasis]

We have a trip scheduled for 8 weeks and 3 days from today, but something has cropped up that may see us having to cancel our trip. We booked using points given to us by a family member. What are the rules about cancelling for DVC members? Hopefully the points won't be lost for the family member.

 

[DMKEDM]

Depending on the use year of the contract from which the points came--you may or may not have a problem if you cancel by 30 days prior to the trip. If you cancel within 30 days, the points go into "holding." There are significant restrictions on holding points and it's very possible they will be lost.

If you cancel more than 30 days out, the points will be returned to the current use year...if the contract's use year is more than 4 months out, they can be banked into next year. That is if the points were current year points. If they were borrowed or banked points, they'd have to be used by the end of the use year, or they'll be lost.

It's easier to understand with an example.

First, to avoid really difficult restrictions, it'd be best if you make your cancellation decision more than 30 days from the start of your trip.

If your family members' contract has a use year of December, February, April or June, the contract owner can bank the points and they'll be available to use next use year. If however the points are from a contract with a September or October use year, it's past the banking window and they'll have to be used prior to the end of the use year or they'll be lost. If your reservation was made with points that had already been banked, or were borrowed, they'll have to be used by the end of the current use year.

Pretty confusing if you're not used to these rules. Basically, what you need to know for us to tell you the consequences of you having to cancel is whether your reservation was made with banked, current or borrowed points; and the use year of the contract the points came from...And you need to cancel, if you're going to cancel, more than 30 days prior to the start of your trip or your family will be stuck with the holding points restrictions--and they are very tough and could well result in the points being completely lost...

Hope this helps, at least a bit.

 

[tjkraz]

If you cancel 31 days or MORE prior to check-in, the points are simply returned to the member with no penalty. HOWEVER, they will still expire at the end of the member's Use Year which could be days, weeks or months away.

Sounds like your trip is scheduled for mid-September. Worst case would be the owner has an October Use Year. That means the points MUST be used by 9/30/12 or they are completely forfeit.

Again it all depends upon the Use Year.

It may be possible for the owner to "bank" the points, or roll them forward to another Use Year. But again that depends upon how close you are to their expiration date, if the points were already banked, if they were borrowed, etc.

If you cancel 30 days or less prior to arrival, the points go into what is called a Holding Account. The owner could still rebook with the points but can only secure a reservation 60 days (or less) prior to the planned arrival. For example, if the owner wanted to try and re-book for January 1, he/she couldn't even try to get a reservation until around November 1 (or whatever date is exactly 60 days prior to 1/1).

Holding Account points cannot be banked and would similarly expire at the end of the Use Year.

 

[disneynutz]

Contact the family member and ask them, only they will know what points were used and what affect if any that it will have on their account.

Bill

 

[Jennasis]

Thanks guys. I'll know better (I hope) tomorrow if we may have to cancel, so I was trying to get my ducks in a row before calling our family member. He hasn't used any of his points in nearly 3 years and has no plans to use them in the future (at least this year or next year).

 

[bwvBound]

Good luck, Jennasis! I hope that business hit you are anticipating flies right past you and your family. You need this vacation!

 

[Jennasis]

Good luck, Jennasis! I hope that business hit you are anticipating flies right past you and your family. You need this vacation!

Thank you so much. We really need this trip.