Does anyone think I have a chance to recover?

[Mickey527]

I am having some serious health problems. Beause of this I haven't worked since September. My vacation and sick pay ran out in Dec.
At the end of Dec I called my sales person who told me that he would notify member's services and asked that they please not deduct payments for my DVC until I notify them that I can pay again. I also made the call to member's services myself just to make sure that I was covered. They told me I can hold payment for 3 months. This would have helped alot because I am waiting my dad's probate to go through by the end of this month and I plan on paying off one contract and reducing the 2nd. Dad died of Cancer in March2004. I was diagnosed in August 2004 so I am really having a bad time.
In Jan they attempted to deduct the amounts 4 times. I didn't get charged the $20 from DVC but my bank withdrew $20 each time from my savings for a total of $80. My savings account at that time was only around $150 which I had planned on using for food until i get my Long Term Disability in April.
I called DVC and they promised they would stop the auto withdrawal. Well they attempted 2 withdrawals already in Feb. Another $40 from my food money and they caused me to have a negative balance. Now I don't even have money for food and I owe my bank money. I have a disabled person living with me who has a limited social security income because he was only 45 when he was permanantly disabled so he didn't have alot in SS. I also have 2 sons who are attending college and live at home because I couldn't afford them living away this year. So I am the main wage earner for my household.
I am going to call DVC and complain loudly tomorrow and ask for the $120 back. I would understand if it was my mistake but I called and was assured that they would put me on the 3 month hold list.
Does anyone think I will get my money back or have some idea who I can ask to speak to if member's services doesn't help me? Peggie

 

[senecabeach]

Peggy..........

I am soooo sorry to hear about all the problems you are experiencing. I have always found member services very helpful in accomodating guests. I don't know who else yo could call, but, I'd be sure to get a name of the CM I was speaking to.

IMHO.......the question of putting food on the table or paying a luxury timeshare is to me.... a no brainer.

I would be a miss..... if I didn't suggest to you, at this crisis period in your life, to be objective, and seriously consider "selling the DVC".

There are big dollars being paid on re-sales and DVC should be a joy in your life...certainly not and never a burden.

Prayers and pixie dust coming your way.....

 

[Caskbill]

Sorry to hear of all your problems.

For the short term, have you taken your case to the bank. Maybe they'll waive the fees.

Maybe you can get Disney to send a message to the bank that the attempted drafts were in error and that might help. I think you'd have a better chance in getting the bank to waive the fees than you'll have in getting Disney to reimburse you.

For the long term, you might seriously consider what Senecabeach said.

Good Luck.

 

[CarolA]

Have you spoken to accounting? You may not be speaking the the right people.

That said, I know you aren't going to like this advice but SELL NOW! From what I am reading even after you probate the estate you will still have DVC debt and VERY little income. If you can't afford those $20 fees how are going to afford the payments on the second contract and mainteance on all of them. I would also be afraid Disney would foreclose and you won't get any money out of them. This "free" period seems to be kind of a "gift" and if you don't have something in writing you aren't protected. Right now you are technically two months behind... at this point Disney could probably start proceedings.

You can always join again when things look up, but for now I can't even see how you could afford to go to visit your DVC.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I find the Member Services Accounting to be the least friendly, accomodating people I have delt with at DVC.

I have had a couple of issues with them and I have never spoken to what I consider a "pleasant" person".

My most recent issue was when I sent in a fax (based on their instruction) asking them to change the bank that my maintenance fees came out of. The subject on the fax was DVC Maintenance Fees. The body of the text only mentioned maintenance fees. Come January, they changed the bank for not only the maintenance fee but the regular payment also. I never requested that. I called them and never even got an apology or an acknowledgement that the mistake was theirs. They stated that when they get a request to change a bank they change everything because they assume the original account is closed. I never told them the account was closed.

So, my suggestion if you call Accounting is to ask for a Supervisor and not deal with the regular ones that answer the phone. I think the Accounting people could take some Guest Services lessons and Best Practices lessons from the DVC reservations folks, who have always been more than nice and helpful.

Peggy, I am so sorry things are not going well for you. I hope you are back on your feet soon and things turn around for you.

 

[floridafam]

Was it dues that they were deducting?

They still have to take out dues payments even when you have a hold on your loan payments. Could this be it?

Give them a call and see what they say.

Sorry to hear things are tough right now.

 

[lat]

Peggie,

I am sorry to hear things are not going well. Have you ever considered transfer your pts to another member. I remember 2 years ago I rented points via a transfer from another member, and I had to get on the phone with her to Member Accounting to pay her dues which was past due. The rest of the money went to her, and she transfered me her points. Once the dues are paid off, you don't even need to worry about the monthly deductions.

You can transfer your current year's points and also ask MS to manually transfer your next year's points. Best of luck and I hope things will get betther.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Don't really having any advice other than I hope you wrote down when and who you talked to during the previous conversations with MS. Other than that, I just wanted to say I hope things get better for you...

 

[dougmatt]

First let me say I am sorry to hear about your troubles. Next, I would recomend either you sell your contracts or AT LEAST rent the points via transfer to another member... We are considering an add-on, and if you would like to work something out as a transfer pm me. OR post on the rent board offering a transfer and SOMEONE will respond (likely very quickly).... I would recomend only doing a transfer, as renting them as accomidations will prevent you from selling the contract later if you decide to go that route....

Please do something... Don't let the issues overwhelm you into inaction... There are alot of people who can assist if you ask.

D

 

[ColoradoBelle1]

I am sorry for your troubles.
Getting money back from timeshare accounting dept for bank charges probably won't happen but I'll be glad to blow a little pixie dust your way. I think it may have to do with automatic deductions and PEOPLE having difficulty talking to the computer.

However, long term, I think you might want to consider the idea of selling or transfering or renting. This is now a seller's market...and that is very strange in timeshare in general, tho Disney timeshare seems to hold value and increase in value. Renting of points is $10 a point ...and that should pay for maintenance fees and maybe even the payment on your contract. I don't know exactly what 'transferring' is, but it seems enough people here are interestred that that too could help defer financing issues until you get back on your feet.

It seems that there is a wide variety of costs per point for resales, depending on the number of points, where located , and how many banked pioints go along with the contract....but from what I've read here, it seems like a sale could be effected with just our disboard members who are looking!

Good luck iwth your health problems...I hope they resolve quickly and you are able to find a little Magic healing at WDW.

colorado belle

 

[OneMoreTry]

Until you can straighten this out, can you change your acct #?

Renting sounds like a good idea.

Or selling.

 

[Deesknee]

nos suggestions, just & prayers.

 

[Mickey527]

Thank you all for your suggestions.
I don't want to sell because somewhere down the line things will get better.
I transeferred all the points I had left from 2004 into my 2005 account because when I am better I plan on taking my entire family to WDW and I will need all the points I have.
My father did leave me a large sum of money which will pay all my bills for the next 6 months until I can return to work and wil help me pay off most of my DVC. I just have to wait for it to go through which should be within the next month.
I just wanted DVC to stop withdrawing for two months until I could get that money and pay it. They agreed but apparently didn't put it into the computer. Hopefully they did now because I haven't had any more withdrawal attempts.
I did call my bank and they said that it wasn't their fault that DVC kept attempting to take money out but they would not re-imburse me for someone elses mistake. I did call DVC and they are "looking into" the situation and will get back to me. I did stress quite a few times how $120 was alot to have to pay for their mistake. So I am hoping it will get settled somehow. Even returning 1/2 to me would be a big help.
I certainly didn't plan on this but my dad must have known and took care of me with his will. It is just taking so long for the probate to get into court that it is almost a year already. I will be better off once the probate goes through and I have some money to work with again. Peggie

 

[floridafam]

Do you also have your dues drawn out automatically?

Glad to hear they are going to check on things for you.