DVC Point Rental Scam - Cincinnati, OH

[letsgoreds]

I will preface by saying that I LOVE being able to rent directly from DVC owners, and have stayed at some beautiful resorts at a great price (BLT, Kidani x 2). I have successfully rented 3 times, from different owners, once even without a contract...and it is still my preferred method for booking rooms at WDW (fingers crossed for future Aluani trip).

So...apparently there is a local mom who sought out other local mom's and ripped them off. Not just DVC, but other time-shares as well.

I have no idea if the scammed family researched this woman to determine if she actually owned (via comptroller site), received a reservation confirmation, or checked out the active reservation frequently on MDE...but sounds like they just showed up and no reservation. This is the first account I have heard, so just make sure you check out the owner no matter who they are or how you know them.

http://www.wlwt.com/news/local-news...on/-/13601510/23855600/-/obwuqsz/-/index.html

 

[Deb & Bill]

I will preface by saying that I LOVE being able to rent directly from DVC owners, and have stayed at some beautiful resorts at a great price (BLT, Kidani x 2). I have successfully rented 3 times, from different owners, once even without a contract...and it is still my preferred method for booking rooms at WDW (fingers crossed for future Aluani trip).

So...apparently there is a local mom who sought out other local mom's and ripped them off. Not just DVC, but other time-shares as well.

I have no idea if the scammed family researched this woman to determine if she actually owned (via comptroller site), received a reservation confirmation, or checked out the active reservation frequently on MDE...but sounds like they just showed up and no reservation. This is the first account I have heard, so just make sure you check out the owner no matter who they are or how you know them.

http://www.wlwt.com/news/local-news...on/-/13601510/23855600/-/obwuqsz/-/index.html

Not everyone who owns DVC shows up in the Orange County Comptrollers website. Only the ones who bought Orange County properties.

 

[letsgoreds]

Not everyone who owns DVC shows up in the Orange County Comptrollers website. Only the ones who bought Orange County properties.

True, but once you find out where their home resort is, you can verify ownership, right? Everyone I have booked owned in FL.

 

[vicki_c]

True, but once you find out where their home resort is, you can verify ownership, right? Everyone I have booked owned in FL.

There are also HI, CA, and SC owners that cAn use their points at WDW resorts.

 

[Deb & Bill]

True, but once you find out where their home resort is, you can verify ownership, right? Everyone I have booked owned in FL.

VB, HHI, GCV and Aul won't be listed with Orange County Comptroller because those properties are not located in Orange County. You'd have to find out if they have a similar listing in the counties they are located in.

 

[jcjen519]

True, but once you find out where their home resort is, you can verify ownership, right? Everyone I have booked owned in FL.

yes. you'd need to know the county the property was located in and that county would need to have the information available online. assuming that were the case (most likely) then you could in theory.

wouldn't getting the reservation number and creating a mde handle be more comforting? If that reservation is booked and showing up you should be good to go. I own DVC but I could still lie about having booked the reservation. if you have a number and can see for yourself online I can't see how its not legit.

ETA: I could also give you a fake name...for example maybe I know a member and I claim to be them? you look up the fake name and think i'm a real owner. getting the reservation number and seeing it with my own eyes in my name on my mde account just seems like the easiest and most reassuring way to go.

 

[letsgoreds]

yes. you'd need to know the county the property was located in and that county would need to have the information available online. assuming that were the case (most likely) then you could in theory.

wouldn't getting the reservation number and creating a mde handle be more comforting? If that reservation is booked and showing up you should be good to go. I own DVC but I could still lie about having booked the reservation. if you have a number and can see for yourself online I can't see how its not legit.

ETA: I could also give you a fake name...for example maybe I know a member and I claim to be them? you look up the fake name and think i'm a real owner. getting the reservation number and seeing it with my own eyes in my name on my mde account just seems like the easiest and most reassuring way to go.

I think covering all of the bases makes sense. I wouldn't start talking to a DVC owner until I confirmed ownership (look them up on the net, confirm ownership, etc.). Then I wouldn't typically send money until I received the emailed confirmation w/number that I can look up myself.

That being said...I was desperate for BLT in early december, so I broke all of my rules, and it still worked out. I did hold onto my 'back-up' reservation at BC (family discount) until about a 1-2 weeks before. Too good to be true was in the back of my mind.

I feel comfortable with the DIS DVCers, but I am sure that these women felt comfortable with this woman as well.

 

[Sue M]

Personally I think it's to risky to book from someone I don't know. I'd go thru David's DVC rentals. I may pay a bit more for points, but at least I'd know it wasn't a scam. I have heard of a couple of Disers being scammed.

 

[Holly Quinlan]

Only a few minutes from me this is why I'm going with David's. would rather pay a few extra bucks and know what I'm getting into its already a huge savings anyway.

 

[athumann]

I rented through eBay and I felt pretty safe about it. Paid through PayPal and received my confirmation right away. Everything went well!

 

[mjohnson96]

Only a few minutes from me this is why I'm going with David's. would rather pay a few extra bucks and know what I'm getting into its already a huge savings anyway.

I agree, much rather go through a reputable company or individual. That is why I look at David's for DVC and Ken for WBC You might pay a bit more than going direct with the individual but the peace of mind, plus frequent use, makes for less stressful planning

 

[Deb & Bill]

One more issue to be aware of. If the person offering the reservation tells you there is a $95 fee that will need to be paid when you check in, walk the other way. That means it is an RCI trade and RCI does not allow RCI trades to be sold. Your reservation could be canceled when you attempt to check in.

So you only want to get a DVC reservation from someone who owns DVC points. Or make your reservation directly with Disney for that DVC resort.

 

[tass98]

Hi all
so im reading this post with interest as im about to do my first DVC rental and could really use some guidance.

i found a posting in VRBO that offers the contemporary disney resort 2bed units. i made a $ proposal that was accepted and now we're going through a few clarifications. Im trying to get a sense if this is legitimate:

1- vrbo says the person is new and the posting began in 2014
2- looked up the name of the owner in Florida controler site but couldnt find it.
3- received a contract proposal, with address of owner, and checked the home address for tax assessments but couldnt find that name there.
4- the owner emailed me 2 references that i emailed and received prompt feedback. neither of the reference names/emails show up in google search of any kind. References were positive.
5- owner asks for 'I accept payments via direct Bank transfer Only... Bank USAA'.
6- the owner also mentions 'It's a deeded timeshare in my name, I own the property and have been renting out this unit for 5 years now'. i didnt know that the units were actually individually owned/could be specific about renting a specific unit.

Any perspective you can provide would be helpful.
Thanks

 

[dansdad]

Hi all
so im reading this post with interest as im about to do my first DVC rental and could really use some guidance.

i found a posting in VRBO that offers the contemporary disney resort 2bed units. i made a $ proposal that was accepted and now we're going through a few clarifications. Im trying to get a sense if this is legitimate:

1- vrbo says the person is new and the posting began in 2014
2- looked up the name of the owner in Florida controler site but couldnt find it.
3- received a contract proposal, with address of owner, and checked the home address for tax assessments but couldnt find that name there.
4- the owner emailed me 2 references that i emailed and received prompt feedback. neither of the reference names/emails show up in google search of any kind. References were positive.
5- owner asks for 'I accept payments via direct Bank transfer Only... Bank USAA'.
6- the owner also mentions 'It's a deeded timeshare in my name, I own the property and have been renting out this unit for 5 years now'. i didnt know that the units were actually individually owned/could be specific about renting a specific unit.

Any perspective you can provide would be helpful.
Thanks

Every one of these points are red flags to me. I would not go through with the rental.

 

[Anna114]

Every one of these points are red flags to me. I would not go through with the rental.

As I read the post I had the same feelings. One or two of these things are funky but the whole list... I would run in the other direction.

 

[suemom2kay]

Hi all
so im reading this post with interest as im about to do my first DVC rental and could really use some guidance.

i found a posting in VRBO that offers the contemporary disney resort 2bed units. i made a $ proposal that was accepted and now we're going through a few clarifications. Im trying to get a sense if this is legitimate:

1- vrbo says the person is new and the posting began in 2014
2- looked up the name of the owner in Florida controler site but couldnt find it.
3- received a contract proposal, with address of owner, and checked the home address for tax assessments but couldnt find that name there.
4- the owner emailed me 2 references that i emailed and received prompt feedback. neither of the reference names/emails show up in google search of any kind. References were positive.
5- owner asks for 'I accept payments via direct Bank transfer Only... Bank USAA'.
6- the owner also mentions 'It's a deeded timeshare in my name, I own the property and have been renting out this unit for 5 years now'. i didnt know that the units were actually individually owned/could be specific about renting a specific unit.

Any perspective you can provide would be helpful.
Thanks

Uhhhh.... no. It is possible that he owns a specific week. I have to ask if he has been renting for 5 years, why is he brand new to VRBO? Where did he find his renters for the past 5 years. And I would never do a wire transfer.... never never never.

 

[sonofanarchy]

I would absolutely NOT rent from that seller. I get why David's is so well liked. It's rock solid, but there are drawbacks as well. He's the most expensive renter out there, and he doesn't offer refunds if something comes up. I'd do some more research. There are other boards to find reputable sellers on.

I don't get why all sellers don't offer Paypal. It's free to set up. It's easy, and it protects all parties involved.

 

[Marionnette]

I would absolutely NOT rent from that seller. I get why David's is so well liked. It's rock solid, but there are drawbacks as well. He's the most expensive renter out there, and he doesn't offer refunds if something comes up. I'd do some more research. There are other boards to find reputable sellers on.

I don't get why all sellers don't offer Paypal. It's free to set up. It's easy, and it protects all parties involved.

Probably because PayPal is generally very unfriendly to sellers. They tend to side with the buyer on almost all disputes. The last thing that I would want to see is my points gone as well as the money, if I got a dishonest renter.

And if you have a business account, then you pay a percentage of the money you collect to PayPal. If you accept other forms of payment, you get to keep all of your money.

 

[Lynne M]

I would absolutely NOT rent from that seller. I get why David's is so well liked. It's rock solid, but there are drawbacks as well. He's the most expensive renter out there, and he doesn't offer refunds if something comes up. I'd do some more research. There are other boards to find reputable sellers on.

I don't get why all sellers don't offer Paypal. It's free to set up. It's easy, and it protects all parties involved.

According to PayPal's terms of service, there's no protection for timeshare rentals.

 

[Lynne M]

Hi all
so im reading this post with interest as im about to do my first DVC rental and could really use some guidance.

i found a posting in VRBO that offers the contemporary disney resort 2bed units. i made a $ proposal that was accepted and now we're going through a few clarifications. Im trying to get a sense if this is legitimate:

1- vrbo says the person is new and the posting began in 2014
2- looked up the name of the owner in Florida controler site but couldnt find it.
3- received a contract proposal, with address of owner, and checked the home address for tax assessments but couldnt find that name there.
4- the owner emailed me 2 references that i emailed and received prompt feedback. neither of the reference names/emails show up in google search of any kind. References were positive.
5- owner asks for 'I accept payments via direct Bank transfer Only... Bank USAA'.
6- the owner also mentions 'It's a deeded timeshare in my name, I own the property and have been renting out this unit for 5 years now'. i didnt know that the units were actually individually owned/could be specific about renting a specific unit.

Any perspective you can provide would be helpful.
Thanks

Run. There are a whole bunch of red flags in that list, starting with the name of the resort. The 2-bedroom villa is NOT at the Contemporary Resort. I assume they mean Bay Lake Tower, which is the DVC resort next to CR. When they can't even get the name of the resort right, it's not a good sign.

And you are correct, units are NOT individually owned in DVC. It's a points-based timeshare.

For someone new to renting, I'd highly recommend www.dvcbyrequest.com (also known as David's). It's a little more expensive than going through an individual owner, but there are some protections in place for the renter.