Help!!! - I made a banking "goof"

[Paula H]

I goofed big time. I made our first ressies on points on Friday (going to HHI in September!!!). We had all 150 of our '01 points (which we'd banked into this use year), plus the 150 points we got for this year. The ressie cost us 155, which left me with 145 points from this use year. We plan to do a big family trip to our home, VWL, next May. Because I was thinking that the trip home is next year, I told member services to bank those points, not even thinking that I need to make the ressies for that trip in April and would need those points (I was getting caught up on when the trip would be, as opposed to when I need to make the reservation). This was my first call to member services and I thought I was being so organized!! I didn't realize until this morning that I had really goofed, and boy is DH miffed at me. Any chance of getting my points back? I know what the rule is but this was my first time. If I can't get the points back, can I borrow from next year's points, even though I banked this year's into next year? If I can do that, than I can make the ressies for half of our planned stay, and then just hope in December when I can use the ones I banked, that I can get the dates and room that I'll need. Help me, please. Has anyone ever had any success getting member services to give them back points banked by mistake?

 

[PamOKW]

Since you are new members and you just did this Friday, I would call Monday and see what they can do for you. Worst case, you could borrow from the upcoming year.

I'm not exactly clear on what you did -- maybe you did do it right.

What is your Use Year and what is the month of the trip you are planning for 2003?

 

[loribell]

I'm thinking you did it right also. The points have to be available at the time of the TRIP, not the time of the booking. If I've understood you right.

Lori

 

[KathyR]

As long as your trip falls after your use year, you have done it correctly! Either way, fear not. You can borrow the next years points if you did not

 

[ripleysmom]

The points need to be in the time period that the trip is taken not when then reservation is made.

 

[Paula H]

Thanks everyone. Our use year is December and we're planning the '03 trip for next May. I just need to be sure that when I make the ressies for this trip (I'll be calling to make them in April, since we're going home), that the points are available to me.

 

[Chuck S]

Ummmm April 2002 is 13 months from May 2003, our home resort booking window starts 11 months out, so you'll need to call in June.

If your use year is December, and you won't be returning to WDW before Dec. 2002, then you did the right thing by banking to use those points in May 2003.

 

[Paula H]

Thanks Chuck S. I meant June for the month I can make ressies. Little foggy brained this a.m. Thanks again.

 

[DebbieB]

I think what is confusing for you is that your December use year is at the end of the year. So most of your 2001 use year is actually in 2002, they end on Nov 30, 2002. So for a May 2003 trip, you can use banked Dec 2001 points, current Dec 2002 points & borrowed Dec 2003 points.

 

[PamOKW]

We had all 150 of our '01 points (which we'd banked into this use year), plus the 150 points we got for this year.

No wonder you are confused....I'm getting very confused.

When you talk about "this year's points", do you mean the points you were allotted in December 2000 or December 2001? To help keep yourself straight I would think of points in 2 year blocks. December 2000-2001; December 2001-2002. Especially with your Use Year at the end of the Calendar Year it gets confusing.

If you banked your December 2001-2002 (2002 Use Year) allotment (less 5) into the next year, that means they are now available for trips between December 2002 and November 2003. I believe this is when you want to use them -- May 2003? You will get an additional 150 points in December 2002-2003. This will give you 295 points. If you need additional points, you could also borrow from December 2003-2004 points.

 

[Dumbo]

I think Paula is O.K. Since she said she banked her points last Friday, that means the only points she could have banked were her December 2001 points. Which means she will have access to them on Dec. 1, 2002 and have a year to use them. She would then have 295 points to use from Dec. 1, 2002 until Nov. 30, 2003.


Dumbo

 

[Paula H]

...was whether your points need to be available at the time you make the ressies or if they have to be available for when you want to vacation. From all of the responses, I've learned you have to have them from when you plan to vacation. Thanks PamOKW - you're understanding me and my confusion. Yes, I banked 145 of the points I received in 12/01. That means that as of 12/02, I'll have 295 (the banked points plus the 150 points I get for 12/02). Where in CT are you? Maybe we're neighbors.