Help me convince DF that Renting pts is safe!!!!!

[harleyquinn]

Please everyone, help me convince my finace that renting points from you wonderful people is safe!

Give me all of your stories!!

Thanks!!

 

[nuthut]

I have rented lots of points and never encountered a problem yet. Just lots of happy people saving a ton of money on their Disney rooms. Let me know if you need help. I can supply lots of references.

 

[HookdonWDW]

Some consider renting as a sideline business... others offer their points when they have alternate vacation plans or just can't use their points in a given year.

Renting points can be a positive experience, but it requires trust, planning and forethought from both parties. I would recommend that both you and your df read the following threads from the Rent/Trade Board before renting points:

Rent/Trade FAQs

A Word to the Wise

 

[JJ721]

I just completed a purchase of 88 points. Our transaction had a little extra pressure due to the under 30 day reservation window (We have reservations for the end of this month). While no one can provide 100% assurance that every transaction will be seamless, I can tell you that in my case it went incredibly smooth. Actually, I felt like I made a new friend! We lurked on the board for a while trying to get a feel for the communication that took place betweeen potential buyers and sellers. When we heard back from our seller, we could tell that they would deal with integrity.

Good luck with your purchase.

 

[Canadian Tom]

Hi Harleyquinn: I think renting points is an exercise in trust. I own 300 points at BCV and for this March I have rented(had someone else make my ressies for me), ie, I'm renting someone's points. I am also renting points to someone else for their vacation in August.

There are very good suggestions about how to protect yourself, from many knowledgable people on these boards. So I don't plan to be any kind of expert. But, here was my thinking: (take it for what it's worth)
1. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't. The going rate to rent points is $10 per point. Be prepared to pay this amount. Stay away from low per point costs.

2. Rent from someone who has been around these board for a while. Look at the number of posts the have made and the time they have been registered with this site. Someone who has been here a long time and has lots of posts, has more to lose than someone new, and I don't mean to say new people are not on the up and up, but for your first time there just isn't a history for renting from them. Remember, this is a big part of some of our lives and some of us are very protective of the integrity of these boards.

3. Have the person make the ressie for you and, call DVC and verify the ressie info. Call the owner, telephone is the best, arrange to pay half now, when they receive your half the should send you the written confirmation of you ressie. Pay the remaining half 45 days before your check-in date(just before you send the rest, call DVC and verify the ressies is still there. Then if all is good when you arrive there will be a ressies for you. That's where the trust comes in. Good luck and I wish you all the best.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Originally posted by Canadian Tom
...3. Have the person make the ressie for you and, call DVC and verify the ressie info. Call the owner, telephone is the best, arrange to pay half now, when they receive your half the should send you the written confirmation of you ressie. Pay the remaining half 45 days before your check-in date(just before you send the rest, call DVC and verify the ressies is still there. Then if all is good when you arrive there will be a ressies for you. That's where the trust comes in. Good luck and I wish you all the best.

Actually, the member will have to call DVC. Renters are not supposed to call without the member number and possibly the SSN of the owner. You may be able to call the resort, tell them it's a DVC rental and have them confirm for you.

 

[harleyquinn]

Thanks everyone...I'm going to print this all out to show my DF.

I've read the other threads and watched these boards for the last 6 months or so. I think it's a trustworthy process as long as you follow some of the advice that you all have given. I'm just looking for a way to articulate that to my df. I didn't think about those other threads (which is what I should of thought of first!!)

Any more advice?

 

[Poorman]

Originally posted by harleyquinn
Thanks everyone...I'm going to print this all out to show my DF.

I've read the other threads and watched these boards for the last 6 months or so. I think it's a trustworthy process as long as you follow some of the advice that you all have given. I'm just looking for a way to articulate that to my df. I didn't think about those other threads (which is what I should of thought of first!!)

Any more advice?

Yes ,be prepared to buy when you see the accomadations...........

 

[tjkraz]

IMO, the most important factor is to ask for references and follow-up on them. It's similar to hiring a contractor work on your house--don't just take their word that they will do a good job.

Ask for references before you rent and speak (or at least correspond) with a couple of people. I rented points a couple of times before purchasing and was more than happy to serve as a reference several times.

There is a great deal of trust involved, and honestly I was worried right up to the point that I walked up to the resort desk to check-in. But all was well and I have zero regrets. OK, actually I have one regret--that we didn't purchase sooner and use those $$$ we spent to rent toward purchasing our own points.

 

[harleyquinn]

I'd love to buy in, but we're not in the financial position for that.

PS I'm doing this so DF will get over his misgivings about buying into DVC as well as renting..he he he

 

[BossBrody]

I did all of the above and got burnt. Ressie was cancelled a week before I arrived. Disney can do nothing for you because you are not the member.

Luckily I got a contract , as well as the original reservation from Disney, and hopefully that will be enough in small claims court to get my money back.

I think it would be best to get references first.

 

[d-r]

We've rented points and didn't do this, but if you were really paranoid -

I agree, look at the post count, use the search (it works late at night but not during busy times) to read some of their posts and get to know them, and ask for references.

Ask for their phone number and address, and let them know you want to talk to them.

Give them a call. Talk to them and let them know that you want to be sure that both you are safe and they are safe, and get to know them a little.

Go to www.411.com and do a reverse look up on the phone number, and see if the address matches. You probably have the address anyway, since they are sending you the paper work. But that might make you feel better that they are who they say they are.

Ask that you pay 1/2 now, and that they make the reservation in your name. Ask them to wait until the written confirmation comes, then mail you a copy. Come up with a simple contract (there is one floating around on this board) and both sign it. Then pay the other 1/2 before 30 days before the reservation - if the renter has to cancel within 30 days, it is problematic, so they should get all the money before the 30 day window so they are safe.

Now, you have a signed contract, and the address and phone number of the person. If you get to Florida and something is wrong, call them and find out what the deal is. One time some friends of ours were staying on our points and had a hard time checking in when they got there - there was someone else in the computer with the same last name as them and it was causing some sort of screw up at the front desk. So these things can happen, but it is rare. We were at animal kingdom and they cell phoned us, and we were able to get it straight over the phone between ms and the front desk, no big deal. If that doesn't work out, you have their name, phone number, and address and the signed contract, sue them, or show up at their door mad as hell.

I don't think I've ever read on here about a someone renting points and getting ripped off, until now. I think you should make a big deal about posting the user name and so on so that others will know to steer clear - that person's reputation needs to be impacted.

DR

 

[SHELL]

As a potential renter, is it safe to say to protect all of us you should post the bad reference here. I would hate to see someone else get burnt like that. Esp me!! I think is someone was terrible enough to do that, they deserve to have there user name listed to stop other people from having that happen!!! If you don't feel comfortable email me with the name so I don't do the same!!!
Thanks

 

[twotoohappy]

My fear would be renting to somebody and having them damage something or cause trouble. Could you be liable?

 

[disneyberry]

Originally posted by twotoohappy
My fear would be renting to somebody and having them damage something or cause trouble. Could you be liable?

yes, unfortunately members are liable for damage caused by a renter.
this is why it's important to have a contract that protects both parties.
it's also why renting requires trust from both parties.

it is unfortunate to hear of something like BossBrody's experience. even though he did everything carefully, having the contract and everything still didn't help.
in that case, it really was a case of "if it sounds too good to be true..." IIRC, the rental price being offered was quite low.

other than reading someone's past posts, and asking for references, another option you have is to find out if the member you are renting from has an Ebay or Half.com profile with feedback from past customers (from non-DVC transactions).
but these things are all not necessarily available. for instance, it's possible a member has owned for many years, but never rented out before, so they have no references.

but most importantly, taking some time to speak to the person through email and over the phone should allow you to get a feel for them. the member should also be someone who is willing to answer any questions you might have, so that you clearly understand everything before you go sending money off to a "stranger".

good luck!

 

[harleyquinn]

Thanks everyone!

You're advice is much appreciated...I wish I knew exactly when we can go so I could try to rent

Hopefully I can try to get something at the last minute, though I know the chances are good

I will do this soemtime in the future if not this time!

Thanks again

 

[tjkraz]

You might want to consider spending one day at the end of your trip at a DVC resort. WDW will move your luggage for you. If you pick a resort like SSR or OKW, you're right near by Downtown Disney. You could spend that night at Pleasure Island, and then have a couple of coctails on your balcony.

That would give you a feel for the DVC accommodations without involving too high a degree of risk in renting the points.

Just be sure you don't spend your FIRST night at the DVC resort. Trust me...it will ruin your trip to move to a lower quality accommodation. But if you spend one night at DVC before leaving, your Significant Other's response might be "why didn't we spend our entire trip in this room???"

Good luck.

 

[nuthut]

Originally posted by BossBrody
I did all of the above and got burnt. Ressie was cancelled a week before I arrived. Disney can do nothing for you because you are not the member.

Luckily I got a contract , as well as the original reservation from Disney, and hopefully that will be enough in small claims court to get my money back.

I think it would be best to get references first.

Sure would like to more details about this problem rental. In 10 years, this is the first time I have ever heard of someone getting taken. Why not post the offender (If a disboard participant) and more details?

 

[Poorman]

Originally posted by nuthut
Sure would like to more details about this problem rental. In 10 years, this is the first time I have ever heard of someone getting taken. Why not post the offender (If a disboard participant) and more details?

As soon as a negative post got on this board,Doc would delete it.

They feel negative posts are someones opinion, you need to hear both sides of the story. This is where the renter/rentee hall of fame would come in. Post all the good people ,not the bad.

I asked about this several months ago and it went nowhere.

 

[tmc2469]

I have rented out my points to over 20 different people over the last 2 years and have had nothing buy positive experiences. If you are going to rent points, you need to check out the person you are renting from.

I give the person the reservation number so they can call DVC and confirm the reservation has been made in thier name and for the exact dates, rooms and resorts they requested before they send me any money. That way everyone knows what's going on.
Good Luck.