How long is the RCI affiliation going to last?

[pbdeguzman]

Anyone know how long DVC will use RCI as their trading group? I heard somewhere it wasnt going to last more than a couple of years? How long was DVC partnered with II?

Also, how are DVC members liking RCI??

 

[Chuck S]

No one really knows how long these agreements will last. RCI was the original trading partner for DVC, and DVC switched to II, and was with them for 10 or 12 years.

RCI, apparently, also gives DVC an outlet for their cash availability, so a lot may depend upon how many of those cash reservations are arranged through RCI, and how advantageous it is to DVC.

 

[tjkraz]

Anyone know how long DVC will use RCI as their trading group? I heard somewhere it wasnt going to last more than a couple of years? How long was DVC partnered with II?

I have heard (second-hand) that the contract with RCI may only be for a couple of years, but I don't think that has any bearing on how long the affiliation will last. DVC's agreements with II may well have been for a similar term.

I doubt that DVC entered into this relationship with any intention of it being a short-term deal. But I'm sure they will continue to re-evaluate the situation on a regular basis.

 

[RobDoc]

DVC partnered with RCI for the first 4-5 years of the program and then joined with II to host the World Passport Collection until this January.

Details of these prior affiliations were never publicized and details of the current association have not been released for public consumption either.

 

[maciec]

hopefully not long!

 

[Dean]

Anyone know how long DVC will use RCI as their trading group? I heard somewhere it wasnt going to last more than a couple of years? How long was DVC partnered with II?

Also, how are DVC members liking RCI??

I have heard 2 years for the contract but that sounds awfully short. With II, the contracts normally ran 3 years if I recall correctly. I think you should assume it will be permanent and if it's not, that neither II nor RCI will be available.

 

[Mickeylover6]

I hope DVC is not with RCI too long. I am having an extremely difficult time right now with DVC and RCI. There communication is non existent! We had about 10 different resorts (Vegas, Tahoe areas) on the RCI waitlist for four months. Apparently one came through about a month ago and we were never notified. When I called to cancel my search they said it can't be cancelled because we had a match as of June 6th. I explained that I was not notified of this and it would be impossible to get flights at this point. Too bad! was there response.
Now our only option is to keep the points in RCI and we can only look for an instant search up to 44 days before we want to go. I have a hard time believing it's possible to get anything 44 days ahead as we were waiting months on Vegas and Tahoe in the summer! Basically we are screwed! Thanks DVC for all the support!
If anyone has any advice as to how to proceed to get my points back with DVC I'd really appreciate it! Also, those of you thinking of using RCI, just be careful you don't end up like this!

 

[Dean]

I hope DVC is not with RCI too long. I am having an extremely difficult time right now with DVC and RCI. There communication is non existent! We had about 10 different resorts (Vegas, Tahoe areas) on the RCI waitlist for four months. Apparently one came through about a month ago and we were never notified. When I called to cancel my search they said it can't be cancelled because we had a match as of June 6th. I explained that I was not notified of this and it would be impossible to get flights at this point. Too bad! was there response.
Now our only option is to keep the points in RCI and we can only look for an instant search up to 44 days before we want to go. I have a hard time believing it's possible to get anything 44 days ahead as we were waiting months on Vegas and Tahoe in the summer! Basically we are screwed! Thanks DVC for all the support!
If anyone has any advice as to how to proceed to get my points back with DVC I'd really appreciate it! Also, those of you thinking of using RCI, just be careful you don't end up like this!

If you matched, you will not get your points back. IMO, that is one of the issues with not having direct access to RCI (or II) and their websites. However, what if you had just matched he day you called, it would have been no different from your standpoint and you'd have been in the same boat. Another benefit of direct membership with RCI (and II) is that you can cancel without penalty up until 24 hours (some say close of business the next day) allowing for one to check air and the like and cancel if need be.

 

[rentayenta]

I hope DVC is not with RCI too long. I am having an extremely difficult time right now with DVC and RCI. There communication is non existent! We had about 10 different resorts (Vegas, Tahoe areas) on the RCI waitlist for four months. Apparently one came through about a month ago and we were never notified. When I called to cancel my search they said it can't be cancelled because we had a match as of June 6th. I explained that I was not notified of this and it would be impossible to get flights at this point. Too bad! was there response.
Now our only option is to keep the points in RCI and we can only look for an instant search up to 44 days before we want to go. I have a hard time believing it's possible to get anything 44 days ahead as we were waiting months on Vegas and Tahoe in the summer! Basically we are screwed! Thanks DVC for all the support!
If anyone has any advice as to how to proceed to get my points back with DVC I'd really appreciate it! Also, those of you thinking of using RCI, just be careful you don't end up like this!

What a headache! We just had out RCI wait list come through and it showed up immediately on the DVC member site. The next Monday we got an email from DVC. I think DVC should have to remedy this for you. Call back and ask for a supervisor. Good luck.

 

[rentayenta]

If you matched, you will not get your points back. IMO, that is one of the issues with not having direct access to RCI (or II) and their websites. However, what if you had just matched he day you called, it would have been no different from your standpoint and you'd have been in the same boat. Another benefit of direct membership with RCI (and II) is that you can cancel without penalty up until 24 hours (some say close of business the next day) allowing for one to check air and the like and cancel if need be.

I think the difference for the poster would have been that they could have found flights if notified the day they matched. I think that's the issue if I am reading the post correctly.

 

[Chuck S]

I think the difference for the poster would have been that they could have found flights if notified the day they matched. I think that's the issue if I am reading the post correctly.

Yes, but if they had even matched the day before they called, wouldn't they be in the same situation?

I absolutely agree that DVC or RCI should have notified them, but at the same time, if flights were "impossible" to get, I wouldn't have waited that long to call and cancel an ongoing search, if I no longer wanted it. Sort of like your DVC waitlist coming through at 32 days, and not getting a mail notification until the following week...you're kind of stuck. Only in this case, DVC has to play by RCI rules, too. The points were already committed to RCI.

 

[rentayenta]

Yes, but if they had even matched the day before they called, wouldn't they be in the same situation?

For sure, not sure though why flights would be any harder to get today vs early June so maybe there is some factor we don't know about.

I absolutely agree that DVC or RCI should have notified them, but at the same time, if flights were "impossible" to get, I wouldn't have waited that long to call and cancel an ongoing search, if I no longer wanted it. Sort of like your DVC waitlist coming through at 32 days, and not getting a mail notification until the following week...you're kind of stuck. Only in this case, DVC has to play by RCI rules, too. The points were already committed to RCI.

So is it RCI's responsibility or DVC's to notify or both? I see your point about waiting so long to cancel. I was waiting for 30 days and about gave up and our trip was going to be 8 months away. But I am super crazy Type A and checked the member site almost hourly to see if my wait list came through.

Is there a way for the poster to keep their points in RCI for a later trip? I know they will lose their $95 but it's better than losing their points.

 

[Chuck S]

So is it RCI's responsibility or DVC's to notify or both?

I haven't done a trade. Surely one of them has the responsibility to notify the guest. There is really no way of knowing if something even got lost in the mail.

I ordered some stuff from Amazon, and used their free shipping, the package finally arrived a week later than scheduled because the Post Office seemed to think the most direct route to the San Antonio metroplex from Amazon's Kentucky shipping center is via a sorting facility in San Francisco, even though it went through a main sorting facility in Cincinnati

Apparently, cancelled RCI trips go into a "holding" account similar to DVC's 60 day rule, only with RCI it is a 44 day from travel instant match rebook.

 

[Dean]

What a headache! We just had out RCI wait list come through and it showed up immediately on the DVC member site. The next Monday we got an email from DVC. I think DVC should have to remedy this for you. Call back and ask for a supervisor. Good luck.

Chuck made my point and it usually takes a couple of weeks to get the paperwork. Now if it were I, I would have argued they didn't notify me within a reasonable amount of time. Plus it's always easy to get flights to LV and generally for a decent price. Apparently DVC has an issue with members being notified. Likely because this is done online by DVC and RCI doesn't send out paperwork for online exchanges normally unless specifically asked and I wonder if that is the origin of some of these notification issues we've seen.

Is there a way for the poster to keep their points in RCI for a later trip? I know they will lose their $95 but it's better than losing their points.

It becomes a deposit first situation. They'll have to pay another exchange fee which DVC may waive given the circumstances. Plus it depends on how far in advance they canceled. If it was more than 45 days they have a pretty good shot at getting an appropriate exchange IF they plan accordingly and are reasonable and somewhat flexible. Wouldn't you rather have these type issues with something a lot cheaper than DVC and where you could look online yourself?

 

[rockydek]

I haven't done a trade. Surely one of them has the responsibility to notify the guest. There is really no way of knowing if something even got lost in the mail.

I ordered some stuff from Amazon, and used their free shipping, the package finally arrived a week later than scheduled because the Post Office seemed to think the most direct route to the San Antonio metroplex from Amazon's Kentucky shipping center is via a sorting facility in San Francisco, even though it went through a main sorting facility in Cincinnati

Apparently, cancelled RCI trips go into a "holding" account similar to DVC's 60 day rule, only with RCI it is a 44 day from travel instant match rebook.

As a proud employee of the Post Office....I am offended and

 

[Chuck S]

As a proud employee of the Post Office....I am offended and

I'm confused, too. But that is what the tracking info for the Post Office site said. I towent from Amazon's shipping center to USPS sort facility in Cincinnati on July 3rd, then a week later on the 11th, it was at a sort facility in San Francisco (Richmond, CA).

So stuff does go awry, even with electronic encoded info.

 

[CarolMN]

I'm sorry that Mickeylover6 is having a problem.

But I'm not sure the experience would have been any different if DVC were still partnered with II. Aren't the match rules the same? I don't recall any process or rule changes when the change to RCI was made.

 

[disneynutz]

Anyone know how long DVC will use RCI as their trading group? I heard somewhere it wasnt going to last more than a couple of years? How long was DVC partnered with II?

Also, how are DVC members liking RCI??

They will use them as long as RCI makes Disney the most amount of money.

 

[Mickeylover6]

Okay, to clarify a couple of things, I was trying to schedule this for a family of 6. Airfare was much cheaper in the beginning of June than now for Vegas. My main complaint is I was never, and actually have still not been, notified in any type of writing, either electronically, or postal service. As those of you that plan vacations for large groups know, logistics get difficult! If only I had had a confirmation then the planning would have proceeded. Disney told me it was RCI's job to notify me, then another CM said Disney should have notified me, and the supervisor said RCI should have notified me????? It appears they don't even know who's responsibility it is to confirm a match! So confusing! The 240 points will go into an RCI holding account until Dec '10 i believe, but I can only request an instant match 44 days ahead of my travel date is what I was told. Again, that makes it impossible for a family of six.

I will definitely take some responsibility here as I should have done my homework on exchanges first, this whole thing actually started when DVC was using II and I got caught in that switch over. I should have stopped there. My reason for post is simply to say BE CAREFUL with EXCHANGES in RCI! Watch your cancellation dates. Losing 95.00 is nothing compared to losing 240 points! I am going to try to talk DVC again, but I don't think they are really going to help me. I'm just really disappointed they won't work with me in any way, even, returning partial points to my DVC account would be great.

Learn from me, and be careful of using RCI. Understand what your getting into and know up front how flexible you can be!

 

[Dean]

I'm sorry that Mickeylover6 is having a problem.

But I'm not sure the experience would have been any different if DVC were still partnered with II. Aren't the match rules the same? I don't recall any process or rule changes when the change to RCI was made.

The technical risk would be the same but with II, DVC had more involvement and control and seemed to do a much better job of notification. While technically the rules are very similar on the members side, the implementation seems MUCH different under RCI. Like most things, the devil is in the details.

I'm just really disappointed they won't work with me in any way, even, returning partial points to my DVC account would be great.

Learn from me, and be careful of using RCI. Understand what your getting into and know up front how flexible you can be!

The points are gone to them as well and they are just as valuable to them as they are to you, possibly more so. You are absolutely correct that people should learn about the exchanges prior to committing themselves.