In Disney's system but they still won't talk to me

[emilymad]

We closed on a resale last week. I called Member Services today and we are in their system. They won't talk to me though because the title company didn't send them our social security numbers. Ugh! Member Services said I either need to wait until I receive our member number in the mail or have the title company send in our social security numbers. Does this seem like accurate information? I have a call into the title company. I completely understand Member Services policy but it is so frustrating!

 

[DVCconvert]

That sounds realistic, although unfortunate.

 

[LisaS]

If this is true then it's a new policy. When we purchased our resale contract we did not provide our SSNs to anybody. Member Administration asked me for details about our contract that only the buyer and seller would know and then gave me our member number. This was several years ago so the policy may have changed but I would call Member Admin again (not Member Services) and see if there is another way to do this. I prefer not to give out my SSN to anybody who doesn't really need it.

Once you are in the system you can set up a password that Member Services will use to confirm your identity when you call to make a reservation.

 

[emilymad]

If this is true then it's a new policy. When we purchased our resale contract we did not provide our SSNs to anybody. Member Administration asked me for details about our contract that only the buyer and seller would know and then gave me our member number. This was several years ago so the policy may have changed but I would call Member Admin again (not Member Services) and see if there is another way to do this. I prefer not to give out my SSN to anybody who doesn't really need it.

Once you are in the system you can set up a password that Member Services will use to confirm your identity when you call to make a reservation.

Thank you so much! I am going to give them another call. I knew the DIS would know what to do!

 

[DVCconvert]

I have made I think 8 resale purchases this year (I was a member before these) and each time, with different closing companies, I was asked to fill in a form that would go to "the resort" which included SSI.

 

[Vincent Vega]

Then that means since I´m european and I haven´t a SSN, I must wait until I receive my member number in the mail??

 

[LisaS]

I have made I think 8 resale purchases this year (I was a member before these) and each time, with different closing companies, I was asked to fill in a form that would go to "the resort" which included SSI.

Same here for my one resale purchase -- there was a space on the closing company's form for SSNs and I refused to provide that information without a reason. The answer I got was "Disney needs it" so I said, OK, when Disney asks for it, I will provide it directly to them. But Disney never asked me for that info. We closed, my contract was entered into the system and I've never been asked for my SSN, other than if I want to use it for identification purposes when making a reservation. I said no and gave them a password instead.

The policy may have changed from the SSN being optional to being mandatory due to some government regulation so I'll be interested to hear what happens in this case.

 

[vicki_c]

Since they ask for the last 4 digits of your social when you call on the phone, in addition to your member #, the OP's experience doesn't sound out of line to me at all.

 

[LisaS]

Since they ask for the last 4 digits of your social when you call on the phone, in addition to your member #, the OP's experience doesn't sound out of line to me at all.

That's one way of identifying yourself to MS. The other way is to set up a password instead. When I call MS, they ask for my member number and password.

That's the point I'm trying to make. They use the SSN to identify you when you call but you have the option to set up a password instead. I've never given DVC my SSN and they have never told me they needed to have it. Even now if they already have your SSN and ask for the last 4 digits when you call, you have the option to set up a password of your own choosing instead.

ETA: Sorry to keep harping on this but this is the one thing about my resale purchase process that bothered me. I was sent a form asking for my SSN and nobody could tell me why it was needed, and it turns out, it wasn't needed. I don't believe in handing over my SSN just because someone asks for it and especially when they can provide no reason for needing it.

 

[emilymad]

I called and spoke to Member Administration and they were able to provide my member number. They never asked for our SSNs. Apparently my last name was spelled wrong even though my DH's was correct which was causing some confusion.

We are all set with our first reservation. Thank you all so much! I never would have thought to call back.

 

[bumbershoot]

Since they ask for the last 4 digits of your social when you call on the phone, in addition to your member #, the OP's experience doesn't sound out of line to me at all.

That's one way of identifying yourself to MS. The other way is to set up a password instead. When I call MS, they ask for my member number and password.

I'll have to ask hubby to call them sometime, because as an Associate (the one that does EVERYTHING with the contract LOL) they don't ask me for that info. No password, no SS#. Different stuff, but not those things. Interesting.

 

[Southside]

We closed a few weeks ago and had to fill out a form for the title company that was sent to Disney. It called for our names and SSN's. This really isn't out of line when you consider the number of people with the same names who are involved in the programs. When I called, they asked for the last four digits of my SSN for verification. They're just taking care of us.

 

[LisaS]

We closed a few weeks ago and had to fill out a form for the title company that was sent to Disney. It called for our names and SSN's. This really isn't out of line when you consider the number of people with the same names who are involved in the programs. When I called, they asked for the last four digits of my SSN for verification. They're just taking care of us.

There is other information in the paperwork for your purchase that they can use to uniquely identify you. They don't need your SSN.

 

[SamSam]

We have been members since 2002 and everytime I have called to make a reservation I've been asked for my member number and for the last 4 digits of my SSN.

 

[disneynutz]

With our recent home purchase and DVC purchases we were told that all sales require a SSN and the transaction is reported to the Feds as required by the Patriot Act.

Bill

 

[Capo]

I agree that we should be careful who we give our SSNs to, but let's keep in mind what we're buying here: a deeded piece of property which is filed with the county/state and reported to other official agencies.

If I'm buying a t-shirt, then there is no way I would give out my SSN. But for something like this, I would honestly be surprised if they DIDN"T ask for it.

 

[LisaS]

I agree that we should be careful who we give our SSNs to, but let's keep in mind what we're buying here: a deeded piece of property which is filed with the county/state and reported to other official agencies.

If I'm buying a t-shirt, then there is no way I would give out my SSN. But for something like this, I would honestly be surprised if they DIDN"T ask for it.

The OP purchased on the resale market, not from DVC directly. Why give your SSN to DVC when they did not handle the sale and do not need your SSN? DVC uses your SSN as a PIN to confirm your identity when you call. Why not use a password of your own choosing instead of your SSN for this purpose?

 

[DVCconvert]

DVC uses your SSN as a PIN to confirm your identity when you call. Why not use a password of your own choosing instead of your SSN for this purpose?

I'd say it's good that they can (and will) do it both ways - that way there's different strokes for different folks!