Is this a change to paying dues with gift cards?

[Cyberc1978]

I asked about that and the answer was that late fees would apply if not paid in full.

However, the way the system sounds like it will be set up is that no partial payments beyond January.

So, I don’t think it will allow a gift card that doesn’t pay in full to be accepted…which is how it works now for CC. It won’t process.

Whether a call to MA would work? Don’t know. But they confirmed that if autopay is canceled then fees will apply if not paid in full…so that is why I don’t think it will even accept multiple gift cards.

I always pay my balance in full with a CC and it doesn’t require me to even cancel the monthly option when I do.

Honestly, they had to even ask about this.

Thats sad, because it basically means that the second you opt out, you get hit by the late fess even if you intended to pay off the balance with a GC in the following minutes.

Unless somebody experience something which makes me change my mind, i'll call MA before opting out and IF fees are billed to my account maybe they can waive them because the balance is paid in full very shortly after opting out.

 

[Hubalorian]

I asked about that and the answer was that late fees would apply if not paid in full.

However, the way the system sounds like it will be set up is that no partial payments beyond January.

So, I don’t think it will allow a gift card that doesn’t pay in full to be accepted…which is how it works now for CC. It won’t process.

Whether a call to MA would work? Don’t know. But they confirmed that if autopay is canceled then fees will apply if not paid in full…so that is why I don’t think it will even accept multiple gift cards.

I always pay my balance in full with a CC and it doesn’t require me to even cancel the monthly option when I do.

Honestly, they had to even ask about this.

Did they by chance state if you could pay down the balance due with a gift card before Feb. 15 it’s not paid in full? Basically does the bill have the be paid in full or have the total balance split into equal monthly payments as the only two options?

 

[Sandisw]

Did they by chance state if you could pay down the balance due with a gift card before Feb. 15 it’s not paid in full? Basically does the bill have the be paid in full or have the total balance split into equal monthly payments as the only two options?

Dues need to be paid in full by February 15th to avoid late fees. As long as you are not enrolled in the monthly payments plan, it will accept partial payments including gift cards until that date

However you need to enroll in the monthly plan by January 15th…so, any partial payments need to be made before you do that.

At anytime during the year, you can pay off the balance owed on any contract if you want to pay in full.

Of course, this is Disney IT and they said you would not be able to turn it on/off during the year.

 

[eticketplease]

@Sandisw

Thank you for your follow ups.

At anytime during the year, you can pay off the balance owed on any contract if you want to pay in full.

It sounds like if someone is on the monthly payments and wants to ultimately use a gift card the safest option would be to have the bank drafts taken out until the dues balance is at or under $1,000 for that particular contract.
Once then you could switch off the autopay and make the payment in full with your $1,000 Gift Card.

 

[Phatscott25]

Once then you could switch off the autopay and make the payment in full with your $1,000 Gift Card.

In this instance you wouldn't have to switch off autopay because the ability to pay in full (by GC or CC) is still there. Only the partial payment option is gone when enrolled in autopay.

 

[eticketplease]

In this instance you wouldn't have to switch off autopay because the ability to pay in full (by GC or CC) is still there. Only the partial payment option is gone when enrolled in autopay.

Gift Card is not there as an option once you have autopay enabled only CC is an option.

That is what is being changed with this update. Previously you could do that.

 

[sethschroeder]

Who knows? But the paying off the monthly payment with a gift card was a loophole against the T and C So I guess DVC hdecided to close it.

What T+Cs? I saw someone else ask and I asked as well and I have not seen someone point me directly to the terms that stated it.

Sorry but until I see it and read it won't buy this. People also say DVC can categorically remove benefits which I hold is not accurate as well (and they haven't done previously) based on the actual terms of their Membership Benefits disclosure. I remember all the claims that ticket discounts were gone forever during COVID.

I am not saying they can't change their payment terms I am pushing back on this concept of "they are now enforcing T+Cs". Which by the way if you go long enough without enforcing terms there is a claim the Terms have been waived for the consumer.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I always pay on my monthly dues each month with the Redemption Card from my Disney Visa. Since I won't be able to do that anymore, we'll probably get rid of that card and get a better one (and there are better ones...)

Man…. the value of the Chase cards is really going down hill…..

 

[eticketplease]

What T+Cs? I saw someone else ask and I asked as well and I have not seen someone point me directly to the terms that stated it.

Sorry but until I see it and read it won't buy this. People also say DVC can categorically remove benefits which I hold is not accurate as well (and they haven't done previously) based on the actual terms of their Membership Benefits disclosure. I remember all the claims that ticket discounts were gone forever during COVID.

I am not saying they can't change their payment terms I am pushing back on this concept of "they are now enforcing T+Cs". Which by the way if you go long enough without enforcing terms there is a claim the Terms have been waived for the consumer.

The T&C's were posted earlier. Here is the link https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/home/dues/dues-payment/terms-and-conditions

So, my view is that you won’t be able to turn it back on. The recent notification relating to annual dues payments says:

Pay Dues Via Auto-Pay
Disney Vacation Club offers 2 options for Auto-Pay: a yearly payment on January 15 with a credit card or monthly payments with a US bank account. By registering for Dues Auto-Pay, you can enjoy the magic of Membership without the worry of missing a payment. The annual deadline to register for Auto-Pay is January 15. If your account is actively enrolled in Auto-Pay, please review your payment information for accuracy.

Note the deadline, so if you turn it off after Jan 15 you can not re-enroll. So full payment will be due if you turn it off.

Also, the link to the auto-enrolment / dues payment terms and conditions is here:

https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/home/dues/dues-payment/terms-and-conditions

"Disney Gift Cards and Disney Rewards Redemption Cards Payments
You may make one-time payments on Disney Gift Cards and Disney Rewards Redemption Cards. We will charge your designated card to pay your Annual Dues payment amount on the date you make the payment. If you are enrolled in automatic payments, you will not be able to pay your Annual Dues with Disney Gift Cards and Disney Rewards Redemption Cards."

You can continue to make partial payments with Gift Cards but as soon as Auto Pay is turned on that feature goes away. (Ironically I had to turn on Autopay originally to pay with gift cards in the first place....)

For Credit Cards only the whole amount seems to be allowed


"Debit and Credit Card Payments
Payments made by debit and credit card will be processed through the card payment network associated with the card you use. You may make one-time or recurring payments on debit or credit cards where you are an authorized signer. For one-time payments, we will make one charge to your designated card for your Annual Dues balance owed on the date you make the payment. For recurring card payments, we will make annual recurring charges to your designated card for the total Annual Dues owed each year."

Edit: Of course my other concern is again if you have enough in GC to pay in full will they honor it if the amount is over $1K which is the max the GC hold. I would hope that accounting would be able to take multiple GC as it is a system protection/limitation of the GC.

 

[Phatscott25]

Gift Card is not there as an option once you have autopay enabled only CC is an option.

That is what is being changed with this update. Previously you could do that.

I can only speak for my own login. However, when I select "pay balance" (and yes that particular contract is on autopay) and then select "new card" the below is what pops up. So I think you'd be able to use a GC as long as it can cover the whole balance. The "apply other amount" option that used to be present for my autopay contracts is gone. So I think, in order to use multiple gift cards to pay, you would have to switch off autopay. I guess we'll see for sure next year and/or next week once the bills post.

 

[eticketplease]

I can only speak for my own login. However, when I select "pay balance" (and yes that particular contract is on autopay) and then select "new card" the below is what pops up. So I think you'd be able to use a GC as long as it can cover the whole balance. The "apply other amount" option that used to be present for my autopay contracts is gone. So I think, in order to use multiple gift cards to pay, you would have to switch off autopay. I guess we'll see for sure next year and/or next week once the bills post.
View attachment 919894

Yes right now you can. The issue is moving forward that this will no longer be applicable and that is what people are getting upset by.

Many people (not me) had auto pay on and then each month would buy a discounted gift card for the value of the dues or more to extend the next monthly payment due date.

This will not be happening now.

 

[Mommb]

This is from the Home Resort Rules and Regulations (https://cdn1.parksmedia.wdprapps.di...g/Home-Resort-Rules-Regulations-010524-EN.pdf):
VII. DISNEY VACATION CLUB OPERATIONS
1. Annual Dues. Around the beginning of each calendar year, Club Members will receive a statement setting forth their Annual Dues. Annual Dues are based on calendar years, not on Use Years. These Annual Dues may be paid in one of two ways:
a. A single lump-sum payment due on or before the due date. Annual Dues are considered past due on the date set forth in the governing documents for each DVC Resort or the arrival date of a reservation made with Home Resort Vacation Points, whichever is earlier. If the Club Member’s payment arrives on or after the past due date, interest will accrue from the due date, and a late fee may be imposed.
b. Equal monthly direct debit installments collected by the 1st or 15th of each month. The number of such installments will be determined by the mailing of the statement of Annual Dues. The monthly payment option is only available on a direct debit basis from a U.S. bank account.
Notwithstanding the Annual Dues payment procedure set forth in these Rules and Regulations, the board of directors of the Association for each DVC Resort may amend the due date, past due date, the number of direct debit installments, and the collection date for direct debit installments from time to time.

1.b. clearly states that monthly payments are only available from a bank account.

 

[Phatscott25]

Yes right now you can. The issue is moving forward that this will no longer be applicable.

Do we know this for sure though? They stated you can't use a GC unless paying in full. The option to make partial payments is already gone for autopay contracts and was present before. So in my opinion, the IT change that needed to be made has been made. I don't see it changing further. And again, I guess we won't know for sure until next year but I'm thinking the way it is now is how it will be, seeing as how you already can't use a GC unless paying in full.

 

[Phatscott25]

Many people (not me) had auto pay on and then each month would buy a discounted gift card for the value of the dues or more to extend the next monthly payment due date.

This will not be happening now.

Yes, that was me. I've been doing exactly this for years. And yes, it's unfortunate this can no longer be done. But it was done through the "pay other amount" option which is now gone for my autopay contracts. This is really is a bummer!

 

[eticketplease]

Do we know this for sure though?

Well it is not that time yet but from what you stated and I certainly agree it appears that the change to stop partial payments from Gift Cards while enrolled in autopay has already been applied in the system.

Since I have unenrolled from Autopay (which I never wanted anyway) I am able to make a partial payment with a gift card at this time.

They stated you can't use a GC unless paying in full. The option to make partial payments is already gone for autopay contracts and was present before. So in my opinion, the IT change that needed to be made has been made. I don't see it changing further. And again, I guess we won't know for sure until next year but I'm thinking the way it is now is how it will be, seeing as how you already can't use a GC unless paying in full.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Yes, that was me. I've been doing exactly this for years. And yes, it's unfortunate this can no longer be done. But it was done through the "pay other amount" option which is now gone for my autopay contracts. This is really is a bummer!

Same here.

 

[eticketplease]

This is from the Home Resort Rules and Regulations (https://cdn1.parksmedia.wdprapps.di...g/Home-Resort-Rules-Regulations-010524-EN.pdf):
VII. DISNEY VACATION CLUB OPERATIONS
1. Annual Dues. Around the beginning of each calendar year, Club Members will receive a statement setting forth their Annual Dues. Annual Dues are based on calendar years, not on Use Years. These Annual Dues may be paid in one of two ways:
a. A single lump-sum payment due on or before the due date. Annual Dues are considered past due on the date set forth in the governing documents for each DVC Resort or the arrival date of a reservation made with Home Resort Vacation Points, whichever is earlier. If the Club Member’s payment arrives on or after the past due date, interest will accrue from the due date, and a late fee may be imposed.
b. Equal monthly direct debit installments collected by the 1st or 15th of each month. The number of such installments will be determined by the mailing of the statement of Annual Dues. The monthly payment option is only available on a direct debit basis from a U.S. bank account.
Notwithstanding the Annual Dues payment procedure set forth in these Rules and Regulations, the board of directors of the Association for each DVC Resort may amend the due date, past due date, the number of direct debit installments, and the collection date for direct debit installments from time to time.

1.b. clearly states that monthly payments are only available from a bank account.

That is true but look at the date as I pointed out somewhere else on Disboards when I posted that T&C as those were the only ones I could find.

The date is for January of 2024 and you could make partial payments with gift cards for the year of 2024.

This is why it has been so confusing.

Edit: Date shown on Page 1, Dues info shown on Page 16

 

[AstroBlasters]

Yes, that was me. I've been doing exactly this for years. And yes, it's unfortunate this can no longer be done. But it was done through the "pay other amount" option which is now gone for my autopay contracts. This is really is a bummer!

Yeah, this is a really big change that will have a material negative impact on us.

 

[eticketplease]

Same here.

It is a shame for those who do what you and @Phatscott25 do.

If you can try and stock up on some discounted GC now turn off autopay and then apply them and then turn on autopay by the date needed. (Jan 15th I believe so I would turn it on 1/14)
Of course being a new thing I don't know if they will reduce your monthly amount coming out of your account or if they will move the payments forward.

 

[BeachClub2014]

It is a shame for those who do what you and @Phatscott25 do.

If you can try and stock up on some discounted GC now turn off autopay and then apply them and then turn on autopay by the date needed. (Jan 15th I believe so I would turn it on 1/14)
Of course being a new thing I don't know if they will reduce your monthly amount coming out of your account or if they will move the payments forward.

Yeah, that could work, but it would also require me to remember to turn off and turn back on, etc. I already pre-paid a portion of the 2025 dues with discounted GCs, so I will likely pay the rest from my checking and stockpile enough GCs to lump sum in 2026.