Just out of curiousty - renting points from a COMPLETE stranger - any "guarantees?"

[* Potential DVC'er *]

I've just thought of this - say you take someone up on their offer on the DVC/Rent/Trade board and they are a complete stranger - you make them an offer to rent from them - they accept - you fire off a personal check for over some $1k amount I'm sure at least - and then what happens if they are:

#1 NOT legit?

#2 Decide to cancel the ressie down the line because they got a "better price" from someone else?

What kind of guarantees do you have? Or do you have none? I dont' like the idea of a trip potentially being almost a year away and WHAM you have to pay the amount IN FULL? With Disney you only need give one night's deposit! (Until you get there).

The mind is working ..........................

 

[Pluto4President]

First off, I have seen a lot of posters on the rental board with minimum posts. That would be my first caution. I have just rented to three seperate people, all of whom I made the ressie, received the confirmation from MS, faxed a copy, the sent the check, I mailed the original ressie sheet. If there is a problem with changing ressie, than that would have to be worked out between the rentee and rentor. More than likely a refund would not be the case and you, the rentor would have to be obligated to the DVC cancelation or change policy.

 

[RobDoc]

The Rent/Trade Board has never had a reported problem with any transactions, but all of these arrangements depend on a certain level of trust. Ask for a reference, see if the member will accept credit cards (that offers a level of protection for the renter).

All details and policies of the member should be presented and understood by the renter in advance, so there is no question about a cancellation policy or changes made to the ressie. Everyone should agree BEFOREHAND, what is expected. The member can make the ressie, and after getting a deposit, send the writtem confirm to the renter with the balance due sometime before there would be any penalty for a cancellation.

Ressies made within 30 days would need to have full payment BEFORE even making the ressie- as there would be cancellation penalty to the member if payment were not received.

There are risks for each side, but many have found the situation to be truly a win-win deal for everyone. The member gets some level of reimbursement for points he can't use and the renter gets a discounted room at a great resort.

 

[Richyams]

I would like to second what I think is your best assurance. We have never heard of a problem on the rent/trade board.

A second added level of comfort would be dealing with someone that has a large number of posts. There are several people who have too many points to use every year and pretty regularly rent some of them.

There are many of us who have been regulars here for a long time. I think Doc has been around as long as me and I have been here for more than five years. In that time there has never been a problem reported.

 

[EROS]

Potential DVCer, I'd also point out that there is risk involved for the OWNER who I understand would be held accountable for damages inflicted on a unit by a renter.

 

[JWimberley]

Though I have not rented points on the DIS boards I have used eBay to auction weeks off at OKW. I have sent three happy families to WDW and not had any problems. I do strongly suggest that people buy the trip insurance that is sent with your confirmation letter. One good case of the flu and your trip of a lifetime is blown away (sorry for the awful pun).

I say find someone that is willing to give you a phone number and talk to them. If you feel comfortable then go for it.

Have fun,
Joshua

 

[Ken the Retired Cop]

This post has caught my eye because we are seeking to rent points for next September.

I'm very catious as to doing business with a stranger and I am going to have to find out the necessary ways to protect our family if we go ahead with this.

Firstly, we'd like to try and rent as reasonbly priced as possible. I've done reading through the pages on the rent board and have been noticing some point prices being very low on points due to expire. We can go for that. We already have rooms reserved and so there is no necesssary hurry to jump into something, pay top point price, and pay in full now almost 9 months ahead of time.

But I do need to try and figure out how to make this a legit form of business transaction.

 

[Beverly Lynn]

what about if you check with other people who have rented points from these individuals before? if they are legit they would have no problem letting you speak to someone who has rented from them before.

 

[WDWMom]

We rented points from a stranger off the rent/trade boards and had no problem. Owner called and made ressies, then e-mailed the conf # and we sent the check off. I called MS to verify the conf # before sending check. (We are DVC owners ourselves) Owner then mailed confirmation once she received in the mail. We also e-mailed back and forth some about why they could not use points and why we were scheduling trip on short notice and that we were out of points ourselves. Personal chatter helped me feel like we were not going to be treated poorly. I would definitely give her a great recommendation if she needed one, but I think they hope to never have to rent points out again.