Maintenance dues jitters

[CapeCodFam]

Every year, our maintenance bills arrive and are due payable within 1-2 weeks. I've come to expect this every year and plan on it. I am really OCD about paying all bills on time. Even though we view and pay online, I like to hold the paper in my hands. (Some sort of validation that I am touching home )

I just wish they could get the bills mailed to us with a little more wiggle room. It would help me from stalking the mailbox at xmas time. Can you tell our bills haven't arrived yet??

 

[DVC Mike]

You can view your 2008 dues online at the dvcmember.com web site.

 

[wdwstar]

Yes, that is correct , you can view your dues statement and pay your dues right online. You also can pay each contract seperate, maybe pay one now, one two weeks from now, one three weeks from now . check dvc website

 

[Granny]

My recollection is that there is a due date within a couple of weeks, and then about a 1 month "grace period" during which no penalty or interest will accrue? Seems to me we usually pay the bill late in January with no penalty (we are on the lump sum payment plan).

I do think that if you have a January trip though you have to have your dues paid before you check in.

 

[wildernessDad]

We have DVC take the dues monthly out of our checking account. There is no interest involved and it allows us to keep our money longer instead of coughing it up to DVC right away.

 

[WolfpackFan]

We have DVC take the dues monthly out of our checking account. There is no interest involved and it allows us to keep our money longer instead of coughing it up to DVC right away.

We are going to do this starting this year. I'm not sure why anyone would want to do it any other way. You are basically keeping your money longer. I wish I had done it years ago.

 

[DVCPal]

"I do think that if you have a January trip though you have to have your dues paid before you check in."

I had not heard this before. I usually pay in early February, but this year I do have a January trip scheduled. Do I need to pay prior to that trip?

 

[mjy]

I do think that if you have a January trip though you have to have your dues paid before you check in.

Absolutely untrue, Granny.

The only stipulation is that your dues payment be current. As long as the monthly dues are being paid on time, you're fine.

 

[Granny]

Absolutely untrue, Granny.

The only stipulation is that your dues payment be current. As long as the monthly dues are being paid on time, you're fine.

I was referring only to those who pay an annual lump sum. If I'm incorrect in that, I apologize. We've never taken a January trip but I thought that's what I had read here.

 

[jctwizzer]

I always pay our dues during our regular Feb. trip-----but prior to the extended deadline....have never had a problem

 

[LisaS]

I was referring only to those who pay an annual lump sum. If I'm incorrect in that, I apologize. We've never taken a January trip but I thought that's what I had read here.

I am pretty sure I read that here too, a year or so ago. What I recall reading is that if you pay your dues in a lump sum the due date is Jan 15th with a grace period until Feb 15th except if you have a vacation between Jan 15th and Feb 15th. In that case, your grace period ends on your check-in date.

I thought I might find myself in that situation in 2008 so I just switched from lump sum to monthly debit, something I was meaning to do anyway.

 

[drag n' fly]

We are going to do this starting this year. I'm not sure why anyone would want to do it any other way. You are basically keeping your money longer. I wish I had done it years ago.

A lot of Canadians do not have this option unless we have a US bank account most of us pay online by CC.

 

[CarolMN]

We are going to do this starting this year. I'm not sure why anyone would want to do it any other way. You are basically keeping your money longer. I wish I had done it years ago.

We elect to pay via lump sum for several reasons:

1. It's the only way to pay via credit card and get the rewards. We are able to pay the cc off in total so no worries about having to pay interest on the "loan".

2. I dislike giving anyone access to our checking account and only do it if absolutely necessary or if we get a substantial discount for doing so. I've read too many horror stories of outside entities making mistakes and then taking forever to correct them. They've made me a bit paranoid. I don't do paypal for that reason.

3. Keeping your money longer only matters if you actually put your dues in an interest-bearing account and actually collect the interest on the "money kept longer". We wouldn't do that and it would surprise me if many do.

4. I think monthly debit is just a convenience, and one that helps to "mask" the true cost of DVC. It's easy to forget how much the Disney trips cost if you make monthly payments. It's harder to "forget" one big payment, LOL.

5. It's the best "cure" for addonitis I have found. Whenever I get a bad case, I think about the annual bill - suddenly, that add on isn't quite as "necessary" as I thought.

Anyway, for us, annual lump sum payments are best.

 

[mjy]

I was referring only to those who pay an annual lump sum. If I'm incorrect in that, I apologize. We've never taken a January trip but I thought that's what I had read here.

Oops . . . my mistake. I didn't realize that.

So, then . . . you are not mistaken!

I won't be mistaken on this, though: Merry Christmas!

 

[Granny]

Oops . . . my mistake. I didn't realize that.

So, then . . . you are not mistaken!
I won't be mistaken on this, though: Merry Christmas!

No problemo! And a very Merry Christmas to you and all our DIS friends!

 

[eva]

We elect to pay via lump sum for several reasons:

1. It's the only way to pay via credit card and get the rewards. We are able to pay the cc off in total so no worries about having to pay interest on the "loan".

Carol, we had thought of this also. But we only receive 1-2% on our reward cards.

2. I dislike giving anyone access to our checking account and only do it if absolutely necessary or if we get a substantial discount for doing so. I've read too many horror stories of outside entities making mistakes and then taking forever to correct them. They've made me a bit paranoid. I don't do paypal for that reason.

Very understandable. I've never had a problem in 10 years. But you never know.

3. Keeping your money longer only matters if you actually put your dues in an interest-bearing account and actually collect the interest on the "money kept longer". We wouldn't do that and it would surprise me if many do.

We do. We have all our excess cash in a money market or cd's. This pays quite a bit more than what rewards I get on my cards.

4. I think monthly debit is just a convenience, and one that helps to "mask" the true cost of DVC. It's easy to forget how much the Disney trips cost if you make monthly payments. It's harder to "forget" one big payment, LOL.

Probably very true. I guess I see it as a benefit. Anything to buy more points!

5. It's the best "cure" for addonitis I have found. Whenever I get a bad case, I think about the annual bill - suddenly, that add on isn't quite as "necessary" as I thought.

Guess I am not looking for a cure!

Anyway, for us, annual lump sum payments are best.

I guess I have another view. It's great how everyone has totally different perspectives. Hmmm, where should I add on now?

 

[DVCPal]

I am pretty sure I read that here too, a year or so ago. What I recall reading is that if you pay your dues in a lump sum the due date is Jan 15th with a grace period until Feb 15th except if you have a vacation between Jan 15th and Feb 15th. In that case, your grace period ends on your check-in date.

I thought I might find myself in that situation in 2008 so I just switched from lump sum to monthly debit, something I was meaning to do anyway.

I talked to member accounting and member services yesterday. They both said that a January vacation will not be cancelled if you delay paying until the end of the grace period. Hope they're right!!! Does anyone have experience to the contrary? And Happy Holidays all.

 

[LisaS]

I talked to member accounting and member services yesterday. They both said that a January vacation will not be cancelled if you delay paying until the end of the grace period. Hope they're right!!! Does anyone have experience to the contrary? And Happy Holidays all.

Thanks for the info. I didn't think a vacation would be cancelled but rather that they wouldn't check you in until you settled up. Since I'll be checking in shortly after Jan 15th, I was wondering just how far in advance of my check-in date I should pay my dues to be absolutely certain that the payment would be processed before I arrive, especially since I check in on a Sunday when Member Accounting is closed! I ended up switching to monthly debit to avoid the whole issue but it sounds like I had nothing to worry about. Thanks!

 

[eva]

Thanks for the info. I didn't think a vacation would be cancelled but rather that they wouldn't check you in until you settled up. Since I'll be checking in shortly after Jan 15th, I was wondering just how far in advance of my check-in date I should pay my dues to be absolutely certain that the payment would be processed before I arrive, especially since I check in on a Sunday when Member Accounting is closed! I ended up switching to monthly debit to avoid the whole issue but it sounds like I had nothing to worry about. Thanks!

Good thing to check on. If you sent the payment and they haven't processed it before check-in, it would stink to have to settle up before getting your room. Then DVC would have a double payement.

 

[ktbugsmom]

This year will be our 4th year in a row going in January. I always pay my dues (lump sum) by the end of the grace period and my vacation has never been cancelled. Last year, I completely forgot (busy with work, school, my DDs hockey, DH's Phd etc) and called on the last day they were due and gave them a credit card! All is still fine and I am still a member. however, I will try to pay earlier this year to avoid any last minute panic attacks! Plus - I need my extra cash for spending money during my trip!