My Brother changed my Ressie while onsite at VB!

[Rileygirl]

I wanted to report this, it kinda freaked me out, I did not think anyone could change DVC ressies unless they were the owner.

I recently (Sept 2008) bought BCV via resale, a nice contract with banked points.

Our first DVC vacation is coming up in Aug of 09. Well, long story short - my brother called me all depressed because he booked flights and car rental to go visit my mom and dad in Florida this January, but my parents ended up not going as my mom severly broke her leg.

He was going to lose money if he cancelled his flights, and he could not easily change his holidays. I called Disney and found out I could get him 5 nights at VB for about 82 pts. (garden view inn, no waterview available). He was ecstatic, so I booked the ressie, cause I am a nice sister, and hey, I had 'spare' points I was only plannning to bank anyways.

Well, he arrived last Friday with his wife and two little ones. They loved vero beach. He casaully mentions to me that they decided to stay only 4 NIGHTS, and changed the ressie. They also upgraded to a WATERVIEW!.... I went, OMG, did that cost more points??? He said no. (I checked on Caskbills planner, and that is correct, 82 pts for 4 nights Waterview)

What freaked me out is he was able to change the ressie. Was it because there was no net cost in points? Or can anyone change the ressie while on site? The other weird thing - I was told there was no waterview left when I was booking, but obviously there was. He had no idea of what my membership number was, and even a less idea of what DVC was, I think he just went to the front desk and made his request. It really bothered me that he could have innocently changed the number of points used in this ressie without knowing what he was doing. KWIM? I never plan to rent or sell my points, but it bothered me that I could have still got burned by a family member unintentionally (he has no idea how DVC works).

Just thought I would post this, and see if anyone ever had a siimilar situation.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I am sad to report that yes, I had a similar experience about 5 years ago , and it still steams me! We had planned a family reunion(on MY points) and I got rooms for my brothers/sisters/mother. They arrived 4 days before me and changed the resort I booked them at without telling me! Two hours before I had to be at the airport to go to Florida, they called me!! My reservation was the only one left at the old resort, and everything in DVC was booked. I was so mad, I can't tell you! I begged a supervisor at MS, and she found me a room at the new resort. It really put a cloud over our trip, though, and I have refused the use of my points ever since. I have even refused offers to rent my points to my family since that time. I found, as you did, that if you put their name on their room, they can make changes to the reservation, although I don't believe they can use extra points from your account. I was put in this situation because of my family's actions, but I had the final revenge, every year when I sent them all a post card to let them know how lovely my vacation was!

 

[spiceycat]

once a renter tried to upgrade to a 1-bedroom - since it would cost more points - CM at the fd called me and I said no.

boy that would really make me angry.

glad my family does not change their reservations. of course no one has told them they could....

 

[spiceycat]

fused the use of my points ever since. I have even refused offers to rent my points to my family since that time. I found, as you did, that if you put their name on their room, they can make changes to the reservation, although I don't believe they can use extra points from your account. I was put in this situation because of my family's actions, but I had the final revenge, every year when I sent them all a post card to let them know how lovely my vacation was!

that sounds good to me!

boy don't know what I would do in this situation.

can someone say no more family vacations....

 

[ClarabelleCow]

While in the Op's case I do not see what the big deal was to be honest. Though totally different if they took more points out of your account, which I don't think they can do.

To Cruella - I would be pissed!!!! Still no issues with them moving if its the same points, but by totally dogging you and leaving you alone! They should have had the courtesy to call you, tell them what they were doing, and include you in the move!!!!

 

[Rileygirl]

Well, I just found out that it cost me 12 pts in holding. I called MS and inquired how someone could use some of my pts that was not the owner of the points. Apparently, he made a fuss of the long check in time (nice) and they went ahead and altered my pts without telling me.

MS said 'sorry, they should not have done that', sorry about your luck. I now have 12 useless pts (I live too far away to come down for a night).

Its not a huge deal Clarabell, I luv my brother, and was happy to give him my points. I think the 'shock factor' is that they (Disney)messed with my points without telling me. My brother would not have a clue as to what points are, so he did not know he was screwing me up. I guess the reason I posted was to let others know that someone can access your points when they are staying on your reservation.

Note to self - never rent/sell or give pts away

 

[Cajun28]

It seems strange that a non-member can not even call MS to see if a reservation has been made in their name(everything has to be done by the member owning the points), but DVC allows them change the reservation once they get there.

Rileygirl, why do you have 12 pts in holding if the original ressie required 82 pts and the changed one also required 82? Did I miss something?

I agree with PP's. I don't think it would bother me that the reservation was changed as long as it didn't cost me any more points, but the fact that it COULD be changed without my knowledge might. (Not sure if that last statement made any sense, but I know what I'm saying...LOL)

 

[bobbiwoz]

Well, I just found out that it cost me 12 pts in holding. I called MS and inquired how someone could use some of my pts that was not the owner of the points. Apparently, he made a fuss of the long check in time (nice) and they went ahead and altered my pts without telling me.

MS said 'sorry, they should not have done that', sorry about your luck. I now have 12 useless pts (I live too far away to come down for a night).

Its not a huge deal Clarabell, I luv my brother, and was happy to give him my points. I think the 'shock factor' is that they (Disney)messed with my points without telling me. My brother would not have a clue as to what points are, so he did not know he was screwing me up. I guess the reason I posted was to let others know that someone can access your points when they are staying on your reservation.

Note to self - never rent/sell or give pts away

This isn't right...same number of points, same points should have been reallocated. I had a reservation cancelled due to new people coming, needed to change occupancy of room for the 1 night, and for a day or two after that, I did have points in holding, but MS changed them eventually to what they should be. Call MS...I do not think that you should have points in holding based on what was done. Of course, I could be wrong...but I would find out.

Bobbi

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree....something is not right with that points in holding scenario. I'd call MS back, and I'd also ask to speak to member satisfaction while you are at it! Joy is a great one to help!

 

[RobDoc]

It sounds as though they have returned some (12) points to your account. All points for a reservation are supposed to be committed on the arrival date and by that definition, even if the reservation was changed by the guest at arrival, no points should have been returned to the account.

Unless they somehow used additional points from your account and then returned the 12 points in "Holding " status, you have actually come out ahead in this situation since all 82 points should have been "used" as of last Friday - even before your brother arrived. According to policy, no points should have been returned to your account for changes made at arrival.

 

[Rileygirl]

I will call back, it is weird about the 12 pts -- however looking at my 'statement' on the disneydvc site, it shows MS charging me 94 pts and then crediting me back 82, thus putting 12 in the hold. I suspect when the ressie got changed by my brother, they charged me for 5 nights ocean view, then went back and changed it to 4 nights oceanview. 12 pts is what it costs for one night ocean view for that date....

I have been keeping track of what my points should be (using Caskbills excellent programs) so I know that the 12 pts are a loss on my part. Worse still, i needed those points for a xmas ressie I want to have, so it looks like our christmas trip will be one day shorter then I want it to be. The funny thing - I was points to the good before this whole VB thing came up. I think I willl call up my mom and tell her, this is all her fault!

All kidding aside, this is very frustrating. I wanted to be careful with my points, I know better, but it just makes you realize how complicated this point system can be if you mess around with them, make short notice ressies, and the whole banking and borrowing thing. On the plus side - I am really starting to learn the whole DVC thing - its one thing to be a 'student' and study the boards - its an entirely different thing to put knowledge to practice. So far, I have an F- grade

 

[maburke]

You should know that MS has the ability to do a variety of things: take points out of holding, rearrange banked and borrowed points, etc., if they have a reason to, like if they made a mistake. It's clear to me that they did in this case. You'd have an argument even if it was you changing from one 82 point reservation to another, but with an unauthorized person making the change with your points, I think that you could make a clear case that they need to take those points out of holding.

Good luck.

 

[RobDoc]

If your original confirmation was for 82 points, they have now charged you an additional 12 points without your permission. Even though those points have been returned to your account, they are restricted in their use as Holding Points.

I would certainly call MS and ask them to take away the Holding status of those 12 points. IMO, that is a very reasonable request since the actual stay used the same number of points as you initially approved. Those 12 points should have been used in the restructured reservation used by your guest (and I would assume you would have approved the change using the same number of points). If there is any hesitation by the MS rep, I would then ask to speak with their supervisor and then let them know how disappointed you are that points were removed from your account without permission and put the burden on MS to correct their error.

Please report back. Good luck!

 

[permavac]

...I called MS and inquired how someone could use some of my pts that was not the owner of the points. Apparently, he made a fuss of the long check in time (nice) and they went ahead and altered my pts without telling me...

Was this the only explanation that you received? I am wondering if this is even technically "allowed" - how in the world can someone who is not the owner of the points make changes that involve using additional points? As Cajun28 pointed out, non-members can't even call DVC to check on the status of a reservation in their name. Does anyone know what the official "policy" on this is? Is it maybe not supposed to be allowed, but more a case of one hand not knowing what the other is doing?

And hey - I would have a few choice words for my brother on his behavior staying on my points...

Terri

 

[n2mm]

Between this thread and the other thread regarding the member getting stuck with the bill from a previous family renter, I've learned alot. One, I don't plan to ever rent and two, I will think twice before I let "some" family members stay on my points. Thanks for sharing your experience -- this is something I would've never thought would happen.

 

[Inkmahm]

No way should it be possible for anyone but the owner to change points on an account for any reason. That this could happen at all is a huge problem with dvc for me. Could it be that the resort did the changes without checking with MS? Not acceptable at all.

 

[M & M]

I don't know if the rules have changed but this is why Christmas 2005 I went down a day early and on the following day checked everyone in myself. So when they arrived they called me on my cell to meet them back at the resort for room keys.

 

[kid-at-heart]

..., but I had the final revenge, every year when I sent them all a post card to let them know how lovely my vacation was!

Way to go! Your family should not have "burned" you.

 

[zurgswife]

I have also had someone change a ressie once they arrived. A neighbor used my points for a weeks stay. At the end of the stay the weather was so bad that there were no flights home. They added a day. I wasn't called either. Fortunately they were willing to add some cash to cover using my points. Though lucky I had any points available.

 

[Rileygirl]

I have not yet called MS, I was gone all day doing appointments with my mom. I will call MS tomorrow.

Thank you everyone for your imput on how to resolve this issue. I truly appreciate it. I will post on this thread the outcome. I do believe MS is responsible for the 12 pts on hold, but whether or not they will fix it remains to be seen.

This was an eye opener for me. I have read these boards for many years, and the DVC boards for the last six months, but had not seen this specific issue ever raised.

In defence of my poor brother - he really truly would have had no idea that he impacted my DVC ownership. I know this was an innocent mistake. That said - I wont ever be tempted to rent out points on my ownership. If my brother could unwittingly do this, what could a well informed stranger do? Yikes!