News Flash Ms Call Changes!!!

[JimFitz]

I dont think this will impact rental prices at all. I am sure $10 will be the going rate for sometime

 

[LisaS]

But if you are getting paid for renting your points, then the extra time should be on your part rather than all the rest of us who do not rent but also help to pay for MS calls with dues. Seems to me it is an investment of time for what you are paid from your renter.

I'm GLAD it is "MEMBER services"!!!! The fact that DVC took this move leads me to believe that WAY too many calls were being handled for Non-members. Maybe now the service and attitudes of MS cast members will be better as well.

I agree. I imagine that the vast majority of rentals result in at least one extra call -- when the renter calls MS to confirm a reservation has actually been made. I don't know how many reservations are rentals so I have no idea what percentage of calls this will eliminate, but every bit helps.

 

[vascubaguy]

Hrmm.. maybe they can lower MF now.. yeah right.

 

[JimMIA]

Looks like a good reason for members to start asking for more than $10/rental point.

$12-16 would be a better going rate!!

Is there ANYTHING Johnnie doesn't think is a good reason to raise rental prices???

Sorry Johnnie, couldn't resist. (I happen to agree with you BTW)

 

[JimMIA]

I will assume that this change will include ALL phone numbers for MS- both the 1-407 and 1-800 numbers.

If that is the case, perhaps we should revisit the current DIS policy prohibiting posting the 800 number on the boards.

I rarely disagree with Doc, but I'd vote "Nay" on that. We KNOW the number. Publishing it would just generate non-member calls and excessive MS time explaining why they couldn't help the caller.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

A member crook could change the reservation the morning of check in if they really wanted to. They could cancel or change the dates. They might not even care if the points went into holding. They could change the name on the reservation to a person who paid them more for a last minute reservation if they really wanted to.
The member making a reservation for a non-member can still give them a copy of the confirmation with their name on it.

So very true. I didn't think of it like this. I'm glad we became members so we don't have this particular headache. Thanks Deb.

 

[cobbler]

I say this is good. It isn't hard for the member to call and add the dining plan and ME in one phone call for the renter. Would take all of 5 minutes tops I assume (once you started actually talking to the person).

 

[PamOKW]

DVC has always made it very clear that they want no part of the member rental world. It appears by the activity on these boards alone that the number of people renting has greatly increased over the last five years. If DVC gets involved with dealing directly with renters regarding their reservations they become part of the transaction -- something they probably also want no legal part of either.

If someone wants to rent, fine. But it is upon them to do all the work to get the $$ -- members don't need to subsidize the transactions with free DVC help.

 

[Barak's Disney]

Has anyone considered the fact that Disney is implementing this policy in order to make it more difficult for members to rent points (b/c people are less likely to rent if they are unable to confirm the reservation themselves), thereby lowering the going rental rate? That is what it sounds like to me - I don't think Disney is doing this in order to make members happy. Rather, I think Disney wants this point renting business to go away b/c it affects their bottom line in a negative way (i.e. guests who would normally pay for a regular room are renting points from DVC members). Haven't there been threads discussing the possibility of Disney prohibiting rental in future timeshare resorts?

 

[MissD]

DVC has always made it very clear that they want no part of the member rental world. It appears by the activity on these boards alone that the number of people renting has greatly increased over the last five years. If DVC gets involved with dealing directly with renters regarding their reservations they become part of the transaction -- something they probably also want no legal part of either.

If someone wants to rent, fine. But it is upon them to do all the work to get the $$ -- members don't need to subsidize the transactions with free DVC help.

Very well put. With all the points you mentioned-as well as the privacy issues involved-it's just a really good decision all the way around.

 

[JerJan]

All I can say is that it's about time!!!!!

 

[CapeCodFam]

Sounds good to me too. Maybe the wait times will be less .

 

[newcomer52]

While I can understand DVC members wanting to free up MS for their exclusive use, as a renter, it's frightening not to be able to comfirm my reservation before flying off to Florida. When I rented in January (from a trustworth, honest member), there was a mix up at member services and our reservation was cancelled. I had called to remove one name from our reservation and discovered I had no reservation. I called the member, left a message for him, and he soon called me back to let me know that he had corrected the problem. Now I won't know if there is a problem until I arrive. I hope there are not glitches in my September rental.

js

 

[mikesmom]

While I sympathize with the fact that would be renters would like to be comforted by the fact that you can could call Member Services and verify the reservation, in real life that call didn't mean a darn thing! The member could make the reservation, send you the confirming letter, MS could confirm the confirm, and the member could still turn right around and cancel the reservation right out from under you at any point.

I'm not saying that happens, I'm saying it could, and the call makes no difference - it does not give you one bit of meaningful security. I'm not trying to scare off renters - I've rented out ressies a couple of times myself. However, if the trust level is not there in the transaction, and you really feel you need the security of Disney verifying this, it isn't going to happen. If the transaction is going to make folks feel horribly insecure leading up to what should be a carefree vacation, than they are better off buying direct from Disney for their hotel rooms. Renting is and always was a private transaction - Disney won't get involved. The cost of the "bargain" is trust - if you don't trust the transaction, you probably shouldn't rent. If you need the security of the Mouse, you'll have to pay his room prices.

 

[MissD]

While I can understand DVC members wanting to free up MS for their exclusive use, as a renter, it's frightening not to be able to comfirm my reservation before flying off to Florida. When I rented in January (from a trustworth, honest member), there was a mix up at member services and our reservation was cancelled. I had called to remove one name from our reservation and discovered I had no reservation. I called the member, left a message for him, and he soon called me back to let me know that he had corrected the problem. Now I won't know if there is a problem until I arrive. I hope there are not glitches in my September rental.

js

I've never rented my points, so I can't speak as to certain aspects.

Were I renting points from a member, I would fully expect the member to be responsible to insure that there were not any mix-ups. I would be paying my money to that member, NOT to DVC. If that means the member needs to verify the info a few times prior to the renter's arrival date, so be it. Had the member you rented from done so in your case initially, perhaps the mixup might have been caught earlier-or better yet, not happened in the first place, As a previous poster said, if a member wants to become a 'travel agent', they need to do the follow through as well.

If I were renting my points to someone else, I would expect to do the legwork as long as I was needed to do so. If I'm receiving the compensation, that's the way it should be.

JMHO...of course.

 

[RobDoc]

While I can understand DVC members wanting to free up MS for their exclusive use, as a renter, it's frightening not to be able to comfirm my reservation before flying off to Florida. When I rented in January (from a trustworth, honest member), there was a mix up at member services and our reservation was cancelled. I had called to remove one name from our reservation and discovered I had no reservation. I called the member, left a message for him, and he soon called me back to let me know that he had corrected the problem. Now I won't know if there is a problem until I arrive. I hope there are not glitches in my September rental.

js

Renters may still call the resort directly a few days prior to arrival to confirm the reservation. IMO, this policy change from DVC only reinforces the need for renters (and members) to use a contract, check references provided by the member and expect a copy of the DVC confirmation letter in your name.

While some may view it as more "work" for those involved, IMO that is part of the rental process and part of the responsibility for both the member and the renter.

DVC has made it clear that they will not be involved in assisting members in their endeavor to rent DVC accommodations. Until this change in policy, DVC did seem to participate in the rental process and has now acted to enforce the contract they have with all members. DVC has no responsibility at all to those who rent- their only responsibility it to the members who provide the support for the program.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Well I guess we have one more reason to list on those "Why Buy when you can rent" posts.

I dont think this is really a big deal at all. I think renting will become more referral based than just open posting as it is now. This move may be necessary as DVC continues to grow and the "slow" seasons all but dry up. We have alot more events than just Christmas and Easter now. It is always 7 months for something it seems.

I have rented points to do other things like cruise and I dont mind taking care of the details for those that rent from me.
If that means I call MS the day before checkin for my renter to confirm everything is alright, so be it. That is the price of renting points. Will they trust Im telling the truth? If no, renting is not for them.

The renter should receive the written confirmation from the member, they can follow up with ME after their reservation has been made by the member and they can add/cancel the dining plan right at the check in counter(just prior to checking in). The trust is that the renter gives up control prior to checkin and the member gives up control after checkin.

Non Members were never allowed to change names on the ressie or the dates.

The one thing I have noticed, are many former resort guests are treating DVC rentals as just another Deluxe resort discount. They are not willing to accept that DVC is a timeshare and works differently than the resorts. They wanted to fax in requests, call for reassurance about the rental process, and not pay for extra services like daily housekeeping.

Those interested in renting points, should seek out those members that are helpful and knowledgeable and willing to trust that member to walk them thru the process.

I also agree with JimMIA that posting the 800 number would only encourage calls to MS hoping to get a CM that would assist them.

 

[RobDoc]

You know, I can't help but wonder if this has to do with what was referred to in a post last night (I'm sorry-I can't find the post now) where someone (was it Dean?) mentioned how many phone calls renters are probably making versus members. It makes me wonder if perhaps DVC does read and react to these boards. Can anyone find that post? I know he was saying how much work MS has, because of non-members' calls.

Caskbill provided a great analysis in the thread where a renter was complaining that MS was "rude" when he called on the busiest day of the week for MS calls.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=13679904&postcount=52

Looks like he was fortunate to have gotten thru yesterday instead of waiting until today. Just imagine the disappointment if he was unable to get any information from MS.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

This rule really doesn't bother me. However, those that think this will somehow be a big savings for members, or will magically reduce calls/dues, are probably mistaken. The renter call is just replaced by a member call.

This probably has more to do with account privacy and access than anything else.

 

[byoung]

I also agree with non members not being able to call MS.