Please Help Christmas trip in jeopardy

[kwelsh]

I am a DVC member and an RCI points member. I booked a vacation for this Christmas in a studio at WDW using my DVC points. I realized I needed more room and booked a 2 bedroom using my RCI points. I was excited at all the space I now had and invited other family members to join us. Then RCI called and said they made a mistake and because my home property is within 30 miles of WDW I can not use my points to stay on Disney property. RCI indicated that one possible solution to this problem would be to transfer my points to an RCI member who has an equal number of points then they could book th.e vacation and send me as their guest. Does this seem right? How would I go about finding someone? I am so confused. Any help would be appreciated. I don't know who at Disney to talk to about making an exception to the rule.

 

[bwvBound]

You might want to try ...
* The Timeshare User's Group (TUG), Link: http://www.tugbbs.com
* The Timeshare Forums, Link: http://www.timeshareforums.com

 

[RobDoc]

If RCI has already canceled the reservation there may be no point in transferring your RCI points to someone else unless there is still availability for your dates. I'd want to check that out before doing anything.

As for discussing this with DVC, the limitation for RCI resorts near WDW is part of the contractual agreement between RCI and DVC. Lots of RCI members are affected by that policy. I think you might have better success negotiating with RCI, who made the error in the first place, than trying to get DVC to rescind their agreement with RCI for you.

Checking at tug and timeshareforums is a good thought (another on is Timesharing Today - www/tstoday.com ) - but I'd want some assurance that you can still get that reservation before transferring RCI points to a stranger.

Good luck!

 

[backyardponder]

Do you have a receipt from RCI for your reservation? How long was it between the time you made the reservation and RCI told you they were canceling it?

This sounds to me like an RCI mistake which RCI needs to fix. I'd call and talk to a supervisor.

 

[Brian Noble]

This sounds to me like an RCI mistake which RCI needs to fix. I'd call and talk to a supervisor.

Nope. The RCI resort directory is very clear about this---there is a regional block in Orlando, and if you own any Orlando resorts in your Points account, you may not use Points to reserve an Orlando DVC unit.

 

[MrShiny]

Nope. The RCI resort directory is very clear about this---there is a regional block in Orlando, and if you own any Orlando resorts in your Points account, you may not use Points to reserve an Orlando DVC unit.

Right, so they made a mistake in accepting the booking in the first place.

 

[Brian Noble]

True, but it won't be honored. This happens semi-frequently, more often with 1-in-N restrictions, and RCI won't budge.

 

[kwelsh]

Thanks everyone for your input.

RCI should never have accepted the booking. I ways surprised when RCI said I could book, I thought maybe the rule had changed. They even had me on their version of a waitlist so they had plenty of time to catch their mistake.

They called on Mon. July30th to ask if I wanted the room and then called back on Thursday to say they made a mistake. I've tried to get to a supervisor but have gotten the run around. The best they say they can do is book something off property which will not work at Christmas.

I did receive a letter confirming the booking. It arrived after they called to say they had made a mistake, but may have been mailed the day of the confirmation.

They did check and said a transfer or trade could work. The last I spoke RCI they had not released the week, they seemed to be waiting for me to solve the problem. I have been checking with friends and family to find someone with enough RCI points or week. I haven't found anyone yet.

I did post a similar message on TUG, and will check out the other sites you have mentioned.

Thanks again.

 

[kwelsh]

Great News! I found a friend of a friend who had enough RCI points that I could transfer points to his account and then RCI arranged for me to travel on his account as a guest. So the end result is 2 extra days of vacation. Thanks to everyone who tried to help!

 

[vicki_c]

Great News! I found a friend of a friend who had enough RCI points that I could transfer points to his account and then RCI arranged for me to travel on his account as a guest. So the end result is 2 extra days of vacation. Thanks to everyone who tried to help!

Glad you got it worked out!