problems with renting

[jillwdw]

We have rented points to use in Oct., unfortunately dh lost his job and we contacted the owner for some possible suggestions to recoop any of the expense as we didn't think we could go in Oct. The contract is for a non-refundable ressie but we can change the dates until May '05. She let us know that we could change the name on the ressie. We had an interested party and contacted the DVC member for further instructions. After several weeks, several emails and even a written letter, we are getting no reply from the DVC member. The interested party booked elsewhere and we are still trying to contact the owner. Something may have happend to the owner but we don't know. I guess my question is this... does anyone have an suggestions as to what we can do about this?

 

[kweaver]

Unless you have some other means to contact the renter (phone numbers, etc.), there's really not much you can do other than keep trying via email or letter.

I'd suggest sending a certified - return receipt letter so that you know if it reached them.

Hopefully they are just on an extended trip or had some other issue come up that has caused them problems when it comes to being able to contact you.

I would have hope. If they are kind enough to work with you and offer to change reservation dates or change names on the reservation, they are probably not trying to make things difficult.

Mental note: include all contact information, work and home phones and email (a REAL email...not a free email address) of both parties on any rental contract.

 

[Pa@okw95]

The problem is there is nothing the owner can really do at this late date. Also you have a non-refundable reservation which means just that. I bet the owner is now thinking they will probably never rent again after all the problems this incident has caused them. I trust you know how the vacation club works regarding points.

 

[nuthut]

Post when, where and size of your rented unit and maybe someone out there will rent it from you. You should be able to contact the owner by October.

 

[jillwdw]

I am curious why nothing can be done at this late date? We did initially contact her in June with this dilemma. She sent us an initial response but never responded after that. The contract states we have the ability to change the dates if something happens. I was just at a loss as to what to do next.

 

[Dean]

Indeed something may have happened with emails, computer or even health. Did they live in the path of Charley? You could try to subrent but you'll need the help of the member. My guess is they figured out the points they were using weren't really flexible and didn't want to fool with it. I'd call and send a certified letter. I hope it works out.

 

[LisaSt]

Good suggestions especially the certified letter then you get written confirmation the letter has been recieved. Sorry this has happened to you and it is very unfair for the person renting to you to be making you wait for responses especially as your travel dates draw near even with having a month it is very close now and by not responding it has left you in a dilema. Sorry for your trouble some people that rent out points just do not act professionally I guess. Hope everything works out for you.

Darren

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by jillwdw
I am curious why nothing can be done at this late date? We did initially contact her in June with this dilemma. She sent us an initial response but never responded after that. The contract states we have the ability to change the dates if something happens. I was just at a loss as to what to do next.

Just to expand on some of the info you've provided, once you reach a point 31 days before the check-in date, there is virtually nothing that can be done to reschedule the trip. The points are committed and there's really no turning back. Being a timeshare, DVC is a bit more restrictive than a normal hotel reservation which can be cancelled on 24 hours' notice.

Do everything in your power to get in touch with the member before you reach a point 31 days before your check-in date.

Incidentally, even with the job loss, have you considered the possibility of a really cheap Disney vacation? You could drive to WDW (we've driven from Ohio--it really isn't that bad), buy food at the grocery store and eat as many meals in your hotel room as possible (you still gotta eat, even at home), and, tough though it may be, you could bypass the theme parks altogether.

You still have access to the hotel pool, workout facilities, Downtown Disney, the monorail and Disney boats, etc. If you budget within your means, getting out of town for a few days might help lift your spirits.

Either way, best of luck.

 

[LisaSt]

Great idea tjraz we drive from London Ontario every Dec and we love the drive. IT is better to get away on a budget trip than to stay home with no budget at all in my opinion. Even if it is to just take in the sites and sounds from the different resorts you could do the bus rout and tour all the hotels and then maybe take a drive to the beach COCO isn't that far away and go see the ships at Cape Canvral. We went and did some driving and walking trails on Merritt Island it was beautiful and lots of fun even our kids loved that one.

 

[jillwdw]

Thank you for the suggestions. I didn't even think of sending a certified letter. We will do that immediately. Thanks again all!

 

[LisaSt]

No problem and good luck in whatever you choose.

 

[goldilocks_63]

Maybe you and KellNotAt can help each other.....

Here is another thread about someone wanting Oct trip.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=6381288#post6381288

Hope this helps, Goldi

 

[kathleena]

Originally posted by tjkraz
once you reach a point 31 days before the check-in date, there is virtually nothing that can be done to reschedule the trip. The points are committed and there's really no turning back.

I thought that if you cancel within 31 days, the points go into a holding account and you can rebook as long as you are doing it within 60 days of the dates you are booking for? If that's correct, then there are still options here.

 

[mikesmom]

I thought that if you cancel within 31 days, the points go into a holding account and you can rebook as long as you are doing it within 60 days of the dates you are booking for? If that's correct, then there are still options here.

Yes, but speaking as one who has been caught with that "option" (because of cancels from relatives) it can be a real problem. For one thing, because DVC open rooms revert to CRO at 60 days, you are competing with the universe for ressies. Also, if you are close to your use year date, you may not have much time to rebook or re-rent the points. For instance, if you had a January use year and got caught with holding points right now you would have October/Nov/Dec virtually closed to you as a 60 day ressie as those months fill up so far out. Many people on waitlist right now for those months. Someone with holding points would have little to no chance of making a new ressie. Those "holding" points would probably be viewed as "distressed" to potential renters and be tough to unload.

That doesn't help the OP much, But I can see the problem from the other point of view.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by kathleena
I thought that if you cancel within 31 days, the points go into a holding account and you can rebook as long as you are doing it within 60 days of the dates you are booking for? If that's correct, then there are still options here.

Correct. Thus the phrase "virtually nothing that can be done to reschedule" from my response.

jillwdw hasn't had the courtesy of a reply from the renter since June--even when she had the opportunity to sub-rent the points to another individual. While it's POSSIBLE that some catastrophic event has left the renter unable to reply for nearly 3 months, it seems more likely that the renter is being intentionally non-responsive.

Assuming that jillwdw is able to contact the renter, he/she would have to actually cancel the reservation before the check-in date, and then assist with the challenges presented when trying to book holding points.

Yes, the possibility exists that this could happen. Based upon the facts presented, the likelihood is remote.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by tjkraz
Correct. Thus the phrase "virtually nothing that can be done to reschedule" from my response.

jillwdw hasn't had the courtesy of a reply from the renter since June--even when she had the opportunity to sub-rent the points to another individual. While it's POSSIBLE that some catastrophic event has left the renter unable to reply for nearly 3 months, it seems more likely that the renter is being intentionally non-responsive.

Assuming that jillwdw is able to contact the renter, he/she would have to actually cancel the reservation before the check-in date, and then assist with the challenges presented when trying to book holding points.

Yes, the possibility exists that this could happen. Based upon the facts presented, the likelihood is remote.

Not only that, the rentee has a non cancelable agreement. And the hard line would be that in the event of a cancellation, the points would be there for the owner to do as they wish with, to their own benefit. I agree that holding account points in this situation would be essentially impossible to work with.