Purchase Problem -ARRRGGHH

[Swayhoover90]

Here's our scenario:

We purchased 100 pts at BLT while visiting WDW on July 23. At the time my wife was the purchaser and I was an associate. We received 100 developer pts as an incentive.

Upon returning home and reading our member literature I realized that as an associate I would not be issued a member card and would not have access to benefits unless I was with my DW. So on July 27 I called my guide to ask him to add me as a member. He said that it would be no problem, that we would just need to sign new papers and a new contract number issued.

After the papers did not arrive when told to expect them I called DVC Membership Administration. They said that there was a note on my account that said that a new contract was expected but nothing else was showing. She had me leave a voice mail with my guide.

A couple of days more and still no papers or response. Another call. DVC Membership Admin. checks DVC Contacts in-box and sees nothing. Another voice mail. Another day. No response.

I send an email to both Member Services and Administration. Finally my guide calls yesterday. He said that somewhere the ball got drop. He then says that the papers will be sent out, a new contact number is in effect (I checked dcmembers.com and there is a new number).

Here is the problem...My guide stated that since it is now August the 100 developer points are gone but his sales manager has some that he will issue to replace the originally developer points. He said wait until Saturday to call member services to make sure that the developer points are there.
Also, We had made a reservation for a studio for 1 night at HHI plus a studio for 5 nights at BLT in mid-Feb. These are now gone due to the contract change.

My question is should I be concerned about the return of the developer points? Will it be hard to rebook the vacation?

 

[Mommee]

Are you sure the reservations are actually gone? When we changed our contract, it disappeared from online but was still there in the system. Someone from member services needed to manually update the contract number on the reservation.

 

[Swayhoover90]

Hmmm...That is a good question. It has disappeard online but I have not contacted MS. To be honest, I am almost afraid to do anything with the account until the developer points show up. I don't want to call and have the reservation reissued using my 2010 points which we are going to bank. I want the reservations to use the developer points which I hope will be reissued.

Thanks for the info!!!!

 

[DenLo]

Good thing you realized early on that you'd have limited access as an associate. It would be more work for you at a later stage to get your name added onto the contract.

What do you mean by developer points? Are they giving them again? Do you receive all of the 2009 and 2010 points and developer points? We didn't didn't receive any developer points so I'm a little vague on them. I do remember they had a limited use period, but that's about all I remember.

I know when a resale contract hits the MS website that the contract is established one day and the points added a day or two later. Perhaps your developer points have to be entered in a similar manner.

 

[Swayhoover90]

We purchased 100 pts at BLT. As incentives DVC paid $600 towrds our closing cost plus issued banked 100 2009 pts. for us. So I walked out with a total of 200 pts in our account. The banked points are the devloper points I was referring to. My guide said to make sure that I called them devloper points when contacting MS.

I guess the reason I am concerned is that right after we completed our paperwork our gudie called MS and bank the 2009 points for us. I am not sure why the new points could not be added to our account with just a phone call as opposed to waiting until Saturday to see if they are there.

Thanks for your response!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

First, those points were not Developer's points that you received. They were the current years points which for an August UY ceased to exist as of July 31, 2010 which is why the guide is trying to get a special approval to get them.

FYI - there actually are Developer's points but those have not been offered as an incentive since at least last year - maybe two years ago.

Is August the definite UY that works best for you? If so then hopefully the guide can get the points for you but if not Sept, Oct and Dec UY's will still have the same number of points that were in your original contract - ie, current 2009 UY points. If it doesn't work out for August you can just switch the UY.

And it's highly likely that your reservations are available but you will need to work with MS and maybe your guide depending on what happens with the 2009 August points.

 

[Swayhoover90]

First, those points were not Developer's points that you received. They were the current years points which for an August UY ceased to exist as of July 31, 2010 which is why the guide is trying to get a special approval to get them.

FYI - there actually are Developer's points but those have not been offered as an incentive since at least last year - maybe two years ago.

Is August the definite UY that works best for you? If so then hopefully the guide can get the points for you but if not Sept, Oct and Dec UY's will still have the same number of points that were in your original contract - ie, current 2009 UY points. If it doesn't work out for August you can just switch the UY.

And it's highly likely that your reservations are available but you will need to work with MS and maybe your guide depending on what happens with the 2009 August points.

Gotcha. Thanks for clearing that up. August UY works great for us. I just don't want to lose the 100 pts because DVC 'drop the ball'. And we need whatever pts that are issued to allow us to book in Feb.

I guess as a newbie I was not epecting to have to put so much thought into things lol.

 

[disneynutz]

I would contact the Guides Manager and share your concerns. Make sure that you get your current years points and that they make your reservations if necessary.

Bill

 

[Swayhoover90]

Good idea Disneynutz!

I want to throw this out there as a last resort...though I think in the end everything will work out and that I am over thinking this...say that the extra 100 pts don't get issued for some reason which would in effect leave us with a regular purchase (100 2010 pts, 100 2011 pts....ect.). Could we not sign the papers for the new contract and effectively kill the deal and have DVC return our $1200 credit card deposit? We would then purchase via resale.

 

[disneynutz]

Good idea Disneynutz!

I want to throw this out there as a last resort...though I think in the end everything will work out and that I am over thinking this...say that the extra 100 pts don't get issued for some reason which would in effect leave us with a regular purchase (100 2010 pts, 100 2011 pts....ect.). Could we not sign the papers for the new contract and effectively kill the deal and have DVC return our $1200 credit card deposit? We would then purchase via resale.

It's up to you, pay more and get $1000 worth of points for a one time use, or buy resale and maybe save some money.

Bill

 

[Swayhoover90]

It's up to you, pay more and get $1000 worth of points for a one time use, or buy resale and maybe save some money.

Bill

Good point! I was wondering since it has been more than 10 days since we purchased could we opt out of the sale or does the new contract (which we have not received or signed) void the first?

 

[JimMIA]

From the time you sign the contract, under Florida Law, you have 10 days to change your mind and rescind. Since they haven't sorted things out yet, you really haven't signed anything, and I'd say your recision period has not started yet. To be sure, I would notify them in writing that your original purchase on July 23 is canceled, and that you are awaiting correct paperwork to consider a new agreement.

One thing you should understand about your "deal." They are not giving you a single point. What they are giving you is an extension of the banking deadline so you can bank the 2009 points you are buying into your 2010 UY. That has some value, but it is certainly not the same as "developer points" which were truly free points they used to give with SSR purchases a few years ago.

Disney timeshare salespeople will tell you the "value" of those banked points is $10 per point because that's what you could rent points for, but they leave out a few little "details." First of all, you paid for the points and your acquisition cost + dues for those points is $7 per point or so...more if you finance. So you're only making $3 or less per point at best. Secondly, in order to really get that imputed value, you'd have to go into the rental business and succeed in renting all 100 points. Renting is time-consuming and carries some risk to the owner. Most owners who investigate the process and risk of renting decide not to do it. So renting may not be a viable option for you at all.

I don't see how a manager could just "put" expired points into your 2010 UY. However, they have several easy options -- give you a September, October, or December UY with the same banking deadline extension. One of those is probably the only legitimate way to fix the mistake.

If you want to take your time and consider resale, that may be worth your while. You didn't say what your per point price was, but resale prices on BLT run roughly $100 per point or a little less, but you will have to pay closing costs. Even so, you should save money.

Or you could look at SSR (mid-$60's) or OKW (low-$60's) resales and save a LOT more.

Just remember you are in the driver's seat here. They messed up the contract, and you don't have to sign anything at this point. If they give you any song and dance, I'd just cancel the whole thing and start over.

 

[Swayhoover90]

Thank you!!! This information helps so much!

I can see benefits to keeping this contract if all works out but I can also see definite financial benefits if we end up cancelling and going the resale route. Something tells me DVC (at least the Guide) will pull whatever strings they need to in order to preserve the sale.

 

[Swayhoover90]

FINALLY!!!!

After many, many (too many) phone calls and many promises made our 100 developer points (DVC's termed used, not mine) just showed up in our account. Also, our vacation ressies have reappeared so all is well. We can now forget the administrative issues and start enjoying being DVCers.

Now I have to deal with addonitis which will definitely be though resale.

Thanks so much for everyone's help!

 

[LisaS]

I don't see how a manager could just "put" expired points into your 2010 UY. However, they have several easy options -- give you a September, October, or December UY with the same banking deadline extension. One of those is probably the only legitimate way to fix the mistake.

Given that the OP's guide told him to refer to these points as "developer points", it's possible that he is actually getting developer points -- points from any resort DVC happens to have lying around. They could either transfer them into his account or manage them separately as they do when they issue developer points as a purchase incentive. Since his HHI/BLT trip is less than 7 months away, he doesn't need home resort points for the reservation so any points will do.

 

[DenLo]

FINALLY!!!!

After many, many (too many) phone calls and many promises made our 100 developer points (DVC's termed used, not mine) just showed up in our account. Also, our vacation ressies have reappeared so all is well. We can now forget the administrative issues and start enjoying being DVCers.

Now I have to deal with addonitis which will definitely be though resale.

Thanks so much for everyone's help!

Congratulations and welcome home, neighbor!

 

[CrazyDuck]

Glad everything worked out... But I have a question... Why would you agree to sign up as an associate in the first place?

 

[Swayhoover90]

Thanks!

I am in the process of applying for an additional line of credit for my business and did not want a credit inquiry to pose a potential problem in getting the line approved.

I did not share this reason with my guide so I can't fault hm for not letting us know that Disney doesn't report to the credit bureaus.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Thanks!

I am in the process of applying for an additional line of credit for my business and did not want a credit inquiry to pose a potential problem in getting the line approved.

I did not share this reason with my guide so I can't fault hm for not letting us know that Disney doesn't report to the credit bureaus.

Just to clarify, credit inquiries will always show up on credit reports, including Disney. Disney just chooses not to report the debt to the credit reporting companies.

 

[vicki_c]

Just to clarify, credit inquiries will always show up on credit reports, including Disney. Disney just chooses not to report the debt to the credit reporting companies.

Actually, I think Disney does not because they do a soft pull on your credit, not a hard pull. And those don't show up.