referral bonus from Disney.

[Skallywag]

We referred some friends who have now purchased at Disney and were told we would receive $200 for referring them.

Have received nothong as yet only letter of thanks from Disney and have been in contact with person who sent the letter left messages etc but received no reply. On this occasion am disappointed with Disney Service.

 

[Hilary]

Unless things have changed, UK residents are not eligible for the bonus

It's not just here in the UK; there are various US states as well as other countries where the bonus can't be paid because of timeshare regulations (i.e it's not DVC's decision, it's the legislation in place in each state / country that dictates whether it can be paid or not).

 

[Skallywag]

Our friends were told we would receive this and it would be deducted from our annual fees. Will keep chasing Disney as feel it is totally wrong that we do not receive same benefits as other members.

 

[Christopher5927]

Our friends were told we would receive this and it would be deducted from our annual fees. Will keep chasing Disney as feel it is totally wrong that we do not receive same benefits as other members.

We signed in August and our (British) friends who referred us were told they would receive nothing. I think this stinks. I quite understand if international laws prevent actual money changing hands, but there is NO reason whatsoever that Disney cannot make a payment in kind, such as $200 of dining vouchers, or passes or SOMETHING. I think it is our duty to keep on at them until they change this unfair rule!

 

[crux]

When we joined in 2001, Kevin Stringer answered a number of questions we had and generally helped us decide to buy before we actually went to WDW, did the tour and signed the paperwork. We did submitt a referral form from Kevin, but we were told that they cannot pay the incentive to UK residents. I can understand the legal reasons for not paying out the cash incentive, but something could be given - maybe a meal voucher (or drinks voucher, Kevin ) could be given to the referrer on their next visit to a DVC resort.

Ian

 

[Kevin Stringer]

See now Ian has hit on the perfect solution here. A $200 drinks voucher!

I should be up to about $800 by now. That should be enough for a good night out.

Kev

 

[UKDEB]

I should be up to about $800 by now. That should be enough for a good night out

And I know just the people to help you spend it!

 

[Skallywag]

We signed in August and our (British) friends who referred us were told they would receive nothing. I think this stinks. I quite understand if international laws prevent actual money changing hands, but there is NO reason whatsoever that Disney cannot make a payment in kind, such as $200 of dining vouchers, or passes or SOMETHING. I think it is our duty to keep on at them until they change this unfair rule!

Quite agree - I know of no reason why we cannot have the $200 credit placed on our annual maintenance statement. Have been pressing Disney for this and clarification as feel it it totally out of order. they telephoned me last night and said it is our Government that prohibits this, I said I really do not think so and that I will check this out. Have today been in contact with my MP and they are doing research for me. Feel this is just an excuse and told the lady from Disney that it is not only the bonus we do not get, we do not get Castaway membership details either. She is again checking this.
Feel I only got such treatment as I wrote at the suggestion of a member of another web site to write directly to Mr. Jim Lewis, senior Vice President which I did. Will keep on the case as it is not just the money but the principal here and we sould receive the same treatment as other members or no-one should receive a bonus to be fair.
We love Disney apart from this and in all other dealings find they are straighforward and truthful.

 

[Hilary]

I understood it to be UK* legislation put in place as a safeguard against unsolicited timeshare pressure sales. The thinking being that if there are no incentives to sign someone up on your referral, there'll be less chance of pressure being used to get people to agree to buying into a timeshare. This was put in place a few years ago when the timeshare business was getting a bad name for itself because of the pressure tactics being employed by some sales teams.

* UK and elsewhere worldwide, but not in certain US states - hence some US states are eigible for the bonus, others aren't

 

[vernon]

Anything that has a financial value and could be used instead of money would fall under the UK laws that prohibit them. If Disney were legally allowed to make the payments they would be more than happy to do so, it helps their business to encourage owners to give referals and recommendations.

Will keep on the case as it is not just the money but the principal here and we sould receive the same treatment as other members or no-one should receive a bonus to be fair.

IMHO you're getting your wires crossed. It's UK registration laws not Disney's that are the root of your problems. As far as those restrictions are concerned the laws are common to all timeshare and they treat all UK citizens the same. Disney would treat all their owners the same as it's if it were allowed to. It isn't allowed to, so they don't. Should any company restrict all of it's potential customers due to the restrictions placed on those customers by outside bodies, here are a few things that would have to change if you're line of thinking were extended.
1) people coming from some states and countries are not allowed to complete the paperwork for purchases on the phone or by mail. Therefore you would not have the luxury of being able to take the paperwork/information home with you to think over the proposal, you would have to make the choice while on holiday in Florida, IMHO a serious disservice to you.
2) some countries limit how much their citizens can take/transfer out of the country. It would be costly and a right pain in the backside to pay dues, presuming you were ever able to get the money to make the purchase in the first place .

if you take your view to it's most extreme, but still logical conclusion you would come to
#22 ( or whatever) some countries do not allow their citizens free access to travel, therefore in order to be fair to all, Disney should refuse to allow international guests to book hotel rooms or buy DVC because not everyone is able to do so.
I'm just going to throw in here an idea that will get Kevin waking up in a cold sweat . #23 in some countries alcohol is banned, to be fair to those other people we should also ban alcohol because it's unfair that we can drink it and they can't.

The idea that any company or country should bind it's own people or customers by the laws of another country is just plain daft.

I understand your frustration at being denied something others have access to, but your anger should be directed at the authorities that control those restriction (i.e. the UK government, and for a change I can't even blame this one on Tony as these laws have been in place for a long time and governments of both colours have seen fit to leave them as they were) not Disney

 

[Kevin Stringer]

I'm just going to throw in here an idea that will get Kevin waking up in a cold sweat . #23 in some countries alcohol is banned, to be fair to those other people we should also ban alcohol because it's unfair that we can drink it and they can't.

Now hold on Vernon, you've just gone too far! There are some things that you just don't joke about!

Kev

 

[Halo]

Anything that has a financial value and could be used instead of money would fall under the UK laws that prohibit them.

I am not sure if that's true. We also own at Marriott and we receive offers from them for introducing friends to Marriott Vacation Club International. We are offered bonus weeks (i.e. one off usage) or discounts on maintenance fees or Marriott Reward Points if they subsequently buy. Obviously there is conflicting legal advice out there. These Marriott offers are in respect of our ownership in Marbella, Spain, which could imply that the legal issue is at the Florida end.....

 

[jana]

These Marriott offers are in respect of our ownership in Marbella, Spain, which could imply that the legal issue is at the Florida end.....

Could be one of two things. Certainly in the USA the states that restrict their citizens from purchasing out of state timeshare will allow them to deal with companies that are selling property in their own state. If the UK laws are similar it could be that as, I believe, Mariott has some UK developments they are able to offer incentives to owners of Mariott through their UK operations.
Alternatively, if there are no Mariotts in the UK, because the UK is in the EU and Spain is also in the EU it may be that under European law it is considered one entity and therefore inducements are considered acceptable.

As Disney has neither a UK nor a European resort/operation it's owners have no legal recourse through European/UK courts.

which could imply that the legal issue is at the Florida end.....

My understanding is that it has to do with the registration laws of those countries, with the UK's ever closer legal ties to Europe in many cases Britain and Spain, legally, are treated as the same country. Therefore the registration laws would not apply to a Spanish timeshare as they would to one that is outside of the EU.

 

[Skallywag]

Have taken this matter up with my MP as I do not think we should be refused the bonus - have read and re-read the law on this and it appears only to refer to companies soliciting business directly and nothing to do with existing members referring others.

Feel it is quite wrong that as DVC members we are not getting the same benefits as others. We cannot get the DVC credit card, Castaway membership information is not sent to us for some reason.

If I get an answer, will post it so we all know the truth.