Rental Liability???

[jgus]

If you rent your DVC points, is there any liability if a renter damages the unit? If so, has anyone ever had a problem? Have you written anything in to a rental agreement regarding damage or security deposit?

 

[Chuck S]

As the DVC owner of the points the reservation is made with, yes, you are resposible for unit damage. You are also responsible if the renter uses the room charge, then doesn't pay the bill.

While you can have in your rental agreement that any damage is the resposinsibility of the renter, it would not prevent Disney from collecting from you...you , in turn, would need to file suit against the renter to recover the $$$

 

[jgus]

How about a security deposit?

 

[Chuck S]

How about a security deposit?

You are certainly welcome to require a security deposit from your renter. The problem may be finding a renter willing to give you a security deposit.

 

[RobDoc]

You can ask for anything you will feel comfortable with when renting - the entire transaction is negotiable between the member and the person renting. Security deposits are not common with DVC rentals, but if you will feel safer then feel free to expect that.

We have had one report on this forum of a member's account being affected by a rental - and that was regarding an unpaid bill on the room. In this case, it was resolved since the "renter" was a relative and there was some mixup on Disney's end regarding the credit card left for the account.

However, the member was certainly inconvenienced for a period of time while the matter was being straightened out.

 

[crisi]

I've never noticed a thread here where a member has been charged for damage to the room - but I don't doubt that Disney COULD charge you and you would bear the responsibility.

(Its sort of like the risk of being scammed on the other side - its there, it may or may not be significant enough for you to change your behavior patterns).

 

[tubtruck]

If an owner requests that no charging should be allowed to the room then making the reservation surley Disney could not expect the owner to be liable if they subsequently allow this on the room could they ?

 

[JodyTG]

If an owner requests that no charging should be allowed to the room then making the reservation surley Disney could not expect the owner to be liable if they subsequently allow this on the room could they ?

I honestly don't think an owner can request that when making the reservtion.

 

[Sammie]

Yes the member is responsible if the person renting is not willing to cover the damages. No, you can not ask MS to block them from having access to room charges.

There have not been any reports of this on the DIS, however according to friends who work at DVC resorts it has happened.

Most transactions go smoothly for both sides, however there is risk for both sides also. Each party has to decide if the risk is worth the gain.

 

[tor]

To charge to the room you need to put a credit card on file when you check in. The hotel puts a hold on the account for the amount of the charge limit so how does the bill get back to the owner??

If the room is damaged I agree the owner could be held responsible.

 

[Chuck S]

Credit Card authorizations are not infallible. The user could report the card stolen after the pre-authorization. A computer glitch could cause a problem. A debit card could be useless if the account holder charges everything out of the account before the final bill is run by the front desk. Heck, the credit card company could simply deny payment because of "unusual activity" on the card. I've had cards shut down because I used them in Mexico...used them for lunch in Nuevo Laredo, and they wouldn't work for fuel on the way home.

 

[RobDoc]

Guests are not required to put a credit card on the room. In order to have charging privileges some prior arrangement must be made, but incidental charges (like telephone) would still be possible. In the situation reported here on the boards, the guest did use a credit card to enable charging privileges, but the resort somehow fouled up the account and the member who made the reservation was unable to use his account until the matter was settled. In that case, I think the fault lay entirely with Disney, but the member still had some inconvenience.

As Sammie stated, there are a number of situations where rooms have been damaged and members have been held responsible.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . I've never noticed a thread here where a member has been charged for damage to the room . . .

1) I remember a specific instance where we did charge a member for damage to a room.
2) A bill was sent for more than $4,000.
3) If the member does not pay, the DVC membership is revoked.
4) This puts the points up for sale to cover the costs.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . To charge to the room you need to put a credit card on file when you check in. The hotel puts a hold on the account for the amount of the charge limit . . .

1) Not so.
2) NO guest must put down a credit card.
3) You can charge by putting down a cash deposit.
4) The hotel does not put a hold on the card for "X" dollars.
5) In fact, EVERY night there are cards that can't take the charges due.
6) The resort has to ask for another card, if the guest hasn't left yet.

 

[tubtruck]

So the simple advice is if ever renting tell Dinsney NOT to allow any room charging,

 

[Chuck S]

So the simple advice is if ever renting tell Dinsney NOT to allow any room charging,

It is not Disney's responsibility or obligation to grant or deny resort perks/privileges granted all other onsite guests based on the desires of a DVC owner. Room charging is part of the onsite perks for all onsite guests, whether it is a DVC reservation or not. DVC members can not designate who receives those perks...but they are responsible for their renters, as the DVC owner receives the $$ for the rental, using their points.

In other words, telling Disney not to allow charging is NOT an available option...Disney considers it the same as if YOU are the guest...it is YOUR reservation.

 

[barlitz]

When you check in they ask you if you would like to leave a charge card for incedentals, They couldn't charge you for someone else's bill, If they were to let someone charge things up on the room without a credit card on file thats there problem! not yours.

 

[tor]

1) I remember a specific instance where we did charge a member for damage to a room.
2) A bill was sent for more than $4,000.
3) If the member does not pay, the DVC membership is revoked.
4) This puts the points up for sale to cover the costs.

1) Not so.
2) NO guest must put down a credit card.
3) You can charge by putting down a cash deposit.
4) The hotel does not put a hold on the card for "X" dollars.
5) In fact, EVERY night there are cards that can't take the charges due.
6) The resort has to ask for another card, if the guest hasn't left yet.

I agree it does not have to be a credit card and you would know better than I if a hold is put on the card as I do not work there.

When you check in the hotel offers to extend charging privileges and the person signs a statement ageeing to be responsible for the charges this individual does not have the ability to assign responsibility to a third party any more than I can use your credit card without your express written permission.

If this is covered in the agreement we signed I would like to see it. This does not mean that I think DVC won't try to make your life miserable should it happen just that ultimately you would prevail in court.

 

[JimMIA]

When you check in the hotel offers to extend charging privileges and the person signs a statement ageeing to be responsible for the charges this individual does not have the ability to assign responsibility to a third party any more than I can use your credit card without your express written permission.

First of all, DVC is not a hotel; it's a timeshare, and that's a very important difference in this discussion.

If you are renting (or treating a relative to a vacation stay), you made the ressie, on your account, using your authority as a member...and you are responsible for the reservation. Period. You are the one who can't assign that responsibility to someone else.

The posts above already clearly show that, in fact, members are held responsible for all obligations of their guests.

 

[Chuck S]

If this is covered in the agreement we signed I would like to see it. This does not mean that I think DVC won't try to make your life miserable should it happen just that ultimately you would prevail in court.

DVC Membership Agreement Section 4.1 Club Member Rentals
A club Member my make a reservation to use the accommodations of the Condominium or other DVC Resorts, if any, himself, make their use available to family of friends or guests, or rent solely through his own efforts. DVD's approval of a rental by a Club Member is not required after a reservation has been made in the renter's own name. No rental assistance is being offered by DVD or DVC or any affiliate or subsidiary of DVD and DVC. All renters must comply with the rules and regulations affecting occupancy, and the renting Club Member will be responsible for the acts or omissions of his renters or any other person or persons permitted by the Club Member to use the accommodation.

IMO the ability to room charge is a perk granted to all resort guests, thus it is part of the accommodation rented by the DVC owner, just like bus transportation and any other resort service that is normally included for an onsite guest.