renter not responding/no deposit as promised

[bsusanmb]

I didn't ask for a deposit until I got the confirmation #. I told them in email I would mail the contract and used one I copied on here. 1/2 payment with verbal confirmation # and then total when they received either email for DVC or letter. I emailed and told them payment is due NOW and also in letter. No response.

I think I shouldn't rent to anyone who has not rented previously unless they are willing to pay deposit right away.

 

[robinb]

I didn't ask for a deposit until I got the confirmation #. I told them in email I would mail the contract and used one I copied on here. 1/2 payment with verbal confirmation # and then total when they received either email for DVC or letter. I emailed and told them payment is due NOW and also in letter. No response.

OK, so you had no hard and set dates. BUT ... you did tell them the confirmation number and they should send the deposit. Email and phone them with a drop-dead date and stick to it.

I do admit that I am kinda confused about your payment timing. The time between the verbal confirmation and the paper one is not all that long. What is the point of the deposit anyway if they are just going to send you another check in 2-3 more weeks? But ... whatever floats your boat

Good luck. In some way I hope that they totally bail on you so you can get a more considerate renter.

 

[bsusanmb]

What I meant was that MS told me it could be "months" until I get the written confirmation, if ever, and it may only come email....it came early because that nice CM emailed them to me, but she didn't have to.

Well, I am going to cancel these non paying renters and then decide what to do.

 

[Deb & Bill]

.... AND I work for the federal government....the Veteran's Administration as a wound care nurse specialist...if I can't be trusted, who can? LOL
Susan

Ah, you nurses are all alike. Actually, you work for the Dept of Veteran's Affairs and, probably, the Veterans Health Administration. But the Veterans Administration ceased to exist in 1991. I know, because I work for the VA, too. But I'll still trust you.

 

[bsusanmb]

Oh, gosh I don't even know who I work for! Yes, VHA is what it is, I think. After 35 years you would think I would know that! Thanks for trusting me.
Or is it Department of Veterans Affairs? Well, anyhow, they do pay me!

 

[bsusanmb]

Well, I just got another email from one of my potential renters. Would someone please post here what was posted about almost no one has ever been ripped off by a dis member? I think the information on the RENT board makes potential renters uneasy when it says to demand a contract and references. I have never rented my points, and am not planning to do it again. So, I have no references, except the person who has paid me, and her trip isn't until the end of the month. What more can I do?
Susan

 

[Dean]

Gotta love that Dean! I am too much of a softy and worry about hurting someone's feelings...LOL like they care about mine! I need a teflon coat or a prozac salt lick!

I like to think I'm pretty easy to work with/for. Must be given my lack of turnover with my staff including two nurses that made me promise if I left, I'd give them a heads up because they would be also. But I think there are those on DIS that would disagree as I'm also willing to tackle the hard subjects and the view I take is about personal responsbility, rule following and I am conservative in nature.

IMO the secret to as stress free rental transactions as possible is to not set yourself up. Rent current UY points early in the UY. I ask for 25% down and the remainder at 4 months out. That way I have options. I've had a number of people go past the deadlines but given I have generally followed my own advice, I have some flexibility. I've really only had a couple of issues over the years. One, a member of this board, made an agreement based on the needs of a relative (though didn't tell me such until things went south) then the relative backed out and the DIS member didn't keep their word. Another from Arkansas backed out after an agreement and reservation but before they'd paid anything, while it was never really clear what was going on with them, I'm pretty sure it was the non redundable requirement and uncertainty of their situation. Again, no banked or borrowed points and early in the UY.

I wouldn't actually cancel until you have to or until you actually have plans for those points.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Well, I just got another email from one of my potential renters. Would someone please post here what was posted about almost no one has ever been ripped off by a dis member? I think the information on the RENT board makes potential renters uneasy when it says to demand a contract and references. I have never rented my points, and am not planning to do it again. So, I have no references, except the person who has paid me, and her trip isn't until the end of the month. What more can I do?
Susan

Tell them you have given them all the confirmation you can and you are sorry but it just isn't working out for you. So sorry. They can either pay up or find another person to rent from.

PS. VHA falls under VA (so does Veterans Benefits and National Cemetary Service).

 

[Dean]

Well, I just got another email from one of my potential renters. Would someone please post here what was posted about almost no one has ever been ripped off by a dis member? I think the information on the RENT board makes potential renters uneasy when it says to demand a contract and references. I have never rented my points, and am not planning to do it again. So, I have no references, except the person who has paid me, and her trip isn't until the end of the month. What more can I do?
Susan

I find that often potential renters start talking about references and contracts and then when they talk to me on the phone or after a few emails back and forth, they say never mind. You see the bottom line is the trust one has. references are easy to fake and IMO, a contract doesn't really help other than to lay out specifics. And a contract can actually cause a lot more issues than it helps. I almost never ask people to be references but some volunteer anyway. When some have insisted on a contract, I just tell them to write one that includes the info we've been talking about. I do specify not to make it overlly complicatedd then if there's any issues I'm not comfortable wth I say so and we go from there.

Just tell them the truth, that you don't have references and why and that you are uncomfortable. That you will cancel by Sat if you haven't gotten the appropriate payment. Reiterate that it's non refundable and if it wasn't in the original conctract, which is now void anyway it appears, add it as an email condition at this time. If you do it verbally, follow it up by email to be clear and give documentation. I know some of my most loyal renters started out very wary, that's one of the reasons I think they come back to me.

 

[bsusanmb]

I like to think I'm pretty easy to work with/for. Must be given my lack of turnover with my staff including two nurses that made me promise if I left, I'd give them a heads up because they would be also. But I think there are those on DIS that would disagree as I'm also willing to tackle the hard subjects and the view I take is about personal responsbility, rule following and I am conservative in nature.

IMO the secret to as stress free rental transactions as possible is to not set yourself up. Rent current UY points early in the UY. I ask for 25% down and the remainder at 4 months out. That way I have options. I've had a number of people go past the deadlines but given I have generally followed my own advice, I have some flexibility. I've really only had a couple of issues over the years. One, a member of this board, made an agreement based on the needs of a relative (though didn't tell me such until things went south) then the relative backed out and the DIS member didn't keep their word. Another from Arkansas backed out after an agreement and reservation but before they'd paid anything, while it was never really clear what was going on with them, I'm pretty sure it was the non redundable requirement and uncertainty of their situation. Again, no banked or borrowed points and early in the UY.

I wouldn't actually cancel until you have to or until you actually have plans for those points.

I tell my Chief Surgeon all the time that if he retires, so will I...no one gets along with him, but I would work with him any day....

Wish I had never offered to rent these points. Too much of a hassle, and too much work on the member's part.
Didn't you say that there have only been a couple of times that a rental went bad due to the DVC member being dishonest?

 

[Cruelladeville]

I rent my points also, and I don't need to do phone calls. I tell my renters via email that I require $100 deposit 7 days after I make the reservations. I tell them once I have made the reservations, and if I don't hear from them, I send one email saying that I will cancel the reservation if I don't hear from them, AND THEN I FOLLOW THROUGH. I cut them loose after that. If I hear from them, I remind them that I need the money on ----. About 3 weeks later, the rest of the money is due when they receive the confirmation, and then I am done with my renter, except for emails saying hi, how are you? or Lucky you! One more month till your vacation...something like that. If someone needs a lot of reinforcement because they don't trust me, I suggest they use Disney instead, renting points is for those who are willing to trust.

I hate to be mean, but renters are not your children, they are adults. Treat them as such, and it will be easier on you.

 

[PinkTink63]

Wow! I keep hearing more of this all the time! I rented my first years points when we first bought DVC, because we already had vacation plans, but never had these problems. I rented to two different people and transferred points to another member. I was new to the whole thing and I guess I was really lucky. I was paid immediately by all of them after I gave them there ressie #.
That is really too bad that they are hanging you out there like that! The easiest way for them to pay is through paypal. It does give them a little security.
Good Luck!

 

[JimMIA]

Didn't you say that there have only been a couple of times that a rental went bad due to the DVC member being dishonest?

Hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I have never heard of anyone losing money because a DVC MEMBER was dishonest.

We had a situation in late 2006 in which a member let her niece rent from her account, and that niece stole from four people that I know of. I am quite familiar with that situation, and I have no evidence that the aunt/owner knew of the thefts until after the fact. There could be other situations, but that one bad person is the only person I have heard of defrauding renters.

I've heard of a couple of situations where trusting owners lost money, but those are rare, as well.

 

[bsusanmb]

Thanks, Jim. I had the potential renters read this thread that I started and they felt much better about renting, and felt they knew me a little better. So, I emailed them the dates, price, points, etc and we are ok now.

I think the only thing that bothers me is that people will tell me how they are going to pay, almost like I am Disney CRO or something...

 

[JimMIA]

Well, I just got another email from one of my potential renters. ...So, I have no references, except the person who has paid me, and her trip isn't until the end of the month. What more can I do?
Susan

I think it depends on which renter you are talking about.

If you got an email from the prospective groom, I would ignore it. He's just a tender young thing trying to make everything perfect for everyone, but at some point, he's going to learn that he doesn't make decisions for his bride...much less for his MIL! Don't YOU be the person who shares his pain when he learns that lesson. If the MIL is uncommunicative, and the other person is snotty, I'd be done with that family. You can't do business with a surrogate who can't make things happen...and he obviously can't.

If it's the teacher, and she's concerned about trust, I would tell her the following:

1. She can go to the Orange County Comptroller's website (http://officialrecords.occompt.com/wb_or1/or_sch_1.asp) and verify that you, indeed, DO own your contracts. (Personally, that's the best reference I think anyone could give. Anyone who owns a DVC contract is fairly substantial to begin with, and certainly none of us want any issues with our accounts.)
2. You can do ONE conference call to make her ressie, add DDP or DME, handle requests, etc. That way she will be on the phone with MS directly and will be able to confirm everything. That's obviously not a guarantee of anything. You could hang up, call back, and cancel. But you won't.

If those two assurances are not enough for her, you can't help her and both of you should move on.

 

[JimMIA]

I think the only thing that bothers me is that people will tell me how they are going to pay, almost like I am Disney CRO or something...

ANY method of payment is fine between two honest parties. ANY method of payment can be used illegally by a dishonest party. No method of payment guarantees success; honesty and understanding of the process is what yields success.

If a renter wants to use a certain method of payment, I would have no problem with that, but they should pay any costs associated with that.

And, you also have to keep timelines in mind. If they want to pay by personal check or bank check, that will require more time to clear than a wire transfer, electronic check, or credit card.

 

[robinb]

Thanks, Jim. I had the potential renters read this thread that I started and they felt much better about renting, and felt they knew me a little better. So, I emailed them the dates, price, points, etc and we are ok now.

It sounds like things are working out for you. I'm sorry that you had so many problems, especially with your developer's points. I rented my developer's points and it was the hardest transaction I had. NOT because of my renters ... they were very nice! But because of the run-around I had trying to set up the reservation. Using developer's points is just not the same as using regular points. I would probably be tearing my hair out at this point having to cancel and re-schedule developer's points. PLUS, having to try to tell renters that the written confirmation may never come ... Mine did come, but it had my name on it! My renter was understandably concerned by MS could NEVER change the name on the written confirmation even through they would VERBALLY verify that my renter's names were on the reservation. I offered to do a 3-way call with MS for that renter but she declined. Everything went peachy for her and she even emailed a few months later to see if I had any more points to rent .

I think the only thing that bothers me is that people will tell me how they are going to pay, almost like I am Disney CRO or something...

What kind of payment you accept is totally up to you. I accept any kind of payment, including PayPal (as long as they cover my fees). I know another frequent renter who offers a discount for non-PayPal purchases. It really doesn't matter to me how that want to pay and I have never had (*knock wood*) a personal check bounce.

bsusanmb: Close your eyes for a second and imagine being on the Disney cruise ship and know that it will all be worth it!

Potential renters: Close your eyes for a second and imagine being in a DVC villa ... a deluxe accommodation at a moderate or value price ... and know that it will all be worth it .

 

[bsusanmb]

Sorry, what I meant with HOW THEY ARE GOING TO PAY is, not the method, but WHEN...."I will send you a night's deposit and then 30 days before the rental I will pay rest, that's how I do it" or, "I can't give you anything until the end of the month, and I will pay you a $100 deposit, and then "

Or they expect me to continue to hold a reservation, confirmed without paying me....something came up, I am busy, forgot, etc. CRO needs a deposit immediately and so do I!

 

[robinb]

Sorry, what I meant with HOW THEY ARE GOING TO PAY is, not the method, but WHEN...."I will send you a night's deposit and then 30 days before the rental I will pay rest, that's how I do it" or, "I can't give you anything until the end of the month, and I will pay you a $100 deposit, and then "

Again, you are totally in control of that. YOU set the terms, preferably in your contract which the renter agrees to BEFORE you make their reservation.

PS: I just emailed you.

 

[mikesmom]

Sorry, what I meant with HOW THEY ARE GOING TO PAY is, not the method, but WHEN...."I will send you a night's deposit and then 30 days before the rental I will pay rest, that's how I do it" or, "I can't give you anything until the end of the month, and I will pay you a $100 deposit, and then "

Or they expect me to continue to hold a reservation, confirmed without paying me....something came up, I am busy, forgot, etc. CRO needs a deposit immediately and so do I!

Okay, you don't need to put up with that. You are not a credit card company, you are not a bank, it's not your job to carry them. Apparently they can't (or don't want to) afford a ressie through CRO AND can't (or don't want to) afford your price, as reasonable as it is. If they want to play let's make a deal, let them haggle with CRO or an offsite motel. IMO people who want to stall and pay you out a $100 here and there are people that will have their eye out for a better deal and are most likely to hang you out to dry. Not worth it.