Rules Experts Please Help

[pentex]

We had a reservation booked from 10/1 - 10 but now need to cancel. I see in my book that cancellations within 30 days go into the holding account but otherwise get returned to use year.

I very much want to keep as many points as possible in the use year because from what I can tell, in the holding account, you can't make ressies until less than 60 days which will limit choices.

I tried to call on Friday, 9/3 to change the reservation to 10/1-3 so the other nights would be returned to my use year....would that have worked? Then, I planned on calling to cancel the rest and have only those put in holding acct? Is this a possibility?

The problem was they were closed on Friday because of hurricane and I couldn't speak to anyone....do you think they'll penalize me because of this and when I call tomorrow not allow me to change the 10/3- 7 dates?

I'm confused so please help if you can...I've been a member since 1993 and never had to cancel/change before. (It's killing me since it was SSR....2 bedroom...but I have a new job and can't take the time...they just told me on Friday).

 

[PamOKW]

Under ordinary circumstances, you must cancel 31+ days prior to ARRIVAL to avoid the Holding Account penalty. If that day is a Sat-Sun or Holiday, you must call the previous day. In your example, you should have called by Tuesday, August 31.

I don't think the penalty would have changed just because the nights you wanted to cancel were still 31 days out. It's the start of the entire reservation that they take into consideration.

You may get lucky since they are being pretty flexible due to the circumstances. If they do go into holding they have to be used by the end of the current use year, can't be banked or borrowed, and can only be used for reservations made 60 days or more in advance of check-in. Also keep in mind that you can't make reservations at non-DVC options during the last 60 days of your Use Year (although you can travel during that time if the reservations were made previously).

 

[ClarabelleCow]

If you had been a member since 1993, wouldn't the one time thing count. Have you ever had to change and do that? I would just be honest with them and explain the new job thing, then with the hurricane, you couldn't get through and see what they will do. I had to get an exception with RCI with out other timeshare, it was reallly stupid, but we are renting a unit at our home resort in St. Maarten. I booked and paid, then a month later, they had a better unit available, I asked for them to put me in that unit instead of the one we booked, they said I would have to pay about $300.00 to do that, then she noticed I was a member since 1991 and had never asked for anything special, so she just did it!!! We have a penthouse with a view, instead of a 3 floor with a view of a walkway!!! So Iwould give it a try on tuesday, or even Wednesday, not sure when they reopen.

 

[Dean]

Even on 9/3 you were in the 30 day window already and would not have gotten the points back, as Pam Pointed out. don't use your one time exceptions for this unless it's a lot of points. Play on their sympathy and if you can at all try to hurricane window, you may be successful.