Sad Story from One Who Trusted without Checking!

[CRSNDSNY]

I'm so glad to see some resolve happening.

 

[drakethib]

Before we all go too overboard with rejoicing over Aunt E making Stacey whole, we should recognize that she did nothing she was not compelled to do.

I'm glad she finally fulfilled her promise to the police, but it wasn't like she just shot off a check. It took more than a month, and it was only after repeated follow-up phone calls from the detective Stacey was working with. When she became convinced he and Stacey were not going away, she did the minimum she had to do to keep her niece out of jail. I am convinced that she would not have paid a penny to anyone without the determined persistence of the detective. In fact, she dragged her feet so much she came perilously close to becoming a criminal subject herself.

She is also very well aware of Dani's situation (Dani and Stacey have both talked to her), and she has not made any effort to resolve that situation. She has not made any offer to make Dani whole...despite the fact that it would not cost her one additional penny to do so.

She's just an Aunt -- not an angel.

I somewhat agree with this statement but two things that suck is that:

1. The aunt had to pay the money back, not the PP. I would have let the PP go to jail over it. I also would have turned my niece over to the police over it.

2. Maybe the delay is because the aunt didn't have the money to pay back or the points in her account her transfer them to Dani. But I guess she could have made some kind of payment agreement with both Dani and Stacey.

I still think it sucks that the Aunt had to pay the money back and not the PP.

But hey I don't know what happened behind the scenes, maybe the aunt knew what was going on during the scheme, heck I don't know and there can be a bunch of what ifs.

With that being said I am happy to hear Stacey getting her money back and Dani at being at peace with this (but Dani I hope Santa brings you a check for the amount you were swindled)

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Well stated, drakethib.

 

[hauntedcity]

Since the aunt has to had to pay-up for the dishonest neice, I hope she washes her hands of DVC altogether and sells her contract to an honest family.

...but who would feel comfortable buying from her? Not I!

 

[dianeschlicht]

...but who would feel comfortable buying from her? Not I!

Why???? Either you would get the contract or Disney would. Buying a resale from her would likely go through a broker of some sort, so I can't figure where it would be uncomfortable. Fraud is fraud, no matter if it's a rental or a sale, and both are punishable by law.

 

[MyGoofy26]

I just came across this thread tonight and got totally sucked in! It's like a soap opera! I'm only halfway through the posts and can't walk away. .. so glad I don't work tomorrow! LOL!

OP (and other victims) so sorry this all happened to you. In the half that I've read, although it's terrible to think of people in the world willing to scam money from others it's nice to read all the positive posts and see how those people are outnumbered.

One thing I did want to comment on - I hadn't seen it mentioned yet, and if it was mentioned later then I apologize and just ignore me, LOL. Many were questioning why the PP would own points in her aunt's name and my first thought is she was trying to hide assets. Judging by her many excuses, she's may not all that financially stable and may have bought or transferred the contract using her aunt's name to protect the "value" of the DVC contract from coming into play if facing bankruptcy, judgements from creditors, etc. At least that was my first thought, rather than the existence of the contract or validity of her statement that she bought the contract being suspect. They could still be suspect. . . but wanted to throw this other reason out there as well.

 

[VogelFamily]

I have been in such a "funk" since I returned from my dream vacation in October. As many of you are aware, I rented points from the person who has scammed others. From the very beginning, I had my concerns. I rented 11 months in advance and had nothing but trouble from the very beginning in communicating with this individual. This was documented on these boards on a couple of occasions when I really felt uncomfortable. She always had an excuse and I so thought that I was over reacting that I let my gut feeling fall to the side. In the end, I have no idea how I came out of this with a successful rental.
I believe it was about 2 weeks before my final payment was due when she contacted me and asked that I pay by Western Union. We had never discussed this and after brief research, I sent certified/confirm receipt mail to her and the aunt that I was not willing to do this. Those letters continued to sit at the post office. The day before the balance was due, she finally contacted me by phone. I explained to her that I would be happy to make other arrangements but I would not send money WU. Since we had not even discussed that option I wanted full refund immediately if she needed to change the plans. I also insisted on 3-way phone call with MS to confirm reservation prior to sending the balance. This took place and I sent balance on postal money order with restricted delivery. If she wanted this money, she had to show picture ID and sign for it. Of course, she did this within minutes of it arriving even though the other letters still sat there. Curiously, the aunt let hers sit until days after the money order was cashed. Maybe the aunt really wasn't involved, I will never know, but I truly believe there is much more to the big picture.
I am so grateful that this worked out for me. I did truly have that "once in a lifetime" vacation. My memories are still carrying me and I am STILL not ready to go back to the real world. I can't explain the "funk" that I have been in but I don't need to. I know each of you following this thread can fully understand. No one around here "gets it". They thought I should be commited just for knowing where I was going to eat 9 months in advance.
Somewhere, sometime, someone smiled down on me and gave me my happy ending but I don't know if I would have the courage to do it again. Before this came to a conclusion, I just wanted to know if I had been scammed or not. I think I could have dealt with that as long as I knew before I showed up and was told I had no reservation. But that is really the whole point isn't it? As a renter, I had no control. For a control freak, an obsessive planner, that is an issue. I knew that going in but I wasn't prepared. I thought I was. I did learn a lot along the way. That is all that matters.
Enough rambling on. Best wishes to Dani and Stacey. I really feel your frustrations, you have taught others so much. Thank you for sharing.

By the way, you all were right. I have worked part time since my daughter was born 11 years ago. While sitting at the BCV, I told my husband, " maybe I should work full time. I'd gladly put in a few more hours a week to buy into this." It was magnificent. All I imagined and then some. I am currently trying to make plans for next October. I hope to rent again, but don't know if it's for me or not. Happy Holidays All. Thank you for your support and well wishes. It has been said before but as the recipient of all of the advice, I must stress what a great community you have here. Some of the best..................Heather

 

[dumbo71]

I have been in such a "funk" since I returned from my dream vacation in October. As many of you are aware, I rented points from the person who has scammed others. From the very beginning, I had my concerns. I rented 11 months in advance and had nothing but trouble from the very beginning in communicating with this individual. This was documented on these boards on a couple of occasions when I really felt uncomfortable. She always had an excuse and I so thought that I was over reacting that I let my gut feeling fall to the side. In the end, I have no idea how I came out of this with a successful rental.
I believe it was about 2 weeks before my final payment was due when she contacted me and asked that I pay by Western Union. We had never discussed this and after brief research, I sent certified/confirm receipt mail to her and the aunt that I was not willing to do this. Those letters continued to sit at the post office. The day before the balance was due, she finally contacted me by phone. I explained to her that I would be happy to make other arrangements but I would not send money WU. Since we had not even discussed that option I wanted full refund immediately if she needed to change the plans. I also insisted on 3-way phone call with MS to confirm reservation prior to sending the balance. This took place and I sent balance on postal money order with restricted delivery. If she wanted this money, she had to show picture ID and sign for it. Of course, she did this within minutes of it arriving even though the other letters still sat there. Curiously, the aunt let hers sit until days after the money order was cashed. Maybe the aunt really wasn't involved, I will never know, but I truly believe there is much more to the big picture.
I am so grateful that this worked out for me. I did truly have that "once in a lifetime" vacation. My memories are still carrying me and I am STILL not ready to go back to the real world. I can't explain the "funk" that I have been in but I don't need to. I know each of you following this thread can fully understand. No one around here "gets it". They thought I should be commited just for knowing where I was going to eat 9 months in advance.
Somewhere, sometime, someone smiled down on me and gave me my happy ending but I don't know if I would have the courage to do it again. Before this came to a conclusion, I just wanted to know if I had been scammed or not. I think I could have dealt with that as long as I knew before I showed up and was told I had no reservation. But that is really the whole point isn't it? As a renter, I had no control. For a control freak, an obsessive planner, that is an issue. I knew that going in but I wasn't prepared. I thought I was. I did learn a lot along the way. That is all that matters.
Enough rambling on. Best wishes to Dani and Stacey. I really feel your frustrations, you have taught others so much. Thank you for sharing.

By the way, you all were right. I have worked part time since my daughter was born 11 years ago. While sitting at the BCV, I told my husband, " maybe I should work full time. I'd gladly put in a few more hours a week to buy into this." It was magnificent. All I imagined and then some. I am currently trying to make plans for next October. I hope to rent again, but don't know if it's for me or not. Happy Holidays All. Thank you for your support and well wishes. It has been said before but as the recipient of all of the advice, I must stress what a great community you have here. Some of the best..................Heather

Now THAT is a post. May DVC come your way and SOON. We could use a few more like you.

 

[MyGoofy26]

I can't explain the "funk" that I have been in but I don't need to. I know each of you following this thread can fully understand. No one around here "gets it".

I can imagine how confusing it must be for you right now! Almost a year of stress, wondering if/when things would fall apart completely just to find out that you were the "lucky" one. That whole "what could have been" has to be bothering you!

What's sad is that this person has caused so much pain to so many people, and while she may be one of those people who wallows in her own misery (don't know one way or the other if she does - although her few posts and excuses seem to point in that direction) I don't think she'll ever truly understand what she's done to all of you.

I finally finished reading this whole thing today, and it seems like she was almost easing herself into the scam. Perhaps her intentions starting out were good and mistakes happened, but she realized she could make a quick buck when nothing truly "bad" happened to her (such as in the case from last year where the poster said part of the points transferred and she never followed through with the rest) She may have been working up the nerve to try it again with you and chickened out when you called her on the Western Union thing and unfortunately found someone willing to wire the money.

I hope all that were victimized see some sort of resolution, but most importantly I hope that the feelings created by what she has done to you all don't hang over you all during the holidays. I hope you can all "forget" long enough to enjoy time with your families.

 

[DMKEDM]

Heather: Bad as I felt over losing my $800, and over realizing I'd been scammed (there's nothing quite like the feeling one gets when one realizes one's been stupid and has been "had" as a result of that stupidity!), I wouldn't trade what happened to me for what happened to you for 3 times $800!!! Even what happened to Stacey was worse...I didn't (don't) have small children who were going to be disappointed; I didn't have actual plans in place that were at risk...I just saw a chance to grab some extra points so I could plan a bigger, more luxurious trip...I think of all of us, I'm perhaps the one least hurt...

Not that that excuses in any way what the "PP" (problem person) did (and no I cannot tell anyone, via PM or any other method, the person's name!)...The fact that I'm over it; that Heather got her vacation after much stress and agony; that Stacey got her money back doesn't make it "ok" that PP did what she did. But I am over it. In my view, all I lost was money. Yes, it was a lot of money. Yes, there were things I couldn't do/didn't buy because I lost that money. But I didn't risk a child's excitement. I didn't have to worry that my dream vacation might fall apart, w/essentially no notice and in a time & place where I would have limited ways to cope. It was, after all's said and done, "only money" for me...

I am profoundly grateful to know that "PP" has been stopped. (And I'm certain she has been stopped. Completely and totally.) I'm SO glad Stacey got her money back, and can take her little ones to Disney, albeit "later." And I'm really glad Heather got her trip, altho the stress leading up to it had to have been horrific.

Heather, do consider renting again, especially if you aren't yet ready to buy into DVC. So many people here on the DisBoards would be pure delight to rent from...if I had any extra points (maybe in five years or so I'll be over my "I want to go to Disney every six weeks" phase???), I'd gladly rent them to you! I suspect there are a number of folks who have posted regularly on this thread who would be happy to rent to you...don't let one bad apple wreck a renewal of a dream...you're actually a really, really good example of the lesson I learned the hard way...you were careful; you did pay attention to warning signs. And you did get a positive result ... I'm quite sure my "blind trust" and over-anxiety to get those extra points contributed greatly to my loss!

To those who wondered: my family is in the midst of a wonderful holiday season; I am over the "damage" done to me by this scam. I've learned from it; I've gained a real friend in Stacey, and have had my heart warmed by the help of JimMIA and the support of so many on these boards...all is right in my world -- even if I don't have enough points to go to Disney every six weeks! (I wouldn't keep my clients very long if I actually did leave for a week every six weeks anyway, and then I'd have to sell my DVC membership and then all would NOT be right in my world--grin!!!)...

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to everyone...

Dani

 

[castleri]

and a Merry Christmas and wonderful holiday season to you and your family, You do truly have the spirit of the season and have helped many people during this whole thing - Thank you.

 

[dianeschlicht]

So glad everything appears to have been worked out to the satisfaction of EVERYONE involved. I also hope Dani is right and that the PP HAS been stopped completely and totally! Happy Holidays to all!

 

[jekjones1558]

This thread has been so disheartening and so uplifting. I love your priorities, Dani. Heather's and Stacey's persistence are admirable. And the helpfulness of people like Jim and Doc and Tom is a wonderful example of what "community" is all about. God bless you, one and all.

 

[Tamar]

Great news! I'm so sorry Dani and Stacey had to go through anything like this, and we're all grateful that they pursued this and stopped the PP from doing any further harm. Happy Holidays and much pixie dust to all!!

 

[svalencia1]

I am so happy to see this outcome. I didn't think that there would be any resolution, although I was hopeful that there would be. I'm am so glad to belong to the DIS community. The care and compassion shown to all of the victims from Jim, Doc and all of the posters has been amazing. MAy everyone have a wonderful holiday season.

 

[joepoe]

Why???? Either you would get the contract or Disney would. Buying a resale from her would likely go through a broker of some sort, so I can't figure where it would be uncomfortable. Fraud is fraud, no matter if it's a rental or a sale, and both are punishable by law.

In fact, since it is interstate commerce, it is a federal crime. I would prosecute.

 

[AndyLand]

Just a couple of weeks ago I decided to rent or transfer my points for this year. We've done WDW a few times a year for about 10 years, been on 5 Disney cruises, Disneyland Paris and California. We have also traded to stay at Shutters in Santa Monica (wonderful place). It's time to give it a break and decide whether to sell or points or not.

I joined the site and put up my 300 pts for rent post, thinking this would be a simple process and that I would learn as I went and I also assumed that some kind of escrow account or other protection was used to protect both parties.

After getting many PM's, emails and multiple requests for part of my points, (I wanted to rent/transfer them all at once as I thought the new rule was only (1) rental /transfer per year) I started to return messages. Many of them went unanswered and constantly calling member services to check dates etc for people who don't even seem to really want them or have made multiple requests to many different members, it all seem overwhelming and time consuming.

Then I come across this long thread about fraud and deception (shouldn't there be an escrow account or something?) and here I am (brand new to the boards) with one or 2 posts to my name wondering if I'll just trade for a non Disney resort and not bother trying any transaction at all. I mean given the current situation I think it's going to be tough for someone to rent for the first time.

 

[dianeschlicht]

In fact, since it is interstate commerce, it is a federal crime. I would prosecute.

I'm not sure how this statement goes with the one of mine you quoted. I was referring to a SALE of points, not the rental process. The discussion I responded to with my post was about someone not wanting to buy the aunts contract from her because of the fraud with renting. If a contract is sold, it will either be sold to the buyer or to Disney in ROFR, so no need to be afraid of losing anything in that situation.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Just a couple of weeks ago I decided to rent or transfer my points for this year. We've done WDW a few times a year for about 10 years, been on 5 Disney cruises, Disneyland Paris and California. We have also traded to stay at Shutters in Santa Monica (wonderful place). It's time to give it a break and decide whether to sell or points or not.

I joined the site and put up my 300 pts for rent post, thinking this would be a simple process and that I would learn as I went and I also assumed that some kind of escrow account or other protection was used to protect both parties.

After getting many PM's, emails and multiple requests for part of my points, (I wanted to rent/transfer them all at once as I thought the new rule was only (1) rental /transfer per year) I started to return messages. Many of them went unanswered and constantly calling member services to check dates etc for people who don't even seem to really want them or have made multiple requests to many different members, it all seem overwhelming and time consuming.

Then I come across this long thread about fraud and deception (shouldn't there be an escrow account or something?) and here I am (brand new to the boards) with one or 2 posts to my name wondering if I'll just trade for a non Disney resort and not bother trying any transaction at all. I mean given the current situation I think it's going to be tough for someone to rent for the first time.

First, WELCOME to the DIS boards! It is always nice to have new "faces" here. Secondly, yes, you happend to be popping it at a very diificult time renting-wise. This thread, however, is all about the actions of one and only one dishonest person. The vast majority of rentals go off without a hitch.

As for people not returning messages... Many folks just go to the R/T board and are not really DISers, so they aren't on very often, thus are not checking their PMs, etc. Good luck and I hope you and around for a while!

 

[CinderellaIam]

Wow, I stepped away from this thread for a few weeks as it was making me a little anxious about my up-coming (now over) vacation on rented points. I am soooo glad to see that that Stacy has resolution and Dani is at peace with where things are.

For those prospective renters who are letting this scenario scare them from ever renting points (Heather are you listening?) I want to say that you need to trust people, however not blindly. Follow your gut instincts and do your due dilligence. As any with other business transaction, do not jump in blindly.

I have just returned from my third WDW vacation in two years on rented points and I must say that my experiences with the three different owners have been so much more than pleasant. Each of them went out of their way to make my accomodations, add ME and the DP and even made changes when members of my party changed their minds about going.

This very last rental my final payment was lost in the mail. I had noticed the check hadn't cleared and contacted the owner, who called me at home two days before my trip and we made arrangements to get him paid ASAP. Everything worked out beautifully and my family had a wonderful vacation.

Happy Holidays to all!!