To or not to rent points

[krikiter]

Physical damage, including spilling things on the carpet and not cleaning them up. Leaving the stove top a mess or stuff spilled in the refrigerator.

I know guests left a big mess in the villa we were supposed to check into on New Years Day. They had a big party including lots of bottle spirits and left it all for the housekeepers to clean up.

If there was left over hooch in those bottles, would that be considered gratuity?

 

[krikiter]

Most of the time it goes just fine.

A lot of people do "rent" their points but don't do "stranger rentals" - they rent to people they know personally (and can trust - because business arrangements between friends who don't pay are worse than the strangers). I have a list in my phonebook. Its all those people who when we say "we own a timeshare at Disney" say "oh, I'd like to go sometime if you don't use it" - and when they say that I do tell them what the deal would be. "I keep a list, I charge my friends my dues on the points - which would still be a LOT cheaper than a hotel room on property, I can put your name on the list - but I don't anticipate needing it" (and I haven't.)

(If I ever need the list, I'll start with the folks that 1) I can trust to pay me and not trash the room, leave unpaid bills 2) are most likely to have been serious enough when they said something and 3) have had talks about taking the kids to Disney that they haven't pulled the trigger on. I'm somewhat more likely to put the points up at our church fundraising auction though.)

Building up a "interested persons" sounds like a good idea. Since I just bought my first contract, I end up talking DVC ALOT. And at least 1/2 the people I mention it to show some level of interest in future renting. Looks like I'll have to start keeping notes...

 

[Phil Cirrone]

I've been a member since 94' and have rented maybe 4 times with no problems at all. Its getting a bit tougher to rent on the board though. With all the new rules.

 

[mmcrazy]

As a renter for the first time I was very appreciative of the DVC member securing the reservation. I agree with Sage. I would totally respect the DVC member and treat the property as if it were my own. It does no one any good to trash a place just because you can. It will eventually cost everyone more in the end.

 

[Sandisw]

Doesn't Disney run the credit card when presented for the dining? I am confused as to how an owner would be responsible if the credit card was bad.

Yes, I believe they hit it to see that it is still valid. However, sometimes things happen between check in and check out and the charges are declined.

Disney has no recourse but to involve the owner in the situation as the renter was there on the owner's membership.

Its not that Disney expects the owner to pay the bill but suspends use of the account until the owner contacts the renter and has them satisfy the outstanding charges. Basically, as the owner, we take the risk to let someone else use our membership and therefore, are stuck with the headache if there is a problem.

Of course, members may end up being forced to pay the bill to unfreeze the account since finding the renter and getting them to pay can take time--more time then an owner is going to want to have their account suspended.

 

[high meadows]

We have rented leftover points twice, second time just this month. We talk to our prospective renters; we do the same with vendors, most other commercial transactions. If you do not have a sense of trust, rent to someone else. The recent changes to the DIS Boards policies seem wise: this is a kind of community which engenders some trust and confidence.

Both times worked fine. For both, we purchased the Disney Dining Plan, charged it and were reimbursed by the renters. It's fairly simple to do, just keep the DDP in the renters' names.

 

[pmcpmc]

HI All,
We have been a member of DIS for a while now and have done a lot of reading of trip reports and peoples comments. Looked at the Rent\Transfer section and it seems that a lot of people rent their points. What I was wondering is if you were to get a bad or problem renter does it reflect back on you as the renter with DVC.

We have only been DVC members for a couple of years now and would like to explore the possibility of renting out points any suggestions or what to look out for would be helpfull.


Thanks.

Just a reminder that beginning February 1, we will only check posting history for the 6 months prior to any Rent/Trade board thread submission. In order for a Rent/Trade thread to be approved, the poster will have to have made 50 posts contributing to discussions on non-Rent/Trade DIS Boards consistently spread throughout those prior 6 months.

This is being instituted to ensure that anyone submitting a Rent/Trade thread is an active and contributing member of our online DIS community.
This is one of the new rules which has beeen added to the rent/transfer board to help improve the trustworthiness of contracts.
Much to be commended !
Sometimes a transfer between members can be an easier tranaction as it causes no long term worries as to whether the reservation will be there or on the other side whether a bill will be left behind.

 

[kmsimone]

Make sure you have at least 50 posts in the last 6 months or you will not be allowed to use this website to rent your points. There is a thread outlining the regulations.

 

[beccaisqueen]

We've rented points and never had a problem. That being said, the DVC member is ultimately responsible. Whenever we have points available, I always offer them to previous renters via email first and have had many repeat renters.

 

[yfchen22]

Doesn't Disney run the credit card when presented for the dining? I am confused as to how an owner would be responsible if the credit card was bad.

We rented to a stranger once, talked to her on the phone several times. Everything seemed fine until I called member service to reserve a vacation several months later. They have the account on hold due to non payment of room charges. They did present a credit card which Disney could not collect. The liability falls on the owner, it's up to us to get the money from the renter or pay up. We couldn't find the renter so we had to pay Disney their credit charges, otherwise we can't do anything with our Disney account. The owner is responsible for charges to the room that is used by using your points.

 

[mikron]

We have rented since 2004 with no trouble. 99.9% of renters are the same type people as the rentors. Renters are looking for a good price to enjoy a Magical Vacation. We have a renters agreement to state clearley what we expect from the renter and conditions Disney requires of all of us.

We require payment in full within 10 days of the renter receiving there reservation we have mailed to them from Disney. We have a no refund policy and will help re rent the points for the renter. We understand if someone is not happy with our terms but we need to protect ourself also.

 

[yehua72]

We have rented points several times and all the transactions went through smoothly. With the new rules of posting in rent/trade boards, it is getting inconvenient to keep up the posts req in order to post the ad.

 

[Tamar]

We occasionally rent points after we are sure we are set for the next year (if there are any points we won't be able to bank). The thing I like about dealing with another DISer is you can see the type of person you're renting to from their past posts. That and a contract have made it palatable for me.

I'd be hard pressed to rent to someone without a fair number of posts here. People who read about the great deals they can get and have obviously just signed up on DIS to rent points will need to work with someone else. It's getting a little harder to only connect with those types of renters with the recent changes, but I lucked out last year and found a long time poster who wanted exactly what I had to offer.

 

[waterford]

Just wanted to add my few cents worth.

I am an owner and for me I am worried about renting my points out. I was shocked last week to read a thread about someone who had left a large room bill.

I think there has to be an element of trust on both sides.

 

[farmermr]

I've done 3 different rentals to 2 different people. I spoke to both people and was able to develop a rapport with each throughout the process. We employed no contract, and everything went well based on an element of mutual trust. If I am able to do a deal with either of these folks again, I would be happy to in a heartbeat, however I feel now as though a contract will be needed with anyone other than trusted renters.

 

[DVC SSR Owner]

Ultimately. If a renter charges up a room bill, the owner has to pay for it. I would think that renting out points via transfer to other owners would be the only safe option. Is there anplace to rent via transfers?

 

[Chuck S]

Ultimately. If a renter charges up a room bill, the owner has to pay for it. I would think that renting out points via transfer to other owners would be the only safe option. Is there anplace to rent via transfers?

Our R/T Board allows member to member transfers. It is impossible to transfer points to a non-DVC Member. The only option for non-members is a rental.

 

[two*little*birds]

Can someone point me in the right direction as to where I can find DVC owners offering rentals/transfers?

Thanks!

 

[Chuck S]

Can someone point me in the right direction as to where I can find DVC owners offering rentals/transfers?

Thanks!

Sure, try the DVC Rent/Trade board and reply to a Points for Rent thread threre, or contact David's DVC Rentals, our R/T Board sponsor.

 

[Ericandjenng]

We rented out our points early this year to different people--both strangers. It worked out great. Both of our renters had great vacations (one 8 day and one 7 day). Both have asked that we contact them when we have additional points available. I did talk to at least one person from each family on the phone early in the process and they got to know us a little that way. We had plans that would have put us at the World with one family hoping to get to meet in person. We had to cancel due to a medical situation--hopefully we'll get to meet them in the future.

In deciding to rent, I used a very consistent process of answering people in the order that they contacted me and following through on what I told them. I also used a written contract that is a simplified version of some the templates here on the DISboards. I also used the Postal Service so that if either we or the renters were trying to commit fraud, it became a federal offense. My contract called for 50% down within 10 business days of confirmed reservations at which time the no refund policy went into effect. I would help re-rent the points if they needed to cancel but with no guarantees. The remaining 50% was due 60-90 days prior to travel dates depending on reservation dates vs our banking, etc. window.

I explained my policies upfront and maintained contact through each stage. Including checking in with my renters after their trips to make sure they had a great time. I also advertised that I was offering a written contract.

I have also had people from work offer to rent but I hesitate to rent to co-workers...I am more likely to just give them the points. If it's a gift, then it's not business!

Good luck to future renters/rentors!!