Trouble Linking DVC Point Rental to MDE

[TinkandCrew]

Hello,

I just rented points from a DVC member. They sent me a copy of the email reservation confirmation. I tried linking it to MDE and it says it can’t recognize the reservation number.
The confirmation says “Welcome home (DVC members name is here” then the guests listed is my family.
Am I trying to link it too soon or could something be wrong? I’m a newbie at this so any advice welcome.
Thank you!

 

[erionm]

There is no too soon when it comes to linking a DVC reservation to MDE. I typically link mine within minutes of making them.

Does your last name have any special characters like an apostrophe or dash?

 

[Sandisw]

Double check the spellings and ensure they match your name. That happened last year for one I booked for a friend. I spelled her last name wrong and it wouldn’t connect until I fixed it.

 

[CarolynFH]

If the owner's name is the one listed as primary guest, that may be the problem - your names are listed on the reservation, but if your names aren't linked to the owner via MDE Friends & Family, MDE may not allow you to be connected to that reservation number. The owner needs to contact MS via chat/email/phone and list you as the primary guest.

Edited to clarify - even though the owner has listed you "Joe Smith" as being on the reservation, MDE has no way of knowing that the Joe Smith (you) entering that reservation number into MDE is the same Joe Smith the owner has listed, since (I assume) you're not connected to him via F&F in MDE. I'm not sure that's the problem, but I suspect it may have something to do with it, especially if none of the issues mentioned in previous posts apply.

 

[Marionnette]

If the owner's name is the one listed as primary guest, that may be the problem - your names are listed on the reservation, but if your names aren't linked to the owner via MDE Friends & Family, MDE may not allow you to be connected to that reservation number. The owner needs to contact MS via chat/email/phone and list you as the primary guest.

Edited to clarify - even though the owner has listed you "Joe Smith" as being on the reservation, MDE has no way of knowing that the Joe Smith (you) entering that reservation number into MDE is the same Joe Smith the owner has listed, since (I assume) you're not connected to him via F&F in MDE. I'm not sure that's the problem, but I suspect it may have something to do with it, especially if none of the issues mentioned in previous posts apply.

I don't think that it matters in the case of there possibly being 2 Joe Smiths. We're traveling with my daughter, her husband and her in-laws in December. Both guys have the same name (Sr. & Jr.). Only Jr is listed in my F&F but Sr was able to link his reservation in MDE.

 

[CarolynFH]

I don't think that it matters in the case of there possibly being 2 Joe Smiths. We're traveling with my daughter, her husband and her in-laws in December. Both guys have the same name (Sr. & Jr.). Only Jr is listed in my F&F but Sr was able to link his reservation in MDE.

Okay, I stand corrected - although I wonder whether the Sr. & Jr. having the same name allowed MDE to think they were the same person? Or is Sr. listed as F&F in Jr.'s account (or Jr.'s wife's account), so the reservation linked through Jr.? MDE is so complicated!

 

[TinkandCrew]

If the owner's name is the one listed as primary guest, that may be the problem - your names are listed on the reservation, but if your names aren't linked to the owner via MDE Friends & Family, MDE may not allow you to be connected to that reservation number. The owner needs to contact MS via chat/email/phone and list you as the primary guest.

Edited to clarify - even though the owner has listed you "Joe Smith" as being on the reservation, MDE has no way of knowing that the Joe Smith (you) entering that reservation number into MDE is the same Joe Smith the owner has listed, since (I assume) you're not connected to him via F&F in MDE. I'm not sure that's the problem, but I suspect it may have something to do with it, especially if none of the issues mentioned in previous posts apply.

I am wondering if the problem is the DVC member being listed as primary. It says welcome home and that person’s name…we are all listed as guests. Our name spellings are correct and we have no suffixes, etc. that would be the cause. Ugh….

 

[Sandisw]

I am wondering if the problem is the DVC member being listed as primary. It says welcome home and that person’s name…we are all listed as guests. Our name spellings are correct and we have no suffixes, etc. that would be the cause. Ugh….

I would say that is it. I would ask them to get it changed so you can link it.

 

[CarolynFH]

I am wondering if the problem is the DVC member being listed as primary. It says welcome home and that person’s name…we are all listed as guests. Our name spellings are correct and we have no suffixes, etc. that would be the cause. Ugh….

Yes, that’s what I wonder. You might check with the owner - they can add you to the reservation online, but to change the Primary Guest name from them to you they have to contact MS, which can take some time no matter whether they try chat/email or call. Hopefully the owner is working on that now.

 

[Marionnette]

I am wondering if the problem is the DVC member being listed as primary. It says welcome home and that person’s name…we are all listed as guests. Our name spellings are correct and we have no suffixes, etc. that would be the cause. Ugh….

The "Welcome Home (owner's name)" appears at the top of every reservation. What matters is what the list of guests says. If the owner's name is the first name on the guest list, that's the problem.

 

[CraigInPA]

It's my understanding that if you are listed on the reservation by EMAIL ADDRESS as any of the guests (primary or not), you can link the reservation to your MDE account that shares that email address. I know this worked for me when I rented points to someone and couldn't get through to MS to put their NAME in as the primary guest, but was able to change the EMAIL ADDRESS on the primary guest online. They were able to see and link the reservation to their MDE account, despite the fact that my name was still listed as the primary guest.

 

[CarolynFH]

It's my understanding that if you are listed on the reservation by EMAIL ADDRESS as any of the guests (primary or not), you can link the reservation to your MDE account that shares that email address. I know this worked for me when I rented points to someone and couldn't get through to MS to put their NAME in as the primary guest, but was able to change the EMAIL ADDRESS on the primary guest online. They were able to see and link the reservation to their MDE account, despite the fact that my name was still listed as the primary guest.

That’s what I’ve been thinking too. When listed as F&F in MDE, people are matched to a reservation via email address as opposed to the name itself. So you were listed as primary guest, changed your email address to the renter’s email address, and they were able to link to MDE, right? Did you have any problems with DVC emails unrelated to that reservation that should have gone to you going to the renter instead? @TinkandCrew, you need to communicate with the owner you rented from to let them know they need to either change the primary guest name via MS or change the primary guest email address to yours.

 

[CraigInPA]

That’s what I’ve been thinking too. When listed as F&F in MDE, people are matched to a reservation via email address as opposed to the name itself. So you were listed as primary guest, changed your email address to the renter’s email address, and they were able to link to MDE, right? Did you have any problems with DVC emails unrelated to that reservation that should have gone to you going to the renter instead? @TinkandCrew, you need to communicate with the owner you rented from to let them know they need to either change the primary guest name via MS or change the primary guest email address to yours.

I was listed as the primary guest. I changed the primary guest email and mailing address (but not her name) to my renter. She was able to link the reservation to her MDE. I was able to get through to MS the next day (had waited 70 minutes on hold the earlier day) and changed the primary guest name to hers. DVC sends changes to the reservation to me, but everything else to her. When I changed the primary name to hers, I asked the CM to include her on the confirmation email.

 

[CarolynFH]

@TinkandCrew, please let us know if your issue was rectified! See post above!

 

[starry_solo]

It's my understanding that if you are listed on the reservation by EMAIL ADDRESS as any of the guests (primary or not), you can link the reservation to your MDE account that shares that email address. I know this worked for me when I rented points to someone and couldn't get through to MS to put their NAME in as the primary guest, but was able to change the EMAIL ADDRESS on the primary guest online. They were able to see and link the reservation to their MDE account, despite the fact that my name was still listed as the primary guest.

Nope. That doesn't matter at all. At least when I'm listed as primary and a friend is one of the secondaries (and he doesn't have her email address).

My email address that I use to communicate with my owner that I rent from and that he puts on the reservation is NOT the same as my email address for MDE.