URGENT ?? from potential DVC point renter

[fam4jc]

Hi. For those of you who rent points from DVC owners, would you EVER pay the entire cost up-front? The owner I am working with has asked for the entire payment before she makes the call. That just makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. What do you think?

 

[PamOKW]

How soon is the reservation? If you are within 30 days of the trip, she'll be commiting her points to penalties as soon as she makes the reservation.

It's a little unusual to want payment before she makes the reservation. It's not unusual to want payment in full once you have received a confirmation # for your reservation. Trust is a big factor. If you are uncomfortable with this person, you can look for someone else.

 

[I-Love-Dopey]

I rented points just last week.
She made the reservation, emailed me with a phone number and confirmation# at Disney.
I called and confirmed the reservation. I then sent the payment in full to her.
I am headed there next week.

 

[PamOKW]

Just to further explain why this might be legitimate --

In I-Love-Dopey's case, if the person had called and made the reservation and then Dopey said "thanks but no thanks", the person would have the points go into a "holding account". They could only be used to make reservations 60 days before check-in and would have to be used by the end of the person's current Use Year. Just that one phone call, would put many restrictions on using these points. If your reservation is 31 days or more away, I'm not sure why they want payment "before" they can guarantee securing the reservation.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by PamOKW
How soon is the reservation? If you are within 30 days of the trip, she'll be commiting her points to penalties as soon as she makes the reservation.

Good point, Pam.

Unless you have supreme confidence in the person involved, I would be a little leery. Assuming the trip is at least a couple months away, the renter has little to lose by giving you a week or so to pay. He/she can cancel the reservation, without recourse, up to 30 days in advance.

I would at least insist on having the printed confirmation in-hand before you make full payment. Of course, even if you offer to pay some portion up-front, you're still putting that money at risk if there really is reason for concern.

Ask for references. Check them out. Speak to the person on the phone rather than relying on emails. And, if you're still concerned, just walk away from the deal. There are pleanty of people renting points. If this particular person can't put you at ease, then he only has himself to blame. And, if the rental price seems too good to be true, it just might be.

 

[LisaSt]

When we have rented points to people we will make the Reservation for them and then we will give them the tel# and confirmation number to the renter. This way they can call and check the reservation. We require 50% at that time and then the rest 4 months prior to the trip. Unless of course the trip is under 3 months away then we take payment in full.

 

[fam4jc]

Thanks everyone. I walked away. The reservations were for Jan 31, 2005. I was willing to make a deposit before she made the reservation at Disney, but that was all until I got confirmation from Disney that I had a trip in my name. Apparently this owner has someone else who will pay upfront. I just don't feel comfortable with that, and now with your input I know I made the right decision. So, I'll keep looking for a more agreeable arangement.

 

[LisaSt]

We have 200 Vero points available if you need something let us know.

 

[fam4jc]

Lisast, I've just posted on the rent board that I need 80 points. Can the Vero Beach ones be used at the BW or BC? I know, I sound stupid, well, I guess I am still a little ignorant about DVC points! I'm trying

 

[LisaSt]

Yes they can and I just e mailed you. Hey we were all at that same point at one time or another trust me on that one.

 

[dairyou]

Hi Everyone,

I'm the person that the original poster is speaking of.

I am renting my 2005 points. The problem is that if any person cancells their reservation I would have to use these points by 1/31/05. Normally it wouldnt be a problem, but since we are coming from California and we will have just been there in December 04, there would be no way I could use the points I rent to her by 1/31/05 (Even though I would love to go two months in a row). Of course you DVC owners probably understand a little bit better than the renters.

Trust is definately an issue and since I don't know the original poster she could cancell at the last minute and I would loose my points. Its just better for our situation to have the money up front if the person goes before February 2005. Any people after that we would be happy with a deposit only.

I felt I was always up front with the original poster. I told her it may not work for her, wished her the best, and told her there would be others that could do what she needed.

I just don't want to be made out as a greedy person. I'm just protecting my investment.

Thanks,
Deb

 

[Dean]

I certainly wouldn't rent out points that I borrowed or at the very end of the use year without payment up front. That's why I make every effort to stay out of that situationin the first place.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Borrowing points to then rent them out does put an interesting spin, given the restrictions of use on cancellation.