Wanted to share my not great experience with MS regarding renting points

[Best Aunt]

If I call the Disney World number (not DVC) about something and I think the person on the phone is giving me incorrect info, I end the call and try again later, hoping that I get a more knowledgeable person. "Oh my gosh, my cat is throwing up, I'll have to call back later" is my go-to line.

I would do the same if I called DVC Member Services and I thought the person on the phone was wrong.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I think it’s because it was a spec reservation made specifically for the purpose of renting. People would probably feel different if the reservation action was made for actual personal use and then something came up and they were trying to fill it.

I know that I personally can’t stand spec renting. However, that doesn’t excuse MS from not being trained correctly by DVC on the issue.

I am also against most spec renting. This where it can become a case by case basis. This one was way after the 7 months window and with expiring points from a new contract purchase. Not done with gotta get the prime room at the prime time for prime money.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I am also against most spec renting. This where it can become a case by case basis. This one was way after the 7 months window and with expiring points from a new contract purchase. Not done with gotta get the prime room at the prime time for prime money.

Just wanted to add full disclosure. I have spec rented. Once again not booked at 11 months not a prime time. I went online saw something and booked it. When points have to be used by a certain date or they expire it's a gamble to rent the traditional way.

 

[jolynne28]

I think it’s because it was a spec reservation made specifically for the purpose of renting. People would probably feel different if the reservation action was made for actual personal use and then something came up and they were trying to fill it.

I know that I personally can’t stand spec renting. However, that doesn’t excuse MS from not being trained correctly by DVC on the issue.

I am also against most spec renting. This where it can become a case by case basis. This one was way after the 7 months window and with expiring points from a new contract purchase. Not done with gotta get the prime room at the prime time for prime money.

Someone cancelled a week in a studio two months out, I happened to see it, so I grabbed it thinking it would probably be my best shot at renting the banked points, there was nothing nefarious about it. Like @VGCgroupie said, I wasn't booking an 11 month hard to get reservation with the sole purpose of upcharging someone to rent it from me. Spec renting to me is people that are doing exactly that, taking the hard to get reservations and profiting off it.
As for MS, my issue is that I don't think it's hard for them to see from past & current reservations that we use our contracts for personal use. A one time rental situation shouldn't trigger the type of response I got.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Someone cancelled a week in a studio two months out, I happened to see it, so I grabbed it thinking it would probably be my best shot at renting the banked points, there was nothing nefarious about it. Like @VGCgroupie said, I wasn't booking an 11 month hard to get reservation with the sole purpose of upcharging someone to rent it from me. Spec renting to me is people that are doing exactly that, taking the hard to get reservations and profiting off it.
As for MS, my issue is that I don't think it's hard for them to see from past & current reservations that we use our contracts for personal use. A one time rental situation shouldn't trigger the type of response I got.

Exactly, 10 seconds looking at your reservations would have been clear. I have actually had MS look at my reservations and say "wow you have alot of reservations" so it isnt a long process to see what you have booked.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Someone cancelled a week in a studio two months out, I happened to see it, so I grabbed it thinking it would probably be my best shot at renting the banked points, there was nothing nefarious about it. Like @VGCgroupie said, I wasn't booking an 11 month hard to get reservation with the sole purpose of upcharging someone to rent it from me. Spec renting to me is people that are doing exactly that, taking the hard to get reservations and profiting off it.
As for MS, my issue is that I don't think it's hard for them to see from past & current reservations that we use our contracts for personal use. A one time rental situation shouldn't trigger the type of response I got.

Oh, I wasn’t trying to pile on you. I was just responding to why the “tone” of the replies may be a certain way.

 

[sndral]

If was very off-putting and I will admit that I was a little offended, which is stupid. But when you spent as much money as a lot of us on this board do on Disney, it stung to be treated like I was doing something wrong or had bad intentions. She even weirdly mentioned that she had spoken to me before b/c she remembered my name. I have rarely called MS, and all other interactions have been pleasant.

Thanks for reporting your experience, every bit of information we learn helps as we sail these uncharted waters.
I think it’s possible that the issue wasn’t personal use v. commercial use per se, but that you ran afoul of the first come first served rule pursuant to this clause in the governing documents “no owner may directly rent,…without making a prior reservation…on a first come first served basis. DVD’s approval of a rental by an owner is not required after a reservation has been made in the renter’s own name.” Maybe CMs have been instructed to not allow lead guest name changes if the reason for doing so is because the owner is renting the reservation & to instruct the owner to cancel & rebook in the renter’s name pursuant to this clause & the CM wasn’t happy about having to deal w/ enforcing the new guidance.
If it were me I wouldn’t complain too loudly & risk having my reservation scrutinized & possibly cancelled, but I’m very risk averse .
OTH, sometimes CMs misunderstand, or meaning is lost in translation, or they’re confused. This is new to them just like it’s new to us.
My most recent telephone call w/ a DVC CM took forever to buy 5 date based tickets & 2 Sorcerer’s passes & the CM’s understanding of eligibility to buy sorcerers passes was incorrect, but after an hour+ I managed to make my purchase.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Thanks for reporting your experience, every bit of information we learn helps as we sail these uncharted waters.
I think it’s possible that the issue wasn’t personal use v. commercial use per se, but that you ran afoul of the first come first served rule pursuant to this clause in the governing documents “no owner may directly rent,…without making a prior reservation…on a first come first served basis. DVD’s approval of a rental by an owner is not required after a reservation has been made in the renter’s own name.” Maybe CMs have been instructed to not allow lead guest name changes if the reason for doing so is because the owner is renting the reservation & to instruct the owner to cancel & rebook in the renter’s name pursuant to this clause & the CM wasn’t happy about having to deal w/ enforcing the new guidance.
If it were me I wouldn’t complain too loudly & risk having my reservation scrutinized & possibly cancelled, but I’m very risk averse .
OTH, sometimes CMs misunderstand, or meaning is lost in translation, or they’re confused. This is new to them just like it’s new to us.
My most recent telephone call w/ a DVC CM took forever to buy 5 date based tickets & 2 Sorcerer’s passes & the CM’s understanding of eligibility to buy sorcerers passes was incorrect, but after an hour+ I managed to make my purchase.

I and many others completely disagree with this assessment. It is your opinion not fact. CM's as a whole have not been instructed to not change names on reservations. Just like your experience with ticket purchases CM have clearly not all been trained properly to handle this situation.

DVC really needs to get its act together.. you cant have rules for some but not for all, that is a huge liability.

 

[Sandisw]

And it seems MS is the jury since they are just giving their opinions and there appears to be more than one opinion.

I was told by a few supervisors that they have very specific info they need to share with owners and it definitely is one that appears to me, especially given my own experience to be misleading if not false.

The word rent comes up and they are supposed to read the clause but it seems to me that the line that discusses rentals is not being shared..

I had to call a few CMs out on that. An owner who doesn’t have a clue would not even know that one exists and is walking away with an impression not accurate.

Hopefully those getting info from CMs that they believe is wrong are contacting DVC with a screenshot of the FAQ.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks for reporting your experience, every bit of information we learn helps as we sail these uncharted waters.
I think it’s possible that the issue wasn’t personal use v. commercial use per se, but that you ran afoul of the first come first served rule pursuant to this clause in the governing documents “no owner may directly rent,…without making a prior reservation…on a first come first served basis. DVD’s approval of a rental by an owner is not required after a reservation has been made in the renter’s own name.” Maybe CMs have been instructed to not allow lead guest name changes if the reason for doing so is because the owner is renting the reservation & to instruct the owner to cancel & rebook in the renter’s name pursuant to this clause & the CM wasn’t happy about having to deal w/ enforcing the new guidance.
If it were me I wouldn’t complain too loudly & risk having my reservation scrutinized & possibly cancelled, but I’m very risk averse .
OTH, sometimes CMs misunderstand, or meaning is lost in translation, or they’re confused. This is new to them just like it’s new to us.
My most recent telephone call w/ a DVC CM took forever to buy 5 date based tickets & 2 Sorcerer’s passes & the CM’s understanding of eligibility to buy sorcerers passes was incorrect, but after an hour+ I managed to make my purchase.

There is no rule in place that limits modifications or lead guest changes.

I specifically asked this and no policy changes are in place.

I know people think that the HRR as written would allow DVC to stop it, but nothing has been put out by DVC that interpretation is true.

Matter of fact, I was allowed to change a lead guest name to a rental by simply saying it falls under the personal use clause of the contract because lead guest changes are currently allowed and my level of renting is neither frequent or regular as the T and C mention.

Until something offical is changed, all an owner is required to do is confirm it fits under personal use…which renting does…and the CMs will confirm it.

ETA: this was also what I brought up to the board as a concern when changing rules.