I hate hate hate RCI - confirmation cancellations, again!

[Laurie]

They are cancelling two consecutive European confirmations I made long ago, to the only resort I have ever booked into for a repeat visit.

They have done this (cancelled European confirmations) twice to me in the past. That will make 4 times.

They haven't contacted me - I found an extra spacebank in my acct, and knew right away what that meant. Waiting to hear from a "specialist"...

[bellesgirl]

What was their reason for canceling? When were you scheduled to go?

[dougp26364]

It baffle's me why you continue to do business with them. I guess we're fortunate in that the only two timeshares I own the exchange through RCI are resorts we can either use personally or have an internal exchange program that bypasses RCI's problems.

[Laurie]

Resort is Alpin Palace, Muerren, Switzerland, for June 2010. I was told they are disaffiliating w/RCI, although it's still in resort database.

We were there 4 years ago and it was probably my all-time favorite exchange location. I waited out the 1-in-4 rule, and have been so looking forward to returning, so booked 2 back-to-back weeks. In my whole exchange life of over 10 years now, there hasn't ever been anywhere else I've wanted to stay for multiple weeks.

At the moment no one is more baffled than myself, as to why I continue to do business with them.

[dougp26364]

Originally Posted by Laurie

Resort is Alpin Palace, Muerren, Switzerland, for June 2010. I was told they are disaffiliating w/RCI, although it's still in resort database.

We were there 4 years ago and it was probably my all-time favorite exchange location. I waited out the 1-in-4 rule, and have been so looking forward to returning, so booked 2 back-to-back weeks. In my whole exchange life of over 10 years now, there hasn't ever been anywhere else I've wanted to stay for multiple weeks.

At the moment no one is more baffled than myself, as to why I continue to do business with them.

If RCI isn't lying to you, which is a posibility, it looks like the resort has decided to no longer do business with them.

Of course, I don't understand why the resort would be able to cancel confirmed reservations. I know it doesn't matter but it seem that there is something rotten in Denmark about this whole thing.

Anymore I just don't trust RCI or their reps. It seems to me that they don't care about their members in the least. They only care about how much money they can squeeze out of their members while giving them the least they have to in return. I'd like to think that it's a business model that will eventually fail and force changes to take place but, so far it hasn't.

[Goofyhobbie]

Doug and Laurie,

Have either of you OBJECTED to the proposed settlement that the U. S. District Court for the District of New Jersey is considering on November 30th.

If you have not, please consider OBJECTING. We need every RCI member possible to make a written objection to the Settlement which effectively will validate RCI's business practice of skimming deposits from the Spacebank.

The pain that Laurie is going through regarding her lost vacations is nothing compared to what we all stand to lose if RCI is allowed to continue selling our VACATION TIME to whomever they please.

OBJECTING IS EASY!

TUG BRIAN has created a site that has specific instructions. To access the site go here:http://rciclassactionlawsuit.com/TUG_member_information_and_instructions_for_RCI_cl ass_action_settlement.html

[l2trade]

Originally Posted by Laurie

They are cancelling two consecutive European confirmations I made long ago, to the only resort I have ever booked into for a repeat visit.

They have done this (cancelled European confirmations) twice to me in the past. That will make 4 times.

They haven't contacted me - I found an extra spacebank in my acct, and knew right away what that meant. Waiting to hear from a "specialist"...

I'm sorry to hear this Laurie.

I've never been an RCI member. I've been thinking about joining to get access to DVC resorts and expand my trade choices. Stories like this discourage me from joining. I cannot imagine planning any trip, especially an international one, and then having my confirmed resort confirmation canceled. That is horrible. I know you said this wasn't until next June 2010, so I assume you didn't have airline tickets yet. What if RCI cancels on someone who already confirmed other aspects of their itinerary (airline tickets, tours, event registrations, rail passes, lift tickets, clothing equipment, time off work, etc)? Does RCI offer compensation or alternate equivalent accommodations? I understand timesharing requires upfront date flexibility to be able to find an exchange for an area / resort you may want. I didn't realize it could require back-end flexibility to lose what you had already confirmed. If so, that sucks. I understand that might happen in the event of a natural or man made disaster at the chosen resort. A business decision, no, that isn't right. Maybe my viewpoint is US-centric and I don't understand Swiss culture. I've never stayed at an international exchange. It seems really wrong to me though. I would hope the RCI & the Swiss resort would want to honor all confirmed exchanges. I guess I'm naive about them.

[Jennie]

Originally Posted by l2trade

I cannot imagine planning any trip, especially an international one, and then having my confirmed resort confirmation canceled. That is horrible. What if RCI cancels on someone who already confirmed other aspects of their itinerary (airline tickets, tours, event registrations, rail passes, lift tickets, clothing equipment, time off work, etc)? Does RCI offer compensation or alternate equivalent accommodations?

They sure do. They'd love to rent the weeks to you at Endless Vacations, Skyauction, etc,,,

[dougp26364]

Originally Posted by dougp26364

If RCI isn't lying to you, which is a posibility, it looks like the resort has decided to no longer do business with them.

Of course, I don't understand why the resort would be able to cancel confirmed reservations. I know it doesn't matter but it seem that there is something rotten in Denmark about this whole thing.

Anymore I just don't trust RCI or their reps. It seems to me that they don't care about their members in the least. They only care about how much money they can squeeze out of their members while giving them the least they have to in return. I'd like to think that it's a business model that will eventually fail and force changes to take place but, so far it hasn't.

I objected 2 years ago when I cancelled my personal membership with RCIand I continue to object by not becoming a member and by not giving RCI units I own for exchange. If more members would do that for just a couple of years it would turn RCI around a lot faster than this class action lawsuit.

[timbuktu]

Originally Posted by Laurie

They are cancelling two consecutive European confirmations I made long ago, to the only resort I have ever booked into for a repeat visit.

They have done this (cancelled European confirmations) twice to me in the past. That will make 4 times.

They haven't contacted me - I found an extra spacebank in my acct, and knew right away what that meant. Waiting to hear from a "specialist"...

Did you think of calling the Swiss resort and asking them ?
Maybe they would arrange a reasonable rental rate for you. Or find out who they are affiliating with. Just a thought.

[Tia]

Originally Posted by dougp26364

I objected 2 years ago when I cancelled my personal membership with RCIand I continue to object by not becoming a member and by not giving RCI units I own for exchange. If more members would do that for just a couple of years it would turn RCI around a lot faster than this class action lawsuit.

We cancelled our RCI membership several years ago, plus I am mailing in formal objections and chosing the $15 option. If you have been an RCI Weeks member at any time between January 1, 2000 and August 31, 2009 (even if you are not a member now), you are automatically a member of a class action lawsuit pending in the U. S. Federal Court in Trenton,New Jersey.

[Laurie]

Resort I was bumped from may be filing bankruptcy or reorganization. Their website says they're currently closed for renovations, so I don't think I can contact anyone at the moment.

I asked specialist whether I would be comped any weeks.

Answer: no, because it's not RCI's fault. (In one previous experience, the owner took back their spacebank, and RCI Europe apparently does allow this. So yes, you can lose your confirmation even after you have booked flights and no, they don't compensate you.)

I hadn't booked air yet, but had started researching flights. These 2 cancelled weeks are back-to-back w/2 other confirmations in Europe, so cancelling the trip entirely ain't possible. There's nowhere else in Switzerland I'm interested in. But, I thought, OK, I'll be flexible ... I'd accept Paris instead of Switzerland.

So I asked whether I could have a substitute confirmation at one of their Paris hotels at which they show rental inventory, for one of the exact weeks I need (not a timeshare, so I know these aren't owner deposits).

Answer: no, because it's separate rental inventory. (Big surprise there. Of course they could, but they won't.)

So I thought I'd check to see what *is* avail as exchange in Europe for my needed time. But checking trade power of returned weeks, I noticed diminished trade power in both deposits returned to my space banks. How do I know? Because a subesquent week banked post-disenhancement sees a few 2-BR DVC's - big clue. Returned deposits, which are summer SoCal and summer cape, which previously were tigers that saw *everything* and always saw more than my post-disenhancement week, cannot see same 2-BR DVC's - they see smaller units only.

So ... I requested that original trade power be restored, so I could look myself for alternate bookings in this time period (my subsequent deposit can't see my needed month of cancelled vacation).

Answer - your trade power hasn't been reduced. (I know that's bull ...)

At the moment I think we'll just go rent something in Paris, scr*w RCI. There are plenty of choices, including more conveniently-located cute little studios with kitchens (and views of the Eiffel tower), for less $$ than their frikkin' rental hotel unit. And rent a week in Murren, either now or later.

I've loved exchanging, but the repetition of these cancellations are getting to me. And I'm thinking about how much time I can save in the future by getting out of this exchange craziness/insanity.

[Laurie]

Originally Posted by Goofyhobbie

Doug and Laurie,

Have either of you OBJECTED to the proposed settlement that the U. S. District Court for the District of New Jersey is considering on November 30th.
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Yes, I just got my OBJECTION out in today's mail. This latest cancellation experience was more than enough motivation to make sure I didn't miss the date... especially because their rental program has made it very unlikely they'll find me a suitable alternative.

Thank you to everyone who made the process so simple.

[xzhan02]

Just saw this thread. I felt the same way as Laurie about Murren/Jungfrau area , the only place I wouldn't mind visiting whenever I can, not even Paris. Just visited the area again this summer for the second time (and I've only been to Europe a handful of times). I've tried unsuccessfully to exchange into Alpin Murren for years because I needed 2 units for my family. I gave up and rented an apartment in Wengen (just for a change, stayed in Murren last time). In retrospect, I think the apartment was a much better choice than two hotel units. Large, unbelievable view, all the comfort of European home, and the feel of living among locals in an Alpine village, all with very reasonable cost. So don't give up Murren/Wengen if you are going to Europe anyway.

BTW,when I visited Murren, the Alpin Palace area did feel quieter than I remembered, probably already closed for renovation.