II Guest Certificate Problem - Advice Needed

I purchased a guest certificate for Shawnee's Ridgetop Village for Feb 19 - 26, 2006 (this week). I paid $39 to put the exchange under my brother's name so he could use it. When he checked into the resort, with a computer printed confirmation, they did not have a reservation in his name. He gave them my name and the reservation was there. They did let him check in. Since I paid for a service I did not receive, I would like to receive a refund. I have contacted Interval International and they tell me that guest certificates are non-refundable. When I pressed them that I did not receive the service for which I paid, I was told to take it up with Ridgetop, since they are the ones who didn't input the information properly. "But I paid the fee to YOU!", I cried. That is where I am now. Any advice on how to proceed?

You paid for a Guest certificate that allows your brother to check in. Your brother, with a 'computer printed confirmation,' was allowed to check in. Sure, something was not right, but the end result was what you wanted. Let it die, c'mon.

I agree. He was allowed to check in so you got what you paid for.

I third the above. And I am a big complainer when it's warranted...

I agree. It's quite possible that the resort messed up, but he was allowed to check in anyway.

By way of comparison, suppose you buy a plane ticket through a travel agency. Then you go to the airport to check in, only to find out that the airline overbooked the flight and you won't be allowed to board. Who is your beef with? The airline, of course, not the travel agency.

Now assume that flight is overbooked and initially you can't board. However, the airline is successful in getting bump volunteers, thus allowing you to board and take your flight. Beef? No beef with anyone, because you got what you paid for - the plane trip.

In this case, you got what you paid for. You wanted assurance that your brother could use the week - and he did.