[Process for cancelling] RCI points, and making home week reservation - Starwood

[dsmrp]

Hi, I currently exchange my Sheraton TS fixed week with RCI as points.
I'm planning on reserving my home resort week for May 2015, in hopes of retaining my week when I cancel RCI membership later this year.
I think if I reserved home week, I could trade it using II after II account is established. If I don't reserve it, RCI will exchange/sell the week to someone else and give me points which I can't use up by the time I cancel membership.

Do you think this will work? (I saw a post from another tugger who did similar to reserve his home week and then traded it with other exchange companies, but believe he's on RCI weeks, not points).

On home week reservations for points accounts, does RCI contact Starwood to make reservation?
Or do they automatically get the fixed week from Starwood each year?

Thanks in advance for any help and advice.

 

[DeniseM]

If you own a TRUE fixed Starwood week, Starwood must give that week to the exchange company. A true fixed Starwood week is one that is automatically reserved for you each year, even if you do nothing. A true fixed week does not float, and can only be used that one specific deeded week.

However, I can't tell you how to get out of RCI Points. I would discuss it with RCI and Starwood.

For all the details about making a Starwood II deposit, see the Starwood and II FAQ at the top of the Starwood forum.

 

[dsmrp]

Yes we have a true fixed (even fixed unit) week; I confirmed with Starwood.

RCI told me I have the usual owner home resort priority period to reserve 13-12 months before check-in; they can't offer it up to anyone else before 12 months out. When we cancel RCI membership, we'll lose all points and exchange reservations. I'm thinking that even if RCI 'cancels' my home week reservation, the 2015 week is still mine to use because RCI won't have given me any points for it (my 2014 use year starts in October), nor has any RCI member been given opportunity to reserve it.

I wish we could cancel RCI before my home resort reservation period,
but BIL planning to exchange with points shortly period ends.

RCI points contracts are for 3 years and mine goes to 2015 (automatically renewed when you renew RCI membership). An RCI rep said we'd have to cancel my membership to get out of points before 2015. I have their membership cancellation form (surprisingly they sent it to me by email). Starwood told me after we cancel out of RCI, they need to get confirmation from RCI that we're out of RCI points, before we can get our unit into their network.

Has anyone else switched exchange companies from RCI points to II ?
What pitfalls did you encounter?

thanks