RCI fees increasing (again) on Dec 1

[djyamyam]

Exchange fees are going up by about 7.5% for US members but over 17% for CDN members!!

Membership fees and platinum membership fees are not changing.

Guest cert, guest pass and deposit extension fees are all going up (I've highlighted increases in yellow and green). CDN members definitely getting hit a lot harder

This applies to both Weeks and Points transactions. I mean, $420 CDN for an exchange fee is getting ridiculous!!

 

[DaveNV]

I rejoined RCI a few months ago as a test, thinking I might use it for Getaways and Extra Vacations. I haven't used it yet. Now that the fees are going up again, I think I'm pretty well done with RCI. I likely won't renew. Their greed is making it unreasonable.

Dave

 

[klpca]

I rejoined RCI a few months ago as a test, thinking I might use it for Getaways and Extra Vacations. I haven't used it yet. Now that the fees are going up again, I think I'm pretty well done with RCI. I likely won't renew. Their greed is making it unreasonable.

Dave

I haven't done this recently (I use RCI through HGVC) but you used to be able to cancel your membership and get a prorated refund, so maybe you can get some kind of refund.

 

[escanoe]

I am retracting my earlier post. I had not realized exchange fees are going up $20 again.

 

[moonstone]

That is ridiculous that the Canadian fees are going up so much more! Is it due to our dollar difference (currently at .73 to the US)? RCI is always slow to adjust the rates to match our fluctuating dollar. Many years ago when the Canadian dollar was actually worth more than the US dollar (1.07), I had an argument with an RCI rep who actually told me that is was impossible that the Canadian dollar was worth more than their dollar.

~Diane

 

[Dancingfish]

Well this is just like pile on... maintenance fees go up and RCI fees go up.. I'm dying to know how they spin this.

 

[Sn0wbird]

Wait, what's the current exchange fees? I got my RCI account in September and had to pay $269 exchange fee for my reservations.

 

[Great3]

Wait, what's the current exchange fees? I got my RCI account in September and had to pay $269 exchange fee for my reservations.

Wow, Exchange fee going to be $289 now, more than the usual $10 increase, it's $20 increase this time. And they already did an increase to $269 just in Aug. of this year (2022) ... just like 3 months ago only!!!

Link:
RCI Weeks: Exchange fee up to $269 on 8/21 | Timeshare Users Group Discussion Forums (tugbbs.com)


Usually, the exchange fee is stable for at least a year, but now increasing multiple times in the same year. Crazy!

The increase to $259 happened on Dec. of last year (2021)

Link:
RCI Exchange Fee Increases and Other Fee Changes/Increases starting 12/4 | Timeshare Users Group Discussion Forums (tugbbs.com)


Before that, the exchange increase to $249 on Nov. of 2020 from $239

Link:
RCI fees increasing 11/1 | Timeshare Users Group Discussion Forums (tugbbs.com)


I believe the exchange fee was stable at $239 for a long while (for at least several years, maybe from since June 2017 to Nov. 2020 timeframe), per this thread link below:

Link:
RCI fees going up June 3rd | Timeshare Users Group Discussion Forums (tugbbs.com)

So, to summarize, I think it looks something like this:

Dec. 2022 - $289
Aug. 2022 - $269
Dec. 2021 - $259
Nov. 2020 - $249
June 2017 - $239
Dec. 2016 - $230
-Can't find when the increase to $219 happened...
Jan. 2014 - $209

That should give you some recent historical context.

Great3

 

[noreenkate]

So what is the difference between the guest certificate for $99 and the guest pass? And can someone explain the family share?

Joined RCI back in March and so far I haven’t used it but my son is currently on his third ”last call”

 

[escanoe]

Maybe RCI is simply doing this because there is a lack of competition and they can.

But I suspect they have high labor costs that may be driving it.

It is long past time for them to have an all digital trading option that is more affordable. Paying telemarketers to call people and book exchanges should be a thing of the past.

The new HGV Max option with HGVC will give unlimited bookings/exchanges for $281 a year.

I would be smiling if RCI would go $750 for unlimited online exchanges.

 

[beejaybee]

IDK what the dues currently are with RCI since membership until 2026 was a perk when we bought a resale South African timeshare at the turn of the century but add that fee to the exchange fee plus maintenance fee- eeks!

Even though we've an OGS for the Dordogne region of France, I am about to abandon it after finding numerous VRBOs available in far better locations and with much more charm for half the cost of trading through RCI (dues, maintenance, exchange fee).

 

[Laurie]

S'prise, s'prise. I've been a member for 25 years, they were my only exchange company for most of those years, I've done so many fabulous trades with them over the last quarter-century, current membership expires next June. Good chance I won't renew - they've gone from good to mediocre to bad to worse to the pits - but I'll keep my II membership.

 

[timeshare trader]

That is ridiculous that the Canadian fees are going up so much more! Is it due to our dollar difference (currently at .73 to the US)? RCI is always slow to adjust the rates to match our fluctuating dollar. Many years ago when the Canadian dollar was actually worth more than the US dollar (1.07), I had an argument with an RCI rep who actually told me that is was impossible that the Canadian dollar was worth more than their dollar.

~Diane

are you surprised that a call center employee would not be aware of exchange rates?

 

[timeshare trader]

I am guessing that our maintenance fee increases will end up making RCI's increase look pretty insignificant.

 

[Sandy VDH]

didn't this just go up a few months ago?

 

[Sandy VDH]

So what is the difference between the guest certificate for $99 and the guest pass? And can someone explain the family share?

Joined RCI back in March and so far I haven’t used it but my son is currently on his third ”last call”View attachment 67810

A CG is a one time use. A guest pass is for a named individual and it basically covers all GCs for THAT named person for a 5 year period.

 

[noreenkate]

A CG is a one time use. A guest pass is for a named individual and it basically covers all GCs for THAT named person for a 5 year period.

thank you- when he gets home next month we will pick him up one of those…

 

[Sandy VDH]

thank you- when he gets home next month we will pick him up one of those…

Just get it when you need the next reservation for a named person that is not on the ownership.

 

[rickandcindy23]

S'prise, s'prise. I've been a member for 25 years, they were my only exchange company for most of those years, I've done so many fabulous trades with them over the last quarter-century, current membership expires next June. Good chance I won't renew - they've gone from good to mediocre to bad to worse to the pits - but I'll keep my II membership.

Me too. Exactly how I feel about RCI. The exchanges are few and far between. Fortunately, I am whittling down my RCI ownerships to nearly zero, but I will always have three weeks in RCI. Nothing I can do about those but sell them, and they are pretty worthless, actually.

 

[escanoe]

I am guessing that our maintenance fee increases will end up making RCI's increase look pretty insignificant.

I do not expect this will be the case for me. A big part of my RCI trading is for local stuff in the Mid-Atlantic that if off season. For 80 plus percent of my exchanges the exchange fee is a greater expense that the maintenance fees associated with trading power used. The saving grace for me on RCI exchange fees is many of them will be for the $159 VV internal exchange rate.

I use RCI because I still get some value out of it, but we are desperate need of more competition for timeshare exchange companies.

 

[rjwehr]

We left RCI about 15 years ago for pretty much the same reason... rising membership and exchange fees which, for us, made direct rental more affordable than trading.

I remember $100 membership fees and $75 exchange fees that resulted in great vacations to Cancun, Vegas, San Diego, Orlando, and more.
Ahhh, good times.

Unfortunately, I think it hurts the independent resorts the most since they don't have an internal trading system.

 

[pedro47]

I rejoined RCI a few months ago as a test, thinking I might use it for Getaways and Extra Vacations. I haven't used it yet. Now that the fees are going up again, I think I'm pretty well done with RCI. I likely won't renew. Their greed is making it unreasonable.

Dave

Ditto, I also rejoined RCI to used their Getaways. Well I am going to stay for one and re-think my decision after one year.

 

[escanoe]

I remember $100 membership fees and $75 exchange fees that resulted in great vacations to Cancun, Vegas, San Diego, Orlando, and more.
Ahhh, good times.

That structure (even with some inflation/increases) would make sense. An annual membership for a weeks account now is only $99 (will be $109 next month). But at $289.00 per pop on exchanges .... they are discouraging members from truly using a membership (to exchange timeshares).

To me a $289 membership and $100 exchange fee would make more sense.

 

[Great3]

That structure (even with some inflation/increases) would make sense. An annual membership for a weeks account now is only $99 (will be $109 next month). But at $289.00 per pop on exchanges .... they are discouraging using a membership.

To me a $289 membership and $100 exchange fee would make more sense.

They only want you to make a deposit, but not make an exchange. It works better for them so RCI can rent out all deposits made, since nobody is exchanging into them. The fee structure only makes sense .... to RCI.

Great3

 

[escanoe]

They only want you to make a deposit, but not make an exchange. It works better for them so RCI can rent out all deposits made, since nobody is exchanging into them. The fee structure only makes sense .... to RCI.

Great3

That is a smart observation. Or it is what I was thinking but didn't elaborate on when making my post above. Why not make customers happy and do well with what their core business should be. This is going to work for them until it doesn't .... and by that time they will have alienated the folks that should be their best customers.