Point Protection in RCI May Not Cover Your Points

[Panina]

There is a gap in point protection when purchasing point protection online with RCI through HGVC.

I recently experienced this situation when I called to cancel my transaction.

RCI permitted me to utilize partial HGVC 2024 points (half from there) along with partial 2025 points for a 2025 reservation without incurring the fee to roll over the points to RCI. I didn't realize that this had occurred. RCI offered me point protection for a fee, which I accepted. At no point during the process online did anything show me that only a portion of my points would be protected since I did not roll over my points to RCI or HGVC. Only my 2025 points received protection.

I was presented with the following options:

1) RCI could inquire with HGVC about allowing me to pay $189 to roll over my 2024 points to 2025 once this transaction is canceled. This would ensure that all my points are preserved, in addition to the point protection fee I paid.

2) RCI would promptly refund the point protection fee I paid; however, I would forfeit all the points I used upon cancellation. This indicates they are aware of the issue.

I have escalated this matter and am awaiting a callback. I was told I would get a call back in 24 hours. It is now two day. I will follow up. My primary concern is ensuring that a disclosure is available online when purchasing point protection, knowing all your points are not protected. Had I been informed (as I was told would happen if I had booked over the phone) that only a partial amount of points would be protected, I would have approached this differently.

I also have a 2026 reservation in RCI using 2025 points. Once again point protection was offered. Below is what is shown. They are offering point protection but I will get nothing back if I have to cancel.

 

[iftravel]

There is a gap in point protection when purchasing point protection online with RCI through HGVC.

I recently experienced this situation when I called to cancel my transaction.

RCI permitted me to utilize partial HGVC 2024 points (half from there) along with partial 2025 points for a 2025 reservation without incurring the fee to roll over the points to RCI. I didn't realize that this had occurred. RCI offered me point protection for a fee, which I accepted. At no point during the process online did anything show me that only a portion of my points would be protected since I did not roll over my points to RCI or HGVC. Only my 2025 points received protection.

I was presented with the following options:

1) RCI could inquire with HGVC about allowing me to pay $189 to roll over my 2024 points to 2025 once this transaction is canceled. This would ensure that all my points are preserved, in addition to the point protection fee I paid.

2) RCI would promptly refund the point protection fee I paid; however, I would forfeit all the points I used upon cancellation. This indicates they are aware of the issue.

I have escalated this matter and am awaiting a callback. I was told I would get a call back in 24 hours. It is now two day. I will follow up. My primary concern is ensuring that a disclosure is available online when purchasing point protection, knowing all your points are not protected. Had I been informed (as I was told would happen if I had booked over the phone) that only a partial amount of points would be protected, I would have approached this differently.

I also have a 2026 reservation in RCI using 2025 points. Once again point protection was offered. Below is what is shown. They are offering point protection but I will get nothing back if I have to cancel.

Weird. I think if you deposited your 2024 and 2025 points into RCI and then made the exchange with points protection it should work. The points deposited to RCI then have 2 years shelf time. But your way of direct booking should work as two steps like that, no?

 

[Sandy VDH]

OP sounds like she didn't save the points first? did she or did she just booked a reservation in 2024 for a 2025 stay and RCI took the oldest points first.

 

[Panina]

OP sounds like she didn't save the points first? did she or did she just booked a reservation in 2024 for a 2025 stay and RCI took the oldest points first.

I didn’t save anything. Rci took oldest points 2024 for 2025 reservation. They should not offer point protection if your points are not protected. They make lots of money doing this. Most will never know because they use the week they book.

 

[Panina]

Weird. I think if you deposited your 2024 and 2025 points into RCI and then made the exchange with points protection it should work. The points deposited to RCI then have 2 years shelf time. But your way of direct booking should work as two steps like that, no?

I did not deposit any points into Rci. They took my oldest hgvc points which were 2024 for a 2025 reservation.

 

[iftravel]

I did not deposit any points into Rci. They took my oldest hgvc points which were 2024 for a 2025 reservation.

Yeah what I meant was it should have worked as if you despoited points and used them to book in RCI. But the points should not return to your orginal HGVC accounts if I have to guess (not an owner), but a holding place in RCI for your next booking. You sure it's not in RCI?

 

[Panina]

Yeah what I meant was it should have worked as if you despoited points and used them to book in RCI. But the points should not return to your orginal HGVC accounts if I have to guess (not an owner), but a holding place in RCI for your next booking. You sure it's not in RCI?

RCI told me it reverts to HGVC rules. I also thought it would revert to RCI for future use. My issue is why do they offer point protection for something they won't protect?

 

[alwysonvac]

You should be able to deposit your expired points for a fee (see screen capture below)

 

[iftravel]

You should be able to deposit your expired points for a fee (see screen capture below)

View attachment 112441

Is there a fee to deposit points to RCI? If not, next time simply do the deposit first.

 

[Panina]

You should be able to deposit your expired points for a fee (see screen capture below)

View attachment 112441

Yes, I know that. My gripe is that when you are offered point protection and you pay, after the fact, when you need to use it you shouldn't be told you don't have it. RCI just should have pulled in my 2025 points and there would have been no problem, or not offer point protection

 

[iftravel]

Yes, I know that. My gripe is that when you are offered point protection and you pay, after the fact, when you need to use it you shouldn't be told you don't have it. RCI just should have pulled in my 2025 points and there would have been no problem, or not offer point protection

yeah it should have made it clearer, but it can go either way since the point protection is not meant to protect points from expiring... If you have deposited first, it should be good for 2 more years. You got points back but expeired.

 

[alwysonvac]

Yes, I know that. My gripe is that when you are offered point protection and you pay, after the fact, when you need to use it you shouldn't be told you don't have it. RCI just should have pulled in my 2025 points and there would have been no problem, or not offer point protection

I believe RCI point protection simply returns points back to their original use year.
As Sandy stated above, oldest points are always used first. You needed to save your points first.

 

[iftravel]

I believe RCI point protection simply returns points back to their original use year.
As Sandy stated above, oldest points are always used first. You needed to save your points first.

Is there a fee to save? why not simply deposit to RCI so it can be extended for 2 more years

 

[alwysonvac]

Is there a fee to save? why not simply deposit to RCI so it can be extended for 2 more years

Yes, there's a fee to save points and a fee to deposit into RCI.
HGVC fees are listed in the sticky thread at the top of the forum.

 

[iftravel]

Yes, there's a fee to save points and a fee to deposit into RCI.
HGVC fees are listed in the sticky thread at the top of the forum.

View attachment 112445

Yeah way too many fees! Every step you are charged.

 

[tschwa2]

I believe RCI point protection simply returns points back to their original use year.
As Sandy stated above, oldest points are always used first. You needed to save your points first.

This is why (along with the fact that it doesn't cover the exchange fee) that I don't use points protection. It doesn't offer any extention or change on the expiration of the points. I would do me no good to pay to get points back that either would be expired or about to expire.

 

[alwysonvac]

This is why (along with the fact that it doesn't cover the exchange fee) that I don't use points protection. It doesn't offer any extention or change on the expiration of the points. I would do me no good to pay to get points back that either would be expired or about to expire.

Because we have aging parents (87+ years old), I've used both RCI and HGVC Point Protection options from time to time depending on the number of points involved.
With HGVC, I tend to be a borrower (which doesn't have a fee), so I haven't run into this issue.

Keep in mind, both options allow you to pay another fee to save points (if your points are not already saved or borrowed from a future year).
However, with RCI you need to remember where your points came from. Folks have reported losing expired points with a RCI cancellation if they didn't ask for their expired points to be deposited first (fee required) before processing their cancellation request.

 

[rickandcindy23]

This is why (along with the fact that it doesn't cover the exchange fee) that I don't use points protection. It doesn't offer any extention or change on the expiration of the points. I would do me no good to pay to get points back that either would be expired or about to expire.

Nor does it pay back the $299 exchange fee. So many fees we pay to RCI.

This is actually an eye-opening scenario. I really never thought about it before. I have paid for points protection when I had no exchange fee to lose, when I was booking my Home Resort Reservations through RCI at Grand Palms. And Grand Palms MADE me use RCI for guest certificates to my home resort, which I always thought was ludicrous.

I am almost out of the RCI Points game but need to keep dealing with weeks for a few more years. One of our timeshares is heading toward sunset, and that will be a relief to all remaining owners. The others, I can walk away and not be too sad about it. Still stuck with Wyndham.

The Wyndham points required through the portal are 300,000 to book a 3 bedroom. I planned to book a 3 bedroom for next year to use points, and I will do it, absolutely I will, but that makes for a very expensive exchange at $7 per 1,000 + exchange fee. $2,100 + $299. I am not going to add point protection and lose the points because they were banked from a year ago and I am booking out to next year.

Like you, I never would consider that the points might expire on me, if I used Points Protection. It's all a mind game, travel insurance, points protection, etc.

 

[natarajanv]

When I make an RCI reservation and when in doubt I ask them to pull points from the future years to make sure the points gets reinstated in case I cancel.

 

[iftravel]

Just curious is it a good value to trade HGVC points in RCI? I use my RCI points for HGVC properties and it’s a good value but guess you cannot trade into another HGVC through RCI. So what do you usually use your valuable HGVC points for in RCI?

 

[natarajanv]

You can trade into another HGVC property also. I have used RCI and stayed at The Crane Barbados, Charter Club Florida, Wyndham Reef Cayman Islands, Divi Little bay resort St. Martin. I stayed in a 2BR in all those places for 7680 points per week.

 

[iftravel]

You can trade into another HGVC property also. I have used RCI and stayed at The Crane Barbados, Charter Club Florida, Wyndham Reef Cayman Islands, Divi Little bay resort St. Martin. I stayed in a 2BR in all those places for 7680 points per week.

There are plenty of HGVC Hawaii weeks in RCI. Are you able to exchange into the Bay Club or Kings land etc?

 

[Panina]

Just curious is it a good value to trade HGVC points in RCI? I use my RCI points for HGVC properties and it’s a good value but guess you cannot trade into another HGVC through RCI. So what do you usually use your valuable HGVC points for in RCI?

I use them for resorts that renting or owning there would cost me more after figuring out how many HGVC points I used plus RCI trade cost. I find a studio or one bedroom gives me good value .

 

[TUGBrian]

Yeah way too many fees! Every step you are charged.

 

[iftravel]

I use them for resorts that renting or owning there would cost me more after figuring out how many HGVC points I used plus RCI trade cost. I find a studio or one bedroom gives me good value .

Yeah makes sense. I wonder if anyone does some cost comparison between HGVC points vs RCI points. I have a feeling if not for the home resort priority, owning HGVC is more expensive from the very start to every step along the way with all the “WTF you gonna do” fees.