I also heard about the $49.00 insurance that would allow cancelling with full point return. It was another Wyndham debacle. I had a friend that wanted to go to National Finals Rodeo back in Dec. They asked me on Thursday if I could get anything for them in Las Vegas for 2 nights starting the following night and I could not. Amazingly, a 3br appeared the next afternoon. This was on Friday for a same day check in. I tried to get a hold of my friend to see if they had already reserved a hotel room. By the time they replied that they had, the Wyndham system went down and I was not able to cancel the reservation. I called first thing the next morning explaining that I could not cancel because the system was down and the call center had already closed. The VC notated my account and told me to call back several days after the check out date for this reservation. The following Wednesday, I called again, this time I was transferred to OC. OC created a triage ticket for their "internal business partner". A week later (fast by Wyndham standards) , I received this email.
" I am happy to inform you that after careful research I have found the points for reservation # RC00000000BR will be returned to your 2018 use years points. I have made a one time exception and have heavily notated your account for this transaction. Please ask one of our agents about our new points protection program that would help for future canceled reservations."
Being curious I called and was told that for $49.00 per reservation I could protect my points. I pointed out that it was the Wyndham system that was at fault, but in typical Wyndham fashion, the accepted no blame.