[2/10/17 UPDATE] VSE charging for 3rd party reservation changes! [+Contact Info. for complaints]

[GrayFal]

Tuggers - I want to congratulate YOU on this roll-back, I am sure that it is due to your efforts!

*I get a chuckle out of the fact that they don't acknowledge that they made a mistake - they are just "providing additional information."

I agree. It is definitely because of TUGers pointing out they COULD NOT Charge for home resort reservations as per our contract.

BTW, I never got a response from Suzzane OR the email I sent thru the contact us system.
Really Classy VSE!

 

[mjm1]

I just received an email stating the roll back. Glad to see they listened to the feedback they received. "Thanks" goes to all who provided feedback to them. Job well done.

Mike

 

[mig1]

Is it me.....or does anyone else think that Vistana didn't go far enough with their "updated" policy of updating their 3rd Party Reservations policy.

I just spoke to a rep at Vistana as I was canceling and amending some existing reservations. I asked her to clarify the new policy reflective of the email we all got in the last 24 hours.

My question to her (and everyone else) is why am I ever charged a 3rd party fee for someone who shares my last name? That seems absolutely insane. The fact is that I should be able to secure a 3rd party reservation at ANY Vistana property for my wife, son or daughter without an additional charge.

Personally I don't think that there should be a charge at all--it's still a way for Vistana to drive revenue from existing owners. The only way around this is for me to be with anyone who might stay in the room (not always possible), or add their names to the property deed (which would cost money to have done).

Does anyone else out there share my view or am I completely crazy?

 

[VacationForever]

Is it me.....or does anyone else think that Vistana didn't go far enough with their "updated" policy of updating their 3rd Party Reservations policy.

I just spoke to a rep at Vistana as I was canceling and amending some existing reservations. I asked her to clarify the new policy reflective of the email we all got in the last 24 hours.

My question to her (and everyone else) is why am I ever charged a 3rd party fee for someone who shares my last name? That seems absolutely insane. The fact is that I should be able to secure a 3rd party reservation at ANY Vistana property for my wife, son or daughter without an additional charge.

Personally I don't think that there should be a charge at all--it's still a way for Vistana to drive revenue from existing owners. The only way around this is for me to be with anyone who might stay in the room (not always possible), or add their names to the property deed (which would cost money to have done).

Does anyone else out there share my view or am I completely crazy?

I don't think they should charge, period. I do disagree with your suggestion of having different treatment of someone with the same last name. I can tell you that everyone in my family has a different last name. I have never changed my last name when I married.

 

[SMHarman]

I don't think they should charge, period. I do disagree with your suggestion of having different treatment of someone with the same last name. I can tell you that everyone in my family has a different last name. I have never changed my last name when I married.

We have a deed where only expired ID has the name on the title. Riddle me that. Check in on an expired passport?

 

[DeniseM]

SMHarman - I am guessing that they would say that if your legal name changes, it is your responsibility to change the name on the title. As I recall, it's under your wife's maiden name - was that intentional?

 

[Ken555]

Is it me.....or does anyone else think that Vistana didn't go far enough with their "updated" policy of updating their 3rd Party Reservations policy.

I just spoke to a rep at Vistana as I was canceling and amending some existing reservations. I asked her to clarify the new policy reflective of the email we all got in the last 24 hours.

My question to her (and everyone else) is why am I ever charged a 3rd party fee for someone who shares my last name? That seems absolutely insane. The fact is that I should be able to secure a 3rd party reservation at ANY Vistana property for my wife, son or daughter without an additional charge.

Personally I don't think that there should be a charge at all--it's still a way for Vistana to drive revenue from existing owners. The only way around this is for me to be with anyone who might stay in the room (not always possible), or add their names to the property deed (which would cost money to have done).

Does anyone else out there share my view or am I completely crazy?

It's a pure money grab. Totally expected with II. Why is anyone really surprised?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[SMHarman]

SMHarman - I am guessing that they would say that if your legal name changes, it is your responsibility to change the name on the title. As I recall, it's under your wife's maiden name - was that intentional?

It was her name when we bought it. That's why it was in that name.

 

[DeniseM]

Yes, I understand that, but many times a couple will put both names on a deed, so was there any objective in only putting her name on it?

 

[VacationForever]

Yes, I understand that, but many times a couple will put both names on a deed, so was there any objective in only putting her name on it?

I actually have a great but worthless timeshare that is only in my name. My husband wants me to put his name on it and I refused to because if I go before he does, I don't want to burden him with it... I know how to use it well, and I want it to die with me.

 

[DeniseM]

OK - but you know that alone does not prevent him from inheriting your timeshare as your heir, right?

 

[cubigbird]

So how does this work if I ADD a friend or family to a HomeResort reservation with less than 8 months prior to checkin? I assume no fee because the ressie was made during the HomeResort booking period??? Guests that join us often don't make it work out until closer to the time.

 

[VacationForever]

OK - but you know that alone does not prevent him from inheriting your timeshare as your heir, right?

Yeah, I am hoping he will be sensible then and turn it in to the HOA.

 

[DeniseM]

Actually - all of your heirs need to legally refuse the inheritance with the court.

 

[DeniseM]

So how does this work if I ADD a friend or family to a HomeResort reservation with less than 8 months prior to checkin? I assume no fee because the ressie was made during the HomeResort booking period??? Guests that join us often don't make it work out until closer to the time.

WHEN you request the Guest Confirmation has no bearing - the fee is based on whether it is a home resort or Staroption reservation:

Home Resort reservation - free
Staroption reservation - pay

 

[VacationForever]

Actually - all of your heirs need to legally refuse the inheritance with the court.

Ah, we won't have probate. Everything is in our trust except for timeshares... dump and run! ;-)

 

[DeniseM]

The ownership does not evaporate with the death of the owner - the estate still owns it after their death. But once the heirs refuse the inheritance, the executer of the estate can notify the management company that the inheritance has been refused and the estate is returning the deed to the resort. You should educate your heirs about what they need to do - now, or better yet, give it away yourself when you no longer want it.

 

[duke]

Of course it is a pure money grab. Hotels all over the world are facing a crisis as individuals are figuring out how to VRBO their apartments and homes. SVO/VSE is smart (and proactive) and realizes that soon people will be purchasing mandatory SO's just for the purpose of VRBO their units and SVO/VSE is kinda stuck because they now let you make reservations by any number of days instead of a full week. (spoiler alert - day by day reservations will probably go away and return back to full weeks) They don't want to become the UBER of timeshares.

 

[Helios]

One free per ownership interest. Not one free.

This is what I liked about the response...

 

[dss]

While I appreciate all of the community effort here. and am glad they rolled back the ownership period fee, but I still find the announced resolution does not go nearly far enough. All they did was comply with the legal requirement, the fact of which they ignored in the first place simply goes to show how ill conceived this program was in the first place. This is still a transparent cash-grab on the back of owners and concerns me for the tone it sets for future developments with Vistana. I did receive a reply from Vistana today and am letting them know my continued displeasure.

 

[alohakevin]

I agree with the concern regarding the tone this sets for the future. When asked in a survey whether I would recommend Vistana to a relative I expressed this sentiment regarding future uncertainty pertaining to the present business practice (fee). This generated a phone call from resolution services. I applaud Tug for the diligence applied to this unscrupulous ill conceived money grab. It's my opinion they would have proceeded as planned if not for the feedback supplied by Tug. This may (hopefully) give them pause when considering the next bogus fee.

 

[tropical1]

Is it me.....or does anyone else think that Vistana didn't go far enough with their "updated" policy of updating their 3rd Party Reservations policy.

I just spoke to a rep at Vistana as I was canceling and amending some existing reservations. I asked her to clarify the new policy reflective of the email we all got in the last 24 hours.

My question to her (and everyone else) is why am I ever charged a 3rd party fee for someone who shares my last name? That seems absolutely insane. The fact is that I should be able to secure a 3rd party reservation at ANY Vistana property for my wife, son or daughter without an additional charge.

Personally I don't think that there should be a charge at all--it's still a way for Vistana to drive revenue from existing owners. The only way around this is for me to be with anyone who might stay in the room (not always possible), or add their names to the property deed (which would cost money to have done).

Does anyone else out there share my view or am I completely crazy?

I agree that at least there shouldn't be a fee for immediate family members. I am not happy that I have to pay for my daughter to use my reservations made with SO's. I am also not happy that there was no advanced notice for such a change in policy.

 

[SMHarman]

Yes, I understand that, but many times a couple will put both names on a deed, so was there any objective in only putting her name on it?

Let's go to PM on that.

 

[NVPatriot1959]

I agree that at least there shouldn't be a fee for immediate family members. I am not happy that I have to pay for my daughter to use my reservations made with SO's. I am also not happy that there was no advanced notice for such a change in policy.

Completely agree. Moreover, I am interested in how they plan to deal with deeds held in a trust. Each trustee would be exempt.

 

[bogey21]

.....or better yet, give it away yourself when you no longer want it.

I opted for this approach. Fortunately me ex-wife's name was not of the Deeds. It would have complicated things. My kids, who otherwise would have inherited the Weeks agreed with me doing this and are happy.

George