Annoying Interval calls

[daviator]

So last year I deposited one of my VOIs to Interval, and late in the year I put in an exchange request for September of this year.

I subsequently got lucky and was able to book basically what I wanted through Abound, but I didn’t cancel the exchange request because if Interval should come through, I might cancel the Abound reservation and use the Interval one.

But beginning a couple of months ago, I am getting calls roughly weekly from Interval. The first annoyance is that they are robocalls which ask you to call them back, which I think is really rude – if you call me, and I answer the phone, the least you can do is have a human there to tell me why you are calling me.

But if I take the bait and call them back, they basically just want to know if I want to change my exchange request. Every time I tell them no, if I wanted different dates I’d have requested different dates. Then in a week or two, they call again with the same question. Invariably, the calls come in while I’m on another call – an important one – and disrupt my work.

I’m getting super annoyed at these calls. They’re rude from the start, with the “call us back and we won’t tell you why” robomessage. And they keep repeatedly calling to ask the same inane question (do they think I am stupid? If I wanted to change the dates, I’d call and change the dates.)

I asked them to stop calling me but they are doing it again. If I don’t call them back, then they call me every day with the robo-message. It’s this kind of little annoyance that makes me wonder why I even try to use Interval.

I don’t expect anyone here has a magic solution, but why do they do this? There is never any explanation, just “we were wondering if you wanted to change anything about your request.” It wouldn’t be annoying if it happened just once, but after like six times, and probably 15 calls, I’m annoyed.

 

[DeniseM]

I have them blocked...

 

[Huskerpaul]

I had luck telling them I was only interested in the resorts and dates I had originally requested and they did not have permission to call me unless they had these available. The calls stopped for me at least.

 

[Dean]

I blocked them for several years then they called offering exactly what I was looking for, something important to me. This has happened twice in situations where they should have confirmed without calling (exact match, F/S/S check in). Where I am now is I moved my home phone to a VOIP phone and have the ringer turned off. That way they can leave a message and I get a transcript. I call them back if it's something I'm interested in though it's very rare it's anything of interest.. I also often get emails to the same tune offering a different resort or dates. I'd say I get about 70% emails when offering alternatives and 30% phone calls. Often they call just to say they're still looking, I never get this by email. I ignore almost all of the offerings.. One word of warning. If one is searching for a resort with a Thursday or Monday check in and those are acceptable, they won't confirm those without talking to you. So if applicable and acceptable, you'll need to take the phone call or call them back based on a message or email usually within around 24 hrs.

 

[GrayFal]

I had luck telling them I was only interested in the resorts and dates I had originally requested and they did not have permission to call me unless they had these available. The calls stopped for me at least.

That's what I say and then they don't call me with random offerings

They do call if they have something I want.
Last call I got was because I had identical request with two deposits and they had two on hold for me, did I want them both?
As it turns out, the answer was no so I did appreciate the call.

 

[Foggy1]

Over New Years weekend, I put in a OGS for late Jan early Feb in 2027. Got a call from 800-822-2920 on Jan 6 wanting to discuss my request and they had a Studio available for my 1 Bedrm request. Also wanted to know if I wanted to add more options to my request.

Told them no, and at 13 months out, do nat call me again unless they had a match. Two days later they called again and I thought they may have something. Wrong! Just a recording asking to call back to discuss my travel plans.

Since then, Ive had 6 more calls from the same number with no message left. Picked up the call today, I was bored, to see if they had changed their message. Nope, when the recording started,, I ended the call. That's 8 calls in 3 weeks. Real PITA!

 

[davidvel]

So last year I deposited one of my VOIs to Interval, and late in the year I put in an exchange request for September of this year.

I subsequently got lucky and was able to book basically what I wanted through Abound, but I didn’t cancel the exchange request because if Interval should come through, I might cancel the Abound reservation and use the Interval one.

But beginning a couple of months ago, I am getting calls roughly weekly from Interval. The first annoyance is that they are robocalls which ask you to call them back, which I think is really rude – if you call me, and I answer the phone, the least you can do is have a human there to tell me why you are calling me.

But if I take the bait and call them back, they basically just want to know if I want to change my exchange request. Every time I tell them no, if I wanted different dates I’d have requested different dates. Then in a week or two, they call again with the same question. Invariably, the calls come in while I’m on another call – an important one – and disrupt my work.

I’m getting super annoyed at these calls. They’re rude from the start, with the “call us back and we won’t tell you why” robomessage. And they keep repeatedly calling to ask the same inane question (do they think I am stupid? If I wanted to change the dates, I’d call and change the dates.)

I asked them to stop calling me but they are doing it again. If I don’t call them back, then they call me every day with the robo-message. It’s this kind of little annoyance that makes me wonder why I even try to use Interval.

I don’t expect anyone here has a magic solution, but why do they do this? There is never any explanation, just “we were wondering if you wanted to change anything about your request.” It wouldn’t be annoying if it happened just once, but after like six times, and probably 15 calls, I’m annoyed.

Magic solutions:

• Simply ignore the calls, certainly if you are on a business or other important call.
• Block # or use option to send directly to VM if you have it.
• Change your number in II to one you have that you don't use for business or other important calls;
• get a free google voice # and use that with II, which will take voicemails for you
  
  Voila.

 

[echino]

Same here.

I talked to them, asking not to call me with alternative matches. They told me it's impossible to stop the calls, and they are continuing to call me every day.

 

[jwalk03]

They don’t call me with alternatives- they just send an email.

 

[TolmiePeak]

The phone is a useless communication device in 2026.

 

[marmite]

The robo calls drive me crazy. If I answer the phone then you better have an actual person to talk to me on the other end. No, I do not want to look up the number and be on hold to talk to an actual person.

I do get actual humans call me about a match to The Gardens at West Maui, which is not a code I set up at all. I asked for them to not call me about that resort anymore, but they said they can't do that. I was told if another alternative in the area shows up they will call. They also told me to watch for matches via email, because I would have to call in to cancel if I didn't want it. Honestly, I don't even know if that is correct information as I thought they'd only match you to the resorts on your list. I am hating OGS.

Anyhow.... agree and feel for you!

 

[Hindsite]

If II are calling to "market" something that you haven't asked for surely that's illegal, even in the US. Might be time for emails to customer.advocacy@mvw.com to complain and get the practice stopped.

I don't get these, being the other side of the pond, so II do know how to do it properly. I do get occasional called to inform me that they are still searching for my match and check that what I have in it is still what I want, which occasionally needs changing so I'm OK with that, they do usually ask if I have any deposits to make, if they can see I don't have them in for the current year and ask if I want to extend my plat membership if its a year or so before expiry. I often get the same chap or lady, who are both very pleasant so its far from being a nuisance.

 

[TolmiePeak]

The robo calls drive me crazy. If I answer the phone then you better have an actual person to talk to me on the other end.

Just stop answering the phone. If it is important they will leave a message. 90% of the calls I get are from scammers. I never answer the phone.

 

[daviator]

1. These are not calls offering a match or some alternative date. They just want me to call them back, and if I do, they ask if I want to broaden my search. I say no, I requested the dates that work for me. They say ok, bye. Then a week later the calls start again.

2. I get lots of legitimate calls from unrecognized numbers, and not answering the phone isn't really an option for me, at least during the day. And ironically, were II to call to tell me that they HAVE a match for my request, I'd very much WANT to take that call. But not these robocalls which just say (in so many words) "Call us back, I won't tell you why."

3. I COULD block the number the calls come from. But I'm worried that if II actually calls with a match, it might be from that same number (and if they call with a match you don't want and you don't decline it within 24 hours, you've bought it...) So far as I know, those calls are always accompanied by an email too though.

But I don't really understand the point of the calls. They aren't offering an alternative, they just want to ask me if the dates I requested are actually the dates I want. I can see asking that once, but every single week?

 

[Hindsite]

3. I COULD block the number the calls come from. But I'm worried that if II actually calls with a match, it might be from that same number (and if they call with a match you don't want and you don't decline it within 24 hours, you've bought it...) So far as I know, those calls are always accompanied by an email too though.

It is POSSIBLE that II could call you with a match that you would take but could be unlikely, depending on how you set up your requests.

The scenarios that I have heard about but never experienced, are
- if you request a studio or 1-bed and a 2-bed becomes available
- if you specified a check-in day and another day that weekend was available.
- for DVC Orlando they do seem to be sometimes calling to check that people want an exchange even if it is exactly what they request. I've not heard or read of them doing that for any other resorts.

What I have done, following an II call, is double check with people on FB whether a studio at a specific resort actually has a full kitchen, as my request was for a 1-bed because I wanted to have a full kitchen. The II information indicated that there was not a full kitchen in the studio, so my request was based on that info. It turned out that the studios did have the full kitchen so I logged in and manually searched for the studio and made the reservation. I've also updated a request to remove locations and dates that I no longer want, as the result of the calls.

If you have your requests set up right, double check that any assumptions you have made about resort amenities that matter to you, regularly review them and don't have DVC in them, then the risk of you missing out by blocking the number is minimal in my experience.

 

[zentraveler]

I think some of the calls are to re-verify all of your contact into - AGAIN - and every time you call for anything no matter how simple. So annoying (none of mine has changed in 25 years) but it an II requirement; they have to do it.

 

[WBP]

So last year I deposited one of my VOIs to Interval, and late in the year I put in an exchange request for September of this year.

I subsequently got lucky and was able to book basically what I wanted through Abound, but I didn’t cancel the exchange request because if Interval should come through, I might cancel the Abound reservation and use the Interval one.

But beginning a couple of months ago, I am getting calls roughly weekly from Interval. The first annoyance is that they are robocalls which ask you to call them back, which I think is really rude – if you call me, and I answer the phone, the least you can do is have a human there to tell me why you are calling me.

But if I take the bait and call them back, they basically just want to know if I want to change my exchange request. Every time I tell them no, if I wanted different dates I’d have requested different dates. Then in a week or two, they call again with the same question. Invariably, the calls come in while I’m on another call – an important one – and disrupt my work.

I’m getting super annoyed at these calls. They’re rude from the start, with the “call us back and we won’t tell you why” robomessage. And they keep repeatedly calling to ask the same inane question (do they think I am stupid? If I wanted to change the dates, I’d call and change the dates.)

I asked them to stop calling me but they are doing it again. If I don’t call them back, then they call me every day with the robo-message. It’s this kind of little annoyance that makes me wonder why I even try to use Interval.

I don’t expect anyone here has a magic solution, but why do they do this? There is never any explanation, just “we were wondering if you wanted to change anything about your request.” It wouldn’t be annoying if it happened just once, but after like six times, and probably 15 calls, I’m annoyed.

Here’s some additional perspectives.

MVC/MVW keeps close watch over Interval International exchanges, and in particular, their time to confirmation, and time that a request is in pending status. There may presently be financial incentives, from MVC/MVW for Interval to make confirmations, over the shortest period of time possible. I’ve seen I.I. reports on their exchange performance, and they are very sophisticated, and divulging. In addition to this level of oversight and scrutiny by MVC/MVW, and ? financial incentives/rewards, the I.I. agents are incented, financially, to make confirmations, while you are on the phone with them, and to offer alternative choices to get you to accept a confirmation. These financial incentives are beyond the financial incentives that an I.I. agent receives for selling membership renewals, upgraded memberships, insurance, and eplus. Last I heard, the agents were incented for harvesting an exchange week from you, the caller, vs leaving to the caller, some alternative to I.I. The bottom line, II is closely scrutinized by MVC/MVW, and there is money at play, for much of what they do. So, any attempt by II to reach you, is an attempt to get you to a confirmation, and to reduce the time of your exchange request, to confirmation.

Regarding emails and phone calls from II with offers, we routinely tell II that we will not accept a smaller unit size, alternate dates, alternate resorts, and request that they not call us, or email us with alternate dates/resorts. While some agents have said that they can’t do that, others have done it, and we receive no phone calls or emails. If II fails, I email II to create a paper trail, and that seems to fix the issue.

For me, every second that I don’t have to talk to II is a blessing. Now, I understand why Gen Z wants to conduct their business on the phone and the web, and not have personal, verbal contact with people. Every now and then, I talk to an exemplary II employee.