I am a "resale" owner.
I received an email promo offer for a December stay at @ 20 resorts. The offer was 55k Reward points. I picked Westwinds (Myrtle Beach) - @ 150 miles away - a 2br for wife & me and another couple. Husband (other couple) hospitalized a few days ago, so they couldn't come. My wife decided to stay home and encourage friend's wife. I came by myself. The resort and reservation desk staff are nice. I highly recommend this resort!
With plenty of time on my hands over the 3 days, I decided to see what new scams were being perpetuated at the updates. The guy at the desk used the same T&L spiel, but also told me that Wyndham had a new program that allowed owners to carry over their points for 4 years (found out later he was deceptively referring to hotel points). He also offered me 15k additional reward (hotel) points as incentive to attend the "update" (70k so far, not bad!).
Without thinking, I gave him my Wyndham cc (which had the rewards number on it). Without asking permission or informing me, he charged $60 for the update deposit on this card. When I later found out about the charge, I was told "don't worry, it will be refunded after the update". I printed off the South Carolina code of laws and penalties on fraud, and gave it to him and his sales manager.
The "update" was as to be expected. Didn't learn anything new. I was offered the opportunity to lower my maintenance fees @ $40/month if I buy 300k more points for $100,000. The manager couldn't understand why I didn't comprehend the financial sense of doing this.
The manager tried telling me that my resale points would not get special promos (I told him about my 55k reward points), he told me that I wouldn't get special discounts and last minute deals (which I've gotten and used in the past). Yes, there are some perks/discounts I will not get, but they are not anywhere close to worth $100,000. I left the meeting with the manager frustrated that I can't recognize a good deal.
Going into this "update" and knowing what to expect, I actually enjoyed myself. Caught the manager in some lies, nut he insisted as a professional he knew more than I did, It was an interesting way to spend some of my free time. I appreciate all of the comments on this site and others which prepared me.
I received an email promo offer for a December stay at @ 20 resorts. The offer was 55k Reward points. I picked Westwinds (Myrtle Beach) - @ 150 miles away - a 2br for wife & me and another couple. Husband (other couple) hospitalized a few days ago, so they couldn't come. My wife decided to stay home and encourage friend's wife. I came by myself. The resort and reservation desk staff are nice. I highly recommend this resort!
With plenty of time on my hands over the 3 days, I decided to see what new scams were being perpetuated at the updates. The guy at the desk used the same T&L spiel, but also told me that Wyndham had a new program that allowed owners to carry over their points for 4 years (found out later he was deceptively referring to hotel points). He also offered me 15k additional reward (hotel) points as incentive to attend the "update" (70k so far, not bad!).
Without thinking, I gave him my Wyndham cc (which had the rewards number on it). Without asking permission or informing me, he charged $60 for the update deposit on this card. When I later found out about the charge, I was told "don't worry, it will be refunded after the update". I printed off the South Carolina code of laws and penalties on fraud, and gave it to him and his sales manager.
The "update" was as to be expected. Didn't learn anything new. I was offered the opportunity to lower my maintenance fees @ $40/month if I buy 300k more points for $100,000. The manager couldn't understand why I didn't comprehend the financial sense of doing this.
The manager tried telling me that my resale points would not get special promos (I told him about my 55k reward points), he told me that I wouldn't get special discounts and last minute deals (which I've gotten and used in the past). Yes, there are some perks/discounts I will not get, but they are not anywhere close to worth $100,000. I left the meeting with the manager frustrated that I can't recognize a good deal.
Going into this "update" and knowing what to expect, I actually enjoyed myself. Caught the manager in some lies, nut he insisted as a professional he knew more than I did, It was an interesting way to spend some of my free time. I appreciate all of the comments on this site and others which prepared me.
