Call to Starwood about new system

[lily28]

I talked with starwood again today. I was told there will be no more bulk deposit. I mention that will be less availability for exchange in II for starwood timeshares which the representative agrees. If starwood stop bulk deposit, won't be less availability in hawaii, st john and Bahamas even in slow seasons as most of those owners won't deposit their expensive ts into II?

Also, a different representative at thestarwood resolution desk told me that SI2 (for sdo wk 1-52) will trade the same in II compared to the SDO platinum (weeks 1-20 and 51-52) as II sees these week as red. He says that there is a lower level to SI2. I am very skeptical of this claim. Any tugger with both type of SDO ownership may want to check this claims and let the rest of us know. thanks

 

[l2trade]

you are correct to be skeptical. it sounds as if you were being mislead to stop your complaint. yes, SI2 will trade in the same "way" as SDO platinum. no, it will not be "worth" anywhere near as much.

as i was told repeatedly by several folks at II today, SI2 is valued as gold weeks 22-27 & 36-49 for value purposes. one quick look at the chart on page 156 in the 2009 II book will show you the difference in demand between that and the weeks 1-20 & 51-52.

i have a 'greatest demand week' from 2010 that i reserved and deposited just prior to the switch. i have two remaining reservations for that same week with starwood which i had yet to deposit with II when all this happened. i compared the results from that search with the new generic date SI2 that were recently added to my II account. these results are DEFINITELY NOT THE SAME! :-(

 

[WINSLOW]

Talked to a SVN representative today, a contact that I got from gmarine (by the way, Thank You). She was very nice and patient with all of my list of questions.

She said SVN has expanded the search availability to 24 months from the 12 months due to recent customer feed back. Also was told SVN is going to have it's own II book (like Marriott's) sent out, and they are also looking into sending out information on the changes either by email or on mystarcentral. They must be getting alot of calls. I don't know way they didn't plan on them to begin with?

The best Vistana Fountains is going to get is Gold Plus status, there is also Gold for the lower season. Lakes & Cascades have more/better seasons. Was told it does not go by the deeded week. Asked her if the rankings followed the same as the StarOption Chart colors and she said yes. So whatever color of the week you own following the StarOption chart is what you get for a trading level/power.

Also asked about bulk banking and was told not going to be done anymore. But that should make more availability within the SVN if they are not going to II.

Told SVN still has 3 day priority.

Asked if this effects RCI for those that are dual affiliated and was told no, that this only effects II. So RCI is still done the same way.

Asked why this was done. Was told it was to make it easier, more effective, fairer and more consistant for true trade power for all owners.

Was also told No more request first, no holding a reservation to put in a search. Either deposit or do online instant searches. (How is this better???)


I think that was about it, Just thought I would share the info.
Crystal

 

[gmarine]

I too spoke to II today. Yes, search ability is going to 24 months from 12 months.
Today I also spoke to a person at the Arizona Dept of Real Estate. I explained what was going on.
I was asked if giving the week to Interval was assigning the rights of the week to Interval as you would do if you were renting the week or giving it away. My answer was yes. I was told that a managment company cannot control the rights of a deeded property. It was explained to me that with a floating week ,once the reservation is made, that is your week. You own it.

Any agreement Starwood makes with anyone(II) to take the rights of the deeded week away would be voided if challenged by someone, IMO.

Assume you own a deeded week SDO week float 1-52 non-SVN member. You make a reservation for Easter week, which is high season. If you were able to deposit the exact week you reserved as you have the right to, you would have excellent trading power.
With the new system, you have to cancel your reservation and in return you get Gold Plus trading power within II.

It just seems so simple. You own a deed that gives you the right make a reservation within a certain season. You can rent that week, give it away or do what you wish with it.
Or so you thought. Starwood then comes along and says no, if you give the week to Interval, we decide what week you give them. How do they come up with this?

 

[ArtsieAng]

Winslow

Talked to a SVN representative today, a contact that I got from gmarine (by the way, Thank You). She was very nice and patient with all of my list of questions.

I sent an e-mail to her a week, or so ago, and also called a couple of days ago. I have not heard back from her, as of yet.

gmarine

It just seems so simple. You own a deed that gives you the right make a reservation within a certain season. You can rent that week, give it away or do what you wish with it.
Or so you thought. Starwood then comes along and says no, if you give the week to Interval, we decide what week you give them. How do they come up with this?

I agree with you. I don't believe that they have the right to do so.

The original owner of my week did not purchase through Starwood. She Purchased a "Platinum week" with the right to reserve her deeded "Platinum" week, as far in advance as 24 months.

So, If I have the right to reserve my deeded week, and it is a "Platinum" week, how can Starwood arbitrarily designate my deeded "Platinum" week "Gold Plus?"

The same exact week is being designated as "Platinum" if purchased through Starwood.

 

[mlsmn]

Has anybody spoken to anybody at The Arizona Dept of Real Estate who might be willing to put in writing that Starwood can't do what they are trying to do at SDO?

If we had this we could perhaps draw Starwood's attention .

 

[DeniseM]

Here is the info. to make a formal complaint against Starwood -

Download Form

Since Starwood is based in Florida, this is for a Florida complaint. I don't know if it will work in this case, but maybe it would get Starwood's attention if we all filled one out and sent it in.

Thoughts?

 

[barndweller]

WINSLOW said:

She said SVN has expanded the search availability to 24 months from the 12 months due to recent customer feed back.

Thanks for the info, Winslow. I just checked my account and I can indeed search 24 full months. I am impressed that Starwood and II responded to this complaint in a positive way. Now they need to solve the trade power issue for deeded fixed weeks.

 

[durrod]

There is something still not clear to me. I have a non SVN week that I used to search and see what other Starwood units are available. The week is no longer in my II account. Does that mean there is no more instant exchanges? Or are those coming back? Its confusing when there are people who have their weeks in their accounts and others does not.

 

[DeniseM]

I don't believe that people have access to their 2010 weeks unless they are fixed weeks, or they have actually been deposited already...

 

[gmarine]

You need to call II/Starwood and have them put the "shell" back on your My Units screen. This is another problem that started with the new system.

 

[l2trade]

Keep in mind the "shell" that they put back on your My Units screen will not be the same as before. It will say 2009 week, even if it is 2010. If you own red 1-52, it will show 'gold plus' season trading power, which i've been told by II is a subset range of the full year. You will never get to put in your actual reservation week, which is bad if you had booked a platinum week. Starwood will cancel that reservation if you do request first. Starwood will give II a week of their choosing, not yours, after you choose to deposit or exchange. Compared to depositing a high demand platinum reservation week, you will miss out on some of the very best exchange choices. You will not know what II will no longer let you even see with the gold plus season.

 

[ArtsieAng]

DeniseM

Here is the info. to make a formal complaint against Starwood -

Download Form

Thank you Denise for the info....If I don't hear back from Starwood within a couple of days, I will make a formal complaint.

 

[Politico]

Thank you Denise for the info....If I don't hear back from Starwood within a couple of days, I will make a formal complaint.

if you make a formal complaint, please post here, perhaps we can all crib off the same complaint and submit to reelevant state dept.

 

[sachs1999]

rci?

does anyone know if this will be changing with rci also for sdo which can be deposited there also.

 

[rickandcindy23]

When owners were fighting with Wyndham over the guest certificate policies, complaint letters to Florida were quickly dismissed because our deeds were not in Florida. Complaint letters to the states where the particular timeshares were located worked somewhat. You really need to address your complaints to the states where your timeshare is located, I guess is what I am saying. The management company is just that, and real estate law is by the state.

I remember that Arkansas's Attorney General was really wanting to get Wyndham, because they had so many complaints on sales issues and the like, so they listened attentively to the concerns. Florida didn't care one bit.....and Sheraton and Wyndham offices, you can throw a rock, one to the other.

 

[l2trade]

I actually had the Starwood representative tell me several times to use RCI instead if I still wanted the ability to deposit my actual reservation week...

USE RCI INSTEAD? What a joke!!! I can't wait to tell II management about that one. My uninformed guess is that Starwood isn't playing fair with them either. II better wake up before these big chains crush them.

I've been a very happy II customer and I want to stay that way. Yes, losing Disney choices to RCI sucked, but I can accept that. I am not ready to accept losing my right as a non-SVN owner to the specific week I reserved and own. Both myself and II are hurt by this. I will fully support II in trying to get Starwood to reverse this if they ask Tug posters for help. Otherwise, I will likely cancel my II membership if this issue is not resolved favorably in the coming year.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I hope you got the name of the Starwood employee who told you to use RCI. A name to go with the complaint would go a long way in establishing concern on II's part.

Think of the ramifications of this comment, probably made out of frustration by an employee, tired of hearing the same thing from owners who are angry.

Owners are complaining, so quickly think of something to get that owner off your back. :rofl:

It's actually hilarious.

We should all reserve weeks and deposit with RCI, then call II and tell II we cannot use them anymore. :rofl:

I might even call Starwood and complain that I cannot use the week as I want that I have on hold for next summer, and hopefully that employee will say that to me. I would be happy to call II and tell a supervisor that my business is gone, with the advice to deposit my weeks to RCI, directly from a Starwood employee named ______.

 

[James1975NY]

I hope you got the name of the Starwood employee who told you to use RCI. A name to go with the complaint would go a long way in establishing concern on II's part.

Think of the ramifications of this comment, probably made out of frustration by an employee, tired of hearing the same thing from owners who are angry.

Owners are complaining, so quickly think of something to get that owner off your back. :rofl:

It's actually hilarious.

We should all reserve weeks and deposit with RCI, then call II and tell II we cannot use them anymore. :rofl:

I might even call Starwood and complain that I cannot use the week as I want that I have on hold for next summer, and hopefully that employee will say that to me. I would be happy to call II and tell a supervisor that my business is gone, with the advice to deposit my weeks to RCI, directly from a Starwood employee named ______.

Not sure that reporting the Starwood agent to II will help any. Nor is it fair to assume that the agent was not being helpful when the comment was made to trade with RCI. Think about it....the bottom line is that the agent was sharing where this type of transaction could be done (direct deposit vs. bulk or generic assignment). I see this as providing available solutions and would be appreciative of that.

The "front line" employees are there to service the best way that they can and I know that they want to do their best. They do not make any of the decisions that are of concern in this forum and to throw them into the fire is just ridiculous. :annoyed:

 

[James1975NY]

I actually had the Starwood representative tell me several times to use RCI instead if I still wanted the ability to deposit my actual reservation week...

USE RCI INSTEAD? What a joke!!! I can't wait to tell II management about that one. My uninformed guess is that Starwood isn't playing fair with them either. II better wake up before these big chains crush them.

I've been a very happy II customer and I want to stay that way. Yes, losing Disney choices to RCI sucked, but I can accept that. I am not ready to accept losing my right as a non-SVN owner to the specific week I reserved and own. Both myself and II are hurt by this. I will fully support II in trying to get Starwood to reverse this if they ask Tug posters for help. Otherwise, I will likely cancel my II membership if this issue is not resolved favorably in the coming year.

I am not sure that II is going to be hurt by this. Keep in mind that the owner representation here is likely to be well under 1%.

Why not contact Starwood and discuss this formally with the appropriate people. The fact that an agent advised you to use RCI is not the issue?

 

[James1975NY]

For your information....

I am not sure that II is going to be hurt by this. Keep in mind that the owner representation here is likely to be well under 1%.

Why not contact Starwood and discuss this formally with the appropriate people. The fact that an agent advised you to use RCI is not the issue?

New Starwood system complaint contact info

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The main problems with the new Starwood/II system are that you currently cant search more than one year out from the current date and you cannot keep a home resort reservation while having an ongoing search against that reservation. Starwood has also taken away the right of a non-SVN owner to deposit their deeded reservation week with Interval.

If you arent happy about the changes Starwood has made and/or about the way the system was rolled out please send me a PM and I will give you the contact information so you can let Starwood know how you feel.

FYI, I was given permission by the Starwood director to give out this information for the purposes of owners giving Starwood their opinion of the new system.
__________________
II member since 1994
Tug member since 2001

This was posted in the Owner Sticky area by gmarine....

 

[l2trade]

I am not sure that II is going to be hurt by this. Keep in mind that the owner representation here is likely to be well under 1%.

Why not contact Starwood and discuss this formally with the appropriate people. The fact that an agent advised you to use RCI is not the issue?

I am in contact with Starwood. I did not publish the name of the Starwood manager on this board, nor would I. I don't blame him personally for suggesting it. It is the new policy that is wrong. It discourages me from doing business with II.

As non-SVN real estate deed owners, we may be a really tiny percentage of II personal accounts, but I still think we matter to II. Up until now, I know I have deposited holiday and/or very high demand platinum weeks to them. These are weeks that will probably now go to SVN network members or maybe even the public (via points exchange from SVN members), before ever having a chance to make it through to II. Instead, II will get less desirable weeks from us... that is, if we stay with II and don't rent out or jump over to RCI. If I worked for II, I'd be concerned about Starwood agents recommending to use RCI instead, in light of the new policy complaints, which II claims is all Starwood's doing. After all, didn't Disney jump ship from II not long back? II's strength is also it's biggest weakness.

The real issue here is whether or not Starwood has the legal right to take away the week I own and substitute a lower value one of their choosing. Starwood bought Sheraton Desert Oasis and my real estate deeds and contracts pre-date their seasonal program. I bring up II because I think that II should care. If II ends up not caring about us as customers, well then, I guess that will be their problem. I just hope that II would want to help us. II agents have been kind to me on the phone so far and appear to be frustrated by the new policy, just like I am. However, if I own a good week, I will not give it up to SVN. I will rent it out to the general public or gift it to a friend first, just on principle alone.

 

[James1975NY]

I am in contact with Starwood. I did not publish the name of the Starwood manager on this board, nor would I. I don't blame him personally for suggesting it. It is the new policy that is wrong. It discourages me from doing business with II.

As non-SVN real estate deed owners, we may be a really tiny percentage of II personal accounts, but I still think we matter to II. Up until now, I know I have deposited holiday and/or very high demand platinum weeks to them. These are weeks that will probably now go to SVN network members or maybe even the public (via points exchange from SVN members), before ever having a chance to make it through to II. Instead, II will get less desirable weeks from us... that is, if we stay with II and don't rent out or jump over to RCI. If I worked for II, I'd be concerned about Starwood agents recommending to use RCI instead, in light of the new policy complaints, which II claims is all Starwood's doing. After all, didn't Disney jump ship from II not long back? II's strength is also it's biggest weakness.

The real issue here is whether or not Starwood has the legal right to take away the week I own and substitute a lower value one of their choosing. Starwood bought Sheraton Desert Oasis and my real estate deeds and contracts pre-date their seasonal program. I bring up II because I think that II should care. If II ends up not caring about us as customers, well then, I guess that will be their problem. I just hope that II would want to help us. II agents have been kind to me on the phone so far and appear to be frustrated by the new policy, just like I am. However, if I own a good week, I will not give it up to SVN. I will rent it out to the general public or gift it to a friend first, just on principle alone.

I completely understand the POV expressed here on this string. I am sure II does care about its members and their thoughts and I know Starwood feels the same way. Although, it may not seem this way, I can assure you that the processes that were changed with the deposits, was with the owners in mind.....at least the vast majority of owners.

What I am trying to promote in my comments is to contact Starwood as they have requested to discuss your concern with them. To put it simply, owners on this thread want to have the opportunity to reserve a week of their choice for deposit to gain the trade value associated to that week. Good planning IMO. So focus on that, not the Starwood agent that provided an available option.

If you go to the owner's sticky area, you will see a post by gmarine that asks you to PM him for the contact information at Starwood to discuss this with them. Thats all.....not trying to devalue the main concern or goal.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Not sure that reporting the Starwood agent to II will help any. Nor is it fair to assume that the agent was not being helpful when the comment was made to trade with RCI. Think about it....the bottom line is that the agent was sharing where this type of transaction could be done (direct deposit vs. bulk or generic assignment). I see this as providing available solutions and would be appreciative of that.

The "front line" employees are there to service the best way that they can and I know that they want to do their best. They do not make any of the decisions that are of concern in this forum and to throw them into the fire is just ridiculous. :annoyed:

The absurdity of it all is hilarious. Think about it! Starwood makes an arrangement with II to keep us from depositing the weeks we want, making II the bad guy, basically. Starwood doesn't get into trouble because it's II choosing not to take the deposits. Then Starwood employees are advising owners to deposit with RCI, to avoid this issue. So II loses, but II is really the victim of whatever deal Starwood made! II looks bad, and they are going to lose deposits.

Of course, we are still a small number of owners. So it probably doesn't matter anyway.

 

[tomandrobin]

Ok....I have been reading, reading, reading these ongoing posts about the chages being made by Starwood, with II. I am trying to how this impacts me and my weeks, and so far I am drawing a blank. I don't trade a lot in II, but the times I have traded in II, I have done well. My Harborside and St John weeks will never see II, I am better direct trading or renting. WKV and WLR still gives me use of Staroptions, and all three are platinum weeks already.

So here are some questions.....

1. Since bulk banking is going away, are Starwood weeks deposited into II just going to trickle in daily?

2. I own WKV week 8, if I deposit my week in II.....If I read this correctly, It will show my deeded week for the deposit. If this id the case, and they are going forward with using the deeded week, are we now eligible to get the bonus weeks, like Marriott owners get?


FYI - I went to II and was able to search 24 months out with my non-deposited weeks. That is a plus.