An Open Letter to Starwood VO
Thank you for committing Starwood's new I.I. deposit methodology to writing.
For reference, my comments refer to your written explanation, as copied verbatim, below. As any written communication can inadvertently be misinterpreted, please correct any failing on my part to understand your intended meaning.
I am sure you will agree that clarity is the objective of any communication. Unfortunately, I am confused by what appear to be contradictions. Perhaps the terms employed are the culprit. I hope so. For it to be otherwise, raises double-talk to a higher art form.
I was initially encouraged by the opening remark, "The new Interval International (II) methodology works the same as the Request First option that has always been offered by II. "
Of course, every timeshare owner with an I.I. account understands how I.I. implements its Request First policy. Indeed, the I.I. Starwood desk concurs that the single purpose of Request First is to enable an owner to retain their home resort reservation in the event the requested trade is not consummated for any reason.
However, Starwood's written explanation of its new implementation
ascribes an entirely different definition to "Request First".
What is particularly disturbing, is the casual comparison to its advantages over the "old "Deposit First" methodology, without making any reference to altering the meaning of "Request First".
Indeed, Starwood has taken the unilateral liberty of substituting the heretofore classic definition of Deposit First, with its own definition of "Request First".
The described potential benefits of the new implementation may indeed be an improvement over the old Deposit First for some. But, that is what can be said. What it remains to be is a Deposit First in its procedure and process modified to the Starwood system, irrespective of what name is applied. In point of function, the entire purpose of Request First has been subverted. Simply, if the written explanation is to be taken literally, one cannot retain an initially made home resort reservation if the request is not successful for any reason.
To offer an explanation that describes the advantages of a newly defined request first over a defunct Deposit First, without mention of the fact that the commonly understood functionality of RF has been eliminated, appears to be intentionally misleading.
Further, one cannot help but conclude that by taking the unprecedented step of usurping a term in common use for 25 years by millions of timeshare owners, it is an intentional play on words
crafted with care. That is the common definition of double-talk.
Please advise if my understanding is incorrect. As already stated, I hope so. In that event, I respectfully suggest that a clearer communication be released to describe the new I.I. exchange request methodology.
Sincerely,
Fredm.
"Thank you for contacting Sheraton Vacation Ownership.
We sincerely apologize for any continued inconvenience or confusion this may be causing you. The new Interval International (II) methodology works the same as the Request First option that has always been offered by II. When you contact Owner Services to request your assignment, your ownership account is "flagged" for this use method. At the time your assignment is created you will be provided with your Resort Assignment Code as well as the expiration date for your ownership week. We are pleased to inform you that your Request First Assignment can be canceled anytime before the end of the use year that was assigned so you can still use your week through Starwood Vacation Ownership (SVO). In the past, deposit first requests were final transactions.
Your Resort Assignment Code was created by II and will ensure that you receive the true trading power for your ownership week. This is beneficial to you since you will receive your true trading power for your ownership week regardless of when you request your assignment. With the old deposit first method, chances were high that you would receive a lesser season when you requested your deposit late in the year. You will also receive a confirmation from SVO that your week has been placed in a Request First Assignment with II. This confirmation was not provided by SVO with the old deposit first method.
Your expiration date for your ownership week will always be on June 30 two years later, regardless of when you request your assignment. For example, if you elect to place your 2010 ownership week in an II Request First Assignment, you will have until June 30, 2012 to use this week through II.
Once your assignment has been created and you have your Resort Assignment Code, you will be able to contact II immediately to submit your search criteria. This is also beneficial to you since you had to wait 24-48 hours with the old deposit first method before you could contact II with your reservation request. Please note that you will not see an actual week posted to your II account when you submit your request and you will be required to prepay your transaction fee to II to initiate your search.
After your search criteria has been submitted to II, this will change your assignment status from "Request First Assignment" to "Request First Pending" in our systems. Your Request First Pending may still be canceled prior to the end of the assigned use year after verifying with II that your search has not been confirmed. This is done while you are speaking with an Owner Services agent through email, Live Chat on StarCentral, or over the telephone.
When II confirms your request this will change the status of your week from Request First Pending to Request First Confirmed. Your II assignment cannot be canceled at this time. You will be required to use your week through II from this point forward should you elect to cancel your existing II reservation.
At this time we will not be sending an official communication to our owners outlining the new process since we anticipate a seamless transition for our owners, although you will be reaping the benefits of the new methodology. We encourage you to contact Owner Services toll free at the telephone number listed below if you have additional inquiries about this new process."
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