Can't book my legacy/deeded week - Help?

[Polish Hammer]

Hey everyone - new member here so go easy on me. I've owned a week in the Gold season at Ocean Watch at Grande Dunes (Myrtle Beach) since they were in construction, around 2004. Despite the ever-increasing maintenance fees, we've generally been happy with the purchase and have made a lot of good memories at the resort.

I know this part is on me - but we got really bad this year and didn't remember to book our week when the windows opened. We didn't book the spring period with the hope we could get an August week, then when it came time to book in August we were moving a kid into college. Then things just got busy and we screwed up and didn't book.

So last week we go on to try and book something and I'm seeing zero availability. Not a week available at any time frame for Gold, period. I've spent time chatting with MVC online, on the phone, and on the phone with a supervisor. They are claiming that even deeded weeks aren't guaranteed. I still have all the original paperwork and there's nothing there that says this could happen. It says 1/52nd ownership, no asterisk. According to them the only option is to request we deposit with Interval, but I'd really prefer to not pay the fees there just for the chance that I might find something from there that would be worth booking.

Am I being stubborn and I should just try the II option? Do I have a leg to stand on with my perspective that I should be entitled to a week (not a week of my preference, but any one within the season) even though I'm booking late? Any other suggestions? I already sent a tweet to MVC to see if putting it in the public gets any movement.

Any help or insight is greatly appreciated!

 

[Dean]

They are telling you correctly. The few weeks in Gold in the Fall are high demand and it would make sense they are gone. And you're within the 60 day window where they aren't held and are open to MVC to grab for many of the weeks. You could keep checking online or you could ask them to deposit a week and then try for an exchange. I'm afraid your options are limited and this is what we all signed up for. As for looking at the rules, you'll have to look at the POS including reservation options for that resort but as I noted, this is how the system works. In addition to owners reserving weeks, owners might also elect for points if they are enrolled and then MVC could grab a week as well for each one elected.

 

[Hindsite]

Go with II, you might even be able to exchange back into OW, for when you want, if you put in a request.

 

[davidvel]

Hey everyone - new member here so go easy on me. I've owned a week in the Gold season at Ocean Watch at Grande Dunes (Myrtle Beach) since they were in construction, around 2004. Despite the ever-increasing maintenance fees, we've generally been happy with the purchase and have made a lot of good memories at the resort.

I know this part is on me - but we got really bad this year and didn't remember to book our week when the windows opened. We didn't book the spring period with the hope we could get an August week, then when it came time to book in August we were moving a kid into college. Then things just got busy and we screwed up and didn't book.

So last week we go on to try and book something and I'm seeing zero availability. Not a week available at any time frame for Gold, period. I've spent time chatting with MVC online, on the phone, and on the phone with a supervisor. They are claiming that even deeded weeks aren't guaranteed. I still have all the original paperwork and there's nothing there that says this could happen. It says 1/52nd ownership, no asterisk. According to them the only option is to request we deposit with Interval, but I'd really prefer to not pay the fees there just for the chance that I might find something from there that would be worth booking.

Am I being stubborn and I should just try the II option? Do I have a leg to stand on with my perspective that I should be entitled to a week (not a week of my preference, but any one within the season) even though I'm booking late? Any other suggestions? I already sent a tweet to MVC to see if putting it in the public gets any movement.

Any help or insight is greatly appreciated!

The highest demand weeks are Platinum in the summer, which are sandwiched between the spring and fall gold weeks. While you are complaining about the problem, you acknowledged you did not try to reserve until recently. There are only 15 gold weeks. While it is surprising that there is not one week available, as Dean notes the governing docs allow weeks to be released 60 days prior to the occupancy date. Those are the rules.

 

[Polish Hammer]

They are telling you correctly. The few weeks in Gold in the Fall are high demand and it would make sense they are gone. And you're within the 60 day window where they aren't held and are open to MVC to grab for many of the weeks. You could keep checking online or you could ask them to deposit a week and then try for an exchange. I'm afraid your options are limited and this is what we all signed up for. As for looking at the rules, you'll have to look at the POS including reservation options for that resort but as I noted, this is how the system works. In addition to owners reserving weeks, owners might also elect for points if they are enrolled and then MVC could grab a week as well for each one elected.

Appreciate the thorough response. This 60-day window is new info to me and wasn't mentioned by anyone I spoke to at MVC. I didn't see anything about it on my paperwork, but will look through it again to check. I don't want to be unreasonable so if this is something I originally agreed to and have simply forgot, then that's my fault.

 

[Polish Hammer]

The highest demand weeks are Platinum in the summer, which are sandwiched between the spring and fall gold weeks. While you are complaining about the problem, you acknowledged you did not try to reserve until recently. There are only 15 gold weeks. While it is surprising that there is not one week available, as Dean notes the governing docs allow weeks to be released 60 days prior to the occupancy date. Those are the rules.

Thanks to you as well - as I mentioned above the 60-day window is something I was unaware of. Will keep working on it with this new knowledge.

 

[Hindsite]

I don't want to be unreasonable so if this is something I originally agreed to and have simply forgot, then that's my fault.

If it's not in your original documents the clause saying they can change the rules without you permission will be, so it doesn't matter what you think you agreed to, its about how it works now.

 

[jwalk03]

I would just accept the Interval replacement week and put in on going search for places and dates you would like to visit. I have had very good luck with Interval trades into many Marriott. Including trading into OceanWatch during the platinum summer season twice, and a gold spring week as well.

 

[Dean]

Appreciate the thorough response. This 60-day window is new info to me and wasn't mentioned by anyone I spoke to at MVC. I didn't see anything about it on my paperwork, but will look through it again to check. I don't want to be unreasonable so if this is something I originally agreed to and have simply forgot, then that's my fault.

I'm reading from Barony's POS fro 1999 but it should be similar. It actually says MVC can use any unreserved week 75 days prior to the start of the week. That's under Appendix A "Procedures for Reserving Usage" section 1.4. Under 1.7.g it states if you fail to reserve or are unwilling to accept available weeks, you'll lose the right to a week that year. I'm not sure I completely agree with Hindsite. It's true they reserve the right to change reservation procedures without input, but I don't think they could do so in a way that would give a clear benefit to MVC with no benefit to owners, it would have to be done within the spirit of the POS documentation. But it might be very negative for a given owner while positive for another. For example, the 13 month reservation option was implemented later in the 90's and clearly favors multiple week owners.

If your week is enrolled, II is clearly the best option. If not, it's still likely the best option even if you have to join II and pay the exchange fee. But you could keep looking and might find something. Look several times a day. I don't think they have a wait list for this situation but it's worth asking about.

 

[dioxide45]

I'm not sure I completely agree with Hindsite. It's true they reserve the right to change reservation procedures without input, but I don't think they could do so in a way that would give a clear benefit to MVC with no benefit to owners, it would have to be done within the spirit of the POS documentation.

Also, while they reserve the right to make a change it doesn't actually appear that they made any changes. The OPs usage rights don't seem to be any different today than when they first bought.

 

[Hindsite]

. I'm not sure I completely agree with Hindsite. It's true they reserve the right to change reservation procedures without input, but I don't think they could do so in a way that would give a clear benefit to MVC with no benefit to owners, it would have to be done within the spirit of the POS documentation. But it might be very negative for a given owner while positive for another

It depends your perspective, Vistana owners who had their banking duration cut in half feel very much like that was in MVCs favour.
Mandatory resale Vistana owners who got handed the keys to the kingdom for free rather like that MVC change.

 

[bnoble]

I didn't see anything about it on my paperwork, but will look through it again to check.

I'm 95% sure it is in there somewhere. This is a very standard term that nearly every timeshare developer uses, and has for many many years. It might be under the term "breakage".

 

[Dean]

It depends your perspective, Vistana owners who had their banking duration cut in half feel very much like that was in MVCs favour.
Mandatory resale Vistana owners who got handed the keys to the kingdom for free rather like that MVC change.

I can't speak to Vistana, it would depend on how the documentation is worded. I can speak to the way POS's work to some degree and any change has to be within the spirit of the POS. For example, to increase the window where the week reverts to MVC would not be legal as I understand it but they could make lots of changes that might be very negative to one owner or group of owners.

I'm 95% sure it is in there somewhere. This is a very standard term that nearly every timeshare developer uses, and has for many many years. It might be under the term "breakage".

I've never seen one that wasn't but you never know. I also have the original POS for Grande Ocean and there is similar wording in there although it says to reserve by mail and does not mention the 13 month multiple week option which came on board later.

 

[dioxide45]

It depends your perspective, Vistana owners who had their banking duration cut in half feel very much like that was in MVCs favour.
Mandatory resale Vistana owners who got handed the keys to the kingdom for free rather like that MVC change.

This is part of the VSN terms and conditions. Not necessarily the POS. It should also be noted that banking and borrowing StarOptions wasn't even an option at one time and was added as a benefit. Perhaps about 10 years ago?

 

[Snazzylass]

Appreciate the thorough response. This 60-day window is new info to me and wasn't mentioned by anyone I spoke to at MVC. I didn't see anything about it on my paperwork, but will look through it again to check. I don't want to be unreasonable so if this is something I originally agreed to and have simply forgot, then that's my fault.

I'm not in your system but...my T/S tried to tell me something wasn't available last month when it clearly was..through Booking.com or something.

I don't understand how all this "maths" unless you are trying to book for Spring Break? Sorry I wasn't clear. It looked like you would also accept Fall. Maybe all the owners who couldn't book Spring rushed for Fall?

In my situation, I did the first phone call to my T/S to book the reservation. I pushed a little when I was told it wasn't available, then politely hung up, checked third-party app; called back, spoke to someone else, and, Waalaa! I got my reservation. Definitely go back and read your docs. Maybe try to get a manager on the phone to explain it to you.

I had a manager once tell me that a "sale" is made on every call. What he meant was sometimes the customer does the "selling" and convinces the company representative. So true!

On the other hand, something similar happened to me years ago. Wanted October; was told they were all booked up. Settled for December which I actually liked. Lesson learned. So, we've all been there and try to make sure it doesn't happen again.

 

[Hindsite]

This is part of the VSN terms and conditions. Not necessarily the POS. It should also be noted that banking and borrowing StarOptions wasn't even an option at one time and was added as a benefit. Perhaps about 10 years ago?

non-expert owners don't know the finer points of that, like the OP, they work on how they think the system works, and when they stray outside of what it really is, they don't "recall" what they agreed to or not, and they forget that lots of new (non-contracted) benefits were added in the last 10-15 years.
Luckily MVC is generally decent, and offers owners the II deposit as an alternative, and I suspect that is workable for most but sufficiently disruptive to their normal practice that they are unlikely to make that error again.

 

[dioxide45]

According to them the only option is to request we deposit with Interval, but I'd really prefer to not pay the fees there just for the chance that I might find something from there that would be worth booking.

Is your week not enrolled? It is eligible to be enrolled for free and enrollment would remove any fees related to Interval International exchange. Though it will add a new Club Dues fee.