Corporate says redweek is a scam

[Eggrollcreative]

I’m trying to list my Elara Super Bowl week on redweek.com. I picked the full service option so I wouldn’t have to deal with a lot of drama. Redweek says to call my timeshare to get permission for them to confirm my booking. I tried to do that. First Elara couldn’t find my reservation. So then I called Hilton Grand Vacations, and they found my reservation, but could not give permission for RedWeek to confirm it. They sent me to corporate who said that Redweek is a scam and they don’t work with RedWeek and I’m not supposed to sell my home week. It’s supposed to be for my use or to give it away to someone. I let them know that the person who sold me Elara specifically told me I could sell it on redweek. I had never heard of redweek until their sales person told me about it. Also, the fine print says I CAN sell my home week. She said I would have to buy a guest certificate to have someone else use it. I said no I don’t have to buy the certificate because it’s my home week. She acknowledged I was right. I also noted there are other Elara listings on redweek. Finally she admitted they DISCOURAGE people from selling on Redweek. I asked if they had ever sent a memo to their sales people, not to tell people they can sell their timeshares on Redweek? She said she didn’t know. So I said I would post this note for her on TUG as a service. Tuck it away for future reference!

 

[HuskerATL]

Not uncommon for the property not to have the info until right before arrival so questions for the use of the week would go to HGV, not the property. Renting your homeweek is completely allowed through whatever mechanism that you want to use but you are responsible for any damages. Surprised that Redweek needs their input. You can look at Koala also. They provide insurance.

 

[Sandy VDH]

you are only ALLOWED to rent your home week, if the Elara is not you home week then they could have issues. If Elara is your home week, they are just trying to push their weight around.

 

[Eggrollcreative]

I listed with koala but their fees are high! They added $200 to my listing?! Also nowhere for me to highlight the fact it’s Super Bowl AND Valentine’s Day. So I recently “upgraded” to Max, that didn’t take away my home week renting privileges did it? I read the fine print it’s a home week “season” but it has always been that way…

 

[echino]

Renting a Home Week is allowed, but I had problems with Redweek verification too. Redweek needs to confirm the reservation by calling the resort. But HGVC resorts refuse to confirm the reservations to Redweek. The solution was a three-way call, with me calling the resort, and Redweek listening silently to the call, then the resort would confirm the reservation to me, and Redweek would hear it and verify the week.

HGVC prohibits renting anything other than Home Weeks, but many people still rent club points reservations that are not their Home Weeks. I don't think the front desk employees at the resorts clearly understand the distinction when called to confirm the reservation for a rental, and therefore just assume no rentals are allowed at all.

 

[HuskerATL]

That is a great week to rent out in Vegas. Your homepage should still show your homeweek. I am not Max so just see the non-Max homepage where the homeweeks are listed at the bottom. Unless, when you upgraded, you left HGVC and the deed for a DRI trust, then, I guess they don't have a homeweek.

 

[ernststarhemberg]

I listed with koala but their fees are high! They added $200 to my listing?! Also nowhere for me to highlight the fact it’s Super Bowl AND Valentine’s Day. So I recently “upgraded” to Max, that didn’t take away my home week renting privileges did it? I read the fine print it’s a home week “season” but it has always been that way…

Max alone shouldn't take away home week since the home week is tied to the deed. When you login to the HGV website, on the main page scroll down towards the bottom, the home week should be listed there if you still have one.

 

[Eggrollcreative]

Yes it’s home week but it’s any week in the season…I think gold season. So that confuses me. I read the contract it does seem to indicate I’m good to go.

 

[GT75]

Also, the fine print says I CAN sell my home week.

I believe the correct terminology is RENT your home week. I don't think that was tripping up HGVC but maybe.

 

[The Colorado Kid]

I listed with koala but their fees are high! They added $200 to my listing?! Also nowhere for me to highlight the fact it’s Super Bowl AND Valentine’s Day. So I recently “upgraded” to Max, that didn’t take away my home week renting privileges did it? I read the fine print it’s a home week “season” but it has always been that way…

Koala - I've successfully listed my weeks there for rent a dozen times...never had them add anything like that? Maybe since its a high demand week?

 

[HuskerATL]

Max alone shouldn't take away home week since the home week is tied to the deed. When you login to the HGV website, on the main page scroll down towards the bottom, the home week should be listed there if you still have one.

Max alone could if you had a deeded HGVC and traded it in for DRI Max Trust points to get in Max. Not sure why someone would do that, but it is possible.

 

[LAWUFL]

On the HGVC side, the deed entitles the owner to the week(s) purchased for the season/room type. The owner can use the week(s) as (s)he pleases - unless the contract language has changed. However, if the owner does not check in, a guest certificate is required, even for home weeks. And owners maintain responsibility for the unit.

 

[GT75]

On the HGV side,

Do you mean HGVC or HVC? Since you used deed, I assume that you mean HGVC.

Sorry to be a stickler on terminology but HGV (overall company) has created such a mess (I believe on purpose to keep it confusing so that the sales force may exploit it.)

 

[LAWUFL]

Sorry - Hilton GRAND Vacation Club - not Hilton Vacation Club

 

[Eggrollcreative]

Yes I’m with HGVC, not Diamond. BTW I just peeked on BBB and they give Redweek an A+ rating. How odd the lady at corporate had the audacity to call them a “scam.” Wow. And yes I am aware of the need for a guest certificate which is free with my home week.

 

[ernststarhemberg]

Yeah I'm baffled as to why they'd say Red week is a scam and why they wouldn't confirm a rental of your deeded home week. It's in the the club rules that this is permitted. It goes above merely throwing their weight around, they're lying to you and breaking their own rules.

 

[HuskerATL]

I would write it up with the person's name that you talked to and report it via the contact us page after you have logged into your account. Nothing will come of it but, at least, you flagged it that they are intentionally obstructing a guaranteed and marketed benefit of ownership.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I listed with koala but their fees are high! They added $200 to my listing?! Also nowhere for me to highlight the fact it’s Super Bowl AND Valentine’s Day. So I recently “upgraded” to Max, that didn’t take away my home week renting privileges did it? I read the fine print it’s a home week “season” but it has always been that way…

What fees do you think are associated with Redweek? For a verified listing you pay $59 + $100, and the renter pays fees on top of that. Koala gets 8% of your total listing amount. For you to pay $200, you are renting for about $2,500. The beauty of Koala is you don't pay upfront. With RW, you pay $59 and no guarantees. I listed my Dolphin's Cove on Koala and RW. Koala rented it. I didn't get a refund from RW.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Koala - I've successfully listed my weeks there for rent a dozen times...never had them add anything like that? Maybe since its a high demand week?

She is talking about the fee after the week is rented, which means she is renting for a high price.

If I rent my Westin Ka'anapali OFC one bedroom with Koala, I will be paying them 8% of $4,000+. That's $320+. I will reduce my price as the time gets closer. With Redweek, the fee is only $59 + $100. It's a bargain with RW, but it's free to list on Koala. If Koala rents my week, I will once again be out the $59. I don't like paying fees to RW but they are the bigger player in the rental game. When RW rents the week, additional fees are added for the renter. I think Koala is the same, but I don't rent weeks from either site. I have no idea what the renter pays.

 

[Eggrollcreative]

She is talking about the fee after the week is rented, which means she is renting for a high price.

If I rent my Westin Ka'anapali OFC one bedroom with Koala, I will be paying them 8% of $4,000+. That's $320+. I will reduce my price as the time gets closer. With Redweek, the fee is only $59 + $100. It's a bargain with RW, but it's free to list on Koala. If Koala rents my week, I will once again be out the $59. I don't like paying fees to RW but they are the bigger player in the rental game. When RW rents the week, additional fees are added for the renter. I think Koala is the same, but I don't rent weeks from either site. I have no idea what the renter pays.

Oh! That’s the difference! Thanks for explaining. Yes I’m hoping to get $4000 for the week of Super Bowl (and Valentine's Day). I know oink oink but it’s a one time opportunity, two miles from the stadium. Superbowl tickets in the nosebleed section cost $4500. And I could definitely use a boost to my travel funds. I will keep Koala in mind for the future!

 

[dioxide45]

Koala - I've successfully listed my weeks there for rent a dozen times...never had them add anything like that? Maybe since its a high demand week?

I seem to recall that KOALA adds a booking fee of 5% to all rentals and paid by the renter. This is in addition to their commission from the owner.

 

[The Colorado Kid]

I seem to recall that KOALA adds a booking fee of 5% to all rentals and paid by the renter. This is in addition to their commission from the owner.

You are correct

 

[Eggrollcreative]

I have it listed on koala now. 8% from me and 5% from the renter seems high.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I have it listed on koala now. 8% from me and 5% from the renter seems high.

They absorb the credit card fees. A high-cost rental is going to cost more, of course. Redweek's $100 can be very high for a $1,200 rental. $59 + $100 is $159 for me to list it on Redweek as verified. That same listing on Koala is 8%, quite a bit less.

I have my Disney reservations listed on Koala as verified for good reasons. It's cheaper because some of my rentals are only $1,000. I am going to pay them $80 only, not $159 like I would on Redweek. I love Redweek, but I am cheering Koala for the ability to list free. I am still making $20 per point with both companies, but I don't pay verify on Redweek.

My Disney aren't renting at all, and I don't see a bunch renting on Redweek. I am unsure what to think about that.

 

[jehb2]

I don't like paying fees to RW but they are the bigger player in the rental game. When RW rents the week, additional fees are added for the renter. I think Koala is the same, but I don't rent weeks from either site. I have no idea what the renter pays.

You must be talking about just the full service, correct? I DIY on Redweek and I only pay $29.99 to advertise for 6 months. No other fees charged to me or the renter.

And thanks to a Tugger I took advantage of their black Friday membership sale of $9.99 for the year.