Fairfield - RCI combined membership question

[tango4u]

Hi,
I am a "newbie" and of course will have many questions... and what's why I am here!!
I just bought 2 FF timeshares from two different sellers (in ebay). One in Hawaii (with 315k points annual) and one in TN (with 434k points annual). Both of them offer free RCI memberships (they come with timeshare's MF).
1) Can I combined these RCI memberships to one or I have to keep 2 RCI membership accounts separated (because they are from different resort)?
2) How do I combine all the FF points (from these two timeshares) so I can vacation in some other locations within FF network (that require lots of FF points)?
3) If I have to keep 2 RCI accounts separated, how can I deposit points into RCI and exchange them (outside of FF network)?
Any advices?
Thanks!!
MN
P.S: To all TUG Members -- Happy holidays to you and your family!!!

 

[Timeshare Von]

Tango welcomed to TUG and Happy Holidays to you as well.

I can't answer all of your questions relative to two FSP accounts that have RCI . . . or how to consolidate your FSP accounts. What I can tell you is that you can consolidate to a single RCI account for all of the TS you own. I had an RCI account before acquiring the 77k points package with Wyndham that now pays for my annual RCI account. They were able to sync up all of my ownership to my pre-existing RCI account and my FSP payment now pays for the annual membership fees. Because I had pre-paid for several years with RCI, I was able to get a refund issued since now my RCI fee will be paid annually by Wyndham.

Best wishes working through the other details you asked about.

 

[Bill4728]

You'll get one FF/RCI account. And all your FSP pts will be combined.

You don't get access to RCI points at all if you bought resale.

Good luck

 

[Jya-Ning]

You will get only one account in Wyndham that contains 2 deeds. Unless it happens that both sellers send the transfer form at the same time and someone did not check. Which is very unlikely consider HI is kind slow.

Since you only get one account in Wyndham, you will get only 1 RCI

If you really want, you can either buy some points from developer or pay Wyndham 2,395 , which will give you access to RCI point. But it usually not a good idea. You maybe much easier to rent RCI point account for 3 years first to see if you like them or not and play with Wyndham for the same time, if you really see the benefit of paying Wyndham, you can make your decision after 2 years.

Jya-Ning

 

[theo]

A few thoughts in reply...

Both of them offer free RCI memberships (they come with timeshare's MF)....
...how can I deposit points into RCI and exchange them (outside of FF network)?

Wyndham, as you may well know, now actually OWNS RCI.
ANY Wyndham purchase (whether on eBay or elsewhere) will result in creation of a "free" RCI WEEKS (not RCI Points) account.

You can deposit your FSP points into your new "free" RCI WEEKS (not RCI Points) account. You can choose the FSP points increments to deposit with RCI, in order to get (...theoretically, anyhow) multiple exchange weeks from those FSP Points for weeks at any RCI affiliated WEEKS resort. There will be a $164 exchange fee imposed by RCI for EACH individual exchange later when (...or ahould I say IF) successfully obtained. The matter of successfully obtaining an exchange which you actually want from RCI is another matter and discussion entirely...

Good luck, Merry Christmas. Gotta go. Time to go visit relatives..

 

[tango4u]

Hi Yvonne, Bill, Jya-Ning and Theo:
Thanks for your advice....

I am still in the escrow closing process and still not sure if I make a good decision to buy these two timeshares. Using the calculated method (that was posted in this forum), one timeshare is $0.0099/point with $4.7/1K MF, the other is $0.0045/point with $5.0/1K MF. Any comments, good? bad? so so?
I have read many negative comments about FF/Wyndham and I am a bit worry about my recent purchases. Not sure if it is a good move. Perhaps I should buy Marriott timeshare instead? I travel a lot (work related) and most of the time, I stay at Marriott hotels (I am in their platimum level). Their products/services are really nice!!

Thanks!!
MN

 

[Jya-Ning]

You have a lot of points, with over 700k points, if you can afford the MF without any effort, and can use them yourself most of the time, these are very good buy. If not, IMHO, these are very dangeous purchase.

Jya-Ning

 

[tango4u]

Hi Jya-Ning,
We are large family and we want 3+ bedroom. MF(s) are about $300/month and you are right, that's high and perhaps we should wait and not buy Marriott... However, it is hard to resist since the TS is cheap now!!
Should we be back off in one deal and pay penalty (the one in TN)?
Thanks!!
M

 

[Jya-Ning]

Only you know what kind of financial situation you are looking. If you need 3 BD+, IMHO, I will not buy Marriott, too much purchase upfront, and you need go through II to do internal exchange, plus the MF is higher. But that is me.

Even with Wyndham, you are paying over $3,500 in MF. Based on ARDA, TS traveler usually spend only 1/3 in their lodging, if you use them yourself, that means you will need to prepare probably $10,000 for the vacation. If your budget is that much for the next 10 years, I am pretty sure you will like Wyndham's point system.

If you plan to do it for business, that will be different story.

Jya-Ning

 

[klconley]

RCI points?

I'm not sure what you mean by not being able to use RCI points when buying resale. We bought a 308,000 point TS used on ebay and it said it had 1 red week RCI. Does that mean we can deposit out FS points into RCI to go on an RCI vacation? What do you mean by RCI points? Thanks. Kelly

 

[Caius]

I'm not sure what you mean by not being able to use RCI points when buying resale. We bought a 308,000 point TS used on ebay and it said it had 1 red week RCI. Does that mean we can deposit out FS points into RCI to go on an RCI vacation? What do you mean by RCI points? Thanks. Kelly

Hello,
There are two RCI "systems." The FSP points you purchased will be linked to an "RCI weeks" account. You will be able to deposit your FSP points to RCI, in return for a week deposit. They range from 28k FSP points for a week designated as blue season/studio size, up to 254k FSP points for a week designated as red season/3BR.

There's a lot of nitty-gritty and tips surrounding FSP deposits into RCI. I didn't seriously get into the RCI strategies until I had used my points inside Wyndham a couple of times and felt good about how that part worked....