Grand Mayan call came today!

[miko]

Just came home to a message on my answering machine asking me to call back on Monday regarding our 3/25/06 exchange to GM Riviera Maya..This exchange was made 02/01/05! I know what they are going to tell me when I call ( the exchange on line is no longer there and the 189.00 fee has been credited). I just hope they will give me something in return as we have 5 airline tickets paid for! Have they canceled anyones reservation and not offered anything in return? I sure hope thats not the case and I wish I didn't have to wait the weekend to find out! Lydia

 

[quiltergal]

Fret not Lydia, you will more than likely be offered something at the Mayan Palace instead of the Grand Mayan. Check this Thread . This Grand Mayan cancellation business has been going on for weeks now to many people. My understanding is that GM decided to allow the owners whose 2005 weeks were affected by Wilma use them in 2006 at any GM location. So they are basically getting two weeks in 06 and everyone who has exchanged in is getting bumped down to the Mayan Palace. Good luck. Let us know what happens. Definately ask for an RCI Specialist to get the best resolution.

 

[wauhob3]

I don't understand why RCI is allowing this to happen. Don't they have contracts that can be upheld? Who would ever want to exchange there again and risk the high cost of airfare? Has everyone been successful with getting a week in exchange even with no exchanges for Cancun even available anymore for Spring Break?

Has anyone worked with a specialist named Ann? She's not going to be in until Monday and warned not to contact anyone else since she knows about the situation which makes for a long weekend.

 

[Dean]

I don't understand why RCI is allowing this to happen. Don't they have contracts that can be upheld? Who would ever want to exchange there again and risk the high cost of airfare? Has everyone been successful with getting a week in exchange even with no exchanges for Cancun even available anymore for Spring Break?

Has anyone worked with a specialist named Ann? She's not going to be in until Monday and warned not to contact anyone else since she knows about the situation which makes for a long weekend.

II and RCI does the same thing at times. Plus the resorts need to have an out if something truly does happen. While I agree it's not the best solution, hopefully it's for a good cause such as those affected by hurricanes and not simply to rent the weeks out.

 

[JEFF H]

II and RCI does the same thing at times. Plus the resorts need to have an out if something truly does happen. While I agree it's not the best solution, hopefully it's for a good cause such as those affected by hurricanes and not simply to rent the weeks out.

Errors and problems do happen and weeks must sometimes be cancelled
but this is normally vary rare.
I don't think it has ever occured in the past at the level of magnitude that is now going on with The Grand Mayan.
Mayan Palace is abusing and exploiting a loophole if one truely exists in there contract with RCI.
When owners or developers deposit weeks and they are verfied they become the property of RCI and no longer available to the owner or developer who deposited them.
Im sorry the Hurrican caused some owners to lose there weeks but that is the risk the owners and resort assumes and is no excuse for cancelling RCI members exchanges.
The Rules of Membership need to be enforced and followed if the RCI Exchange system is going to maintain any kind of integrity.
We as members already own quality resorts and pay high maintenance fees and have normallypurchased expensive non-refundable airline tickets many months in advance of our exchange vacations.
Why should we pay additional RCI membership fees and exchange fees if were going to have our exchanges cancelled or get bumped to lower quality properties whenever it suits the members resorts needs.

NO,
ITs Totally Unacceptable and anyone that this happens to should let RCI know that.
At the very minmum You should get A replacement week at another resort plus your original deposit back and exchange fee refunded as well as a big apology.

 

[readyalready]

No call but my week disappeared and the two bedroom replaced by a studio in a different city, at least you are ahead of me! How does the Moon Palace sound to you?

 

[wauhob3]

I could understand if there was a current hurricane (that's what insurance is for) but the resort is open so why should anyone lose an exchange booked over a year in advance? If they had done it within a month of the hurricane then many people wouldn't have had the very expensive airfare already. Insurance purchased isn't going to count that the resort or RCI changed their minds after taking your week and money...Also to a location that is so expensive to fly too so they know if the family isn't able to be placed the family is out thousands.

 

[Monica]

A/i

No call but my week disappeared and the two bedroom replaced by a studio in a different city, at least you are ahead of me! How does the Moon Palace sound to you?

The A/I is very, very expensive. No way would I take that as an exchange!

 

[Dean]

Errors and problems do happen and weeks must sometimes be cancelled
but this is normally vary rare.
I don't think it has ever occured in the past at the level of magnitude that is now going on with The Grand Mayan.
Mayan Palace is abusing and exploiting a loophole if one truely exists in there contract with RCI.
When owners or developers deposit weeks and they are verfied they become the property of RCI and no longer available to the owner or developer who deposited them.
Im sorry the Hurrican caused some owners to lose there weeks but that is the risk the owners and resort assumes and is no excuse for cancelling RCI members exchanges.
The Rules of Membership need to be enforced and followed if the RCI Exchange system is going to maintain any kind of integrity.
We as members already own quality resorts and pay high maintenance fees and have normallypurchased expensive non-refundable airline tickets many months in advance of our exchange vacations.
Why should we pay additional RCI membership fees and exchange fees if were going to have our exchanges cancelled or get bumped to lower quality properties whenever it suits the members resorts needs.

NO,
ITs Totally Unacceptable and anyone that this happens to should let RCI know that.
At the very minmum You should get A replacement week at another resort plus your original deposit back and exchange fee refunded as well as a big apology.

I don't disagree, merely pointing out there is another side to the story and that the resorts need an out. Sounds like we agree in principle so then it becomes a case of where do you draw the line. But I'm with you in feeling this was not the way to handle it.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

The Mayan has been switching exchangers into lesser resorts for years, and RCI has let them get away with it. The only things different now are:

1. the scale at which it is occurring, and
2. people are finding out about the switch before they arrive at the check-in desk. In the past people have arrived at the checkin desk, confirmation in hand, only to be told they've been switched to another resort (such as Sea Garden) and they need to go to that resort to check in.