II Policy for exchanges to Closed resorts due to Covid-19

[pgny]

Have 2 exchanges to Aruba in May 2020 that are still active. Aruba has shut off all inbound traffic through end of May. Today I get this email from II.

We regret to inform you that we have been advised that the resort to which you have been confirmed is temporarily closed due to concerns regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Full text below.

I called and spoke to a knowledgeable rep that I have used in the past. She went over the options, but all the options were If I cancelled. There are no options for when II cancels your exchange. Spoke to AMEX and they said they would fight to get my fees refunded.

Feel like there should be another category and treatment by II for exchanges that are canceled by the resort. II has a pretty bad Covid-19 cancellation policy compared to the rest of the travel industry IMHO.

Any thoughts or advice?

Stay safe.

Thanks

Dear Valued Member: We regret to inform you that we have been advised that the resort to which you have been confirmed is temporarily closed due to concerns regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). If you purchased Trip Protection for your exchange or Getaway booking, you should contact Allianz Global Assistance at 1-800-419-7642 to discuss your options. Please note, Allianz Global Assistance is experiencing extremely high call volume. Unless you are having a travel emergency, please wait to contact them if you are not traveling in the next 72 hours, so they can assist those in need of immediate assistance. Due to the closure, we are prepared to offer you temporary adjustments to our cancellation policies to provide you with peace of mind during this unprecedented time. Please visit www.intervalworld.com to view the adjusted cancellation policy. Any future updates to the cancellation policy will continue to be posted on the site. If you have questions, please contact I-800-INTERVAL (1-800-468-3782), or your local Member Services office to discuss your options. Please know our thoughts are with you, and we hope that you and your families are staying safe.

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[rickandcindy23]

There are options for you. It's not like you cannot get anything else, and what do you expect II can do, if you get Amex to refund your fees? You used weeks to get these Aruba units, so are you going to require they give you the fees back? What happens to the weeks you used for the exchanges?

The options II has for these exchanges are very limited, admittedly, and there are several threads ongoing about this issue. That is not a happy situation for you, nor is it happy for us or for many other II members. We cancelled several trips over the last month and have two more to cancel in May for Orlando (Disney trip).

RCI is doing a better job of taking care of people. I cannot believe I am saying that. But it's true. I love II.

 

[wackymother]

I'm really annoyed at II, too. I've read on Reddit or somewhere that if you get your credit card company to go after them, II might cancel your account--which obviously you can't do if you have weeks deposited with them.

I agree that RCI has done a MUCH better job in their response.

 

[travelplus]

We lucked out and was able to get a Back to Back week at the Ridge Tahoe using our Owner Week and Exchange Week. Just got through rearranging it to May as the Ridge is closed until May 31st so I was ahead of the game and got it moved up.

 

[tschwa2]

Per the legal disclosure you agree to as a member. they don't have to give you anything under the current conditions. They certainly don;t have a provision where they would have to refund your exchange fee due to a pandemic. So you can take one of the options they offer or you could try to fight it and you could end up with nothing if you fail.


If II should fail, or be delayed or impaired in the performance of any obligation hereunder, including, but not limited to, providing exchange accommodations, due to causes beyond the control of and without the fault or negligence of II, then II shall be excused from further performance. Such causes may include, but are not limited to, acts of God or public enemy, fire, strikes, lockout or other labor unrest, riot, explosion, civil disobedience, declared or undeclared war, 3 revolution, insurrection, boycotts, acts of piracy, acts of terrorism, acts of public authorities, blockade, embargo, accident, epidemic or quarantine, labor shortages based on pandemics or widespread illness within a given servicing location, delays or defaults caused by public or common carriers, and/or other circumstances materially impacting travel to a particular geographic region or in general.