I don't know how many of you have inherited a Marriott Timeshare. The process is far from quick and simple. In my case, from the time of my father's death until the actual transfer of the deed and registration by the Marriott Vacation Club it took over 3 years -- which, thankfully, came to a successful end this week.
This thread is not about the difficulty of the inheritence process -- perhaps I will address this subject in future in a separate thread -- but about the difficulty of using Destination Club points from the current year. I would be happy to receive advice or hear of better solutions that were arranged with Marriott by other TUG members.
I originally enrolled the three weeks of my father's timeshare after his death (and before the price of enrollment increased) and have continued paying all the dues and maintenance fees since then while the uncontested inheritence went through probate court. At the time of the enrollment of the weeks, I was assured, in writing, that the enrollment would remain after the transfer of the timeshare weeks to my name. (In this regard, I am happy to say that Marriott did transfer the enrolled weeks to my name without any additional payment for maintaining their status as enrolled weeks.) I was able to take advantage of the destination club points through my father's Marriott web account. Last year, before the September 30 deadline, I converted the 2013 timeshare weeks into destination club points and was able to have access to them through the website for reservations this year.
Before I submitted the transfer of ownership forms to Marriott, I consulted with Marriott's Owner Modifications Department and, as a result of our conversation, I listed the first year of usage of the timeshare weeks under my ownership as 2013. As mentioned above, the 2013 weeks had already been transferred to Destination Club points, but the 2013 Destination Club points had not yet been used.
When the registration of the transfer of ownership actually took place this week, Marriott refused to list the first year of ownership as 2013 and insisted, because the weeks had been converted to points, that the first year of usage should be listed as 2014. I explained that my father had passed away 3 years ago and that I would need access to the 2013 destination club points and they said that I could use the points in "my father's account" by calling a Marriott representative, but that I would not be able to see the points, as they would be closing the internet account for my father. It did not help that I explained that this made no sense and that they should either keep my father's account open so that I could continue to use it or that they should transfer the points to my new account so that I could see availability and use the points directly. They said that they would only transfer the points to my account if the movement of the points was considered a transfer of the points, which would not leave the possibility of banking the points for next year or transfering them to someone else.
At this stage, I can only use the points by calling Marriott, having them check availability and then giving instruction to use the points -- obviously, not as my father, but as me [at least this is what they said has been added as a note to my father's accoount].
Two days ago I wrote to the Marriott Vacation Club with a formal request that this situation be resolved in a more sensible manner, but I have yet to hear from them. If I hear from TUG members that they have been able to make a more logical arrangement with Marriott, this might help me to reach a better arrangement with MVC. It may also be that someone who has not experienced this process, nevertheless would have good advice about possible ways to proceed.
I would appreciate any personal experience or advice that anyone can offer.
This thread is not about the difficulty of the inheritence process -- perhaps I will address this subject in future in a separate thread -- but about the difficulty of using Destination Club points from the current year. I would be happy to receive advice or hear of better solutions that were arranged with Marriott by other TUG members.
I originally enrolled the three weeks of my father's timeshare after his death (and before the price of enrollment increased) and have continued paying all the dues and maintenance fees since then while the uncontested inheritence went through probate court. At the time of the enrollment of the weeks, I was assured, in writing, that the enrollment would remain after the transfer of the timeshare weeks to my name. (In this regard, I am happy to say that Marriott did transfer the enrolled weeks to my name without any additional payment for maintaining their status as enrolled weeks.) I was able to take advantage of the destination club points through my father's Marriott web account. Last year, before the September 30 deadline, I converted the 2013 timeshare weeks into destination club points and was able to have access to them through the website for reservations this year.
Before I submitted the transfer of ownership forms to Marriott, I consulted with Marriott's Owner Modifications Department and, as a result of our conversation, I listed the first year of usage of the timeshare weeks under my ownership as 2013. As mentioned above, the 2013 weeks had already been transferred to Destination Club points, but the 2013 Destination Club points had not yet been used.
When the registration of the transfer of ownership actually took place this week, Marriott refused to list the first year of ownership as 2013 and insisted, because the weeks had been converted to points, that the first year of usage should be listed as 2014. I explained that my father had passed away 3 years ago and that I would need access to the 2013 destination club points and they said that I could use the points in "my father's account" by calling a Marriott representative, but that I would not be able to see the points, as they would be closing the internet account for my father. It did not help that I explained that this made no sense and that they should either keep my father's account open so that I could continue to use it or that they should transfer the points to my new account so that I could see availability and use the points directly. They said that they would only transfer the points to my account if the movement of the points was considered a transfer of the points, which would not leave the possibility of banking the points for next year or transfering them to someone else.
At this stage, I can only use the points by calling Marriott, having them check availability and then giving instruction to use the points -- obviously, not as my father, but as me [at least this is what they said has been added as a note to my father's accoount].
Two days ago I wrote to the Marriott Vacation Club with a formal request that this situation be resolved in a more sensible manner, but I have yet to hear from them. If I hear from TUG members that they have been able to make a more logical arrangement with Marriott, this might help me to reach a better arrangement with MVC. It may also be that someone who has not experienced this process, nevertheless would have good advice about possible ways to proceed.
I would appreciate any personal experience or advice that anyone can offer.
