Interval assignment question

[daviator]

I have only limited experience exchanging through Interval so this may be a dumb question.

Last week I created a “request first” search on the II web site. There is no current availability at the property I chose, but I figured something might pop up in the next few months and then I can decide how to proceed.

Today I got an email from Vistana confirming the assignment of my VOI to Interval. Is this correct? I thought that with “request first” your ownership is not actually assigned to Interval unless they are able to match you to an available stay, matching your request.

If my request doesn’t come through, I don’t want my VOI to be assigned to Interval, and I’m concerned I’m going to be losing some usage rights in that case. Am I misunderstanding how the process works or have they done something other than what I intended?

 

[Hindsite]

Yes its normal to get an email that makes it look like they've done a deposit when its request first and they haven't actually done a deposit. It spooks me every time......

 

[davidvel]

As noted they put a hold on your unit so it is available if you match. It is not actually deposited as long as you did request frist.

 

[m61376]

Also- fyi (hope it saves someone from the angst and annoying phone calls) if you cancel the request first the week can take up to 3-5 business days to reappear in your Marriott account, even though II processes the cancellation. Marriott CS can see the transaction but cannot give you info on the week, even wrt availability or alternative dates. It actually recycled by the next day for us, but was very aggravating and was initially concerned the reservation got messed up. I had assumed that the hold on the unit would be immediately released once cancelled, but that's not the case.