Learning RHC- just a few questions

[janapur]

Someone stop me!! I have been envious of the destinations availabe to RHC members and have often thought it would be a good fit for my family. Specifically, my oldest who has a fondness of Europe.

I rarely see the larger point packages on ebay, so I'm thinking of combining several 15,000 sales. Will I be charged a unification fee for each contract or just one time to combine several?

Also, what is the deal with the auctions for actual units (ie studio, 1 bedroom, etc.)? Can you still use these point-lacking weeks for the same RHC locations? Is there a benefit of one over another with reagrd to reserving a week?

Please forgive my ignorance and thanks in advance for any tips.

Jana

 

[JMAESD84]

Someone stop me!! I have been envious of the destinations availabe to RHC members and have often thought it would be a good fit for my family. Specifically, my oldest who has a fondness of Europe.

I rarely see the larger point packages on ebay, so I'm thinking of combining several 15,000 sales. Will I be charged a unification fee for each contract or just one time to combine several?

Also, what is the deal with the auctions for actual units (ie studio, 1 bedroom, etc.)? Can you still use these point-lacking weeks for the same RHC locations? Is there a benefit of one over another with reagrd to reserving a week?

Please forgive my ignorance and thanks in advance for any tips.

Jana

Hi Jana,

I think that Icydog has a couple of RHC Ambassador weeks for sale. I've read on the threads here that they are very good and sometimes better than RHC points for certain reservations.

Also, from what I've read the $500 unification fee is for each (pair of) contracts you combine, no batch discounts.

I purchased one of the last platinum packages (45,000 points) that went on eBay a couple of months back and am waiting for my account to be completed.

I agree that RHC has some inventory appeal, Europe, NY, etc.

 

[Blondie]

You will pay $500 to unify two packages. I did it about three months ago. I would not do more than that as it is costly and they charge for every unification so unifying three would be even more. I have seen 20,000 and 30,000 point packages, and some 45,000 routinely on ebay for months. I bought my 20,000 with 20,000 from the previous year for a buck plus the $500 transfer fee plus closing which came to $800 total, plus $500 to unify with my 30,000 so it does add up. Icydog mentioned having trouble selling her week, I think, and maybe it was the transfer fee issues, I am not sure. I personally like the 3-4 day stay avaioable with points and I do not know if you own a week if you have that option. Weeks are not points and should not be confused. I think points are much better. If Europe is you goal going to numerous places for 4 days at at time seems very cool. RHC can be great but they are a real headache and their bookkeeping, customer service stinks. Just be sure you have a good closing agent. Hope this helps. blondie

 

[Autoeng]

Rhc = ?????

 

[abc31]

Rhc = ?????

RHC = "Royal Holiday Club"

 

[hunkyleebo]

how do they calculate MF on points packages?

 

[Jya-Ning]

how do they calculate MF on points packages?

Read this thread
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44870.

To OP, if you have a lot of small packages, when add up, it maybe cheaper to buy a small retail package and try to reconsile that way. But you need to find the rule about that, and unfortuantely, it is the same as most of their stuff, you will get around. You do need to find people willing to consolidate contracts. Their customer support will round and round you.

Week you will always guarantee the size. Points will not. Week expired earlier, and MF is fixed. So 2 week with same condition will have 2 MF. Point is not. Week is exiting in old system, so it will expired pretty soon.

Jya-Ning

 

[rsonc]

2008 M/f

Here is the link to the 2008 rates.. the m/f are based on the number of points that you own.
http://www.club.royal-holiday.com/uploads/rules/Reglasoping08.pdf

when I combined my accounts I paid $500.00 for the first one and $350.00 for each additional one as long as they were done at the same time.

I had got a great deal on mine and the person I purchased from had paid 1/2 of the merge fee plus I got 60k bonus points too..

I love my account, good luck. Susan

 

[MaryH]

Janapur,

For Europe, a lot of the locations are for full weeks only and some properties are so high in terms M/F on points basis that the actual week may be better. Depends on the property and depend points required.

For example, London Allen House is probably a better deal on points but availability is very spotty where as Nell Gwynn House is the new property in London that is more available but ridiculously high in terms of points at 85K for the summer that weeks would be much better in terms of value for money.

The plus for the points is the flexibility and the ability to roll 20% over one year and 100% over the opposite year and if over 50, you can pull years from the backend.

I have 90K points and booked this year 1) one week in a studio including 4th of July at Affinia Dumont NYC for myself to take my Mom there 2) one week in 1bdrm at Affinia Dumont NYC for my sister and her family July/August 3) a week London over new years Eve for a week in a 1bdrm. Had a little points left over and combined with the 29K rolled over from last year I also booked
4) a week Powell Place which was intended to take my Mom to SF to see my Uncle and 5) 3 days in Paris at Citidines which I would either give to a friend living in Lyon or another in Rotterdam...

 

[PeelBoy]

I bought 40,000 points from ebay last year for $1.25, plus $500 transfer fee and like $400 closing cost, as advertised. For whatever reason, the closing company charged me $125 for closing. Of course, I wouldn't dispute the amount with them.

Availabilty wise, I always see Madrid online, and also have seen Rome and Paris. I have booked Rome for a week. Never saw London. In North America, Powell is always there. Lately, saw NYC but they are going fast. Mexico is always available. Caribbean is not difficult either. Rio has alot including Carnival in February.



I have questions for those more seasoned members:

1. How do I save 2000 points left this year for 2009? Can I do it online? Do I have to call the customer service?

2. How do I pay 2009 MF so that I can book online? I plan to pay first so that when Rome inventory shows, I can go to Italy in the summer. Yes, Rome again. Can't resist this great city. If I must call customer service, what is the best strategy to ensure they will document my payment, given their administrative chaos?

 

[Jya-Ning]

1. How do I save 2000 points left this year for 2009? Can I do it online? Do I have to call the customer service?

2. How do I pay 2009 MF so that I can book online? I plan to pay first so that when Rome inventory shows, I can go to Italy in the summer. Yes, Rome again. Can't resist this great city. If I must call customer service, what is the best strategy to ensure they will document my payment, given their administrative chaos?

I did both through VC. Don't know the best strategey. I will write down everything I can get as proof of payment.

Jya-Ning

 

[Blondie]

Yes, I document everything too, plus they do give a dconfirmation # for payments and if you access your credit card info online it will appear there too. Call up and pay your 2009 fees now (I did mine months ago and it was fine- just booked all my summer 09 weekends) and then you can book as the inventory comes in. Tell them you are rolling points over. If they have been rolled over once you will lose them because you cannot roll them over twice.

 

[wvanly]

Rollover points

You can rollover 100% every other year, otherwise on the off year you can only roll 20%. So it takes some planning so you don't lose points.

Wendi

 

[NEVacationer]

wvanly is correct on this one.

It never hurts to double-check with cust svc, though - you can just give them a call at 1-800-961-1810.

 

[janapur]

Well, I took the plunge and won 15,000 points for $26 (no closing costs or transfer fee) I figured that's not bad since I'm assuming I'll have to watch for a larger point package and pay the $500 to combine them.

New question, will I be able to roll over 100% of the points since this is my first year or will it depend on what the previous owner did? I really don't want to use the points in 2008, so maybe I can reserve something and rent it out? It just seems so late for 2008 reservations. Any advice?

Thanks,
Jana

 

[myip]

Does RHC has waitlist for high demand property? Do you have to call all the time to check availability?

 

[MaryH]

Jana,

You have to call with the contract number and RHC can tell you when the contract expires, if there are any points for this year, any fees outstanding and whether you can roll it over completely or only 20%.

If you can roll it over 100%, I would suggest that you do so since Aug would be such that you would not get anything decent unless there has been a cancellation. If you can roll it over, you should also pay the MF for next year as soon as you can and book something.

p.s. where did you buy it?

 

[Blondie]

RHC claims to have a waitlist and they will, indeed, take your number. Then they will ignore you. This has happened to me twice so now I just keep checking myself. In fact, all summer long I have been trying to get rezzies at a particular place and they kept telling me it was not bookable until Sept at least. I called a few times and always got the same answer. But, I also know that they are usually wrong so I kept checking. Then, about ten days ago, I came across the inventory online and booked what I needed. If you wait for them to call you the inventory you want may be gone.

 

[JoeMid]

Well, I took the plunge and won 15,000 points for $26 (no closing costs or transfer fee) I figured that's not bad since I'm assuming I'll have to watch for a larger point package and pay the $500 to combine them.

New question, will I be able to roll over 100% of the points since this is my first year or will it depend on what the previous owner did? I really don't want to use the points in 2008, so maybe I can reserve something and rent it out? It just seems so late for 2008 reservations. Any advice?

Thanks,
Jana

It will depend on what the previous owner did last year.

 

[JoeMid]

You can rollover 100% every other year, otherwise on the off year you can only roll 20%. So it takes some planning so you don't lose points.

Wendi

wvanly is correct on this one.

It never hurts to double-check with cust svc, though - you can just give them a call at 1-800-961-1810.

wvanly is NOT correct according to RHC Operating Rules. They say that the 100% carry over may be executed only 10 times during the contract, YMMV. You can read them here. These are the latest rules which are not yet in the sticky above even though the mod claimed they are up to date, they still link 2007 rules and we're 7 months into 2008?

 

[janapur]

Jana,

p.s. where did you buy it?

ebay, PCC I'm sure.

 

[MaryH]

Janapur,

I see you bought it from lanman34 and there were quite a few units from him and his group.

There has been a few discussions on TUG about the practices lanman34's group use to get those units and some owner must be desperately trying to get rid of their RHC membership to give it away for free (or close to) and to pay for the closing and transfer fee too.

 

[JoeMid]

Janapur,
I see you bought it from lanman34 and there were quite a few units from him and his group.

There has been a few discussions on TUG about the practices lanman34's group use to get those units and some owner must be desperately trying to get rid of their RHC membership to give it away for free (or close to) and to pay for the closing and transfer fee too.

MaryH,
You're off a little in the money trail.

• An owner paid $20,000+ to get the RHC and then was unhappy
• Same owner paid ~$3000 to a PCC to get rid of it with MFs paid up to date
• PCC gives it to VIN (separate but in bed with PCC, how the finances work is anyone's guess) VIN puts it on eBay where it doesn't sell for $0.01
• VIN gets desperate and sells it for $0.01 and 'Pays' closing costs and xfer fees. CC on this is nothing, no deed, just a membership transfer. VIN pays $500 out of pocket to RHC for transfer.
• If there's current year use VIN collects another MF for their pocket.

VIN just want's to be rid of it before they have to pay a MF

 

[jh928]

PCC = ??? I'm not sure what this means... Thanks!

 

[Hoc]

PCC = ??? I'm not sure what this means... Thanks!

Postcard Company. I don't know why so many people like Alphabet Soup, instead of being clear in their posts.

A postcard company is a company that sends out thousands of postcards in an effort to get unhappy timeshare owners to come in and "get rid" of their timeshares. They usually go through a presentation and end up paying the company several thousand dollars in order to be free of their timeshare. Sometimes they get a useless "Travel Club" membership in exchange.

The company makes its primary profit from the fees paid by the seller, then it turns around and resells the timeshare for whatever it can get from a buyer, the amount paid by the buyer being pure additional profit. So, sometimes these companies' auctions on ebay sell for a dollar or an insignificant amount, and they're fine with that because it's pure profit.