MARRIOTT / CORONAVIRUS [MERGED]

[jme]

But Marriott is not losing the maintenance fees. Basically pay them for nothing. Unbelievable!

yes, Unbelievable...
You have very little understanding of what a maintenance fee does.

And your mortgage company is not losing your monthly payment either, or your home insurance company,
nor the seller of your vehicle or its insurance company.
Such payments continue despite serious financial misfortunes of everyone......I am not happy about losing vacation time either,
but it's "life", and it's an unprecedented and unexpected event we're experiencing.
Bottom line, it's a product we all bought, knowing only the possibilities but not expecting them. Not their fault.

I'm far more concerned about having my office shut down for several weeks, maybe many, with zero income while the overhead continues.....
whom do I blame for that? And many will lose their lives........

 

[caribbeanqueen]

I cancelled via the website. I also realized I forgot to book my family vacation for next April and of course Aruba is gone. Ugh. I could book the Ritz in St Thomas but I need the to wait for the points to be put back first. Ugh.

 

[Steve Fatula]

I would not give up on Aruba. Just check it every so often. Cancels happen, inventory may show eventually. Gone for now doesn't mean forever necessarily.

 

[TXTortoise]

When we bought our week, we bought resale but direct through Marriott. It came with the option to convert it to 100,000 Marriott Rewards points instead of using the week. I'm wondering if anyone knows, under this stipulation, if Marriott would allow us to do this instead of depositing the week? Anyone know?
They apparently don't have hours on Sundays, so I can't call until tomorrow...
Thanks,
Dee

I converted one of mine to points for 2019. I had to decide by Sep/Oct(?) of 2018, so it wouldn't work for a current year week.

My MF on the week was only around $700 and I got 110K points, so not too bad a deal. The ability to trade your week for two years after the check-in date usually makes an interval deposit more appealing, particularly if outside 60 days, which is what I usually do. Have never stayed there. (Vail Streamside Week 15)

 

[Dean]

When we bought our week, we bought resale but direct through Marriott. It came with the option to convert it to 100,000 Marriott Rewards points instead of using the week. I'm wondering if anyone knows, under this stipulation, if Marriott would allow us to do this instead of depositing the week? Anyone know?
They apparently don't have hours on Sundays, so I can't call until tomorrow...
Thanks,
Dee

Look at it the same as if you owned a vacation home and it was out of service. You'd have to pay for the repairs, the utilities, any association or membership fees and a mortgage. Conceptually and legally, it's exactly the same thing. But you should talk to MVC to see if they have any options. As pointed out above, I'm sure your option to take points is long gone. If no one can use the week then they have little to no options either.

 

[DeeCee]

yes, Unbelievable...
You have very little understanding of what a maintenance fee does.

And your mortgage company is not losing your monthly payment either, or your home insurance company,
nor the seller of your vehicle or its insurance company.
Such payments continue despite serious financial misfortunes of everyone......I am not happy about losing vacation time either,
but it's "life", and it's an unprecedented and unexpected event we're experiencing.
Bottom line, it's a product we all bought, knowing only the possibilities but not expecting them. Not their fault.

I'm far more concerned about having my office shut down for several weeks, maybe many, with zero income while the overhead continues.....
whom do I blame for that? And many will lose their lives........

hmmm, mortgage payments extended and i still have my house. paid maintenance, don't have my week. if disney can do, anyone can. if banks can do it, anyone can. i'm sorry about your office. truly so. my husband just lost his job, my son just laid off. God help us all

 

[DeeCee]

Look at it the same as if you owned a vacation home and it was out of service. You'd have to pay for the repairs, the utilities, any association or membership fees and a mortgage. Conceptually and legally, it's exactly the same thing. But you should talk to MVC to see if they have any options. As pointed out above, I'm sure your option to take points is long gone. If no one can use the week then they have little to no options either.

I am not opposed to paying the MF's, I'd just like an option that seems more in par with what the rest of the world is offering....airlines, my other timeshare, even the banks in relation to loans and mortgages and student loans, etc.

 

[dioxide45]

Uh, no. Again, a timeshare is not a hotel in any way shape or form. YOU own the timeshare, not them. You are responsible for the workers there, upkeep, landscaping, personnel, amenities, etc. whether you use it or not. In a hotel, it's THEIR building, personnel, etc. and therefore you owe nothing if you do not stay there. If there are 52 weeks owners for a specific unit and you don't use 1 week, who of the other 51 are going to give you their week so you can use it? No, it's not a perfect explanation for those of you who understand timeshares but it does illustrate the point. This is a risk of timeshares.

A timeshare is a second home, just for one week of the year. I mentioned it earlier, but if you owned a second home you wouldn't try to get out of paying the electric, water, taxes if you didn't occupy it. MF on a timeshare are not rent like they are at a hotel. It is not profit to Marriott (except the 10% management fee). I suppose that many properties will run a surplus in operating costs this year if they don't have to maintain as much staff during the outbreak. But as a prior poster mentioned, I would have no problem paying people their regular shifts during this crisis since my MF for 2020 is already paid, I am not looking to gain financially on someone else's bad situation.

 

[Dean]

I am not opposed to paying the MF's, I'd just like an option that seems more in par with what the rest of the world is offering....airlines, my other timeshare, even the banks in relation to loans and mortgages and student loans, etc.

But those aren't particularly applicable to the situation, a condo or vacation home is exactly the same thing. The Disney situation is not particularly applicable either given the points setup and extra's in the system. Sorry to hear about your family's financial troubles.

 

[dioxide45]

I cancelled via the website. I also realized I forgot to book my family vacation for next April and of course Aruba is gone. Ugh. I could book the Ritz in St Thomas but I need the to wait for the points to be put back first. Ugh.

Aruba is gone for April next year? If you are a weeks owner, how could you even book for April of next year. You can't book 13 months online with weeks.

 

[dioxide45]

I would not give up on Aruba. Just check it every so often. Cancels happen, inventory may show eventually. Gone for now doesn't mean forever necessarily.

If using points, then more inventory could open up at 12 months out.

 

[dioxide45]

When we bought our week, we bought resale but direct through Marriott. It came with the option to convert it to 100,000 Marriott Rewards points instead of using the week. I'm wondering if anyone knows, under this stipulation, if Marriott would allow us to do this instead of depositing the week? Anyone know?
They apparently don't have hours on Sundays, so I can't call until tomorrow...
Thanks,
Dee

YOu need to decide by December 31 of the year prior to your use year if you want to convert to Marriott Bonvoy points. So for 2020, you would have had to convert by 12/31/2019. It is too late now unless they somehow many an exception. THough given the circumstance, that is doubtful.

 

[dioxide45]

My MF on the week was only around $700 and I got 110K points, so not too bad a deal. The ability to trade your week for two years after the check-in date usually makes an interval deposit more appealing, particularly if outside 60 days, which is what I usually do. Have never stayed there. (Vail Streamside Week 15)

What do you own that has a $700 MF in the Marriott system. Is it an EOY week? If so, you technically have to double it to get the true cost of the Bonvoy points.

 

[caribbeanqueen]

Dioxide I own in points and when I put in April neither resort was available for April. This happened last year as well. I can keep checking I guess or put on the wait list.

 

[dioxide45]

Dioxide I own in points and when I put in April neither resort was available for April. This happened last year as well. I can keep checking I guess or put on the wait list.

The only availability right now for April 2021 would be what was available at the 13 month mark. Inventory would again be released at 12 months. I suggest to keep trying. I don't think you can waitlist until 12 months out.

 

[StevenTing]

hmmm, mortgage payments extended and i still have my house. paid maintenance, don't have my week. if disney can do, anyone can. if banks can do it, anyone can. i'm sorry about your office. truly so. my husband just lost his job, my son just laid off. God help us all

If you're husband lost his job and you have the travel insurance, I believe you are covered. Fingers crossed that you purchased it.

 

[jme]

hmmm, mortgage payments extended and i still have my house. paid maintenance, don't have my week. if disney can do, anyone can. if banks can do it, anyone can. i'm sorry about your office. truly so. my husband just lost his job, my son just laid off. God help us all

Over the lifetime of your ownership, or anyone's, there is a yearly fee to cover general expenses for which you signed up,
called the maintenance fee, and the itemized list includes insurance (still warranted during your absence), the upkeep or improvements like refurbishments or renovations (still warranted during your absence), and so on down the list.
These are spread out over time and shared evenly by all, not necessarily for any one particular week, so I encourage you to study that list
and be grateful it'll be ready for you next time you travel for your stay.

We're all in the same boat, and there are "situations" all year long that may prevent people from occupying,
but it does not negate anyone's obligation to participate. Unfortunate for you, yes, but necessary, unless you like the idea
of everyone's MF being raised to cover your loss. Like I said, this situation is unprecedented.

(not to be petty, but to address one point you made:::
if a tree were to fall thru the middle of your house one night, you would not be able to occupy for a while,
yet your mortgage payment would continue, whether extended or not.
"Use" of any possession can be interrupted in many situations, without somehow replacing that "lost" usage.
In my world, for instance, a canceled appointment by a patient can never be replaced. That time is gone.)

 

[SueDonJ]

Has anyone given any thought to the fact that MVW is also losing during this event, due entirely to their voluntary forfeiture of inventory which they could be monetizing for cash rentals? Every resorts' POS provide that MVW has the rights to any intervals which are un-reserved X number of days prior to check-in (the most common X factor being 75 days but some variation exists,) intervals that they EITHER make available for rental with the profit going into their coffers OR contract with II to manipulate infrequent remedies for owners in situations which cause infrequent usage loss. For this event they're giving up that right in favor of the many, many impacted owners, despite knowing that not all will be able to take advantage of the short reservation windows which practically guarantees that some of it will go unused - resulting in owners AND MVW losing out.

I know, I know, the purpose of this thread is to bash MVW for what they're doing wrong as many ways as possible today, and then do it all again tomorrow and the next day and the next ... But they are trying, and if we all are to have any hope of our timeshare company coming out of this with minimal damage, meaning they're not forced by social media complaints to make whole the many who are impacted at the expense of all others, we all need to start looking equally at what they're doing right.

 

[Mrs.SLLP]

I am not opposed to paying the MF's, I'd just like an option that seems more in par with what the rest of the world is offering....airlines, my other timeshare, even the banks in relation to loans and mortgages and student loans, etc.

yes, Unbelievable...
You have very little understanding of what a maintenance fee does.

And your mortgage company is not losing your monthly payment either, or your home insurance company,
nor the seller of your vehicle or its insurance company.
Such payments continue despite serious financial misfortunes of everyone......I am not happy about losing vacation time either,
but it's "life", and it's an unprecedented and unexpected event we're experiencing.
Bottom line, it's a product we all bought, knowing only the possibilities but not expecting them. Not their fault.

I'm far more concerned about having my office shut down for several weeks, maybe many, with zero income while the overhead continues.....
whom do I blame for that? And many will lose their lives........

Actually, utility, banks and mortgage companies are all deferring payments during this serious time. That is a national news story. I am sorry about your office. We own a small business and one side of that business won't see any revenue during this time, but we still have business expenditures. I've been hanging around this forum off and on, hoping it will be a good resource before I formally join. I wish I had asked more questions on the front end and compared information here with what my sales executive told us before closing with MVC last summer. It is what it is now. Moving forward, we want to make the most of what we have paid and will pay. A lot of the veterans here will admonish me for what I am about to state, but it is my truth based on my experience. We don't feel like owners of anything with MVC. The term "owner" implies one has far more say-so, legal rights, and the ability to make real decisions about a property or possession. In the community where we bought our home, we pay annual homeowner association fees that are the equivalent to maintenance fees because the upkeep of our community pool, clubhouse, the landscaping and much more comes out of those association fees. Because you are a homeowner, by default you have the opportunity to be heard during monthly homeowner association meetings. A lien can be placed against your property if you don't pay your homeowner association fees. The terms are in your real estate contact. We are presidential level with MVC, but I am comfortable calling myself a member of MVC. We have basically prepaid for vacations, and our annual $6,000 plus maintenance and due fees goes to whatever MVC uses it for. I assume it is for what the contract/paperwork says, but I have to raise an eyebrow when I stay at a resort that provides guests with bathroom towels that have holes in them. Psychologically, it feels empowering to use the term "owner." Other than being exempt from resort fees, which are most likely discreetly rolled into some other membership fee, I don't see the perks. As I stated, we are in this now and I understand that it is what it is, but we don't have to like it or stay quiet about it. The timeshare industry employs some of the most politically connected and financially backed groups of lobbyists in the country. I understand that.

 

[TXTortoise]

What do you own that has a $700 MF in the Marriott system. Is it an EOY week? If so, you technically have to double it to get the true cost of the Bonvoy points.

Vail Streamside Birch Week 15 EY... Acquired, not built by Marriott. MFs varied by week and this was a mud week, but I didn't know at the time. My first purchase in 2002 after rescinding a Hilton developers contract in Vegas. Traded two weeks in Jan-Feb to Maui EOY until it got really hard four-five years ago.

 

[Dolphin]

We have reservations to St Thomas Frenchman's Cove 5/30 - 6/6. Its within the 75 days window and now wondering if I should cancel. I know no one has a crystal ball and knows the future with this thing but what are others doing as time gets close to departure? How close are you waiting? By The Way we using points.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Actually, utility, banks and mortgage companies are all deferring payments during this serious time....

I wish I had asked more questions on the front end and compared information here with what my sales executive told us before closing with MVC last summer...

We don't feel like owners of anything with MVC...

Deferring is great, but eventually they will be paid. Just as with MVC expenses. It is somewhat clear you were not aware of all the details of an ownership, it is too bad you were not on TUG during that time. That you don't feel like an owner is already a misunderstanding of what you purchased. You ARE an owner. And you are able to participate in annual owners association meetings. All the terms were in your original contract. If you made a mistake as you think you have, you are correct, for such a massive amount of money as you said you spent, you certainly should have done way more due diligence. Just as you might for a used house purchase, surely you don't just say gee I like that house? But you are indeed learning the hard way and I am sorry to hear that, I am sure it's very stressful and the like. You should take the time and review a typical resorts fees and what they go to. Mine has around 30 itemized line items (guessing didn't count). All of those go into the MF as an owner. Used or not. It's not the same as a prepaid vacation. Your best bet at this point is to learn a lot more, read the stickies, documents, etc to better understand what you purchased and how to get the most out of it.

Believe me when I say this, there are the vast majority of owners who have a simplistic view and MAY get their moneys worth, and then there are a lot of Tug users who are able to maximize the value and come out way ahead. You can choose to be either. I hope things improve for you.

And definitely, sales executives are not the most admired people on Tug. The saying here is when their lips are moving, they're lying. There'a a reason we have that saying sadly. And that applies to any timeshare that is discussed in any of the forums. So, I do understand how you can think one thing but have a different reality as far as what you have.

 

[gln60]

We have reservations to St Thomas Frenchman's Cove 5/30 - 6/6. Its within the 75 days window and now wondering if I should cancel. I know no one has a crystal ball and knows the future with this thing but what are others doing as time gets close to departure? How close are you waiting? By The Way we using points.

I cancelled an Aruba Surf Club DC points reservation arrival 4/1,14 days before check in

 

[dioxide45]

We have reservations to St Thomas Frenchman's Cove 5/30 - 6/6. Its within the 75 days window and now wondering if I should cancel. I know no one has a crystal ball and knows the future with this thing but what are others doing as time gets close to departure? How close are you waiting? By The Way we using points.

Most airlines are now waiving change fees for flights through 5/31. Not sure how that impacts your return in June though. If you don't have airfare purchased, yet then you would probably be best to cancel. At the latest you would want to cancel more than 60 days out to prevent restrictions. If they are 2020 points, then you can also bank them to use next year.

We have two exchange weeks in Florida (we live in Florida). I know they are now restricted if we try to retrade. One we will cancel and take a cancellation replacement week and the other I will keep retrading out every couple months. Depending on where things are at in mid May, we may make use of them.

 

[Steve Fatula]

American airlines gave me until end of 2020 to schedule a new flight or lose it. While I would hate to lose it, we will if still not safe. I want them to survive as well so will just accept it if we lose it. We will survive. No idea if we will be able to. Dioxide45 is correct as usual, we'll see how things go as well. I feel far more fortunate as I am retired, not worried about my job, loans, etc. Might be a good chance to help some others.