Marriott Forum/FAQ/Sticky Discussions [Ongoing]

[Fasttr]

Sue:

Ditto on the cudos for doing this. Its an excellent resource and VERY well laid out.

I do have a question as I read this last night when I was making the other comments, didn't understand it, and was hoping a fresh mind in the morning would help...but it didn't.

You have.....

Borrowing - Points may be borrowed from their current Use Year to the one immediately preceding. The election may be made anytime up to twelve (12) months prior to the distribution of such Points.​

I must have a mental block, but I don't get what "12 months prior to the distribution of such points" means. The points get "distributed" to me by the DC 25 months prior to use year. Is that the "distribution" you are referring to....and if so, how can I borrow a year before they give them to me. You must be referring to something else as "distribution" but I am not getting it. Can you clarify what this means for me. Thanks.

 

[GregT]

Sue:

Ditto on the cudos for doing this. Its an excellent resource and VERY well laid out.

I do have a question as I read this last night when I was making the other comments, didn't understand it, and was hoping a fresh mind in the morning would help...but it didn't.

You have.....

Borrowing - Points may be borrowed from their current Use Year to the one immediately preceding. The election may be made anytime up to twelve (12) months prior to the distribution of such Points.​

I must have a mental block, but I don't get what "12 months prior to the distribution of such points" means. The points get "distributed" to me by the DC 25 months prior to use year. Is that the "distribution" you are referring to....and if so, how can I borrow a year before they give them to me. You must be referring to something else as "distribution" but I am not getting it. Can you clarify what this means for me. Thanks.

I think the question is around the word distribution -- I know that she means the anniversary date of the points, and honestly, I think either distribution or anniversary works fine from a Plain English perspective.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Fasttr]

I think the question is around the word distribution -- I know that she means the anniversary date of the points, and honestly, I think either distribution or anniversary works fine from a Plain English perspective.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

If your interpretation is true, I don't think what is says in the FAQ is accurate. Per the docs....

F. Borrowing Exchange Points. Unless restricted or limited as provided in Section III.D., a Member may borrow all or a portion of the Exchange Points allocated for a particular Use Year up to twenty-five (25) months prior to the first day of such Use Year. Borrowed Exchange Points may be used to make reservations for Use Periods that occur during the Use Year for which the Member is currently entitled to make reservations.​

They give you the points (in Trust world) or give you the ability to elect points (in Legacy world) 25 months prior to first day of use year so you can borrow them back and make a 13 month reservation in the prior use year. That being said, I still don't see how 12 months (as stated in the FAQ) relates to any of that. Again, I could have been hit by the dumb stick and am just missing something.

 

[GregT]

[Edited -- I misinterpreted Fasttr's post]

 

[GregT]

Okay, I re-read Fasttr's post, and now see the point -- you can borrow 25 months in advance so you can use it 13 months for a reservation -- that makes sense to me (and was my understanding).

But....I still am not hung up on the word distribution....I will defer to others on this point...

Best,

Greg

 

[Bill4728]

Susan

What a wonderful job!!


BUT (Come on you didn't think I wouldn't find something to ask about) Re the using pts to make a II reservation:

There is a quirk in the system; If you want to search for a reservation that will cost you 2000 pts, you must search using more than 2000 pts. When you find a match II (the DC) will only take 2000 pts. BUT if you search with just 2000 pts, no matches requiring 2000 will be seen.

 

[GregT]

Sue (and all),

Fasttr and I have been kicking around the definition, and would propose the following?

Thoughts and comments?

Borrowing - Points may be borrowed from their current Use Year to the one immediately preceding. The election to borrow points may be made as early as 25 months before the Anniversary Date of such points, which allows for a reservation to be made 13 months prior to check-in.

 

[TUGBrian]

amazing amount of work/time/effort into doing this for sure!

 

[SueDonJ]

OK, back at it ...

You might notice slight changes in the format - I was running out of character spaces with edits and had to add a third page.

TUGger bazzap has PM'd me with a couple tidbits (thank you, Barry!); slight edits have been done to reflect them:
- First, the Cork office for Euro owners obviously (duh! on me) has a different telephone number. I'll post it if someone wants to share it.
- Also, Euro Members do not currently have assigned VOA's indicated on their my-vacationclub.com home pages.
- Finally, my-vacationclub.com allows up to four telephone numbers for each associated owner/member, which is helpful if you want to add numbers from which the phone system will recognize Prem/Plus status for access to the dedicated line. Sign in and click on, "My Profile" in the, "Manage My Account" dropdown menu.

 

[dioxide45]

Sue (and all),

Fasttr and I have been kicking around the definition, and would propose the following?

Thoughts and comments?

I think this is better. The word "distribution" is a little confusing. Couldn't one also say "the start of the use year"?

 

[SueDonJ]

Sue- kudos for a great job!
I know Marriott was in fact selling Aruba weeks until last December, when they switched to selling only points, although they can't place any units in the Trust as far as I know anyway. Those were the only non-European weeks being sold that still were eligible for enrollment post June of 2010. Resale Aruba weeks fell into the 2010 deadline, but not the developer purchased ones.

DOH! I knew I'd deserve dopeslaps and this is one reason - remember, I posted about a friend who purchased and enrolled an Aruba Week after 6/20/10!

********
So here's what we know:

6/20/10: DC introduced. Direct Weeks sales halted and DC Points offered for purchase at all US sites. Enrollment offered for all existing US and Caribbean Weeks; announced external resales purchased on or after 6/20/10 not eligible.

6/18/12: DC introduced for Euro resorts. Weeks sales halted and DC Points offered. Enrollment offered for all Euro Weeks; announced external resales purchased on or after 6/18/12 not eligible.

12/27/12: At Aruba, direct Weeks sales halted and DC Points offered for purchase. (A TUGger, Irene, was onsite and posted this info at the time; that's confirmation enough for me.)

- No Weeks from any of these non-US resorts have been conveyed to the Trust.
- MVC Asia-Pacific system is not integrated with the DC(yet?)

So we're missing confirmed info for the 6/21/10-12/26/12 interim period for St. Kitt's and Frenchman's Cove. If direct sales of Weeks were not happening there as they were at Aruba, does that mean that DC Points were being sold? Meaning they were integrated in the DC exactly as the US resorts were?

********
Anybody want to add anything, verify anything? As soon as this is somewhat clearer I'll edit the FAQ.

 

[dioxide45]

Marriott Folks: I have written a few of these FAQ's, and you need to be aware that these types of articles are an enormous amount of work! You guys should give Sue a big raise! Or at least be nice to her for a whole week!

I would agree. Great work! Perhaps we can even be nice for two whole weeks?

 

[SueDonJ]

On the Points Chart, it is Greg's list, that I put into a Google Spreadsheet, that can be edited by anyone. I hope that if someone has something to add, that they feel free to add to it. The link to it is at the top of the VPE site, but it's just a Google Doc link.

BTW, the FAQ is an excellent ready.

I think this means the document I'm referencing with the link to Greg's hosted site is not as up-to-date as the link on VPE? Do you have any problems with the FAQ instead linking to VPE's link? Thanks!

I don't have a problem at all linking to VPE -- that does appear more current (and more likely to remain current?). Thanks again!

This document is linked in two sections, "Enrolling MVCI Weeks in the DC" on the first page and, "The MVCD and Marriott Rewards (MR) Affiliation" on the third. I've edited the notation to:

"*Note TUGgers GregT and StevenTing have developed a document listing DC Points conversion and MR Points exchange values as reported by TUGgers, which is being hosted on an external website here."​

I want to repeat Steven's invitation for Owners/Members to feel free to update the doc with DC and MF information for their owned Week(s.) I'm sure that if you're hesitant to edit it yourself, either Greg or Steven will be happy to do it if you send them a PM. It's a great resource, no doubt.

 

[SueDonJ]

I would agree. Great work! Perhaps we can even be nice for two whole weeks?

We're all pretty nice most of the time so what you're suggesting isn't all that much of a hardship. I think I'd prefer cash.

:hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

Seriously, I appreciate the kudos. But without everyone's participation here the FAQ would never have materialized, so it feels a little presumptuous for me to take all the credit. We're a good team.

 

[SueDonJ]

Sue:

Ditto on the cudos for doing this. Its an excellent resource and VERY well laid out.

I do have a question as I read this last night when I was making the other comments, didn't understand it, and was hoping a fresh mind in the morning would help...but it didn't.

You have.....

Borrowing - Points may be borrowed from their current Use Year to the one immediately preceding. The election may be made anytime up to twelve (12) months prior to the distribution of such Points.​

I must have a mental block, but I don't get what "12 months prior to the distribution of such points" means. The points get "distributed" to me by the DC 25 months prior to use year. Is that the "distribution" you are referring to....and if so, how can I borrow a year before they give them to me. You must be referring to something else as "distribution" but I am not getting it. Can you clarify what this means for me. Thanks.

Sue (and all),

Fasttr and I have been kicking around the definition, and would propose the following?

"Borrowing - Points may be borrowed from their current Use Year to the one immediately preceding. The election to borrow points may be made as early as 25 months before the Anniversary Date of such points, which allows for a reservation to be made 13 months prior to check-in."​

Thoughts and comments?

I think this is better. The word "distribution" is a little confusing. Couldn't one also say "the start of the use year"?

This one little "Borrowing" thing is making my teeth itch and I've been confused ever since I started looking into it! For some reason I just couldn't figure out how to say it plainly. Eventually I went with a quote from the Exchange Procedures document but made the mistake of referring to an older version of the doc than what's currently on my-vacationclub.com. That sure didn't help!

I get the 25 months in advance reference because of the 13-mos Reservation Window. What I want is a definitive deadline for the LAST day a Member may elect to borrow. Here's the wording from the current version on my-vacationclub.com:

"... a Member may borrow all or a portion of the Exchange Points allocated for a particular Use Year up to twenty-five (25) months prior to the first day of such Use Year. ..."

Are we all in agreement that the election can be made right up to the day before the Use Year from which the Points will be borrowed begins? IOW, based on a 1/1-12/31/15 Use Year, the election to borrow those Points may be made anytime between 11/30/12 and 12/31/14?

Hopefully this makes enough sense to flesh out what I'm thinking ...

{eta} But wait, it wouldn't make any sense to borrow 2015 Points into the 2014 Use Year on 12/31/14, would it? GGGGGRRRR. Maybe that's why there's no LAST deadline day, because you wouldn't do it unless you were sure that they could be used.

Now I'm talking to myself but I think it's safe to go with a "25 months prior" thing, with a brief explanation of how that allows access for the 13-mos Reservation Window.

Please, just say 'yes' and get me out of this ridiculousness!

 

[SueDonJ]

Susan

What a wonderful job!!


BUT (Come on you didn't think I wouldn't find something to ask about) Re the using pts to make a II reservation:

There is a quirk in the system; If you want to search for a reservation that will cost you 2000 pts, you must search using more than 2000 pts. When you find a match II (the DC) will only take 2000 pts. BUT if you search with just 2000 pts, no matches requiring 2000 will be seen.

I didn't know this. Do we have to have a certain number of Points over the requirement, or any amount will work? Thanks!

 

[Fasttr]

This one little "Borrowing" thing is making my teeth itch and I've been confused ever since I started looking into it!....

...What I want is a definitive deadline for the LAST day a Member may elect to borrow....

...{eta} But wait, it wouldn't make any sense to borrow 2015 Points into the 2014 Use Year on 12/31/14, would it? GGGGGRRRR. Maybe that's why there's no LAST deadline day, because you wouldn't do it unless you were sure that they could be used....

How about just using the wording in the docs...which is....

Member may borrow all or a portion of the Points allocated for a particular Use Year up to twenty-five (25) months prior to the first day of such Use Year. Borrowed Points may be used to make reservations for Use Periods that occur during the Use Year for which the Member is currently entitled to make reservations.​

I think the last sentence in that statement takes care of what you were trying to accomplish regarding the last day that you could do it (ie you can borrow them and use them if you are still able to make reservations in that year).

I suppose you could technically borrow them on 12/31/13 from use year (1/1/14-12/31/14) and book a reservation that started on 12/31/13....and the statement above covers that option.

 

[SueDonJ]

How about just using the wording in the docs...which is....

Member may borrow all or a portion of the Points allocated for a particular Use Year up to twenty-five (25) months prior to the first day of such Use Year. Borrowed Points may be used to make reservations for Use Periods that occur during the Use Year for which the Member is currently entitled to make reservations.​

I think the last sentence in that statement takes care of what you were trying to accomplish regarding the last day that you could do it (ie you can borrow them and use them if you are still able to make reservations in that year).

I suppose you could technically borrow them on 12/31/13 from use year (1/1/14-12/31/14) and book a reservation that started on 12/31/13....and the statement above covers that option.

Works for me. Thanks.

 

[Fasttr]

Sue:

I just read through your lates updates to the Points FAQ....I see you were up late last night!!

Again, thanks for all your hard work on this. This is a great resource for points users.

 

[dr.debs]

Thank you Sue- it was and is a lot of work keeping up with the ever changing number of variables in this system. sheesh!

 

[jont]

Thanks Sue our favorite "MOD from CAPE COD"

 

[dioxide45]

How about renaming the FAQ threads?

FAQ - Marriott Vacation Club Weeks System
FAQ - MVC DESTINATIONS Points Program

A small change, but I think having FAQ at the beginning makes them stand out better in the list of stickys.

 

[SueDonJ]

How about renaming the FAQ threads?

FAQ - Marriott Vacation Club Weeks System
FAQ - MVC DESTINATIONS Points Program

A small change, but I think having FAQ at the beginning makes them stand out better in the list of stickys.

Done and done.

 

[dioxide45]

Done and done.

Awesome, that was fast!

 

[SueDonJ]

Awesome, that was fast!

It was perfect timing on your part because it took me away from Zappos.com where I had just finished ordering two MORE pairs of shoes for Eileen's wedding. (I'm trying to find the perfect pair which I don't think exist. )

It's days like this that it would be really nice to be a celebrity, because then it wouldn't matter that I can't make up my mind - instead of four wardrobe changes, through, I could just do four shoe changes. Don does not agree with that idea. :hysterical: