NEED 1st Hand Experience Please - Considering Wyndham Certified Exit -

[Timeshare Von]

I am the owner of a 77k point contract with Wyndham. Because it was my sister's (since around 2000) and she deeded it over to me (2008) I am considered an owner without the "resale" red flag. So the contract is eligible for their Certified Exit Program.

I first learned of the program at Nashville in January. Last month I was at Old Town Alexandria with more questions, which they really weren't able to answer. So they referred me to their Customer Care Department (talk about an oxymoron!). Anyway, I digress.

The stumbling block for my pulling the trigger on starting the process is the uncertainty regarding my RCI account, which I have had since the early 1980's. The counselor I spoke with on the phone last week kept saying because Wyndham opened the account for me, once the deed back process is complete, it will be closed down. I tried telling her that while I understand the account is being paid for by my monthly program fees, I can't have the account simply closed, because I have my other timeshare tied to the account, with several deposits (TPUs) plus another coming at the end of this year.

She advised that I should make exchanges for everything in the account ASAP so as to not lose them. She did state I could create/open a NEW RCI account, and transfer everything over so that when the Wyndham deed is exited/terminated, I won't lose my current deposits. I understand paying for the annual RCI membership (although I do have paperwork from them stating my account is paid through 10/31/22) . . . but I'm not willing to pay their transfer fees to move MY TPUs from one account that I own, to another. It just feels like a money grab.

The other bit of logistics that is unsettling is that the Wyndham counselor told me the "exit" process could take up to 6 months, so the timing for my RCI account to be deactivated is uncertain. It could be within the first month . . . or the full six months . . . so I'm stuck pondering why pay a bunch of money for/with a new RCI account, if it's not necessary.

Also the Wyndham counselor told me I have to continue paying the monthly program fees (roughly $70/month) through the process. That seems sorta crazy to me . . . although they also told me that I can still use my points for three years after the exit have been completed . . . which seems really crazy to me that they'd allow that after I've stopped paying the fees.

I've tried to search this here on TUG, but frankly there is just too much to try to go through in some very long threads. I'm really hoping there is someone out there reading this who has been through Certified Exit process with Wyndham, who is willing to share their experiences.

If I'm unable to comfortably/safely navigate this process with Wyndham and RCI, I may just try to find someone to give away this 77k contact held in Myrtle Beach.

 

[bnoble]

I think the counselor was mostly correct but that's based on my understanding from reading on TUG not personal experience.

One observation: If you combine your TPUs into a single line, you can transfer that line with one fee. You can only put one search against it once it is transferred, so you might want to combine into multiple blocks of 60ish.

 

[Timeshare Von]

I think the counselor was mostly correct but that's based on my understanding from reading on TUG not personal experience.

One observation: If you combine your TPUs into a single line, you can transfer that line with one fee. You can only put one search against it once it is transferred, so you might want to combine into multiple blocks of 60ish.

But to combine TPU's, also requires a payment. They get you either way.

 

[bnoble]

Yes, but it’s only one payment no matter how many you are combining per line.

Think of this as just the necessary friction to dispose of something that costs you more than $800/year and is not serving you well.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Yes, but it’s only one payment no matter how many you are combining per line.

Think of this as just the necessary friction to dispose of something that costs you more than $800/year and is not serving you well.

To combine lines costs money . . . and then to transfer the lines cost money too. I don't have "that many" points to worry about how many lines of 60 . . . I don't have a total of 60 with the two lines I have.

And while I would like out from under the Wyndham contract, it's not really causing me any pain yet. I'm just thinking ahead to a time in the near future (1-5 years) when we will probably not need or want it. If we still own it, I'm sure we'll find ways to use it without paying money for nothing.

I'd like to try to hear from SOMEONE who has actually gone through the process, rather than discussing/debating the value or hassles of doing so.

 

[bnoble]

Gotcha, somehow I was under the impression you were talking about a lot more on deposit.

I'm sure some folks can comment on the general issue of whether you'll lose your RCI Weeks account if you sell/transfer to someone else, but you might need a new thread for that as those folks may not read this one.

 

[Roger830]

And while I would like out from under the Wyndham contract, it's not really causing me any pain yet. I'm just thinking ahead to a time in the near future (1-5 years) when we will probably not need or want it. If we still own it, I'm sure we'll find ways to use it without paying money for nothing.

I'd like to try to hear from SOMEONE who has actually gone through the process, rather than discussing/debating the value or hassles of doing so.

Here's a sticky from the top of the Wyndham page.

Sticky - Give back your unwanted wyndham Timeshare - Wyndham Ovations / Wyndham Cares / Certified Exit

Updated this 2/2024 - here is the current link to the wyndham giveback program: https://clubwyndham.wyndhamdestinations.com/us/en/help/certified-exit Just wanted to put this in as a sticky after my experience today with deeding back 3 points intervals using the Ovation program, it was very...

tugbbs.com

 

[tschwa2]

I think that if you have more than one rci weeks account for whatever reason (sometimes people have the free wyndham weeks account and the free rci points account and they may have deposited into the wrong one or later decide that they want to combine a deposit with one from another account, etc) that rci will transfer the tpu's between accounts without any fee as a curtesy for 2 rci weeks account in the same name (this may have changed as the last time I heard of it was a few years back). So if you can confirm that this is the case then you would just need to set up an rci account that you pay for and then transfer the tpu's. If you already have reservations they same thing should happen as when a wyndham rci points account goes poof. The reservation isn't cancelled but you lose any access to make changes of any kind and just have to show up at the booked resort with your preprinted rci confirmation from before the poof.

 

[Cyrus24]

The stumbling block for my pulling the trigger on starting the process is the uncertainty regarding my RCI account, which I have had since the early 1980's. The counselor I spoke with on the phone last week kept saying because Wyndham opened the account for me, once the deed back process is complete, it will be closed down.

I'm going to ask a simple question for clarity. Do you log directly into the RCI account that you've had since the 1980's? If so, that RCI account will not be impacted by your exit from Wyndham. Wyndham will cancel access to the RCI account that you reach via the Wyndham Website login. For reference, I can get to RCI through my Wyndham Account Login. I can get to the RCI Weeks system via my RCI Weeks Login. I can also get to my RCI Points account via my RCI Points Login. 3 unique and unrelated RCI accounts. The only one in jeopardy is the RCI account you access directly from within you Wyndham account.

 

[Timeshare Von]

<<SNIPPED>>

I'm sure some folks can comment on the general issue of whether you'll lose your RCI Weeks account if you sell/transfer to someone else, but you might need a new thread for that as those folks may not read this one.

No that isn't the issue. I have sold/relinquished the original timeshare associated with my RCI account nearly 20 years ago . . . and it was not impacted. It has totally to do with the control Wyndham has told me they NOW have over that account.

 

[Timeshare Von]

I'm going to ask a simple question for clarity. Do you log directly into the RCI account that you've had since the 1980's? If so, that RCI account will not be impacted by your exit from Wyndham. Wyndham will cancel access to the RCI account that you reach via the Wyndham Website login. For reference, I can get to RCI through my Wyndham Account Login. I can get to the RCI Weeks system via my RCI Weeks Login. I can also get to my RCI Points account via my RCI Points Login. 3 unique and unrelated RCI accounts. The only one in jeopardy is the RCI account you access directly from within you Wyndham account.

I log directly into my RCI account without any contact with or through Wyndham. This is (and has been) the ONLY RCI account I've had since the early 1980's.

 

[Cyrus24]

I log directly into my RCI account without any contact with or through Wyndham. This is (and has been) the ONLY RCI account I've had since the early 1980's.

You may not realize it, but you do have access to RCI via your Wyndham account. That account uses Wyndham points deposited from your Wyndham account and is different than an RCI weeks account (which uses TPUs) or an RCI points account (which uses points associated with timeshare owned). You will lose your Wyndham RCI account access when you exit.

 

[Passepartout]

Von, is it possible you could get the answer you seek by calling/texting RCI and asking a supervisor? They may actually know the answer- or set up a permanent solution that won't end with your divorce from Wyndham.

 

[paxsarah]

Von, do you pay the membership fee for your original RCI Weeks account? If you’re paying that out of pocket, there is no danger of losing that account when you divest from Wyndham. As others have mentioned, you do have a RCI account associated with your Wyndham ownership paid for from the Wyndham program fee, whether or not you’ve ever used it. But if Wyndham never took over the management of your original RCI account (that is, I’ve heard some owners have brought an existing RCI account when purchasing Wyndham, which instead of creating a new RCI account then simply associated the existing RCI account with the Wyndham membership), then the one that will disappear when you leave Wyndham is only the one every Wyndham points owner receives with Wyndham membership.

 

[Timeshare Von]

To answer the last couple of questions . . . yes I know my RCI account is tied to my Wyndham ownership. Wyndham has been paying the annual fees on my already existing account since I acquired the 77k points contract from my sister. So to the best of my knowledge, there isn't any reason why Wyndham would have established and pay for another account for me with RCI.

I don't have the time or patience at this point to deal with it any longer. I'm just going to suck it up and continue my ownership of this paltry account for another year (or maybe two). It was my hope to get out of it this year as DH and I continue our general downsizing in anticipation of retirement in the next year or two. I had just hoped the Certified Exit Program might be a simple way to get it done now . . . but as always, nothing with timeshare ownership seems simple any more.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts & ideas. I do appreciate your time and efforts to help me.

 

[fer829]

To answer the last couple of questions . . . yes I know my RCI account is tied to my Wyndham ownership. Wyndham has been paying the annual fees on my already existing account since I acquired the 77k points contract from my sister. So to the best of my knowledge, there isn't any reason why Wyndham would have established and pay for another account for me with RCI.

I don't have the time or patience at this point to deal with it any longer. I'm just going to suck it up and continue my ownership of this paltry account for another year (or maybe two). It was my hope to get out of it this year as DH and I continue our general downsizing in anticipation of retirement in the next year or two. I had just hoped the Certified Exit Program might be a simple way to get it done now . . . but as always, nothing with timeshare ownership seems simple any more.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts & ideas. I do appreciate your time and efforts to help me.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts & ideas.

My experience: I am in my middle year of my "Limited Edition" membership after turning in all my 210K Wyndham points. I cannot get to the RCI account through the Wyndham website nor use the "Club Wyndham Points Deposit"--I always get a message "Something unexpected just happened". I can log in to RCI from my old separate login that I used on the RCI website previously, even though Wyndham paid for my only RCI account. I have access to things like Last Call, but obviously no deposits.
Gene