Offer to enroll weeks

[LeslieDet]

Just reading further on the forum and saw someone reference an 'amnesty program'. Is that what I'm taking advantage of and does it expire? My Mother in law needs to do this but thought she might need to go to a presentation and purchase the Encore.. Thanks!

I have not heard of an "amnesty" program. It seems that when sales folks can't lure (mislead) an enrollment-eligible owner to buy points, they spin the encore as the minimum needed to enroll, even though that is not accurate. Over the last 8 or 9 years, I've heard so many folks insist that they had to buy 1000 points in order to enroll, even though that is not true. If your mom's deeded week meets the eligibility for enrollment, the enrollment should be free, after watching the required video.

Only purchase the encore if (1) you actually want to travel to those encore offered destinations and (2) you have a slight desire to retain the pricing offer they made to you at the pitch where you bought the encore, because not only does the encore "lock" in the price you were quoted (as inflated as it may be) the encore will also give you credit for the cost of the encore package you bought if you go ahead and actually buy during the encore visit. There may be other perks like a bunch of BonVoy points you'll get for attending the encore. Sometimes that may or may not be worth something to the one who buys an encore. Personally, I don't bother to purchase encore packages as I have enough owned vacation weeks to take plenty of trips and I don't need to pay cash to get another reservation.

 

[Dean]

I have not heard of an "amnesty" program. It seems that when sales folks can't lure (mislead) an enrollment-eligible owner to buy points, they spin the encore as the minimum needed to enroll, even though that is not accurate. Over the last 8 or 9 years, I've heard so many folks insist that they had to buy 1000 points in order to enroll, even though that is not true. If your mom's deeded week meets the eligibility for enrollment, the enrollment should be free, after watching the required video.

Only purchase the encore if (1) you actually want to travel to those encore offered destinations and (2) you have a slight desire to retain the pricing offer they made to you at the pitch where you bought the encore, because not only does the encore "lock" in the price you were quoted (as inflated as it may be) the encore will also give you credit for the cost of the encore package you bought if you go ahead and actually buy during the encore visit. There may be other perks like a bunch of BonVoy points you'll get for attending the encore. Sometimes that may or may not be worth something to the one who buys an encore. Personally, I don't bother to purchase encore packages as I have enough owned vacation weeks to take plenty of trips and I don't need to pay cash to get another reservation.

The last number of years there has been an amnesty program where one can enroll weeks that are otherwise not qualified to enroll; post June, 2010 weeks. Until this year it was purchase 3000 points to enroll 1 week, 4000 for two and 5500 for 3-7. There were conversions for retail purchases that could not be in the Trust like St. Kitt's or Aruba that were $$$ spend requirements and usually around the same amounts as the discounted cost of the corresponding number of points (3000 to 5500). The non qualifying weeks were supposed to be in one's account by the start of the program that year though they routinely waived that requirement. This year it was quite a bit different with everything being $$$ based and much higher requirements plus one could only enroll up to 5 weeks. In the past they've routinely allowed some flexibility esp enrolling more than 7 weeks at a time but I'm told this year they were denying that flexibility. My source says he was not aware of ANY flexibility this year. Normally it's about 6 months of the year around March/April through Sept time frame. Whether it's worth it is another discussion. IMO it was under previous years requirements for some situations but I cannot think of a circumstance where it was reasonable to do so for the 2023 program unless one were going to buy something expensive retail anyway.

The program for the Fractionals is separate and can be done all year around though but might not be a good idea right now to enroll a Tahoe Fractional.

 

[LeslieDet]

The last number of years there has been an amnesty program where one can enroll weeks that are otherwise not qualified to enroll; post June, 2010 weeks. Until this year it was purchase 3000 points to enroll 1 week, 4000 for two and 5500 for 3-7. There were conversions for retail purchases that could not be in the Trust like St. Kitt's or Aruba that were $$$ spend requirements and usually around the same amounts as the discounted cost of the corresponding number of points (3000 to 5500). The non qualifying weeks were supposed to be in one's account by the start of the program that year though they routinely waived that requirement. This year it was quite a bit different with everything being $$$ based and much higher requirements plus one could only enroll up to 5 weeks. In the past they've routinely allowed some flexibility esp enrolling more than 7 weeks at a time but I'm told this year they were denying that flexibility. My source says he was not aware of ANY flexibility this year. Normally it's about 6 months of the year around March/April through Sept time frame. Whether it's worth it is another discussion. IMO it was under previous years requirements for some situations but I cannot think of a circumstance where it was reasonable to do so for the 2023 program unless one were going to buy something expensive retail anyway.

The program for the Fractionals is separate and can be done all year around though but might not be a good idea right now to enroll a Tahoe Fractional.

I did not know that is what folks were calling "amnesty". I think I posted the offers I've been repeatedly given to enroll my resale weeks. No MVC sales person has ever called it "amnesty". Of the offers I've received, by far the cheapest method offered to enroll 2 of my 3 weeks was by buying a week at MMBR for at least 16K euro. Next was St Kitts at $25k. The offers in the USA have been 2500 points purchase for 1resale week; 4000 points for 2-5 resale weeks; and up from there with 6000 points for 6+ resales.

 

[Dean]

I did not know that is what folks were calling "amnesty". I think I posted the offers I've been repeatedly given to enroll my resale weeks. No MVC sales person has ever called it "amnesty". Of the offers I've received, by far the cheapest method offered to enroll 2 of my 3 weeks was by buying a week at MMBR for at least 16K euro. Next was St Kitts at $25k. The offers in the USA have been 2500 points purchase for 1resale week; 4000 points for 2-5 resale weeks; and up from there with 6000 points for 6+ resales.

What I posted have been the requirements of the program for some time exactly as I posted it for non qualified weeks. Sometimes there are special deals, esp for Spain. Normally the dollar spend requirement in the past has been before any discounts which is why St. Kitt's has often been cheaper than Aruba. The 4000 was only for 2 weeks and 5500 was the highest for up to 7 weeks until this year.

 

[LeslieDet]

What I posted have been the requirements of the program for some time exactly as I posted it for non qualified weeks. Sometimes there are special deals, esp for Spain. Normally the dollar spend requirement in the past has been before any discounts which is why St. Kitt's has often been cheaper than Aruba. The 4000 was only for 2 weeks and 5500 was the highest for up to 7 weeks until this year.

I don't dispute that is what you have posted or what you've seen. I am only speaking from my personal situation. The offers I mentioned were given to me between June 2022 (St Kitts) through June 2023 (Spain), with the Newport Coast sales office making me the offer for my 3 resale weeks enrolled if I bought 4000 points from them in March 2023.

 

[Dean]

I don't dispute that is what you have posted or what you've seen. I am only speaking from my personal situation. The offers I mentioned were given to me between June 2022 (St Kitts) through June 2023 (Spain), with the Newport Coast sales office making me the offer for my 3 resale weeks enrolled if I bought 4000 points from them in March 2023.

I've worked closely with a great sales agent the last 5 years interacting and seeing the program documentation's. I've also had quite a number of interactions with numerous data points the program has always been 1, 2 or 3-7 until 2023. I believe very early it was 5000 instead of 5500 points but am not certain on that point. As I noted, some flexibility was common until 2023 which would be the only explanation for 3 weeks at 4000 points based on the info I've seen over these last few years. There are quite a few here who have worked with the same rep and several her who have enrolled through him. And a number of us who did so receiving flexibility including up to 12 weeks enrolled at one time.

 

[Mpyankees]

Do not purchase any Club Points. Enroll your week for free and others have stated. You will pay Club Dues, but as a member of the Abound program, you can rent Club Points from other owners should you desire to book something other than going to your owned week; and if you elect Club Points in lieu of occupancy in your owned week, you can combine rented points with elected points to use for reservations. Note that by renting points, your owner level won't change. That is based upon what you own. Enrollment is a good thing. Elected points work the same as owned points, with the exception that owned points can be used to exchange into BonVoy points, but that is a horrible exchange and not worth it. Do not buy 1000 points; they are not needed and a waste of money.

Thanks! My objective is to rent enough points to add two weeks to my stay. Do you have any idea what determines the number of points I need? Will MVC be able to tell me that? Thanks in advance for any advice on this.

 

[Fasttr]

Thanks! My objective is to rent enough points to add two weeks to my stay. Do you have any idea what determines the number of points I need? Will MVC be able to tell me that? Thanks in advance for any advice on this.

https://vacationpointexchange.com/pointschart/points_charts_2026.pdf

 

[DRH90277]

It isn't the number of points you have; it's the availability of reservations for points.

Only my experience - For better resorts and reservations, it is difficult to spend points to get what you want. I learned to avoid the expectation that this reservation need can be solved with points. I hope others can respond with better results.

OceanWatch and Newport Coast as examples and solution: We hold family summer family reunions at these locations, and I cannot fill these needs with points. My solution has been to buy weeks at these resorts to meet our need. I have 5 concurrent weeks reserved for July - try this with points.

Again, we have access to lots of points, but the number of points is not the answer.

 

[daviator]

Again, we have access to lots of points, but the number of points is not the answer.

Of course, MVC Sales will tell you exactly the opposite, so the wise consumer needs to do their own research, as most folks here have done.

 

[jmhpsu93]

It isn't the number of points you have; it's the availability of reservations for points.

Only my experience - For better resorts and reservations, it is difficult to spend points to get what you want. I learned to avoid the expectation that this reservation need can be solved with points. I hope others can respond with better results.

OceanWatch and Newport Coast as examples and solution: We hold family summer family reunions at these locations, and I cannot fill these needs with points. My solution has been to buy weeks at these resorts to meet our need. I have 5 concurrent weeks reserved for July - try this with points.

Again, we have access to lots of points, but the number of points is not the answer.

Even if you could manage it inventory-wise, that would be a very expensive endeavor with points.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Thanks! My objective is to rent enough points to add two weeks to my stay. Do you have any idea what determines the number of points I need? Will MVC be able to tell me that? Thanks in advance for any advice on this.

Do a price comparison for just booking your time on MVC with cash using abound owner benefit code or bonvoys if you have them vs. the cost to rent points.
Check for deals also like II getaways or others on travel sites.
Check redweek, etc for a rental week.

May be easier to just book something/ get something that is already booked than rent the points and try to book.

I see from your other post your weeks are not enrolled. If you can enroll for free you may see a savings even if you don’t use points just based on the free M-M exchanges through II.