Question re renting out a unit...

[chazpbg]

that I got through an RCI exchange? Am I allowed to do it? Can I rent to a friend and just recoup my maintenance fees and the RCI transfer fee?

 

[Luanne]

that I got through an RCI exchange? Am I allowed to do it? Can I rent to a friend and just recoup my maintenance fees and the RCI transfer fee?

Nope, can't rent out an exchange.

 

[DeniseM]

Note that if you get caught, you can lose your acct., your deposits, your exchanges, and the fees you have already paid.

That just happened to someone who was renting out RCI inventory.

MORE INFO.

 

[timeos2]

Stop giving them free inventory - they are using it against you!

Note that if you get caught, you can lose your acct., your deposits, your exchanges, and the fees you have already paid.

That just happened to someone who was renting out RCI inventory.

MORE INFO.

But you can rest easy that if there is any rental value to be had it WILL get tapped - by RCI! It's only the owners that pay for the timeshare that are watched to be sure they don't "cheat" but RCI can do whatever they please with inventory they get paid to take for trade but then use to create income for themselves.

And you continue to pay RCI and II to be a member because..??

There is no need for high membership fee based exchange systems and owners need to do more for themselves. That includes renting if that is what you feel is best.

 

[chazpbg]

How would RCI even know if you're renting it to a friend...? And paying a transfer fee to put it in their name?

 

[DeniseM]

How would RCI even know if you're renting it to a friend...? And paying a transfer fee to put it in their name?

Sometimes the "friend" slips up and tells someone and it gets back to RCI, sometimes someone sees your post on TUG, and reports it to RCI, sometimes people turn it into a cottage industry and draw attention to themselves by asking for an unusual number of guest certificates - that is what usually does it. Also, people who make a business out of renting exchanges sometimes get reported to RCI because they are actually advertising exchanges for rent.

Recently, someone rented an exchange without telling the renter it was an exchange - the renter called RCI to confirm the reservation and told RCI they were renting an exchange!

 

[MuranoJo]

My understanding from 'Madge,' (at one time an RCI representative who had a thread here), was that we could let close friends or relatives have our unit for just the exchange fees and guest certificate costs. But not m/f.

Once you deposit, RCI maintains the right to rent out your deposits for commercial purposes, and you risk getting caught if you try this yourself using an exchange. Besides the ramifications with RCI, your renter may end up without a unit upon arrival.

Edited to add a link to the old thread from '06. Number 4 is pretty good.

Note: This is the most recent 'official' policy I've seen. Others may have seen a more recent stance.

 

[Free2Roam]

But you can rest easy that if there is any rental value to be had it WILL get tapped - by RCI! It's only the owners that pay for the timeshare that are watched to be sure they don't "cheat" but RCI can do whatever they please with inventory they get paid to take for trade but then use to create income for themselves.

And you continue to pay RCI and II to be a member because..??

There is no need for high membership fee based exchange systems and owners need to do more for themselves. That includes renting if that is what you feel is best.

I've never really been a fan of RCI... although I do enjoy the "Last Call" vacations. But since they changed their refund policy for exchange fees, I like them even less. You usually need to plan ahead to get something you want thru RCI. But life happens and sometimes plans need to be changed. Since last year's policy change, after 24hrs of confirming a reservation, RCI will not refund or even give an account credit for exchange fees (although you can get your deposit back... which may be expiring if you've booked years in advance).

Personally, if I couldn't find a taker (whether friend, family or TUGGER) on a confirmed exchange I can no longer use and if I couldn't reuse the deposited week before it expired, I would rather let the unit sit empty before I cancel and let RCI make more money on it.