RCI membership fees

[ICECUBEQUEEN]

Hi Guys,

Hoping I have found a site that can help me...

I purchased a timeshare back in 2009 through Butlins in the UK using the points system. We have used our yearly points allocations to enjoy many holidays at Butlins over the past 6 years.

We are now looking to use the timeshare points further afield in Florida through RCI. I have been registered with RCI since 2009, using their website to check my points balance and browse the holiday directory, but have never used them to book a holiday as I always book our holidays directly through our resort Butlins.

Looking into booking a holiday in Florida through RCI I have come across their membership fees, but I am confused as it seems to read like I should have been paying these fees since I signed up in 2009, is this correct? I assumed I only had to pay a membership fee for RCI if I wanted to exchange to go somewhere else not pay membership fees to stay at Butlins, is my thinking correct? Or am I due a back payment bill of 6 years of membership fees?

I hope this makes sense and hope someone can answer my question as I have stuggled to find any help or answers anywhere else

 

[DeniseM]

Whether you exchange or not, there is a yearly membership fee - just to belong. There is an additional fee for exchanging.

 

[Timeshare Von]

It is possible that your MFs at your home resort have bundled the RCI annual membership fee in with their annual bill. I'd research that first before assuming you haven't been paying RCI membership fees.

 

[ICECUBEQUEEN]

Thank you for your speedy replies

Do I have to belong to RCI? Is it compulsory? I just assumed I dealt direct with Butlins, as they are the company I bought the timeshare from and pay my monthly maintenance fees to. I thought RCI was an optional benefit I registered for so if and when the time came to exchange RCI were the company to do it through and the fees would they charged would then apply.

So if I am meant to pay RCI membership, does that also mean I have to pay for reserving a holiday at Butlins? Is that what is meant by Home resort reservation charge?

 

[HudsHut]

Welcome to TUG.

If you are able to log in to RCI, you have been paying membership fees, perhaps included in the maintenance dues you pay to your resort.

Log in.
Press Home
Account Details
There you will see how long your membership is paid through, and how long you have been a member.

(I have an RCI weeks account; I presume RCI Points has a similar home screen.)

***
Is this one of your resorts?
http://www.rci.com/resort-directory/resortDetails?resortCode=A072&locale=en_US
***

To exchange into Florida,
Select Search for a Vacation
Select the Region (Florida)
Narrow your parameters to the part of Florida, and the dates you desire.

You will be see the available resorts. Check back frequently, as availability can change daily, even hourly.

 

[ICECUBEQUEEN]

Welcome to TUG.

If you are able to log in to RCI, you have been paying membership fees, perhaps included in the maintenance dues you pay to your resort.

Log in.
Press Home
Account Details
There you will see how long your membership is paid through, and how long you have been a member.

(I have an RCI weeks account; I presume RCI Points has a similar home screen.)

***
Is this one of your resorts?
http://www.rci.com/resort-directory/resortDetails?resortCode=A072&locale=en_US
***

To exchange into Florida,
Select Search for a Vacation
Select the Region (Florida)
Narrow your parameters to the part of Florida, and the dates you desire.

You will be see the available resorts. Check back frequently, as availability can change daily, even hourly.

Yes that is my resort you have linked.

It doesn't seem to mention anything about membership when I log into RCI, it shows...

Member ID ******
Use year dates: Jan 2016 - Dec 2016
RCI points saved from 2015: 38970
Saved points remaining from 2015: 38970
Unused saved points will expire: Dec 2016
Current use year: 2016
2016 annual points allocation: 71000
Current use year balance: 109970
2017 use year balance: 71000

No mention of membership fees???

 

[Passepartout]

Thank you for your speedy replies

Do I have to belong to RCI? Is it compulsory? I just assumed I dealt direct with Butlins, as they are the company I bought the timeshare from and pay my monthly maintenance fees to. I thought RCI was an optional benefit I registered for so if and when the time came to exchange RCI were the company to do it through and the fees would they charged would then apply.

So if I am meant to pay RCI membership, does that also mean I have to pay for reserving a holiday at Butlins? Is that what is meant by Home resort reservation charge?

I don't know what the arrangement is that you have with your timeshare management company. It seems that your monthly maintenance bill includes a membership in RCI. There are other exchange companies, some of which are free. You can deposit your owned week with any of them. Bear in mind that there may be a fee for doing so. Usually about $200USD. More or less.

If Butlins has other resorts, and you book through RCI (instead of directly through Butlins) there is a charge. RCI charges for everything! Admittedly, on TUG, we are less familiar with the offerings, and workings of RCI in Europe or the UK. You may need to educate us about the differences.

Welcome to TUG!

Jim

 

[DeniseM]

Be sure you do your research before you resign from RCI, because sometimes there is a very high fee to re-join.