RCI Offering No Options To Extend Points Expiring In 2020

[ThreeFeetHighAnd]

Long-time timeshare owner with Hilton Grand Vacation Club. Mixed feelings. New to TUG.

Is anyone else about to lose RCI converted points for 2020? Despite the Covid pandemic, they are offering no options to extend points that were due to expire in 2020. Would appreciate a courtesy extension, but would be willing to pay to save those expiring points. Not even an option, though this year clearly deserves offering options never previously offered. Hilton Grand Vacations did the right thing and automatically extended all points for free for everyone, including previously saved points.

I am considering starting a class action lawsuit, because RCI is revealing a ridiculous level of greed and lack of consideration during this pandemic by not offering even a paid option to extend expiring points. I suspect that many people will be losing RCI expiring points for 2020. [Btw, I'm a doctor, not a lawyer.]

 

[Gypsy65]

Just curious as I have no idea

But would a class action suit even be possible, is RCI obligated to offer an extension under this or any other circumstance?

 

[theo]

I have no affiliation of any kind with HGVC and no respect or use whatsoever for RCI, an operation whose greed is almost legendary.

That said, I respectfully remind you that another class action suit against RCI for patently "unfair" practices (regarding availability to RCI membership of the highest quality "exchange deposits") was resolved in / around 2009 only after several years of litigation.
More specifically, the end result of that litigation debacle, in which RCI practices were just plain wrong, was a group of handsomely paid lawyers --- and a one time "credit" (...of about $20, if I recall correctly) to the accounts of RCI members. Ultimately, the only real benefit to RCI members was the RCI adoption of new practices regarding valuation and availability of "deposits for exchange".

While I can understand and appreciate your displeasure with the situation you describe, I respectfully submit that a class action lawsuit against RCI regarding a seemingly defensible current practice would (Covid notwithstanding) surely be just a very lengthy and ultimately unproductive exercise in futility, although it is one which is certainly your prerogative to attempt to pursue.

Just my personal opinion and two cents' worth after having already seen the end result of a similar movie starring RCI.

 

[klpca]

Long-time timeshare owner with Hilton Grand Vacation Club. Mixed feelings. New to TUG.

Is anyone else about to lose RCI converted points for 2020? Despite the Covid pandemic, they are offering no options to extend points that were due to expire in 2020. Would appreciate a courtesy extension, but would be willing to pay to save those expiring points. Not even an option, though this year clearly deserves offering options never previously offered. Hilton Grand Vacations did the right thing and automatically extended all points for free for everyone, including previously saved points.

I am considering starting a class action lawsuit, because RCI is revealing a ridiculous level of greed and lack of consideration during this pandemic by not offering even a paid option to extend expiring points. I suspect that many people will be losing RCI expiring points for 2020. [Btw, I'm a doctor, not a lawyer.]

Have you reached out to HGVC to see if they can advocate on your behalf?

 

[SmithOp]

Why not book something in RCI before they expire? You obviously had a plan to use them when you deposited your points HGV->RCI.

We are all making sacrifices and having points pile up. I’ve used some points locally rather than let them expire, surely you can find a drive to location?

People love to throw down the class action card, even if it has merit its usually the lawyers that make out.


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[Eric B]

Long-time timeshare owner with Hilton Grand Vacation Club. Mixed feelings. New to TUG.

Is anyone else about to lose RCI converted points for 2020? Despite the Covid pandemic, they are offering no options to extend points that were due to expire in 2020. Would appreciate a courtesy extension, but would be willing to pay to save those expiring points. Not even an option, though this year clearly deserves offering options never previously offered. Hilton Grand Vacations did the right thing and automatically extended all points for free for everyone, including previously saved points.

I am considering starting a class action lawsuit, because RCI is revealing a ridiculous level of greed and lack of consideration during this pandemic by not offering even a paid option to extend expiring points. I suspect that many people will be losing RCI expiring points for 2020. [Btw, I'm a doctor, not a lawyer.]

Have the violated the terms and conditions of your membership in any way? If not, I wouldn't think you would be able to get anything out of a lawsuit, class action or otherwise.

Also, if you think about it, RCI is supposed to be providing a method for people to exchange the use of their timeshare weeks; on the points side, they convert that usage into points to act as a "currency" for the exchange. While many timeshare developers have made exceptions and extended whatever the timeshare currency they operate with (HGVC points, Wyndham points, WorldMark credits, Vistana StarOptions, etc.), they are able to do so because of the control they have over some of the inventory of usage in the underlying timeshare resorts. If RCI were to attempt to do something like that, they would need the underlying inventory in future years to support the points. That's the rub; they can't really take it out of future owner deposits because they have to provide points for those, too. I believe the rental side of the RCI business is a separate corporate entity, so they are probably unable to sacrifice the rental opportunities in the same manner as the actual developers are able to. There is some natural "slop" in the system that allows them to have it set up for exchanges in different years, but given the vast shutdown of travel this year, I seriously doubt they could accommodate the needs if they were to extend everyone's points or the demand if they were to do it for a fee. I think it would be fabulous if they were to do that, but don't really believe it would be a realistic hope. As it is, a lot of the bulk depositors seem to have been holding back on 2022 deposits in anticipation of increased internal demand in their own systems - just my interpretation of what I've seen in the inventory as compared to prior years.

 

[tschwa2]

RCI has a mechanism for most individual members and corporate members to extend points a single time by paying a fee. HGVC may not have this provision. Corporate memberships have been negotiated and are different for each of these accounts.

 

[SmithOp]

RCI has a mechanism for most individual members and corporate members to extend points a single time by paying a fee. HGVC may not have this provision. Corporate memberships have been negotiated and are different for each of these accounts.

HGVC has a very generous provision for using points in RCI. These must be very old points if they are expiring.

From the Rules Document:

RCI Deposits are valid from the date of deposit through an additional two calendar years and travel must occur prior to Points expiration.

In the event a Member is unable to use the RCI Deposit before the end of the second year, for an additional fee, Members have the opportunity to extend the RCI Deposit into a third year.


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[tschwa2]

HGVC has a very generous provision for using points in RCI. These must be very old points if they are expiring.

From the Rules Document:

RCI Deposits are valid from the date of deposit through an additional two calendar years and travel must occur prior to Points expiration.

In the event a Member is unable to use the RCI Deposit before the end of the second year, for an additional fee, Members have the opportunity to extend the RCI Deposit into a third year.


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Which is the policy they are using for everyone. They won't allow points that have been extended to be extended again even during the pandemic. The OP made it seem like these were regular points that were expiring (not already extended ones).

 

[moonstone]

Being Canadian with our borders closed to leisure travel I have complained loud and often to RCI that we could not use our points this year to travel to our resort or others in the USA. I know I could travel within Canada but we would rather be south than west in the cooler weather. Much to our amazement, a few weeks ago we received a call and follow-up email from some big wig at RCI telling us they realize that their Canadian customers have been greatly impacted by the travel restrictions due to Covid. He said with that in mind RCI had decided to extend Canadian members' membership for a year for free. As well he said they would extend our points for another year at no cost. We had already booked future trips (next fall) to use the exchange credits we had banked from our cancelled vacations this year. We are very happy with RCI's response and actions.


~Diane

 

[rapmarks]

Have you tried combining two deposits with a two year extension. If you have enough points expiring, it might be worth the expense

 

[Eric B]

Have you tried combining two deposits with a two year extension. If you have enough points expiring, it might be worth the expense

I believe OP was referring to HGVC points deposited into the HGVC corporate side access to RCI rather than TPUs for RCI weeks deposits. OP might be able to extend them (it wasn't really clear in the original email), but the combination thing wouldn't work.

 

[dioxide45]

I have no affiliation of any kind with HGVC and no respect or use whatsoever for RCI, an operation whose greed is almost legendary.

That said, I respectfully remind you that another class action suit against RCI for patently "unfair" practices (regarding availability to RCI membership of the highest quality "exchange deposits") was resolved in / around 2009 only after several years of litigation.
More specifically, the end result of that litigation debacle, in which RCI practices were just plain wrong, was a group of handsomely paid lawyers --- and a one time "credit" (...of about $20, if I recall correctly) to the accounts of RCI members. Ultimately, the only real benefit to RCI members was the RCI adoption of new practices regarding valuation and availability of "deposits for exchange".

While I can understand and appreciate your displeasure with the situation you describe, I respectfully submit that a class action lawsuit against RCI regarding a seemingly defensible current practice would (Covid notwithstanding) surely be just a very lengthy and ultimately unproductive exercise in futility, although it is one which is certainly your prerogative to attempt to pursue.

Just my personal opinion and two cents' worth after having already seen the end result of a similar movie starring RCI.

IIRC it was $12 and also validated RCI's business model of renting high value deposits that they get for free through their Extra Vacations outlet and charging high $$$.

 

[tschwa2]

IIRC it was $12 and also validated RCI's business model of renting high value deposits that they get for free through their Extra Vacations outlet and charging high $$$.

And within 6 months exchange prices increased $10 (at this point we are about $40 more per exchange than pre lawsuit) so they more than made up what they paid out and paid on law fees by simply increasing member fees.

 

[dreamin]

Being Canadian with our borders closed to leisure travel I have complained loud and often to RCI that we could not use our points this year to travel to our resort or others in the USA. I know I could travel within Canada but we would rather be south than west in the cooler weather. Much to our amazement, a few weeks ago we received a call and follow-up email from some big wig at RCI telling us they realize that their Canadian customers have been greatly impacted by the travel restrictions due to Covid. He said with that in mind RCI had decided to extend Canadian members' membership for a year for free. As well he said they would extend our points for another year at no cost. We had already booked future trips (next fall) to use the exchange credits we had banked from our cancelled vacations this year. We are very happy with RCI's response and actions.


~Diane

I contacted RCI 2 days ago and asked if there was anything they could do about expiring points. I was told that I had until the end of December to make a reservation but that I would first have to pay $157 to renew my RCI membership. I explained the travel restrictions we were experiencing and that didn't matter. If I made a reservation but wasn't able to travel then I would lose the points and the exchange fee. So no freebies for me!

 

[silentg]

I don’t understand why you are not able to extend your points. Is it because your membership is expiring? That would be the reason they won’t extend if your membership is over.
We canceled a vacation last minute and RCI refunded our TPU and exchange fee. Also gave us til March 2021 to make a new reservation before January 2022. I thought that was very generous. I had purchased trip protect insurance so that might be why I was able to reschedule. Also we are Platinum members. I’m not bragging just happy that we were able to save our TPU and rebook a trip later.

 

[dreamin]

silentg...I should clarify that I had extended these points last December so RCI only allows the one extension if you aren't a Platinum member. I was hoping they would make an exception given the restrictions to travel. My RCI membership also expires at the end of the month. It's only enough points for a 3 night stay at a drive-to resort and I was willing to renew my RCI membership if I could keep the points. I've given back my ownership to the resort so this will be the end of many years with RCI.

 

[silentg]

dreaming, Do you still own a Timeshare? Have you tried a Marketplace Exchange thru TUG.
We have done many of these and are much more fun than RCI exchanges.

 

[moonstone]

I contacted RCI 2 days ago and asked if there was anything they could do about expiring points. I was told that I had until the end of December to make a reservation but that I would first have to pay $157 to renew my RCI membership. I explained the travel restrictions we were experiencing and that didn't matter. If I made a reservation but wasn't able to travel then I would lose the points and the exchange fee. So no freebies for me!

I just looked back to the email. It was from a; Robert LaFay, RCI Customer Care Specialist, who said " Special consideration is being given to Canadian members due to the border situation." He went on to say; " RCI is in survival mode as we have been in negative cash flow since March, but we are trying to assist our members in accord with their situation and at the same time not go out of business as many have. that would not serve the best interests of our members, employees or resort affiliates."

Maybe you need to call again. I had also complained on the feedback thing on their website several times as well as to every rep I spoke to during our cancellations this year. I told them by law we were not able to travel, it wasn't just our choice not to travel.

Good luck!

~Diane

 

[dreamin]

Silentg...I do own points with VI and plan to use those. In recent years I have had good luck using Extra Vacations or TripBeat which doesn't require an RCI membership. I found this was more cost-effective than ownership since we are last minute planners.

Moonstone...I will call RCI again tomorrow and give it another try!