RCI relationship with www.bonusbreakweeks.co.uk

Keitht · Oct 20, 2005

RCI relationship with www.bonusweekbreaks.co.uk

Madge,

I received a call from a company called Bonus Break Weeks earlier today. In their conversation, and on their internet site, they state the following :-

"Welcome to bonus week breaks, we are the booking agents on behalf of RCI and Interval International resorts."

Is this an accurate statement of their relationship with RCI and if so is the same stock available directly to members through RCI's own 'Bonus Holiday' offers?

If relevant to the question, I am a UK Weeks owner.

Madge · Nov 1, 2005

Keith,

I am not familiar with this company. Please provide any details you can remember in a message to feedback@rci.com and enter TUG in the subject line. The Communications Team will check it out for you.

Keitht · Nov 28, 2005

Madge,

Apologies for the delay in responding - I missed your reply. The actual web address is www.bonusweekbreaks.co.uk and not as I had said originally www.bonusbreakweeks..... In a strange way I hope they do have an official link with RCI as they knew I was a member of RCI and had my home phone number.
That information can only have come from RCI sources, either official or otherwise.

Keitht · Dec 6, 2005

I have today received this response to my e-mail to 'feedback@rci.com'

Please be advised that RCI has no third party agents selling any of its inventory. The resorts affiliated to us may have agreements with other organisations to sell space within their complexes - this is beyond our control as we do not own any of these affiliated properties.

We have flagged your comments to our legal department for review and action as necessary.

It is pleasing to know that the problem is being taken seriously, but still of concern that this company somehow obtained my name and telephone number. I only know of 2 possible sources for this information either RCI or my home resort. I do also plan to take this up with them.

I have asked that RCI legal department keep me informed of any progress they may make.

Madge · Jan 11, 2006

Keitht,

If I discover anything more about this website I will follow up. Likewise, please let me know if you learn more from our U.K. staff.

Keitht · Jan 11, 2006

Madge said:
Keitht,

If I discover anything more about this website I will follow up. Likewise, please let me know if you learn more from our U.K. staff.

Thanks Madge,

I have heard nothing from the legal team so far

Keitht · Oct 27, 2006

Madge,

Back in December 2005 I received an e-mail from feedback@rci.com stating that RCI had no link with www.bonusweekbreaks.co.uk and that my e-mail was being passed to RCI's legal department. I was also advised that the legal department would advise me of the outcome. I never actually heard anything from the legal department.
Bonusweekbreaks are still advertising that they are agents for RCI.
As this claim has now been active on their site for at least a year and RCI has apparently done nothing about it I was wondering what the situation is? Was I given wrong information in the first instance or doesn't RCI care about companies making false claims about their links with RCI?

Madge · Nov 9, 2006

Keitht,

This is an issue we take very seriously, so I can't imagine what the delay might be. I will see what I can find out!

Keitht · Jan 3, 2007

Madge,

On another t/s site I use questions are again being asked about this company. I have still heard nothing from RCI on the subject, either directly or through yourself. Are you able to investigate?
It is interesting to see that their website now states "we are booking agents for a wide range of luxury resorts, including a number of RCI and II affiliated resorts" rather than claiming to be agents for RCI. It may be that the change has been down to action by RCI. If that is the case it would have been nice to receive feedback.

Madge · Jan 5, 2007

Keitht,

I'll forward a request for information myself and see if I can get a status for you.

johnmfaeth · Jan 5, 2007

If you read the fine print, it says that you will have to take a timeshare tour.

These guys (may be one person?) must be charging folks to get them set up as a "referral" to timeshare companies and then onto a sales promotional package.

There was a guy doing this with Marriott recently on Ebay and they shut him down.

He charged $25, his angle was that he got Marriott reward credits for each referral that purchased.

Most don't realize that their ownership info is public record if they own at a deeded resort in the US. Phone #'s are easily obtained and matched up.

Makes you think your resort company "ratted" on you when all that happened is a little research.

This is also why you get all those personally addressed mortgage offers if you own a house.

John

Madge · Jan 5, 2007

Keitht,

I was able to verify that we do not have a partnership with this company. Was there anything else about the call you received that struck you? Anything on their website I might have missed?