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RCI Trouble - help/Final Results/MERGED

jdp0906

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We are scheduled to go on vac tomorrow. We have a paper confirmation from RCI to that effect. We also have a verbal confirmation number from the resort.

RCI called us last night to basically say it was cancelled and my RCI account show they have us "On-Hold" for another resort two weeks from now.

Not only did they change of accomodation, they change the resort and the time AND didn't tell us until a day and a half before we would be travelling.

Can they do this and what can I do to make it right.
 

Pat H

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Can you give us a little more info like the resort and what RCI told you was the reason for the cancellation?
 

jdp0906

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It is the Villas at Treetop in Bushkill. We booked a 3 bedroom. RCI, within just the last few moment, told me it was an error on RCI's part to have offered them at all, based upon their conversation with the resort. Now these units are overbooked.

I called the resort this morning and they gave me a confirmation number for that unit type, furthermore, she could give me the unit number and tell me it was clean already and I would probably be able to check in early.
 

JudyH

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Call RCI back and insist on talking to a supervisor. If necessary, have a three way conference all with the resort and RCI.
 

jdp0906

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When I was called last night, that is exactly what I insisted upon - a supervisor or better yet a manager. One has been on the phone with me once this morning.

Since I had a confirmation, for that unit type and was even told the unit is ready by folks at the resort, the RCI person was stopped in her tracks. It's almost as if RCI is trying to pull a fast one.

Waiting on he call again.

This is maddening to happen they day before we are to go.
 

eal

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I have no love for RCI so here is how my mind is working about their devious practices: RCI also rented out this unit and now has to dump the exchanger. My advice - get there asap, get settled into you unit, and when the renter arrives, oh well...

Keep us posted please about how this turns out for you!
 

jdp0906

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Just spoke to the Resort again - RCI cancelled our reservations. Furthermore, I asked if at any time that they were double booked and dealing with RCI about, the answer was a resounding NO.

RCI did the double booking and are scrambling.
 

jdp0906

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The long and the short of it - WE GOT SCREWED OVER BY RCI, and only with 18 hours before we travel.
 

tombo

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That is horrible. I would get the name of the manager at the resort who told you that your room was available and get back with RCI mgt. I would tell RCI that RCI needs to pay for you a comparable room in the same area for the same period of time starting tomorrow. Settle for nothing less and make sure to keep informing RCI that you have already taken vacation time off of work and your time can't be changed.

Good luck and I hope everything works out well for you. Just hearing what RCI did to you scares the crap out of me.
 

wackymother

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Unbelievable! I'm so sorry. Is this the week of the balloon festival?

And there IS nothing comparable in the area. The 3brs at Villa at Treetop are supposed to be really nice. The 2brs there and pretty much everywhere else in the Poconos are not very nice at all.
 

grest

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This is simply not acceptable...they had better find a way to make you happy...keep at 'em..
Connie
 

jdp0906

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Yes it is the weekend of the balloon fest - we are actually scheduled for a ride on Sunday morning. That may lift me out of this funk.

Originally RCI told me that the resort made the mistake. After speaking with the resort and getting my ducks in a row I was able to hit RCI dead on. They admitted it was their fault, their error. They were assigned 7 three bedroom units and booked 14. They were scrambling to make it right. In their scramble we ended up the losers. Having been assigned a 3 bedroom unit by the resort itself, they, RCI, cancelled it and gave it to someone else. So now we drive off in 6 hours to a 2-bedroom - made available to RCI. Based on all the reviews I've read, I am not expecting anything much - these units are outdated, have ants, they're the pits.

RCI is a bunch of liars. I was talking with a manager at RCI at this point yesterday. She said she was dealing with a person at the resort, but wouldn't give me their name. However, when talking to the resort people that deal with the timeshare part of the business, no one even knew her name, let alone talked with anyone at RCI.

We gave up out T/S because of being charged 1400.00 for a 'special assessment', now get rid of RCI and get on with taking care of our selves for vacations. Can't wait until all the disappointment is behind us.
 

jdp0906

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RCI sent us a confirmation for a TWO bedroom unit. However, here it is 4 AM with us leaving in 4 and a half hours and I called the resort - they have NO reservatioins for us at all.
 

tombo

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I am sure that since you complained the most you will have a 2 bed room when you get there. Some other poor unsuspecting RCI exchanger will get their phone call and e-mails shortly telling them that RCI doesn't have a room for them. Their room will be cancelled and given to you. RCI will keep cancelling reservations until they find someone who says that it's not a problem.
 

krmlaw

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I would fight like heck and get a free week out of this from RCI. That is ridiculious!
 

BevL

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I would fight like heck and get a free week out of this from RCI. That is ridiculious!

For sure you should get your deposit back and your exchange fund refunded.
 

Bill4728

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The key item we should all take away from this is to never call or respond to any emails or phone calls from the exchange companies in the days before your trip.

RCI had 7 rooms and 14 travelers. The 7 who didn't answer RCI email, likely arrived and got a room. The 7 responsible people who call or email RCI back got the shaft! :wall:
 

geekette

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The key item we should all take away from this is to never call or respond to any emails or phone calls from the exchange companies in the days before your trip.

RCI had 7 rooms and 14 travelers. The 7 who didn't answer RCI email, likely arrived and got a room. The 7 responsible people who call or email RCI back got the shaft! :wall:

This would be hilarious if it didn't have such a high likelihood of being absolutely correct.

I don't think we've yet heard from someone that returned from their trip as planned to find a message that their vacation was cancelled. Anyone? I would think it would be "calling about your trip to Vacationland" with no reference to purpose for call.

RCI will keep cancelling reservations until they find someone who says that it's not a problem.

Also thinking this could be reality.

Thing that I don't get, is the rental return off one unit worth all the hassle of finding spaces for the displaced? Staff time has to be huge. Many of their rentals are very cheap.

Probably for this week, they got massive bucks for high demand. Lucky for them, they don't care about negative word of mouth or unbelieveably bad customer service. I'm not thinking it's worth it. At least, if it were my business, I would not put a high priority on screwing over my member base. Skimming off cream to rent out is one thing (that I am also not a fan of), but putting it out for exchange and then yanking it back is a bit too far to go, even for RCI. The lateness of the date makes it especially distasteful.

All that said, I think their crappy inventory system got them into trouble. Like the website and mainframe aren't sharing the same version of the truth. Yeah, I just gave them a way to claim innocent mistake. But, FIX YOUR SYSTEMS if that is the case, as only the first time is it an honest mistake.


So, OP, keep hammering at them. keep your confirmation and all receipts and demand full reimbursement for ALL OF IT.
 

pcgirl54

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jdq

In the past we have had a vacation cancelled but not the day before. I would be livid.

One time the RCI rep did not tell us we had a choice to keep the unit until the very end of the call. He said well we had to ask because the owner wants to use it. We had flights booked. The call was 2 weeks before the trip. Divorce situation where the wife was awarded the TS and DH had deposited a South Seas Plantation week in Captiva. Wife told RCI that she did not know the week was deposited by her ex. We went on the trip.

Second time we were called about a Siesta Key week where the owner rented the deposited week out and did not tell RCI per RCI. There was time for the RCI VC to find us a GC week.

Before these events I never knew that a week could be cancelled as I had confirmations but indeed they can.

You are assigned a RCI specialist in these situations who tries to find a comparable unit and in our case since it was their error we got our week back and stayed at a comparable resort. So a week for free. I can't recall if we got the exchange fee back but I think we did. I do not know if this is still the way situations are handled.

However you are on your way there now if you had to leave at 4am. I wonder what would happen if you just show up to check in early before the rest of the exchangers try to check in. I would hand them the exchange cert and see what happens.
 

Carolinian

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With a popular weekend, they probably had a market for rentals, so they booted the exchangers. In its press releases, RCI now refers to itself as a ''vacation rental and exchange company'' in that order.

Once I found out that it was RCI that cancelled the week with the resort, I would have simply told them that you would rent comparable accomodations and bill RCI for ther cost, then if they did not pay sue them under Consumer Protection Statutes for unfair and deceptive business practices. If it is similar to NC, you could collect treble damages plus attorney fees.

At minimum, I would file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Division of the State AG.
 
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Kozman

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Would it be too late to contact the class action lawyers to provide additional evidence of RCI's mischief on the basis of their rental policy?
 

Tia

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Makes me sure I was right to cancel our RCI membership and know I will never join again.
 

jstapleton

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Makes me sure I was right to cancel our RCI membership and know I will never join again.

For someone like me that uses their HHI timeshare in August but usually exchanges my Orlando T/S for other locations, how do I go about doing that without using RCI. RCI is the only place my Orlando T/S uses. Thank you since I would very much be interested in learning more. I am very new to all the ins/outs. Thanks you.
 
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