Senior Benefits Acceleration Program

[mlbyron]

I have been contacted by what seems to be my Grand Mayan company.

Have any of you been offered to exchange the original Senior Certificate
allowing persons age 75 to pay 1/2 maintenance fee or at 77 waived entirely
for- 10 weeks use of Registry Collection requiring no maintenance fee?

I can find no reason to NOT do it. Looking for guidance from the group.
Mary Byron

 

[pittle]

I have not heard anything about this. It could be something they are trying because so many people have the Senior Certificates and are getting older and using these.

We are glad that we were able to keep the original Senior Certificate terms when we upgraded. I have heard from some other owners, that it is sometimes changed when you do an upgrade. Ours was not, but some friends said theirs was changed to a flat amount each year that you use it - the amount is determined when you upgrade. That amount would be lower than the regular MF because of the annual price increases. They are about 10 years younger than us, so were not as concerned.

We would not give ours up for 10 Registry weeks, but we seldom exchange now and I never saw any place on Registry that I was willing to give my GL up for. We bought where we want to go and if we choose not to go some year, we do not have to pay the MF. We do have 2 weeks of 2-bedroom units and sometimes use just 1 of our weeks. Once the Sr. Cert kicks in, we will use both weeks. That time is getting closer for us so we plan to use them for as long as we can.

If you like to exchange, it would probably work for you, but you need to see how long you have to use those 10 weeks and how much the Registry renewal and exchange fees will cost you.

 

[mlbyron]

We also upgraded with keeping the senior certificate. The advantage for me to take the 10 weeks is that I haven't gotten to Mexico since 2010 and might not go again. I have the advantage of paying MF only if used. Still it was a high price to purchase and not use, I have a 2 bdrm Grand Mayan. I actually use it if I trade into a location. Then there is the "free" part of the deal. Today I am calling Registry Collection to see what the cost to join is. I also do not like the choices of RC, customer service person offering this change said I can use RCI if I request. That could be the deciding factor. I am sure it is legitly Vidanta, from the email information and that the rep set it up for me to remove deceased spouse from contract, supplying the correct people and forms needed. Plus there is no money requested from me. Unlike the fake 'buyers' that have called over the years. I am so skeptical of making an altering decision in the timeshare world. I was assured it will not change anything in my contract.

 

[mlbyron]

fyi
After listening to our members we have now developed a program that converts your Senior Certificate into benefits you
can use sooner, at more resorts, and without being limited to your personal use. As with the Senior Certificate, the new
Senior Benefits Acceleration Program is offered to you without cost and your participation is guaranteed simply by
returning this acceptance within the enrollment period. Here’s how it works:
In place of your Senior Certificate you will receive 10 weeks in the course of 10 years that will be deposited in your account
with The Registry Collection. You can use these weeks immediately or any time over the next 10 years. Just like any other
weeks you might deposit with TRC, these weeks are entitled to exciting exchange opportunities afforded by TRC and their
network of resorts. You will transfer them by making TRC exchange requests in the same manner you do now with other
deposited weeks – simply by calling 1800 AWAY I GO.
Please note in particular the important advantages of the new program:
* Unlike the Senior Certificate, there is no age restriction; you do not have to wait until you are 75 to use these weeks.
* Unlike the Senior Certificate, the weeks you receive under this program can be used to request exchanges at any TRC.
resort. They will receive the same high trading power that our resorts have always enjoyed.
* Unlike the Senior Certificate, you do not have to be personally present to use these weeks; as with other weeks
deposited with TRC you can use them yourself or give them to friends and family to use on their own. The use of these
weeks can also pass to your heirs.
* Unlike the Senior Certificate, you are not limited to one week each year; you can use multiple weeks in the same year,
up to your total of 10 in the course of 10 years.

Please note also that the ten The Registry Collection weeks are in addition to the weeks and other benefits you are entitled
to under your Contract. This new program will replace your Senior Certificate, but no other rights or privileges associated
with your Contract or any other promotional items you may have received will be affected. Remember also, that normally
you would pay a Maintenance Fee or Usage Fee for every week you space bank with The Registry Collection. Under this
program the Company will absorb that cost and deposit your ten weeks at no cost to you; you pay only the normal fees
charged by The Registry Collection.

 

[mikenk]

I received a letter today from Vida making the offer. Mine did not specify the Registry collection, just said my exchange company. I was to call to find out the number of weeks I would have. I called a few minutes ago and was told that due to the number of responses, they had cancelled the offer - certainly the shortest timed offer I have ever seen. I'm not sure whether it is canceled for all or just some.

The senior certificate is actually a tradeoff for me as I will lose the free golf and massages when I use it. Hopefully, when I am eligible and well into my 80's, I will still be playing. However, I will have to think long and hard before I give up the senior certificate; I really like the concept of free.

Mike

 

[Pizza67]

When we last upgraded, we kept our senior certificate, but it changed to a set amount that would offset against the future maintenance fee when used. Free would have been nice to keep, but the amount is still fairly significant.

I haven't received any correspondence regarding the conversion (maybe they are targeting just those that are still 'free'). It would be something to consider though.

 

[rpennisi]

I received a letter today from Vida making the offer. Mine did not specify the Registry collection, just said my exchange company. I was to call to find out the number of weeks I would have. I called a few minutes ago and was told that due to the number of responses, they had cancelled the offer - certainly the shortest timed offer I have ever seen. I'm not sure whether it is canceled for all or just some.

The senior certificate is actually a tradeoff for me as I will lose the free golf and massages when I use it. Hopefully, when I am eligible and well into my 80's, I will still be playing. However, I will have to think long and hard before I give up the senior certificate; I really like the concept of free.

Mike

So, at 77 you would go to the GL with no mf, however no free golf and free massages? I would guess not paying the mf would easily cover the golf and massage fees. Sounds like a winner if I have that right.
Ron

 

[pittle]

So, at 77 you would go to the GL with no mf, however no free golf and free massages? I would guess not paying the mf would easily cover the golf and massage fees. Sounds like a winner if I have that right.
Ron

Ron - for us, it is a winner - we do not play golf and I tend to do a massage each week or so - therefore, we will use our Senior Certificates for our 2 weeks and maybe split them into two 1-bedroom weeks and two -Master Suite weeks for a total of 4 FREE weeks in Grand Luxxe. We will be able to just hang out and just enjoy it - we can eat there more than usual too! That is our plan anyway. Hubby turned 70 this week, so we are getting closer.

 

[mikenk]

So, at 77 you would go to the GL with no mf, however no free golf and free massages? I would guess not paying the mf would easily cover the golf and massage fees. Sounds like a winner if I have that right.
Ron

At times we have had 3 or 4 golfers with 10-14 rounds of golf, but even so, unless they really gouge us with high green fees, free MF will be always be better. Makes turning 77 a little easier.

Mike