Starwood Has Won [Unilateral II Changes] [merged]

[WINSLOW]

We originally had a Sheraton Vistana Resort week not in SVN, it was in my II account with my Marriotts. Vistana did the refurbishing thing and we were asked to join SVN, which we did. We were given a new II account number for just SVN.

My original II (Marriott) account still has the Vistana week in it for all 3 years (2009,2010,2011) and I am able to search like always. I never bothered to search with new II (SVN) account, just when we first received it to see if it pulled the same as the other II account, and it did.

After reading this thread I went on to the SVN II account and got this message:

"Your membership file does not indicate eligibility to place an exchange request as of todays date please review your relinquishment/deposit history. Please contact our Membership Services Department if your membership file requires revision."

Then NOTHING - no units, no history, nothing.

Is this the same message other SVN members are getting?


The other account still lets me search although if I did an exchange on it I don't know if it would go thru.

 

[barndweller]

I'm with you on this, Angela.

I posted exactly what I was told by Starwood. I did not post speculation or rumor or wild guesses. I know for a fact what changes have been done to my Interval account. These changes are imposing limits on how I can use my timeshares to search or exchange that are hindering my freedom to plan beyond 12 months from today. Whether it is Starwood or II that have made these changes I really don't know. What I do know is that it was done with no warning and no explaination. I can no longer deposit or exchange my reserved time at my Sheraton managed resorts freely but am forced to use Starwood as a conduit. This is a new restriction that puts me at their mercy. I do not see why I should patiently sit and wait to see what other "improvements" they have in mind for me. They haven't felt the need to inform me about any of this so far and I have had to spend my time trying to figure out what the hell is going on.

 

[jerseygirl]

... JerseyGirl, what are you seeing in your account?

My units are all gone too ... but I'm giving it another week or so until I flip out! All this information is helpful ... and interesting .... but, in my opinion, there's no way Starwood can restrict us to the deeded weeks only ... the CCRs permit us to book and use any week within our float period.

I haven't made all my 2010 reservations yet ... I'll try to get around to calling today and then see what they tell me.

 

[ArtsieAng]

barndweller

I posted exactly what I was told by Starwood. I did not post speculation or rumor or wild guesses.

Yeah, me too.....Unfortunately, that doesn't make it correct. That's why Starwood needs to come forward with any changes to us owners.

jerseygirl

My units are all gone too ... but I'm giving it another week or so until I flip out! All this information is helpful ... and interesting .... but, in my opinion, there's no way Starwood can restrict us to the deeded weeks only ... the CCRs permit us to book and use any week within our float period.

I agree with you.....Out of everything that I was told, I too found that the most difficult to believe. I was wondering, if you did not buy directly from Starwood, would there be a way for them to enforce such a policy on your weeks?

My guess is that the person that I spoke with gave me misinformation.

 

[CeeWoo]

We originally had a Sheraton Vistana Resort week not in SVN, it was in my II account with my Marriotts. Vistana did the refurbishing thing and we were asked to join SVN, which we did. We were given a new II account number for just SVN.

My original II (Marriott) account still has the Vistana week in it for all 3 years (2009,2010,2011) and I am able to search like always. I never bothered to search with new II (SVN) account, just when we first received it to see if it pulled the same as the other II account, and it did.

Been a while since I've looked, but since I saw your post I decided to check (I'm in the same status as you-bought Vistana and joined SVN after the remodel). My II acct for SVN still allows me to search using my 2009 year (which I used for a trip to VV a few months ago). I'm seeing availability in Hawaii that looks interesting

 

[Pit]

These changes are being implemented by II, most likely at the behest of Starwood. Changing the implementation of the II web site requires access to the source code, which II controls.

What Starwood and II cannot do is alter your usage rights. Read your CCRs, so you understand your legal rights. At SDO, for example, you have the right to reserve any week in your float period and use that week or allow others to use it (rent, exchange). As a non-SVN owner, you do not have the right to use or deposit any week, other than the one you reserve. You do not have the right to use or deposit your deeded week, unless you can first reserve it (i.e. it may not be available).

You are free to deposit your reserved week with any exchange company that will accept it, use it yourself, or simply rent it out.

You paid for it. You pay the maintenance, insurance, and taxes. Your name is on the deed. You own it. Neither II nor Starwood can tread on your legal rights. The CCRs were submitted in writing by the developer and approved (in the case of SDO) by the State of Arizona.

 

[Fcast]

Message on II

"Your membership file does not indicate eligibility to place an exchange request as of todays date please review your relinquishment/deposit history. Please contact our Membership Services Department if your membership file requires revision."

This message was posted on my account when I went to look at my unit. II has indicated that it is a system error due to a change in the system and to give it a few hours and I should be able to see my unit. Note: my 2010 SDO was showing last week.

I am not sure if you are all seeing the same thing or something else.

 

[calgarygary]

Been a while since I've looked, but since I saw your post I decided to check (I'm in the same status as you-bought Vistana and joined SVN after the remodel). My II acct for SVN still allows me to search using my 2009 year (which I used for a trip to VV a few months ago). I'm seeing availability in Hawaii that looks interesting

Are you able to search more than one year out? I can only see 1 year with my SVV but with my II deposited week, I can see 2 years out.

 

[SDKath]

As my DH says in his computer talk, this whole situation is a huge "clusterf*&%." I just logged on and even though I see my 2010 fixed week Falls, when I click on deposit it gives me an error message:

"Please enter a valid reservation number" even though there is nowhere to enter the ressie number anywhere on either screen.

When I try to exchange my unit and do a search, it logs me out!!!!

Katherine

 

[calgarygary]

As my DH says in his computer talk, this whole situation is a huge "clusterf*&%." I just logged on and even though I see my 2010 fixed week Falls, when I click on deposit it gives me an error message:

"Please enter a valid reservation number" even though there is nowhere to enter the ressie number anywhere on either screen.

When I try to exchange my unit and do a search, it logs me out!!!!

Katherine

Maybe our resident *wood lurker is working with II to punish you.

 

[Joshadelic]

Who did you send the email to?

I sent it through the messaging system at mystarcentral. My experience says that the $7.00/hour person will read it and attempt a response. Then I'll have to write back and ask for the $10/hour person to attempt (and probably fail) to give me any more information. Then, by the time the $15/hour person sends me their version of what they've been told to say to people when they really have no real answers, I've probably reached the point of boredom with the whole thing. That's how they've been getting away with this crap...at least with me. Shame on me for not having more conviction of follow-through to make these people live up to their promises and just in general act like people who are sincerely interested in their customers wants/needs. On the other hand, why is it up to me to MAKE these things happen. Starwood should be more proactive...and like was said many times before...

HINT, HINT...STARWOOD - READ THIS PART!!!

STARWOOD SHOULD HAVE ACTIVE REPRESENTATION ON THIS BOARD!! AN EMPLOYEE WHO ACTUALLY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ANSWER THE SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT WE AS OWNERS HAVE - AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM. THEIR LACK OF REPRESENTATION HERE ONLY MAKES THINGS WORSE FOR EVERYONE. IF THEY COULD TAKE THAT $15/HOUR PERSON AND ASSIGN THEM TO MONITOR THIS BOARD, THEY COULD SAVE THEMSELVES A LOT OF FUTURE PROBLEMS. I PERSONALLY KNOW PEOPLE WHO WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A JOB LIKE THAT. IT'S OBVIOUSLY STARWOOD'S UNWILLINGNESS TO FACE THEIR CUSTOMERS IN A TRANSPARENT MANNER THAT IS CAUSING IT NOT TO HAPPEN. WHAT A SHAME.

 

[barndweller]

Just had an interesting phone call.....first I've had since my initial Sheraton Desert Oasis re-sale purchase 4 years ago. (When I got a sales call immediately after SDO got the paperwork.)

Polite gentleman gave his name(which I failed to note) and asked if I would like to sell my timeshare. I asked what timeshare & he replied your Starwood timeshare. I said no and he said okay, goodbye.

Maybe Starwood sales guys are getting lists of disgruntled owners who have called Starwood recently. Do ya think?

 

[James1975NY]

Just had an interesting phone call.....first I've had since my initial Sheraton Desert Oasis re-sale purchase 4 years ago. (When I got a sales call immediately after SDO got the paperwork.)

Polite gentleman gave his name(which I failed to note) and asked if I would like to sell my timeshare. I asked what timeshare & he replied your Starwood timeshare. I said no and he said okay, goodbye.

Maybe Starwood sales guys are getting lists of disgruntled owners who have called Starwood recently. Do ya think?

I am confident that this is completely unrelated.

 

[barndweller]

I am confident that this is completely unrelated.

Okay, James. I think I get it. Curious about my unlisted phone number, though.

 

[Ken555]

Okay, James. I think I get it. Curious about my unlisted phone number, though.

It's on the public documents of your ownership. I get those calls in waves, and haven't received any since earlier this year. It's always a "very important call" which I "must" return "as soon as possible".

 

[CeeWoo]

Are you able to search more than one year out? I can only see 1 year with my SVV but with my II deposited week, I can see 2 years out.

Good catch. This morning, yes I was able to see 2 yrs out (in fact I wrote down a couple). Now only 1 year out. So obviously (as has been suspected), they're still making changes

Is it safe to assume that if I actually did deposit my week, I'd be able to see further out? (seems logical, but I'm not about to start making assumptions where Starwood is concerned)

 

[bogeygolf]

I'm an non-SVN owner who own a 2bd platinum floating summer week at SBP deeded week 30. I just got off the phone with Nick at starwood in resolution services, perhaps the same person barndweller spoke with earlier. After speaking with him and getting an explanation of how the new process works it makes sense to me (although I am not happy about it!) and answers some of the questions from tuggers on this thread.

Here are the detail summary of what I got from him:

- Deposit first is no longer an option with the new process.
- If you want to exchange, you call starwood and they assign a code to be used with II to trading. The code is determined by your resort, season, and type of unit you own. For my SBP it is "ST2". This process is really the same process as request first however your assigned this code as your trade vs. a specific week that you would normally trade with(ie marriott).
II uses my code "ST2" to determine the trading power and ongoing-search is placed on my behalf. If I was using this request for year 2010 as trade, this request would be good for use with II until June 30, 2012, approx. 2 years from the year of usage that you are trading.

Questions I asked:

My deed is week 30 and my season at SBP floats 9-43, 47, if another owner who's deed is week 9 with same size unit, does he have same code as me?
Answer: Yes.

Why do I no longer have capability to do deposit first?
Answer: I'm sorry but that is how the new system works and we try to make it smoother for all owners. No real explanation here.

Why can't I reserve the week I want and exchange that week:
Answer: You can reserve the week you want to use to stay at your home resort, for exchanges you will have to go through starwood and we will assign the code for you trade with II.


My analysis/conclusion:

The reasons why all the tuggers cannot see their 2010 weeks anymore is b/c they have removed our ability to do deposit first with II and exchanging with a specific week. That's why you cannot see your 2010 weeks.

With regards to trading with an assigned code, this give starwood the ability to control what week they release to II when a exchange is fulfilled.
Thus you lose also the ability to reserve a specific week ( ie 4th of july) for trading.

THIS REALLY SUCKS!!!

Do we have any legal grounds to fight this?

 

[Ken555]

Do we have any legal grounds to fight this?

I'm not an attorney and I haven't read the details on the ownership deeds I have, but I suspect that these actions by SVN may not hold up.

I only have fixed non-SVN weeks, so this thread really doesn't yet apply to me. Given that II is supposed to be an independent exchange company, your rights to use your ownership should be identical regardless of exchange company. So... if you can still (or have the right to) reserve the week you want and exchange via SFX, for example, then I cannot easily see how SVN can restrict similar action when using II.

That said, we won't get anywhere until we see something in writing. Unfortunately, it seems SVN may not put this in writing. Imagine that.

It certainly does appear that SVN is acting very high-handed in their approach. Personally, I'm disturbed by reading here that the bulk deposits will end - I really like seeing those.

 

[lily28]

what will happen to the new year 2009 week I have already reserved but haven't deposit in II yet? does the new rule apply if I deposit it next month?

 

[pacman]

I just bought SDO (not all processed yet), and have not used II to trade yet, so am not completely familiar with the whole process. Assuming that this "new & improved" system sticks, how does the 3 day Starwood priority fit in all this? When you "request first" does that mean that I cannot do my own searches in II? Will I still be able to see availability at other Starwood properties if I "request first"?

thanks
pacman

 

[pacman]

- If you want to exchange, you call starwood and they assign a code to be used with II to trading. The code is determined by your resort, season, and type of unit you own.

So with a 1-52 floating week (ie SDO), how are they going to determine the code, which determines the trading power? Does everyone with a floating week get the same code?

pacman

 

[DeniseM]

So with a 1-52 floating week (ie SDO), how are they going to determine the code, which determines the trading power? Does everyone with a floating week get the same code?

pacman

In an earlier post, someone said it would be based on the week on your deed.

 

[DeniseM]

- Deposit first is no longer an option with the new process.

So how do you do an instant online exchange?

 

[vacationtime1]

So with a 1-52 floating week (ie SDO), how are they going to determine the code, which determines the trading power? Does everyone with a floating week get the same code?

If this is correct, all SDO exchangers will have the trading power of a summer desert week and Starwood will be able to rent out "unused" winter weeks at a nice profit. Sort of what RCI is accused of doing.

I'm not going to be that pessimistic at the outset -- I'll try it for a year -- but if that is the case, it will be time to try SFX or to sell my non-SVN traders.

 

[DeniseM]

I how does the 3 day Starwood priority fit in all this?

The Starwood 3-day priority is still in place at this time (based on sightings this week) and it has always applied to on-going requests, so I see no reason why that should change.