Sticky - Give back your unwanted wyndham Timeshare - Wyndham Ovations / Wyndham Cares / Certified Exit

[feliciatd]

On at least two "owners updates" they've explained to me that certified exit is only available to the original owners (i.e., not to those acquired via resale market, etc) . . . and that anything "converted" would also be ineligible.

I also believe (but don't know this to be fact) that Wyndham can pick & choose what timeshare properties they are willing to take back. Given Kingsgate is in an over-developed area in terms of timeshares, I can't imagine them wanting it back as there is probably little market for them to resell it themselves.

I had one of the old fixed weeks there, week #18 in a 3BR lock-off unit . . . and loved it for all the time we had it. But fixed weeks aren't for everyone, and eventually its usefulness to our changing travel interests made it expendable. So we disposed of it here on TUG.

If you haven't already, I'd suggest you call Wyndham directly to get firsthand information from them regarding what you own and your options via certified exit. The phone number I have for them is 866-434-9046.

Thanks. This is helpful info. I'll have to call them and see what the current situation is.

 

[Lsfinn]

Had a call two weeks ago with someone from the certified exit call center. If your Wyndham points are a Shell conversion it is (still) the case that it’s an “all or nothing” deal for contracts associated with Hawai’i Preferred or West Coast Preferred: Wyndham won’t take back individual contracts in either of those two “clubs”.

Also, Shell conversion points are not eligible for Ovations or the equivalent.

So much for Shell conversion points being the same as Wyndham points.

We initiated an outright exit on our Preferred West membership. Expectation is eight weeks, start to finish.

On June 11 my wife and I entered into an agreement with Wyndham to outright-exit our West Coast Preferred (converted Shell) points. We have been expecting contract paperwork and I was just girding myself to call customer care - never a fun process - when I received a call from Wyndham. New rule: now they will no longer take West Coast Preferred or Hawaii Preferred separately: now they will take only >all< shell converted contracts, or none at all. Yes, they acknowledge that they told me otherwise and initiated the process for just the West Coast Preferred club contracts in June. No, they are not bound by that agreement, or any other they may make (presumably until the proverbial ink is dry).

Bottom line: beware the shifting rules of Wyndham's exit program(s).

My wife and I are not yet prepared to dump all our contracts; so, we will be looking to "sell down" our inventory to something that we are more comfortable with.

 

[Catira]

So called today and was told resale contracts not eligible to use the exit program. Apparently they made this change last month. So disappointed we didn’t get the ball rolling sooner.

 

[TUGBrian]

would be the first time ive heard that, id suggest calling again (and alot)! ill send off some emails as well.

hopefully its just an end of the year thing vs permanent like diamond!

 

[Catira]

would be the first time ive heard that, id suggest calling again (and alot)! ill send off some emails as well.

hopefully its just an end of the year thing vs permanent like diamond!

I hope I was informed incorrectly. I had just called in July and had been told we could use the program. We were just waiting to try and use up some points we had transferred to RCI.
Will call again tomorrow and hopefully get someone else on the line.

 

[TUGBrian]

me too, hopefully i can get an official answer from someone at wyndham.

 

[Catira]

me too, hopefully i can get an official answer from someone at wyndham.

Definitely looking forward to see what info you get.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Ugh! I was hoping to deed our Shell back to Wyndham next year. I have a week I booked through Shell/ RCI for a 3 bedroom at Sands of Kahana for Pres week next year. I wanted to get that used before we deed back. I also have a renter for a week in April of next year that I regularly rent to the same woman every year.

I would pay Wyndham to take these points back. Wyndham has taken functionality from the Shell website that I used to count on, like adding names to reservations. The website is not great. I only rent Peacock Suites, and I rent prime weeks to use the points, and I rent for my cost. I make NO money at all on these weeks.

I have to make multiple phone calls to get the guest name changed in the reservation system because of Wyndham. Calls to the front desk to check on renter name result in no change, even when I have the guest name on an email.

I am worried about an October rental. I added the name, have an email, forwarded it to Koala to give to the guest and told them to have their guest take it to the front desk. We will see how that goes, but last year was a disaster for all of my rentals. The "resort" called me to ask why someone else was checking in, not just once.

I called Shell and had to do a three-way call with the front desk, even when the guest name was added. This is baloney.

Deeding back was always the plan. I would think Wyndham would want full control of the membership, especially for free.

 

[Catira]

We are in the process of giving back a resale contract to Wyndham via Outright.

Did you start the process by contacting them via phone or an email?

 

[rickandcindy23]

I hope I was informed incorrectly. I had just called in July and had been told we could use the program. We were just waiting to try and use up some points we had transferred to RCI.
Will call again tomorrow and hopefully get someone else on the line.

What do you own? You can give it away.

 

[rickandcindy23]

On June 11 my wife and I entered into an agreement with Wyndham to outright-exit our West Coast Preferred (converted Shell) points. We have been expecting contract paperwork and I was just girding myself to call customer care - never a fun process - when I received a call from Wyndham. New rule: now they will no longer take West Coast Preferred or Hawaii Preferred separately: now they will take only >all< shell converted contracts, or none at all. Yes, they acknowledge that they told me otherwise and initiated the process for just the West Coast Preferred club contracts in June. No, they are not bound by that agreement, or any other they may make (presumably until the proverbial ink is dry).

Bottom line: beware the shifting rules of Wyndham's exit program(s).

My wife and I are not yet prepared to dump all our contracts; so, we will be looking to "sell down" our inventory to something that we are more comfortable with.

You should simply let it all go. That is the solution. If you still want Shell Hawaii, you can get it free and get free use from an owner who wants out.

 

[Lsfinn]

Deeding back was always the plan. I would think Wyndham would want full control of the membership, especially for free.

Here's how I see the basic "outright-exit" calculation. Wyndham finds itself able to sell points at a certain rate, which is not limited by inventory. In that case they want enough inventory to always be able to fulfill the (fixed) demand. Any excess inventory via deed-back from existing owners reduces their profit margin by the MF cost that would otherwise be shouldered by the existing holders. Shifting "rules" for outright exit are their way of controlling their inventory.

Now, a separate question is why different rules for converted Shell points vs. original developer points, or for resale points vs. original developer points. That's more puzzling to me: Is it in some way a deliberate effort to discourage the resale market? My instinct is no: it's too subtle to have a significant influence on that market. Is it tied-up in aspects of real estate law and/or how former/converted Shell points are tied to property? I don't know enough about that law to begin to make a guess. Is it an attempt to "encourage" former Shell owners - converted or not - to turn over all their inventory to Wyndham so that Wyndham has a large enough share to do what it wants with those properties? I don't know that they can't now, or what that "something" might be, or that it is realistic to assume that this will accelerate their acquisition of Shell points in any meaningful way (that is worth the effort).

So, while I have what I believe a plausible hypothesis for the shifting rules of outright-exit, I don't have a plausible hypothesis for the reasons that W distinguishes their developer points from converted Shell points from unconverted Shell points from resale points.

Anyone else care to share their thoughts on these questions?

 

[Lsfinn]

You should simply let it all go. That is the solution. If you still want Shell Hawaii, you can get it free and get free use from an owner who wants out.

That's a good idea!

 

[TUGBrian]

will wait to hear from someone at wyndham before jumping to any conclusions, fingers crossed its just the fact that its September and they have already accepted back their limit of ownerships for the year etc.

 

[paxsarah]

So called today and was told resale contracts not eligible to use the exit program. Apparently they made this change last month. So disappointed we didn’t get the ball rolling sooner.

I wonder if this is something @HitchHiker71 can check on with his contacts.

 

[littlestar]

Did you start the process by contacting them via phone or an email?

I started the process by calling them.

 

[HitchHiker71]

I wonder if this is something @HitchHiker71 can check on with his contacts.

I can reach out tomorrow for validation. More to come soon.


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[HitchHiker71]

So called today and was told resale contracts not eligible to use the exit program. Apparently they made this change last month. So disappointed we didn’t get the ball rolling sooner.

What specifically do you own contract-wise? I am wondering if this was a training issue and the rep saw that your contract didn’t qualify and just assumed it was because it was a resale contract. CE doesn’t take back all contract types from all resorts - whether resale or developer doesn’t matter - hence my question.


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[Catira]

What specifically do you own contract-wise? I am wondering if this was a training issue and the rep saw that your contract didn’t qualify and just assumed it was because it was a resale contract. CE doesn’t take back all contract types from all resorts - whether resale or developer doesn’t matter - hence my question.


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Hi.. I found it a bit confusing because I had actually called 12/23 then 07/24 and both times was told it qualified after giving the Wyndham rep my contract # as well as personal info. We have palm aire deed that was converted week and now has 175k points. That’s how we purchased it via resale.

 

[Roger830]

Hi.. I found it a bit confusing because I had actually called 12/23 then 07/24 and both times was told it qualified after giving the Wyndham rep my contract # as well as personal info. We have palm aire deed that was converted week and now has 175k points. That’s how we purchased it via resale.

According to to points chart, 175,000 points is a 2-bed prime week in Royal Palm or Queen Palm.

I have never stayed there, but it's my understanding that those are the less desirable buildings outside of the main resort.

Perhaps they currently don't want units in those buildings.

 

[HitchHiker71]

Hi.. I found it a bit confusing because I had actually called 12/23 then 07/24 and both times was told it qualified after giving the Wyndham rep my contract # as well as personal info. We have palm aire deed that was converted week and now has 175k points. That’s how we purchased it via resale.

I recommend contacting CE again (make sure you're only calling the CE hotline - not anywhere else), and asking the question again, and specifically make mention that you were told twice previously that this contract qualified, and would like an explanation as to why your contract no longer qualifies. Please let us know what you are told either way.

 

[Catira]

I recommend contacting CE again (make sure you're only calling the CE hotline - not anywhere else), and asking the question again, and specifically make mention that you were told twice previously that this contract qualified, and would like an explanation as to why your contract no longer qualifies. Please let us know what you are told either way.

I called 1-855-312-9040 is that the direct CE line?

 

[HitchHiker71]

I called 1-855-312-9040 is that the direct CE line?

Yep that's the correct number. Here's the CE webpage for future reference:

Certified Exit – backed by Wyndham™

Certified Exit – backed by Wyndham™ is your trusted source for your ownership options.

clubwyndham.wyndhamdestinations.com

 

[Catira]

Yep that's the correct number. Here's the CE webpage for future reference:

Certified Exit – backed by Wyndham™

Certified Exit – backed by Wyndham™ is your trusted source for your ownership options.

clubwyndham.wyndhamdestinations.com

Thank you.. will try again this week.

 

[Catira]

Called again today.. was informed they are not taking Converted week contracts at this time. To try again at a later date.