SVN Membership

[foxen]

I just bought a voluntary unit resale, so my understanding I cannot participate in the Starwood Vacation Network to trade with Staroptions. I asked for a Star Central account to be created with Starwood and see that I have a bill for my maintenance fees and a 'membership fee' for $109 which Starwood says is for my membership in SVN.

If this fee is correct, what do I get for my $109. If it is a mistake, will I be able to trade with Staroptions if I pay the fee and how can I tell if this feature is active?

 

[Ken555]

Several years ago, that's what they did when I purchased my first timeshare. Two years later I finally got them to admit they made a mistake, but instead of refunding the SVN fees they simply let me stay in the program with StarOptions. Since that time, we're read reports from others here that they show up with the fee, but remove it after realizing it's a voluntary resort.

 

[James1975NY]

That is really interesting. What do the reps say on the phone when you try to make a reservations using StarOptions?

 

[foxen]

That is really interesting. What do the reps say on the phone when you try to make a reservations using StarOptions?

I haven't tried calling because I already had a week reserved. I'm tempted to cancel the reservation and call to see what happens. Is there a page on Star Central to see StarOption info?

 

[DeniseM]

At the top of the board, in Owner Resources, there is a link to the Star Option chart, (it's a pdf download) but not to actual resort availability. Unfortunately, Starwood doesn't provide that info. anywhere, you have to call.

A recent poster had the same experience as you and when he called to make a Star Option exchange, Starwood told him it was a mistake. I would NOT cancel your reservation. If you cancel it, and then they find the mistake, you may not be able to make the home resort reservation again, because someone else may reserve it.

I would, however, call and ask them to take the SVN fee off your bill.

 

[Transit]

On my maint fee bill next to the 109 svn fee it states (if applicable).

 

[mariawolf]

If you never intend to trade do you have to pay this??

 

[aeroflygirl]

I wonder what happens if you pay it and later call to make a reservation using StarOptions. If they charged you for the membership and you paid for it, does that constitute a contract? Does it make you a member???

 

[DavidnRobin]

If you never intend to trade do you have to pay this??

If you own a SVN Mandatory resort - you have to pay the SVN fee (thus the term 'Mandatory')

 

[clsmit]

I haven't tried calling because I already had a week reserved. I'm tempted to cancel the reservation and call to see what happens. Is there a page on Star Central to see StarOption info?

To see what Options you might have, log in to MyStarCentral, click on Your Information, then What I Own, Then View the Details of This Ownership Week. If there's a section that has Weekly StarOptions Value with something below it you have options. If that section ends with a row of data starting with Home Season, Ownership Type, Exchange Co, and Reservation System, then you don't have Options.

To double check, click on Account Balances. If you only have your StarPoints
balance come up (provided your SPG account is linked to your MSC account) then you do not have options. If you get a section on Total Available Star Options, then you do have options.

This is hard without pictures, but hopefully you can follow along! Let us know what you see!

 

[foxen]

To see what Options you might have, log in to MyStarCentral, click on Your Information, then What I Own, Then View the Details of This Ownership Week. If there's a section that has Weekly StarOptions Value with something below it you have options. If that section ends with a row of data starting with Home Season, Ownership Type, Exchange Co, and Reservation System, then you don't have Options.

To double check, click on Account Balances. If you only have your StarPoints
balance come up (provided your SPG account is linked to your MSC account) then you do not have options. If you get a section on Total Available Star Options, then you do have options.

This is hard without pictures, but hopefully you can follow along! Let us know what you see!

Thanks. You're instructions were clear and based on your guidance I don't have Staroptions. However, to doublecheck I emailed Starwood and asked how many Staroptions I get if I pay this $109 fee. They responded saying I will get 37,000. I'm not sure where this number comes from since it doesn't relate to the 81k I should get for this week if I were truly a member.

 

[LisaRex]

I wonder if they were talking about 37,000 StarPOINTS.

 

[grgs]

They responded saying I will get 37,000. I'm not sure where this number comes from since it doesn't relate to the 81k I should get for this week if I were truly a member.

What resort did you buy, and what is the unit number/deeded week?

That may help clarify things.

Glorian