The Old Interval Switch-a-Roo

[DeniseM]

I have an exchange request in for Kauai for 2021. A few days ago, a phone Rep. called me and asked me if I wanted to add more resorts to my request. I told her no, but I know they are sneaky, so I checked my Acct. and sure enough, she had added another resort to my request. I immediately removed the resort they added. But low and behold, yesterday, a confirmed exchange showed up for the resort that I removed! Keep an eye on your exchange company requests, folks!

 

[melissy123]

Unbelievable...

 

[pedro47]

Is that legal to play Switch- A -Roo?

 

[PamMo]

That's good to know, Denise. It would never occur to me that they would do that. I would be so p*$$3d if that happened to me! Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Panina]

I would contact the tug liaison. I believe the rep didn’t listen to you or did it on purpose. Wonder if they get a bonus for getting you to expand your search or take an alternative. It should be reported.

 

[tschwa2]

Funny thing is when you wrote this, this morning I saw it and thought, hmm rci never did that to me but Interval has done it a few times.

 

[CPNY]

I have an exchange request in for Kauai for 2021. A few days ago, a phone Rep. called me and asked me if I wanted to add more resorts to my request. I told her no, but I know they are sneaky, so I checked my Acct. and sure enough, she had added another resort to my request. I immediately removed the resort they added. But low and behold, yesterday, a confirmed exchange showed up for the resort that I removed! Keep an eye on your exchange company requests, folks!

I’m sure you have this, but just Incase. Email here and inquire.

tugmembers@intervalintl.com

 

[stevio99]

rci never did that to me

But RCI almost always gives you the worst room in the house.

Anyways, might be prudent to call interval and tell them you no longer give them permission to contact you. I never gave them permission, and suprisingly they've obeyed this.

 

[bnoble]

But RCI almost always gives you the worst room in the house.

You realize that that is the resort’s decision, right?

(As someone who has exchanged more often than not I think it is more than appropriate to give owners preference in room assignments, etc. even though it’s not necessarily better for *me*.)

 

[chalee94]

Yeah, if they "recorded the call for customer service purposes," I would call them and ask a supervisor to replay that call for you...

(But I'm in the group that won't take calls from Interval at all...)

 

[Jan M.]

You realize that that is the resort’s decision, right?

(As someone who has exchanged more often than not I think it is more than appropriate to give owners preference in room assignments, etc. even though it’s not necessarily better for *me*.)

With RCI I typically call them and ask for the unit number on my reservation. Some reps will give you a song and dance about giving you that information, saying room assignment isn't guaranteed. I tell them I'm well aware of that and will be calling the resort next to ask what their policy is. Some resorts do assign the units but with others they don't so you will be in that unit. When that's the case you better make sure you're happy with that unit location because you won't get a different unit. I do this right away while I can still cancel with no penalty if i know we won't be happy with that unit. The resorts absolutely do put you in the unit you booked have always been very appreciative of me calling because they frequently deal with people throwing a fit about being in the unit they booked.

I learned the hard way to contact the resorts after a very unpleasant experience at the Los Olas Beach Club in Cocoa Beach, FL. I had contacted RCI and was told what unit I booked. I looked on the report's website and saw that it was an oceanfront unit and wrongly assumed that if they couldn't put us in that specific unit that we would be in another oceanfront unit or at least one with some view. When we checked in we didn't have any view and our unit reeked of mold from a fouled AC system. We didn't know that was what was causing the smell for the first few days because it was nice enough to have the doors and windows open. We thought the smell was coming from the furniture so called down and they brought us up some spray. The head of maintenance claimed he couldn't smell anything. Talk about nose blind! He condescendingly went on to say that in Florida things get a little funky smelling when they're closed up. We live in Florida and know the difference between when a place has been closed up and AC temp turned up when you're away and the musty stink when there's mold. We begged and pleaded for a different unit but because we hadn't been happy to find out we weren't getting the oceanfront unit we thought we were going to get they weren't receptive to doing anything to help. They claimed not to have another open unit in the entire resort which we knew was likely a lie. I later learned that I should have called RCI and had them find us something at another resort in the area.

I used the spray to saturate fabric on the living room furniture. Even removing the cushions so I could spray all the sides and edges. I propped them up to dry and afterward covered the sofa, loveseat and chair with sheets so our skin wasn't coming in contact with the fabric of the furniture and also to help block the remaining smell. A few days later it got really warm so we closed up and turned on the AC for the first time. The smell was horrible and my husband yelled for me to get out on the balcony because I have asthma. He shut the AC off, opened all the doors and windows and turned on all the ceiling fans before heading downstairs to talk to them. He very nicely explained that he dealt with things like this for a living and how dangerous a health issue it's considered. He went on to say that if his company insured them he would deny them their state operating certificate until they had the system and ducts professionally cleaned and all the furniture, carpeting, mattresses, bedding and drapes replaced. Yes it truly is that serious when it's that bad. They resort manager and head of maintenance completely blew him off. We both ended up sick enough from several days of being exposed to have to see our doctor and be put on antibiotics after we told him why we were sick. It's the only time I've ever considered contacting an attorney and a State health inspector. I'm still sorry we didn't.

 

[DeniseM]

Funny thing is when you wrote this, this morning I saw it and thought, hmm rci never did that to me but Interval has done it a few times.

I DID write RCI first - I was working with an RCI request and a II request yesterday, and I had a brain fart!