VIP Question

[joestein]

I haven't been a Wyndham owner since COVID... but I had some questions based upon a facebook conversation and thought that maybe somebody could chime in.

Wyndham has changed VIP benefits in the past. I specifically remember that they changed unlimited guest certs for VIP members. I also remember that VIP can be changed at any time at Wyndham's discretion.

Am I remembering incorrectly?

 

[HitchHiker71]

I haven't been a Wyndham owner since COVID... but I had some questions based upon a facebook conversation and thought that maybe somebody could chime in.

Wyndham has changed VIP benefits in the past. I specifically remember that they changed unlimited guest certs for VIP members. I also remember that VIP can be changed at any time at Wyndham's discretion.

Am I remembering incorrectly?

Yes - you're remembering correctly - though not regarding unlimited GCs - it was HKs. VIP is subject to change at Wyndham's discretion - up to and including eliminating the entire VIP program itself worst case. You're also correct that only grandfathered VIP owners still have unlimited HKs - not GCs though - the current VIP tiers have a certain number of HKs assigned as opposed to unlimited - same with GCs - though at least when I became a VIP in 2018 - there were no tiers that offered unlimited GCs - though this may have been the case with prior VIP tiers - I think the program last changed in 2012 prior to the changes that were made in the 2020/21 timeframe IIRC:

 

[Sandy VDH]

We did have unlimited GC but that was over 10 or more years ago now.

VIPP GCs went from unlimited, to 30, to 15, and now with penalty is you happen to use them.

 

[joestein]

Yes - you're remembering correctly - though not regarding unlimited GCs - it was HKs. VIP is subject to change at Wyndham's discretion - up to and including eliminating the entire VIP program itself worst case. You're also correct that only grandfathered VIP owners still have unlimited HKs - not GCs though - the current VIP tiers have a certain number of HKs assigned as opposed to unlimited - same with GCs - though at least when I became a VIP in 2018 - there were no tiers that offered unlimited GCs - though this may have been the case with prior VIP tiers - I think the program last changed in 2012 prior to the changes that were made in the 2020/21 timeframe IIRC:

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I posted what I said above on a Wyndham Deceived Owners facebook page. Apparently, the page admin said that they can't change bennies and I said that is wrong, they changed them in the past and that they can be changed at any time. The admin then said that if I disagreed with her again that I will be banned or my posting privileges suspended. I dropped the page, but if I was wrong, I would correct myself.

Actually, the page admin constantly make statements that are wrong - I guess I corrected her a couple of times and she doesn;t like that.

She also said that if you just stop paying the loan/maintenance and then send a cease-and-desist letter to whoever is trying to collect, you don't owe it anymore, which is 100% ridiculous - especially as this person claims to be a paralegal.

 

[paxsarah]

We did have unlimited GC but that was over 10 or more years ago now.

I just looked it up because it changed before my time (15 years) but I remember people talking about it - it changed in 2007(!).

 

[Jan M.]

I posted what I said above on a Wyndham Deceived Owners facebook page. Apparently, the page admin said that they can't change bennies and I said that is wrong, they changed them in the past and that they can be changed at any time. The admin then said that if I disagreed with her again that I will be banned or my posting privileges suspended. I dropped the page, but if I was wrong, I would correct myself.

Actually, the page admin constantly make statements that are wrong - I guess I corrected her a couple of times and she doesn;t like that.

She also said that if you just stop paying the loan/maintenance and then send a cease-and-desist letter to whoever is trying to collect, you don't owe it anymore, which is 100% ridiculous - especially as this person claims to be a paralegal.

From what I've gathered, defaulting on your loan does impact your credit score and history which in turn impacts your ability to borrow, get a mortgage, and the rates you'll be offered. However, it seems like explaining that it was a timeshare loan is taken into consideration. Also that not being late on any other payments, perhaps paying credit cards in full every month too, helps bring your credit score back up. And faster than most people seem to think. However, apparently defaulting on your maintenance fees has little to no consequences.

Anyone who paid attention and has owned prior to November 10, 2020, November 1, 2012, or longer, and was VIP, knows that Wyndham can and has changed the VIP benefits and eligibility levels. The dates I listed are specifically mentioned in the Directory under Eligibility Requirements!

I really want to check out that Facebook group to see what other misinformation that admin is posting.

 

[Floridaman76]

The bigger thing is newer VIP's don't get unlimited housekeeping.

 

[HitchHiker71]

I just looked it up because it changed before my time (15 years) but I remember people talking about it - it changed in 2007(!).

Wow, I figured it was 2012 when the legacy VIP program was implemented - but it goes all the way back to 2007! How time flies right?

 

[joestein]

I posted what I said above on a Wyndham Deceived Owners facebook page. Apparently the page admin said that they can't change bennies and I said that is wrong, they changed them in the past and that they can be changed at any time. The admin then said that if I disagreed with her again that I will be banned or my posting privileges suspended. I dropped the page, but if I was wrong, I would correct myself

From what I've gathered, defaulting on your loan does impact your credit score and history which in turn impacts your ability to borrow, get a mortgage, and the rates you'll be offered. However, it seems like explaining that it was a timeshare loan is taken into consideration. Also that not being late on any other payments, perhaps paying credit cards in full every month too, helps bring your credit score back up. And faster than most people seem to think. However, apparently defaulting on your maintenance fees has little to no consequences.

Anyone who paid attention and has owned prior to November 10, 2020, November 1, 2012, or longer, and was VIP, knows that Wyndham can and has changed the VIP benefits and eligibility levels. The dates I listed are specifically mentioned in the Directory under Eligibility Requirements!

I really want to check out that Facebook group to see what other misinformation that admin is posting.

It is called Wyndham Club Deceived Owners

 

[joestein]

Other people have jumped in to say she is wrong. She is clarifying that they only change for new VIPs. Older VIP retain all their bennies. Is this true? I was never VIP - I only bought resale.

 

[HitchHiker71]

Other people have jumped in to say she is wrong. She is clarifying that they only change for new VIPs. Older VIP retain all their bennies. Is this true? I was never VIP - I only bought resale.

If by new VIPs you mean they do not have unlimited HKs any longer then yes that is correct. Grandfathered or legacy VIP owners retain their original entitlements as long as they are grandfathered - which technically is also subject to change by Wyndham at their sole discretion.


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[Jan M.]

Other people have jumped in to say she is wrong. She is clarifying that they only change for new VIPs. Older VIP retain all their bennies. Is this true? I was never VIP - I only bought resale.

There are several things that have been changed over the years. However I'm not sure if they were VIP benefits. Unlimited guest confirmations, transferring points to another owner, more than just two PIC weeks.

We've owned for 23 years and thanks to getting bonus points on our second purchase the following year we've been VIP since then. Those changes I mentioned didn't even register with me because they didn't impact our usage. When I eventually found TUG, I started paying attention to things.

A more recent change a few years ago was a change in how they were going to calculate the number of free guest confirmations for VIP owners. We were getting 30 and after that we only got 20. Not a problem but I've learned to pay attention. Unlimited free reservation transactions was once a VIP benefit. Giving free reservation transactions to all owners was seen as a loss of a benefit for VIP owners.

Any VIP benefit, added or taken away, is completely at Wyndham's discretion. I thought that was common knowledge!

When the VIP level point requirements changed, which has happened several times in the years we've owned, it's only good business to grandfather current VIP owners. Not doing so would raise questions and devalue the program.

I checked out that Facebook group. It took me less than 5 minutes to unsubscribe to it. Lol

 

[am1]

The need for guest certificates was invented many years ago. Before there was no cost. I remember that change as that is when I started focusing on 3 and 4 bedroom units to offset the $99.

Most people are uninformed but the the worst is when people will not accept it.