What are the things you don't like about the new Marriott points program?

[dioxide45]

So what's the difference between waiting for II to get me a week at Frenchman's Cove and being on the DC points wait list?

Nothing really. And I think this is where Marriott is falsely advertising this program. They are selling it as a reservation program, when in reality it is an exchange company, just like II. I haven't seen anywhere other than in the disclosure and procedure documents where they mention the words exchange company.

 

[Superchief]

I recently learned that if you do borrow points from the following year and later cancel the points reservation, those borrowed points must be used in the current year. For example, if I borrow points from 2012 to confirm a reservation in 2011 and later cancel that reservation, those borrowed 2012 points must be used in 2011. I did not see any information regarding this issue in the DC t&C or FAQ, but only learned this from a recent experience.

 

[DanCali]

I recently learned that if you do borrow points from the following year and later cancel the points reservation, those borrowed points must be used in the current year. For example, if I borrow points from 2012 to confirm a reservation in 2011 and later cancel that reservation, those borrowed 2012 points must be used in 2011. I did not see any information regarding this issue in the DC t&C or FAQ, but only learned this from a recent experience.

Interesting... Starwood is definitely not like that (also from experience).

With Starwood you can borrow points from next year (but have to prepay MFs) and combine with current year points to make a reservation. If you cancel, the points go back to their respective use years.

I bought Marriott to diversify Starwood and to get access to the Marriott resorts, I'm liking Starwood more as I read this board...

 

[SueDonJ]

There is a similar restriction on banked Points - they must be used during the Use Year to which they're banked or you forfeit them.

The banking and borrowing stipulations are contained in Sections III. E. and F. on page 4 of the Exchange Procedures document.

***
Nothing to do with the OP but the links I use for the docs are the ones from davidvel's post shortly after the DC was introduced. I haven't seen him around at all and I've been wondering where he's been and hoping he's okay, just like I've been thinking the same about our fearless leader.

 

[siesta]

I recently learned that if you do borrow points from the following year and later cancel the points reservation, those borrowed points must be used in the current year. For example, if I borrow points from 2012 to confirm a reservation in 2011 and later cancel that reservation, those borrowed 2012 points must be used in 2011. I did not see any information regarding this issue in the DC t&C or FAQ, but only learned this from a recent experience.

Wyndham is the same way. Borrowed points that are cancelled return to current use year, not the use year borrowed from.

 

[Eli Mairs]

I recently learned that if you do borrow points from the following year and later cancel the points reservation, those borrowed points must be used in the current year. For example, if I borrow points from 2012 to confirm a reservation in 2011 and later cancel that reservation, those borrowed 2012 points must be used in 2011. I did not see any information regarding this issue in the DC t&C or FAQ, but only learned this from a recent experience.

This is how it works with Disney Vacation Club.
Once points are borrowed, they must be used in the current use year.

 

[dioxide45]

Nothing to do with the OP but the links I use for the docs are the ones from davidvel's post shortly after the DC was introduced. I haven't seen him around at all and I've been wondering where he's been and hoping he's okay, just like I've been thinking the same about our fearless leader.

Looking at Davidvel's profile, it appears he his still around watching, just not posting. Visited today, but hasn't posted since July 2010.

 

[Superchief]

This policy is confusing. So I can cancel my reservation and my remaining current year DC points can be banked for usage in the following year (if done by 6/30), but the points I have borrowed from next year must still be used this year. This just doesn't make sense and is a major flaw in the program.

It is already very difficult to effectively use all of my points in a given year, since 'trust' points can't be combined with enrolled points for an individual nights. I think MVC may make more money from expiring points than they will from the skim.

 

[ocdb8r]

Interesting... Starwood is definitely not like that (also from experience).

With Starwood you can borrow points from next year (but have to prepay MFs) and combine with current year points to make a reservation. If you cancel, the points go back to their respective use years.

I bought Marriott to diversify Starwood and to get access to the Marriott resorts, I'm liking Starwood more as I read this board...

You have to keep in mind though that Starwood points can only be borrowed for reservations within 90 days...whereas DC points can be borrowed 30 months out.

 

[SueDonJ]

This policy is confusing. So I can cancel my reservation and my remaining current year DC points can be banked for usage in the following year (if done by 6/30), but the points I have borrowed from next year must still be used this year. This just doesn't make sense and is a major flaw in the program.

It is already very difficult to effectively use all of my points in a given year, since 'trust' points can't be combined with enrolled points for an individual nights. I think MVC may make more money from expiring points than they will from the skim.

I think that's a built-in with any Points program, that the timeshare company stands to benefit from those owners whose usage doesn't match their Points. But it's no different, really, from the companies benefiting when Weeks owners don't use their ownership. It sounds crazy to all of us TUGgers because we're all in The Game to get as much usage as possible - and then some - out of what we own. But we've all heard stories about folks who don't bother to put any effort at all into it and their weeks just go unused.

 

[wof45]

I think that's a built-in with any Points program, that the timeshare company stands to benefit from those owners whose usage doesn't match their Points. But it's no different, really, from the companies benefiting when Weeks owners don't use their ownership. It sounds crazy to all of us TUGgers because we're all in The Game to get as much usage as possible - and then some - out of what we own. But we've all heard stories about folks who don't bother to put any effort at all into it and their weeks just go unused.

Actually, we used to have an RCI points TS, and we thought RCI points worked really well. never a problem with borrowing or banking, and I loved that you could use way fewer points to get a week during the equivalent of flexchange using points.

Now, what was available for use on RCI, we didn't care much for, but that is a different problem. We tried a 2-day reservation in Las Vegas before a MGC week, and had to drive to Mesquite NV, which was an experience.

 

[KathyPet]

I still think finding inventory to use for DC point members at sold out resorts is the biggest problem Marriott will face. If 100 DC points members request a week at GO during the June July August time frame and only 50 owners there trade in their week for Marriott points or give up their week for a trade to another resort then Marriott only has 50 weeks to give the 100 people who want them. No way around that fact no matter how you slice it up.

 

[wof45]

I still think finding inventory to use for DC point members at sold out resorts is the biggest problem Marriott will face. If 100 DC points members request a week at GO during the June July August time frame and only 50 owners there trade in their week for Marriott points or give up their week for a trade to another resort then Marriott only has 50 weeks to give the 100 people who want them. No way around that fact no matter how you slice it up.

And we are finding no inventory for DC at Frenchman's Cove 12-13 months out. I thought Marriott still owned a lot of inventory at MFC.