Wyndham can't/won't add authorized user to my account

[Beeker13]

Wyndham corporate gave me incorrect info on adding a spouse as an authorized user to speak with staff and make timeshare reservations. Wyndham was attempting to coerce me into upgrading my status to lengthen my booking window from 10 months to 13 as well as gain a single, corporate POC for making reservations, at considerable cost, naturally.

I spoke with Erin Gregory at Wyndham's corporate Seattle office. Before considering any upgrade, I said I would not until my wife was added into my record so she can call and discuss travel plans without me being on the phone. Erin said she could not do this, but to call 800-251-8736, Option 3 (Owner Care), tell them I want to add an "authorized user" (to use this specific phrase) and they would address the issue.

I called the number as directed, a general Wyndham number.
- There is no Option 3
- Only way to reach Owner Care is by being transferred there (no way for anyone to contact them directly)
- There is no way to add an authorized user unless specifically a Wyndham Worldmark member (per Calvin who has worked in Owner Care 6 yrs); all others require title change (and $, time and hassle).

I have tried to have my wife added several times over 2+ years and always get the same unsatisfactory result; title change required, at significant cost. I would think something similar to a Power of Attorney letter should suffice--something that can be added or removed at will. But of course it could--it just wouldn't enrich Wyndham.

Needless to say, since I was deceived (to put it mildly), I gave Erin an earful when she called me back and I passed on the upgrade. I have never been pleased with Wyndham's customer "care" since inheriting the timeshare from my parents several years ago. It's always "pay more in order to get equal treatment", never "you are a valued customer since Fairfield days so we will grandfather you into some programs".

 

[Jan M.]

I'm sorry but what Calvin, the Owner Care rep, told you is correct. We've owned for 23 years so since back in the Fairfield days too. Many of us have gone through this process.

Whoever you talked to who said they were corporate, that's Wyndham speak for I'm just another sales person trying to make it sound like I'm not. When anyone tries to get you to buy more points for any reason other than you actually wanting and needing more points, they're sales and not helping you.

LT Transfers can handle adding your wife to the deed. Depending on where you're deeded, the cost will be $250-$350. Then afaik you'll pay Wyndham $399 to do their part.

What you could do for relatively little expense is look here on TUG, eBay, Redweek, etc. for a small point contract someone wants to get rid of. It's possible to find something that the seller will pay the closing cost and transfer fees. Put both you and your wife on it. The smallest amount of points I've ever seen was 28k. You're more likely to find 49k-77k point contracts. Of course then you'll have to deal with using those points in a separate resale point bucket from any developer points you have. If you can find a small Club Wyndham Access point contract, that will have a quicker transfer time since there isn't a deed involved.

 

[Beeker13]

Thanks for the insight and suggestions, Jan! I continue to believe that Wyndham (excuse me--Travel+Leisure) would earn greater returns by having one simple, fair points system with common booking window rather than several convoluted schemes that turns off owners, but I could be wrong.

 

[sue1947]

I spoke with Erin Gregory at Wyndham's corporate Seattle office.

Wyndham doesn't have a corporate Seattle office. They do have sales teams in various locations. That is who you were speaking to. In the past year or so, they have started calling people who have upcoming reservations, especially if those reservations are at places without a sale team. They will tell you they are calling from the corporate offices to make you believe you need to speak with them. They use various numbers so you'll need to block a bunch. They come through on my phone as potential spam. Nothing potential about it.

 

[sue1947]

duplicate

 

[HitchHiker71]

Thanks for the insight and suggestions, Jan! I continue to believe that Wyndham (excuse me--Travel+Leisure) would earn greater returns by having one simple, fair points system with common booking window rather than several convoluted schemes that turns off owners, but I could be wrong.

They already do - its' the SRP window from 2-10 months. There are four windows altogether - regardless of what type of membership you own really - exception being that PR owners (Presidential Reserve) can book up to 14 months out as opposed to everyone else that can book up to 13 months out at their home resort. Those four windows are:

VIP Discount/Upgrade Window - only available to VIP owners - up to 2 months out
Express Reservation Period (ERP) - up to 3 months out out
Standard Reservation Period (SRP) - 2-10 months out
Advanced Reservation Period (ARP) - 10-13 months out

The windows don't vary based upon what you own - so the booking windows are all common regardless of your ownership type. The schemes aren't convoluted IMHO - unless you listen to what the timeshare salespeople tell you. Points are points in the SRP - regardless of what you own for example - that's the common booking window. ARP varies based upon ownership type - CWA is a trust and therefore you can book in the ARP window at any/all resorts within which the CWA trust holds inventory. CWS you can book in the ARP window at your home resort, or via RARP - if entitled - at another named resort or set of resorts. It's the different ownership types that make the system a bit more complex - not the points system itself - the points system is already fair IMHO. That said, oftentimes a centralized "one size fits all" ownership type does not work well in larger systems, different strokes for different folks type thing.

 

[paxsarah]

(60 days and 90 days are actually 2 months and 3 months as well, officially.)

 

[bnoble]

I'm not sure if you are a Worldmark owner, or Club Wyndham. If you are Worldmark, a Permission Addendum might accomplish what you are looking for:

Explore WorldMark by Wyndham's Guidelines & Policies

Get account, resort, and reservation policies for your WorldMark ownership.

worldmark.wyndhamdestinations.com

I do not know of an equivalent mechanism for Club Wyndham.

 

[HitchHiker71]

(60 days and 90 days are actually 2 months and 3 months as well, officially.)

Corrected.

 

[Shiba]

Beeker why don’t you give your wife the password to your online account? She can make reservations without talking to Wyndham and save you a lot of grief. If you travel together there is no need to add her to your Wyndham account.

 

[Sandi Bo]

We did what Jan said (added a small contract with additional owners). Tried your way first, @Beeker13, to no avail (and only frustration). And no regrets here having additional owners on the account - makes it that much easier for other family to use the account, helps with family reunions, lots of pluses.

 

[rickandcindy23]

We did what Jan said (added a small contract with additional owners). Tried your way first, @Beeker13, to no avail (and only frustration). And no regrets here having additional owners on the account - makes it that much easier for other family to use the account, helps with family reunions, lots of pluses.

Yes, because it can be tough to plan others' vacations. I have enough planning of my own to do.

 

[Sandi Bo]

Maybe worth stating... it's also probably not a bad idea to just add a person (or persons) to an existing contract/deed. If someone's ownership suits them as it is today, it probably is better in the long run to just add a person to their deed (therefor account) and be done with it. Nothing messy to clean up down the road. If you have multiple contracts, you only have to do it to one of them.

Some of us (me) may have found it easier instead to purchase an additional small contract and get someone added to our account in that manner.

I've never added someone by updating and existing deed, once i have (and I will shortly, as I'm cleaning things up in our account), I'll have a better opinion,