DVC OWNER NO REFUND

[DKILLIAN]

What do I do? I paid over $5000 for a DVC Rental for March 2020 which was cancelled due to Corona Virus. DVC Owner asked for me to give her 3 new dates in which I did.
She informed me that I cannot get these dates. I cannot go any other dates because my family will not be in US. I have a son who is being deployed overseas. She said that she would
give me a refund since Disney gave her back full refund. It has been 4 months and nothing! No reply to my emails - nothing. This DVC owner also works for Disney in sales - wow...
I understand that these rentals are non-refundable but this is a unique circumstance in which Disney returned all POINTS & MONEY to DVC owners. I see that all others are doing the
right thing and returning money or booking new reservation. What are my options besides eating the $5000. I still would like to take my family if I can get my money back!

Thanks so much!!!

 

[Chuck S]

I'm not sure that there is a lot you can do at this point. Do you have the owners phone number, and have you called? Do you have her physical address, and have you sent a letter? If you continue to get no response. and you have the all you communication in writing, including the promise to pay you back, you may ask a lawyer about the situation. Another question was did the owner say they would refund, or did they say they would refund IF they could find another renter to take the points. You may need to try filing in small claims court. Did you rent through a broker? Is it possible the owner has become ill, given the current pandemic, and incapacitated? Is the owner here in the US, or do they live in another country? As that would also maybe come into play, legally.

 

[Minniesgal]

DVC returned some points to some owners, many owners have lost their points as they have expired. Sounds like your dates were not available. It may be the points you rented have expired.

Have you tried a credit card charge back?

 

[Brett Wyman]

You mean the owner can’t get your exact dates at the exact resort you want? I’m pretty sure you can get a room at some DVC property pretty much anytime outside of a major holiday week right now. Have you tried asking for availability at all DVC properties?

 

[Dean Marino]

Wellllllll - no comment on either side. This is sort of why, as an owner? I will always use an Agency .

 

[_auroraborealis_]

What did your contract with the owner say?

 

[robinb]

Are you willing to accept a different resort or do a split stay or even split between resorts? It looks like you were looking to book a standard view at BWV back in 2019: 4 studios for 5 weekdays for 280 points. Depending on your new dates, you may have to trim off a day because the owner may not be able to get 4 BWV standard view studios for you and she'll need to book you into another resort or room category which may cost more in points.

I'm sorry that you are in this situation. It really stinks that the owner is not replying to your emails. I would check Disney's point charts and make sure which resorts will work within the number of points you purchased. Then, I would call her on the phone and be flexible. Good luck!

 

[Marionnette]

What do I do? I paid over $5000 for a DVC Rental for March 2020 which was cancelled due to Corona Virus. DVC Owner asked for me to give her 3 new dates in which I did.
She informed me that I cannot get these dates. I cannot go any other dates because my family will not be in US. I have a son who is being deployed overseas. She said that she would
give me a refund since Disney gave her back full refund. It has been 4 months and nothing! No reply to my emails - nothing. This DVC owner also works for Disney in sales - wow...
I understand that these rentals are non-refundable but this is a unique circumstance in which Disney returned all POINTS & MONEY to DVC owners. I see that all others are doing the
right thing and returning money or booking new reservation. What are my options besides eating the $5000. I still would like to take my family if I can get my money back!

Thanks so much!!!

That’s a lot of money to be out and I really feel bad for renters who have owners who cannot or will not work with them.

That being said, did you have a contract with the owner? Did it address a force majeure situation and how it would be handled? Was it a strict no refunds under any circumstances contract, or did it outline measures that the owner would take to accommodate you in the event that you needed to reschedule your vacation?

It’s unfortunate, but you may have an owner whose points expired and they cannot book the dates and location that you want. Or those dates and locations may not be fully available. And it is entirely possible that the owner spent the money and doesn’t have the means to refund you.

In any case, barring some tragedy, they should answer your emails. Did you talk with this owner before you rented from them? If so, then call them. If you have their address, send them a registered letter. (One with your attorney’s letterhead can be effective.) If you paid using a credit card, initiate a chargeback.

I don’t know if you’ll ever see your money back. Maybe they can reschedule your trip for you. It’s sad, but you’re not the first renter who has been burned by the recent shutdown. I hope that you can get this owner to help you out, even if the solution is some sort of “shared pain” where you both lose a little but not everything.

 

[Sandisw]

Just to clarify....owners were not given back any money. Owners points were returned, but that doesn’t mean they could be used whenever, There were still normal limit to many of them, It sounds like maybe the dates you could travel were after the points used for your March 2020 trip expired.

I am sorry that this person hasn’t followed through if they promised you a refund,

I might reach out to try and find out what is happening...maybe something happening with the owner which has caused them to go MIA.

But, the contract used is really what guides this.

 

[DKILLIAN]

Are you willing to accept a different resort or do a split stay or even split between resorts? It looks like you were looking to book a standard view at BWV back in 2019: 4 studios for 5 weekdays for 280 points. Depending on your new dates, you may have to trim off a day because the owner may not be able to get 4 BWV standard view studios for you and she'll need to book you into another resort or room category which may cost more in points.

I'm sorry that you are in this situation. It really stinks that the owner is not replying to your emails. I would check Disney's point charts and make sure which resorts will work within the number of points you purchased. Then, I would call her on the phone and be flexible. Good luck!

You are absolutely correct, I booked 4 rooms studio at Boardwalk villas for March 2020. The contract did not state that I would get a refund however I do have emails from the owner that said she would return all my money Once she sold the points. That was five months ago. It just surprises me that this person also works for Disney! Before I gave her the money for the rental she would email me every day within five minutes after I emailed. But now weeks and weeks and weeks before I get a response and now last response was June 4th! Lesson learned I guess.. $5000 loss is a big pill to swallow! I really do appreciate all your input thank you very much.

 

[starry_solo]

You are absolutely correct, I booked 4 rooms studio at Boardwalk villas for March 2020. The contract did not state that I would get a refund however I do have emails from the owner that said she would return all my money Once she sold the points. That was five months ago. It just surprises me that this person also works for Disney! Before I gave her the money for the rental she would email me every day within five minutes after I emailed. But now weeks and weeks and weeks before I get a response and now last response was June 4th! Lesson learned I guess.. $5000 loss is a big pill to swallow! I really do appreciate all your input thank you very much.

Did you pay with a credit card? Check? How did payment occur?

 

[DKILLIAN]

Did you pay with a credit card? Check? How did payment occur?

Yes, some if it was paid by credit card and some was pay pal from checking account. If I go the credit card challenge route it will be the contract versus emails. Meaning contract did not state there was any refund at all. However I do have emails that state that I would get a full refund due to coronavirus. I think it just comes down to the owner got all the points back and can resell them and most people would refund the money. If this was not the intent I think the owner would be in correspondence with us. Lessons learned, I do not have address or phone number for this owner. Everything was done through email. I’m going to give it a month and then I will eventually just go to to Disney and DVC and let them know their employee in SALES Is double dipping the points. I really am just trying to sit back and let this work itself out but with no correspondence with owner what am I supposed to do! I realize that this is more of just a venting exercise but I really do appreciate all your input.

 

[Yinn]

The contract did not state that I would get a refund however I do have emails from the owner that said she would return all my money Once she sold the points. That was five months ago.

Even assuming her UY is far enough away, she may not have been able to re-rent the points. Visiting any rental site will show that there's dozens of reservations available right now. People in general aren't rushing for room at WDW while the COVID-19 numbers are spiking, ticket sales are limited, and they're not sure if they can even get a park reservation.

It just surprises me that this person also works for Disney! Before I gave her the money for the rental she would email me every day within five minutes after I emailed. But now weeks and weeks and weeks before I get a response and now last response was June 4th! Lesson learned I guess.. $5000 loss is a big pill to swallow! I really do appreciate all your input thank you very much.

He/she may not have an update, especially if you're pinging every day. That's the best case scenario. Hopefully a worst case hasn't happened and the person isn't currently sick..

Your situation stinks, no denying that. But figured I'd add some perspective for someone who isn't available to defend themselves either.

 

[starry_solo]

Yes, some if it was paid by credit card and some was pay pal from checking account. If I go the credit card challenge route it will be the contract versus emails. Meaning contract did not state there was any refund at all. However I do have emails that state that I would get a full refund due to coronavirus. I think it just comes down to the owner got all the points back and can resell them and most people would refund the money. If this was not the intent I think the owner would be in correspondence with us. Lessons learned, I do not have address or phone number for this owner. Everything was done through email. I’m going to give it a month and then I will eventually just go to to Disney and DVC and let them know their employee in SALES Is double dipping the points. I really am just trying to sit back and let this work itself out but with no correspondence with owner what am I supposed to do! I realize that this is more of just a venting exercise but I really do appreciate all your input.

dispute the charge. You paid for accommodations but didn’t get them because the resort was closed.

 

[DKILLIAN]

Even assuming her UY is far enough away, she may not have been able to re-rent the points. Visiting any rental site will show that there's dozens of reservations available right now. People in general aren't rushing for room at WDW while the COVID-19 numbers are spiking, ticket sales are limited, and they're not sure if they can even get a park reservation.



He/she may not have an update, especially if you're pinging every day. That's the best case scenario. Hopefully a worst case hasn't happened and the person isn't currently sick..

Your situation stinks, no denying that. But figured I'd add some perspective for someone who isn't available to defend themselves either.

I definitely hope there’s not something happening with this person and BTW I am not emailing every day, matter fact last time I emailed was June 4. I think almost 2 months time is enough time for someone to answer an email.

 

[Heather07438]

Another potential hurdle is that most people aren't willing to pay as much per point now as pre-March. Reservations are going for less per point now so it might be extremely hard to find a new renter that still fits within their UY and is willing to pay peak prices.

As far as that issue is concerned, maybe it might help to reach out to owner and let them know you'd be okay letting your reservation go for a lower dollar per point. You'd need to look at the numbers to see what price you're comfortable with, but say you paid $18pp ($5k total) and accept a new renter paying $14pp, at least you could get back that $4k?

Hope you and the owner can work something out that is acceptable.

 

[DKILLIAN]

Thank you so much, that is a great suggestion! I am more than willing to get some money back then getting nothing..

 

[Chuck S]

Well, good luck to you! I hate to say it, but are you sure this person was/is a Disney employee? Given that you have no actual contact info other than an email address. IF they own at a WDW DVC resort, you might want to search the Orange County Comptroller website to check on their deed. https://www.occompt.com/services/ Click on public records

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Disney will not get involved with your private rental transaction in any way. They are not in any way a party to your contract.

The DVC owner was not acting as a Disney agent in any respect.

 

[AaronEuth]

Even assuming her UY is far enough away, she may not have been able to re-rent the points. Visiting any rental site will show that there's dozens of reservations available right now. People in general aren't rushing for room at WDW while the COVID-19 numbers are spiking, ticket sales are limited, and they're not sure if they can even get a park reservation.

To further prove your point, the amount of available confirmed reservations on the usual sites are measured in the thousands right now. A private owner is going to have a tough time rerenting a confirmed reservation as they are competing with sites that have staff and an advertising budget. This is really the first time where the rental supply far exceeds demand.