Davids DVC: Rental reimbursement or rescheduling?

[Sandisw]

Since I just got my voucher offer, I emailed to clarify when and how I could use it. I'll post back here if/when I get an answer.


The first part of that I'm actually fine with. If I buy a car for $$ and a month later the manufacturer discounts that car by $2000 I might wish I'd waited, but at the time I determined that the price I paid for the car was fair. Same for a hotel room.

I'm not okay with the second part, where if anything goes wrong my money evaporates into the broker's pocket.

Yes, keep us posted, especially if renters with vouchers are eligible for Disney promotions that are advertised on the website.

 

[spinchy]

Nice example - but it makes a difference with a car because supposedly you took possession of a car when you paid for it, whereas in our case renters book rooms that would be occupied in the future. Typically, non-cancelable cruise, airfare and hotel reservations can be floated down to a lower price, when and if such a lower price becomes available; obviously there can be no price adjustment after the trip, or even when the reservation becomes non-refundable. Therefore it is hard to understand why David would refuse to float down the price to the better offer available from Disney, when all other travel agents are willing to do so. In any case, David should not treat voucher customers any different than regular cash customers, if he wants to maintain the perception (illusion?) that his vouchers hold real value.

I am curious, why would you rather accept a voucher with restrictions when you can have a credit card chargeback, and book again whenever, wherever you want?

I’d suggest 2 reasons David won’t do it. 1) his commission through Disney is a percentage of the sale. When travel agents take the time to do this for you (as the good ones always do) they’re costing themselves money to do what’s best for you.
2) it takes a LOT of time even for a small volume travel agent (even during non-Covid times wait time on Disney’s travel agent line can be extremely long). If he ends up with a lot of bookings through Disney, he doesn’t want to tie his staff up checking for sales that are going to lose money for him.

 

[Sandisw]

I’d suggest 2 reasons David won’t do it. 1) his commission through Disney is a percentage of the sale. When travel agents take the time to do this for you (as the good ones always do) they’re costing themselves money to do what’s best for you.
2) it takes a LOT of time even for a small volume travel agent (even during non-Covid times wait time on Disney’s travel agent line can be extremely long). If he ends up with a lot of bookings through Disney, he doesn’t want to tie his staff up checking for sales that are going to lose money for him.

I do understand that he may not want to change for a better promotion. But, stating a renter will pay rack rate, indicates no promotions will be allowed.

Hopefully, someone will get clarification that the email that quoted that was not accurate. Because if it is, then it is just one more move on his part that doesn’t seem to benefit anyone but him.

 

[3babiesmom]

Hello everyone. I am a renter. It sounds like most of you are owners and I am trying to understand my options with David. We were scheduled for first week of April. I am not a lawyer.

My original contract from January doesn't state anything about a force majeure clause. My thought is that I entered into a contract whereby I pay money and owner was supposed to provide accommodations. Since resorts closed, and service not provided I am entitled to a refund. From Disney sites, it says that all reservations are cancelled automatically and points are returned to owners automatically.

I don't understand why I can't just a refund and why I have to do this future credit. The owners got their points back. I should get my money back? It's very restrictive. I'm thinking of just initiating a chargeback dispute with Chase Sapphire.

Here is the travel credit email from David:

Thank you for your patience in waiting for our communications.
Below are the Terms and Conditions for the David's Vacation Club Rentals Travel Credit. Once you've had the opportunity to review the information, we look forward to receiving your response and would ask that you please indicate your reply by clicking on a button below.
Terms & Conditions

1. The Credit will be for the entire value of the original booking, less any compensation already received, and the Credit can only be applied to one subsequent booking. If the value of the Credit exceeds the value of the subsequent booking, the remaining differential in value will not be refunded, nor will it be available for extra's or add-on's such as dining plans or park tickets. If the value of the subsequent booking exceeds the value of the Credit, the guest will be responsible for paying the difference.
2. You may not assign or transfer the Credit or any rights, interests or obligations hereunder. You may not combine this Credit with any other credit or promotional offer.
3. Any Reservation booked using the Credit is FINAL SALE – NO EXCEPTIONS. This includes, but is not limited to, date modification, resale and changes to the Guest names used for the original booking.
4. Credit has no cash value.
5. The Travel Credit will not be reissued if it is lost or stolen. Keep this information in a safe location.
6. Credit is available for use up to 24 months after the date of issue. Credit must be used within 24 months.
7. Credit can be used for any service offered by David's Vacation Club Rentals including but not limited to Point Rentals, Cash Bookings at Disney owned resorts, Cruise Bookings or Adventure by Disney bookings.
8. Credits cannot be applied to Park Tickets, Dining Plans, or insurance plans.
9. In the case of Point Rentals, upon requesting a reservation with your credit code, you will be asked to authorize a new deposit. Once the code has been confirmed, your deposit will be refunded and the reservation process will continue.
10. In the event of a global pandemic, natural disaster, force Majeure or any other event outside the reasonable control of David's Vacation Club Rentals, this Credit remains non-refundable and no modification, cancelations or rebooking will be permitted.
11. David's Vacation Club Rentals does not guarantee the availability of services. The Credit is subject to availability of the selected product at time of booking.
12. No terms and conditions, other than those stated herein, and no agreement or understanding, oral or written, in any way purporting to modify these Terms and Conditions shall be binding.
13. These terms and conditions shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein.
14. David's Vacation Club Rentals reserves the right to change, add, modify, or eliminate any element of the Credit or any type of service or activity currently available with the Credit.
15. Credit represents full and final satisfaction of any and all obligations set out in the original Rental Agreement and David's Vacation Club Rentals is released from any further rights, obligations or performance of the original Rental Agreement.

Thanks everyone!

So #9, does this mean I have to pay him again until my voucher is confirmed?

 

[Amymouse13]

The concept of cash booking is nice minus he only pays deposit when he books (supposedly) and if Disney is shut down again... No room for you! I'm not sure which of those two aspects concerns me more...

 

[VeroGuy]

So #9, does this mean I have to pay him again until my voucher is confirmed?

Yes, that is my understanding of the terms.

From a technological standpoint this is probably because that is how his current system is setup and it was the easiest route for him to go.

Why he couldn’t take the funds from the voucher to do this I’m not sure.

 

[Kevin_W]

Nice example - but it makes a difference with a car because supposedly you took possession of a car when you paid for it, whereas in our case renters book rooms that would be occupied in the future. Typically, non-cancelable cruise, airfare and hotel reservations can be floated down to a lower price, when and if such a lower price becomes available; obviously there can be no price adjustment after the trip, or even when the reservation becomes non-refundable. Therefore it is hard to understand why David would refuse to float down the price to the better offer available from Disney, when all other travel agents are willing to do so. In any case, David should not treat voucher customers any different than regular cash customers, if he wants to maintain the perception (illusion?) that his vouchers hold real value.

I am curious, why would you rather accept a voucher with restrictions when you can have a credit card chargeback, and book again whenever, wherever you want?

Good points. The car isn't a perfect example, but it's still something I'd be willing to live with.

Regarding accepting the voucher vs getting my money back through the credit card - I wouldn't rather have the voucher. Going through the credit card first is what I'm trying (first trip insurance, since that's easier to process than chargeback for such an old charge; if that doesn't work I'll try chargeback).

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Exactly

The concept of cash booking is nice minus he only pays deposit when he books (supposedly) and if Disney is shut down again... No room for you! I'm not sure which of those two aspects concerns me more...

 

[Bearval]

The voucher credit includes his commission. His statement regarding rack rate supports that he books at the lower rate to ensure he still gets that commission, Until I see someone post thst they qualified for any promotion being given, then I think his plan is to indeed charge full price on cash stays.

If not, he could have very easily allowed those with canceled trips to rebook using the free dining that was offered to all guests that had reservations canceled I find it interesting he did not seem to be allowing that. I wonder why?.

A canceled reservation using points is not eligible for free dining only cash reservations were.

 

[Sandisw]

A canceled reservation using points is not eligible for free dining only cash reservations were.

Not true Guests with canceled DVC reservations could have booked a free dining cash package, They just could not pay with points, but they were allowed to book as a cash guest.

Renters from Davids with vouchers, who are allowed to book cash reservations with those vouchers, would indeed had been eligible to book one of those trips while it was offered,

From my understanding, renters were not given that option as a choice for their voucher. Until that promotion was pulled last week, it was available for stays through September.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

That offer for free dining was also good to DVC people if they wished to rebook as cash

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Clarify - not from David just Disney

 

[suemom2kay]

I can't tell you the number of times I was unfairly criticized by David or a representative of David's for saying that I thought renting from a private owner was superior to renting from a broker.

Far Superior!

 

[Bearval]

That offer for free dining was also good to DVC people if they wished to rebook as cash

So you are saying if people booked thru Davids by renting points they were then eligible to us the voucher he gave th to rebook and get free dining?

 

[Dracula]

So you are saying if people booked thru Davids by renting points they were then eligible to us the voucher he gave th to rebook and get free dining?

Yes, I think that was indeed the case - just that David was not yet making new reservations last week. However, cash reservations would have been more expensive than rentals, with all the same strings attached - so not sure this would have been a better deal.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Why again is David not making any reservations with his voucher ??

 

[Bearval]

Yes, I think that was indeed the case - just that David was not yet making new reservations last week. However, cash reservations would have been more expensive than rentals, with all the same strings attached - so not sure this would have been a better deal.

You are right it wouldn't be a better deal

 

[Madame]

So you are saying if people booked thru Davids by renting points they were then eligible to us the voucher he gave th to rebook and get free dining?

Yes, they were.

 

[spinchy]

Yes, they were.

I can 100% confirm this. I had my Davids trip cancelled and called direct to Disney to book free dining promotion for myself. No reason he couldn’t have booked it for me and applied the voucher if he’d been willing to.

 

[Sandisw]

Yes, I think that was indeed the case - just that David was not yet making new reservations last week. However, cash reservations would have been more expensive than rentals, with all the same strings attached - so not sure this would have been a better deal.

A renter with a voucher could have booked a moderate resort with free dining and that very well could have been as good of a deal as a points reservation.

It really does all depend on how many guests,,,even with a deluxe room for a family of 4 with free dining might make it as affordable as a DVC room with a discount.

Hopefully, a renter will get more clarification about cash bookings and post here if they indeed they can use vouchers for Disney promotions.