Need Advice: Wyndam Dissolving FairShare Exchange-Fixed Week

[fairfieldglade Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close fairfieldglade]

I just became a new member of the Timeshare Forums tonight after searching for some information about a letter from Wyndham dated October 31, 2009 which states that "Wyndham Vacation Resorts has decided to dissolve the FAX Program, effective December 31, 2009." I do not know how they can take away this exchange that was sold as benefits along with the week of fixed week timeshare. I know that Wyndham has begged us to switch to points, but my Dad & Moma were elderly, and they liked just going to their home resort the same week every year.

Does anyone know anything about them doing away with the exchange. I am not finding anything in other member's posts? I don't know if everyone on here is on the points system or if there are any fixed members who has received the same information?

BACKGROUND: My Dad & Moma bought a fixed week of timeshare at Fairfield Glade, TN back in 1990. After Daddy died and Moma was not well, she transferred ownership to me and my two siblings. I still take Moma to Fairfield every May because she did not want the point system because she was afraid the maintenance fees would be too expensive, etc.. However, I had hoped to be able to travel to the different Fairfield Resorts "one of these days" for a small exchange fee.

Now, with this letter, if I understand it correctly, fixed members want to go anywhere other than their home resort, they must either join RCI or convert to the points system with Wyndham.

We have a deed to this property. Do we have any rights to reject this new policy. Does anyone have any information on it? Are there any class action lawsuits going on with this...I would not be surprised if there is, and would like to know about it due to the unfairness of this new provision.

Thanks for any advice anyone might have. Sincerely, BT

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

Try these other options as far as exchange:

Timeshares & Time Share Exchange Service-DAELive.com

HTSE

www.platinuminterchange.com

Trading Places International - Timeshare Rentals, Exchange, Resales, and Travel Services

Most of those have free membership and lower exchanges fee, and you escape the entanglement of points, especially Wyndham points.

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

Look at this thread

http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...d-wyndham.html

You will need to think serious what you want to do with the timeshare week.

You can do exchange with other exchange companies. With RCI, you can rent it out, if you go with your mother on that, you may know what you can expect from rental.

You can sell it, keep it the way it is, or convert.

The MF will be the same as you currently will experience.

There will be an add on club fee. It is depended on how many point you own, could be extra $100 at this moment (up to 154k if that is what your week convert to), but as of now, you will get to do internal exchange with 0 cost you you stay with 1 week.

I don't think conversion make sense for most of the FAX owner, on the other hand, if you want to keep the week, you can see if you can get the conversion fee back within 10 years.

Jya-Ning

[Fairfield Bay Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fairfield Bay]

The Wyndham Letter

We also got the letter dated October 31, 2009. We have owned a week at Fairfield Bay since 1985 and have almost always banked our week and traded for another of Fairfield's resorts. We are absolutely livid that this benefit is being taken from us. We would not have purchased a timeshare at all if it had not been for the fact that we could actually trade for other locations. We are wondering whether someone will be filing a class-action suit against Wyndham.

We have no desire to go to Fairfield Bay in Arkansas for Week 10 every year so will be looking into what options we do have now. One thing we will definitely not do is join the Club Wyndham Plus exchange program. (How nice of them to make the offer--ha ha.) Last time we checked, RCI membership fees were cost-prohibitive. Thanks to the person who posted other exchange options. This has been a rude awakening but hopefully we will find a way to make the best of this.

[fairfieldglade Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close fairfieldglade]

Re: Wyndham Dissolving FairShare FAX Exchange THANKS

All of you have given me lots of good information; I will check it out!

Also, I am wondering if I could offer my week [a nice one bedroom condo at Fairfield Glade, Crossville, TN in late May] in exchange for another forum's member's week. Wouldn't that work if I can find some people I trust?

I am just brainstorming, but I do not know why it would not work as it does for family and friends, except for the fact that it would be HORRIBLE to plan a vacation, travel, and then have no place to go. If anyone has any information on that idea, I would love for you to share your ideas with me. ..Some members may already do this for all I know.

I am definitely not going to buy Wyndham points! I want to keep my FIXED week and figure out some way to exchange it when we want to!

Keep the ideas coming please! Thanks to all of you who posted. Becky

[fozzy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close fozzy]

Make sure you do not let Wyndham talk you into paying out more money and converting to points. Over the past years Wyndham keeps taking away benefits they promised in order to sell their plans and keep hiking up the maint fees each year at a much inflated rate. I have had sales reps flat out lie to me such as telling me that you cannot buy points on the resale market - the rep said it was a scam and you can only buy points from Wyndham directly. If you call them out on their lies, they get very nasty to you (even though I'm a long time customer)

[montybiggs Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close montybiggs]

FAX program is gone for good

I have owned at Fairfield Bay since 1981 under a fixed week. I spoke with Joe Snell, Wyndham's Oper Mgr for FAX Program at (954)935-4767 on 11/18/09 regarding ending of FAX program & he claims due to lack of deposits by current fixed weeks owners the program is dying & that unless exchange fees were increased prohibitivley, there would be no way to continue it & that is reason it is being eliminated. He assured me any currently deposited weeks would be honored. To all who are not aware, Wyndham Worldwide owns both Wyndham Resorts & RCI, so you know collusion is going on between the two companies. Who knows what else is in store. To people at the Glade, RCI membership should be included as part of your annual Maintenance Fees, as most, if not all Wyndham properties include it. You can still deposit your fixed week thru RCI and make exchanges that way(though it is more expensive than what FAX fee was-approx addtl $110). I also think your fixed week trades at a higher rate(i.e. a 2 b/r(red) for a 2 b/r(red) vs a 2 b/r(red) for a 1 b/r(red) if you are a points owner. Also, if you aren't aware, your annual maintenance fees cover bad debt of other owners in your HOA. Wyndham bears no liability for bad debts itself, it is passed on to the paying members. I have a big problem with that & don't feel it is justified. They hide this fact on their annual Maintenace Fee reports, but it is there. I would appreciate hearing from others on this forum who feel the same way. Fairfield Glade owner, I have a 2 b/r unit at Fairfield Bay (week #14) if you ever want to rent it.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

All pay - no surprise

I have owned at Fairfield Bay since 1981 under a fixed week. I spoke with Joe Snell, Wyndham's Oper Mgr for FAX Program at (954)935-4767 on 11/18/09 regarding ending of FAX program & he claims due to lack of deposits by current fixed weeks owners the program is dying & that unless exchange fees were increased prohibitivley, there would be no way to continue it & that is reason it is being eliminated. He assured me any currently deposited weeks would be honored. To all who are not aware, Wyndham Worldwide owns both Wyndham Resorts & RCI, so you know collusion is going on between the two companies. Who knows what else is in store. To people at the Glade, RCI membership should be included as part of your annual Maintenance Fees, as most, if not all Wyndham properties include it. You can still deposit your fixed week thru RCI and make exchanges that way(though it is more expensive than what FAX fee was-approx addtl $110). I also think your fixed week trades at a higher rate(i.e. a 2 b/r(red) for a 2 b/r(red) vs a 2 b/r(red) for a 1 b/r(red) if you are a points owner.

Any resort can include the RCI fee in the annual fee (as it is in Wyndham Points) if they want. Wyndham weeks owners have had over 15 years of a dying system to make other arrangements. This is not some shocking sudden change.

Also, if you aren't aware, your annual maintenance fees cover bad debt of other owners in your HOA. Wyndham bears no liability for bad debts itself, it is passed on to the paying members. I have a big problem with that & don't feel it is justified. They hide this fact on their annual Maintenace Fee reports, but it is there. I would appreciate hearing from others on this forum who feel the same way. Fairfield Glade owner, I have a 2 b/r unit at Fairfield Bay (week #14) if you ever want to rent it.

That is the way EVERY timeshare (and condo) operates. The management does not (in most cases) own the inventory (they pay on what they DO own) and all owners have to cover the costs - including those for the delinquent owners. Thats why it is so important that management stay on top of delinquent owners and make them pay or foreclose and resell it to a paying owner. Just letting it build up is not a viable plan of non-action. You are correct to stay on the backs of management to get payments current but it's not underhanded.

[Fairfield Bay Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fairfield Bay]

Fairfield Bay

RCI is not included in my Fairfield Bay HOA dues. As for trading individually, I do kind of like the idea; however, what I would prefer to do at this point is see whether I can get Fairfield Bay to accept a Quit Claim Deed to just let me out of my timeshare altogether. My second thought is to find someone who wants to simply assume our timeshare at Bay for the cost of deed transfer only. We bought Week 10 at Fairfield Bay in order to do trades for autumn travel each year. Our annual week in March would be a good option for someone who loves to play golf and fish. If we can get out of what we have now, one way or the other, we would be inclined to find someone who wants to get rid of a week in October at Sapphire Valley in North Carolina and just buy it. I will be looking further into the possibility of doing the Quit Claim Deed possibility first, although I can't imagine "they" would accept it. We have owned since 1985 so owe nothing except our annual dues. If Quit Claim does not work out, we will probably go ahead and pay our dues, then put the word out and offer free use our 2010 week to anyone who is seriously interested in assuming the deed for our week.

[fairfieldglade Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close fairfieldglade]

Whose Fault: FairShare Fax Exchange Failed? Mgt. or Owners?

MontyBiggs, Moderator, & Fairfield Bay & other friends,

FIXED WEEK OWNERS have been trying to book weeks in the original Fairfield Glade family FOR YEARS, but after Cendant, & Wyndham started concentrating on selling points, it was difficult and many times impossible to book an exchange to wherever we wanted to go at all! So guess what, like others, we quit trying! We were even told by Cendant & Wyndham that if we did not exchange to points like MOST fixed owners were doing, we would not be able to exchange anywhere else in the future, yet we refused their offer and held on to our fixed week. Sales people made many of us believe that EVERYONE either is or MUST convert to points and that there were very few of us fixed owners left. I don't understand why anyone would pay for something additional from any company who was trying to take away rights and privileges which we have already paid for.

Thanks Mr. MontyBiggs for trying. I salute you for taking the time to call to find out WHY they are doing away with the exchange. IF Mr. Snell, Wyndham's Oper Mgr for FAX Program at (954)935-4767, did indeed claim the system failed due to lack of deposits, I would challenge that statement and claim that the management of the system FIRST failed fixed timeshare owners when they TRIED to exchange, but COULD NOT because of unavailability. Now, whose fault is that? Why didn't management find a way to resolve this? Management was the one who came up with Points System; did they not realize this would affect Fixed Timeshare Owners? Now, they are saying the system failed for lack of deposits? Why would anyone want to deposit their week if they could not be assured of an exchange week at the place they wanted to go?

I WOULD CLAIM "fixed owners could not get reservations because of unavailability." I feel insulted when ANYONE says we have had 15 years to make other arrangements. My family paid for our deed and our yearly maintenance fees with their hard earned money. I am just disappointed that Cendant/Wyndham could not, would not, or will not keep their end of the agreement for whatever reason. One of the reasons I feel timeshare is given such a bad rap is because management is mainly concentrating on how to get new owners and forgets to value the owners they already have. As fixed timeshare owners, some of us have been lied to and have been made feel like second-class timeshare owners because we did not want to convert to points.

Mr. Moderator, all I know for sure is that the original deed was sold with the PROMISE they would be able to exchange to any of the other Fairfield Glade Resorts for a small exchange fee... WITHOUT paying a big fee to RCI or anyone else. Just because the system has failed for whatever reason as sold to us doesn't mean the TIMESHARE OWNERS are the ones who needs to make other arrangements. What about the accountability of RESORT MANAGEMENT???????? Please help me understand why Timeshare owners should have been making other arrangements instead of Cendant or later Wyndham? The RCI came free with the purchase of our fixed week for a year or so, but fixed timeshare owners were not obligated to continue RCI unless they wanted to travel to other places other than the other Fairfield Glade Exchanges and pay the expensive annual fee required.

Cendant and Wyndham have already taken away some of our rights that were promised, yet were not outlined in our deeds. However, the FAX Exchange is something that everyone who bought timeshare in Fairfield Glade could vouch for and prove. Do they have the right to take this away without giving us something in return without having to pay MORE?????

BTW, I appreciate the information our Moderator giving us information about how NON-PAYING MEMBERS ARE AFFECTING AND COULD BE INCREASING OUR MAINTENANCE FEES. We should contact our association leaders and request they ask their non-paying members to either pay up or forfeit their ownershi; mgt. is not doing their job if they don't. I did not know that any owner could continue the ownership and not pay. That is what it says in my contract. Could it also be possible that the resort has already taken the properties from non-paying owners for resell or do not want to go through the legal process, because it easier to pass along the maintenance fees to the paying owners?

NOTE: REGARDING SWITCHING TIMESHARE WEEKS WITH FORUM MEMBERS, including Mr. Fairfield Bay & any others who might be interested in switching or renting weeks to other timeshare owners in the future, please email me at tracyjb@scrtc.com or rebecca.tracy@wku.edu. I would like to make some friends and exchange information in case any of us might want to exchange our fixed weeks in the future. Maybe exchanging a fixed week for a week of points would work too, but I am not familiar with all of the details of points as well as I am fixed...just brainstorming for ideas right now while at the same time upset and concerned as a timeshare owner who is tired of more benefits being taken away. In any event, I am holding on to my deed.

Jya-Ning & Carolinian, thanks for your information too...maybe we can use those exchanges if they are not too costly. Thanks. BT

[William R. Unger Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close William R. Unger]

Elimination of Fax Program

I have owned at Fairfield Glade since 1978. Over the years, my wife and I have used the Fax Program. It was convenient, met out vacation needs and was affordable. Now that Wyndham has decided to terminate the Fax Program, my wife and I believe it is to "maximize" their revenues and make us pay for our "timeshare" a 2nd time - by converting to points - Now we are forced to either use RCI - which we chose not to use - or convert to the "point system" at great expense. I have sent a letter to Wyndham basically saying what I'm saying now. I do not believe it is fair for Wyndham in their search for greater revenues to take away a benefit we have had for many years - and make us pay "additional monies" for what we have already used for many years. I just don't think it is fair.

[fairfieldglade Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close fairfieldglade]

Elimination of FAX Exchang Program Is Unfair...Mgt. has failed Fixed-Week Owners

Dear William,

Thanks. I think it is great that you took the time to write. Like you, I feel Wyndham is terminating the Fax Program to maximize their revenues. They are taking away something that was promised to us. We are claiming this is unfair b/c it reduces our timeshare ownership and eliminates the opportunity & simplicity to visit the other Glades for a nominal fee.

This is not about complaining/whining…it is about being unhappy & disappointed about Wyndham’s inability to make the system work and keep the benefits fixed-week timeshare owners were promised when they bought in...Management has failed us. If the system failed, you would think good management would improvise for a solution that would benefit timeshare owners, rather than just yank it out from under us.

Recently, I tried to help everyone understand how and why we feel like we do by comparing Fixed Week w/Fax Exchange versus Points w/RCI. Even though one of these choices may be better for me does not mean my choice is better for everyone else. I am happy for everyone who is happy with the point-program. I was just trying to get forum members to understand how they might feel if they were in our shoes. I just don’t think point-system timeshare owners would be any happier than we are if their exchange changed significantly in some way from what was originally promised to them...unless management improvised in some way to make it better for the fixed-week owners instead of worse. I also do not understand the insensitivity and understanding of some about why we are upset about this.

While contemplating converting to points, I studied the program intensively, yet I am sure I do not understand all about the points system. However, I do know how our fixed time week was "supposed to work" when it was sold to my parents and when salesmen explained it to us many times. As someone noted, every benefit that was promised to each fixed timeshare owners is NOT spelled out in our contracts, but from where I come from a verbal contract and a handshake is just as important and is legally binding…though more difficult to prove.

I feel fixed timeshare owners are getting a raw deal. I also think there are a lot of fixed-week timeshare owners who are just as angry and frustrated with Wyndham’s October letter of dissolution of our FairShare Fax Exchange program as we are. I just wish I could do something about it rather than trying to figure out how to make the best of the situation.

Thanks again for your post.

[LauraO Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LauraO]

How do I shake this week off of me?

I too received a letter in the mail explaining the "share" part had been removed from my timeshare.

My parents bought two weeks at Fairfield Glade, TN (FFG) in 1980. We don't live far, so we would use one week at FFG, and then usually exchange one week.

Eventually my folks gave one week to me (Week 22), and one week to my sister.

As points became popular, our ability to exchange anywhere became almost impossible.

I refused to switch to points due to the cost, and decided just to use my week at FFG every year.

Whenever I've called in the past few years, including today, to try to book a different week than my week at FFG, they tell me they're booked.

I called today and was told they were booked for Week 15. They did offer Arkansas or Colorado for Week 15. I thought they weren't exchanging?

Then, they offered something new! They suggested I call the "rental department" to see if any weeks were available to rent "out of pocket". There was availability at $457 plus tax. I then called back and asked how the rental program worked. They said they send me a rental agreement in the mail, I sign and mail it back. If they rent my week, I get 60% of what they get.

I can rent a week cheaper than my $515 annual maintenance fees!

Does anyone know the best way we can get rid of our timeshares?

[fairfieldglade Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close fairfieldglade]

Re: Interested in exchanging Wk #20-May 16-22, 2010,Fairfield Glade, Crossville, TN

I too am a Fairfield Glade, TN owner of Week 20 that my parents bought about the same time your parents bought. Like you I am disappointed that Wyndham did not at least give us a free RCI membership when they took our free membership of FAX away.

After seeing your message, I thought I would see if anyone would offer to exchange my week like they did you, but no luck. Who and where did you call? Today, I called both the headquarters & my home resort and they would not let me exchange anywhere. Unless I rent it out on my own, they only offered to refer me to RCI or Extra Holidays Rental. Be careful with the Extra Holidays Rental. They told me if I signed the agreement they mailed to me, there was not a 100% guarantee that my week would be rented, or that all of my week might not be rented out...for example only three days rented out. I am not going to take that chance.

Also, like you, we do not live too far from the Glade and have always took my Moma [since Dad died] on our week or exchanged to somewhere else, but with the dissolution of the FAX program, we can't do that anymore.

However, my home resort told me today that I could rent my week out or let someone stay [which I knew], but would need to fax them my name, address, contract number, membership number, Timeshare week, any my phone number in case they wanted to verify the request, along with the names of whoever was coming in our place, and to date and sign the fax.

This year, our week is May 16 [Sunday] until May 22 [Sunday]. We can go, but it is inconvenient for us to go at this time this year. I wish I could find someone to exchange my week with. I would love to exchange my Week 20 with someone for a later date...your week #22 would be great. Would you be interested?

I know you are interested in selling it, but I cannot advise you on this. I also refuse to switch to points. With everything Wyndham has taken away from our property, there is no way I would every purchase anything else from them b/c I do not trust that they make decisions in the best interest of timeshare owners...only what is profitable.

If you are interested [or anyone else] in either renting or exchanging my Week 20 for a week later in the year, please feel free to send me an email at tracyjb@scrtc.com or rebecca.tracy@wku.edu, or call me at 270-590-4847. Please leave a message if I cannot answer, and I will get back with you. Good luck! Becky

[Fairfield Bay Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fairfield Bay]

There seems to be no best way to get out of our timeshares. It will simply be a matter of finding someone who wants to just pay to have the title transferred. Since we sometimes let someone else use our week if we are not able to go, it may just be that we will get lucky "again" and someone will want to take over our week. We did have an offer from a minister about 10 or 15 years ago but he wanted it dirt-cheap and we didn't really want to sell--or give it away--at that time. Now, however...

Laura O, thank you for letting us know that we can rent weeks out of pocket and that we can also try to rent ours out through Wyndham. Both of those pieces of information were quite helpful and soften the blow just a little.