The importance of calling ahead to confirm

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

My friend has a guest certificate for an exchange on my account for a 4BR/4BA at Powhatan in Williamsburg, to check in this Saturday.
I told her to call and confirm. She called today and they told her they only had her down for a 2BR. When she told them she had a certificate for a 4BR, they told her they only have her down for a 2BR, and they don't even have any 4BR units available for next week.
I called RCI and the agent confirmed she is definitely in for a 4BR and she faxed the confirmation to Powhatan reservations. She said that the 4BR was deposited as such and that the resort is supposed to have it available.
This was later in the day,and Powhatan's reservation desk was closed, so my friend will call back tomorrow morning to see what the resort has to say.
Thank goodness my friend did not just show up on Saturday and was told that her unit is not available.

[joycapecod Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close joycapecod]

Why does that not surprise me? I always call about 2 weeks before check in to make certain everything is in place. Only once in about 130 exchanges has there been a problem, but it would have been a HUGE problem had my niece shown up for her honeymoon accomodations to find no room at the inn! She was reserved in a studio and was upgraded to a 1 bedroom. On occasion things work out for the better

Joy

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

I usually try to call ahead to make sure but this is a good reminder.
I had a bonus week one time thru DAE and when I called westgate they had never heard of DAE.

Luckily it was during the week and I was able to get them to fax over the confirmation again but that would have been
a huge surprise had we just showed up at midnight as planned to find that they had no idea what we were talking about.
As it turned out we showed up at 3am so it really would have been a horrible surprise if I hadn't called ahead to make sure.

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

Thanks for the reminder. Must admit that it is not something I usually do.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

I usually call the resort prior to arriving on an exchange. I usually have a question or 2 as well as confirming the exchange.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Yikes!

I very rarely call. Slum
Nds ad if I need to start doing that.

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

I usually call.....Lots of times I request a certain location, etc. Not that I always get what I request, but sometimes I do.

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

Good reminder. I always intend to call ahead...

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

I usually call.....Lots of times I request a certain location, etc. Not that I always get what I request, but sometimes I do.

I do this also, usually the staff are very helpful ~ and I almost always have a few questions too!

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

I never think to call ahead and ask if they actually have the SIZE unit I think I'm getting. Sometimes the clerk looks up my name and tells me what I'm down for, but udually I'm just listening for the dates.

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

I have done over 100 trades since 1993 and have never called to confirm and have never had a problem. We usually travel to the Carribbean, Mexico or Europe so confirming by phone would probably be a good idea but I never even thought about making an international phone call to confirm a reservation that I already have in writing.

Maybe it's just dumb luck but if I ever have a problem at check in, I always figured that a phone call to II or RCI would make it right.

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

I usually don't call either, unless I'm calling to ask a question or ask for a specific unit.

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

I have done over 100 trades since 1993 and have never called to confirm and have never had a problem. We usually travel to the Carribbean, Mexico or Europe so confirming by phone would probably be a good idea but I never even thought about making an international phone call to confirm a reservation that I already have in writing.

Maybe it's just dumb luck but if I ever have a problem at check in, I always figured that a phone call to II or RCI would make it right.

I usually confirm by email with the timeshare if going overseas.
I'd hate to get any surprises overseas.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

I have done over 100 trades since 1993 and have never called to confirm and have never had a problem. We usually travel to the Carribbean, Mexico or Europe so confirming by phone would probably be a good idea but I never even thought about making an international phone call to confirm a reservation that I already have in writing.

Maybe it's just dumb luck but if I ever have a problem at check in, I always figured that a phone call to II or RCI would make it right.

That would put the exchange companies in a position where they had to find you something, but in an area with few timeshare units they might not be able to find you anything.

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

Powhatan is still telling my friend they cannot confirm her arrival in a 4BR. I have to call RCI again.