Abusing the system...

[Xolodno Member Find all posts View Profile Close Xolodno]

Wife and I just wondered if it was posible to abuse the system. To be specific...

Reserve a one bedroom unit. Purchase the insurance on the sun options. Wait. Get into the "59 day window" and look to see if there is availability for a two bedroom. If there is, cancel our one bedroom and then take the two bedroom at a reduced point cost. If there isn't any availability, no worries, we still have our one bedroom.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Wife and I just wondered if it was posible to abuse the system. To be specific...

Reserve a one bedroom unit. Purchase the insurance on the sun options. Wait. Get into the "59 day window" and look to see if there is availability for a two bedroom. If there is, cancel our one bedroom and then take the two bedroom at a reduced point cost. If there isn't any availability, no worries, we still have our one bedroom.

Haven't done it ourselves, but I believe it is done often. That strategy was even mentioned to us by a Sunterra sales person.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I use this strategy without taking the insurance on my standard exchanges. I just cancel my reservation even if I lose the entire exchange fee and pick up the bigger unit. It is like paying $160 TO UPGRADE TO A LARGER UNIT. If you rather take insurance on each exchange you can do that but I rather take the chance and pay extra if it comes in, If it does not come in then I did not get stuck paying for insurance.

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

Wife and I just wondered if it was posible to abuse the system. To be specific... Reserve a one bedroom unit. Purchase the insurance on the sun options. Wait. Get into the "59 day window" and look to see if there is availability for a two bedroom. If there is, cancel our one bedroom and then take the two bedroom at a reduced point cost. If there isn't any availability, no worries, we still have our one bedroom.

You have termed this correctly, it is, in fact, abusing the system and is strictly following the rules, no reason not to do this if you like.

This abuse is one the main reasons I believe the price of Reservation Protection Plan was quadrupled recently. One, to deter this practice, and two, of course, to make more money for the corporate coffers.

For BF, you 'system' works for your exchange system, but would not work for Sunterra. Without taking Reservation Protection for ~$100, a member can cancel anytime prior to 60day before arrival and get all their points back, 59-30days prior they get back 75%, 29-15days prior they get back 50%, 14days and less is a total loss.

An alternate abuse strategy would be to wait for 59days and book the new reservation for 50% off whether it be for your hypothetical 2BR or even a 1BR. Then cancel your previous reservation and only lose 25% of those points. This is a way to do it without outlay of extra money. Why they stagger those booking and cancellation amounts, I don't know.

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

I use this strategy without taking the insurance on my standard exchanges. I just cancel my reservation even if I lose the entire exchange fee and pick up the bigger unit. It is like paying $160 TO UPGRADE TO A LARGER UNIT. If you rather take insurance on each exchange you can do that but I rather take the chance and pay extra if it comes in, If it does not come in then I did not get stuck paying for insurance.

Are you talking about exchange through II (w/ the exchange fee)? You can just cancel the II reservation/exchange for a 1 bd and make a reservation/exchange for a 2bd - does II give you back ALL the points needed for you 1BD?

Now, what is the strategy for internal Sunterra exchanges withOUT the insurance?

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Are you talking about exchange through II (w/ the exchange fee)? You can just cancel the II reservation/exchange for a 1 bd and make a reservation/exchange for a 2bd - does II give you back ALL the points needed for you 1BD?

Now, what is the strategy for internal Sunterra exchanges withOUT the insurance?

I am talking both II and Rci with weeks exchanges not points.

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

Are you talking about exchange through II (w/ the exchange fee)? You can just cancel the II reservation/exchange for a 1 bd and make a reservation/exchange for a 2bd - does II give you back ALL the points needed for you 1BD?

Now, what is the strategy for internal Sunterra exchanges withOUT the insurance?

I am talking both II and Rci with weeks exchanges not points.

BF is talking about straight weeks exchanges. NOT anything to do with Club Sunterra.

You can cancel an exchange booked in II with Club Sunterra, you get back some sort of exchange credit that's good for a year. You lose your exchange fee and have to pay another if/when you use the credit.

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

BF is talking about straight weeks exchanges. NOT anything to do with Club Sunterra.

What is a "straight weeks exchange" ? If it is NOT taking CS Sun Options and giving to II to exchange, then no need to answer b/c it would not apply to me, then.

You can cancel an exchange booked in II with Club Sunterra, you get back some sort of exchange credit that's good for a year. You lose your exchange fee and have to pay another if/when you use the credit.

If we get the exchange 'credit' back for a year, is the 'credit' Sun Options (some portion of the original pts used for the II exchange), or an II Accomodation Certificate (AC) or similar? If NOT Sun Options nor AC, how is the trading power of that 'credit' I get back?

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

What is a "straight weeks exchange" ? If it is NOT taking CS Sun Options and giving to II to exchange, then no need to answer b/c it would not apply to me, then.

Someone who is not a points owner, deposits weeks - gets weeks.

If we get the exchange 'credit' back for a year, is the 'credit' Sun Options (some portion of the original pts used for the II exchange), or an II Accomodation Certificate (AC) or similar? If NOT Sun Options nor AC, how is the trading power of that 'credit' I get back?

It's not points, it's trading power should be comparable to what you what you had.

[Xolodno Member Find all posts View Profile Close Xolodno]

Thought I would revisit this...

Now that Sunterra is Diamond, does "abusing the system" still work? We're there any changes to this policy?

Also, lets say you see a resort open up in II you would like to stay at, is it possible to cancel in the 59 day window in Diamond and then book via II?

Just curious if there were any changes.

[dale7 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dale7]

Thought I would revisit this...

Now that Sunterra is Diamond, does "abusing the system" still work? We're there any changes to this policy?

Also, lets say you see a resort open up in II you would like to stay at, is it possible to cancel in the 59 day window in Diamond and then book via II?

Just curious if there were any changes.

If you cancel at the 59-30 day mark then you only lose 25% of the points.

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

Thought I would revisit this...

Now that Sunterra is Diamond, does "abusing the system" still work? We're there any changes to this policy?

There have been no significant changes.

Also, lets say you see a resort open up in II you would like to stay at, is it possible to cancel in the 59 day window in Diamond and then book via II? Just curious if there were any changes.

You can cancel your Club reservation whenever you'd like. If you paid ~$100 for Reservation Protection Plan, there are no penalties (except that if you cancel very late in the year you may not have another chance to use your points). If you didn't take the RPP the penalty for canceling 59-30days out is a 25% loss of points. What you do with your Club reservation has no bearing on whatever you'd like to do in II (unless you needed the return of points to do it)..