Club Sunterra CAN INDEED Trade via DAE

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

Point of information -

For the record: just recieved confirmation from DAE that they have confirmed my deposit with them and Sunterra of a 2BR DEC 07 week at Powhatan Plantation (where I hold deeds now assigned to Club).

Now we see if DAE works for me!

Still waiting on confirmation of a more costly deposit (July 4th week) with SFX.

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

I don't understand. Both SFX and DAE are independents. If SFX can't do it according to Mark unless you have a deeded week, how can DAE do it?

There are 3 most common Sunterra weeks:

1. Deeded. Of course, we can use independents.

2. Deeded but assigned to Sun Club for SunOptions. Can we book our home resort and exchange with an independent? Can we book non home resort and do the same? This part is not clear.

3. Trust. I guess no independents.

I belong to category 2. Does anybody know the answer?

I am going to check with TPI.

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

I belong to category 2. Does anybody know the answer?

I am going to check with TPI.

Per Mark's answer on another thread, in Category 2 you can deposit from your home resort.

Regarding Category 3, were still awaiting an answer. Trust ownership still has home resort advantages, as with a deeded resort. So there's a question as to whether a trust owner might be able to use an independent, as long as the reservation is part of the Trust owners home resort.

To my understanding, the only thing that has been clearly prohibited is using SunOptions to make a reservation outside Home Resort, and then trying to deposit that reservation with an independent.

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

DAE vs SFX Difference

Apparently there is a difference between DAE and SFX with Sunterra. I do not understand, but DAE claims to be able to do number 1 & 2, but not number 3. Indeed, DAE has cleared a recent number 2 deposit and credited me with two weeks for trading.

Mark was kind enough to Email me back tonight that Sunterra has once again refused even a number 2 deposit, that despite Mark's repeated interventions. Unfortunately, that means no number 2 or number 3 exchanges with SFX.

Based on Mark's suggestion that number 2 would work, I paid the SFX Platinum upgrade fee. Since I now can not use SFX, I have asked Mark to close my account and refund that fee. SFX has been totally gracious and helpful throughout this process, so I'm sure they will refund it.

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

TPI responded they do not have experience with reservation through SunOptions but they will accept deeded week exchange. FYI.

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

Apparently there is a difference between DAE and SFX with Sunterra. I do not understand, but DAE claims to be able to do number 1 & 2, but not number 3. Indeed, DAE has cleared a recent number 2 deposit and credited me with two weeks for trading.

Mark was kind enough to Email me back tonight that Sunterra has once again refused even a number 2 deposit, that despite Mark's repeated interventions. Unfortunately, that means no number 2 or number 3 exchanges with SFX.

Based on Mark's suggestion that number 2 would work, I paid the SFX Platinum upgrade fee. Since I now can not use SFX, I have asked Mark to close my account and refund that fee. SFX has been totally gracious and helpful throughout this process, so I'm sure they will refund it.

David - to avoid any confusion and misudnerstandings to the timeshare public, and in the interest of Correct and Accurate Information being dissemintated, please allow me to state the following:

With regards to how Club Sunterra treats member deposits, there is absolutely "No Difference" between SFX, DAE, I.I. RCI or any other exchange company.

We have a very close relationship with Sunterra. Their rules clearly state, (and have been clarified with senior management) that if you have:

1. SunOption Points or
2. A deeded interest that has been transferred to Club Sunterra's points system.
3. Any other entity which is related to Club Sunterra's points system...

Then you are "not allowed" to deposit your time with any outside third party exchange company... period. Those are their rules, for everyone.

Club Sunterra has their own properties and also has access to other 3rd party properties through Interval International and other resources, that they put into their system for your vacation use. You are not even a member of I.I. where you bank your week for an exchange, you just have access to their properties through Club Sunterra.

If someone is telling you, you can deposit a deeded week that is in Club Sunterra's Points system, then they are giving you wrong information, or there is some kind of misunderstanding, because Club Sunterra will not allow or verify the deposit.

Is it possible you have been advised to not officially bank it, and when the other exchange company has someone wanting to use it, they will call you and give you their guest's name, then you call their name into to Club Sunterra as your "Guest"? If so, that is completely different than banking your week and having it cleared and verified.

You are allowed to send someone in as your "Guest". But if you go through that method and Club Sunterra finds out, they would probably void the reservation, so there are possible risks attached.

We have thousands of Sunterra Owners who are Members with us. These are people who own a regular deeded interest at their resort and have not assigned their deed to Club Sunterra's points system. These Members can and do, use an Independent Exchange company, such as SFX.

If Club Sunterra chooses to affiliate exchange companies like I.I. or RCI in the traditional manner where you bank your week or points with an outside exchange company, then it would be illegal to force you into the service of a specific service provider. But that is not the case here, as their system is all internal and serviced by them.

David, with regards to a refund of your membership fee... under these circumstances you will receive a full refund within 7 days. We hope this information is of help in understanding this situation.

From our point of view, we wish Sunterra's points members had the "freedom of choice" for their exchange service, as competative service has it's obvious advantages, and hopefully this will change in the future.

Thank you,

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

Mark - thanks for the clarification.

And to be sure I have it clearly ...

what you are saying here is that if the ownership interest is joined to Club Sunterra in any fashion you cannot reserve and deposit with any exchange company (including II and RCI). This restriction includes both:

• owners who have affiliated their deeds with Club Sunterra but retained ownership of the deed (PeelBoy's Category 2)
• owners whose interest is a trust ownership. (Peelboy's Category 3).

Is this correct?

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

Mark - thanks for the clarification.

And to be sure I have it clearly ...

what you are saying here is that if the ownership interest is joined to Club Sunterra in any fashion you cannot reserve and deposit with any exchange company (including II and RCI). This restriction includes both:

• owners who have affiliated their deeds with Club Sunterra but retained ownership of the deed (PeelBoy's Category 2)
• owners whose interest is a trust ownership. (Peelboy's Category 3).

Is this correct?

Hi Steve - That is exactly how it was explained to me by Club Sunterra. Any entity (Sunoptions, Deeds that were transferred to "Club", or the Trust) that is used in Club Sunterra's points based system, cannot be deposited with any third party exchange company.

Only those who have a Deeded weekly ownership interest that has not been assigned to Club (points based system), can use a third party exchange company such as SFX.

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

Hi Steve - That is exactly how it was explained to me by Club Sunterra. Any entity (Sunoptions, Deeds that were transferred to "Club", or the Trust) that is used in Club Sunterra's points based system, cannot be deposited with any third party exchange company.

Only those who have a Deeded weekly ownership interest that has not been assigned to Club (points based system), can use a third party exchange company such as SFX.

OK - so going back the Sunerra thread at "Ask SFX" I would suggest the edits shown in red below:

Hi Steve et al - if you still own a "deeded interest" at a Sunterra property and that deeded interest has not been affiliated with or assigned to Club Sunterra, you can reserve a week at the resort you specifically own at, and deposit it with SFX.

If you own points within Club Sunterra or if you have a deed that has been affiliated with or assigned to Club Sunterra in exchange for receiving SunOptions, you cannot reserve your time and deposit it with any exchange company, you can only deposit internally within their own properties and any space they may negotiate with other companies. You also have the right to send someone as your Guest into the points "internal system".

Hope this helps...