Inital Fee For New Members

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I inquired if there would be an initial fee if we transferred a week to someone who is not already an RCI member.

The answer is yes, $98.

They called it both a "processing fee" and an "Initial Subscription fee", so I have asked if it covers the first year of membership.

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

I inquired if there would be an initial fee if we transferred a week to someone who is not already an RCI member.

The answer is yes, $98.

They called it both a "processing fee" and an "Initial Subscription fee", so I have asked if it covers the first year of membership.

It does not. Transferring a deposited week and/or combined tpu's cost $98 per deposit and that is assuming the person has an rci membership. If you no longer need your you can transfer the remaining time you have to the new person. Otherwise they will need to set up their own account.

http://www.rci.com/static/docs/namer...ns_agrmt_1.pdf

If you are transferring more than one week, it may make sense to pay the $109 combine fee and then a single $98 transfer fee, rather than the $98 per week transfer fee.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Perhaps I did not make it clear that I mean transferring ownership. I realize "transfer" means something else in RCI-speak, but I am using it in place of "sell", because "sell" implies receiving something for it.

So, I am not talking about "transferring" a deposited week.

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

Perhaps I did not make it clear that I mean transferring ownership. I realize "transfer" means something else in RCI-speak, but I am using it in place of "sell", because "sell" implies receiving something for it.

So, I am not talking about "transferring" a deposited week.

Oh in that case, as far as RCI is concerned you aren't transferring anything. You are transferring your ownership to someone else (which RCI has nothing to do with and doesn't care in any way shape or form, nor can they charge you for doing so) and then once the new owner has it they can sign up for their own brand spanking new RCI account using their "new" timeshare. They would just need to enroll with a timeshare deeded in their name. RCI doesn't care if they bought it from the developer, bought it resale, or was paid to accept it. For RCI transferring (and the associated fee) would refer to transferring your RCI paid membership to someone else and/or transferring a deposit credit.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

OK. Here's how it went:

Me: If we transfer a week to someone who is not an RCI member, will they be charged a fee to join RCI? Thanks,
- - - - - -
Them: Hello,

Thank you for your e-mail.

RCI’s Guest Certificate program allows members to share their RCI vacation benefits with family and friends. The Guest Certificate ensures that guests will not experience difficulty upon arrival at a host resort.

The Guest Certificate fee is $59, and the person listed on the Guest Certificate must be at least 21 years of age. You may add a Guest Certificate any time up to the check-in day.

Guest Certificates are available online for any standard exchange and Extra Vacations/Last Call confirmed online. Hover over the “Home” tab, and click on the “My Vacation Plans” option. Under the “Confirmed" tab, scroll down to find the confirmation for which you are looking, and click on the “Create Guest Certificate” option located to the right of the confirmed exchange details.

If you would like your guest to make his/her own arrangements, please contact us first, and provide your guest's name, address and the specific deposit you wish your guest to use for the exchange. Our staff will then be able to work with your guest directly.

Thank you for your interest in RCI.
- - - - - -
Me:

I have been familiar with the Guest Certificate program since it began. That is not the question.

To clarify, by "transfer" I mean ownership. So, if we sell or give ownership of one of our weeks to someone who is not an RCI member and they want to be, will you charge them a fee to join. I mean an initial fee in addition to the annual subscription fee.

Thanks.
- - - - - -
Them:

Hello,

Thank you for your e-mail.

We regret any confusion caused by our earlier e-mail.

Your RCI membership is a separate legal asset from your timeshare property. If your timeshare properties are to be divided, either you or your co-subscriber will need to establish a new RCI subscribing membership. Please complete and return the below Membership Transfer Application (MTA) link with the necessary $98 initial subscription fee along with the appropriate ownership documents.

https://www.rci.com/docs/KnowledgeBa...ns_agrmt_1.pdf

The individual retaining membership number XXXX-XXXXX should sign the form as “Seller,” and the individual establishing the new membership should sign as “Purchaser.” Once the membership is set up, the “Purchaser” will receive a permanent RCI ID number and membership materials.

Please be sure to update the deed at the resort as well.

Please include the $98 MTA processing fee by check, money order, or credit card. This fee is only applicable if deposited vacations, Deposit Credits, or remaining membership is being transferred to the new account.

We are unable to accept credit card information via e-mail. You may fax the completed documentation to us at 317-805-9335. Otherwise, our mailing address is:

RCI
P.O. Box 2099
Carmel, IN 46082-2099

Kind Regards,
- - - - - -
Me: Thanks,

I am forwarding this to our prospective new owner, and we will complete what needs to be done when we transfer the week to them.

Can they get a discounted membership (annual fees) with the initial subscription fee and/or does the $98 cover the first year?
- - - - - -
Them:

Hello,

Thank you for your e-mail.

They are eligible for any promotional fares shown on the Internet. However, the Membership Transfer Fee is in addition to the Membership Fees.

Thank you for your interest in RCI.

Kind Regards,
- - - - - -
Me: You have referred to it as initial subscription fee and a Membership
Transfer Fee.

That's confusing.

We will not be transferring our membership. We will still have other
weeks we own and intend to continue with our membership.

Does that make a difference?
- - - - - -
Them:

Hello,

Thank you for your e-mail.

Since you are transferring the Ownership of one of your Weeks, they are
required to pay the Processing Fee of that transaction, which is known
as a Membership Transfer Fee.

We regret any confusion.

Thank you for your interest in RCI.

Kind Regards,

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

The agent just wasn't understanding what you were trying to do. The is the part of the reply that explains it:

Please include the $98 MTA processing fee by check, money order, or credit card. This fee is ONLY applicable if deposited vacations, Deposit Credits, or remaining membership is being transferred to the new account.

Since you aren't transferring a deposited vacation, deposit credit or remaining (paid) membership time, the $98 fee is not applicable to your situation.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I agree . . . I just noticed the "This fee is only applicable if deposited vacations, Deposit Credits, or remaining membership is being transferred to the new account."

I will bring that up with them and see what they say.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

However, if you read the form:

https://www.rci.com/docs/KnowledgeBa...ns_agrmt_1.pdf

that is not the case. You have to do the form and pay the $98 even if you are not transferring any Spacebanked stuff or remaining membership.

At least according to the form.

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

If you sell someone a timeshare that is RCI affiliated,without transferring any deposited weeks or membership, there is no RCI fee. Why do you even have to ask ?

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Here is the online enrollment application:

https://www.rci.com/join-rci

and the only fee is the annual subscription fee, with the option for multi-year at a discount.

Over the years, here and elsewhere, there has been mention of an initial enrollment fee.

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

Rci points membership ownership has a fee whether the new owner already has a points account or not in addition to the annual fee and the fee applies for each week added to the membership- points weeks only. You can add as many weeks ownership onto the included weeks membership for no fee or form. A stand alone weeks membership does not have this fee either. As I said before rci doesn't call what you are doing transferring a week. They call it giving it away and they have no form or fee when you give away a non points week and the the new owner wants to enroll that week. The new owner simply pays the annual membership fee. 10 plus years ago there may have been an enrollment fee and I may have seen remnants about it buried in guides but they magically have always talked about waiving that magical enrollment fee (or in some cases re-enrollment fee if you let your membership lapse).

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

These things can be confusing and even more so for someone thinking about getting involved for the first time, and who has not been privy to 25 years of active involvement.

Even with that, and with an assumed understanding, you still have to be certain that you, they, and RCI are on the same page.

On one hand, the online enrollment form that would be used if a Spacebank or membership is not being transferred does not require an enrollment fee:

https://www.rci.com/join-rci

and on the other hand, the form linked to by feedback does not appear to require a Spacebank or membership transfer, and has a $98 fee:

Here is the wording on the form, explaining when you should use it:

"When to Complete the Membership Transfer Application:
• If you have sold one or more of your timeshare weeks.
• If you have transferred all or part of your ownership in a timeshare week(s) by means other than a sale (for example, a gift transfer or a
transfer as a result of a divorce or separation agreement)."

That is the entire wording for when to use that form, and based on that, it is to be used whenever you give ownership of a week to someone else. That was Feedback's answer, too.

So, there appears to be two right answers.

What I am trying to do is determine which right answer RCI agrees with.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

The agent just wasn't understanding what you were trying to do. The is the part of the reply that explains it:


Since you aren't transferring a deposited vacation, deposit credit or remaining (paid) membership time, the $98 fee is not applicable to your situation.

"Hello,

Thank you for your question.

There are only two ways to transfer a week to someone else.

The first is the non permanent one which is the Guest Certificate. This is for the purpose of giving someone one week. However, if you are transferring anything other than that, it does require the Transfer Fee.

Please advise exactly what you are trying to transfer?

Thank you for your interest in RCI.

Kind Regards, "

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Hello,

Thank you for your e-mail.

If you are giving ownership interest's (SIC) it requires the MTA.

Thank you for your interest in RCI.

Kind Regards,

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

So, RCI wants $98 if you sell or give a week (ownership) to someone else.

That's ridiculous.

How is that any of their business?