Deposit Rejected

[SamH Member Find all posts View Profile Close SamH]

Hi Mark,

I am a member who has not used SFX much but has deposited several of my Royal Holiday Club weeks in the anticipation of future exchanges (including one to which we are looking forward in November).

Within the past month, I called SFX to see if they would accept a Lake Placid Club Lodges unit. The agent said yes and indicated the dates that would be accepted. When I saw that the recent promotion was extended to May 31, 2011, I decided to book a unit at Lake Placid Club Lodges through my Royal Holiday Club account and deposit it with SFX. Unfortunately, the deposit was rejected. When I called to ask why, I was told that the resort was not up to the caliber accepted by SFX and that members did not request exchanges into this resort.

I have never stayed at the resort so I cannot comment as to its quality. Based on the reviews I have read, I do not believe it is worse than resorts I have been offered by SFX in prior searches.

That is not really the point, though. I do not believe that the quality of the resort changed significantly in the past month. If I was initially told that Lake Placid Club Lodges would not be accepted for deposit, I would not have reserved the unit. When I cancel my reservation, I will be required to pay Royal Holiday a $40 cancellation fee. Unfortunately, I cannot use the week as I have an RCI exchange for the same week.

I still plan on using SFX but am disappointed that I cannot rely on recent statements made by its agents and will be more careful in making my deposits.

I would appreciate if you could list the US resorts with which Royal Holiday Club is partnered that SFX would accept as deposits.

Thanks.

Sam

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

Hi Mark,

I am a member who has not used SFX much but has deposited several of my Royal Holiday Club weeks in the anticipation of future exchanges (including one to which we are looking forward in November).

Within the past month, I called SFX to see if they would accept a Lake Placid Club Lodges unit. The agent said yes and indicated the dates that would be accepted. When I saw that the recent promotion was extended to May 31, 2011, I decided to book a unit at Lake Placid Club Lodges through my Royal Holiday Club account and deposit it with SFX. Unfortunately, the deposit was rejected. When I called to ask why, I was told that the resort was not up to the caliber accepted by SFX and that members did not request exchanges into this resort.

I have never stayed at the resort so I cannot comment as to its quality. Based on the reviews I have read, I do not believe it is worse than resorts I have been offered by SFX in prior searches.

That is not really the point, though. I do not believe that the quality of the resort changed significantly in the past month. If I was initially told that Lake Placid Club Lodges would not be accepted for deposit, I would not have reserved the unit. When I cancel my reservation, I will be required to pay Royal Holiday a $40 cancellation fee. Unfortunately, I cannot use the week as I have an RCI exchange for the same week.

I still plan on using SFX but am disappointed that I cannot rely on recent statements made by its agents and will be more careful in making my deposits.

I would appreciate if you could list the US resorts with which Royal Holiday Club is partnered that SFX would accept as deposits.

Thanks.

Sam

Sam - Thank you for your post. So that I can look further into this, do you recall approximately how long ago you spoke with the agent?

In taking a look at your account, I see in the past you have registered the Affina Dumont and Crown Plaza in NYC as your qualifed resorts for deposit. If you could deposit either one of those resorts as you have in the past, they definitely qualify. Also... these NY properties have much higher Trading-Power for your exchange than the unit at Lake Placid.

As far as Lake Placid Club Lodges not being lesser than what we have booked you for your exchange in the past, Grand Timber Lodge.... you may wish to review these links.

Hope this helps...

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

[SamH Member Find all posts View Profile Close SamH]

Hi Mark,

Thank you for your reply. I believe it was around President's week, maybe one week earlier, while I was in Colorado.

I would agree that the Grand Timber Lodge has better reviews. We are looking forward to doing there this upcoming November.

I was offered a unit in Streamside at Vail during a prior search that I ended up canceling. I have since stayed at Streamside (and enjoyed my stay) but do not think that those units are necessarily higher quality than the Lake Placid Club Lodges, which are rated silver crown by RCI.

I would like to book a New York City week but Royal Holiday does not offer either the Affinia Dumont or the Crowne Plaza. There are replacements but I cannot search for them on-line and have a preference not to speak with their agents directly.

Thanks.

Sam

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

Unfortunately for us RHC members, RHC accomplishes points 'creep' by changing their affiliations. Affinia Dumont which was quite reasonable, then RHC added Affinia Manhattan which, while well located was ~50% more, then both were dropped and replaced by Crown Plaza which was another ~50% more points. They had a contract for four rooms at Crown Plaza for only a year, now they have the Roosevelt Hotel and the Intercontinental NY Barclay that tops out at 85Kpts, and RHC still sells 5000 point packages?

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

Hi Mark,

Thank you for your reply. I believe it was around President's week, maybe one week earlier, while I was in Colorado.

I would agree that the Grand Timber Lodge has better reviews. We are looking forward to doing there this upcoming November.

I was offered a unit in Streamside at Vail during a prior search that I ended up canceling. I have since stayed at Streamside (and enjoyed my stay) but do not think that those units are necessarily higher quality than the Lake Placid Club Lodges, which are rated silver crown by RCI.

I would like to book a New York City week but Royal Holiday does not offer either the Affinia Dumont or the Crowne Plaza. There are replacements but I cannot search for them on-line and have a preference not to speak with their agents directly.

Thanks.

Sam

Hi Sam and thank you for your reply. May I ask why your preference is not to speak with their agents directly to get a reservation?

If you would rather respond via Private Message, that is fine with me.

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

[SamH Member Find all posts View Profile Close SamH]

Hi Mark,

Sent you a PM.

Thanks.
Sam