posted 08-14-2002 20:52            

quote:

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Originally posted by Pat_Rita:
Maybe your response was just a point of information?

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posted 08-15-2002 12:18         

Trevor:
Darn, again I am confused why RCI are needing to maximize their profits since they neither own the unit or paid for them, thats us in this picture of stupid. They have the member fees which pay the bills (if they don't, then raise the fees).
Personally, as an RCI member, I don't want the fees raised. And why does RCI need to maximize profits??!?!? You're kidding, right? LOL! It's not a charity. Never was. Neither is II... Trading Places... Donita's... SFX... well, you know that.

BDK:
RCI started out trying to help people get more bang and variety for their buck by letting people swap their timeshare weeks. Somewhere along the way, they seem to have forgotten that they exist to serve us and not the other way around.
I guess I never thought any of these companies started out trying to help people - certainly not as their main goal. If they did, they'd be not-for-profit, charitable organizations rather they profit-seeking corporations. They seek to provide a service, only in order to make a profit. Ascribing an altruistic, primary motive to any corporation sets you up for disillusionment, IMHO.

BDK:
IMHO it's only surplus when no member wants it.
Agreed. It seems as though any week that's available via bonus vacations & classified as "surplus" ought to be available as an exchange using any week in the system for the trade. And that ought to apply to both RCI & II, IMHO.

Carol C:
A few months back, I tried to cancel 6 years worth of RCI membership and to get my money back, as they supposedly guarantee. ... I never got the cancellation with money back, and I gave up trying. Moral of story: They lie.
Funny, the EXACT same thing happened to me last winter with II ! Maybe it's an industry thing.

plreid:
RCI's conditions should state clearly what they plan to do with our spacebanks.
I'm not sure that's possible, when they have to see how many weeks of a kind are deposited in a given year first, before they'd know how many would likely be surplus. Shouldn't every exchange company have the same standards applied?

Trevor:
The new model for t/s from the developers are the developments of Clubs where RCI is not needed. Cub Regina... Vistana... Fairfields... HGVC's... Marriots... the MP's in Mexico to name but a few.... They all say why their system has replaced the old problematic RCI system. Perhaps this is the greatest criticism of RCI, that so many new developments are no longer selling RCI.
Interesting comments. It is, in fact, possible to trade into at least some of each of the above resort systems via RCI and some (like FF & HGVC) currently sell most new developer inventory with access to RCI as one of their benefits! When the Clubs took on internal trading, they simply saw the cashflow going to the exchange companies and decided (wisely) to set up their own internal exchange programs to try for a piece of that pie. Higher maint fees cover this. Again, it's about money.

Just as a side comment of my own... I noticed, in looking at both II & RCI's "Terms & Conditions" in their Directories... both say something along the lines of, Your decision to purchase should be based primarily upon the benefits of ownership, use and enjoyment... and not upon the anticipated benefits of the exchange program.

Why, look at that! Even they seem to say, Buy where you'd like to use it the most often! Don't buy just to trade or future experiences or changes at the exchange companies may frustrate you! LOL!

posted 08-15-2002 12:41         

The RCI Terms & Conditions, on page 571 of the 2001-2002 Directory, section 10. General paragraph G, says this:

In the event an action at law or in equity is initiated by a Member or guest and RCI prevails, that member or guest shall pay all costs incurred by RCI in defending such action, including reasonable attorneys' fees.

IMHO, since an exchange company has much deeper pockets and access to pricy legal services than almost any member, this translates, for me (and perhaps for Carolinian, also?) into: Be absolutely sure you'd win or don't do it! FWIW, II has very similar language in their Terms & Conditions.

It may release frustration to rant about these companies. But given all this, it's probably better to simply WALK, if your needs are not met by an exchange company. Getting worked up about it doesn't do any good. Getting others worked up in worry over it, especially if they are not actually experiencing problems, is unkind.

quote:

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Originally posted by Lisa P:
[Bplreid:
RCI's conditions should state clearly what they plan to do with our spacebanks.
I'm not sure that's possible, when they have to see how many weeks of a kind are deposited in a given year first, before they'd know how many would likely be surplus. Shouldn't every exchange company have the same standards applied?

[/B]

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posted 08-15-2002 12:51            

quote:

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Originally posted by Fern Modena:
I've often wondered this...

Why does Carolinian keep advocating others sue RCI or report them to their state's A.G.?

Have you taken your own advice, Carolinian? Surely you feel you have proper "grounds." What was the response?

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Belling the Cat...An Aesop's Fable

Long ago, the mice held a general council to consider what measures they could take to outwit their common enemy, the cat. Some said this, and some said that; but at last a young mouse got up and said he had a proposal to make, which he though would meet the case.

"You will all agree," said he, "that our chief danger consists in the sly and treacherous manner in which the enemy approaches us. Now, if we could receive some signal of her approach, we could easily escape from her. I venture, therefore, to propose that a small bell be procured, and attached by a ribbon round the neck of the cat. By this means we should always know when she was about, and could easily retire while she was in the neighborhood."

This proposal met with general applause, until an old mouse got up and said, "That is all very well, but who is to bell the cat?"

The mice looked at one another and nobody spoke. Then the old mouse said, "It is easy to propose impossible remedies."

posted 08-15-2002 05:04            

You have misstated my position. I have posted a number of times that there are significant hurdles to INDIVIUALS suing RCI. I have not advocated that but suggested a much better route is to try to get the state AG's interested in the issue. I have posted several times about 1) the relative deep pockets of RCI in hiring lawyers which individuals could probably not match, 2)
the provisions requiring the action be filed on RCI's turf in Indiana, and 3) the provision about paying RCI's costs if one loses.

Please state my position correctly and not try to set up a straw man so you can knock it down by an incorrect assertion of my position.

As to contact with the AG, in my state he is currently of the wrong party, but as a result of some blunders on redistricting, he may be vulnerable at the next election. If my party wins, I WILL be in a strong position to bring this to their attention, and fully intend to do so. Elected officials tend to listen to advise from someone who has been a state officer in their own political party but not to someone who has done so in the other party.

posted 08-15-2002 07:53            

Could plreids comments have been somewhat tongue-in-cheek based on the following comments of YOURS?????

"It's also your choice to cancel your membership or stop b------g!!!"

posted 08-15-2002 08:08         

Get in touch with RCI's customer service or complaint department. This is the route I took when I did have a complaint with RCI. If enough people complain DIRECTLY to them, then maybe it will get someone's attention at RCI. If you don't get a satisfactory answer from customer service, then go to higher-ups at RCI with your complaints.

In my opinion this is the only way to accomplish change with ANY company, not just RCI.

posted 08-15-2002 09:06            

GinGin -

It may just be your style but your comments often come off as rather judgemental and harsh. TUG is a group where members come to discuss, comment and inquire about all aspects of timeshare. If someone's experience with RCI, II or anyone else is less than satisfying then they have every right to post that experience and elicit others experiences and comments. If you are not happy with the level of discussion then you can choose to read no further and move on....or you can continue to make comments. IMHO the habit that you have of implying that you have the only answer to the way to "deal with" the situation is arrogant and rather offputting....but again, that is just my opinion, I'm not suggesting that everyone who reads this must agree.

Theresa

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"If you want milk, don't sit in the middle of the pasture and wait for the cow to back up to you."

posted 08-15-2002 13:42            

GinGin's x2 -

JP & EdB 1 each - because you would be replying to a non-existing message

posted 08-15-2002 14:23            

Trevor, might you be mortified?

quote:

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Originally posted by Trevor :
I am absolutley mollified at the ongoing actions by RCI to sell weeks as they do.

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[This message has been edited by Corinne (edited 08-15-2002).]

posted 08-15-2002 14:24         

I absolutely can't see what the problem is in my suggesting starting a lawsuit against RCI and ending the constant complaining on the same subject here on TUG.