A Note From RCI

RCI Members recently received this e-mail:

RCI has learned that entities with no affiliation with RCI are contacting timeshare owners and incorrectly stating or implying that they are a division of RCI or otherwise affiliated with RCI. These third party entities may offer to assist in the sale or rental of owners’ timeshare interests for an upfront fee or invite an owner to attend an informational meeting to discuss ‘updates’ to RCI exchange programs. Please exercise caution if you are contacted by anyone claiming to be related to RCI and call RCI directly at 1-877-968-7476 (RCI Points^® Members) or 1-800-338-7777 (RCI^® Weeks Members) with any questions.

We also have learned from RCI members that certain transfer companies are offering to transfer legal ownership of an owner’s timeshare in exchange for payment of upfront fees and execution of a power of attorney to complete the transfer. Owners receiving such offers may wish to consult with an attorney and/or their resort to confirm that a transfer of ownership and the corresponding maintenance fee obligation will occur as represented and any resulting sale or rental will be honored. Similarly, if a marketer should ever offer an RCI member the option to ‘trade in’ her or his timeshare in exchange for monetary credit against a new purchase, the RCI member may wish to obtain comfort that the transfer of ownership (of the traded timeshare) and corresponding maintenance fee obligation will take place as promised, keeping in mind that the owner’s home club or resort may require its consent for certain ownership transfers.

RCI values its members and supports efforts by the American Resort Development Association Resort Owners’ Coalition (ARDA-ROC) to help timeshare owners navigate through the secondary market. While some entities are legitimate resellers or rental agents of timeshare inventory, others are not. For additional information, RCI members may wish to consult with their club or resort or visit ARDA-ROC’s Timeshare Resale Resource Center at http://www.ardaroc.org/roc/resource-library/default.aspx?id=2645

Sincerely,

Gordon Gurnik
President
RCI

Nice job by RCI on this...wondering if II has sent a similar letter/warning.  Now to find out how many owners actually pay attention to this.

Education is key in 2012.