Clarification on David's rental situation

[MIDisFan]

Just to be fair- this was not my experiece. I knew the resort and room I wanted and was not flexible on the resort. When you fill out the forms you can put backup resorts, but I chose not to. David's let me know there was availability, but they had no owner that could cover the amount of points (this was at 11 months). They asked me if I wanted to go on a waitlist or get my deposit back. They offered other options, but never pressured me or anything. I had already booked a backup room through Disney, so I told them I would go on a waitlist. They said at any time I could ask for my deposit back and get off the waitlist, so I really had nothing to lose. After about a week on the waitlist they found an owner, so I cancelled the Disney reservation.

I know a lot of people are angry about the current situation, but prior to this I only ever heard glowing reviews of David's. Has that changed? Absolutely, but I am just not sure that the same people who used David's to rent from in the past (or particularly first time renters) are going to go the private route. It is definitely more complicated than the one-stop shop the broker offers. Obviously what could happen is that enough owners leave brokers to rent privately, and renters are left with no options through a broker, but I would just be interested to see how many of those potential renters go (IMO) the more complicated route. Again, I mean no offense to owners. It sounds like a lot of you have been kind and helpful to your renters and this is not a personal attack on you renting your points out, but let's pretend that the situation was reversed and instead of renters finding you, that you had to search want ads and then you had to read/agree to their terms in a "take it or leave it" manner. I think at least some owners would probably say that was too much work and they'd rather gift their points to friends etc. Maybe not I mean brokers only exist because both owners and renters signed up. Obviously owners saw value in the model as well (at least in the past). In the end, I think views on this come from our own subjective experiences with renting. Those rent privately successfully think it's easy, but my experience was through a broker was easy and comparatively the alternative looks daunting. Maybe I am in the minority and that's okay. Good luck to everyone!

Brokers aren't going away. There may be some new players in the game when the dust settles but it's still a service of value for some. If you where willing to accept the risk before covid as a renter, I don't see that changing. I don't think the new contracts add any more risk for the renters, if your comfortable with the voucher. It's the owners who will take on the risk moving forward. It will lower the supply of points for Brokers until some owners feel comfortable with the terms. Only time will tell how it will all work out, but a lower supply is almost guaranteed in the short term. At the same time demand will probably be as well.

 

[Jen F17]

Renter can’t ask for a credit card chargeback until the date has passed and Disney is still closed.

I had to cancel 3 reservations, the fourth is coming up. I refunded the 70%, so far. One, they were weird numbers of points. This puts them all back into the queue for either my use or their rental. They will only guarantee the 30% with a new rental. David’s is being helpful & willing to thereby the points. I’m planning to refund the remaining rentals too, if need be. One renter is very optimistic on keeping their September reservation. I’m not optimistic about my September reservation. Especially being from NY & limited capacity. Will I have to quarantine in place?
will their be a lottery? I have 3 separate reservations. Will I get one & not the other 2? Too many issues. Will i be able to sit at the pool or go to a park? I haven’t canceled those, but it’s all not looking great to me. At this point, I’m glad I have my own pool & the sun has decided to come out.

I hope this information helped.

 

[Jen F17]

Wow. Just wow.

As far as the credit card company refunding, not necessarily true. I had a renter cancel in under 30 days 5-6 years ago. They did a stop payment & everything. David’s found me a new renter. So I didn’t lose, but it’s precarious.

I did mention above, I returned every renter’s deposit.

David’s is not the problem. DVC is. With their significant lack of communication.

 

[Sandisw]

As far as the credit card company refunding, not necessarily true. I had a renter cancel in under 30 days 5-6 years ago. They did a stop payment & everything. David’s found me a new renter. So I didn’t lose, but it’s precarious.

I did mention above, I returned every renter’s deposit.

David’s is not the problem. DVC is. With their significant lack of communication.

I am glad you were fine giving Davids the money back, even though your original renters didn’t get it,

I think that is why every owner who is involved has to decide if they are comfortable moving forward with him, Not sure what you mean about DVC being a problem. They have shared via email and website the policies in place for cancellations.

Davids has definitely not dealt with all owners the same but it sounds like you have decided you are comfortable with his new contract and thanks for sharing how it’s gone for you

 

[Marionnette]

As far as the credit card company refunding, not necessarily true. I had a renter cancel in under 30 days 5-6 years ago. They did a stop payment & everything. David’s found me a new renter. So I didn’t lose, but it’s precarious.

I did mention above, I returned every renter’s deposit.

David’s is not the problem. DVC is. With their significant lack of communication.

I would argue that Covid is the problem. It’s the “solutions” that David’s and/or DVC have designed that people take issue with. Both have dropped the ball on communication.

If you’re fine with returning money to David’s and re-renting your points out thru him under the new intermediary agreement, then that’s your business. As long as you’re okay with the arrangements, that’s all that matters. I hope they are able to find renters for your points. Have they said what will happen if they don’t find a renter before the points expire? Will you get paid regardless?

 

[disneypharm]

Brokers aren't going away. There may be some new players in the game when the dust settles but it's still a service of value for some. If you where willing to accept the risk before covid as a renter, I don't see that changing. I don't think the new contracts add any more risk for the renters, if your comfortable with the voucher. It's the owners who will take on the risk moving forward. It will lower the supply of points for Brokers until some owners feel comfortable with the terms. Only time will tell how it will all work out, but a lower supply is almost guaranteed in the short term. At the same time demand will probably be as well.

Not true! Based on the first contract, your reservation was refundable if no accommodation was provided. The new contract for the voucher has the following: "In the event of a global pandemic, natural disaster, force Majeure or any other event outside the reasonable control of David's Vacation Club Rentals, this Credit remains non-refundable and no modification, cancelations or rebooking will be permitted. "
And there are many more clauses!! I wish people would stop assuming things without reading all the contracts and all the discussions from previous threads/posts!

 

[fancymouse]

Not true! Based on the first contract, your reservation was refundable if no accommodation was provided. The new contract for the voucher has the following: "In the event of a global pandemic, natural disaster, force Majeure or any other event outside the reasonable control of David's Vacation Club Rentals, this Credit remains non-refundable and no modification, cancelations or rebooking will be permitted. "
And there are many more clauses!! I wish people would stop assuming things without reading all the contracts and all the discussions from previous threads/posts!

I don’t think @MIDisFan was talking about being comfortable with the voucher contract in the current situation. I’m pretty sure they were referring to the new contracts that David’s has for future rentals which say they will provide a vouncher in the event a future closure. Understandably, people are wary of the current vouchers since no one knows if they’ll be good or David’s will weather this storm, but if they do, this new clause will go a long way to reassure renters that they won’t be out of luck completely in the event of a resort closure in the future. Going forward it will be different as renters will be aware of this voucher where current renters didn’t explicitly agree to them.

 

[Sandisw]

I don’t think @MIDisFan was talking about being comfortable with the voucher contract in the current situation. I’m pretty sure they were referring to the new contracts that David’s has for future rentals which say they will provide a vouncher in the event a future closure. Understandably, people are wary of the current vouchers since no one knows if they’ll be good or David’s will weather this storm, but if they do, this new clause will go a long way to reassure renters that they won’t be out of luck completely in the event of a resort closure in the future. Going forward it will be different as renters will be aware of this voucher where current renters didn’t explicitly agree to them.

I agree that was what they were referring to in the post. But I don’t think the new voucher offer if a closure happens in the new contract is going to have better terms than the current one.

So, I do think that will be a bigger risk a renter will have to consider moving forward and it may have an effect on rental market, depending on the discount it truly offers

 

[Jen F17]

I am glad you were fine giving Davids the money back, even though your original renters didn’t get it,

I think that is why every owner who is involved has to decide if they are comfortable moving forward with him, Not sure what you mean about DVC being a problem. They have shared via email and website the policies in place for cancellations.

Davids has definitely not dealt with all owners the same but it sounds like you have decided you are comfortable with his new contract and thanks for sharing how it’s gone for you

David’s is giving the money back. For this situation. The renter can’t help that this reservation was canceled. If I didn’t want to refund the money, they would’ve waited to find another renter. I gave it back because I can’t imagine if some people are out of jobs. It wasn’t a lot, but maybe grocery money.

 

[momincolorado]

David’s is giving the money back. For this situation. The renter can’t help that this reservation was canceled. If I didn’t want to refund the money, they would’ve waited to find another renter. I gave it back because I can’t imagine if some people are out of jobs. It wasn’t a lot, but maybe grocery money.

David’s policy has been not to refund renters but offer a one time use voucher instead. Has he indicated to you that the renters in your case would be refunded?

 

[Disney1fan2002]

David’s policy has been not to refund renters but offer a one time use voucher instead. Has he indicated to you that the renters in your case would be refunded?

I can tell you as an owner, David's implied in the e-mails they sent me that if I could refund the money, the renters would get a refund. It wasn't until I read here that renters are not getting a refund. I don't know if Jen F can absolutely confirm her renters got the money she refunded, I can tell you that David's want her to believe they are refunding the money.

 

[momincolorado]

I can tell you as an owner, David's implied in the e-mails they sent me that if I could refund the money, the renters would get a refund. It wasn't until I read here that renters are not getting a refund. I don't know if Jen F can absolutely confirm her renters got the money she refunded, I can tell you that David's want her to believe they are refunding the money.

I’m aware of an e-mail that went out to owners asking them to refund or re-rent, in which he indicated that the refund would go towards the renter’s voucher. I was not aware that he is sending e-mails to (some) owners, in which he implies that he is actually refunding the renter. In that email, there is presumably no mention of the voucher? Appreciate the reply!

 

[Sandisw]

David’s is giving the money back. For this situation. The renter can’t help that this reservation was canceled. If I didn’t want to refund the money, they would’ve waited to find another renter. I gave it back because I can’t imagine if some people are out of jobs. It wasn’t a lot, but maybe grocery money.

You are one of the very few owners who has been allowed for it to go to a renter vs, them getting the voucher,

As mentioned, he has not allowed other owners that and told them the renter would get the voucher and not the money.

Good for your renters, The frustration expressed here is from both owners and renters who are Not getting the same Cooperation from Davids as you.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

forgot to insert quote

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I’m aware of an e-mail that went out to owners asking them to refund or re-rent, in which he indicated that the refund would go towards the renter’s voucher. I was not aware that he is sending e-mails to (some) owners, in which he implies that he is actually refunding the renter. In that email, there is presumably no mention of the voucher? Appreciate the reply!

The e-mail I got, stated that if I could not refund the 70%, the renter would then get a voucher. I was under the impression that if I could refund the money, the renter would get the refund.

 

[momincolorado]

The e-mail I got, stated that if I could not refund the 70%, the renter would then get a voucher. I was under the impression that if I could refund the money, the renter would get the refund.

Ok, that clarifies it for me. Thanks!

 

[Dracula]

The e-mail I got, stated that if I could not refund the 70%, the renter would then get a voucher. I was under the impression that if I could refund the money, the renter would get the refund.

Here’s what I got. No refund, just a travel credit (aka voucher):

“We ask, at this point, that you do not cancel this reservation if it appears active, but continue to work with us to see if there are any alternatives arrangements that we could pursue to assist this family.

We are asking if you would be willing to return the 70% of funds for the John Doe reservation. The funds that are returned will go towards a Travel Credit for the family. This Travel Credit will be in the total amount that the Doe Family paid for their reservation including our commission.

If refunding the money is not feasible, would you be willing to re-rent your returned points? By re-renting your returned points the funds from the new guest will go towards the Travel Credit.

We understand that this is a big request and a situation that we have never encountered. We are hoping that we can all work together to find a viable solution.”

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Renters are *not* getting money back. David's is holding it.

That's why so many of us are so outraged.

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

The e-mail I got, stated that if I could not refund the 70%, the renter would then get a voucher. I was under the impression that if I could refund the money, the renter would get the refund.

The e-mail from David's may have implied that the 70% would be refunded to the renter (it's understandable that this would be a more favorable impression to leave the owner with) but, as others have reported, it's more likely that the renter actually still received a voucher "funded" by the money that was returned.

But those funds almost certainly won't be tucked away in escrow waiting on the renter to redeem their voucher. On the contrary, the funds will be used to cover immediate costs and, hopefully, funding will still be available when renters attempt to make new reservations with their vouchers.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

But those funds almost certainly won't be tucked away in escrow waiting on the renter to redeem their voucher. On the contrary, the funds will be used to cover immediate costs and, hopefully, funding will still be available when renters attempt to make new reservations with their vouchers.

This is why I don't understand why David's is not just matching us back up with our original renters. It is how it should be., with the original contract in place.