Need Advice: Wyndam Dissolving FairShare Exchange-Fixed Week

[William R. Unger]

I have owned at Fairfield Glade since 1978. Over the years, my wife and I have used the Fax Program. It was convenient, met out vacation needs and was affordable. Now that Wyndham has decided to terminate the Fax Program, my wife and I believe it is to "maximize" their revenues and make us pay for our "timeshare" a 2nd time - by converting to points - Now we are forced to either use RCI - which we chose not to use - or convert to the "point system" at great expense. I have sent a letter to Wyndham basically saying what I'm saying now. I do not believe it is fair for Wyndham in their search for greater revenues to take away a benefit we have had for many years - and make us pay "additional monies" for what we have already used for many years. I just don't think it is fair.

[fairfieldglade]

Dear William,

Thanks. I think it is great that you took the time to write. Like you, I feel Wyndham is terminating the Fax Program to maximize their revenues. They are taking away something that was promised to us. We are claiming this is unfair b/c it reduces our timeshare ownership and eliminates the opportunity & simplicity to visit the other Glades for a nominal fee.

This is not about complaining/whining…it is about being unhappy & disappointed about Wyndham’s inability to make the system work and keep the benefits fixed-week timeshare owners were promised when they bought in...Management has failed us. If the system failed, you would think good management would improvise for a solution that would benefit timeshare owners, rather than just yank it out from under us.

Recently, I tried to help everyone understand how and why we feel like we do by comparing Fixed Week w/Fax Exchange versus Points w/RCI. Even though one of these choices may be better for me does not mean my choice is better for everyone else. I am happy for everyone who is happy with the point-program. I was just trying to get forum members to understand how they might feel if they were in our shoes. I just don’t think point-system timeshare owners would be any happier than we are if their exchange changed significantly in some way from what was originally promised to them...unless management improvised in some way to make it better for the fixed-week owners instead of worse. I also do not understand the insensitivity and understanding of some about why we are upset about this.

While contemplating converting to points, I studied the program intensively, yet I am sure I do not understand all about the points system. However, I do know how our fixed time week was "supposed to work" when it was sold to my parents and when salesmen explained it to us many times. As someone noted, every benefit that was promised to each fixed timeshare owners is NOT spelled out in our contracts, but from where I come from a verbal contract and a handshake is just as important and is legally binding…though more difficult to prove.

I feel fixed timeshare owners are getting a raw deal. I also think there are a lot of fixed-week timeshare owners who are just as angry and frustrated with Wyndham’s October letter of dissolution of our FairShare Fax Exchange program as we are. I just wish I could do something about it rather than trying to figure out how to make the best of the situation.

Thanks again for your post.