RCI Reviews

My experience is similar to Linda's. We purchased a package on 5/27/14 with two "bonus" trips. We were told we would receive a package in the mail detailing everything included in our trip and an email with our "bonus" cruise. An envelope arrives with a travel brochure and two certificates for the regular trips - no bonus information. As of today, still haven't received the email to activate our bonus cruise and when you call, they tell you that your bonus trip has been activated and must be booked by 8/27. Yet you can't get through to the person to book it, nor can anyone give you any information about resorts and availability. They all tell you to call them directly, yet when you call they've already left for the day or are not available.

I booked a cruise with Oceania thru RCI (where I am a points member). I modified my flight dates and paid a $350 charge on the day the flight was booked, 3/11/2014. The invoice confirming my flight indicated the correct flights and the $350 Air deviation charge. Last week RCI charged my credit card for the final 50% of the cruise (which was indicated on the cruise invoice), AND an additional $350 charge for air deviation AND an additional $398 charge for airport deviation. When I questioned, they agreed to reverse the $350 double charge but said the $398 is valid. They indicated that it was "mentioned" to me in Feb. Yes it was and OH BY THE WAY they waived the fee!!! That is why there were no $398 charges on the invoice!! I would not have agreed to the flights with that additional charge had it not been waived. I would have booked it myself. How can they charge my credit card for more than the invoice? Is that even legal? What can I do? They refuse to reverse it. They indicated that if I dispute the charges ''my cruise would likely be cancelled''. HOW CAN THAT BE? HELP!!

On 6/23/2014, we purchased a cruise package with airline tickets for 8 people. On 6/24/2014, during the 24-hour reservation requirement, (where you can cancel or change a flight within 24 hours without any fees) we called back to pay and we tried to change 4 of the people's date of return. We were told there is a fee of $189 per person. Figuring there was no option, we paid anyways. We discovered the 24-hour reservation requirement and contacted RCI again. They quoted the same thing and when we brought up the mandated regulation, they said they are familiar with it and will call us back after some investigation. We called again, they still said it will cost us $189 per person and these fees are by the airlines. They said the fees are the difference in airline prices. To fly on the original date it's $397 and to change the date the $313.

When using your points or weeks for a cruise, make sure you compare the prices with the actual cruise line. It seems that RCI likes to create their own fees - when you think you are getting a good price using your points, you're not. They actually double the port and govt fees. When you compare the cruise with RCI and the cruise company, the only difference in pricing is a few dollars. I am not happy at all, and on top you need to pay an exchange fee to book it. It's a scam. District attorney should look into their practices.

I have owned a timeshare week and been a RCI member since 1999. In the first 5 years, I was able to book vacations with millions of options. My timeshare is a Gold Crown Resort, so the options were endless. In the last 5 plus years, I am lucky if I can find a vacation 6 months in advance and the options are few and non-popular destinations. My timeshare status with RCI has not changed, but RCI now offers last call, special offers and discount vacations to the public. I don't think you have to be a timeshare owner to be an RCI member now. I don't think my deposited week even matters to RCI now. RCI is now just a vacation planner site for anyone.

I made reservations through RCI Travel on Feb. 7th 2014 for 2 weeks in Mazatlan Mexico July 5-19. They sent me a confirmation for the second week. However, I never received confirmation for our first week. I called RCI on June 25th and spent 2 hours on the phone and they said it will be sent in an email. I never got it. So June 26th I called again and got the same runaround. I waited for the email and it never came. I called on June 27th, spoke with Beatrice at Ex. **, she was very nice and assured me things would be taken care of. She emailed her boss and still no confirmation. June 28th, I called Beatrice again and I'm currently on the phone with her. I have spent over 5 hours and still no progress. I'm very upset and frustrated with RCI service.

I believe that we spoke to the same salesperson - oh yea, he was going to be our personal contact from now on. We needed to be sure to take down his cell number. After reading some of the comments, especially from Howard, I called the process off. Thank you, Howard. You saved us over $3000.00 in membership and processing fees! I am calling my resort to let them know about him.

My wife and I already owned a time share at ARI and kept losing weeks. We considered upgrading our membership when the phone rang and it was a charming smooth talking representative from RCI. We listened to the sales pitch and decided to sign up. Bad move. The salesman promised that we could call him anytime. He even gave us his cell phone number. Before we signed on the dotted line he was always available, he even called to say "hi" a few times. After signing a contract we started getting his voice mail. Ok no big deal. But every time? He never called back even after leaving threatening messages. Before he guaranteed that he was our personal travel representative. I want to warn potential RCI customers. Beware of the smooth talking snake. We have not used our membership yet, but if the lies that we were told is any indication, we're screwed.

How do these unscrupulous people stay in business? People be warned, they are vipers! They own Holiday Inn Resorts, magnuson water resort and many more, I am sure. Those are two. Unfortunately the sales people got us to come and visit. Rude! And please note, it is federal law they cannot keep you there past 90 minutes.

Shortly after posting this review I received a message from a RCI's E-Commence. At this time I am able to access my account and am not 100% sure RCI ever blocked it. They claim they never blocked it and some of the evidence they provided seems to indicate that could be true. Truth is I don't know what happened, basically I'm not convinced either way at this point. I do know I currently have access. I'd also like to state that even though the staff on the phone and through RCI's on-line chat were completely useless, out and out rude at times, the person (s?) I dealt with via their E-Com Dept. was always professional and resolved every issue I had regarding this matter and my most recent exchange. I wish every dealing with RCI was handled in the same manner as their E-Com Dept resolved this issue. At this time I'm willing to give RCI a little more benefit of the doubt. Had my dealings with the first few RCI staff regarding this matter been as professional my update rating would easily be a four or five rather than three. It's not possible to "unring" a bell.

I bought a timeshare from Las Vegas Grandview in 2011, total rip off. They sugar-coated the whole thing. Telling me that if you are on a vacation budget, RCI is the choice for me. Total lie! It is hard to book anything online or over the phone. Everything is booked for 2 to 3 years in advance and there is not very many options for the type of timeshare I bought, even though I was informed differently. I bought mine for $4900 and can't use it. I am still making payments of 94 bucks a month and more than half goes to interest and some $1.31 finance daily charge. I still owe $2900. Does anyone know how to get out of this? What happens if I stop paying? Times are tough for me, but I make the payment in fear that I will get sued. Can they sue me and foreclose? What is the worst that can happen? Anyone out there stop paying? I do not even see it on my credit report that I even own it?

When I called to ask about cruises, I was given a hard-core sales pitch for their "hotel savings" program. They offered me all types of vacations and savings for $1,699. I bought it all. Big mistake. When I went to book, I found that they only had a few limited hotels involved, and that the fees associated with their "promotion" made the resorts more expensive than if I booked directly on Priceline or Orbitz.

I have used RCI for 20 years or more and never felt the need to leave until this Resort. It was unclean and the rotten steps were unsafe. Our rockers on the front porch were unsafe! A blanket in the extra bedroom had a huge spot of dried blood and grass clippings, leading us to feel very uncomfortable. No service for T.V. or phone AND a huge dirty spot in the Master bedroom. So we checked out.... being charged $240 for our Yorkie.

A few months ago, my wife and I booked a getaway with Diamond Resorts through RCI. Our reservations were for two-bedroom villa at the Mystic Dunes Resort and Golf Club in Orlando. As soon as I completed the payment online, I received a confirmation number and a reservation certificate in my email. I printed out everything. About two days before we were to leave for the trip, we received an information packet from Diamond Resorts. In the packet, it stated that we would be staying at the Holidays Inn. We acted as if we never got the packet and we to the resort. The receptionist looked in the computer for our reservation and found our confirmation and payment. We had a great time but we are still not sure about what was going on with the packet. We were considering getting a timeshare, but after that experience we are not going to chance it.

I booked 2 -1 bedroom suites at Pueblo Bonito Rose as Extra Vacations through RCI. I then booked flights for everyone going with me. 3 weeks later RCI calls and says that per Pueblo Bonito, because I am an owner at Emerald Bay I can't book 1 bedroom, only Studios & they have to CANCEL MY ROOMS. I told them I had never heard of such a thing, (why would they penalize their own owners?) and I would call Pueblo Bonito and get it straightened out. I spoke with Pueblo Bonito and they said that is not their policy, it must be from RCI.

We signed up with RCI on 04/10/2014 and paid for a vacation package. As of this date 05/17/14 we have not received a password or any other documentation of membership to this club. We cannot book anything from RCI. I have called and spoke with James **, Jim ** and Andrew several times all with empty promises or putting packages in the mail and e-mails and nothing but lies. We were very patient and gave them the benefit of the doubt until a few days ago then I called my credit card company to dispute the charges. It is their hands now. This was a scam, pure and simple! Beware of this place. Do not do business with them. Nothing happened, I got nowhere with these people. I got no service and nothing for my money.

RCI has corrected the trading power. The trading power of my combined weeks was restored and the correct number was deducted from the week I selected.

RCI CRUISE and VACATIONS = SCAM!!!!!!!!!! I had been looking into cruises as timeshare exchange with RCI. Prices were extremely high. A few weeks later, I receive a phone call from RCI vacation/cruise (here in known as RCI VC) offering me a great deal...available right now....unable to receive great deal if I hang up or call back later. For $3100. I receive week end in Florida, a cruise and weeks lodging at resort. To make a long story short: Did not use Florida weekend because it had to be used within 30 days. I could not get time off from work. Use of resort for 1 week - these resorts are usually in least popular areas with poor reviews of resorts. Plus an additional fee of approx. $200 to upgrade to 2 bedroom.

Even though you pay $60 to have a vacation transferred to your name, you will still be considered a second class citizen by RCI. A coworker of mine offered to allow me and my fiance to use their timeshare package for our honeymoon. We made the original purchase, gave all of my personal contact and bank account information, and was informed I would receive confirmation by email within 3 days. When I never got the confirmation (it went to the owner, the husband of my coworker, who assumed I had received it too), I called RCI. They refused to help me without the owner's account info or my confirmation info. Hello?!?! That's why I'm calling! The lady yelled to speak over me to inform me she refused to help me.

Last Dec 2013 I booked a Cruise to Alaska as well as a cruise to the Caribbean. After you speak to the salesman in Phoenix thru I.C.E. you can forget; a) ever speaking to the salesman again, b) don't even think of speaking to an agent regarding questions about of your booking, c) and do not renew your membership with RCI. I have the best luck with HSI; better customer service for one and more knowledgeable agents who can answer your questions promptly and courteously.

I recently contacted RCI to cancel our membership because we just found out that we are having a baby. We will not be able to afford to pay them the amount. They emailed me back implying that as long as I submit my requirements there would be no problem. Now, they are harassing me that I cannot cancel anymore since it lapse the time. I can't remember them telling me that I can't cancel. I know that I can't have refund and I told them that it is okay for the loss. I should have followed the reviews when I read them here. Now, they will be a part of my stress.

I was offered this "extra value vacation packages" that was supposed to include a 7-day cruise, hotel savings, 7-day resort certificate, etc. and paid for close to 2,000 dollars. I must say it can be frustrating to book vacation because you may need to do a lot of adjustment as to what is available in their inventory. The terms they use for your certificate is so different from what you actually see on the website which makes it all the more confusing. I was finally able to book last week after about 3 hours of being on the phone with an agent and all was well until I receive a call from another RCI agent today saying that the certificate used was after all not valid therefore I may need to re-book. Now, this is my first time to use my certificates so the error if anything definitely was not my own doing.

I have been with RCI over 15 years and now they are NOW the snottiest people to deal with. They talk while you're talking and really don't be listening to what you have to say. I just spoke with a supervisor to extend not losing a week without being charge to keep it because I had 4 deaths in the family within the past 2 months; he told me no. I had to pay to extend the week because I am taking a vacation 2 months after expiration date. I'm retired and not working and I don't need RCI after my subscription expires.

I have been a member of RCI for over fifteen years. In the earlier days of our membership, trading resorts was not too much of a problem. Today however is an entirely different matter. It seems that the "Inventory" of comparable units has shrunken to a painfully smaller number. For the last three years it has been a real task to trade your unit for another unit just about anywhere desirable. If you want to go to downtown Detroit you can probably exchange fairly easily. If you prefer somewhere like the beach... good luck!

The RCI Cruiser promotion is a BAD deal for consumers. It cost +/-$3100 and promised at least 3 vacations or cruises. We got one cruise (outside cabin at no increase charge), another cruise for which our added up-charge was about the same as a friends total cost was from a travel company (so our net was the up-charge + 1/3rd of the cost of the certificate), a week in a condo in So. California where the up-charge was about the same as the "off the street rack rate", and a week in a B&B in San Jose CA. No up charge for the San Jose week, but the rack rate for that is less than $150.00 per night. So what did we get for our $3,100? Actually a week in San Jose (not known as a premier vacation spot, but all that was available as the certificate was about to expire although I had been searching for at least 6 months), and one cruise. NOT a good deal and no availability without significant up-charges. Do not fall for the sales pitch.

We're actually another vacation point company customers exchanging our points through RCI plus paying an exchange fee to stay at the Vacation Club in Bellaire, Michigan. Horrible vacation complements of Vacation Club and RCI being of absolutely no help and being the responsible party in booking our stay wrong and then not being willing to make it right. Our only recourse was to forfeit points for our next stay at this same resort and still pay the exchange fee and just not go. Absolutely unbelievable that if you have any problem with the resort no one from the resort or RCI was willing or is willing to fix the issue. As the consumer you're out of luck with both these companies!!!

A 5-year plan was sold to me at the 3 years price. The seller called offering it as I had been a customer of RCIs for several years. Now that I call to cancel my account, because it has been too difficult to use my weeks I was informed that the plan was a buy 3 get 2 free so there would be no refund and he was unable to connect me with someone in the finance department. It wasn't until I insisted on speaking with a supervisor that I was able to determine what my refund would be so I would know what to expect in return upon canceling my account. RCI has in general become too difficult to work over the past 10 years. I have moved my bookings to another company.

I received a phone call from a salesperson representing RCI. I have been a member of RCI since 2001 and have been happy with this company for the sole purpose of exchanging my home condo and sometimes extra vacations. When I received this phone call I trusted the person because they said they were with RCI. I did not understand the entire deal so I told them to send the info via mail so I could review it. I first had to agree to a $199 down payment. This locked me into the package and I only had a few days to cancel.

I paid $800.00 for a vacation package that I was to use within 2 years. Before the two years had expired, I paid $99.00 for a two year extension as I couldn't made the vacation prior to that. They tried to get me to pay $400.00 for an extension. Well within the extended time I tried to book a vacation in Napa Valley. They started to book the reservation but then asked if my husband and I made over $50,000 a year I said no, so then they proceed to tell me that we could not use any of the resorts. So I asked for my $900.00 Back. They said no because it wasn't within the allotted time. But I paid for the extension so I should get my money back or go on the vacation. They just said no.....They did say they would refund the extension money of $99.00....I'm very angry that I'm out the $900.00. Also, they didn't mention the fact that we had to have a combined income of $50,000 when I was sold the package....

(1) Yesterday my daughter helped me make reservations. She called RCI with me behind her (I'm 77) and tried to make reservations for a hotel in Arizona in November. She was referred to that department. The reservation was made for 46,750 points (which they valued at $374). NOT MUCH VALUE!

We were contacted for a trip to Ft Lauderdale and a cruise to the Bahamas the price started out at $300 with a free rental car after all the upgrades we wound up paying almost $1000 dollars. The car that was included was a Chevy aveo which I don't think I could have fit in another $182 dollars for a bigger car. There are so many hidden feee and taxes, it is ridiculous. I would have hate to seen the size of the room on the ship if we didn't upgrade as the room we had was small enough. We were also told the presentation would be 2 hours long, 4 hours later we finally got out of there. You have to stay the whole time in order to get your cruise vouchers. We did tell our sales man that we are not interested in in buying so to save his time and ours we just wanted to go but that wasn't possible, he said he had to go through the whole tour in order to get paid.

We bought a package from RCI that included both a cruise and resort package for $3200. We needed to reserve our vacations within 12 months. When we bought this package, we asked if they had Alaskan cruises and resorts in Ireland. Yes they had both. So we purchased this package. What a mistake. The cruise was easy to book. However they said we could upgrade for free and by the end we probably spent close to $10000 and I think we could have done the same thing without them. Next we could never book in Ireland. No available resorts. Waited until the end and then tried Hawaii. Found a place in Kauai and booked it. It is 45 minutes from Princeville and not a place that I would stay. I didn't know this at the time and when someone told me, I tried to cancel. Too late. So not only couldn't I book where I wanted to go but also lost package, money for the resort. Do not buy any package from RCI. It is a rip off.

Do not sign anything from these RCI parasites. I just returned from losing $13,000.00 in the Collingwood courts. Never had a vacation with this timeshare but they kept my money. I was glad to be rid of the whole scam. Any vacation we could have wanted was not possible. They said we could sell it anytime if our lives changed... not true. BEWARE and do not sign anything without a lawyer reading it.

I live in Canada. Hooked up with RCI thru Ocean in Dominican. As I self contract, it is hard to book days off too far ahead. I was recommended points as they were supposed to be flexible (no timeshare). For the last 5 years, we have just been going where RCI has openings usually with poor locations or times (nothing for more than 7 days usually and only 3-4 days) often even in low seasons without a year's notice or more! And even then crap. Every time you cannot find something at a location you would like to go, there are many availabilities on the others - booking.com, Expedia, etc) for those same times. The prices for room and all inclusive are usually well below what RCI wants for all inclusive fees alone which you have to take when offered.

My husband and I went to Daytona to stay in 2 timeshares from a vacation cruise package we purchased from RCI. We checked into the first timeshare on 1/04/2013 at 2525 S Atlantic Ave, Daytona, FL. It was much smaller than we were accustomed to but was clean. The second week 1/11, we were scheduled to check into Seven Seas Resort at 2433 S Atlantic ave. While riding by, we noticed construction equipment in front of the resort. When I went in to check to see what was going on, I was told the place was being renovated and RCI was supposed to have notified me.

We upgraded our resort units at a fee of $135.00 each week, total of 2. We won't go into all of the details but ended up paying $195.00 for one unit at Weston, Florida and $189.00 for Little Harbor in Florida. I have receipts for $135.00. It is a long story but I would be glad to fax you all the paperwork I have.

Does this process sound familiar to anyone else? Yesterday, my husband called to bank our two timeshares. He called our first timeshare resort and was told that he needed to do this through RCI. He had spent so long on "hold" for RCI that he threw up his hands and asked me to do it today. I called RCI today, was on hold for 40 min. only to be told that we were told wrong--we need to bank thru our resort, Polynesian Isles. Already frustrated, I called the phone number for Polynesian Isles on our billing statement from them. A recording said "This phone number is disconnected or no longer in service." Their bill also said that they were managed thru SPM Resorts.

This is a JOKE! I signed my timeshare in Mexico (Los Cabos) which I was told that my trade points are able to trade for a nice resort room; and I traded my week in Hawaii (Kauai) with resort name: "Wyndham". They gave me a room less than a motel room. The room looks never been remodeled since 1970, and it is very small, I can't even cook because the cooking place is too small.

Let me start by saying that I think timeshares are great! My husband and I recently were gifted two weeks to an Orlando timeshare. Upon check in, we were told that we were getting the VIP breakfast and a 90-minute presentation. Absolutely okay with us. During our meeting, we were told that since my husband was military we would get a discount. When we met with the man in charge of telling us the prices, he took my husband's ID as he had to go review it with his manager to make sure we could still get the discount. He returns saying yes, we are eligible and because of this he would give us an extra week every year. Sounded great and we were almost ready to buy but after much debate we decided to wait.

Paid my fees online at Daily Management, who support my resort (Vacation Village at Parkway). More than 3 weeks later my points are not posted. Daily Mgmt says to talk to RCI and RCI says to talk to Daily Mgmt. RCI says each resort is owned and operated separately - not by RCI. I get that, but I did not choose to outsource these functions away from RCI. I am their customer and they should track this down for me. I pay my RCI membership fees + taxes + maintenance fees and RCI is not helpful at all. Quite frustrating, to say the least. What ever happened to simple customer service?

I have been an RCI member for 8 years. I've had some good experiences with RCI, not everybody does and not all of my experiences have been good. I was contacted by RCI Vacations regarding a package that included 5 luxury hotel certificates, a discount on a cruise or a 5-7 day resort vacation plus a 7-night resort bonus. DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SCAM. PLEASE LEARN FROM MY MISFORTUNE. The package offered all sounds great. They allow you to review many resorts online that are part of the package so it all looks great.

Everything has been figured out thanks to Kathleen.

We are on the Do Not Call list. Received a call at 8:30 pm from RCI ** 855 480 7670 trying to pressure me into buying some $1799 program. Pretty much sounds like the usual scam. Even though I expressed no interest ah would not hang up the phone.

So picture this... We attend the local fireworks show and my naive husband registers to win a "free cruise". A month later, he receives a call and he has won. All we have to do is attend a 2-hour presentation and the trip is ours, paying only port charges and taxes. We assume it is time share and we are not buying. We get there and it's a vacation club membership for only $6,000 down if you buy today and $99/year but there will be no high pressure sales... ha. We explain our daughter is being married next year and we do not want to spend that kind of money at this time. We are then passed on to another person who tried to pressure us into a trial membership and she got nasty with us when we again said no.

This is in reference to a charge of $20 that has been charged for incorrectly reserving the wrong city: I asked for a full refund and only got a cancellation of the rental, no confirmation has been received of this confirmation number **. This is in reference to Owner ID # **; my name is below. On Wednesday, the 31st of July, at 9:55 am, I canceled a car rental, #** that was reserved on Lihue, because we were not able to get a flight. I asked for a reservation for Honolulu for the same time. As you can see on Confirmation ** you reserved for the same city I had canceled. And did not get my reservation for Honolulu.

RCI/Wyndham on an online exchange disables the ability to exchange without buying their $49 buying power guarantee. We tried on two computers to book without this fee, but the confirm without the fee button is locked out. Amazingly, we could book the week with the fee. They are getting so greedy with charging fees for everything and increasing them all the time. Meanwhile they put no inventory out for exchange but you could rent a good week for a big dollar amount. Stop giving your week to them and find other options!

So here's a good one I'm trading from a different timeshare to stay at an RCI resort in Hawaii. I asked RCI about availability next spring in Hawaii, and they said they could not check for me until I joined RCI. So I paid them and joined RCI, and they checked and surprise! Nothing was available! Now I'm an unhappy member of RCI with no place to stay in Hawaii, or Mexico where our original timeshare was. Do not trade your timeshare with these people. Sell it or rent it on Craigslist. You'll be treated like a second-class citizen. I fell victim to a clever ruse as a result of a standoff but will not happen again!

I've been an RCI member for nearly 25 years. Each time I've used their travel service, I've been disappointed. Each time, I swear "this is the last time" and each time some deal sucks me in. They once booked myself and my now ex-wife into a room so bad in Hawaii she wouldn't sit on anything in the room. The window of the ocean view was about 6in wide by 30in tall and too dirty to actually see through. Wouldn't have matter since what was advertised as ocean view was several blocks, in a horrible neighborhood, from the beach. The room and the entire hotel, at that time an "Outrigger" since sold to another company, was simply unbelievably awful. The sheets had not been changed and were stained with various bodily fluids. I looked under the bed and found various "adult items."

On a stay in Weston, FL, we had to give them a $20 cash deposit for we were told would be a free breakfast. But when we got to the "free breakfast," it turned out they wanted to sell us crap. Surprise! We immediately told them that we were intelligent and didn't want to buy anything, and that we wanted our money back. They said they couldn't issue refund and that we'd have to go back to the registration building to get the money. When we went there, they said they couldn't issue refund. Thus began a 2-mont journey of runarounds, unreturned calls and fake "the check's in the mail" notices. All over 20 freaking dollars!!!

I have been a member with RCI for almost 10 years. I deposited my week late this year online. I was told online that it was deposited and I only had 8 points to my credit because I deposited late. That was okay because there was still almost 3 weeks to go. I went through with the transaction and it told me when I click that I'll lose my week. I clicked and thought the week was gone. Now when I went to book for later, I was told that they have no record of my canceling. I cannot find my email where it says I deposited my week and have a year to transfer. I called RCI to ask why my 8 points were not showing. I was told they never got it. I did have an email, but must have deleted it.

I requested a refund for May 9, 10, 11th, 2013 for a motel I made reservations for my mom and sister for Mother's Day weekend. When they arrived on May 9, 2013 at midnight Phoenix, Arizona time to Knights Inn motel in Mesa, as they entered their rooms, there were cockroaches running on the walls, carpet, in the tub and on the bedroom floor. It is unacceptable to expose my mother who has chronic cough and cannot expose this to her kids too. Here's a list of what was unacceptable at Knights Inn motel. The pool was murky, green and dirty. There was no continental breakfast as it says on amenities. It's infested with cockroaches. Customer service was poor.

Don't ever give up your home week for RCI points. We were convinced by the representative at the Quarter House in New Orleans to upgrade to the RCI points system. We have been with Interval and were told that they were on the way out, and the points system was a much better program. What a load of crap. Not only have we never been able to find anything to exchange for points, but RCI hijacked our home week because we did not notify them 13 months in advance that we were going to use our home weeks. We had notified the Quarter House that we did not want to exchange our weeks when we paid our maintenance fees, but have now been informed that because we had not notified RCI, they are forced to release our unit to their point program.

They are horrible and rude. They don't care about you, your situation, or what you want. Very upset with their service and how they speak to you on the phone. They talk over you when you are trying to talk and they don't listen to a word you say.

My wife and I bought into the Coral Resorts points program on 6/21/08 at a price of $15,000.00. We were verbally misled in regard to the benefits by our salesperson Paul **. Let me re phrase "misled" and say we were lied to by Mr. **. This in our opinion constitutes fraud in sales! Mr. ** told us, very plainly, that we had one free week at Coral Resorts in Hilton Head every year and if we chose not to use this week, that Coral Resorts would rent it for us and we would net approximately $1,400.00 after deducting the prorated maintenance fee. Based on this info, we purchased the Points Program. We were lied to! Mr. ** denied saying this, but he did and we accepted this as fact! We confirmed this with Mr. ** three times during this conversation.

While vacationing in Las Vegas, NV, my girlfriend and I were walking in front of Treasure Island and approached by a salesman. He offered us a choice of three awesome shows and $100 to use at a local casino. We chose the Cirque Du Soleil because we've heard they are a very good performance show. I was told that tickets normally run from $69 to $119 per ticket depending on your seat location. He told us that he would give us a deal on the prices. All we had to do was pay $25 each for the tickets, and take a tour of a new hotel suite/casino that was located a short drive away. Not only that, they even promised us a free lunch buffet. We were even offered a free shuttle to this hotel/casino. It couldn't get any better than that so we agreed. One of his other co-workers showed us to a shuttle bus along with a few other people.

I have been a paying member of RCI for over 20 years. During this time, I have been very frustrated with the process of booking my home weeks. I own a quarter share in Hilton Head which is 12 weeks a year. I should be able to book my weeks online. Many times when I have tried, I get the message that I have to call them as there is a problem with my account.

We attended the timeshare presentation at the Grandview in Las Vegas. After busing us in from the strip and chatting with us for over an hour, the rep learned that our vacation interests were geared more towards adventure tours and backpacking. So she got up and left the table saying she was wasting her time. The manager then came over and said we did not qualify for our free show tickets because we weren't there for the mandatory three hours! We were lucky to get a ride back to the strip. It doesn't really matter because we would never spend $18,000 without researching a company first and after reading these reviews, I am glad it worked out the way it did. Based on the way we were treated at the presentation, I tend to believe the negative comments posted here.

I paid $17,000 and $23,500 for two RCI resorts. You are restricted in so much as you have to bank time with RCI. There was one resort I was not pleased with so I banked with RCI yearly. There have been several times as a timeshare owner that I could not get into an RCI resort but non-members could. This time, Expedia, Orbitz, Diviresorts.com and Divi Pheonix of Aruba itself had many, many rooms for April 6 - 10. However, RCI had nothing for me during that period. For all the above companies, I would have to pay more cash on top of my yearly dues ($3,425) to stay during those 4 days. You see, if I left on April 6th, I would have to pay American Airlines $1,000 more. So, what I ended up having to do was put up in a bed and breakfast on the other side of the airport and spent an additional $600. Today, I find out I am spending my last 4 days in the seedy side of town. Oh joy! I am going to find a way around using RCI as a banking company. I am so heated. I will complain on any internet site I can find. They have screwed with the wrong person!

I have gone over this so many times by phone and reports. I really do not think your company cares. To have the attitude of "What do you expect us to do, not our fault" is a very poor and sad one. I myself have owned and operated restaurants for twenty five years and I would never have said that to an unhappy customer. Why does RCI or Pueblo Bonito think that it is okay to give separate individuals a two-bedroom to share instead of two separate executive suites that they paid for, so each person has their own kitchen, own living room, own balcony. I could have upgraded for much less for that.

We got lured into a timeshare meeting at the Grandview Resort in LV. Knowing that we will not return to Vegas for at least 6-8 years, we are not interested in purchasing it. The saleslady told us that we can join RCI which will allow us to exchange our timeshare to many different way of traveling, including choices of their 4,000+ resort worldwide, cruise, all-inclusive resort, airfare, etc. We thought that may work for us, so we purchased the timeshare and joined the RCI Point Membership. But after spending one month trying to use my points to book our vacations, everything would cost more than I booked it at Expedia.

RCI recently created a "trading power" system and forced it on those of us who have been with them for years! This new system is really a bunch of crap! When we first bought our timeshare, it was the "red" most valuable easiest to trade! This was explained to us because it is located in Hawaii, and it is a 2-bedroom. Now, because of this new trading power, they are telling me it is not as valuable and I don't have an easy time getting anywhere! Also in the last 6 years, RCI has not gotten us a place where we searched, and we had to settle for a different location! Please let me know when there is a class action lawsuit! I will be in on it!

I purchased timeshares from RCI and was told I would have an additional "Developers Week" to use any time during the year; it would be free as long as it was used at the home resort of Hilton Head. I would only have to pay a small maintenance fee. When I tried to call to schedule a week vacation for my family, they told me the maintenance fee would be almost $1,500.00. I told the person I was speaking with that wasn't correct and the week was supposed to be free. Her response was that it was free, and the $1,500 was for maintenance. I tried to explain to her this was not free, and I could get a hotel room for this process; there was no advantage to having this developer week. Then when I tried to use my points, they told me they had no availability for point usage.

Today, I had 2 experiences with RCI. The first was fantastic and the other one dreadful. I am taking care of my mother-in-law’s affairs at the moment. She broke her hip and is just back from rehab and trying to sort through some things. One of those things is her RCI stuff. She realized that this was February and she would lose a week if not used. With her moving from here to there, she realized she did not have her RCI info or book. A year or 2 ago, I contacted RCI and made arrangements for her. I was told my name should be on the account so I could help her with her dealings. I set her up online for me to access with/for her.

On or around October 30, 2012, I was contacted by Rory (866-707-8411, ext. **) from RCI Cruiser vacations. He told me that I could buy a 7-10 night cruise for two people for $1799, which is a $500 savings. If I purchased this cruise, I would also get a 7-night resort stay (I could choose from over 600 resorts) and a bonus 3-day hotel stay for two and $150 to offset upgrades on the cruise. Rory's supervisor, Adam, confirmed the deal and told me to wait until January/February, wave season, to book since I was interested in upgrading to an aft or mini suite. We went through the pricing on a cruise that I would want to take and I was told the balcony was not an upgrade so I wouldn't have to pay more but if I wanted the mini suite, it would be $499 per person and $549 per person if I wanted an aft. As it was explained to me, I thought it was a good deal so I bought two.

I am so fed up with the new system of point value for a unit. When we purchased our timeshare for $15,000 in Virginia, one of the perks was that we could exchange our unit (a 2-bedroom fixed Red Week) for a like unit. Since RCI has put an outrageous point scale on their 2-bedroom units anywhere, it forces us to deposit 2-3 years' worth of vacations for one of my Gold Crown weeks. I have recently tried for several months to get a 2-bedroom unit for a wedding in Orlando and all I can get is a one-bedroom partial kitchen unit for a 17-31 point value. I would be forced to pay my maintenance and taxes for 2 years in advance and pay an exchange fee of $300 to get this unit and then I'd have to pay $109 to combine the points. Never before in my 30 vacations with RCI have I had such an experience. I have stayed in 2- and 3-bedroom units in Orlando at peak times for the agreed exchange price they pitched to me at the sales promo. But now my 2-bedroom unit at a Gold Crown Resort is worth nothing! Time for a class action suit?

I have never been so angry about anything like this in my entire life. My dad, who is the one of the best and nicest people I have ever met in my life, nicely offered to let me and my fiance book our honeymoon through his timeshare - which is Holiday Inn club points. The reason he offered this and wanted us to do it in the first place was because he and my mom had not booked a single vacation through them in about 5 years. Now I know why! When I booked through them, they first charged me a transaction fee of $200. Then they charged me an additional $60 for checking in as the person who doesn't own the timeshare. After eating these costs and booking two separate hotels for a week each (total of $520), they had an additional all-inclusive fee that I would have to pay. Make sure to check these fees carefully as one of them was $380 per person per night.

They have not cooperated in accordance to the terms agreed upon when the purchase was made. I requested they review their tapes of the conversation but they said they do not keep the recorded conversations after so many weeks. They continually ask for more money to book what they said was included in the purchase price. They do not return phone calls. They continually pass me along to other people, but no one will work with me on making good on their promises. I would like to join a class action lawsuit if anyone has started one or find out how many others would be willing to join me if I start one myself. I also have currently stopped payment on the monthly charges but was required to cancel my debit card in order to do this. Now, I have to contact all of my monthly bill payees and set up my accounts again. This is another learning lesson for me!

The nonsense and ripoffs don't stop even after you've finished paying for the timeshare. There are so many extra fees, rules change constantly, and RCI is always looking for a way to cheat you out of your already paid for week, so they can offer it up to some other sucker for more money! If you have access to the website and are a member, you know that when you go to book a vacation that it's slim pickings! But look on the section where you can "buy" more vacation weeks, and lo and behold, that's where all the availability is, where you have to spend more money.

In August 2010, we were quoted a price for a cruise and paid as agreed. When we tried to book the cruise, then they told us about the extra $350 per person! Seriously, isn't there a class action suit regarding this scam?

The company has processed an unauthorized bank debit. I have a letter from RCI dated 10/21/2012 wherein they state my full name, address, my account numbers and a message "Thank you for your recent subscription renewal payment" - $267.00 was paid to RCI to extend membership. Problem is, I was not due to expire. I did not approve any payments. When I called 877-call-rci and asked about this issue, I was told, "It was extended in error." When I asked to escalate the problem and file a complaint, he gave me his supervisor (Tim, I think) who said "No such thing happened! There is no activity on your account since 2/12." Then he said there was nothing he could do about it - he had no knowledge of any letter or payment. I said I wanted to speak to his supervisor who he said was not there.

Telephone call scam - I received a call from RCI about a special for their Cancun resort recently. After listening for 10 minutes about all the details (because the girl refused to go "off script" and just answer my questions about cost, airfare, etc.), I got to the details about price, holding the reservation, and how I would know that my down payment would be guaranteed. This was when the operator who worked for RCI began to get very flustered, fumbled for words, asked me over and over whether I was interested, and treated me like I was making insane requests by asking about the legitimacy of the offer. Although I had listened to her speech and followed her script, and even though I was only asking questions that any consumer would ask before turning over their credit card number, the girl finally just hung up because she was not willing to give me any specifics.

We (two couples) booked a cheap flight to Aruba in November and found a place in our budget, 1000 dollars a week that sleeps 4. We recently found a place through my parents' RCI timeshare which would save us 800 dollars. On the RCI page, it was never clearly explained that it was mandatory, all inclusive. I checked the resort which clearly states that they have both an all-inclusive option and non-all-inclusive option. Considering the room I booked had a full kitchen and no fees came up upon booking, I figured I was safe. Also why would I need a full kitchen in an all inclusive resort? (Sunday)

I signed up for a trial membership with El Cid Resorts. They pressured us forever, and we finally agreed to try it out. They showed us a three-bedroom overlooking the beach, and then when we called, they said that room was not available unless we paid significantly more. Then I tried to schedule our trip for one of two weeks in February 2013 (I called in November 2012), and I was told there are no rooms available until the last week of April. Conveniently enough for them, our 2-year trial period ends April 30th. They refuse to refund our money because they say we need to pick other dates, but there are no other dates available for us.

We own a week at Sedona Pines Resort in Arizona. Unfortunately, they automatically deposited our week with RCI. We just wanted to use our week at our home resort and had paid all of our maintenance fees up to date. So, we decided to cancel our RCI membership to keep from paying a yearly RCI membership fee and an exchange fee. We were told when we called RCI that we "might" get our points transferred back to our home resort when we cancel. Well, we have canceled, and now all of our points that we had on deposit are gone and we don't get to use our time anywhere! The only way we can use our points is to pay another $300+ to RCI for one week and reinstate our membership, and get on the same rip-off merry-go-round we just got off of! Ripped off for over 2 years of points! Do not do business with RCI if you have a choice! They are a rip-off and you will get sucked into yearly membership and exchange fees that continue to go up and up with nothing to show for it!

I recently tried to make an exchange and found that our Red Week (Most Valuable week) in a Gold Crown Resort was now only worth 14 points. If we wanted to trade to almost anywhere, we would have to give up two weeks to receive one week's vacation. I would have to give up two years’ worth of timeshare power for a one-week vacation. This is not what I signed up for when I bought my timeshare at $10,000. RCI has changed the rules of the game that is a bait and switch over the years. What recourse do I have?

I recently tried to make an exchange and found that our 5 star resort was now only worth 14 points. If we wanted to trade to almost anywhere, we would have to give up two weeks to receive one week's vacation. This is not what RCI should be all about. I would have to give up two years worth of timeshare power for one week. What goes?

I received a recorded message to my cell phone from RCI claiming a friend entered my name into a contest and I have won air travel for four adults, plus numerous amenities, to Cancun. Intuiting this was a scam after being switched to a live agent confirming I am over 25 and have a credit card, I grilled him to get to the point, refusing to hear his sales pitch. Had I won tickets or not? The CSR eventually admitted this was an RCI promotional offer. When I proclaimed their message was false advertising (to say I "had won" a contest, when this was simply a promotional offer) and stated I would contact the FCC, he hung up on me. RCI's local to Portland, Oregon phone number is: 503-427-7493. My cell number is registered on the Government Do Not Call List.

I booked a hotel through RCI travel club while traveling through New Orleans, Louisiana because every hotel that I called at that time was full. They (RCI) did find a hotel, the Wyndham hotel, $157.00 per night. We went through their rules and regulations and I agreed. Several hours later, I needed to cancel the reservation due to an extreme emergency. I tried to call RCI back the same date, only 5 hours later, which was Friday. Monday, they answered at the same number. I was told that I could not get a refund the first time because I didn’t call until Monday and that the phone lines were always open. I had other people trying for me to no avail (my word against theirs).

Buyers beware! They are disorganized. The information they give to the customers is not always accurate. There have been a few years where we would get a confirmation for our timeshare spot, only to show up at the resort and not have anything available. Frustrating process - would not go with these guys if you are considering it. Their fees arbitrary go up every year. Smarter way to travel is through vacation swaps and shares - AirBNB, Craigslist.org vacation share, etc. Cheaper and more flexibility.

I booked a week at Alto Mantagua (resort 5482) through RCI. I received confirmation via email with a wonderful welcome notice. Upon my parents' arrival on 11/23/12 (I had also paid for a gift certificate), the resort announced that the place was full and that they had no record of any reservations by RCI under any of our names and my parents were turned away. Do not trust reservations or exchanges done through RCI!

I have already paid in $1,000.00 through Visa monthly charges and am just now trying to schedule a cruise. The total amount I am to pay is $1,800 for the package which I was going to use to take an Alaskan Cruise. I was told that a cruise & 7-day resort vacation or 3-day hotel stay would be covered by this price. When trying to book the cruise, I found out that there are more charges for port fees and taxes not included in the amount I am already paying. The total amounts to $2,730.00. I called to book on my own through the same cruise line and found that I could get a better cabin, not an inside cabin. I could get a cabin with a window for $400.00 less. When I tried to book the resort vacation in conjunction with the cruise through RCI, I was told that would cost me an extra $95.00 per night at just a hotel. The RCI website stated "no additional charge with your certificate". The salespeople are very misleading and smooth talkers. Beware! Book your own vacation. If there are any class action suits against RCI, please let me know.

We purchased the RCI Timeshare through GEVC. We were not told about the hidden fees involved outside of the maintenance fee. There are four types of fees involved when trying to use the RCI points: 1. Annual Maintenance Fee due to GEVC; 2. RCI annual Exchange Fee; 3. RCI Reservation Fee per reservation; 4. Resort Fee/Clean-up fee per stay. After all the fees are paid for the stay, I found it is more expensive to make the reservation using the RCI point than booking it directly through the travel sites online, which makes our RCI points worthless in that sense.

I was contacted by phone to purchase a RCI Cruise and Vacation Package for $1,900. Do not get involved in this. The package is not what is represented. Additional fees are excessive and availability unbelievably limited. I tried to cancel within 15 days and was denied. I have been a member of RCI for 20 years and have never felt so lied to and cheated.

RCI Timeshare Vacation Exchange - RCI is a total rip-off! We basically burned the $9,000.00 they got out of us. We literally have nothing to show for it but a bill for maintenance. Everything they promised us was untrue. The day we left Sedona Pines, where we got robbed, they stopped taking our calls. Even the 5 free cruises they threw in as a bonus for payment in full turned out to cost more than booking a cruise ourselves. I was unable to ever get a satisfactory login to the RCI site, and after a year, we have written it off as a total loss. Get the word out to save others. RCI is a total rip-off. Stay away!

Apartment is not suitable, up a very steep hill 20 minutes from reception. It took us twice to try and find it. The male receptionist took in a van and agreed it was not suitable. I spoke to RCI and after waiting 3 hours for an email, we got an apartment at Sunset Beach, as it was fully booked at Playa Real. It cost us 56 euros by taxi there and 45 euros to Sunset so I feel I should be reimbursed not with a voucher, as we shall no longer be joining RCI, would just use our week at Sunset. Playa Real is not 4-star and badly in need of a clean-up outside. I await your prompt reply.

This is a scam! I am so upset that my parents got involved in this. The "cruise deals" they can offer is the exact same cruise deals you can get from other places except they still use your points for the "discount" that you can get elsewhere for free! I have been to two condos so far, and both of them are rundown and outdated (!), not to mention the service and yearly fees you have to pay on top of the hefty points packaging. I am telling everyone, you can get better deals on your own! Do not buy RCI! And I really think they target senior citizens to take their money.

RCI called me to say I had won a Disney vacation package in 7 days/6nights in Orlando, 4days/3nights in Daytona Beach, and a Bahamas cruise. They said the trip was worth over $3000, and I just needed to provide my Visa credit card expiration date over the phone and for the one-time $287/adult registration fee. It seems like this company is branching out in its scams, not just swindling condo owners out of their condos, as most of the 211 complaints on Consumer Affairs. Their number is 1-289-802-1175. I was called by a "friendly" lady named Darla. When I asked for confirmation information, I was transferred to a closer sort of person, Myla, who repeatedly pressured me to provide my credit card expiration date and said she already had my name, address, and Visa number beginning with 45 (don't they all begin with 45?). I said I wasn't going to provide my credit card information over the phone, and she said it was a one-time opportunity and only 3% of people in the contest were winners (I don't remember entering a contest). I just hang up.

First, we were searching for a time share in Key West a year in advance. Twice, they left messages that they had something. The first time we called them back, we found it was for a year away from what we were searching for?! The second time, we returned their call to find that there was nothing available. So 6 months later, we called them to see if we could get any resort in Florida for that same month of February. Nothing was available! So 4 months out, we called to get a place anywhere in South Carolina. The only thing available was a hotel unit at a resort. This is a poor company! I am a guest too. Never would I suggest RCI to anyone!

My August bank week deposit value is lower than a week in the same resort in May. How can this be? The rather irate lady from RCI informed me it was due to my late depositing on the week. She said I should deposit 10 months in advance.

We have so many hundreds of thousands of points with RCI because their website is useless and you can never book a vacation where you want to go. Also, you can't use many points for other things. They cap how many points you can use for other things like cars and it doesn't provide much savings anyway. You are practically throwing your points away. RCI is the very worst timeshare company. I hope that before you get roped into RCI that you read some reviews and don't.

During our sales presentation, our rep made a bunch of claims that sounded too good to be true. When asked to see them in writing, we were asked "Don't you have faith in me?" We replied no and then we're told, "Well you probably don't believe in creationism either." Really guy? That is a pretty big leap. Maybe next time, keep your mouth shut about your personal beliefs and have numbers to verify your claims and you might make the sale. Very unprofessional! This is not the first time reps have been unable to support their claims, so glad we don't have to deal with people like that again.

I have been trying for one year to get a two-bedroom unit in Papakea Resort. My timeshare is for a one-bedroom. I kept being told the two-bedroom units just weren't available because the owners hadn't decided if they wanted to use their units or pay the maintenance fees. I got tired of waiting, I booked through Expedia, flight, hotel and car, not to mention the two-bedroom unit with an ocean view. I spent more than I wanted but I have peace of mind that we have a place to stay. I love this property and have been there many times, not using RCI. I can never get what I want with these clowns. I still get the emails from RCI that my search is ongoing. Next step is, how do I get off the RCI circus train?!

Poor business practices: I recently took a trip to a resort in Mexico through my parents RCI account. I was aware this was an all-inclusive resort, and double and triple checked with the company of the fees for the week I was staying. Everyone I spoke with told me it was $420.00 per person, per week. However, when I arrived in Mexico, they had only reserved two people instead of three and told me my all-inclusive fee was over $2,500 for a week for only two people; another $1,250 for another person. Since RCI wasn't open until Monday, I put the fee for 3 people on my credit card for three days. On Monday, a rep for RCI told the resort it was $160.00 per person, per day; not $60.00 per person, per day that I was quoted before I left on my vacation. I immediately called RCI in the US and they told me it was the rate they initially quoted me.

First, when I bought my vacation, they never mentioned that it was non-inclusive. Secondly, when I asked them for an alternative location, they created all those ** rules. So, I spent $540 for nothing. That’s how ** is RCI worldwide.

Luis of RCI, connected to Sunset Lagoon Resort in Cancun, called us several weeks in advance of our vacation (Aug 4-Aug 9) for payment on this all inclusive resort. We gave him my wife's American Express number **. He said that he was having problems communicating with AE, and that he would call back later to confirm. He never did. A week before the vacation, a lady by the name of ** called and wanted a Visa card because they do not accept AMEX. We gave it to her. Now we have two charges: one for AMEX, and one for Visa. Please fix this ASAP!

I informed RCI I was no longer interested in being a member. I gave ample notice so that any weeks banked could be used by them. I quite simply did not like how they treated me when I tried to make an exchange. Anyway, they threatened to take me to court for breach of contract. I said "go ahead" and they backed down. I haven’t heard from them since. So stick to your guns if you want out and they try to get heavy!

I called RCI to renew my fees after getting so many reminders of my upcoming renewal. Since I never used half of my points, I was told to keep it. I would have to pay $99 to keep it, $39 processing fee and $125 for one-year renewal. That is just RCI fees. Then I needed to renew my maintenance fees where I purchased my RCI. That was close to $700. So just to keep my name clear with RCI and resort, I am in the hole of close to $1,000. Then RCI CR took advantage of my willingness to pay, so they offered me a great deal of $1,699 for three trips anywhere in the world with use in 2 years’ time, one-year payment plan. I asked if I can use my points rather than paying $1,700 and after paying fees to RCI and resorts. I was told I could not.

I have now been working with 1 of the largest law firms in S.C. to resolve the issue of misrepresenting RCI Points’ sales. There are laws in S.C. against such practice, as in most states. We have sent several letters to RCI, Wyndham (the parent company), and the Thunderbird Resort with no response. Finally, on 7/27/12, I received a statement that RCI does not sell points or timeshare. This is from their legal rep, so apparently there is no way of getting out of this crap short of death. I will be contacting my state rep in S.C. and see if there is another route I can go, so as the old saying goes – “Thieves stick with thieves.” As far as the RCI points program, as I said months ago, I've been a member of the Weeks program and have had many good vacations, but this is just plain out robbery.

I too feel taken by RCI. I transferred my week to RCI and then to may dismay, was told I could pay the two years fees totaling $378.00 plus the membership fee of $89.00 totaling $567.00. With deals out there, you can get a wonderful vacation on other site. The funniest was that they could get me, at my own resort, a bigger unit. So besides buying into my unit, they would need the $567.00, plus I have had to pay maintenance of $517.00 totaling $1084.00 for my own timeshare. Come on, don't you think that's taking members advantage of?

Now that RCI has placed point values on resorts, I may have to use two of my weeks to get a one week exchange because the resort I want to exchange for is worth 40 points and my resort is worth 20 points. Most of the resorts I want to exchange for are worth more than my Gold Crown home resort is worth. Frankly, it seems RCI puts high point values on the few desirable resorts they own. Most of their resorts are undesirable because they are in bad locations, are bug infested and run down, or charge lots of extra fees, i.e. energy surcharge, cleaning fees, etc! When I bought my timeshare, the deal was a week exchange for week anywhere in the world! They have certainly changed that agreement. Also, does anyone know what is with the additional housekeeping fees, energy surcharges, and some other extra fees resorts charge, especially in the Caribbean? Some resorts say they charge around $150 for electricity for the week. My monthly electric bill for an entire house for an entire month is $60. Also, it would seem that I would be paying double energy and maid fees if I exchanged for one of these resorts since I already pay maintenance fees for my home resort. Are there any alternatives to RCI?

My husband found on-line a 2 bedroom Disney property condo exchange week for this coming September. He immediately paid the $189 exchange fee, confirmed the week on-line and printed out the confirmation he received. Within 12 hours of printing this confirmation, he went back on-line to read up on the location details only to discover that his points were all returned to his account. And that he had nothing in our on-line reserved, confirmed condo status. He also noticed that his $189 exchange fee though was still charged to RCI without being refunded.

Along with many others, I was awarded damages in a class action lawsuit against RCI for illegal manipulation of members. I have first hand knowledge of their unfair practices. After being a member of RCI for 32 years, I will not renew my membership. The existing RCI does not represent the fair values or service of the original company with whom I contracted. This is the first time in over 30 years that I did not deposit my unit for exchange because I was planning to use it in June 2012. When I notified the property manager of my home resort that I would be on site this year, she replied that RCI had already confirmed the exchange for my unit.

I had booked a resort almost two years in advance for Albuquerque, NM. Two weeks before the start of the trip, RCI called to notify us the resort was no longer in the RCI system and we had no reservation. They would to try to find another resort, but being so late, there was nothing available close to our original location. Problems are: They agreed to return my deposit, but they used my money for almost two years with no additional compensation, and only offered a credit, not cash; the exchange unit I was trading was to expire by the end of the month. Way too late to use. I was to give up a week of exchange, even though RCI had used my unit almost three years earlier; Calling the resort directly, I learned RCI ended the affiliation, not the resort. Obviously, this is something RCI had been planning for sometime, yet thought so little of its customers. We were not notified until the last minute. In fact, most were not even called, but were only mailed letters.

If you have ever tried to exchange a deposited property for one of the many properties RCI claims to have, get ready to spin your wheels forever. I deposited my gold crown unit and expected to find something comparable. I was not prepared to find nothing. I thought there was a technical problem because as I hit buttons for available units or even for reviews of resorts that came up, nothing happened.

I booked a week at the Morritt's Tortuga Club on Grand Cayman. I am required to pay for electricity, resort fees, and taxes. What did I get for the money I paid for a week at a timeshare resort? If I am paying for all these things, RCI is not paying a fair share for the money I have invested. I am actually a Wyndham owner and was informed when I made my purchase that there was a great RCI exchange option. I feel that I have been scammed.

I booked a vacation to Punta Cana through RCI using our points. After a 16-hour trip, we arrived at the resort, only to be told we were not in the system. I had a printout of the reservation with the confirmation number on it and details of our stay. They said they did not have any record of our reservation and that they had no empty rooms. They found us a place at a different resort. They told us they would have availability the next day. It was late in the evening, and RCI was closed.

Wish I read this website before sinking $3,300 into an RCI cruise and resort stay which I am reading is a scam! I am trying to use my cruise certificates with an abrasive and defensive CSR at RCI who read my rights and informed me my certificates had expired! What?! The certificates have no expiration date on them! They want an additional $199 to reactivate the cruise certificates. So I have to pay these greedy people another $199 to use my money?! And that doesn't even include the resort vacation which I'm reading is probably a scam too! Don't buy from them unless you have read the fine print and are prepared for fighting for what is yours. You'll do better to go with a travel agent or book yourself online than wasting money with these incompetent people.

I am so upset I don't know where to start. RCI offers you the world and delivers none of it. The so-called "deal" on a cruise-resort package is a complete fraud. After spending more than $3000, I never got an upgrade on the cruise, was charged $1600 in hidden fees and given a studio for a 7-day stay in Cabo San Lucas. Imagine all the money I've spent, and studio and no meals. Please do not listen to anything they say and do not give them your money. You can plan your own vacations for less money. I have spoken with several people in RCI and Wyndham which owns them but no one will offer me anything to rectify their unethical and misleading sales. When my membership is up with RCI, I plan to move to another company.

I have been waiting 29 business days for my account to be reinstated. I have spoken to 10 customer service representatives and a supervisor and nothing has happened. I wanted to take a trip in May, but obviously, RCI does not want my money. The incompetence is unbelievable.

Every year, I attempt to book a vacation and am always told there is nothing in my area. I found out today I actually don't have enough points for the week I am looking for, even though we bank a whole week each year. I was offered to purchase a higher amount of points if I would like, but I would have to wait for them to contact me. But there is no number where I can contact them. Class action lawsuit?

RCI Company has changed policies without regard to owners - In 1981 my wife and I purchased two weeks of timeshare in Florida at a wonderful gulf front condo (Sleeps 6). When purchasing the timeshare/condo, we were told by the sales force and RCI that there were 3 options: Red, White, and Blue. If you purchased a "red" week, that was the top ranked and you could trade anywhere in the world - any time. I also bought a condo in Texas (1BR) in 2003 - white week, and I understood the consequences and trading power.

On October 6th, I received an email from Petchey Leisure to say that I had cancelled our canal holiday. I called the office and they explained it was because my RCI exchange fee hadn't been paid. If they had asked at the time of booking, it would have been. However, I duly arranged payment over the phone and was told the holiday had been reinstated. On Dec. 6th, I received an email of our account statement, clearly showing the holiday had not been reinstated at all. I sent emails on Dec. 30 and Jan. 29 to query this, both of which I received confirmation of receipt (initially assigned case number ** and then confirmed by Catherine **), but no actual action.

RCI has become a huge ripoff. When my husband and I first bought a timeshare and joined RCI, it was good. Our place is considered high trading power. Now we cannot use it for anything. In fact, most of the all-inclusive resorts that you give them your week to try and trade for are more expensive than booking the same week at Apple or Funjet and their packages include airfare! Last year, we wanted to trade to book a Disney Cruise and the Disney official site was cheaper than RCI. We asked for a least a price match because we were giving them our week, and they would not match. We are required now to deposit our week at RCI if we want any other week besides our own at our home resort. We cannot even trade for our home resort because our deposited weeks trading power is lower than the other weeks even though it is in the same "red week" timeframe. I think it's time for a BBB complaint as well as a possible class action lawsuit. Taking our money and giving nothing in return. Nice properties being traded in and being offered horrible properties.

I called about a cruise in May 2012 and the girl told me I couldn't use my whole 87,000 points. I could only use half but told me I could use the rest for airfare so she suggested I call them to see what they had for me to get to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. So I called them on April 1st to check out the flights. I called them and the lady, Veronica, who was helping me got so confused that she turned me over to a man named Ryan **, who was quite rude to me at first. But after being on hold off and on for about 3 or 4 hours, he became a little nicer. I told him I was booking a cruise from 5-19-12 to 5-27-12 from St. Louis to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

As a former insider at RCI, as well as a (now former) member, and (now liberated) timeshare owner, I can assure you that what you hear is true. RCI claims to not sell or buy timeshares, however, they do! They do all the marketing, cold-calling and selling of your personal and ownership info to 3rd parties, who then contact you "On RCI's behalf" to talk you into coming to lunch and buying some expensive, exciting, vacation opportunity. It was (still is) the RCI policy to deny that RCI buys and sells timeshares. Agents are even instructed not to discuss the financial matters of your ownership or how to sell your timeshare. It's actually a penalty for an agent to do so and they'll get coached by their manager should they be caught doing so.

We arrived at our resort, Wapato Point in Manson, WA, on Friday night to find that our unit, which we have deeded ownership to, had been listed in RCI's trading inventory. RCI had booked someone else into our unit. We do not belong to RCI. We did not bank or trade our unit. The resort was able to accommodate us in a comparable unit for the week, but no one at the Wapato Point or RCI would admit to making this error. We purchased this unit in 2008. RCI is still allowing the previous owners to bank our unit. RCI says they cannot stop this from happening. Our resort says the unit bookings are auto downloaded into their system from RCI, so they can't stop this either. We are going to consult with our attorney. This all **.

We had a timeshare that we couldn't use for one year, and I signed up with RCI to trade it. What a mistake! We paid a year's fee ($89) and were told that we had three years to pick a new week. I then found out that the three years was meaningless in that if you wanted a week next year, you had to pay RCI for another year of membership.

RCI doesn't care about you after you take the membership. I've been trying to book my honeymoon with RCI since last 20 days. I've been calling them again and again for the last 20 days and they are supposed to call me back with the list of resorts that are available, but they didn't. I'm honestly frustrated and angry with RCI as they don't care about their customers. I have the names of the representatives also, if an authority at RCI would like to know. I would sincerely like a refund, but it's not in their policy. So I am angry with their services, but I can't do anything but write.

I made a reservation thru the RCI website on February 11, 2012 for April 13. On March 15, we received an email that stated the resort we had reserved no longer included breakfast and if we chose to cancel our reservation, it would be the normal cancellation policy. On March 16, we received another email from RCI in which they stated that our reservation had been cancelled. When we called, they claimed that the resort was undergoing renovations. But when I called the resort directly, they stated that no renovations were occurring.

I personally wasted money on buying time share in Oak N Spruce, Lee, MA years ago and regret ever since. The maintenance costs are the real murderer. RCI is another big scam promised to sell my time share and charged me $1,125. I never heard from them. They have very deceitful sales tactic. They are no better than corporate bullies and hustlers. I don't know who to turn too because there are millions like RCI cheat and charge you for selling your time share and turn their back. It's robbing from the weak and they should be brought to justice. I will and am tweeting/Facebook every day about this matter.

I tried to book my RCI vacation this year. I used my debit card online and paid my annual fee of $124.00 and a fee for $183.00 to exchange. I was sent a bill in the mail that said I owed $412.00 for a vacation that I took in 2009. Then I received another bill that said, I owed $150.00 for a previous membership fee that I had to pay. Then another bill for $248.00 that said I had to renew for two years. Then another fee of $26.00 for something else. When I called RCI, they said my debit card was declined. I contacted my bank and RCI had never attempted to take funds from my account.

We have on multiple occasions, for three years, booked vacations, but the place we wanted would not be available, and the options had terrible reviews by other Points Members. We have accepted the fact that our $15,000.00 is gone! We do not intend to put more money into this "black hole"! Island Links and/or Coral Resorts has our $15,000.00 that we know we have lost. We are writing it off to a "bad investment". If you insist on pursuing the collection of $971.99, I have alerted my attorney by phone, and a copy of this email to be prepared for court action.

Hello RCI subscribing members and timeshare owners. We'd like to take this opportunity to provide some clarification and offer assistance. RCI doesn't own or operate any timeshare resorts, nor does RCI sell timeshare. Our role in the timeshare industry is to provide exchange services to vacation owners at RCI affiliated certain timeshare properties. This exchange service is designed to offer flexibility and choice to timeshare owners who opt to become RCI subscribing members.

I read a large number of the posts before deciding to add our story. As some people have said, you have to keep the sales staff at the resort separate from RCI. We made the decision to purchase points through a resort in Collingwood, Ontario. We were shown a suite and advised that we should be able to receive similar suites during our travels. We were also advised that we could stay at our home resort for a discounted charge any time we wanted. This has turned out to be false.

I booked our 50th anniversary with my family with RCI. They had a special offer; pay for 4 days and receive 3 days free with four massages in Jan. 2012. We had difficulty getting flight for 13 so we called and asked for the same deal and were offered Feb. 11 - 18, 2012. On arrival, the hotel will not honor the deal. We called and the RCI supervisor was nasty and hung up phone on us. Imagine being up at 2 am with 3 and 8 year old to travel. She surely was trained in a sewer. Instead of trying to calm the customer and resolve the issue, she hung up the phone. No one called back until 3 days later, never resolving the issue.

We paid $1000 for five-day stay and found out before we were leaving that we had to pay all inclusive agreement of $2000 more. You guys suck.

I bought the cruise and resort package which they made it sound like a good deal at the time. With RCI, everything is difficult, there are fees that were not previously mentioned, the employees lie. I would never buy anything from them again. I booked a cruise date yesterday, their brochures say one thing, the person on the phone says another.

Purchased a time share from Coral Sands. We were told that we had no maintenance fees for any of our timeshares and traded in a time share for it. They took possession of a timeshare we owned and we had no idea of trading it. The price was $12,000, none of it was true. None of the people will return my calls.

Made reservations in advance for a trade show at the Worldgate resort, Kissimmee, FL. 1/19/12 -1/22/12 . Drove 7 hrs, went to check in, resort didn't get the confirmation. Called RCI, person said they would fax it there, no good, the resort was booked solid. After a 2 hour run around, GM got involved, mind you the town house they wanted us to stay in wasn't clean, single beds were not changed, same sheets from someone else, bath room was used, no clean towels, all used left on the floor. Finally got a 1 bedroom hotel room, which was for the handicap.

I paid $3,000 for Cruise and a week. I booked cruise after I paid the $3,000 for the certificates. They wanted an additional $2,000 for the Cruise for the time period we wanted. They said the $2,000 had to be paid in full 90 days prior to the cruise. When I recently called to pay the balance, they told me the cruise was cancelled even though they gave me confirmation numbers for my 2 cabins. They said someone called my house asking for a deposit. I never spoke to anyone from RCI. I did not receive any email or mail correspondence stating that they cancelled my reservation. They want me to pay $398 to reinstate 2 certificates and an additional $200 to get the cabins back that they cancelled. This is ridiculous, someone please help. How do I file a lawsuit?

We were scammed! We were first invited to a free meal and had a presentation about moving our weeks into points. So, we paid a fee and thought that our now weeks were permanently moved into points with RCI. What they did not tell us is that it is good only for a year. The following year, we would have to pay again to move it into points. We feel that we were scammed. I have learned that if you have to decide now, do not do it! That is a pressure sell, so you cannot think it through. No matter how good an offer they make you, do not do it! When we called them, all they said is "sorry that is how it is". If you cannot go home and think about it, then they are scamming you.

When I bought my timeshare, RCI assured me that availability was not a problem because only members of the program can access the timeshares. I have since learned that availability is a serious problem. RCI engages in the practice of skimming a large percentage of the timeshares from the system, including many prime timeshares and renting them to the general public at a profit to RCI or selling them to vendors who then rent them to the general public. As a result, no matter how meticulously one follows RCI's rules and procedures and no matter how far in advance one begins looking for a desirable exchange, one simply cannot find available destinations. Since RCI does not allow extending points into the following year without a $99.00 payment, one is forced to either forfeit the points or pay an additional $99.00.

I bought a membership in Gold Crown at a resort in Mazatlan last Nov. The salesman, Brad **, lied to me about what my membership included when he saw I wasn't interested in what they had to offer. He said I could use my weeks for airfare. It was a total lie. It wasn't until I got home and received my password that I discovered the scam. Customer service said they had nothing to do with the sales people and what they say. Everyone I talked to said I "misunderstood" and cannot get a refund. My girlfriend and I both know what we were told. In fact, we went over several ways in which we could use the airfare with Mr. Brad ** and assured by him that was included.

RCI has now started basing "Weeks" trades on trading power and offering "Trading Power Credits" when you trade to a lower value unit. They then turn around and require you to pay $109 to combine your own credit (that you received after paying $199 to exchange your week for one at another resort), then you have to another $199 to exchange the now combined trading power for a new week.

I have owned it for 4 years. I tried numerous times to get it started. Today, another several hours put in, only to be given another number to call. The last call to 800 832 8033 cut me off every time I got to a real person. We have yet to recover one minute or penny from this company, $18,000.00 later. I guess we're either out the money, or I'll pursue the Mexican government route to fraud suit. I chose a rating of zero, but it won't register less than a one.

I urge all of the people who were misled, or felt they were scammed by RCI to contact the Arizona attorney general's office. They have a complaint form on their website. I have been an RCI member for a long time. The one time I was able to exchange my gold crown resort, I ended up in a roach infested resort in isle Margerita, where wild diseased dogs and cats were wading and drinking out of the swimming pool. When we called to complain, we were told there were no other resorts available. If you read the posts on this website, you can see that there are far more complaints than positive reviews. I wonder if some of the positive reviews are posted by RCI employees.

I've read the comments going back about a year from 1/1/12. My wife and I have been a condo owner and a RCI member for about 14 years. We ask questions, prepare ahead, plan our options and have never had a poor vacation exchange due to any negligence on RCI's part. For example, if you wait until March to look for a condo/resort exchange on the Outer Banks of NC for that summer, it isn't going to happen. On the other hand, if you wait until March to look for a nice condo/resort exchange for that summer in the interior USA, such as Branson, MO or Gatlinburg, TN, you'll have a grand time with numerous possible selections. You may get some good spots still in Orlando, as the economy has caused that vacation wonderland to have an overload of empty condo rooms.

In October 2010, my wife and I banked our week at a 5-star resort in hopes of exchanging for a week at Disney. Within one week, we received a call from RCI stating that we could go to Disney's Old Key West resort. Unfortunately, we were not able to travel during the week that was offered, so we declined but RCI continued to search for us. A few months later we were offered the same resort but at a time that did not work for us again. After over a year of waiting, I checked the RCI website to find that Disney resorts are available in early January (when we want to go). We contacted RCI to inquire about this and are now being told that we don't have enough exchange value for any Disney resorts. The rude customer service reps claim that there is absolutely no possible way that our banked week will ever qualify for an exchange to Disney. When we informed them that we have twice been offered Disney resorts (but had to decline because of scheduling issues), we were called liars!

My wife and I were talked into buying a Points membership while on vacation at the Sunset Beach Club in Bellamadena, Spain. We have two children, and we were told that if we purchased 30,000 points, that would guarantee us a week's holiday anywhere, anytime at high standard accommodation. We were foolish enough to purchase, as the pitch sounded great, and we paid the 4,500.

I received a call from RCI about a cruise and resort package. I explained to them that I was in an unsure financial situation and did not know if this was a good time to buy a vacation package. I told them I would know better in a week or so. The supervisor got on the phone and assured me I could call her next week and cancel with no problem. (She did not tell me I had 10 days to cancel). When they sent me the package with the cancellation requirements, they sent it in my daughter's name. By the time my daughter (who does not live with us) came and opened it, it was too late to cancel. They refused to give me a refund stating that they were under no legal obligation to tell me about the 10 day policy over the phone.

Purchased 30,000 points of supposed timeshare locations to vacation. Since our purchase in September, we have yet to be able to book a date. Have complained to RCI and RCI is "trying" an ongoing search with no results. We have requested a refund but of course they will not process one. We have not been able to book anything. We have asked our credit card company to reverse the payment and they attempted to do so, but RCI submitted a copy of the contract stating that there is a 7 day cancellation period. We have received nothing from them and our "year" time frame will be up soon and I would like to receive something for the money we have paid.

I must comment to Chase from Longmont, Co. If RCI is asking you to pay a reinstatement fee for your points, you were canceled for non-payment of your membership. You didn't pay for your membership for at least 3 years. RCI did not sell your points. They revert back to the resort that you own. And RCI has no control over the points. They are administered by the resort. If you let your membership lapse and you pay the reinstatement fee, it is up to the resort whether or not you get your points back. You have 3 years to the use the points: the first year you get them, if you do not use them, you pay a $26.00 fee to "roll them forward" to the 2nd use year. If you do not use them the 2nd year, you pay a $99.00 fee to extend them to the 3rd year. If you do not use them during the 3rd year, they expire.

My wife and I were on vacation in New York and were approached in the lobby of our hotel about RCI's Manhattan Club. We went to the sales pitch and when we said that we needed time to make up our minds and needed a few days to research and think it over, the salesman who had been insisting that this was a 'no pressure' sales pitch got nasty with us and called in his boss who attempted to insult us by saying 'you only came for the tickets.' The sales desk in the lobby had a big sign offering persons Broadway and other show tickets to listen to the sales pitch.

I ordered an RCI cell part for my air purifier and it didn't work. I got permission to send it back, which I did, and now the company is saying that they never received it. I tried calling them and a recorder is on and they won't call me back.

When purchasing the Travel Certificate, all of the hidden costs are not exposed until you have purchased the package. I was up front on what I was trying to accomplish. Now, all the parties who contributed to pay for this certificate are told to stay in the place they have listed for the amount of people, it will cost more money. I find this to be false advertisement.

Thank you to all of you who shared your experience with RCI.

We purchased a California timeshare after explaining that we would be trading it the first 10 years and using it thereafter. We were assured it would get us a 'red' week top US or international RCI resort anytime.

I have been an RCI member for 13 years. My family and I went to book our vacation with RCI. We were told that our member ship was overdue and they had sold all of our points over 100,000.00 because we let our membership go past due.

and they rented my week and i am sitting here with nothing . this has been going on for a long time.

Me and my boyfriend at the time (we weren't married, didn't have the same address or last name-requirement is to be married for the timeshare) were in Vegas and got a timeshare, because we thought it would be a good idea to have something we could travel with and keep after we paid off. However, when I went to use the points the place was booked 5 months in advance and there was only 1 place in San Antonio? Anyways, finally used it to stay in Galveston for a Family Reunion. I put up my immediate family and they said it was going to be 60,000 points for each room (which later on found out it was 60,000 total for the stay). Which sounded like a lot and it was. The place was not that nice.