A Quick, Honest Explanation of Two Things Every Member Should Understand

Two topics come up in member services calls more than almost any others. Not because they are complicated, but because no one sat down and explained them clearly when they should have. 

This is that explanation. 

Banking Your Time 

Banking is the option to carry unused vacation time forward into a future year rather than losing it. If life gets in the way of a trip this year, or if you simply want to combine two years for a longer trip in the future, banking is how you do it. 

Here is what to know. 

Banking has a deadline. Each membership contract specifies the window during which you can bank your current year's time, and that window closes well before your use year ends. If you miss it, the time expires and cannot be recovered. This is the most common source of frustration in member services, and it is entirely preventable. Tip: TAFER Members can bank their time anytime throughout the year; you don’t have to wait until the deadline.   

Banked time does not roll over indefinitely. Most contracts allow banking one year forward. Banked time from a prior year that still has not been used is typically subject to its own expiration rules. If you are not sure of the specific terms in your contract, member services will walk you through it at no charge. 

Banking is also the first step before depositing with RCI. If you want to exchange your vacation time through Interval for a trip somewhere else in the world, you typically need to bank it first through the club, then deposit it with RCI. Timing matters here too. Do not wait until you have a specific trip in mind to start that process. 

To bank your time or ask about your current banking window, log into your member portal at www.member.resortcom.com or contact member services directly. 

Your Maintenance Fee 

Your annual maintenance fee is what keeps the resorts running at the standard you expect. It covers resort upkeep and renovations, landscaping and grounds, amenity operations, housekeeping and staffing, utilities and infrastructure, and the administrative systems that manage your account and reservations. 

Think of it the way you would think about a homeowner's association fee for a property you actually want to visit. The maintenance fee is what stands between the resort you fell in love with and the resort that starts to show its age. 

A few things worth knowing. 

Paying on time matters. Late fees are charged on overdue maintenance balances, and unpaid fees can affect your ability to make reservations. If you are facing a situation where payment is difficult, contact member services before the due date. There are options available, and they are much easier to access before an account goes into arrears than after. 

The fee covers all members equally. Whether you use your membership every year or every few years, the fee applies because the resort is being maintained for your use, whether or not you show up in a given year. 

Your fee statement is available in the member portal, and payment can be made online, by phone, or through the contact information below. Tip: In the event of an increase in annual dues, an additional invoice may be issued for the difference if a future maintenance fee was prepaid.  

 

Three things to do before renewal season 

• Log in to your member portal at www.member.resortcom.com  and confirm your current payment status and due date 

• If you have unused time this year, check your banking window now before it closes 

• If you have questions about your balance, your banking options, or your contract terms, call member services before the deadline, not after 

Your membership is decades of investment in the kind of travel that actually means something. These two tools, banking and your maintenance fee, are what keep that investment protected and working for you. 

Questions? Member Services: memberservices@resortcom.com