Murillo vs. RCI Settlement Conditions

As of December 2008, it seems a preliminary settlement has been agreed upon regarding the class action lawsuit – Murillo vs. RCI.  For background on this lawsuit please read the post RCI Class Action Lawsuit, Murillo vs. RCI.  Below you will find the terms and conditions of the settlement benefits in their latest form, which are subject to change.  I will keep this post updated regarding any changes or development in the settlement, and what exactly this could mean for RCI members.  Please scroll to the end of the post to explore how this settlement could effect you, or to post comments regarding this impending legal action.Murillo vs. RCI Settlement Conditions II. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SETTLEMENT BENEFITS RCI shall make available to all Settlement Class Members the changes and benefits in this Section II (the "Class Benefits"), such benefits to be in addition to any vouchers, discounts, refunds, or other benefits of any kind that may be available to RCI Weeks Exchange Program Members as of the Execution Date other than as set forth in this Settlement Agreement. A. Member Disclosures. RCI will disclose the following information to any Member (as to Corporate Participants, such information shall be provided only to the extent the ThirdParty Entity with which the Corporate Participant is affiliated reflects Trading Power in values for communication to the Third-Party Entity's owners), provided that a Member properly submits to RCI the information regarding the Member's Vacation Time that is otherwise required by RCI to make a Deposit (e.g., week number, resort J.D., bedroom size, and kitchen size): 1. Disclosure of Trading Power. a. RCI shall disclose, to any Member who owns Vacation Time, the Trading Power for that Vacation Time prior to the Member's actual Deposit of the Vacation Time, subject to the following: (i) the Member requests the disclosure more than fourteen (14) days and less than two (2) years prior to the starting date of the Vacation Time that is the subject of the Member's proposed Deposit; and (ii) RCI will provide the Member with the Trading Power of the Member's Vacation Time that RCI has assigned based on the assumption that the Deposit will take place on the same day that the Trading Power is determined by RCI, and RCI will concurrently and prominently disclose that, if the Deposit is not made that day, the Trading Power subsequently may be affected by the factors enumerated in Section IX.A below, and thus is subject to change until the time of actual Deposit. In conjunction with a Member's actual Deposit of Vacation Time in accordance with the applicable Terms and Conditions, RCI will disclose the assigned Trading Power ofthe Deposit to the Member. b. RCI will provide information to any Member regarding (a) Member Exchanges over the prior two years by region and subregion (if applicable), calendar month, average Trading Power of confirmed Exchanges, and average historical supply, and (b) currently available Inventory for which the Member's Vacation Time has sufficient Trading Power to effect an Exchange, including the current Trading Power of the available Inventory based on the assigned Trading Power of the Member's Vacation Time and in accordance with the applicable Terms and Conditions. For example, provided that a Member properly submits to RCI the information that otherwise would be required to deposit the Member's Vacation Time (e.g., week number, resort LD., bedroom size, and kitchen size), RCI will disclose to that Member currently available Inventory for which the Member's Vacation Time has sufficient Trading Power to effect an Exchange. RCI's disclosure of available Inventory is not and shall not be construed as a representation or guaranty that such Inventory will be available for Exchange at the time the Member deposits the Vacation Time. A list of the regions and subregions currently used by RCI in conducting searches to effect an Exchange, which is subject to change by RCI in the normal course of business, is annexed to this Settlement Agreement as Attachment 4. c. The information identified in subsections II.A.l.a and ILA.l.b shall be provided only to Members who own the Vacation Time for which information is sought, are in compliance with the applicable Terms and Conditions, and have a valid log-in identification, password, and/or personal identification to use RCI's web-based or automated systems. Such information shall be made readily available on a website regularly maintained by RCI. d. Nothing in this Section II or in this Settlement Agreement shall require RCI to disclose the methodology for calculating Trading Power, including but not limited to any formulae, algorithms, or calculations. e. The information identified in subsections II.A.l.a and II.A.l.b shall be made available beginning on or before August 31, 2010 and continuing for a period of two (2) years from the date on which such information is first made available by RCI in accordance with this Section II.A.! or August 31, 2012, whichever is earlier. 2. Balancing of RCI Deposits and Rented Inventory. RCI represents that, on a calendar year basis and by Trading Power Segment, the aggregate quantity of Vacation Time that is deposited by Members and is rented by RCI shall be less than the aggregate quantity of Inventory and Alternative Inventory that RCI or others deposit or contribute, or that RCI otherwise permits to be contributed for Exchange, except that this representation excludes (a) the quantity of Vacation Time that Members deposit to acquire Alternative Inventory (as measured by the aggregate Trading Power of such Vacation Time), and (b) Vacation Time that is not the subject of a Confirmation ninety (90) days prior to the start date of that Vacation Time. 3. Disclosure of Weeks Program Activity. RCI agrees that, for the calendar year ending December 31, 2008 and for at least two calendar years thereafter, RCI shall make information available to all Members regarding activity in the RCI Weeks Exchange Program, by Trading Power Segment, during the prior calendar year. Such disclosure shall be in addition to any statutory disclosures RCI mayor may not provide. RCI may determine the timing, frequency, and form of such disclosures, provided that the information disclosed by RCI shall include the following: (I) the total number of units of Inventory deposited more than ninety (90) days prior to the starting date of the deposited Vacation Time, showing the number of such units deposited by each of Members, RCI, or others; (2) the number of Exchanges in the RCI Weeks Exchange Program completed more than ninety (90) days prior to the starting date of the deposited Vacation Time, including the total number of Exchanges involving Members' Vacation Time exchanged for other Members' Vacation Time, the total number of Exchanges involving Members' Vacation Time exchanged for Inventory or Alternative Inventory deposited by RCI, and the total number of Exchanges involving Members' Vacation Time exchanged for Inventory or Alternative Inventory deposited by others; (3) the total number of units of Inventory that were not the subject of an Exchange; and (4) the total number of units of Inventory that were deposited by Members and rented by RCI more than ninety (90) days in advance of the starting date of the deposited Vacation Time. B. Disclosures to New and Enrolling Members. On or before August 31, 2009, RCI shall, to the extent legally permitted, require Affiliated Resorts to provide new and enrolling Members with information and disclosures regarding the RCI Weeks Exchange Program. This information and these disclosures shall, at a minimum: (I) explain the manner in which Trading Power shall be disclosed to individual Members; (2) identify all of the factors that impact Trading Power and the Exchange of Vacation Time; and (3) provide the most recent compilation of data made available to Members pursuant to Section II.A.(2) above. RCI will monitor the compliance of a sample of Affiliated Resorts in providing the information identified above to new and enrolling Members and, as to Members who provide RCI with a valid e-mail address, RCI shall conduct a post-emollment survey regarding the application and disclosure process, and RCI shall promptly address any responses in the post-emollment survey that RCI identifies as a deficiency in Affiliated Resorts' disclosures with the intention of correcting the deficiency. C. Priority For Weeks Program Exchange Fulfillment. Commencing on or before August 31, 2010 and continuing for a period of two (2) years from the date on which the benefit provided in this Section ILC is first made available by RCI or August 31, 2012, whichever is earlier, each Deposit of Vacation Time for the purpose of an Exchange right, made more than one year in advance of the starting date of such Vacation Time, shall be available exclusively for Exchange by Members and eligible members of the RCI Points exchange program (subject to balancing as required by Section II.A.(2), above) for a period of thirty-one (31) days from the date of Deposit, including the initial Deposit day, and shall not be available for any other purpose, including, without limitation, Rental. In addition, upon each such Deposit of Vacation Time, as well as with respect to Deposits made less than one year in advance of the starting date of the deposited Vacation Time, RCI will make available that Vacation Time to satisfY an active and pending Exchange Request, based on the Trading Power criteria set forth in Section IX.A below. If no such Exchange Request exists upon the Deposit date, RCI will make the deposited Vacation Time available for both Exchange and Rental, should RCI wish to offer the Vacation Time for Rental. Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section ILC: 1. RCI may exchange Vacation Time with other exchange programs for the purpose of balancing exchange systems as described in subsection ILA.(2), above, or for the purpose of enhancing Member satisfaction; 2. RCI may, at any time, rent or otherwise dispose of any Vacation Time that (a) is acquired by RCI and is in excess of the amount of Vacation Time that RCI deposits or has deposited, if any, for the purpose of balancing Inventory available to Members as set forth in Section ILA.2 of this Settlement Agreement or (b) is not the subject of a Confirmation ninety (90) days prior to the starting date of that Vacation Time; 3. Although not included within the definition of a Member, RCI may, in its sole discretion, permit an Affiliated Resort to make a Deposit and perform an Exchange and provide the Deposit or resulting Confirmation to a Member subject to the terms of this Section ILC and the Terms and Conditions; and 4. To the extent there is a conflict between the provisions of this Section ILC and the terms of any agreement between RCI and Affiliated Resorts that may limit or otherwise relate to the availability of a Deposit, including but not limited to limitations on the ability of a Member to Exchange for Vacation Time that is located within a certain radius of the Member's Deposit, the terms of RCI's agreement with the Affiliated Resort shall control. D. Expiring Deposit Recognition. Settlement Class Members, excluding Former Members, who are identified on the list annexed to this Settlement Agreement as Attachment 5, may elect to receive a $30 credit applied toward the Member's next Exchange. Not later than April 6, 2009, an eligible Settlement Class Member seeking the benefit available in this Section ILD must complete and submit directly to RCI a Claim Form to be made available via a link posted on the RCLcom website or, upon request, by U.S. regular mail, in accordance with the terms and procedures set forth in such Claim Form. Eligible Settlement Class Members were identified on Attachment 5 based on the following criteria: (1) the starting date associated with said Member's Vacation Time is between January 1,2000 and August 31, 2008; (2) the Member paid RCI to extend, for a minimum of six months, the ability to apply the Deposit toward an Exchange; (3) the Member initiated and maintained a Properly Submitted Exchange Request for a period of at least thirty (30) consecutive days; (4) the ability to apply the Deposit toward an Exchange expired; and (5) the Member did not confirm an Exchange against that Deposit. The credit available under this Section IlD shall be redeemable from August 31, 2009 through December 31, 2009. E. Additional Benefits for Current Members. In addition to the benefits set forth above, a Settlement Class Member who is a Member in good standing may select, at his or her sole option, one of the following five additional benefits, subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations set forth in this Settlement Agreement, by completing and submitting directly to RCI a Claim Form to be made available via a link posted on the RCLcom website in accordance with the terms and procedures set forth in such Claim Form. 1. Request First. If a Settlement Class Member selects this benefit, RCI shall provide the Settlement Class Member with the opportunity to search Inventory and make an Exchange Request prior to depositing Vacation Time, and such opportunity shall expire upon the earlier of (a) the date on which the Settlement Class Member effectuates an Exchange and (b) two (2) years after the Effective Date. A previous, unexpired Deposit may not be used in connection with Request First. In order for a Settlement Class Member to use this benefit and to properly identify Inventory for which the Settlement Class Member's Vacation Time has sufficient Trading Power to effect an Exchange, the Settlement Class Member must provide the starting and ending dates, resort LD., bedroom size, and kitchen size of the Settlement Class Member's Vacation Time to be deposited, and the starting date of the Settlement Class Member's Vacation Time must be at least nine months into the future. No Exchange Fee shall be required by RCI in connection with the use of Request First unless and until an Exchange Confirmation is made. If the Request First search identifies a desired Exchange, the settlement Class Member must Deposit the Vacation Time at the time of the Exchange to confirm the Exchange. 2. Membership Renewal Credit. If a Settlement Class Member selects this benefit, RCI shall provide the Settlement Class Member with one of the following: (a) Members (excluding Corporate Participants) whose RCI Weeks Exchange Program membership expires within two years of the Effective Date shall be given a two month extension of their RCI Weeks Exchange Program membership; and (b) Members (excluding Corporate Participants) whose RCI Weeks Exchange Program membership expires more than two years after the Effective Date can elect either (i) a two month extension of their RCI Weeks Exchange Program membership, (ii) a $20 credit toward a RCI Weeks Exchange Program membership renewal, which shall be added to the Member's current subscription term, or (iii) a $20 credit toward the Member's next Exchange, which credit shall be valid through the date that is two years past the Effective Date, provided that the starting and ending dates of the Vacation Time that is the subject of the next Exchange to which the credit will apply may take place at any time. 3. Prorated Refund of Subscription Fees. If a Settlement Class Member selects this benefit, the Settlement Class Member's membership in the RCI Weeks Exchange Program shall immediately terminate, and RCI shall provide the Settlement Class Member with a prorated refund of his/her Subscription Fee and a full refund of fees paid by the Settlement Class Member for pending Exchange Requests. 4. Free Rental Night. If a Settlement Class Member selects this benefit, RCI shall provide the Settlement Class Member with one free night stay at any RCI Rental offered as single night stays, subject to availability, to be used toward the same room of any paid Rental of at least one night. The Rental must be reserved within one year of the Effective Date. 5. Cruise Certificate. If a Settlement Class Member selects this benefit, RCI shall provide the Settlement Class Member with a $100 discount certificate per cabin to be applied toward the purchase of any Cruise offered by RCI at the time this benefit is selected with the option of receiving additional $100 discount certificates (one per cabin) toward the purchase of up to three additional cabins for the same Cruise by the same Settlement Class Member. The Settlement Class Member will be required to book any and all such Cruises within one year from the date this option is selected. The Cruises themselves may occur at any time subject to availability. F. Requirements for Selecting Additional Benefits for Current Members. Not later than April 6, 2009, individual Settlement Class Members seeking one of the benefits described above in Section II.E must complete and submit directly to RCI a Claim Form to be made available via a link posted on the RCI.com website, or, upon request, by U.S. regular mail, in accordance with the terms and procedures set forth in such Claim Form, and such benefit shall be redeemable commencing no later than August 31, 2009. G. Benefits for Former Members. Former Members who are Settlement Class Members may elect to receive either (1) a $15 payment from RCI or (2) a $15 credit toward a RCI Weeks Exchange Program membership. Not later than April 6, 2009, a Former Member seeking one of the benefits available in this Section II.G must complete and submit directly to RCI a Claim Form to be made available via a link posted on the RCI.com website or, upon request, by U.S. regular mail, in accordance with the terms and procedures set forth in such Claim Form, and such benefit shall be provided to Former Members by December 31, 2009. H. Class Benefits Not Transferable or Assignable. No Settlement Class Member shall transfer or assign any Class Benefit to any other person or entity, including any Third-Party Entity, and Class Benefits shall not be redeemable for cash value by any Settlement Class Member or any other person or entity, subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations of this Settlement Agreement. I. Time Limitation. Except as otherwise provided herein, and without altering any shorter or longer period that is specified herein, RCI shall not be required to offer or provide any of the Class Benefits identified in this Settlement Agreement for more than two years from the Effective Date. J. Waiver/Modification of Requirements. Notwithstanding anything in this Settlement Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this Settlement Agreement shall be construed to restrict, limit or otherwise impede RCI's rights to (1) accept or reject any enrollment application, and (2) waive or modify, in RCI's sole discretion, the application of any requirement applicable to the RCI Weeks Exchange Program that otherwise could be imposed upon a Member, including transaction fees, provided that such waiver or modification does not impair or diminish the Class Benefits. K. Extension of Deadlines for Benefits. If RCI cannot perform an obligation required of it by this Settlement Agreement by the date specified herein, RCI will notify Class Counsel promptly (i.e., within days or weeks as may reasonably be appropriate under the circumstances) of the reason for the delay and the date by which RCI expects to be able to complete the required task. What This Means for RCI Members What the Murillo vs. RCI settlement means for RCI members: Absolutely nothing, other than a fairly compelling argument to look elsewhere for timeshare exchanges come August 2010. Nothing outlined in the proposed settlement above is any different than the alleged practices RCI was being sued for in the first place. Basically, if you do not bank your week more than a year before your week is reserved, they will pull it out of the exchange pool and rent it out.  RCI is required to maintain a quantity balance of banked weeks vs. available weeks so members who have banked also have weeks to choose from out of the pool, but there is no mention in the settlement regarding the QUALITY of these weeks. Trading power is also addressed in the settlement, and this will require RCI to disclose each week member's trading power.  This is how it should have been from the beginning, and how it has always been for points members.  Weeks members have a right to know realistically what their week can trade for, and maybe this will help to allieviate any future confusion regarding trades viewed by members as "unfair".

The class action suit seems to have rationalized and legalized the unfair exchange practices of RCI, forcing them to draw up a legal disclosure defining (and admitting to) their business model.  Now that it is legal for them to rent out weeks banked less than a year in advance, you can expect nothing to change, and the availability for trades should remain the same.

Keep in mind, any potential class member (current or former RCI member) could opt out of this settlement to pursue their own case, or could file an objection to the terms of the settlement. Please help in getting the word out about this latest class action lawsuit regarding RCI.  If nothing else, this can at least allow people to become more knowledgeable about the inner workings of RCI. Always remember that as a timeshare owner you do have other options for exchange other than RCI.  Many timeshare owners are now starting to turn to smaller companies for their time share exchange needs, and the following article is a good place to start if you want to learn more about this option – Alternative Timeshare Exchange Companies.

Please follow and like us:

Similar Posts

13 Comments

  1. RCI…Raintree and all the board members are all unscroupulous people. The fact that they seem to think they are above the law is beyond comprehension. Where are the Consumer Protection agencies in all the states that should be protecting comsumers from all of this BS. Or are they getting kickbacks from all of these unlawful entities. If the “common folks” are not protected by the agencies we pay into….something is truly wrong with the system. Just goes along with all the other corruption in our country. There is no real law for corrupt and unscroupulous business and people.

  2. Recently a website was created and dedicated to helping “objectors” get the word out.

    The site was created as an informational resource for each and every current or former RCI “Weeks” Member.

    For those that realize that RCI is just offering a “token benefit” and very little in the way of program changes, objecting is something they should seriously consider. If you or any one else interested wants good information about objecting glance at the site. It is very easy to navigate and is quite informative.

    http://rciclassactionlawsuit.com/

    The proposed settlement needs some serious revision before it is accepted by the Court.

    There are literally thousands of folks who are just now finding out that RCI has been “skimming” good weeks as they are deposited and immediately making them available for rent at prices below what the owner of the week had to pay in maintenance fees.

    Dave (TUG Username: Goofyhobbie)

  3. I’m sick of dealing with this whole issue and i definatly am not pleased with the current RCI offers. I would like to sell my timeshare and get out from under this whole mess. Can anyone tell me how to go about selling my timeshare and NO i’m not going to pay anyone cash upfront to sell it for me. I bought mine in Sept. 2000. Any help from knowledgeable persons would be greatly appreciated. I’m sure there are people out there that understand my frustration. If i ever sell this one i’ll NEVER go to another timeshare presentation again. Thanks for any help.

    1. I’m just wondering if you were ever able to sell. My family wants out too, or for them to restructure the way they do business, but I don’t think that’ll happen. If you got out, how’d you finally get rid of it? Thanks!

  4. RCI Notice To Members of a “Proposed” Settlement To The Weeks “Class” Action Lawsuit

    ——————————————————————————–

    You may not ever receive an E-Mail or Post Card from RCI telling you that your rights have been extended until November 20, 2009.

    At this point in time, if you are a member of the class and have NOT already “opted-out” or objected you have a second bite at the apple.

    The opportunity to object is yours with or without an official communication of that right from RCI.

    Unless you have previously “opted-out” you have until November 20, 2009 to object to the proposed settlement.

    The NEW opportunity to object is available to you even if you have previously made a choice of the benefits and have alredy notified the administrator of that choice.

    IF YOU WERE AND STILL ARE A MEMBER OF THE “CLASS” IN THE WEEKS LAWSUIT YOU HAVE UNTIL NOVEMBER 20 TO SEND IN YOUR OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT!

    I look forward to seeing posts from anyone who has already sent in their objection to the proposed settlement and/or from anyone who needs instructions, a Form Letter or any other information on how best to proceed. I CAN BE REACHED THROUGH TWITTER. USERNAME: GoofyHobbie
    __________________
    Dave

    All my posts are based on my personal experience or should be considered my personal opinion about the subject being discussed.

  5. If you are a member of the class go to RCI.com (DO NOT LOG-IN) Once at the site scroll to the bottom of the front page. On the bottom right-hand side of the front page you will see a link entitled RCI WEEKS CLASS ACTION. Click on the Link. YOU HAVE UNTIL NOVEMBER 20, 2009 to OBJECT to the SETTLEMENT.

    __________________
    Dave

    All my posts are based on my personal experience or should be considered my personal opinion about the subject being discussed.

  6. People who were members of the RCI Weeks Exchange Program at any time from January 1, 2000 through August 31, 2009 are members of the settlement class.

    YOU STILL HAVE A DOG IN THE FIGHT!

    Those of us who strongly feel that this Settlement proposal is wrong and that RCI should be held accountable need help to get enough OBJECTORS!

    We need well over a thousand members of the class to object in writing to the settlement.

    You as current or former Members of RCI WEEKS should consider objecting to the possibility that the Plaintiffs attorneys may be granted up to $4,000,000.00 in legal fees.

    If the Settlement is approved (and it is likely to be approved UNLESS enough members of the class OBJECT), RCI will be able to point to the Court Approved Settlement of This Class Action and say:

    For two years: You as an EXCHANGER can deposit your week more than 12 months before the check-in date and RCI will leave your week for other Exchangers for up to 31 days from the date of deposit. After 31 Days, including the date of deposit, RCI is free to use the UNIT for any purpose and without limitation for RENTAL.

    If you as an EXCHANGER deposit less than 12 months before check-in, RCI is free to use the UNIT for Exchange or for RENTAL if there is no Exchange Request for your WEEK on the date of deposit.

    What happens after the TWO YEAR period has expired: I will leave it up to your imagination!

    If this Settlement is approved the door is WIDE open for any EXCHANGE company to take your deposits and OPENLY RENT the UNITS.

    Where will unsophisticated Timeshare EXCHANGERS go to make their exchanges?

    Folks, we are on the edge of a slippery slope. How long before we completely lose the ability to Exchange with a major Exchange company?
    __________________
    Dave

    All my posts are based on my personal experience or should be considered my personal opinion about the subject being discussed.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.

Or subscribe without commenting.