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"FIRE FIRE FIRE!"
I was once told if you were in trouble and needed help you should never yell "HELP!" because no one will run to your aid and help you, they tell you to scream "FIRE!" because then someone will come to check out the fire, not because they want to help someone, but because they just want to see a fire and possibly some drama, maybe someone gets burned or a nice blaze is occuring.
Well FIRE FIRE FIRE!
I was laid off at the end of January. I've sent out about 75-100 resumes and have had no luck in getting a job, only 3 responses and those nice companies at least responded to tell me the positions had been filled already. I am collecting unemployment for $1400 and have monthly expenses totaling $4000+. I have a CITIBANK Citimortgage that I am unable to pay due to my decline in income and inability to find work. I called them 8 weeks ago to try and be proactive considering LOTS of Americans are losing their homes for similar circumstances like mine and I wanted to try and avoid this if possible through some sort of arrangement. In dealing with them for the last 8 weeks I have had nothing but problems in trying to figure out how, what, where, and when I am supposed to do to avoid the outcome of losing my home. In the last 8 weeks I am unable to answer simple questions with them since I get nowhere but frustrated and covered in more gray hairs as they seem unwilling to help.
FIREFIREFIRE! IS that what I should be saying?
They are unwilling to help or provide me with an answer that solves the questions I ask them. Throughout my many conversations with them I've been given about 20 different phone numbers as they transfer me all over the world to someone in the wrong department, wrong country or wrong state that either hangs up on me by mistake, sends me to the wrong department or I get someone that tells me I need to call another number and they cannot transfer me because it's in India, it's customer service I need to speak with (oh no here I go again). I've inquired about what the current Obama Stimulus package can do for me, but they don't seem to have any knowledge of what it does or how it helps people yet. I've been told to call back in a week or two...
I've been given these reasons so far that they cannot help me, and the list is growing after each call. - Still awaiting word on how the plan will help you, call back in a few weeks - That plan wont apply to you because you are unemployed - That plan wont work for you because you need to be employed (different person than the one above, seems to be a canned response) - We can't help you because your mortgage is currently not in arrears, call us back when you are 3 months behind in your payments, MAYBE we can help you then. - We can't help you, call this number here, wait I can transfer you now...click (dialtone)...If you'd like to make a call please hang up and then dial the number - HER: "We can't offer you any stimulus package help (after I explain I'm laid off, not making enough to pay the mortgage as I am collecting unemployment) but I can offer to rewrite your current mortgage under a lower interest rate which should help drop your payment for you." ME: "Well how would lowering the rate help me pay the mortgage if I am not making enough income to pay for my bills?" HER: "How much can you currently afford for your mortgage with yoru current income?" ME: "Well after I pay for food for my family, heat for my home, electric, phone and gas I can afford about $50.00." HER: AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...click (dialtone)...If you'd like to make a call please hang up and then dial your operator WTF!?! - You need to contact Fannie Mae to speak with them, they can help you...click - ME: Someone there told me I need to speak to Fannie Mae about my mortgage, is that true?" HIM: "No only we can help you with your mortgage, what can I do for you? ME: (oh god) "I'm unemployed, looking for work, I cannot pay my mortgage, what are my options?" HIM: Oh I'm not sure let me transfer you...click (dialtone)...If you'd like to make a call please hang up and dial the number... - THEM: "Oh if you need help you need to fill out a form online for Hardship Assistance and someone will contact you." ME: Oh I filled out that form 7 1/2 weeks ago and sent it to you and was told someone would call me within 2 to 4 weeks but still have not gotten a call. I spoke to someone the other day that said I should be getting a call any week now since they saw that it was received and in your system." THEM: "Oh ok, let me transfer you to that department that can help you. Also go online and schedule an appointment for them to call you. Her I am transferring you now." ...(wait for it)...click...If you'd like to make a call... - (phone rings) I pick up since it's Monday, around 12:00 pm when I scheduled my Citimortgage appointment online for someone from my mortgage company to contact me just like that person told me to do (good dog). It's an automated phone message telling me to call a phone number to reschedule my appointment with Citimortgage. I write down the phone number and call them "Due to high call volume please call back at a later time to schedule your appointment or go online to ..." -------- I await more calls like this in the next few months, currently I have not paid 1 months mortgage and shortly they should be calling me to ask where the mortgage is. I plan on transferring them to India, or giving them my cell number, or the deli down the street... two can play this game. (kidding of course)
Didn't Citibank get a bailout from bush and company last year? I wonder why we even saved this awful company from extinction and rescued them from their incompetence and failure?? Was this really necessary?
hmmmm THIS is the American Dream that I've been working so hard for only to be crushed because of this bush economy recession/wall street fiasco/mortgage crisis and the incompetence of Citibank to deliver anything but poor customer service and excellent, outstanding, 5 Star frustration service?
Where is my bailout that keeps my family and I in our home because I lost my job due to the failings of the American Economy that I had nothing to do with? I was doing my job well, I was keeping customers happy. Where is the help that Citibank is to provide since they got their home saved for them with an American Taxpayer Bailout and didn't get tossed out on their collective failure laden rear end?
Am I to be one of the few million that lose their home this year just like the ones that lost their homes last year? Am I to be a 2009 tent city dweller also?
FIREFIREFIRE! FIREFIREFIRE! Where's the homeowner bailout!!! This is not the American dream where corporate dreams come true but the LOSER Homeowners (as Rick Santelli called all of us) get thrown out on their asses.
I tried calling my Senators and Congressman like some of previously mentioned and tht is also a work in progress as I know there are many of us out there in every state so they must also be busy as hell (I asked if they were hiring and they said unfortunately no :( , figures every state office I've spoken to is busy as hell but not hiring at the moment ). One nice lady Linda from Frank Lautenbergs office was so nice and she gave me all kinds of numbers that I can try and call. I felt bad for her because she said she has never hated coming to work until now because all she does is take calls like mine, and she doesn't know what to do. But it's not her fault and she was so helpful and kind on the phone (Peace to you Linda!), I thanked her and told her to have a great day. Robert Menendez told me to send in my questions in writing and they can see about answering them. I spoke to a nice guy at the congressmans office who asked me to email him info and I'm still awaiting back on his reply.
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