Citibank - CitiMortgage is terrible - Bailout ridden failure

[BluePatriot21]

"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 ..."
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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.

[JDPriestly]

1. Call you representative in Congress. They may be able to

tell you who to contact. Others in your area may in the same situation. Also, your representative in Congress needs to know about this. It doesn't matter whether the person is a Republican or Democrat. Also, see a lawyer -- a real estate lawyer -- now. Call the local bar association or the nearest bar association.

I believe that in California, for example, the Bar Association trained volunteers to help people with foreclosure problems. Your state might have a similar program, and if it doesn't maybe you could ask them to start one. Also, call around at universities in your state that have law schools. One of them might have volunteer law students who are trained to help people like you. The law school faculty might know what organizations could give you help. It may be that these ideas won't be useful, but try them. You need someone who gets the attention of your mortgage company, someone who can write a letter that will be taken seriously.

By the way, write down the date of every contact you make or try to make with the mortgage company. If you reach someone, write down their name and the time of the call and what they say to you. Let them know you are getting this information and that you are keeping a record.

After each contact, write a letter to your mortgage company (the address on the bill) and say, This is to confirm that I called you on such and such a date. I spoke to such and such a person and they said. Explain over and over what you want. Keep a written record of your attempts to get help. The record may or may not be helpful in the future, but it will be your proof that the mortgage company was unwilling to help you when you sought help. You can send copies of the correspondence to the office of your congressional representative if you think that would help. Publish the letters in the newspaper if you want, or share them with your local newspaper. Get attention for your problem.

[babylonsister]

2. She already has called. nt

[babylonsister]

3. You are not alone. I have a 54 year old single sister in law, a

homeowner, going through the same stuff. It's brutal everywhere.

[stillcool]

4. I wish I had some good advice..

but the only thing I can think of is keep yelling FIRE!! Call everyone and anyone, from town, city, state, federal. There is help out there, but it's a full time job finding it.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

5. I would have been more serious when they offered to reduce your rate.

[Sherman A1]

7. Agreed

Sounds like at this point there was a person trying to do something (perhaps not the absolute best thing, but something) to help you out. I would try to reconnect with them ASAP. A lower rate will be of help. I would also suggest contacting every temp agency out there and try to pick up some work. It will be a rocky road, but anything is better than nothing.

I do agree that talking with Citi (or as I call them The moron mortgage company) is a game of shuffle the call, but you have to do something and I think the options are decreasing.

[BluePatriot21]

8. I was serious

I had already spoken to two mortgage people from other companies that they referred me to and it got the same result. I knew I still couldnt pay the mortgage, it might have saved me $200 or less on the total payment but I am still unable to pay the mortgage. I am still going to try and refinance at some point, but they did mention I had to be employed to even do this, so her mentioning it was prior to the point where she asks me if I am working, I think she would have said at that point she cant refinance my mortgage.

I was serious, after expenses I can afford very little. I want to be able to laugh and joke around like she was, believe me I do.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

10. $200 dollars a month might help you keep your house 1 more month.

Which might give you time to find a job.

David

[hfojvt]

6. you expect customer service when you are not a customer.

You are asking a company to provide you with free stuff.

The stimulus bill is different from the home mortgage bill. The first one did nothing for homeowners or foreclosures, but it should create jobs and/or prevent more job loss. I am not sure what the status is of the second one. Is the Senate still debating it, or has it passed?

Other than finding a job, which can be next to impossible as I well know, even in fairly good times, your options are limited. One might be trying to sell your home before you are foreclosed, but that's probably contingent on the rental and real estate markets. Another option might be to raise money by renting out a room. Maybe you have an unemployed former co-worker who cannot afford to pay rent. I believe you have the legal option of cashing in a 401K or IRA account without penalty. Another option would be re-financing and cashing out equity that you live off of for a time.

You need to cut expenses as much as possible. Use food banks, contact the Salvation Army, etc. Maybe look into getting food stamps or TANF. Sorry, but if your expenses are $4,000 a month, you are living much more expensively or much better than I am. My income is less than $1,000 a month.

[sixmile]

9. Stop paying entirely and bank your money

Don't answer their calls or letters. It will take about a year before anything legal will happen to you.

[SOteric]

11. There are still predatory lenders out there,

I can't recommend trusting the word of a big bank like Citi. Do your own research, - here's a place to start.

http://makinghomeaffordable.gov/modification_eligibility.html

[BluePatriot21]

12. Thank you for the link

Have a great day, I will be looking into this on Monday. I looked at it last night and can see I qualify. Thank you, God Bless.