True story about outsourcing our jobs to Asia.

[sinkingfeeling]

I recently applied for a home equity loan to finance the remaining restoration of my 1858 home. I selected CITIbank because they had sent me a pre-approved offer at a modest fixed interest rate. The application and total approval process was less than 15 minutes on the phone.

They set closing on June 8. And I was asked to fax them a new insurance declaration listing them as the second lien holder. Done that.

On June 6, I get a call from someone with a heavy Indian or Pakistani accent, telling me that my son needs to be present to sign the loan documents! I ask why, since the loan is in my name only and was told that he was on the title of the property (deed). I said no, because he was removed from the title prior to my re-financing the property in 2001.

Then followed a series of calls from the 'call center' in ??????. I found my copy of the warranty deed where my adult son passed the title back to me, dated June 2001 and faxed it to them. They called again saying their title company would have to re-exam the title. A few days later, they call and say that the deed I'd faxed to them was not recorded with the county. Well, this morning, the county spent about 90 seconds pulling up the recorded copy, complete with stamps.

Another call to the 'call center' and the young woman takes the recording number and then asks me, "Where is this recorded?". I say the court house. And she asks me to spell the county and then the state. Says they will relay the information to their 'title' company and they will get back with me.

All I can think of is that the title company, which CITI refuses to name, is located off-shore as well and they have been looking in the wrong state or something. We're now going on two weeks of delay and no closing in sight.

Is it really so much more economical for CITI to use these workers (who, I have a very hard time understanding and keep asking to repeat themselves) and a 'company' which cannot perform a basic title search? Surely, the time delays and costs of overseas phone calls by the dozens, wipes out any labor savings?

[Why Syzygy]

1. It is ridiculous.

I don't know why American consumers put up with it. ATT&T could hardly believe I answered their survey in the negative mostly due to the ineptness of the overseas workers. Instead of a 15 minute phone call to resolve issues, it now takes three one hour phone calls. Repeated "Thank you", "OK", "I'm sorry", do not constitute a technical call. It's outrageous. I wish I knew of a comsumer group working to fight these policies.

[havocmom]

2. Many financial companies outsourcing. It is a nightmare.

My daughter has had an ongoing battle with a guy in India who will not get a map and see that she is right about Tucson NOT being in TEXAS! She works for a title insurance company in Tucson. This man has been calling her for over a year, whining about policies and recording copies that have not been sent on transactions involving properties in TEXAS! She keeps telling him she has no way to help and he keeps harassing her.

Oh, and google tax returns + outsourcing when you have time (and some Maalox to spare). Why worry about how YOU can help prevent identity theft online? The US Government and major banks are making you vulnerable left, right, and sideways.

[fasttense]

3. I made the mistake of buying Norton

and when I called trying to install the stupid thing, the technician could not be understood. I swear to god that he was not speaking English. I caught about every third word. He had to repeat himself three times before I could understand him and even then I don't think I got it right. I finally gave up. I returned the piece of crap and am trying another virus software.

[dysfunctional press]

4. go with Avast antivirus...it's free and very reliable.

my it guy turned me onto it... I've been running it almost 2 years, and absolutely no problems.

norton sucks.

http://downloadfreesoft.com/Avast/

[earthside]

5. Speak Spanish

Now, if you had from the beginning spoken only in Spanish, and been denied your loan, then you could go to court claiming discrimination because you are a Spanish-speaker ... won a big judgment and had all the money you need to fix your house!

Get ready! That's where the Bush and the national Chamber of Commerce are taking America.

[dipsydoodle]

6. Please watch this video.

It might help explain the possible realities of the situation to you. Won't sort out your problem but might at least cheer you up.
http://www.callcentermovie.com/movie/movie2.html

[sinkingfeeling]

7. That's the way it really is!! LOL!!

[Tsiyu]

8. Kick

:kick: