I may take the loss in the end, but I'm not going to just shrug and blame myself as other posters have suggested. I didn't post this thread to cry alligator tears, I posted it to ask for others' advice who have deal with Citibank. So if you have something actually useful to contribute regarding actual experience with Citibank, I would appreciate hearing about it. Otherwise it's just threadcrapping (but maybe that's your thing, whatever).

runderwo said:I may take the loss in the end, but I'm not going to just shrug and blame myself as other posters have suggested. I didn't post this thread to cry alligator tears, I posted it to ask for others' advice who have deal with Citibank. So if you have something actually useful to contribute regarding actual experience with Citibank, I would appreciate hearing about it. Otherwise it's just threadcrapping (but maybe that's your thing, whatever).

You are young and inexperienced. It is unfortunate that you are unable to take the most valuable thing away from this, and that is a life lesson that you can't count on people to do what they say they will do or what they are supposed to do. Instead of taking this VERY important lesson to heart, you ignore it and say you shouldn't have to worry about it.

That is fine, but I guarantee you then, that many more times in your life you will lose something substantial because of your lack of willingness to follow up on what someone else is responsible for... it is your life, but part of growing as a person is learning from this situations and learning how to prevent them in the future, not just blaming someone else.

Out of curiosity, what do you plan to do with your degree? I would recommend not doing any job that requires you to supervise even one person, because you can't manage or supervise people if you believe you should never have to worry about or follow up on what someone else is supposed to be doing.

aeiouy said:You are young and inexperienced. It is unfortunate that you are unable to take the most valuable thing away from this, and that is a life lesson that you can't count on people to do what they say they will do or what they are supposed to do. Instead of taking this VERY important lesson to heart, you ignore it and say you shouldn't have to worry about it.

No. I'm saying that as a *customer*, entering an agreement to pay them *money*, I shouldn't be *expected* to have to worry about it. I would have taken my money elsewhere had I known this is how Citibank treats customers. I don't like dealing with businesses that don't care enough about my business to follow through.

As an example, I called 3 parts houses looking for some seals the other day. All of them said they would check on the price and give me a call back, but only one actually did. Guess which one made a sale? Didn't matter that the other ones may have beaten their price. They didn't follow through.

I guess it's different strokes for different folks on this...

Out of curiosity, what do you plan to do with your degree? I would recommend not doing any job that requires you to supervise even one person, because you can't manage or supervise people if you believe you should never have to worry about or follow up on what someone else is supposed to be doing.

What the heck kind of company do you work for? At the places I've worked, including my current job, they have these things called "probation" and a "pink slip" when an employee is not doing his job. It'd only be a government or union job that you could get away with such behavior... not in a professional private sector position.

Let me fill you in on a little something.

At 16 or 17 years old we think we know a lot.

By 19-21 we know we know everything.

By 23 we are a little less sure.

By 25 we know we know jacksquat.

Want me to guess how old you are?

runderwo said:

No. I'm saying that as a *customer*, entering an agreement to pay them *money*, I shouldn't be *expected* to have to worry about it. I would have taken my money elsewhere had I known this is how Citibank treats customers. I don't like dealing with businesses that don't care enough about my business to follow through.[/quote]

And people are telling you if you do not follow up you will continue to have these costly things happen to you, and you will be left with little recourse. I doubt many of us care if you choose to live your life the hard way.


[quote]As an example, I called 3 parts houses looking for some seals the other day. All of them said they would check on the price and give me a call back, but only one actually did. Guess which one made a sale? Didn't matter that the other ones may have beaten their price. They didn't follow through.[/quote]

And what if none of them called you back. Would you have simply assumed none of them had the part? I don't understand the analogy or comparison. Lots of places will redo your student loans. Since it is not the price and only the call-back you are interested in you should have no problems.

 


[quote]What the heck kind of company do you work for?[/quote]

My own. But I have worked for several others as well. I have been managing people since I was 17 years old.

[quote]At the places I've worked, including my current job, they have these things called "probation" and a "pink slip" when an employee is not doing his job.[/quote]

Is that how you think the world works? If someone does not do something precisely as expected that they just get fired? Is that how people are trained or learn? Like I said, make sure you take a job where you either work absolutely alone or are on the bottom of the pyramid. When you supervise people you follow up with them to make sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing. Kind of right there in the word supervise, ala supervisor. Make sure there are no issues, no unforeseen problems etc.

Or I guess you could wait 2 years and then tell your boss the reason why the project you were in charge of did not get done is because Bobby missed a key element and it did not get finished.

Besides Bobby, who else do you think will be fired? Oh that would be you.

Why are you so adverse to taking on responsibility for things that impact you.

This thread is a good example of why I am very reluctant to seek advice on FW, and very careful when I do choose to seek advice.

A large community forum is always filled with obnoxious, self-righteous, annoying, rude people, and the last thing I want when, whether I'm "right" or "wrong," and I'm frustrated/worried/uncertain is to read a bunch of blather from those that just want to rub it in and stand a soap box spouting false wisdom.

aeiouy said:Let me fill you in on a little something.

At 16 or 17 years old we think we know a lot.

By 19-21 we know we know everything.

By 23 we are a little less sure.

By 25 we know we know jacksquat.

Want me to guess how old you are?


Is this a carnival game? Entertain me.

Does one ever grow out of being a pretentious troll on internet forums? How old do you have to be to grow out of attacking people's character instead of simply being helpful?



And people are telling you if you do not follow up you will continue to have these costly things happen to you, and you will be left with little recourse. I doubt many of us care if you choose to live your life the hard way.

So why the hell are you bothering to reply if you so couldn't care less and you're so bored?

If I were to do it again -- and could stomach doing business with them again -- yes, I would follow up with them, given the knowledge gained. It in no way changes the fact that THEY screwed up!


And what if none of them called you back. Would you have simply assumed none of them had the part? I don't understand the analogy or comparison. Lots of places will redo your student loans. Since it is not the price and only the call-back you are interested in you should have no problems.

Because of Citi screwing up while the government regulations changed, it's IMPOSSIBLE for me to have my student loans re-done WITH ANYBODY until I have diploma in hand. That is the point. I now no longer HAVE a choice to take the most responsive company, because I happened to pick the *least possible* responsive company as my first choice.

Is that how you think the world works?

Yes, of course you're the only one that actually has a life here. Anyone else's experience and perspectives are irrelevant, and of course you are the only one of drinking age here :rolleyes:

If someone does not do something precisely as expected that they just get fired?

It's not a matter of not doing something precisely as expected. It's a matter of not lifting a damn finger. You wouldn't fire an employee who just loafs and half-asses through the day, acting completely disinterested in his job and shrugging off any criticism? Remind me not to invest in your outfit.

Or I guess you could wait 2 years and then tell your boss the reason why the project you were in charge of did not get done is because Bobby missed a key element and it did not get finished. Besides Bobby, who else do you think will be fired? Oh that would be you.

Managing companies that I do business with should not be my job. That has nothing to do with a job that I take on with full knowledge that managing others is part of the job. Citibank sent me a letter saying that they would contact me as the loan application progressed. Why is it unreasonable for me to demand of them that they simply live up to their word? Should I now apologize to them for making such demands of them, and tell them that I have come to realize they had every right to silently drop my application because I wasn't riding their ass?

Why are you so adverse to taking on responsibility for things that impact you.

You are not asking me to take responsibility. You are demanding that I take the BLAME for not only my own failure, but someone else's failure as well.

Me dropping the ball would not have resulted in the loan being killed. Only Citibank dropping the ball killed the loan. I enabled them to drop the ball without consequences by not being more proactive, and that is all the blame I'm going to take.

I helped edit his useless letter down to a short 2 paragraphs that Citi would investigate and respond to.

Your reply was among the only useful ones, and yes, I'm faxing it on Monday.

Did he send it and wait for Citis response, or just keep coming back to argue here, among people who are willing to help but dont want to hear a rant from someone with no personal responsibility.

Hardly anybody here is willing to help. Most responders just want to blame the victim, because they get a kick out of the rise they get out of me -- knowing that if I want real help, I'll keep coming back here and biting.

Please stop judging me, as you know absolutely nothing about me.

My personal responsibility does not include taking blame for the failures of others. I'd hate myself day and night if I were to blame myself every time someone else I dealt with screwed up. This one slipped through, and it was a biggie.

I am trying to fix it in a way that minimizes my damage, instead of just throwing up my hands and "learning an expensive life lesson". Isn't that personal responsibility?

My gf had a similar problem with Citi and her med school loans. She consolidated before the rates went up a couple years ago. The rate change casued a HUGE back log in cosolidation apps.

In some cases Citi did not notify people that the process was stalled because of whatever reason. Cryptic letters were sent out that made just about no sense... of course not having a correct address in file with Citi only complicates the issue.

Citi is known for "figthing" to keep student loans and preventing consolidation. It took about 1.5 years of persistent calling to move the $140k in loans from Citi to PHEAA an lock-in the 2.8%.

Oddly enough it took 3 months to move the $140k + another $40k for the last year of med school from PHEAA to CFS.

I don't think the letter is correct way to go. You need to make lots and lots of phone calls and ask for supervisors.

Constantly say things like "i am sorry, you are not helping me resolve this situation", "can I speak to your supervisor" or "can I talk to someone else who can help me out". My gf was also very good at getting PHEAA to call Citi directly and have them work the issues out, casue PHEAA wants the loan as much as Citi want to keep it.

Good luck.

How much money are we talking here? I don't think I see OP mentioned it somewhere.

If we're talking about 15-25K, you might just do 1 to 3 round AOR (and then just pay off). I just don't think you will see much benefit from such small amount by going through hell w/ citi + seem we know that it's almost impossible to get the 2.8%.

Eeek..OP, some people will try to help you, some will try to help then criticize after it sounds like an argument, and others will just say the "shoulda coulda's." It's okay. I'm only 24 years old and didn't even know about loan consolidation and locking in interest rates until 6 months after graduation. I currently have a 5.125% rate. Just do what you can to mitigate the losses since it's already after the fact. Cut your losses and go forward since, short of a near miracle, it doesn't look like Citi will help you. Put a whole bunch of money into a high yield account until the interest will outweigh interest paid on the loan, do AOR, invest, etc., anything to get over the interest owed. Like me you might always think that you'd be much better off if this whole event was averted, and yes, Citi messed up, but it's okay. It's a minor thing in the long run. Going forward...

Edit: I forgot to mention my loans are through Citi as well - and yea, it's kinda crappy with such a high interest rate we're better off making high payments instead of the minimums. My loan payments are equivalent to that of a luxury car.