Comments on: Citigroup Underestimated Cash for Clunkers Staffing

By: DDA

DDA — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:01:16 +0000

Doug – A $4,500.00 IOU vs a $45.00 window wash? Really not in the same book. Dealers have $50,000 up to $1,000,000 of cash flow tied up as A/R accounts. What would you do in this case, wait until you get paid or roll the dice and deliver cars knowing the money could run out?

By: Becky

Becky — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:53:25 +0000

Both Randstand and Adecco (temp agencies) are advertising for claims processor/data entry positions currently in Delaware:

From Adecco:

The candidate would be responsible for processing rebate claims, verifying the claims accuracy and eligibility. The candidate would be required to work with proprietary computer system and Internet to review and process claims. The candidate must be able to adapt quickly to new processes and be comfortable in a very dynamic, rapidly changing environment.

CLAIMS PROCESSING, DEALERSHIP EXPERIENCE, OR AUTO LOAN EXPERIENCE IS A PLUS

From Randstand:

Review claims forms and documents for accuracy and completion, and return items with missing information as necessary.
Determine claims authenticity by examining records.
Responsible for calculating/confirming claim amounts and submitting claims.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office, and Internet Navigation.
Knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures dealing with motor vehicles is strongly preferred.

By: BD

BD — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:41:29 +0000

Pamela: As far as the media is concerned “cash for clunkers” is old news. It had a funding hiccup that was fixed and everything is now running smoothly. They don’t care how the back end process is working or how it is affecting consumers or dealers. The public only cares about how many cars have been sold and what percentage of those were “American” cars. Oh…but did you hear the latest about Michael Jackson’s death? Now there’s a story.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:08:55 +0000

Go to cars.gov, just listed rules and answers for the consumers. The dealerships are not supposed to be letting you hold on to your clunkers vehicles, nor are they supposed to be holding on to your new vehicle pending approval. Nor are they supposed to be requiring you to sign an agreement that if the gov does not pay that you have to.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:42:36 +0000

I would like to know why none of this information is getting out to the general public. I would like to know why we are being kept in the dark in the process. I would like to know how we are supposed to know where our c4c is in the process and why there is not the capability of us being able to verify our information. Some of you are stating that the dealer is not allowing you to take the vehicle until they get the cash from the government. That is wrong! They only need approval for you deal to be solidified. You should not and are not supposed to be held hostage for the money the government will eventually transfer to them. Was is the debicle of understaffing not being reported to consumers and in the media? This is not helping consumers or dealerships or anyone at this point……

By: Tippy Tom

Tippy Tom — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:55:32 +0000

Forgot to add, your estimate on the % that gets rejected is highly HIGHLY optimistic.

By: Tippy Tom

Tippy Tom — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:52:40 +0000

The secret is, and the dealers won’t tell you this, they’re fucking up the claims applications in so many different ways. The government isn’t going to hand over the money without making sure it’s legit…Generally it goes like this: dealer submits claim, gets rejected due to missing required documents, resubmits with NO CHANGES, which takes another several days to get processed again, and rejected again, repeat..

By: ray

ray — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:47:05 +0000

I’m with “me me” below. Why doesthe tone of your article all have to be filled with scare tactics, negative nancy-ness, or other “I told you so” smugness.

By: Darryl

Darryl — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:39:51 +0000

Clint: how did you find your status?

By: Clint

Clint — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:28:10 +0000

“UNDER REVIEW” just went to “APPROVED” for my deal. I will be taking in my trade and picking up my new vehicle today!

07/28 – purchase/deal finalized
07/29 – C.A.R.S. documents submitted to Gov’t
08/11 – Submission “APPROVED”

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:32:32 +0000

Ohhhhhh cry me a river…..welcome to the real world…

30 days to get paid??? boooo hooo guarenteed they (the dealer) would take that long to pay a vendor for something..

window washing
carpet cleaning
lawn care

etc.

So I don’t want to hear they may have to wait 30 days to get paid..

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 02:13:04 +0000

This is the question I asked the NHTSA, but I did not get any numbers.

Question: Can you tell me how many people have been hired to review and approve CARS dealer submissions.

NHTSA Response: We are using five principal entities to assist: 1) Oracle for systems development, hosting, and support: 2) the FAA Enterprise Service Center for systems support and accounting/payment support: 3) Citigroup for transaction processing support; 4) Tombras Group for communications and media support; and 5) Telesis for hotline support.

The obligation amounts by entity vary and will likely change somewhat as the program matures. NHTSA is continually identifying additional resources as needed to meet the increasing demands of the program. This includes using internal agency detailees, hiring temporary staff, and rehiring some individuals with unique skills that had formerly retired. We also use the agency infrastructure, including the administrative support offices such as procurement, budget and personnel, as well as our regional office staff to assist as needed. Oracle is supporting the processing of transactions, and a number of enhancements to these processes are occurring on a daily basis.

By: Ohio Greg

Ohio Greg — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:02:17 +0000

Bill -> “…dealer has received funds for 1 out of 49 vouchers submitted…”

I’m starting to think this is the norm and NOT the exception.

By: chris

chris — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:53:13 +0000

The process is grueling so far. The dealer doesn’t know anything about wat is going on and when I can have my car. I understand the program is popular and there is a lot going on but they all should have been prepared for the worst.

By: Clint

Clint — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:26:39 +0000

My transaction was completed on 07/28 and filed on 07/29. As of 08/10 it is still listed as “UNDER REVIEW”. I am still driving my clunker and the new vehicle is at the dealer. I was expecting this to take some time, but the “unkowns” are frustrating. The dealer and I finished our business almost 2 weeks ago, yet we have no clue about how much longer we will be captive to the process.

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:43:02 +0000

Transaction completed August 3rd; new car still on their lot our clunker on their lot too. Dealer says our paperwork for CFC voucher was submitted on the 3rd but as of the 8th, dealer has received funds for 1 out of 49 vouchers submitted since program started. Dealer wants us to take the new car and if vouhcer falls through will consider our clunker a trade-in … at $1800 (but Kelly Blue Book says the trade in value should be $2700) so we said no. For now, just waiting on the CFC voucher to be paid.

By: me me

me me — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:54:44 +0000

So after reading this article I now know that you are an idiot. Thank you for that you have no idea what you’re talking about and I would know for good reasons. You are a very dumb person trying to put down this program and trying to put the blame on Citi. Shut the hell up and shoot yourself.

By: Kira

Kira — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:59:21 +0000

All paperwork provided to the dealer on July 29th, dealer submitted paperwork on July 31st. Dealer has my clunker, the new car, and has cashed my $5K deposit.

I am resigned that it will probably take a month before I get my car.

Is it worth it to get a $4500 credit? Yes. But still frustrating.

I hope they’re processing in order of the timestamp when they were submitted, and not randomly selecting. It would be very unfair to have newer submissions processed before earlier submissions, and have some early submissions shut out if / when the money runs out.

By: Ohio Greg

Ohio Greg — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:17:44 +0000

-> “Let’s assume that 300,000 sales have been made to date…”

To put that 300,000 number into perspective…

According to CARS, they have registered 16,000 dealers.

If each registered dealer had just *ONE* clunker sale per day since the program started, that’s nearly 300,000 sales.

The actual number of sales is anyone’s guess…but it has to be WELL ABOVE 300K at this point…which just makes the point of this article even more concerning.