Another TIAA-CREF downer

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

My employer recently changed due to "high level" discussions, so I thought it would be a good time to roll over my TIAA-CREF holdings from the University into my IRA.

Call 1: pointed me to forms online. Great.
- discovered there were 44 pages to fill out, including mucho duplication. Didn't seem right so...
Call 2: said call 1 was wrong, sent me 4 partially prefilled forms. Great.
- discovered errors including thinking I lived in Washington, D.C. but only for one of my 4 accounts with them. That error triggered 2 more required forms for DC only.
Call 3: explained the above, got advice, etc.
- all forms submitted; subsequently 3 of the 4 accounts rolled over, one remained.
Call 4: Asked about the lingering account that failed to roll over. Learned about their computer "platform" transition. Wait a few days.
- got home to find an urgent FEDEX from a new service rep; my account couldn't be transferred because of a zero balance (not)
Call 5: Sorry, it was the computer platform. Disregard and wait.
- last account seems to have gone out today.

Just another week at TIAA-CREF. Darn "computer platforms."

 

[crazy connie]

OUCH!!! Take 2 asprins and call me in the morning!

 

[Martha]

Ouch is right. I just rolled my 401k into a rollover IRA. Opened the account online. Signed a two page form with the 401k company where I checked the box for in kind tranfer. Took three days for the transfer to occur.

 

[SteveR]

Sorry Rich..Ouch is right!

I feel your pain.

My late wife's trust accounts were with one investment company but I wanted to consolidate and move them to Vanguard. The paperwork was a nightmare due to the trust. Trust copies, signature guarantee, medallion guarantee, notary, 35 pages of forms to fill out and the still managed to screw it up. Since then I have had to make some changes to the accounts and Vanguard screwed this up with the title having the wrong UA date. This prevented me from linking it to the trust checking account because the "name" of the trust was not identical. Another 30+ pages; signature guarantees, etc. etc.

Well the latest is they "forgot" to link the accounts to my Vanguard log in so I don't have access to them.

It appears they have it fixed but they won't delete the old accounts so now I get duplicates of all the reports and statements.

Oh well, it could be worse.