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Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 6:20 am
by yankees60
I decided today I'm either going to fix my one mistake by exchanging my Federal money market funds to Treasury money market funds or buy T-Bills with ALL my existing Federal and Treasury money market funds.
Since I've never once direct purchased a bond of any form I DO want to be having a Vanguard representative guiding through the process of this.
Plus discuss the best way to collapse my eight different retirement accounts into a more management amount of them.
The below is the first thing I see when I go to Vanguard.
The "callback feature" is a welcome one --if they truly are going to follow through with it.
The first day I called last week all I got when calling three times in a row was a busy signal.
Another day I did get put in line to talk to someone but after waiting 27 minutes with talking to no one - punctuated with frequent phone ringings like I was FINALLY going to talk with a live person but then being put back on wait sounds - I HUNG up.
The weather was too nice here to sit inside any longer that day waiting on a phone, accomplishing nothing. Felt great to be outside for that 11/2 hours. This time of year there are rare times when I'd want to be outside.
I'm now going to make my phone call. They are probably closed and probably won't give let me use the callback feature. But I will continue to call and wait until I am allowed to talk to someone in some way. I have no desire to go outside at any point today!
Vinny
- Capture.JPG (93.83 KiB) Viewed 3865 times
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 6:32 am
by yankees60
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 6:20 am
I decided today I'm either going to fix my one mistake by exchanging my Federal money market funds to Treasury money market funds or buy T-Bills with ALL my existing Federal and Treasury money market funds.
Since I've never once direct purchased a bond of any form I DO want to be having a Vanguard representative guiding through the process of this.
Plus discuss the best way to collapse my eight different retirement accounts into a more management amount of them.
The below is the first thing I see when I go to Vanguard.
The "callback feature" is a welcome one --if they truly are going to follow through with it.
The first day I called last week all I got when calling three times in a row was a busy signal.
Another day I did get put in line to talk to someone but after waiting 27 minutes with talking to no one - punctuated with frequent phone ringings like I was FINALLY going to talk with a live person but then being put back on wait sounds - I HUNG up.
The weather was too nice here to sit inside any longer that day waiting on a phone, accomplishing nothing. Felt great to be outside for that 11/2 hours. This time of year there are rare times when I'd want to be outside.
I'm now going to make my phone call. They are probably closed and probably won't give let me use the callback feature. But I will continue to call and wait until I am allowed to talk to someone in some way. I have no desire to go outside at any point today!
Vinny
Capture.JPG
Just called.
Hear: "Welcome to Vanguard"
"Sorry, we seem to be having trouble"
"Our offices are closed"
Wouldn't you think this is a time when they'd pay people overtime so as to offer extended hours, outside their normal hours of operation.
Called again. This time I was greeted with of offices are closed"
I will call again at 8 AM, along with a million other people!
Any guesses as to what time I actually talk to someone??!!!
Vinny
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:01 am
by Kriegsspiel
Non-life sustaining Pennsylvania businesses were shuttered by the government, I think Vanguard's call center is in PA. Maybe that's it.
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:05 am
by yankees60
Kriegsspiel wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:01 am
Non-life sustaining Pennsylvania businesses were shuttered by the government, I think Vanguard's call center is in PA. Maybe that's it.
Of all places to enable employees to "work at home" you'd think that they would be most equipped to do so?
Vinny
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:07 am
by yankees60
Logged into my Vanguard account.
I was shocked to see them providing me a phone call to call!
Called and did all my verifications. Have now been on hold for about 3, 4 minutes (since about 8:02 AM, EST).
Vinny
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:08 am
by yankees60
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:05 am
Kriegsspiel wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:01 am
Non-life sustaining Pennsylvania businesses were shuttered by the government, I think Vanguard's call center is in PA. Maybe that's it.
Of all places to enable employees to "work at home" you'd think that they would be most equipped to do so?
Vinny
Also, in the few times I do talk to them over the years, I've said something like, "Oh, so you are in Pennsylvania now as we are talking?" And, I get a response of, "No. I am in Arizona."
They are the perfect business to have anyone be a representative for them from any place in the world.
Vinny
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:09 am
by yankees60
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:07 am
Logged into my Vanguard account.
I was shocked to see them providing me a phone call to call!
Called and did all my verifications. Have now been on hold for about 3, 4 minutes (since about 8:02 AM, EST).
Vinny
Had on hold music.
Phone rings.
Recorded voice: "We apologize for the delay. An associate should be with you shortly."
No sounds! Has the call been dropped??!!!
Back to on hold music!
Vinny
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:20 am
by yankees60
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:09 am
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:07 am
Logged into my Vanguard account.
I was shocked to see them providing me a phone call to call!
Called and did all my verifications. Have now been on hold for about 3, 4 minutes (since about 8:02 AM, EST).
Vinny
Had on hold music.
Phone rings.
Recorded voice: "We apologize for the delay. An associate should be with you shortly."
No sounds! Has the call been dropped??!!!
Back to on hold music!
Vinny
Not good!
I just got a message, "Jacob somebody is not available. Please leave a message."
I did but if this Jacob somebody is not in today is anyone else going to call me back?
What about the Callback Feature?
In my eyes Vanguard is rapidly turning into a "Mickey Mouse" outfit! Extremely disorganized and unprofessional!
Vinny
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:29 am
by yankees60
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:20 am
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:09 am
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:07 am
Logged into my Vanguard account.
I was shocked to see them providing me a phone call to call!
Called and did all my verifications. Have now been on hold for about 3, 4 minutes (since about 8:02 AM, EST).
Vinny
Had on hold music.
Phone rings.
Recorded voice: "We apologize for the delay. An associate should be with you shortly."
No sounds! Has the call been dropped??!!!
Back to on hold music!
Vinny
Not good!
I just got a message, "Jacob somebody is not available. Please leave a message."
I did but if this Jacob somebody is not in today is anyone else going to call me back?
What about the Callback Feature?
In my eyes Vanguard is rapidly turning into a "Mickey Mouse" outfit! Extremely disorganized and unprofessional!
Vinny
Initiating another call at 8:28 AM, EST.
Vinny
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:38 am
by yankees60
Still on hold with the false rings and then going back to hold. Going around Vanguard's site, I see the below. All their words seem to be meaningless as they are offering ZERO phone support!
Vinny
- Capture.JPG (129.27 KiB) Viewed 3872 times
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:45 am
by pmward
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:08 am
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:05 am
Kriegsspiel wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:01 am
Non-life sustaining Pennsylvania businesses were shuttered by the government, I think Vanguard's call center is in PA. Maybe that's it.
Of all places to enable employees to "work at home" you'd think that they would be most equipped to do so?
Vinny
Also, in the few times I do talk to them over the years, I've said something like, "Oh, so you are in Pennsylvania now as we are talking?" And, I get a response of, "No. I am in Arizona."
They are the perfect business to have anyone be a representative for them from any place in the world.
Vinny
I actually drive right past their AZ office every day on my way to work (or at least did before the apocalypse started).
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:50 am
by Kriegsspiel
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:20 am
I just got a message, "Jacob somebody is not available. Please leave a message."
I did but if this Jacob somebody is not in today is anyone else going to call me back?
What about the Callback Feature?
In my eyes Vanguard is rapidly turning into a "Mickey Mouse" outfit! Extremely disorganized and unprofessional!
Vinny
LOL
Vanguard falling apart. Anarchy imminent.
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:53 am
by yankees60
Kriegsspiel wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:50 am
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:20 am
I just got a message, "Jacob somebody is not available. Please leave a message."
I did but if this Jacob somebody is not in today is anyone else going to call me back?
What about the Callback Feature?
In my eyes Vanguard is rapidly turning into a "Mickey Mouse" outfit! Extremely disorganized and unprofessional!
Vinny
LOL
Vanguard falling apart. Anarchy imminent.
Did anyone else use the "Mickey Mouse" phrase to describe something as being inept Or, was it just a regional thing?
I am talking to someone right now!
Vinny
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 8:17 am
by Kriegsspiel
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:53 am
Kriegsspiel wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:50 am
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:20 am
I just got a message, "Jacob somebody is not available. Please leave a message."
I did but if this Jacob somebody is not in today is anyone else going to call me back?
What about the Callback Feature?
In my eyes Vanguard is rapidly turning into a "Mickey Mouse" outfit! Extremely disorganized and unprofessional!
Vinny
LOL
Vanguard falling apart. Anarchy imminent.
Did anyone else use the "Mickey Mouse" phrase to describe something as being inept Or, was it just a regional thing?
I am talking to someone right now!
Vinny
Are you looking for more phrases to belittle the customer service rep
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 8:52 am
by Libertarian666
MangoMan wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:23 am
Poor customer service and a clunky website are why I moved most of my Vanguard money to Fidelity. While there have been a few irritations there, overall the experience is way better.
Yes, their customer support is pretty good overall, although I've gotten some incorrect information from them about when certain transactions might take place.
They're open 24/7 too.
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 9:50 am
by yankees60
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:53 am
Kriegsspiel wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:50 am
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:20 am
I just got a message, "Jacob somebody is not available. Please leave a message."
I did but if this Jacob somebody is not in today is anyone else going to call me back?
What about the Callback Feature?
In my eyes Vanguard is rapidly turning into a "Mickey Mouse" outfit! Extremely disorganized and unprofessional!
Vinny
LOL
Vanguard falling apart. Anarchy imminent.
Did anyone else use the "Mickey Mouse" phrase to describe something as being inept Or, was it just a regional thing?
I am talking to someone right now!
Vinny
I talked to him for a while. Asked him a lot of questions. I appreciated him being honest in telling me which he could not answer.
He transferred me over to the brokerage desk.
I had less than a 5 minute wait to talk to that person.
Just ended a one and one-half hour (!!!!) phone call with him, asking him EVERY single possible conceivable question as to how buying T-Bills works at Vanguard.
Took extensive notes in my Excel worksheet.
Will share later as I need to finally start the Monday morning exercise!
Vinny
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 9:56 am
by yankees60
Kriegsspiel wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:01 am
Non-life sustaining Pennsylvania businesses were shuttered by the government, I think Vanguard's call center is in PA. Maybe that's it.
The two representatives confirmed that their representative are in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and North Carolina.
Vinny
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 9:58 am
by yankees60
Kriegsspiel wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 8:17 am
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:53 am
Kriegsspiel wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:50 am
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:20 am
I just got a message, "Jacob somebody is not available. Please leave a message."
I did but if this Jacob somebody is not in today is anyone else going to call me back?
What about the Callback Feature?
In my eyes Vanguard is rapidly turning into a "Mickey Mouse" outfit! Extremely disorganized and unprofessional!
Vinny
LOL
Vanguard falling apart. Anarchy imminent.
Did anyone else use the "Mickey Mouse" phrase to describe something as being inept Or, was it just a regional thing?
I am talking to someone right now!
Vinny
Are you looking for more phrases to belittle the customer service rep
No, just curious if everyone knew what I meant when I described something as being a "Mickey Mouse" operation. Wondering how much that phrase permeated the rest of the country. I have not infrequently heard it where I've lived in New England.
Vinny
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 12:08 pm
by I Shrugged
If this is like 09, I bet they are trying to discourage fund swaps. I got on their bad list back then, doing TLH moves involving very liquid funds and also a trade of money market funds. The numbers were good sized for individuals but obviously nothing in terms of total volumes.
The fund managers have a rough time during this type of thing. I volunteered to let them spread out the money market swap over a few days, but they just wanted to get it over with. I had to assure them I wasn’t just timing or otherwise intending to jump back in to the funds I sold.
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 12:28 pm
by dualstow
yankees60 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 7:53 am
Did anyone else use the "Mickey Mouse" phrase to describe something as being inept Or, was it just a regional thing?
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?c ... on%3B%2Cc0
Re: Vinny's Vanguard Support LiveBlog
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 12:35 pm
by yankees60
!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks
We'd use to describe either the way an entity operated or when instead of doing something the right way you put something together that worked at the moment with no guarantees it would still be working the next moment.
Vinny