I have been having the same issue. It started after the first week and a patch they put in. This sux. This is as serious an issue as the server issues. If you can't make headway why play. I have started a brand new game yesterday because I was having this issue and now 2 days into the new game and on the 4th city BAM I start getting this again........ WTF
Just checked origin help and it took me back to EA, a different thread. Almost a thousand reported at this time with the same issue. Looks like they are looking at them 1 at a time. Ridicules... We might as well give up. They can never handel this issue 1 case at a time.....