Trying to Get Through to the Unemployment Office, But Can't? Tips for Beating the EDD Phone System
I've been hearing from many folks that they've been trying to get through to the unemployment office (EDD) in California and have been unable to get hold of anyone - either the phone will hang up, it will be busy, or they'll get nothing at all.
It's not unusual to hear tales of people making a few hundred calls per day trying to get through and still not having any luck. With unemployment being near record highs and major state budget cuts there are just too many callers and too few reps to take care of everyone.
Here are a few tips you can use to help improve your chances:
1) Go directly to your local EDD office. While you won't be able to meet with someone to resolve problems with checks (this must be done over the phone or via email) you can use their telephones which do have a direct connection to the main EDD offices. This will improve your chances of getting through, but be prepared that you may still have to sit there for a good amount of time before reaching someone, although this will be much faster than calling from your own phone.
2) When you do connect type in the following as quickly as possible 1-2-4-3 (works around 40% of the time). Do not press 0 - this almost never works. Here's what the codes mean:
1 for English
2 for File, Reopen, Information About Your Claim, General Info
4 for Help With Your Claim
3 for Additional Information
Note: If you immediately try to call EDD back, it will often jam up their phone lines, so wait a few seconds before you try again.
3) Another method which sometimes works best: Dial 1800-300-5616
when you get through and hear, "Welcome to..."
Press, "1,3,0"
4) You can also try to call any one of the foreign language lines and as soon as someone answers say that you only speak English, unless you can speak a second language and communicate with the representative.
5) Go to EDD online. Many extensions and other issues can be handled online at http://www.edd.ca.gov.
Recession Busting Joseph
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I can't thank you enough for taking the time to post this incredible tip. I've been trying to call California Unemployment office for what feels like forever, I used your 1,2,4,3 tip and it worked after about 5 attempts(and it's a Monday - the busiest day there). YOU made my life a little easier.
Truly, thank you! KL
After trying for two weeks the 1243 worked on the first try! But while I was asking questions the rude employee hung up on me because he said I didn't know what I was talking about (I thought that is why I called??). Tried again and got someone on the first call. Now I am on the phone again trying to get information this woman was very helpful and answered my questions and more. Thank you!
OMG, first try at calling 8:02 AM PST. used 1-2-4-3 method and it worked like a charm. I thought it was a recording or something, but no a real live person answered and was more than willing to assist me. Thanks SOOOOO much!!
All I can say is thank you! WORKED PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Been able to get thru using 1-3-0 however, the recording then tells me there's too many callers already on hold to speak with a representative so call back...rinse, repeat
1-2-4-1-0 seems to be working now.
I think they're onto us. Neither 1-3-0 or 1-2-4-3 are working now. :-(
they are not "on to us" they stop working as people read about and use the different low load paths through the system here and 1,000 other places...130 just worked for me :-)
To get a hold of an unemployment Representative fast.U GOT TO CALL UNTIL A RECORDING WITH a LADY WITH A DEEP VOICE TALKS. u HAVE WAIT UNTIL SHE TELLS U ALL THE SELECTIONS POSSIBLE WICH IS TO CONTINUE IN ENGLISH PRESS 1 OR FOR SPANISH PRESS 2 WAIT FOR HER TO SAY ALL THAT SHE HAS TO SAY BEFORE MAKING THE SELECTION.I ALWAYS SELECT 1 in that first Menu.. THEN YOU HAVE TO PRESS 2 BUT AFTER SHE TELLS YOU ALL THE SELECTIONS. REMEMBER WAIT FOR HER TO SAY ALL THAT SHE HAS TO SAY BEFORE MAKING A SELECTION. THEN 4 AFTER SHE TELLS YOU ALL THE SELECTIONs. THEN 2 AFTER SHE TELLS YOU ALL THE SELECTION. SO YOU ARE DIALING
1-2-4-2.THIS WILL WORK LIKE 95% of the TIME. BECAUSE THE LONGER YOU WAIT IN THE MENU. U ARE CUTTING IN FRONT OF THE LINE FROM PEOPLE WAITING TO TALK TO A REPRESENTATIVE AND U ARE GETTING CLOSER TO TALK TO ONE WHILE YOUR WAITING IN THE MENU.I BEEN CALLING THEM AND BUGING THEM FOR WEEKS TO TELL ME WHATS GOING ON WITH MY CHECK. I BEEN ABLE TO GET A HOLD OF THEM EVERYDAY AT ANYTIME I WANT. JUST TODAY THEY TOLD ME MY CHECK FOR 1 month 1/2 IS APPROVED AND PROCESSED SO I GOT TO WAIT TILL I GET IT.THEY TOLD ME TO WAIT FOR 10 DAys to get my check. I BEEN GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. iT started 6 MONTHS REGULAR UI CLAIM 1st extension 20 weeks-2 extension 13 weeks and- 3 extension is for 13 weeks as well in CALIFORNIA IF YOU QUALIFY FOR THE 2nd Extension You qualify for 3rd extension too.. I WAS LAID OFF IN JANUARY 22 AND TODAY IS MARCH 22 AND BEEN GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS SINCE THEN. I THANK GOD FOR THIS!
THANK YOU SO MUCH! Been trying to get ahold of them for weeks, and the 130 thing worked 4th time in. You may have saved me from pulling out the rest of the hair I have left.
Love love love love LOVE this!! I'm so glad I came across it when I did.
As long as you hear the old lady's voice that says, "Welcome to the Employment Development Department......", then this totally works. Thank you for saving me all that wasted time.
I love you. I mean it. I've been trying EDD for TWO months without a check, but they have been sending me forms every two weeks to indicate I was still unemployed... Just no cash. I come to find out that they had supposedly sent me something just before xmas telling me I was ineligible for benefits because I had supposedly indicated that I was only available part time... FALSE. SO, issue corrected, and I might just be able to buy groceries soon. And I never would have found this out if I hadn't found this handy little tip. Thanks for sharing.
Maybe I can give something back: If you pour a can of coca-cola classic in your toilet and leave it for a while, it helps clean it.
I urge anyone else who is aided by the EDD advice to give back as well.
THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH111 I had been trying to get through for 3 days now!!! Finally got through!!! It is currently taking them 15 days or more to respond to email - so Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!
I had been calling for days and it took me all of 20 minutes dialing 1-3-0 after you hear the deeper voiced lady to get through to someone! Really, keep trying it really does work! I was on hold for only 3-4 minutes!
1-3-0 Worked For Me...Sweeeet!
Amazing. Thank you so much! The 1-3-0 does work!
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ZOLOEmJRyYwJ:www.ccwro.org/ind...
Never get that "too many calls to answer" message again.
Not spam, legit info here.
Amazing - got through with 1,3,0 and was connected to EDD within 5 minutes. I thought I could never get through!!
Ohh My Gee's yes the 130 thing dose so work i have been calling for the past week and just tried this the 130 and im on hold right now THANK GOD!!!!! I had just about given up all hope.....
aahh it worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1-3-0!!!!!!!!!!! i called over 100 times yesterday. and about 40 this morning before i found this blog!!! and it worked! i held for 2 minutes on a 7 minute wait!!! WOOOHOOOOO!!!
I appreciate the tips but even this doesn't get me anywhere. I have tried calling since NOVEMBER and haven't gotten through to anyone. I'm so frustrated. grr!
shit i have more luck trying to win a prize from a radio station Fuck EDD
EDD sometimes automatically rejecting ALL phone calls. They do this when they are inundated with too many calls. You just have to keep calling and eventually you'll get through.
Are you doing the 130 and not getting through? I just used it yesterday and again today and it worked flawlessly - I got through to someone both times within a few minutes.
This is beautiful - I did the 130 thing and it immediately put me through to the section for holding for the representative who answered in a few minutes. This saved me a great deal of time. A real help! Thank you!!!
OMG!!! 130 IT DOES WORK I'M ON HOLD RIGHT NOW WOOHOO... THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET A HOLD OF THEM SINCE LAST WEEK!! I REALLY APPRECITED THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
Thank you so much for this, It worked like a charm , took me 44 dials, but got thru finally....
I hit the 130 and boom, waited 8 minutes and spoke to the nicest person... I guess they are have a job...:)
Brilliant!
the 1-3-0 trick works like a champ!
Thanks!
I started calling EDD at 8:00am. It took 26 times to get the deep voice lady I hit 1,3,0 and was in like Flynn. I was on hold approximately 1 minute
Also, here are the locations and actual phone numbers of the EDD call centers:
Los Angeles Call Center
1116 N. Mc Cadden Place, Los Angeles
(323) 993-4705
Oakland Call Center
1225 4th Avenue, Oakland
(510) 622-1286
Orange County Call Center (Buena Park)
7000 Village Drive, Ste 110, Buena Park
(714) 279-7232
Riverside Call Center
1180 Palmyrita Avenue, Riverside
(951) 782-3211
Sacramento Call Center
4305 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento
(916) 574-1711
Also, go to this:
http://ccwro.org/index.php?option=com_docman&Itemid=117
It has ALL of the phone numbers for EDD offices that you will need.
the deep voice lady is the 1 to type in 130 worked for me on the 8th try
Works. :) What finally worked for me, and I don't know if it was the changed timing or just 6 times a charm (haha), was as soon as I heard "Welcome", from the deeper voiced recording, I immediately pressed 130. 3 minutes on waiting with a "6 minute" wait time, later, and VOILA! Very happy, you saved me so much headache; I'm glad I found this blog, only 54 (counted em) times of dialing prior, before I became homicidal. Thanks. :)
Thank you for this information. I am on hold. We will see how productive this call was. Thanks guys. I do appreciate this advice.
1-3-0 worked for me! It took about 7 times, but once I got through I had a representative on the line within a 3 minutes! Don't give up!
rad, it worked...you guys are not douche's
You're correct, we're not douches. We're just trying to help folks get by during these tougher than usual times. Glad that it helped you.
Team MetroDealz
The 1243 worked. It only took 5 or 6 times too whereas everything else resulted in the message "due to the number of callers already on hold..." awesome. Thank you.
I have been trying to call them for 4 days sitting on 2 phones trying to get through.. and no surprise I don't get through. I come upon this blog which is so awesome! It worked the first try and I my issue was resolved. Thanks a bunch!
I have been trying to get thru for two weeks and made 100 calls yesterday with no results. I did 1,3,0 and got thru in 3 try's. Thanks
totally works thank you
Thanks! 1-3-0 works!
WAit for welcome and do 1,3,0 ...IT WORKS
I know Itried 300 times without a response.
THANKS
just wait for the welcome and press 1 3 0 and it works! ive been trying to get through for a month! nothing else works
yes it does work,i did it one time in that order and got threw also.i been trying for weeks and hours on the phone this was a life saver.
I tried the 1-3-0 thing and it worked the 2nd time but since i was a federal employee the guy was a dick and said i didn't listen to the operator directions and hung up on me
This really works my husband filed for unemployment just before Halloween and since the president signed off on the extension it only made things worse with the phone lines...ahhh after the 10th business day and no responds and trying to call and getting the supid recording...I googled the crap out of tips to get thur and came across this and it actually worked!!!!!
Worked for me on first try!
Thank you so much for this site! It totally worked. I've been trying to call for 2 weeks. You guys are awesome.