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This is absolutely infuriating and I'm so sorry this happened to you! I went through something similar last year when $3,100 disappeared from my Money Network card. The whole experience was a nightmare, but I did eventually get my money back after 11 weeks of fighting. A few things that helped me beyond what others have mentioned: 1. Take screenshots of EVERYTHING - your account balance before/after, transaction history, any error messages. Save them in multiple places. 2. When you call Money Network, ask for the fraud department specifically, not general customer service. They have slightly more authority to escalate cases. 3. Keep a detailed log of every phone call - date, time, rep name, what they said, case numbers. This saved me when they claimed I never called. 4. If you have any text messages or emails from Money Network about the unauthorized transactions, save those too. The police report suggestion is crucial - some people skip this step but it really helps legitimize your case. Most departments let you file online for financial fraud now. Hang in there! I know it feels hopeless right now, but most people do get their money back eventually. The system is just designed to make you give up. Don't let them win!
Thank you so much for the detailed advice and encouragement! I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything I need to do, but this gives me hope that I'll actually get my money back. I've been taking screenshots of everything since this started, but I didn't think about asking specifically for the fraud department when I call. I'll definitely try that next time instead of going through regular customer service. Did you have to keep calling them constantly for updates during those 11 weeks, or did they eventually start communicating with you regularly? I'm worried about being too pushy but also don't want to just sit and wait while they ignore my case.
I had to call them at least twice a week for updates, honestly. They don't proactively communicate at all - if you don't call, your case just sits there. But here's the key: be persistent but professional. I created a simple spreadsheet to track my calls and always referenced previous conversations by case number and rep name. This showed them I was serious and organized. After about 6 weeks of regular calls, they finally assigned me a dedicated case manager who was much more responsive. The turning point was when I mentioned filing complaints with CFPB and the BBB - suddenly they started taking me more seriously. Don't feel bad about being "pushy" - this is YOUR money and you have every right to follow up regularly! One more tip: if you get a particularly unhelpful rep, politely end the call and try again in a few hours. Different reps have different levels of authority and willingness to help.
I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare! $4,200 is a huge amount to lose, especially when you're already dealing with unemployment stress. I haven't been hacked myself, but I've been following this issue closely because I'm terrified it'll happen to me. From what I've seen in other posts here, you're definitely not alone - Money Network security breaches seem to be happening way too frequently lately. A couple additional suggestions that might help: - Try calling Money Network early in the morning (around 7-8 AM) - I've heard wait times are shorter then - If you have any friends or family who work in banking/finance, ask them to review your dispute paperwork before submitting it - Consider reaching out to local news stations - they sometimes do consumer protection stories that can pressure companies to resolve cases faster The fact that their customer service hung up on you after 45 minutes is absolutely unacceptable. That alone shows they're not taking this seriously enough. Stay strong and keep fighting! From everything I've read here, persistence really does pay off, even though it shouldn't take months to get YOUR own money back. This whole system is broken but don't give up!
Thank you so much for the support and practical tips! I hadn't thought about calling early in the morning - that's really smart. I've been calling in the afternoon when they're probably swamped. The idea about reaching out to local news is interesting too. Do you know if they typically respond to individual cases like this, or would they only be interested if there's a bigger pattern of Money Network problems? I'm willing to try anything at this point. You're absolutely right that hanging up after 45 minutes is unacceptable. I was so frustrated I almost cried. It's bad enough that someone stole my money, but then to be treated like garbage by the company that's supposed to help me get it back? It's just adding insult to injury. Really appreciate the encouragement - some days I feel like giving up but seeing everyone's advice here reminds me I need to keep fighting for what's rightfully mine!
I went through the exact same thing last year! They flagged me for "unreported income" even though I had reported everything correctly. Here's what finally worked for me: 1. File the immediately - you usually have 30 days from when they sent the notice. Even if you missed that deadline, still try to and explain why it was late. 2. Gather ALL your documentation - pay stubs, bank statements, anything showing what income you actually had during those months they're questioning. 3. If you can't get through by phone, try the "Contact Us" feature in your UI Online and submit a detailed message explaining your situation. 4. The assembly member route really does work - I contacted mine and got a response within a week, then my payments resumed within two weeks after that. The continuing certification while not paying is actually normal during disputes - they want to keep your claim active while it's being resolved. Don't stop certifying! Once they clear the issue, you should get backpay for all those weeks. Stay strong, this will get resolved!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience @Hugo Kass! It's really encouraging to hear from someone who actually got through this nightmare. I'm in a similar boat - been waiting 3 months now with no payments while they "investigate" something I supposedly didn't report correctly. The part about continuing to certify even when not getting paid is so important - I almost stopped doing it thinking what's the point, but now I see why they want you to keep the claim active. Did you have to provide a lot of documentation for your appeal, or was it pretty straightforward once you got someone to actually look at your case? And how long did the whole process take from start to finish?
I'm dealing with something very similar right now - EDD stopped my payments claiming I didn't report income, but I know I reported everything correctly. It's incredibly stressful when you're depending on these benefits to survive. From what I've learned lurking in this community, here are a few additional things that might help: 1. **Document everything** - screenshot your UI Online showing your certification history and any messages from EDD 2. **Request your payment history** - this can help prove what you actually reported vs what they think you reported 3. **Look for the "determination" letter** - they should have sent you something explaining exactly what income they think you failed to report and from which period The assemblymember suggestion is solid - I'm planning to contact mine this week. Also, some people have had luck sending a message through the "Contact Us" in UI Online specifically asking for a "redetermination" of their case. Stay strong @Roxanne Skochko - you're not alone in this fight! The system is broken but there are ways to get through it. Keep all your records and don't let them intimidate you into giving up what you're rightfully owed.
I've started calling from work during my lunch break but can only try for 30 minutes. Never enough time to actually get through. Might need to take a personal day just for EDD calls.
Bottom line: if you're going to call manually, block out an entire day, have your phone charger ready, and prepare to be frustrated. Or save yourself the headache and pay someone else to deal with it.
Trust me, the callback thing is life changing. You get your time back and actually reach a human. Best decision I made in this whole unemployment mess.
I've been reading through all these comments and honestly feel like I've been doing everything wrong. Started calling at 8am sharp every day but sounds like I need to try different times and maybe consider one of these callback services. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is way more helpful than anything on the official EDD website.
UPDATE: I just checked my UI Online account and my status changed to "paid"! They must have processed it faster than the 7-10 days they quoted. So relieved! Now just waiting for that Money Network card to arrive. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!
That's great news! If you need the funds urgently before your card arrives, you can also set up direct deposit through UI Online. Go to "Payment Methods" and select "Change Payment Method" to enter your bank account information. This would apply to future payments though, not the one that's already processing.
Congrats on getting approved! That's such a relief when you see that status change to "paid." For anyone else still waiting - I had a similar experience where they quoted 7-10 days but it actually took 12 business days. The key thing I learned is that weekends and holidays don't count as "business days" so make sure you're calculating correctly. Also, once your status changes to "paid," the Money Network card usually arrives within 5-7 business days via regular mail. If you're in a rush, you can call Money Network directly to see if they offer expedited shipping for a fee.
Tom Maxon
To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI
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Summer Green
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! verification issues seem to be a common problem with EDD. Since you mentioned they confirmed your 2021 but still need to 2020, have you tried asking them specifically what they need for the 2020 verification? Sometimes they require different documentation for different years. You might also want to keep detailed records of every call you make - date, time, representative name, and what they tell you. This can help if you need to escalate or if different reps give you conflicting information. Hang in there!
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Dylan Campbell
•@Summer Green That s'really good advice about keeping detailed records! I m'dealing with a similar verification issue and never thought about documenting each call like that. It s'so frustrating when different reps tell you different things. @Yvett Morgan - have you tried asking them to escalate your case to a supervisor? Sometimes they can see things in the system that regular reps can t access.'Also, since your are set to expire in September, you might want to mention that urgency when you call. I ve heard'that sometimes helps move things along faster.
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