CalFresh website won't let me update phone number - says already registered
Hey everyone, I'm having trouble updating my phone number on the CalFresh website. When I try to register, it says my number is already registered. Has anyone else run into this issue? Any ideas on how to fix it?
18 comments


Laila Prince
Ugh, I had the same problem last month. It's so frustrating! Have you tried calling their customer service line? They might be able to update it for you over the phone.
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Drew Hathaway
•I've been trying to call them for days, but the wait times are insane. I'm always on hold for hours and then get disconnected 😤
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Isabel Vega
•Same here! The phone system is a joke. I swear they do it on purpose to discourage people from getting help.
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Laila Prince
•Yeah, its pretty bad. Have you guys tried calling right when they open? Sometimes that works for me.
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Dominique Adams
I found a way to actually get someone on the phone. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's the link: https://www.claimyr.com
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Marilyn Dixon
•Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit? Has anyone else tried it?
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Dominique Adams
•I was skeptical at first too, but it really worked for me. Saved me hours of frustration.
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Louisa Ramirez
•$20 just to talk to someone? That's ridiculous. The system is so broken 🤦♂️
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Dominique Adams
•I get it, but for me, it was worth it. Time is money, and I was wasting so much time on hold.
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TommyKapitz
Have you tried logging out completely, clearing your browser cache, and then logging back in? Sometimes that fixes weird registration issues.
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Angel Campbell
This happened to me too! Turns out my ex had used my number to register their account 🙄 Had to call and explain the situation. Took forever, but they finally fixed it.
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Drew Hathaway
•Wow, that's crazy! I hope that's not what happened in my case. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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Payton Black
Here's what you need to do: 1. First, try resetting your password. Sometimes this triggers a prompt to update your info. 2. If that doesn't work, send an email to their tech support. Include your full name, old phone number, and the new one you want to use. 3. If you don't hear back in 48 hours, then try calling. Use the prompt for 'technical issues' rather than general inquiries. 4. Be persistent! Sometimes you have to try a few times to get someone who knows how to help. 5. If all else fails, you can file a complaint with the state oversight committee. That usually gets things moving. Hope this helps! Let us know how it goes.
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Drew Hathaway
•Thank you so much for this detailed advice! I'll definitely try these steps and report back.
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Harold Oh
•This is great info! Saving this for future reference 💯
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Amun-Ra Azra
lol welcome to government websites, where nothing works and everything is a headache 🤡
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Summer Green
•ain't that the truth 😂
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Sofia Gutierrez
I actually work for a county eligibility office and see this issue pretty frequently. The phone number conflict usually happens because: 1) Someone in your household previously used that number for their CalFresh account, 2) You had an old account that wasn't properly closed, or 3) There's a data entry error in the system. The fastest solution is usually to visit your local county office in person with ID - they can update it on the spot without the phone runaround. You can also try emailing your county's CalFresh coordinator directly (each county has one) - they're usually more responsive than the general helpline.
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