I'm dealing with EDD card fraud too and wanted to share something that helped me - if you're having trouble getting through to EDD by phone, try calling right at 8:00 AM when they open. I set multiple alarms and called exactly at 8 and got through on my third try. Also, when you do get someone on the line, immediately ask them to put a "priority flag" on your case due to financial hardship. They can do this and it supposedly moves you up in the queue for resolution. Another thing - keep calling Money Network every few days for updates. I noticed they moved faster on my case when I was consistently following up. And definitely ask for supervisor if the regular rep can't give you a timeline. Don't let them brush you off with "we'll call you back" - they never do. Sending you good vibes that this gets resolved quickly! The whole system is broken but you will get your money back eventually.

This is absolutely infuriating but unfortunately very common right now. I work for a nonprofit that helps people navigate EDD issues, and we've seen a huge spike in Money Network fraud cases since the holidays. Here's what I tell everyone: 1. Don't just rely on Money Network - also file a complaint with the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) online. This creates a paper trail and sometimes gets faster results. 2. Contact your state assemblyperson's office. Many have constituent services that can intervene with EDD on your behalf - it's free and surprisingly effective. 3. If you're facing eviction or utilities being shut off, apply for emergency rental assistance through your county immediately. Don't wait for the fraud to be resolved. 4. Document your financial hardship in writing and submit it with all your fraud paperwork. This can help expedite the process. The fact that they're only leaving you $16 while they "investigate" is cruel. Push hard on that Regulation E requirement for provisional credit that others mentioned - you have rights here and they're banking on you not knowing them. Stay strong and keep fighting this!

I just went through this exact situation last week! I was terrified to use the callback feature after reading horror stories online, but I'm so glad I did. Called the SDI line around 11am on a Wednesday, was told the wait was 90+ minutes, opted for callback instead. They called me back exactly 2 hours and 15 minutes later. The rep was amazing - helped me understand my benefit calculation and even caught an error in my claim that would have delayed my payments. My advice: definitely use it if you're calling mid-week and it's before 3pm. Make sure your phone is charged and nearby! The SDI callback system really does seem more reliable than the regular unemployment one.

I'm actually dealing with SDI right now too and this thread has been super helpful! I've been avoiding the callback system because I thought it was just another EDD disaster waiting to happen, but seeing all these recent success stories is making me reconsider. My question is about documentation they're requesting for my claim - has anyone had luck getting help with that through the callback system, or do they only handle benefit calculation issues? I'm worried about my claim getting delayed if I don't get the right documents submitted soon. Thanks for sharing your experiences everyone!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Filed my reopen claim on May 4th (so 8 days ago) and my UI Online dashboard is still stuck showing "You may need to reopen your claim" like I never did anything. I'm also in construction and got laid off last month when our project wrapped up. What's really getting to me is that I had a similar issue when I first applied for unemployment about a year ago - spent weeks thinking my application disappeared only to find out it was processed but the system just never updated. You'd think they would have fixed these glitches by now! Based on all the advice here, I think I'm going to wait until Thursday (that'll be 2 weeks) and then try the Claimyr service that @Jay Lincoln and @Diego Rojas mentioned. It sounds way better than trying to get through on the phone myself. Has anyone tried calling EDD directly recently? Are the wait times still insane? Really hoping this gets resolved soon for all of us dealing with this. It's stressful enough being unemployed without having to wonder if your claim application even exists in their system!

I'm dealing with this EXACT same issue right now! Filed my reopen claim on May 8th (4 days ago) and my UI Online dashboard is still showing that same "You may need to reopen your claim" message like I never submitted anything. I'm also in construction and got laid off when my project ended last month. Reading through all these responses has been both helpful and stressful - it's reassuring to know this is a widespread glitch, but scary that some people waited weeks or had to call dozens of times. The fact that so many construction workers are experiencing this at the same time really seems to support what @Kendrick Webb said about the spike in reopen claims making this glitch worse. I think I'm going to follow the advice here and wait until next Tuesday (that'll be 10 days) and then try the Claimyr service that multiple people have had success with. @Diego Rojas's experience sounds exactly like what I need - getting connected to someone who can actually find and fix the stuck application instead of playing phone tag with EDD for hours. Has anyone who used Claimyr noticed any difference in how quickly their payments started coming through after getting the claim unstuck? I'm worried about potential delays even after the reopen gets processed. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with this frustrating system!

Thanks everyone for the advice and sharing your experiences! I'm feeling much better about the interview now. I'm going to call again on Monday morning to specifically request the conditional payments and make sure they're noted in my file. I'll have all my documentation ready for the interview - lease agreement, utility bills, and proof of when I submitted my address change online. I appreciate knowing what to expect during the interview too - sounds like it should be pretty straightforward as long as I have everything prepared. I'll definitely check out Claimyr if I have trouble getting through on Monday. Will update after I get this resolved!

I went through this same situation about 6 months ago! The conditional payments are legit - I got mine on a Tuesday just like everyone said. The key thing is making sure you explicitly ask for them when you call Monday. Don't just assume they'll happen automatically. For the interview, I was super nervous too but it really was straightforward. They asked me to confirm my identity, explain why the mail was returned, and verify my current address. I had my lease agreement and a recent utility bill ready, which was exactly what they wanted to see. The whole call took maybe 10 minutes. One tip: when you call Monday, ask them to put a note in your file about exactly when you updated your address online. That helped show I was being proactive about keeping my info current. After my interview, everything went back to normal processing times. You've got this!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! I just went through the exact same thing two weeks ago - $540 stolen from ATMs in San Diego while I was home in Fresno. It's such a violation and the stress is unreal, especially when you're already dealing with unemployment. Here's what I learned from my experience: - Money Network took exactly 12 business days to return my funds (longer than I hoped but at least they did return everything) - They required me to fill out a detailed fraud affidavit and I faxed it back the same day I received it - NO temporary credit during investigation, which was brutal for my budget - I had to get a new card issued and change my PIN immediately The good news is that based on your description (ATM withdrawals in areas you've never been to), you have a very strong case. Geographic evidence like that usually makes their investigation pretty straightforward. I immediately switched to direct deposit after getting my money back and I wish I had done it from day one. These Money Network cards seem to be magnets for fraud. If you need help getting through to EDD to set up direct deposit, several people here have mentioned good strategies. Hang in there - I know the waiting is stressful but you should get your $630 back. Document everything and follow up with them regularly!

This is exactly why I always tell people to immediately transfer their EDD funds to their personal bank account! I've been fortunate enough to avoid card fraud myself, but seeing all these stories makes me so angry on behalf of everyone dealing with this. A few additional thoughts based on what I've read here: - The 10-15 day timeline seems pretty consistent, which is helpful for planning (though still way too long when you need that money) - Definitely document EVERYTHING - take photos of the fraud packet before you send it, keep confirmation numbers from phone calls, etc. - If you're really desperate and can't wait for the investigation, some credit unions offer small emergency loans to members who can show proof of pending unemployment benefits The whole system is broken when people who are already financially vulnerable have to become fraud investigation experts just to access their benefits. I really hope California eventually moves to a more secure payment system or at least partners with banks that have better fraud protection. Stay strong everyone - it sounds like most people do eventually get their money back, even if the process is unnecessarily stressful and slow.