This entire thread should honestly be required reading for anyone filing for unemployment in California! As someone who just started my claim process this week, I'm blown away by how much more I learned here than from EDD's actual website or representatives. @Hailey O'Leary, your journey from that initial panic to getting everything resolved is so inspiring and shows exactly why we can't just passively wait for the system to work. The employer misreporting issue is absolutely mind-blowing - I had no idea they could basically rewrite history to protect their insurance rates while leaving us hanging in limbo with no explanation. The practical advice everyone shared (8:01am calls, tier 2 specialists, documentation prep, even that Claimyr service) is gold. It's honestly sad that we have to crowdsource basic information about how to navigate a system designed to help unemployed people, but I'm so grateful this community exists. Saving this thread as my EDD bible!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who just filed for unemployment two weeks ago and is nervously waiting for my first certification opportunity, seeing @Hailey O'Leary's complete journey from that initial panic to getting everything resolved in one phone call is both reassuring and educational. I had absolutely no idea that employers could misrepresent termination reasons to keep their unemployment insurance costs down - that's honestly infuriating but explains so much about why the system feels stacked against us. The practical tips everyone has shared here (calling at 8:01am, immediately asking for tier 2 specialists, having documentation organized, even that Claimyr service) are exactly what I needed to know going into this process. It's really frustrating that EDD deliberately uses vague "pending" statuses instead of just telling us what specific issues need to be resolved, but at least now I know not to just sit around waiting if my payment gets stuck. This community is honestly providing better guidance than EDD's own resources - you're all literally helping people navigate one of the most stressful times in their lives. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences and hard-won knowledge!

This happens every other month honestly, and it's so frustrating. The most ridiculous part is that they never put any notice on their site saying "We're down for maintenance" - it just errors out. Like, how hard would it be to put up a simple message?? My system was rejecting my password earlier. I'm going to try again after midnight when there's less traffic. If it's still down tomorrow, definitely call them.

So glad to hear the website is back up and working! This is exactly why I always tell people not to stress too much when EDD's system goes down - it happens frequently but they usually don't penalize claimants for technical issues on their end. For future reference, if this happens again and you can't get through online or by phone, you can also try visiting a local EDD office if you have one nearby. They can sometimes help with urgent certification issues in person. Hope your payment comes through on schedule!

This is such a stressful situation but you're definitely not alone! I went through something similar in 2023 with 3 overpayment notices that made no sense. Here's what I learned: First, document EVERYTHING - take photos of when you received each notice (including the postmark dates). The appeal deadline is based on when you received them, not the date printed on the notice. Definitely try to get through to EDD by phone before filing appeals if possible. Sometimes these batch notices are system glitches. I've heard good things about using services like Claimyr to actually reach a human - might be worth it given the amount you're dealing with. If you do need to appeal, make sure to request your complete Payment Activity Detail report from EDD. This shows exactly what they have on record for your wage reporting vs what you actually reported. Any discrepancies there will be your smoking gun evidence. Also consider requesting a hardship waiver along with your appeals - even if some overpayment is legitimate, you might qualify for forgiveness based on financial hardship. The key is showing you reported everything in good faith. Don't let them intimidate you into just paying. $7,800 is a lot of money and if you reported correctly, you shouldn't owe it!

Wow, this is exactly the kind of nightmare I've been dreading! I got one overpayment notice last month and I'm still trying to figure out how to handle it, but FIVE notices at once sounds absolutely overwhelming. From reading everyone's advice here, it sounds like the key things are: 1. Don't panic and pay without fighting it 2. Document everything (especially when you received the notices) 3. Try to get through to EDD by phone first if possible 4. File separate appeals for each notice but request they be combined 5. Request that Payment Activity Detail report to prove your wage reporting I'm bookmarking this thread because the advice from @7007be7e7758 and @5ee7467e9ed0 about the specific forms and waiver requests is incredibly detailed and helpful. @2398240ae2f0 - Please keep us updated on how this goes! I think a lot of us are dealing with similar EDD issues and your experience could help others. Really hoping you can get most or all of these notices dismissed. The fact that some reference weeks where you didn't even receive benefits definitely sounds like system errors. Good luck with everything - you've got this! Don't let them bully you into paying money you don't actually owe.

I had this exact same problem! My DOB was entered as 1985 instead of 1995. Here's what worked for me: I sent a message through the EDD online portal with a clear photo of my driver's license and birth certificate. It took about 3 weeks, but they fixed it without me having to call. Worth trying before dealing with the phone nightmare! Just make sure to explain clearly what the error is and include "DOB CORRECTION REQUEST" in the subject line.

Hey Isabella! I just went through this same exact issue a few months ago - they had my DOB as 1988 instead of 1998 and it was driving me crazy! Here's what ended up working for me: I tried the online portal first (like some others mentioned) but couldn't find the secure messaging option, so I had to bite the bullet and call. I used a combo approach - called right at 8 AM AND used one of those callback services (similar to claimyr but I used a different one). Cost me $15 but honestly worth every penny to avoid sitting on hold for hours. The rep was actually super nice once I got through and fixed it immediately. She told me it happens ALL the time and they usually just need to verify a few details from your original application. The whole call took maybe 10 minutes once connected. Just make sure to ask for a confirmation number when they fix it! Mine was updated in the system within 24 hours. You got this! 💪

I'm so sorry you're going through this frustrating experience with EDD! Having to pay multiple times just to get information about your missing check is absolutely ridiculous. The fact that they told you the replacement check was printed and mailed on Oct 21st but you still haven't received it after 3 weeks is unacceptable. Have you tried contacting your local assembly member's office? They often have staff dedicated to helping constituents with EDD issues and can sometimes get faster responses than calling directly. Also, you might want to file a complaint with the EDD ombudsman if you haven't already. Keep documenting everything - dates, times, who you spoke with, and what they told you. This paper trail could be important if you need to escalate further. Hang in there!

This is absolutely infuriating! The fact that you've had to pay Claimyr three times for the same issue and EDD is still jerking you around is beyond unacceptable. I've been dealing with EDD nightmares myself and it's clear they're completely overwhelmed and disorganized. A few suggestions that might help: 1) Try calling EDD directly at 833-978-2511 right at 8am when they open - sometimes you can get through without using Claimyr. 2) Contact your state senator or assembly member's office - they have EDD liaisons who can sometimes force action on stuck cases. 3) File a complaint with the California State Auditor since this involves a missing payment. 4) Consider reaching out to local news stations - they love covering EDD horror stories and sometimes that public pressure gets results. Keep fighting and don't let them wear you down. You deserve that money and shouldn't have to pay third parties repeatedly just to get what's rightfully yours!