This is absolutely infuriating and I'm so sorry you're going through this! The fact that Money Network initially told you they "can't reverse the transaction" is complete BS - they absolutely can and are required to investigate under federal banking regulations. I went through something similar last year (though not as much money) and had to really push back hard on their customer service reps who kept giving me the runaround. One thing that helped me was keeping a detailed log of every single phone call - date, time, rep name, reference numbers, and exactly what they told me. When I escalated to a supervisor and showed them the inconsistencies in what different reps had told me, they suddenly became much more cooperative. Also, if you haven't already, send them a written dispute letter via certified mail in addition to calling. Sometimes the written paper trail gets routed to a different department that's more responsive than the phone reps. Make sure to include phrases like "unauthorized electronic fund transfer" and reference Regulation E - that usually gets their attention. Really hoping you get this resolved quickly, especially with rent due. This kind of fraud is becoming way too common and it's unacceptable that legitimate claimants have to fight so hard to get their own money back.

This is absolutely terrifying! I've been on EDD for about 6 months now and always assumed the Money Network card was safe since it's the "official" method. Reading your story and all these comments has me checking my account obsessively now. I had no idea that fraudsters could somehow bypass the UI Online system and make changes directly through Money Network - that seems like a massive security flaw! The fact that your UI Online still shows the correct payment method but Money Network sent your funds elsewhere is so concerning. Thank you for sharing this even though you're going through such a stressful situation. I'm definitely going to enable all those email notifications and change my passwords tonight. Also bookmarking that EDD fraud number (1-800-229-6297) just in case. Really hope you get your $1,200 back before rent is due. Keep us updated on how the investigation goes - it sounds like you're doing everything right by being so persistent and documenting everything. This community has given you some amazing advice and it's clear you're not alone in dealing with this type of fraud.

UPDATE: I filed a new claim yesterday through UI Online. It was actually easier than I remembered - took about 30 minutes to complete. The system confirmed my benefit year had ended from my previous claim. Now I just have to wait and hope it processes quickly. Thanks everyone for the advice and guidance!

Great to hear you got your new claim filed! Just wanted to add a heads up - since you were only at your recent job for about 7 months (March to October), keep an eye out for any potential issues with wage verification. Sometimes EDD has trouble pulling wage data from employers quickly, especially for shorter employment periods. If your claim gets stuck in "pending" status for more than a week or two, it might be worth calling (or using that Claimyr service Andre mentioned) to make sure they have all your wage information. Also, since you mentioned bills are tight, look into local food banks or utility assistance programs in your area while you're waiting for benefits to kick in. Hope everything processes smoothly for you!

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

I had a similar experience with the callback system - sometimes there can be technical delays or the representative might be dealing with system issues on their end. If the line stays silent for more than 5 minutes, I'd recommend hanging up and waiting for the next callback opportunity. The system usually sends another text within a few hours if the call doesn't connect properly. Don't lose hope - many people have eventually gotten through and resolved their issues, even if it takes a few attempts!

Keep us updated on what happens!! This could help a lot of people in similar situations.

This is such a fascinating case from a legal perspective! I'm actually a paralegal who works with bankruptcy cases, and what you're describing sounds like a textbook example of discharge by procedural default. The fact that EDD recouped money AFTER your discharge date is particularly significant - that could potentially be viewed as a violation of the automatic stay provisions. A few thoughts: 1) Document the exact dates of everything - your discharge date, when EDD took the money, when they were notified, etc. 2) Consider reaching out to your bankruptcy attorney again, as this might warrant filing a motion for contempt against EDD for violating the discharge injunction. 3) If EDD's internal appeals process doesn't work, you might need to go back to bankruptcy court. I've seen cases where government agencies had to pay attorney fees and damages for post-discharge collection attempts. Don't let them intimidate you - the law is likely on your side here!

Bottom line: EDD has no official callback system. Your options are manually dial 50-100+ times hoping to get through, or use a third-party service that handles it for you. That's literally it.

Unfortunately, there's no official EDD callback number or system. I've been dealing with this nightmare for months now. The reality is you have three options: 1) Keep manually dialing and hoping you get lucky (I'm at 200+ attempts with maybe 3 successful connections), 2) Use a third-party service like Claimyr that does the calling for you and calls you back when they reach an agent, or 3) Try to time your calls perfectly (avoid lunch hours, call early morning or mid-afternoon on weekdays). It's absolutely ridiculous that in 2024 we don't have basic callback functionality, but that's the broken system we're stuck with. Save yourself the frustration and either commit to spending entire days calling or just pay for a callback service.