EDD Money Network Card problems - should I switch to paper checks?
I'm so fed up with this Money Network card!! It's been nothing but headaches since I got it. The ATM fees are ridiculous, their customer service is basically nonexistent, and the app crashes constantly. Last week I tried to pay my rent and the transaction got declined even though I had plenty of money on there! My landlord was NOT happy. I've heard some people still get paper checks instead - is that even an option anymore? Has anyone successfully switched from the card back to checks? What's the process like? I really need to make this change before my next payment posts.
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Amina Bah
YES you can still get paper checks! I switched last month after my card got skimmed at a gas station and someone drained $1,400 before I noticed. To change it, log into UI Online, go to Profile settings, then Payment Preference, and select "Check by mail" instead of debit card. Takes about 10 business days for the switch to happen. Checks take a few days longer to arrive than the card loads, but sooooo worth it for peace of mind.
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Paolo Longo
•Thank you!! I'm going to do this right now. Did you have to wait until all the money was off your card first, or did they just automatically stop using the card once you switched?
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Oliver Becker
paper checks r slower tho, like 5-7 days after certification. thats what my cousin said when he switched
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CosmicCowboy
Just be aware that checks can have their own issues. They can get lost in the mail or stolen from your mailbox. I had a check never arrive last year and had to go through a whole process to get it reissued which took almost 3 weeks. The Money Network card has problems for sure, but direct deposit is actually the best option if your bank doesn't charge fees. You can set that up in UI Online too.
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Paolo Longo
•Wait, we can do direct deposit now?? I thought EDD only did the card or checks. That would be PERFECT if I could just get it sent to my credit union!
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Natasha Orlova
Direct deposit is definitely the way to go with EDD payments. The Money Network card has so many hidden fees that eat into your benefits, and paper checks can get delayed or lost. To set up direct deposit: 1. Log into your UI Online account 2. Go to "Profile" then "Payment Preference" 3. Select "Direct Deposit" 4. Enter your bank routing and account numbers 5. Verify the information is correct (triple check this!) It usually takes 1-2 payment cycles to switch over. Just make sure your bank doesn't have minimum balance requirements or monthly maintenance fees that might affect your unemployment funds.
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Javier Cruz
•THIS!!! I switched to direct deposit last month and it's been amazing. No more dealing with that stupid card website that's always "down for maintenance" whenever I need to check my balance 🙄
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Emma Thompson
I HATE THAT STUPID CARD!!! They froze my account for "suspicious activity" when I tried to transfer money to my bank, then made me wait on hold for 2 HOURS just to verify it was actually me. What a joke. And then they charged me a $1.50 fee for calling them!!! Highway robbery if you ask me.
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Amina Bah
If anyone's having trouble getting through to EDD to fix card issues or change your payment method, I found this service called Claimyr that actually works. They basically call EDD for you and when they get through, they connect you with an agent. Saved me HOURS of redial hell. Their video shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km and the website is claimyr.com - way better than spending your whole day hitting redial.
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Emma Thompson
•Does this actually work?? I've been trying to reach EDD for DAYS about my card being frozen
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Amina Bah
•Yeah it worked for me! Got connected to a rep in about 20 minutes instead of spending hours redialing. They stay on hold so you don't have to.
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Malik Jackson
One important thing nobody mentioned - if you switch from the Money Network card to checks or direct deposit, make sure you transfer ALL the money off your card first! Any funds left on the card will still be there, but they'll start charging inactivity fees after a while. I learned this the hard way and lost about $40 to fees because I forgot about a small balance.
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Paolo Longo
•Omg thank you for telling me this!! I would have totally forgotten about the remaining balance. These sneaky fees are exactly why I want to ditch this card!
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Javier Cruz
my brothers girlfrend tried to switch to checks but the edd website kept giving her errors so she had to call and the lady on the phone said theyre phasing out paper checks and pushing everyone to direct deposit by end of 2025 anyway
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CosmicCowboy
•That's correct. EDD is gradually shifting everyone to either direct deposit or the Money Network card. Paper checks will eventually be eliminated to reduce costs and delivery issues. Direct deposit is definitely the most reliable option going forward.
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Paolo Longo
Update: I was able to switch to direct deposit! The option was right there in UI Online under Payment Preferences. Thanks everyone for your help! I had NO idea direct deposit was an option - the EDD never mentioned this when I filed my claim. Hopefully this will solve all my payment headaches.
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Natasha Orlova
•Great to hear! Just remember it might take 1-2 payment cycles before the change takes effect. Your next payment might still go to the Money Network card, so don't panic if that happens.
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