EDD Money Network card keeps declining - can't transfer funds either

I had a similar issue with my Money Network card last month! The problem was that I hadn't activated it properly. You need to call the activation number and set up a PIN first, even if you think it's already activated. Did you do that step? Also, make sure you signed the back of the card. I know it sounds basic but these things can cause declines.

My card did ths 2 me too! It was becuz theres a daily spending limit of $1000 and ATM limit of $500. did u try to use more than that? Also sometmes they put a temporary hold for fraud protection if u try using it at too many places in one day. Check ur texts - did they send u a fraud alert?

This sounds like either a card activation issue or a security hold on your account. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call Money Network customer service at 1-888-233-5916 and press 0 repeatedly to bypass the automated system and reach a representative 2. Tell them you're experiencing declined transactions despite having funds 3. Ask them to verify your card is fully activated and there are no security holds 4. If there's a hold, they can remove it immediately 5. If your card is damaged or defective, request a replacement (though this takes 7-10 days) Also, make sure you're selecting "credit" not "debit" when making purchases, as some merchants have issues processing Money Network cards as debit even with the correct PIN.

those cards r THE WORST!!!! ive had nothing but problems with mine everytime i get a new one. the EDD system is broken and they dont care about us AT ALL. my last card took 3 weeks to arrive and then it got frozen for no reason and i couldn't pay my car payment. ended up with a late fee because of their incompetence.

I had this exact same problem and figured out the solution. You need to go into the Money Network app settings and enable "out of state transactions" even if you're not out of state. For some reason, their fraud detection system can get triggered if you use the card at multiple locations in a short time period, especially if those locations are different types of businesses. Go to Profile > Card Settings > Transaction Controls > and make sure location restrictions are turned OFF. Also, sometimes the transfer feature gets temporarily disabled if there's suspicious activity. Try the card at just ONE location after changing those settings, then wait 24 hours before trying a transfer again. If that doesn't work, you're going to need to talk directly to a Money Network rep, which is nearly impossible through their customer service line.

Has anyone tried using Claimyr to get through to EDD? My Money Network card was locked for "suspicious activity" and I needed an EDD agent to fix it because Money Network kept referring me back to EDD. I was getting desperate and used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual EDD representative who unlocked my card account. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Saved me days of trying to get through their phone system.

Just a follow-up question - have you been able to log into the Money Network website directly (not just the app)? Sometimes the website gives more detailed information about why a card might be restricted. Also, did you receive any emails from Money Network when your payment was first deposited? There's usually an initial notification that might have important account info.

Hey, just wanted to update everyone on this thread - I had a similar issue last month. For me, it turned out that I needed to verify my identity with Money Network separately from the EDD verification I had already done. After I completed that process, they lifted the hold within 2 hours and my card worked perfectly. Also, pro tip: The Money Network customer service has much shorter wait times if you call right when they open at 8am Pacific time. I got through in under 10 minutes when I called early.

I've been following this thread and wanted to share another potential solution that worked for me. If the identity verification doesn't resolve it, check if your card has been flagged for "high-risk merchant" transactions. Sometimes Money Network blocks cards from being used at certain types of stores (like discount retailers or gas stations) if their system thinks there's fraud risk. When you call customer service tomorrow at 8am, specifically ask them to check for: 1. Identity verification holds (which you already found) 2. High-risk merchant blocks 3. Geographic restrictions 4. Daily transaction limits being exceeded Also, if you're still having transfer issues after the card is working, try transferring smaller amounts first ($100-200) to establish a pattern before doing larger transfers. The system seems less likely to flag smaller, regular transfers as suspicious. Good luck and definitely keep us posted on what ends up working!

I went through this exact same nightmare about 6 months ago! The identity verification requirement that you found on the website is definitely the culprit. What's really frustrating is that EDD doesn't tell you about this separate Money Network verification step - they act like once you're verified with EDD, you're good to go everywhere. When you call tomorrow at 8am, have your Social Security card, driver's license, and a recent utility bill ready. They'll want to verify your address matches what's on file. The whole process took about 20 minutes for me once I got through to someone, and like Aisha said, my card was working within a couple hours. One more tip: if the first rep you talk to seems confused about the identity verification hold, politely ask to be transferred to their "account verification department" - that's the specific team that handles these issues and they know exactly what to do. Really hope this gets sorted out before your rent is due! The stress of not being able to access your own money is awful.

Hey Zara, I just went through this exact same issue two weeks ago and wanted to share what finally worked for me. The identity verification hold that you found on the website is definitely the main problem, but there's actually a faster way to resolve it than waiting on hold for hours. Money Network has a secure document upload portal on their website where you can submit your verification documents directly. Go to their website, log into your account, and look for "Account Verification" or "Upload Documents" in the menu. You can upload photos of your ID, Social Security card, and a utility bill there, and they usually process it within 24 hours. I did this on a Sunday night and my card was working by Tuesday morning. Way faster than trying to get through on the phone, especially since you need your money for rent in 4 days. You can still call at 8am as backup, but definitely try the online upload first - it might save you a lot of time and stress! Also, once your card is working again, I'd recommend immediately transferring most of your funds to your regular bank account to avoid future issues. These Money Network cards seem to have problems pretty frequently.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what worked for me when I had this exact same problem last month. After reading through all the great advice here, I'd suggest trying multiple approaches at once to get this resolved faster: 1. Upload your documents through the Money Network website tonight (like Heather mentioned) 2. Call at 8am sharp tomorrow using the tips everyone shared 3. If you get through, ask specifically about identity verification holds AND merchant category restrictions One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - sometimes your bank can also cause issues on their end if you're trying to transfer TO an account that has its own fraud protection. When I finally got my Money Network card working, my bank initially blocked the incoming transfer as "suspicious activity" even though it was from a legitimate source. You might want to give your bank a heads up that you'll be receiving a transfer from Money Network so they don't automatically block it. Also, try transferring a small test amount first ($25-50) before doing the full amount. Really hoping you get this sorted before your rent is due! The combination of online document upload plus early morning phone call should definitely get you there. Keep us posted on what works!

I just wanted to add one more thing that might help - if you're still having issues after trying all the great suggestions here, there's actually a Money Network mobile app feature that can sometimes bypass card restrictions temporarily. In the app, go to "Card Controls" and try toggling off ALL the security settings (location restrictions, merchant categories, etc.) then immediately try a small purchase. I discovered this by accident when my card was having issues at gas stations specifically. Turns out Money Network had automatically enabled "high-risk merchant" blocks that were preventing gas station transactions, even though gas stations are pretty normal places to use a debit card! Also, just wanted to echo what others have said about calling at 8am - I've found that not only are wait times shorter, but you tend to get more experienced reps who actually know how to resolve these verification holds quickly. The afternoon/evening reps seem to be newer and often have to escalate issues that morning reps handle directly. Fingers crossed you get this resolved tomorrow! The stress of having your money locked up when rent is due is absolutely awful, but based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds very solvable once you get through to the right person.

I went through this exact same situation about 2 months ago and it was absolutely maddening! The good news is that based on what you found on the website about "identity verification required," you're really close to getting this resolved. Here's what I learned from my experience: Money Network has this really annoying separate identity verification process that's completely independent from your EDD verification. Even though you're already verified with EDD, Money Network treats you like a brand new customer and wants their own verification. The fastest way I found to resolve this was actually a combination approach: 1. Upload your documents through their website portal tonight (ID, Social Security card, utility bill) 2. Call at exactly 8:00 AM Pacific and ask to be transferred directly to "Account Verification Department" 3. If they give you any runaround, specifically mention that your account shows "identity verification required" on the website In my case, once I got through to the right department, they were able to lift the hold immediately while I was still on the phone. The whole verification process took about 15 minutes, and my card was working within an hour. One more crucial tip: as soon as your card starts working, transfer your funds to your regular bank account ASAP. These Money Network cards are notorious for having random issues pop up, and you don't want to go through this stress again next month. You've got this! With rent due in 4 days, the timing should work out perfectly if you tackle it first thing tomorrow morning.

I'm new to this community but went through almost the exact same situation about 6 weeks ago! Reading through all these responses brings back memories of how stressful it was. Just wanted to add one thing that might help speed up your call tomorrow - when you call Money Network at 8am, have your EDD claim number ready along with your ID documents. The verification department sometimes needs to cross-reference your EDD account to lift the hold, and having that claim number handy can save you from being transferred around. Also, I noticed you mentioned trying to use the card as "debit" at stores. Even after your verification is complete, I'd recommend always using it as "credit" instead. For some reason, Money Network cards work more reliably when processed as credit transactions, even for small purchases. The online document upload that Heather mentioned is definitely your best bet for getting this resolved quickly. I uploaded mine on a Tuesday evening and by Thursday morning everything was working perfectly. Really hope you get this sorted before rent is due! The stress of having your own money locked up is terrible, but based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like you're on the right track to get it fixed fast.

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who went through this exact same Money Network card nightmare about 3 months ago! Reading through all the excellent advice everyone has shared, it looks like you've definitely identified the core issue with that identity verification hold showing up on the website. I'm really impressed with how thorough everyone has been with their suggestions - the combination approach of uploading documents online tonight plus calling at 8am is definitely your best strategy. When I had this issue, I made the mistake of only trying the phone route first and wasted almost a week getting bounced around between different departments. One small thing I'd add to all the great advice here: when you do get through to the Account Verification Department tomorrow, ask them to also remove any "new account restrictions" while they're lifting the identity verification hold. Sometimes Money Network puts multiple types of holds on accounts, and getting them all removed at once will prevent you from running into another issue a few days later. Also, completely agree with everyone saying to transfer your funds to your regular bank immediately once this is resolved. I kept my money on the Money Network card for convenience after my issue was fixed, and then ran into a completely different problem 2 weeks later when they randomly froze my account for "suspicious activity" (which turned out to be me buying groceries three days in a row - apparently that's suspicious?). You're going to get through this! With rent due in 4 days and all the solid advice in this thread, you should definitely be able to get it sorted in time. Looking forward to your update tomorrow!

Hey Zara! I just went through this EXACT same issue about a month ago - the declining card, transfer errors, everything! Based on your update about finding the "identity verification required" notice on the website, you've definitely found the root cause. Here's what worked for me to get it resolved super quickly: I called Money Network at exactly 7:59 AM (so I was ready right when they opened at 8) and immediately asked to be transferred to the "Account Verification Department" - don't let them keep you in general customer service. Have your driver's license, Social Security card, and a recent utility bill ready as photos on your phone so you can text/email them if needed. The verification rep was able to lift my hold within 10 minutes once I got to the right department. My card was working at stores within 2 hours after that call. One crucial tip: once your card is working, DO NOT delay transferring your money to your regular bank account. I made the mistake of leaving funds on the Money Network card "just in case" and ended up with another random freeze two weeks later. These cards are honestly more trouble than they're worth once you get your money off them. You should definitely have this resolved before your rent is due! The fact that you found the verification notice means you're 90% of the way there. Good luck tomorrow morning!

I just wanted to add one more potential solution that helped me when I had a similar Money Network card issue. If the identity verification and calling at 8am doesn't work immediately, try logging into your EDD account online and check if there's a "Card Status" or "Payment Method" section. Sometimes there's an additional step where you need to confirm your card delivery address directly through the EDD portal, even if Money Network shows the card as active. In my case, EDD had my old address on file (even though I had updated it for mail), and this was causing a mismatch that triggered the Money Network identity verification hold. Once I updated the address in both systems and called Money Network to confirm the change, everything worked perfectly. Also, when you call tomorrow, if the first rep seems confused or says they can't help, politely ask to be transferred to a "supervisor" or "escalation team." Sometimes the front-line reps don't have access to lift certain types of holds, but supervisors can handle it immediately. Really hoping you get this resolved before rent is due! The combination of everyone's advice here should definitely get you sorted - you've got multiple backup plans which is great. Keep us posted on how the 8am call goes!

I just wanted to jump in as someone who's been watching this thread develop - it's incredible how much helpful advice everyone has shared! Zara, you've basically got a complete troubleshooting guide now from people who've all been through this exact same nightmare. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you're still having issues after trying all these solutions, check if your Money Network card has an expiration date that's passed or coming up soon. I know it sounds basic, but I had a friend whose card kept declining because it had expired and she didn't realize Money Network doesn't automatically send replacement cards - you have to request them. Also, since you mentioned your rent is due in 4 days, you might want to let your landlord know you're dealing with a banking issue just in case there are any delays. Most landlords are understanding if you give them a heads up, especially if you can show them you have the funds (like a screenshot of your Money Network balance). Really hoping the 8am call and document upload combo works for you tomorrow! Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like you should definitely be able to get this resolved before your rent deadline. This community is amazing - so many people willing to help with detailed, practical advice. Good luck!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who dealt with this exact same Money Network card issue about 8 weeks ago! Reading through this whole thread has been like reliving my own nightmare, but I'm so glad to see how much amazing help everyone has provided. Based on your discovery of the "identity verification required" notice on the website, you've definitely found the core issue. Here's one additional tip that I haven't seen mentioned yet: when you call at 8am tomorrow, have your EDD confirmation number from your last payment ready too. Sometimes the Account Verification Department needs to cross-reference that specific payment to lift the hold, especially if there was any delay between when EDD sent the payment and when it actually loaded onto your card. Also, I wanted to echo what others have said about the document upload being super effective. I did mine on a Sunday night and by Tuesday afternoon everything was working. The combination approach you're taking (upload tonight + call at 8am) should definitely get you sorted before rent is due. One last thing - after you get this resolved, consider setting up direct deposit to your regular bank account for future EDD payments instead of relying on the Money Network card. You can change this in your EDD account settings. It might take a cycle or two to take effect, but it'll save you from ever dealing with Money Network issues again. You've got this! With all the great advice in this thread and your proactive approach, you should have access to your money well before Thursday. Looking forward to your success update!

Hey Zara! I just wanted to add my voice to this incredibly helpful thread. I went through the exact same Money Network card nightmare about 4 months ago - the declining transactions, transfer errors, everything you described. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet that might save you some time tomorrow: when you upload your documents tonight through the Money Network website portal, make sure to also upload a screenshot of your EDD payment confirmation email or your EDD online account showing the recent deposit. Sometimes they want to see proof that the funds legitimately came from EDD, especially if it's your first payment on a new card. Also, I noticed you mentioned trying multiple stores where the card declined. If you haven't already, try calling your bank (the one you want to transfer TO) and let them know you'll be receiving a large transfer from Money Network in the next day or two. Some banks automatically flag incoming transfers from these prepaid card companies as potential fraud, which could cause delays even after your Money Network issue is resolved. The early morning call strategy everyone has mentioned is spot on - I got through in under 5 minutes when I called right at 8am. Have your documents ready as photos on your phone in case they need them sent immediately. You're going to get through this! With rent due Thursday and all the amazing advice in this thread, you should definitely have access to your money in time. This community really is incredible - so many people willing to share their experiences to help others avoid the same stress they went through.