EDD eligibility interviewer was hostile and unprofessional - how to file a complaint?

omg thats awful!! no they shouldnt treat u like that at all. my interviewer was super nice when i had mine. maybe call the main edd number and ask to speak to a supervisor??

I'm really sorry that happened to you. That's completely unprofessional and not how eligibility interviews should be conducted. Here's what you can do: 1. Document everything while it's fresh - write down the interviewer's name, time/date of call, and specific comments made. 2. Call the EDD Customer Service number (1-800-300-5616) and ask to speak with a supervisor. Explain the situation and formally request that your complaint be documented. 3. You can also file a written complaint. Send a letter to your local EDD office addressed to the Office Manager describing the experience. 4. If your claim is denied, this unprofessional conduct could potentially be grounds for appeal. Don't worry too much yet about your claim being denied out of spite. The interviewer's recommendation is reviewed by a claims examiner before a final determination is made.

The same thing happened to me!!! My interviewer literally laughed when I told her I had to quit because my boss kept changing my schedule and I couldn't arrange childcare. She said "That's not our problem, that's YOUR problem." I was approved anyway though, so don't lose hope. Sometimes they're just trying to see if you'll crack under pressure or if you'll change your story. STAY CONSISTENT no matter how rude they are!!!

Try using Claimyr to get through to EDD faster. I waited for 3 weeks trying to get someone on the phone after a similar situation, then found this service at claimyr.com - they got me connected to an actual EDD rep in about 20 minutes. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km When you get through, specifically ask for a supervisor and explain what happened. I had to file a complaint too (my interviewer kept cutting me off and wouldn't let me explain my situation) and the supervisor was actually really helpful and apologetic.

I worked at EDD for 6 years (not anymore thank god). You should 100% file a complaint. Not only for yourself but to help future claimants. Call and ask for the interviewer's supervisor directly. If they refuse, ask for the office manager. Write down who you speak to and when. The reality is some of these interviewers have been there 20+ years and developed terrible attitudes. They think every claimant is trying to scam the system. They're supposed to be neutral fact-finders, not prosecutors. IMPORTANT: If your claim gets denied, APPEAL IMMEDIATELY and include in your appeal that the interviewer was hostile and unprofessional. The ALJ (Administrative Law Judge) will take that into consideration.

This happens WAY more than ppl think!!! The EDD system is BROKEN!!! I had an interviewer tell me "you people always have excuses" when I tried explaining why I couldn't accept the new night shift schedule at my old job (I'm a single mom with 3 kids). It's like they WANT to deny us!!! I filed a complaint but NOTHING happened - they probably just threw it in the trash. The whole department needs to be investigated!!!!

When does ur interview descision come thru? im waiting for mine and its been 3 days

UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD after using that Claimyr service someone recommended here. Spoke to a supervisor who apologized and took my complaint seriously. She said they would review the interviewer's conduct and that my complaint would be documented. She also reassured me that my claim would be evaluated fairly regardless of the interview. Waiting for the decision now, but feeling a bit better about the process at least. I'll update again when I hear about my claim status.

I'm so glad you were able to get through to a supervisor and that they took your complaint seriously! That gives me hope that the system isn't completely broken. It's encouraging to hear that your claim will be evaluated fairly despite that awful interview experience. Please keep us updated on your decision - I think a lot of people here would benefit from knowing how this turns out. You handled this situation really well by documenting everything and following through with the complaint. Hopefully this prevents other people from having to deal with that interviewer's unprofessional behavior in the future.

I'm so sorry you had to go through that experience - it sounds absolutely terrible and completely unprofessional. Reading through all the responses here, it's clear this is unfortunately more common than it should be, but that doesn't make it acceptable. I'm really glad you followed through with filing a complaint and that the supervisor took it seriously. That's exactly what needs to happen to hold these interviewers accountable. For anyone else dealing with similar situations, this thread is a great resource showing that you CAN and SHOULD speak up when treated this way. Document everything, ask for supervisors, and don't let hostile interviewers intimidate you into not pursuing your rightful benefits. The fact that there's a review process separate from the interviewer's recommendation is really important to know. Jessica, I hope your claim gets approved and that your complaint leads to some retraining for that interviewer. Thank you for sharing your story - it's helping other people in similar situations know they're not alone and that there are steps they can take.

This is such an important thread - thank you Jessica for sharing your experience and following through with the complaint. As someone who's been through the EDD process multiple times over the years, I can say that while most interviewers are professional, there are definitely some who abuse their position of power. What's encouraging is seeing how this community came together to provide practical advice and support. The steps outlined here (documenting everything, asking for supervisors, using services like Claimyr to get through) are spot-on. I'd also add that if anyone has a similarly hostile interview, try to stay calm and stick to the facts - don't let them rattle you into changing your story or admitting fault where there isn't any. The system has its flaws, but knowing your rights and having a support network like this makes all the difference. Hope your claim gets approved Jessica, and thanks for paving the way for others who might face similar treatment!

What you experienced is absolutely unacceptable and I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. No one should be treated with such hostility during what's already a stressful process. I'm really impressed that you documented everything and followed through with filing a complaint - that takes courage and helps protect future claimants. From what I understand, EDD interviewers are supposed to gather facts neutrally, not make personal judgments or intimidate people. The fact that yours made comments like "If I was your employer, I would have fired you" shows they completely overstepped their role. I'm glad the supervisor took your complaint seriously when you finally got through. That gives me some faith that there are people in the system who do care about proper procedures. Keeping my fingers crossed that your claim gets approved - leaving due to a toxic work environment with schedule changes made without notice can definitely qualify as good cause. Thank you for sharing your story and the update. It's helping a lot of us understand our rights and know that we don't have to just accept unprofessional treatment. Please do keep us posted on your final decision!

I'm so sorry you had to endure that treatment - what you described is completely unacceptable and goes against every principle of fair and professional service. Reading your story made me angry on your behalf, but I'm also really impressed by how you've handled this situation. Documenting everything immediately after the call and following through with a formal complaint shows real strength and will hopefully prevent others from experiencing the same hostility. It's encouraging to see from your update that the supervisor took your complaint seriously and reassured you about fair evaluation. That interviewer's behavior was way out of line - making personal attacks and sarcastic comments has no place in what should be a neutral fact-finding process. Your experience has created such a valuable resource here for others facing similar situations. The practical advice shared in this thread about documentation, escalation procedures, and services like Claimyr to get through to supervisors will help so many people. Thank you for having the courage to speak up and share your story - it's making a real difference for this community. Wishing you the best outcome on your claim decision. You deserve to be treated with dignity and respect throughout this process.

I'm really sorry this happened to you, Jessica. What you experienced is completely unacceptable and unfortunately more common than it should be. I'm glad you had the courage to document everything and file a formal complaint - that takes real strength when you're already dealing with the stress of unemployment. Just want to add a few points that might help you and others in similar situations: 1. The interviewer's role is to gather facts neutrally, not to make personal judgments or intimidate claimants. Comments like "If I was your employer, I would have fired you" are completely inappropriate and show they overstepped their authority. 2. For anyone reading this, remember that leaving due to substantial changes in working conditions (like schedule changes without proper notice) can qualify as "good cause" for separation, especially if you attempted to resolve the issue with your employer first. 3. The fact that there's a review process separate from the interviewer's recommendation is crucial - one person's bias shouldn't determine your entire claim. It's encouraging to see from your update that the supervisor took your complaint seriously. This shows the system does have some accountability measures, even if they're not always immediately obvious. Keep us posted on your final decision - your experience is helping create a valuable resource for others who might face similar treatment. Thank you for speaking up and helping protect future claimants.

I'm so sorry you went through this horrible experience, Jessica. What that interviewer said to you was completely unprofessional and unacceptable - no one should be treated with such hostility during an already stressful process. I'm really glad to see from your update that you were able to get through to a supervisor who took your complaint seriously. That shows there are still people in the system who care about proper procedures and treating claimants with basic dignity. Your courage in documenting everything and filing a formal complaint is not only helping your own case, but it's also protecting future claimants from having to endure the same treatment. This thread has become such a valuable resource with all the practical advice shared - from using services like Claimyr to get through to EDD, to knowing that there's a review process separate from the interviewer's recommendation. I hope your claim gets approved and that your complaint leads to some accountability for that interviewer. Thank you for sharing your story and showing others that we don't have to just accept unprofessional treatment. Please keep us updated when you hear about your decision - we're all rooting for you!

Jessica, I'm so sorry you had to experience such unprofessional and hostile treatment during your eligibility interview. What that interviewer said to you was completely out of line and goes against basic standards of respectful service. No one should have to endure comments like "If I was your employer, I would have fired you" during what's supposed to be a neutral fact-finding process. I'm really encouraged to see from your update that you were able to get through to a supervisor who took your complaint seriously. It shows that there are still people in the system who understand the importance of treating claimants with dignity and following proper procedures. Your decision to document everything immediately after the call and then follow through with filing a formal complaint took real courage, especially when you're already dealing with the stress of unemployment. But you did exactly the right thing - not just for your own case, but to help protect future claimants from experiencing similar treatment. This entire thread has become such a valuable resource for anyone navigating the EDD system. The practical advice shared here about documentation, escalation procedures, and services like Claimyr will help so many people who find themselves in similar situations. Your willingness to share this difficult experience and turn it into something that can help others is truly admirable. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your claim gets approved. You clearly left your job for valid reasons, and despite that awful interview experience, the review process should evaluate your case fairly. Please keep us updated when you hear back - we're all rooting for you!