Missing my EDD phone interview - interviewer left unclear callback number from 916 area code
So frustrating! I had a phone eligibility interview scheduled today between 1-3pm and waited by my phone the entire time, but nobody called me. After 3pm, I called the main EDD number and they transferred me to some voicemail box for the interviewers. About an hour later, I got a call from an unknown number (missed it because I was in the bathroom for 2 minutes!) and the interviewer left a message with a callback number. Problem is, the voicemail is garbled and only part of the number was captured in the transcription - just that it starts with 916 (Sacramento area code). Has anyone dealt with this nightmare scenario? Do I have to call the main EDD line again tomorrow and go through the whole process? Will I be stuck in some weird phone tag situation with them? I'm worried they'll mark me as 'no contact' and deny my claim!
14 comments
Luca Russo
You need to call the main EDD number (1-800-300-5616) as soon as they open tomorrow at 8am. When you get through, explain exactly what happened and ask them to either schedule a new interview or give you the correct callback number for the interviewer. Be sure to mention you were available during your scheduled window but didn't receive a call. The same thing happened to me last year - they sometimes call from blocked numbers or 916 area codes, and if you don't answer, they'll often only try once. Don't wait for them to call you again, be proactive!
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NebulaNinja
•Thank you! I'll definitely do that first thing tomorrow morning. Do you know if they'll mark this against me somehow? I'm really stressed they might use this as a reason to deny my claim.
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Nia Wilson
this is exactly y i HATE the edd!!!! they expect u to sit by ur phone for 2 HOURS but then dont even call?? then call from random #s we dont recognize?? who answers unknown #s these days with all the spam calls?? the system is designed to make u fail i swear
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Mateo Sanchez
•While it can be frustrating, EDD interviewers typically handle dozens of calls per day and sometimes run behind schedule. They're not trying to trick you - they're usually just overwhelmed. That's why they give a 2-hour window rather than a specific time. Always answer ALL calls during and after your interview window!
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Aisha Mahmood
I've gone through this exact same thing! The number they call from is almost always a Sacramento area code (916) and it usually shows up as "unknown" or "No Caller ID" on your phone. Here's what to do: 1. Call the main EDD number tomorrow morning right when they open (8am) 2. Select the option for scheduled phone interviews 3. Explain that you missed their call back and need the interviewer's direct number 4. If that doesn't work, ask them to reschedule the interview And VERY IMPORTANT: Add the 916 area code to your contacts as "EDD Possible" so you know to answer it next time. They will almost certainly try to call you again in the next 1-2 days before marking you as non-responsive. Good luck!
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NebulaNinja
•Thank you so much for these specific steps! I'll try this exact process tomorrow. Do you happen to know if there's a specific option for "scheduled phone interviews" in their phone menu? Last time I called it was a maze of options.
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Ethan Clark
Was in ur same boat last month lol. Waited for the call. Nothing. Then random call when I was driving. They sent me a letter 3 days later saying I missed my interview and my benefits were "pending" until I completed it. Had to call back 47 times to get through (not exaggerating) and reschedule. The whole process added 2 weeks of delay to my payments. So yeah...phone tag with EDD is definitely a thing.
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AstroAce
•I wish I'd known about Claimyr when I was going through this exact situation! Calling EDD directly can take dozens of attempts over multiple days. I used claimyr.com and got through in about 20 minutes. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Basically they wait on hold for you and call you back when they have an EDD rep on the line. Saved me so much frustration with my missed interview situation.
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Yuki Kobayashi
Just wanted to add one thing nobody mentioned yet - if you can't reach them by phone tomorrow, you should also send a message through your UI Online account explaining what happened. Go to Contact EDD > Question about my claim. This creates a paper trail showing you're actively trying to complete the interview requirement. Screenshot this for your records too!
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NebulaNinja
•Great idea! I'll definitely do that as a backup. I'm going to try calling first thing tomorrow, but I'll send a message through UI Online as well just to cover all bases. Thanks!
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Carmen Vega
I had something kind of similar happen but it was for my disability claim not unemployment. They scheduled me for a phone appointment but never called. I ended up having to call the main number like 20 times and finally got someone who told me my interview was actually canceled but nobody bothered to tell me! Maybe check if yours was actually still scheduled? The whole system is such a mess sometimes.
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Mateo Sanchez
•This is a good point. Sometimes interviews get rescheduled in the system but the notification doesn't reach the claimant. When you call tomorrow, specifically ask if the interview was still active in their system today or if it had been rescheduled/canceled. That information will help determine next steps.
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Luca Russo
Just wanted to follow up - were you able to reach someone at EDD today? Did they help resolve the interview situation?
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NebulaNinja
•Yes! Finally got through after about an hour on hold this morning. Turns out the interviewer had tried calling but dialed the wrong last digit of my phone number (how does that even happen when they have it right in the system??). They rescheduled me for Friday and confirmed my correct number. The rep also noted in my file that the miss wasn't my fault. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!
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