Received EDD BofA card years after repaying overpayment - how to return it?
I'm completely confused about something that just happened. I got a Bank of America EDD debit card in the mail yesterday, but I haven't filed for unemployment since 2022! Back in 2021, EDD determined I had an overpayment (about $3,800) which I paid back in full. I haven't filed any new claims or EDD applications since then. I'm worried this is either an error or someone using my identity. What's the proper procedure for returning this card? Should I call EDD or Bank of America? Has anyone dealt with something similar? I don't want to accidentally get flagged for fraud or have problems down the road if I need benefits.
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Sean Doyle
This actually happens more often than you'd think. You should contact Bank of America EDD customer service directly at 1-866-692-9374. Tell them you received a card that you didn't request. They'll be able to see if there's an actual balance on the card and can deactivate it if needed. Then definitely call EDD to report this - you want it documented that you reported this issue in case of identity theft.
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Anastasia Fedorov
•Thanks for the advice! Do you think I should cut up the card before or after I talk to them? I'm paranoid about someone somehow getting access to it.
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Zara Rashid
just destroy the card lol. if u already paid everything back they prob just sent u a replacement card or somethin by mistake. happens all the time with these govt agencies they dont know what theyre doing half the time
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Sean Doyle
•I wouldn't recommend destroying it without contacting BofA and EDD first. If someone fraudulently filed a claim using the OP's information, destroying evidence without reporting could cause bigger problems later.
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Luca Romano
I had the EXACT same thing happen last month. Got a card out of nowhere when I hadn't filed anything. Turns out someone had used my info to file a fraudulent claim. DEFINITELY call EDD and report it. The wait times are insane though. I was on hold for over 2 hours and got disconnected TWICE! I finally used this service called Claimyr that got me through to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes. Totally worth it because they basically call EDD for you and hold your place in line, then call you back when they get through to an agent. You can see how it works at claimyr.com and they have a video demo: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The EDD agent was able to flag my account for fraud investigation and put a hold on any payments. You really need to talk to a human about this ASAP.
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Nia Jackson
•did u have to pay for that claimyr thing? sounds kinda sketch tbh
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Luca Romano
•Yeah, there is a fee, but considering I wasted 4+ hours trying to get through on my own, it was worth it. They just help you skip the phone queue. The EDD agent I spoke with said identity theft claims have spiked again recently.
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NebulaNova
THE EDD SYSTEM IS SO BROKEN!!!!! I swear they just send these cards out randomly. Last year they sent my neighbor a card even though he NEVER APPLIED. Then they had the nerve to say HE committed fraud!!! Took him MONTHS to clear his name. The whole system needs to be shut down and rebuilt from scratch. These idiots can't even keep track of who they're sending money to!!!!!
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Mateo Hernandez
•While the system certainly has issues, randomly sending out cards isn't one of them. What's more likely happening is identity theft, where someone is filing claims using other people's information. That's why it's important to report these instances immediately rather than assuming it's just EDD making mistakes.
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Mateo Hernandez
Here's what you need to do in this exact order: 1. DO NOT activate the card 2. Call Bank of America EDD customer service (1-866-692-9374) to report the card was received without filing a claim 3. Ask them to check if there's a balance/activity and to flag the account 4. Contact EDD's fraud department directly at 1-800-229-6297 or file a fraud report online at https://edd.ca.gov/en/fraud 5. Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports 6. Keep documentation of all communications This is almost certainly identity theft. There's been a significant increase in unemployment fraud since 2020, and fraudsters often test accounts with previous claim history. Don't ignore this - identity theft can impact your ability to claim legitimate benefits in the future.
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Anastasia Fedorov
•Thank you for these detailed steps! I just called BofA and you were right - someone filed a new claim using my information. They've deactivated the card and I'm calling the fraud department next. This is so stressful!
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Aisha Khan
i just wanna say this happened to my cousin too but it turned out he actually did qualify for some backpay from his original claim that he didn't know about. might not be fraud, might actually be money owed to you from that old claim? worth checking before you panic
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Mateo Hernandez
•While retroactive payments do happen, they're usually accompanied by a notice explaining the payment. Since OP specifically mentioned having paid back an overpayment in full and not filing since 2022, it's much more likely this is either fraud or administrative error.
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Anastasia Fedorov
UPDATE: I wanted to thank everyone for the advice. I called BofA EDD and they confirmed someone had filed a fraudulent claim using my information! They've deactivated the card and I'm going through the process of reporting this to EDD and placing a fraud alert with credit bureaus. Special thanks to whoever recommended Claimyr - it really did help me get through to a real person at EDD quickly. The agent said this has been happening a lot lately.
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