NYDOL: Can't change direct deposit - mother's maiden name doesn't match records. Help!

I found a way to solve direct deposit update issues, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjerWCuCRms

Ugh, I had the same issue last month. It's so frustrating when you can't even access your own account! Have you tried calling them directly? Sometimes the online system is just broken af 🙄

This happened to me too! Turns out they had my mom's maiden name spelled wrong in their system. When I finally got through to someone, they were able to update it for me. Keep trying to call, it's the only way to fix it unfortunately.

Have you tried resetting your account? Sometimes that can help with these weird glitches. Just go to the login page and click 'Forgot Password' - it might prompt you to re-enter all your info and could solve the problem.

Hey guys, I found a method to get someone on the phone. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video explaining it: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

This whole system is a joke. They make it so hard to do anything, it's like they want us to give up. I've been trying to fix an issue with my claim for MONTHS. Solidarity to everyone dealing with this nonsense 💪

Okay, let's break this down. Here's what you need to do to resolve this issue: 1. Double-check the spelling of your mother's maiden name. Sometimes it's a simple typo that's causing the problem. 2. If you're sure the spelling is correct, you'll need to speak with a representative. Try calling first thing in the morning when they open. 3. If you can't get through on the phone, consider visiting a local office in person if possible. Bring ID and any relevant documents. 4. While on the phone or in person, ask them to verify ALL your security questions and answers. Sometimes the issue is with a different security question, not just the maiden name. 5. Request that they update your security info in the system. Make sure to get a confirmation number or email for the change. 6. After they've updated your info, wait 24-48 hours before trying to change your direct deposit info online again. 7. If you're still having issues after this, ask for a supervisor or to escalate your case. Remember, persistence is key. Don't give up! And document everything - dates you called, who you spoke to, what they said. Good luck!

have u tried turning it off and on again? 🤣🤣🤣 jk jk... but for real, sometimes logging out, clearing your browser cache, and trying again can help with weird website glitches.

I don't have a solution, but I just wanted to say hang in there, OP. We're all in the same boat, trying to navigate these choppy waters. You'll get it sorted out eventually! 🚢

I had this exact same issue a few months ago! The problem was that when I originally set up my account years ago, I accidentally entered my mother's maiden name with a hyphen (like "Smith-Jones") but their system had it stored without the hyphen ("SmithJones"). Try entering it different ways - with/without hyphens, with/without spaces, or even try any nicknames your mom might have used. Also, double-check if you might have used your grandmother's maiden name instead by mistake when you first signed up. Sometimes we mix these up when filling out forms quickly. If none of that works, definitely call them - they can see exactly what's in their system and fix it on the spot.

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! The trick that finally worked for me was to think back to when you FIRST created your unemployment account - sometimes we enter info differently than we think. Try entering your mother's maiden name exactly as it appears on official documents (birth certificate, marriage license, etc.) and also try common variations like ALL CAPS, Title Case, or all lowercase. The system is super picky about exact matches. Also, if your mom ever went by a different version of her name (like "Katherine" vs "Kathy"), try both. I spent weeks on this before realizing I had entered "McDonald" instead of "MacDonald" when I first signed up. Once I figured out the exact format they had on file, everything worked perfectly. Don't give up - you'll crack the code! 💪

I just went through this exact same issue two weeks ago! Here's what finally worked for me: I realized that when I originally created my account, I had entered my mother's maiden name exactly as it appeared on her driver's license at the time, which included her middle initial. So instead of just "Johnson" I had entered "Johnson M" or something like that. Try thinking back to what documents you might have been looking at when you first signed up - sometimes we include extra details without realizing it. Also, if your mom has ever legally changed her name or if there are any alternate spellings in official records, try those too. The system is incredibly finicky about exact matches. I ended up having to call three times before I got someone who could actually see what was in their database and help me match it perfectly. Keep trying different variations and don't give up! Once you get past this hurdle, updating your direct deposit is actually pretty straightforward.

I'm dealing with this same frustrating issue right now! Reading through all these responses is so helpful - I had no idea there were so many potential causes. I'm definitely going to try the different spelling variations and capitalization formats that people mentioned. It's crazy how picky these systems are about exact matches. Has anyone had luck with contacting them through their online messaging system, or is calling really the only way to get this resolved? I'm not great with phone calls and would love an alternative if one exists. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's nice to know we're not alone in this bureaucratic nightmare! 😅

I'm having the exact same problem right now! It's so frustrating when you know your own mother's maiden name but the system keeps rejecting it. I've tried calling multiple times but keep getting busy signals or super long hold times. Reading through everyone's suggestions here is giving me hope though - I never thought about the capitalization or hyphen issues. I'm definitely going to try entering it in different formats (all caps, with/without spaces, etc.) before my next calling attempt. Has anyone found a specific time of day when the phone lines are less busy? I work during normal business hours so I'm trying to figure out the best strategy. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's reassuring to know this is a common issue and not just me going crazy! 🤞

This is such a helpful thread! I'm actually going through the exact same issue right now and was getting so frustrated. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel way less alone in this. I love all the specific suggestions about trying different formats - the hyphen, capitalization, and middle initial ideas are brilliant! I never would have thought to check if I might have included extra details when I first signed up. I'm going to work through all these variations systematically before attempting another phone call. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to play detective with our own personal information, but at least now I have a solid game plan. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and solutions - this community is amazing! 🙏

I'm dealing with this exact same issue and it's driving me absolutely crazy! I've been locked out of updating my direct deposit for over a week now. Reading through all these responses is giving me so much hope though - I had no idea there were so many potential variations to try. The hyphen/spacing suggestions are genius, and the capitalization thing makes total sense. I'm also wondering if maybe I used my mom's nickname instead of her full legal name when I first signed up years ago. Going to try "Liz" instead of "Elizabeth" and see if that works. It's honestly insane that we have to become cybersecurity experts just to access our own benefits, but at least we're all in this together! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community support is keeping me sane! 😤💪

OMG I cannot believe how many of us are dealing with this exact same issue! 😱 This thread has been a total game-changer for me. I've been stuck on this mother's maiden name thing for THREE WEEKS now and was starting to think I was losing my mind. All these suggestions about different spellings, capitalizations, hyphens, and middle initials are absolutely brilliant - I never would have thought of half of these variations! One thing I want to add that might help others: check if your mom ever used a different spelling of her name on different documents throughout her life. My mom's name is Catherine but she's gone by "Katherine" on some official stuff and "Catharine" on others (old school documents are wild lol). Also, if she's from another country originally, there might be anglicized vs. original spelling variations to consider. I'm making a spreadsheet of every possible variation I can think of and I'm going to work through them systematically. This is honestly ridiculous that we have to do all this detective work, but reading everyone's success stories is giving me hope! Will definitely update this thread when I crack the code. Solidarity to everyone fighting the good fight against these impossible security questions! 💪✊

This thread is incredible - I can't believe how many of us are stuck in the same security question hell! 😩 I've been battling this maiden name issue for two weeks now and was starting to feel like I was going insane. All these suggestions are amazing - the hyphen variations, capitalization differences, middle initials, nicknames, and international spelling considerations are giving me a whole new strategy to try. One thing I'll add that might help: if your mom got married multiple times, you might have accidentally used one of her other married names instead of her original maiden name. I just realized my mom was briefly married to someone else before my dad, so there could be a whole other name in the mix that I forgot about! Also, for anyone dreading the phone calls - I totally get it! But honestly, after reading everyone's experiences here, I'm feeling way more confident about calling. At least now I know exactly what to ask them to check in their system. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and solutions. This community support is literally keeping me sane through this bureaucratic nightmare! I'll definitely report back if I crack my code. We've got this! 💪

I'm going through this exact same frustrating situation right now! 😤 I've been trying to update my direct deposit for over a week and keep getting that same "mother's maiden name doesn't match" error. Reading through all these responses has been SO helpful - I never thought about all the different variations like hyphens, capitalization, middle initials, or even nicknames! One thing I want to add that might help: check if you might have entered your mother's maiden name with her birth year or any other info when you first signed up. I just remembered that some forms ask for "mother's maiden name and birth year" as one security question, so you might have entered something like "Johnson1965" instead of just "Johnson". Also, if your mom ever went by her middle name or had a really common name, you might have added extra info to distinguish her. Like if her maiden name was "Smith" you might have put "Smith Mary" or something like that. I'm definitely going to try calling first thing tomorrow morning based on everyone's advice here. This thread is giving me so much hope that this can actually be solved! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's amazing how this community comes together to help each other navigate these bureaucratic nightmares! 🙏

I'm dealing with this exact same issue and it's been driving me absolutely insane! 😭 I've been locked out of updating my direct deposit for almost two weeks now. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions in this thread has been a total lifesaver - I genuinely thought I was losing my mind trying to figure out what I could have possibly entered differently! All these suggestions about trying different formats are incredible: the hyphen variations, ALL CAPS vs Title Case, middle initials, nicknames, birth years, and even considering if our moms had multiple married names. I never would have thought of half of these possibilities! It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become forensic genealogists just to access our own benefits, but at least we're all figuring it out together. One more variation I'll add to the mix: check if you might have accidentally used your mom's current married name instead of her maiden name when you were rushing through the signup. I just realized I might have done that since I always think of her by her current last name. I'm making a list of every possible combination I can think of and working through them systematically before my next phone call attempt. This community support is honestly what's keeping me sane through this bureaucratic nightmare! Will definitely update if I crack the code. We've got this! 💪