NYDOL: Impossible to reach live agent for weeks. Any tips to get through?
I've been trying to reach someone at the unemployment office for weeks now. Every time I call, I get the same message about 'higher than normal call volume' and to try again later. I've been calling from open to close and still can't get through. Has anyone else experienced this? Any tips on how to actually talk to a live person?
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Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve unemployment office call frustrations, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEEgp-tntKI
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Lauren Wood
Ugh, I feel your pain! I was in the same boat for almost a month. It's like they don't want us to get our benefits š
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Ellie Lopez
ā¢fr fr its a joke. they prob hope we'll just give up š¤”
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Chad Winthrope
ā¢I swear they're doing it on purpose to save money. Keep trying tho, don't let them win!
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Paige Cantoni
I found a method that actually works 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
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Kylo Ren
ā¢Sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?
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Nina Fitzgerald
ā¢20 bucks? Thats kinda steep for something that should be free...
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Paige Cantoni
ā¢I get the skepticism, but honestly, after weeks of frustration, it was worth every penny. Got through in about 2 hours without having to sit by my phone all day.
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Jason Brewer
ā¢Can you give more details about how it works? Do they guarantee you'll get through?
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Paige Cantoni
ā¢Sure! You choose the department you need to reach, pay, and then their system starts calling. It navigates the phone tree and waits on hold. When a real person answers, it calls your phone and connects you. No guarantee, but it worked for me on the first try.
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Kiara Fisherman
Here's what I've learned after dealing with this for months: ā¢ Call right when they open. Like, start dialing at 7:59:59 AM. ā¢ If you get through to the automated system, DO NOT HANG UP. Even if it says long wait times. ā¢ Try different phone numbers. Sometimes the 'overflow' lines have shorter waits. ā¢ Use a landline if possible. Cell signals can drop and you'll lose your place in line. ā¢ Be prepared with all your info ready. They might transfer you and you don't want to have to call back. ā¢ Be nice to the rep when you finally get one. They're dealing with a lot too. Hope this helps someone. Stay strong, y'all. We're all in this together. šŖ
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Liam Cortez
ā¢This is gold! Thanks for sharing your wisdom š
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Savannah Vin
ā¢Wish I had known this sooner. Took me 3 weeks to get through!
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Mason Stone
has anyone tried emailing instead? i heard they sometimes respond faster that way
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Makayla Shoemaker
ā¢Lol good luck. I emailed 2 months ago and still crickets š¦
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Christian Bierman
ā¢I actually got a response after about 3 weeks. Not quick, but it worked eventually.
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Emma Olsen
Pro tip: if u get thru to ANY department, ask them to transfer u to the right one. Sometimes easier than trying to get directly to unemployment.
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Lucas Lindsey
This is ridiculous. We pay taxes for this service and cant even use it. Has anyone tried contacting their local representatives? Maybe if enough of us complain, theyll do something about it.
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Sophie Duck
ā¢Good idea! I'm gonna email my rep right now. This is unacceptable.
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Austin Leonard
ā¢I tried that. Got a generic 'we're looking into it' response. But maybe if more people do it...
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Anita George
Guys I finally got through today after 3 weeks of trying! Keep at it, don't give up!
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Abigail Spencer
ā¢Congrats! š Any tips for the rest of us still stuck in phone hell?
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Anita George
ā¢Honestly, just persistence. I called 43 times today before I got through. It's exhausting but worth it.
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Connor O'Neill
Same struggle here! I've been calling for 2 weeks straight with no luck. The system is clearly overwhelmed. I'm going to try the early morning strategy that @Kiara Fisherman suggested - calling right at 8am sharp. Also thinking about trying that paid service @Paige Cantoni mentioned, even though $20 feels steep. At this point my time is worth more than that! Has anyone had luck with the online portal or is calling really the only way to resolve complex issues?
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Anastasia Sokolov
ā¢@Connor O'Neill I feel you on this! I've been in the same boat for about a week now. The online portal is pretty limited - you can check your claim status and submit some basic forms, but for anything that needs actual review or has complications, you definitely need to talk to someone. I tried the web chat feature but it just gives you the same runaround as the phone system. That early morning strategy sounds promising though - I'm gonna set my alarm for 7:55am tomorrow and give it a shot! Let me know how the paid service works out if you try it. We shouldn't have to pay extra but desperate times... š¤
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Javier Mendoza
ā¢@Connor O'Neill @Anastasia Sokolov I actually tried that paid calling service last week and it worked! Took about 90 minutes but I got through to an actual person. The $20 was annoying to pay but honestly worth it after weeks of frustration. One tip though - make sure you re'available when they call you back because if you miss it, you have to pay again. Also had better luck calling Tuesday-Thursday vs Monday/Friday when they seem even more swamped. Good luck with the early morning strategy! š¤
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Dmitry Ivanov
I've been dealing with this nightmare for over a month now! Tried everything - calling at different times, using multiple phone numbers, even had my mom try calling from her landline. The "higher than normal call volume" message is such a joke at this point. I'm seriously considering that paid service @Paige Cantoni mentioned because I'm losing my mind here. Has anyone tried showing up in person at a local office? I know they prefer phone calls but I'm desperate. Also wondering if there's a specific time of day that works better - like maybe right after lunch when some people might have given up for the day? This whole system is broken and we're the ones suffering for it. š”
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Zainab Abdulrahman
ā¢@Dmitry Ivanov I totally feel your frustration! I ve'been going through the same thing for about 3 weeks now. Regarding showing up in person - I actually tried that last week and they basically told me all services are by phone/online only unless you have a scheduled appointment which (you can only get by... calling them š .)Such a catch-22! I did notice slightly better luck calling around 2:30-3pm on Wednesdays, maybe because that s'when fewer people are trying? Still took forever but at least I didn t'get an immediate busy signal. The paid service is starting to look more tempting every day - might be worth it just for our sanity at this point!
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