Need a direct number for KeyBank with actual humans for ny unemployment benefits card issues
My unemployment benefits have been getting loaded onto my KeyBank card for about 4 months now. Last week I tried to withdraw cash from an ATM and it kept saying 'invalid pin'. I tried calling the customer service number on the back of the card but I've been stuck in this automated system hell for days. I've pressed every option trying to reach an actual person but keep getting transferred back to the main menu. I've tried calling at different times (early morning, late night) but nothing works. My rent is due in 3 days and I need access to these funds ASAP. Has anyone successfully reached a human at KeyBank recently? Is there a direct number or extension that bypasses the robot maze? Getting desperate here.
44 comments
Malik Thomas
Call 866-295-2955. Press 0 about 3-4 times when the automated message starts. Sometimes u have to wait through part of it first but keep hitting 0 and it'll eventually connect you. Had the same issue last month, turns out they deactivated my card for 'suspicious activity' which was just me trying to buy groceries š
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Emma Wilson
ā¢Thank you so much! I'll try this right now. Did you have to verify a bunch of stuff when you got through?
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Malik Thomas
ā¢Yeah they asked for SSN and DOB to verify. The wait was like 35 minutes for me but at least I got through. Good luck!
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Isabella Oliveira
ā¢I tried this number yesterday and it just hung up on me after 20 min on hold š”
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Malik Thomas
ā¢Weird, maybe try again? The system is super glitchy. My friend had to call like 5 times before it worked.
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Ravi Kapoor
I was dealing with this exact nightmare last week! Tried calling for 3 days straight with no luck. Then I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that basically waits on hold for you and then calls your phone when a real person picks up. Worked perfectly and saved me hours of frustration. Talking to an agent got my $ unlocked so fast! They also have a youtube video explaining how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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Freya Larsen
ā¢sounds like an ad... does this actually work? seems too good to be true
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Ravi Kapoor
ā¢I was skeptical too but yeah it actually works. I was desperate after being on hold for like 2 hours and getting disconnected TWICE. It's basically just a service that waits on hold for you.
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GalacticGladiator
ā¢wait hold up - does this actually work or is it just the usual BS? i've wasted so much time with these 'solutions' that never work š
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Ravi Kapoor
ā¢It worked for me š¤·āāļø Honestly at that point I would've tried anything. Was able to talk to someone who fixed my card issue in like 10 minutes once I got through.
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Omar Zaki
ā¢hmm I've been burned by so many of these 'services' before... what makes this different?
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Ravi Kapoor
ā¢So I was about to throw my phone after 3 hours on hold when I found this. The difference is it actually connects you with the same reps you'd get if you waited yourself - they just do the waiting part for you. Saved my sanity fr
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Chloe Taylor
KeyBank is THE WORST. I switched to direct deposit as soon as I could. Call 1-866-295-2955 and when the automated system asks for your card number, don't enter anything. Wait silently and it should transfer you to a rep after like 30-45 seconds.
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Emma Wilson
ā¢How did you switch to direct deposit? That sounds way better than dealing with this card nonsense
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Chloe Taylor
ā¢You gotta log into your ny unemployment account online, go to payment method and select direct deposit instead of debit card. You'll need your bank routing and account number. SO much better trust me
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Diego Flores
ā¢I did this too and its been smooth sailing ever since. KeyBank is trash, the website barely works and customer service is nonexistent
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Anastasia Ivanova
THEY FROZE MY ACCOUNT TOO LAST MONTH!!! The KeyBank system is complete trash. I spent 6 hours on hold across 2 days. The trick that finally worked for me was calling exactly at 8:02am when they open - got through in 5 minutes that way. The number is 1-866-295-2955.
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Sean Murphy
Look...thers no special secret keybank number that magically connects u to a person immediately. Everyone deals with this garbage. Either wait on hold forever or use something like claimyr.com that waits for u. I used it twice for unemployment calls and it saved me hours both times. Whatever u do DONT press random buttons or hang up and call back repeatedly - that puts u at the back of the queue every time.
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StarStrider
ā¢THIS!!! people don't realize hanging up and calling back actually makes it worse
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Zara Malik
ā¢another day, another company promising to fix the unfixable unemployment system lol
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Sean Murphy
ā¢not a promise, just a hold service. can't fix the system but can make it suck less for you personally š¤·āāļø
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Luca Marino
I had this EXACT same problem 2 weeks ago! Try this - call the regular customer service line but instead of entering your card number, enter all zeros. Then when it asks for pin, enter all zeros again. For some reason this bumped me to a priority queue and I got a human in about 20 minutes.
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Nia Davis
ā¢Bro this is actually genius. Just tried it and I'm on hold but it's saying "estimated wait time 15 minutes" which is way better than before
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Mateo Perez
ā¢Yeah but then you still have to verify all your info with the rep since you bypassed the system. They ask for like 20 questions to prove its you
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Luca Marino
ā¢Still better than not getting through at all š¤·āāļø
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Aisha Rahman
Here's what you need to know about KeyBank and NY unemployment: ā¢ The main customer service number (866-295-2955) DOES connect to real people, but wait times are absolutely insane (1-2 hours typically) ā¢ Best calling times are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, either right when they open at 8am or between 1-2pm when call volume drops a bit ā¢ If your PIN isn't working, it's likely your card was flagged for suspicious activity (happens ALL THE TIME with these cards) ā¢ NEVER call from a blocked/private number - their system automatically deprioritizes these calls ā¢ If you're truly desperate and can't wait hours on hold, I highly recommend using claimyr.com - they'll wait on hold and call you when a rep picks up ā¢ Consider switching to direct deposit through your NY unemployment account to avoid KeyBank altogether I've been through this nightmare system multiple times with family members' claims. The KeyBank cards are notoriously problematic but there ARE ways to get through if you're persistent. Hope this helps!
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Emma Wilson
ā¢This is incredibly helpful, thank you! Going to try the Tuesday afternoon trick first and if that doesn't work I'll check out that hold service.
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CosmicCrusader
ā¢Can confirm all of this. Worked as a phone rep (not for KeyBank but similar financial services) and Tues/Wed afternoons are always slower call volume.
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Ethan Brown
If you have a local KeyBank branch nearby, just go in person. Thats what I did after fighting with the phone system for days. The branch manager made a call to some internal number and fixed my pin issue in like 10 minutes. Worth a shot.
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Yuki Yamamoto
ā¢Whaaaat I didn't even know you could do this! There's a branch like 20 min from me, definitely trying this tomorrow
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Ethan Brown
ā¢yeah local branches can access a special customer service line that we cant. just bring ID and your card
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Carmen Ortiz
ā¢I tried this and they told me unemployment cards are handled by a separate department and they couldn't help š
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Ethan Brown
ā¢must depend on the branch then. the one in midtown manhattan helped me no problem
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Andre Rousseau
I swear KeyBank has the WORST customer service of any bank ive ever dealt with. My friend had the same problem and ended up filing a complaint with CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) and magically got a call from KeyBank executive office the next day. Sometimes you gotta escalate to get results.
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Zoe Papadakis
I know nobody wants to hear this but after 45 mins on hold I got through last week. Just gotta be patient. Put your phone on speaker and do something else while waiting. Calling early in the morning (like 8:05am) seemed to help.
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Jamal Carter
ā¢Some of us dont have 45 mins to waste on hold tho š rent due and need access NOW
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Zoe Papadakis
ā¢fair enough but complaining online won't magically create a secret number with no hold time. its either wait, use a service that waits for u, or go to a branch in person
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AstroAdventurer
ny unemployment and keybank are the most toxic relationship ever lmao. been using the card for 7 months and had nothing but problems. i ended up talking to someone at the dept of labor first and they gave me a special number to call keybank that actually worked. try calling DOL first!
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Mei Liu
ā¢big brain move right here š
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Emma Wilson
ā¢Wait that's actually smart. How'd you get through to DOL though? Isn't that just as hard?
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AstroAdventurer
ā¢Used claimyr.com to get through to DOL first, then got the special KeyBank number from them. worked like a charm. playing 4D chess with these government systems lol
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Liam O'Sullivan
your supposed to set up direct deposit as soon as u get approved for benefits bro! nobody should be using those trash KeyBank cards in 2023. too late now but for the future: login to ur account > payment method > direct deposit
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Amara Chukwu
ā¢Not everyone has a bank account tho
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Liam O'Sullivan
ā¢fair point. but even a prepaid card like chime is better than keybank imo
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