Impossible to reach TWC customer service - alternative phone numbers?
I've been trying to contact TWC for THREE DAYS STRAIGHT about my unemployment claim status. Every single time I call, I either get a busy signal or the automated system tells me 'all agents are busy' and hangs up on me! I've called right when they open at 8am, tried mid-day, and even late afternoon. Nothing works. Teleserv is completely useless for my situation because I need to talk to an actual person about why my payment is still pending after 4 weeks. Has anybody found a secret backdoor number or extension that actually connects to a human? Or maybe a different office that can transfer you? I'm desperate at this point - rent is due next week and I don't know what's happening with my claim.
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NebulaNomad
The TWC phone system is notoriously overwhelmed. What worked for me was calling the Tele-Center number (800-939-6631) but calling exactly at 7:59am and hitting the options as soon as they open at 8am. You have to be lightning fast because their queue fills within minutes. Also try Wednesday or Thursday - Mondays are absolute nightmares.
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Zara Shah
•Thank you! I'll try the 7:59 trick tomorrow morning. Did you just stay on the line until they opened or did you have to redial at exactly 8am?
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Luca Ferrari
NONE of the 'tricks' work anymore!! I tried calling at 8am sharp for TWO WEEKS and got nowhere. The system is broken and they don't care about us at all!!
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Nia Wilson
•I was in the same situation last month. After wasting hours on failed calls, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to a TWC agent in about 20 minutes. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me days of frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh
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Mateo Martinez
have u tried emailing them? sometimes they actually respond faster that way. use the contact form on the website and mark it urgent. worked for me when my id.me verification was stuck
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Zara Shah
•I tried the email option last week but all I got was an automated response saying they'd get back to me in 5-7 business days 😫 It's been 6 days now with nothing.
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Aisha Hussain
There's actually a less-known TWC office number that sometimes works better: 512-463-2222. It's the main Austin administrative office, but if you explain your situation politely, sometimes they can transfer you to someone who can help or at least check your claim status. Also, contacting your state representative's office can work wonders - they have special liaisons with TWC who can resolve issues quickly.
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Zara Shah
•That's brilliant! I never thought of trying the admin office. I'll give that number a shot tomorrow if my 7:59am attempt fails. And great idea about the state rep - I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point.
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Luca Ferrari
try the fraud department number!! even if ur claim isnt about fraud, someone will pick up and then can transfer u to the right department. worked for me when i was desperate
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Ethan Clark
•Please DON'T do this. I work in a state agency (not TWC) and this actually makes things worse. It ties up lines for actual fraud cases and most departments have policies against transferring people who use this tactic because it encourages more people to do it. Your claim could get flagged for suspicious activity.
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StarStrider
im having the exact same problem!! been calling for days and nothing. teleserve just says my claim is "pending" but doesn't tell me why or what to do. so frustrating!
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NebulaNomad
•If your claim shows as pending for more than 3 weeks, it's usually because there's an issue that requires human review. Common reasons include employment separation issues (if your employer contested the claim), wage verification problems, or identity verification. Check your correspondence inbox on the TWC portal - there might be a determination letter or request for information you missed.
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Nia Wilson
I had success with the Claimyr service mentioned above. It cost money but honestly it was worth every penny to finally get through after weeks of trying. My payment had been stuck in pending status because of an employer response that contradicted my claim reason. Once I actually talked to someone, it got resolved in one call.
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Zara Shah
•Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm seriously considering trying it. At this point, I'd rather pay something than keep wasting hours on failed call attempts. Did you have to provide any sensitive information to use the service?
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Nia Wilson
@OP - It just needed my phone number so they could call me back when they got a TWC agent on the line. The whole process was pretty straightforward. I was skeptical at first but got desperate after two weeks of failed calling attempts.
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StarStrider
•did they fix ur problem tho? or just connect u to twc? cuz i need my actual issue fixed not just to talk to someone
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Aisha Hussain
Another option to consider is visiting your local Workforce Solutions office in person. While they're separate from TWC, they often have direct communication channels with TWC representatives and can sometimes help resolve issues or at least get accurate information about what's holding up your claim. Bring your claim ID number and any correspondence you've received.
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Zara Shah
•Oh that's good to know! There's actually a Workforce Solutions office about 15 minutes from me. I might try that tomorrow if my phone attempts fail again. Do you know if I need to schedule an appointment first?
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Aisha Hussain
Most Workforce Solutions offices accept walk-ins, but it's always best to call ahead or check their website for the specific location's policy. Some have switched to appointment-only systems since COVID. When you go, make sure to bring ID and any relevant TWC correspondence. The more information you bring, the more likely they can help you.
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