Can I sue Washington ESD for negligence - they lost my paperwork twice

So basically they can lose my paperwork over and over and there's no consequences? This system is broken.

Not exactly - you can file complaints with the state ombudsman office. They investigate government agency failures.

I've tried calling for weeks but can never get through to anyone who can actually help. Just the automated system.

This is exactly why I used Claimyr when I had problems reaching Washington ESD. They actually got me connected to a real person who could look at my case. Check out claimyr.com - there's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that service. Is it legit or just another scam?

What do you mean by administrative remedies? I just want someone to process my damn claim.

It means you have to go through all the official complaint processes before you can sue. File an appeal, contact the ombudsman, request a supervisor review - basically prove you tried everything else first.

How did you find out their system was broken? Did they admit it?

Only after I got connected to someone in their IT department through a supervisor. Regular customer service had no clue.

This is why services like Claimyr are so useful - they know which departments to reach and can get you to the right people instead of just basic customer service.

While I understand the frustration, claiming intentional misconduct would require actual proof. Hanlon's razor applies here - never attribute to malice what can be explained by incompetence.

After dealing with them for months you start to wonder if it really is just incompetence or if they're trying to save money by making the process impossible.

I didn't think of that. Would they actually help with individual unemployment cases?

Absolutely. Constituent services is a big part of what they do. They have direct lines to agency supervisors.

This is good advice. State reps often have more pull with Washington ESD than individual claimants do.

So basically they can screw up as much as they want and there's no real accountability?

There is accountability through the administrative process - appeals, ombudsman, legislative oversight. It's just not the same as private sector lawsuits.

Four months?? I can't wait that long, I'm already behind on everything.

yeah it was really bad, she almost lost her apartment. finally got resolved when she got help from some service that calls for you

Probably Claimyr - that's the one I used. They really know how to navigate Washington ESD's phone system and get to the right people quickly.

I have screenshots of both uploads and the delivery confirmations. Should I also document my attempts to call?

Yes! Keep a log of every call attempt, including time and date. Also screenshot any error messages or system issues you encounter.

Never heard of that. How does it work?

It's basically a law that requires state agencies to follow consistent procedures and gives you recourse when they don't. You'd need to research their published procedures and show how they violated them.

Normal doesn't make it acceptable. People lose their homes because of this incompetence.

Completely agree it's unacceptable. I'm just saying don't expect it to be resolved quickly through normal channels.

That's actually a really smart idea. How do I file one of those?

Washington has an online portal for public records requests. Just be specific about what documents you want and include your claim number.

How did you finally get it resolved? I'm willing to try anything at this point.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. They got me connected to a supervisor who actually looked into my case instead of just giving me the runaround.

Seems like everyone who mentions that service had success with it. Might be worth trying.

I don't care about fixing the whole system, I just need MY claim processed so I can pay rent.

That's fair, but legal action takes months or years. Faster to work within their system, even if it's frustrating.

Good point, I've been keeping up with those. At least that part of their system seems to work.

Yeah the weekly filing system is more reliable than their document processing unfortunately.

Really? I thought those would just get ignored. How do I file a complaint with the governor's office?

There's a form on the governor's website under constituent services. They take complaints about state agencies seriously.

I'll look into that. Would be nice if there was someone whose actual job is dealing with these problems.

Even if they don't have a UI-specific ombudsman, the state ombudsman office handles all agency complaints.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll try the escalation routes first before thinking about lawyers.

Good plan. And seriously consider trying Claimyr to actually get through to someone who can help. Sometimes the right contact makes all the difference.

I'm convinced at this point. Going to check out that service today.