ESD phone system keeps hanging up on me at 8AM - week of frustration
I'm at my wits' end with the ESD phone system. For the past week, I've been calling right when they open at 8am sharp, and each time the system either disconnects me or I get the 'call volume too high' message and it hangs up automatically. I need to talk to someone about my missing payments from February! My bills are piling up and I'm getting desperate. Has anyone successfully gotten through to a real person recently? Any tricks or specific times that work better? This is getting ridiculous!
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Paolo Conti
I had the EXACT same issue last month trying to resolve an adjudication problem. What worked for me was using Claimyr - it's this service that helps you skip the ESD phone queue. I was super skeptical at first but got connected to an actual ESD agent in about 20 minutes after trying for 2 weeks on my own. You can check them out at claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Seriously saved my sanity.
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Keisha Williams
•Thanks for the suggestion! Has anyone else used this? I'm a bit hesitant to try a third-party service... but at this point I'm desperate enough to try almost anything.
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Amina Diallo
dont call at 8am thats when EVERYONE calls!! try like 10:30 or 2pm sometimes works better
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Oliver Schulz
•This ⬆️ I always had better luck mid-day too. Also Thursdays seem better than Mondays for some reason.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
The ESD phone system is designed to handle calls in order of receipt, but their capacity is overwhelmed right now. There are a few strategies that might help: 1. Try calling at 10:15-10:30am when the initial rush has died down 2. Use the callback feature if it's offered rather than staying on hold 3. Make sure you're calling the correct number for your specific issue (general questions vs. claims processing are different lines) 4. Be prepared with your claim ID and all relevant information when you do connect Also, have you tried using the eServices portal to send a secure message? Sometimes that can be faster than calling, especially for missing payment issues.
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Keisha Williams
•Thanks for the detailed advice. I have sent messages through eServices but got no response after a week. I'll try the 10:15am time slot tomorrow. I'm calling the claims line specifically about missing payments - is that the right number?
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AstroAdventurer
I'm in the same boat! Been trying for 9 days straight and can't get through. ESD's phone system is a joke - they know thousands of people need help but won't add more staff or fix their terrible phone system? It's like they WANT us to give up. I've even emailed my state representative about this. The system is designed to frustrate people until they stop trying.
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Javier Mendoza
•While I understand your frustration, ESD actually has expanded their call center significantly since the pandemic. The current issue is that their new claim processing system had some technical issues in January, which created a backlog of issues requiring phone assistance. They are aware of the problem and working to resolve it. If your missing payments are from February, you may have been affected by this system update. When you do connect with them, ask specifically about the "February processing delay" - they'll know what you're referring to.
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Emma Wilson
lol welcome to ESD hell my friend... I spent 2 weeks tryng to get thru last month for my standby status renewal. like literal hundreds of calls. finally just went to the worksource center in person and they helped me sort it out from there. might be worth a try if you can get to one??
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Javier Mendoza
To address your specific issue with February payments - there was a known issue with the payment system during the February 12-18 processing week that affected many claimants. If your missing payments are from that period, there's a special resolution process. For the phone issues, there are a few technical approaches that can help: 1. When calling at 8am, dial the last digit exactly as the clock hits 8:00:00, not before 2. If disconnected, wait 2-3 minutes before trying again (immediate redials often get filtered) 3. Try using a different phone if possible - some VoIP or cell services get lower priority 4. If you receive the high call volume message, stay on the line completely silent until the automated system finishes - sometimes it will still transfer you Also, if your claim is specifically related to missing February payments, the direct line for payment issues is 833-572-8400, which sometimes has shorter wait times than the main line.
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Keisha Williams
•Thank you! Yes, it's specifically about Feb 15-28 payments that never showed up in my account. I'll try that specific number tomorrow with your timing suggestions. Really appreciate the detailed help!
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Paolo Conti
Just wanted to follow up - did you have any luck getting through? The February payment issue has been a major headache for so many people.
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Keisha Williams
•Actually I got through today! Used the special payment issues number at 10:20am like someone suggested. Took about 45 minutes on hold but finally spoke to a person. Turns out the Feb payment issue was because of the system update they did - my identity verification got flagged for no reason. The agent fixed it right on the call and said I should see the payments in 2-3 business days. SO relieved!
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