ESD phone trick: Making three simultaneous attempts to reach an agent
Just discovered something that might help people desperate to talk to ESD! If you call the main ESD number and get stuck on hold (which, let's face it, is basically ALWAYS), you can actually game the system. While STAYING on that hold line, use another phone to call ESD again and go through the menu options. When you do this, for some reason the first call will suddenly offer a callback option that wasn't available before! Accept the callback, hang up that line, but STAY on your second line. Then, use a third phone (or borrow someone's) to start a THIRD call to ESD. So now you've got: 1) A callback scheduled, 2) One live call still on hold, and 3) A fresh call that might get through faster. Has anyone else tried this or am I the only one playing 4D chess with the unemployment office? I've been trying to resolve my benefit year ending issue for TWO WEEKS and finally got through using this method yesterday!
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Nathan Kim
wait wat? ur saying i can be on 2 calls at once AND get a callback? i've been trying to reach someone for 3 days straight about my adjudication!!
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Gavin King
•Yep! You need at least 2 phones though. Call from your main phone and once you're on hold, use a second phone to call again. That's when the first call suddenly offered me the callback option. It's like their system detects you're trying multiple lines and suddenly decides to offer the callback lol
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Eleanor Foster
I can confirm this actually works, though it's a bit more nuanced than described. What's happening is that ESD's phone system has dynamic callback triggering that activates based on queue volume. When you initiate multiple calls, you're essentially forcing their system to recognize higher call volume, which triggers the callback option to become available. I've worked with similar phone systems before. Just make sure you're selecting the correct options in the phone tree each time - specifically options that would route you to claims specialists for your particular issue. Different queues have different staffing levels.
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Gavin King
•Thanks for explaining how it works! That makes sense about the system detecting higher volume. Do you know if there are specific times of day when this trick works better? I tried around 10:30am and it worked for me.
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Lucas Turner
This is BRILLIANT!!! I've been calling ESD for THREE DAYS about my weekly claim issue and keep getting the "call volume too high" message and disconnected. Going to try this right now with my cell and work phone. Will report back!
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Lucas Turner
•UPDATE: IT WORKED!!!! Got the callback option after about 5 minutes on my second line. The rep called back 45 mins later and fixed my issue where my weekly claim was stuck in processing. THANK YOU!!!!
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Kai Rivera
I've been helping people connect with ESD for years, and while this approach can work, there's actually a service called Claimyr that can automate this process for you. It monitors hold times and secures your spot in line so you don't have to tie up multiple phones. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 showing how it works. Their success rate for getting through to ESD is pretty impressive compared to the manual method. I've recommended it to several clients dealing with adjudication and identity verification issues.
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Nathan Kim
•i just checked out that website n video. kinda looks legit. has anyone else used this claimyr thing? im desperate but dont wanna waste $ if the phone trick works too
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Anna Stewart
You know what's ridiculous? That we even have to RESORT to these kinds of hacks just to talk to someone about our BENEFITS that WE PAID INTO with our taxes!!! The ESD system is completely BROKEN and nobody in Olympia seems to care. I've been waiting 5 weeks in adjudication with ZERO communication. This shouldn't be this hard!!!
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Layla Sanders
•I feel your frustration. I was in adjudication for 7 weeks last year when my employer contested my claim. The lack of communication is the worst part - just a status with no explanation or timeline. Have you tried contacting your state representative? That's what finally got movement on my claim.
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Morgan Washington
not to be that guy but isn't this kinda unfair to people who don't have multiple phones? i mean i get why people do it but it's probably making the system worse for everyone by jamming up the queue even more... just saying
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Anna Stewart
•Oh PLEASE. You know what's unfair? A system that makes it IMPOSSIBLE to reach a human being when your benefits that you NEED TO SURVIVE are on the line. ESD created this problem with their terrible understaffed system, not desperate claimants trying everything to get help.
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Layla Sanders
I've been working with unemployment claims for several years, and while this method might work in the short term, I'd suggest a more systematic approach: 1. Call precisely at 8:00am when the lines open 2. Select options for your specific issue (adjudication is different from weekly claim issues) 3. If disconnected, use the online message center to document your attempts 4. After 3 failed attempts, contact your legislative representative The multiple-call approach might work for immediate issues, but it doesn't help with systemic problems that require escalation. Just something to keep in mind depending on your specific situation.
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Gavin King
•Thanks for the advice! I did try calling right at opening for several days with no luck. For reference, my specific issue was that my benefit year ended and I needed to reapply, but the online system kept giving me an error. The legislative representative tip is good - I'll keep that in my back pocket if I have future problems.
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Nathan Kim
guys i tried the thing with my cell and my roomates phone and it TOTALLY WORKED!! got the callback option after like 8 min and they actually called back! got my adjudication sorted out - was a problem with my ID verification. the lady on the phone was super nice too. thx for sharing this trick!!!!!
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Lucas Turner
•That's awesome! Did she say anything about how long the adjudication would take to clear? I got through to someone but they said my ID verification could still take 1-2 more weeks to process even though I uploaded everything correctly.
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Ally Tailer
This is incredibly helpful! I've been stuck in the ESD phone maze for weeks trying to resolve an overpayment notice that I think is wrong. The automated system just keeps looping me back to "your call is important to us" and then disconnects. I have access to my phone and my partner's phone, so I'm definitely going to try this multiple-call method. Question though - when you got through, were you able to get everything resolved in one call or did they need to transfer you around? I'm worried about getting disconnected mid-call after waiting so long!
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Javier Hernandez
•Hey! I actually had a similar overpayment issue last month that turned out to be their error - definitely worth fighting if you think it's wrong! When I got through using this method, the rep was able to handle everything in one call without transfers, which was amazing. She put me on a brief hold twice to look things up but never disconnected me. Pro tip: have all your documentation ready (claim numbers, dates, any letters they sent) because they'll want to reference specific details. The whole call took about 25 minutes but she cleared up my overpayment and even backdated some benefits I was missing. Good luck!!
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