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Getting through to the EDD: Call for Vietnamese number

2010 January 27
by JohnHenion

Still having trouble getting through to the EDD?  Have you called the Vietnamese number yet?  We’ve already mentioned this strategy in our ‘mas popular’ post tips and tricks, but if it hasn’t sunk it yet, check out Rudy’s video blog below on how calling the Vietnamese hotline got him his checks.  Besides, although he doesn’t actually give us a shout-out in his video, i’m pretty sure he learned about this trick via our site because he lists ‘unemploymentality’ as one of his video tags. Thanks Rudy, right back atcha!

48 Responses leave one →
  1. rob permalink
    January 29, 2010

    I tried calling the Vietnamese line after no luck getting through on the English number. There’s a recording and I don’t speak a word of Vietnamese, so I didn’t know if you’re supposed to dial to get through the phone menu or just hold or what. So I called back five or six times and eventually someone picked up the line. The person from EDD was actually pretty cool about getting bamboozled, as I am one of the most clearly non-Vietnamese people around. But I was apologetic and told her I was simply following Rudy’s advice: if you don’t get yourself through EDD no one will do it for you.

  2. Debbie permalink
    January 31, 2010

    Good! I’ve used this tip – and I think that the more people do it, the more they are going to have to get a clue that they need MORE people answering the phone!!!

  3. Trocaria permalink
    February 1, 2010

    What prompts am I supposed to use on the Viet line?
    I hold on and it disconnects! I think that the greeting may be saying something like:

    “Hey you English-speaking unemployed person! Stop calling this line! If you understand Vietnamese, the NEW number is…”

    Cause right now, it ain’t happening!

  4. February 1, 2010

    Thanks for all the information on this blog! It’s been a lifesaver.

    The Vietnamese line was actually my Batphone into the EDD when I was first filing my claim last year, but since having a very simple problem with my claim a few weeks ago, I haven’t been able to get through on it at all. Like others, I was also getting the recorded Vietnamese message and then dropping off.

    I tried the 12117 trick, though. It took a while, but after a sustained period of dialing, I got through to the queue and then to a very helpful representative. My problem was a simple check lost in the mail issue, but I did feel rather sorry for the EDD rep since it sounded like he had to redo all the forms by hand which seemed awfully time-consuming to solve a rather simple problem.

    Thanks again to all! If I hadn’t gotten through, I don’t know how long it would have taken to fix it!

  5. Karim permalink
    February 9, 2010

    Please sign my petiton for America to add Metric speed limit signs !

    This will create jobs for workers because they are puting up signs !

    http://www.change.org/actions/view/for_america_to_add_metric_speed_limit_signs

  6. February 19, 2010

    LOL, that was the funniest video I have seen regarding EDD. Love the reference to the number. Your blog is fantastic, can’t wait to read and watch more.

    Willi

  7. April 13, 2010

    Hey thank you to everyone who found this video helpful! Check out part 2 of my EDD video series http://rudymccomb.com/post/519072199/immmmm-baaaaaaaaack-yes-world-rudy-mccomb-aka

  8. Alex permalink
    January 26, 2011

    HELP!!
    Can’t get through! Can someone please post the Vietnamese prompts??

  9. Megan permalink
    February 25, 2011

    After waiting 2 hrs for that “SCHEDULED” interview via phone, they didn’t call. And all I could think of was how this won’t be their fault but mine although they didn’t call. After waiting 2 hrs for no call, and calling the 800 number for the next 4 hrs. I called the Vietnamese line and it worked.

    12117 works. Use it, don’t get caught off guard when the person answers in Vietnamese, jus tell them you were on hold and got transferred to the wrong person. Worked for me, no questions, no wait time. NO WAIT TIME.

  10. Alex permalink
    October 11, 2011

    The 12117 prompts on the Vietnamese menu have also been changed. Can someone please post the new prompts??

    Thanks!

  11. mjd permalink
    October 13, 2011

    I called on the spanish line using the following and got thru in 5 minutes after trying the english line about 10 times over the course of the morning

    “Welcome to…..”
    Dial: 2 (for spanish), wait for the jobs announcement, dial 3, 2, 6, enter SSN, verify correct by pressing 1.

    So that’s 2,3,2,6,SSN,1

    All that just to reschedule my phone interview for tomorrow. :-\

  12. martin permalink
    October 26, 2011

    I don’t see my comment so I’ll try again, Vietnamese line 800-547-2058. Wait for the initial message to pause, press 6,wait for message to start, 7, wait, 3, wait, SS#, wait, 1. and the beautiful music of being qued for a representative starts, and then…… I was finished in 2 minutes, questions answered and complimented on my intelligence to navigate the maze and come out with a big piece of cheese. You only have to wait for the messages to start, you don’t have to wait through the whole message after each prompt.

  13. Helena permalink
    October 28, 2011

    I used the Vietnamese number and tried to be slick, when they answered I said, “Oh, I’m sorry I was transferred to this number.” And the girl said, “Um, no you weren’t.” She was clearly annoyed but she didn’t hang up! She put me on hold and another lady came on and was very helpful. They’ve obviously caught on to this one but if you can live with the momentary embarassment, they are much nicer and faster than the English OR Spanish line (which was a busy message all morning too).

  14. Julie permalink
    November 7, 2011

    After calling all day long for the past 6 business days and never having any success reaching a live person at Cal EDD, I called the Vietnamese line and followed the instructions posted by Martin (above) and I got through right away. Yipee! Thanks Martin!

  15. mouseketeer1961 permalink
    November 10, 2011

    I used the Vietnamese line just now and got through first try! The man answered in English and was very helpful. Thanks for this tip.

  16. Mars Gee permalink
    December 12, 2011

    Worked like a dream, got through on the first try. Tricky thing was that the “Beautiful Music” played for a minute then the call went through. The call was still connected so I waited and eventually a Vietnamese man answered in english and was very cool about the whole situation. Follow Martins instructctions and be careful to listen for the pauses.

    martin permalink

    October 26, 2011
    I don’t see my comment so I’ll try again, Vietnamese line 800-547-2058. Wait for the initial message to pause, press 6,wait for message to start, 7, wait, 3, wait, SS#, wait, 1. and the beautiful music of being qued for a representative starts, and then…… I was finished in 2 minutes, questions answered and complimented on my intelligence to navigate the maze and come out with a big piece of cheese. You only have to wait for the messages to start, you don’t have to wait through the whole message after each prompt.

  17. HNC permalink
    December 16, 2011

    Hi- I tried the Vietnamese line with Martin’s instructions above but after I’ve input my SS# and wait 1, it goes into another prompt than more Vietnamese and then it hangs up. No beautiful music. Does anyone have any suggestions?

  18. Mars Gee permalink
    December 16, 2011

    Keep trying, it will go through eventually. I used the same method yesterday and it too a few times before I got through. Beats 200 times on the english line

  19. December 23, 2011

    Trying the vietnamese line and when I press 6 it repeates the same message before it hangs up on me.

  20. January 10, 2012

    Thanks to the info from Rudy and Martin I got through with little effort. Only a few minutes b4 finding this edd english line had me hopeless and I can’t begin to tell you how stressed out. Takes persistance but it really does work. Thx guys!

  21. Ceci Pacheco permalink
    January 17, 2012

    Thank you!
    This worked!
    I been calling EDD for 3 soild weeks now! Emailed twice!
    I called the number, then when it started talking I pressed, 6, wait, 7, wait, and then my social, and once he starts repeating the numbers, they sound the same as English numbers, 3. There was some pretty music and then a long silent pause, but then a guy answered and he helped and didn’t question my lack of Vietnamese or anything. It was great! Never calling English line again! Lol

  22. Amy permalink
    January 18, 2012

    I tried it after calling the English line non-stop yesterday afternoon and this morning, and I got through! I was on hold listening to music for about 3 minutes. The agent was so helpful and kind. What a relief! Best of luck everyone. Don’t give up!

  23. Kissingfish permalink
    February 7, 2012

    GOD BLESS VIETNAM!!!!

  24. February 9, 2012

    I got through!!

    Shana 1-17-12 Your response worked….. You call the number, 1-800-300-5616 press one for english, then press 1 to check your payment amount, press 3 to change your pin. Follow the prompts to enter your ss# and weekly amount. Then they will ask you to change your pin. Do nothing and after the robot goes through the motions several times you will be prompted to enter 0 to speak to someone. You are then told the wait is about 3 minutes. And a very nice person will come on and help you within that time.

    I had to call a 2nd time and the Vietemese trick worked too =) Vietnamese line 800-547-2058. Wait for the initial message to pause, press 6,wait for message to start, 7, wait, 3, wait, SS#, wait, 1. and the beautiful music of being qued for a representative starts, and then…… I was finished in 2 minutes, questions answered and complimented on my intelligence to navigate the maze and come out with a big piece of cheese. You only have to wait for the messages to start, you don’t have to wait through the whole message after each prompt.

  25. casey permalink
    February 14, 2012

    Hey, you are a genious. I memorized the prompts from my earlier 45 attempts. They worked. It was awesome. I only wish I could buy you a drink. Thanks so much.

  26. alison permalink
    February 16, 2012

    Just got through using the change pin prompt. I spoke to the coolest guy EVER and he fixed my problems. THANK YOU! This made my day a billion times better.

  27. liz permalink
    February 17, 2012

    this works!!

    Vietnamese line 800-547-2058. Wait for the initial message to pause, press 6,wait for message to start, 7, wait, 3, wait, SS#, wait, 1.

    thank you martin

  28. February 21, 2012

    i had called this morning needing to talk to a rep badly. called from 7:55 to 9:45 on the english line a total of 75 calls! would get through to where it asked for the social, and then just says “sorry we too busy” and hangs up! so frustrating!

    CALLED THE VIETNAMESE LINE > > > > GOT THROUGH IN 1 MINUTE using the above tips! the rep answered in english! i think when u put in your social, it pops up all your info on their screen, so they already know by the name that you don’t speak vietnamese!

    many MANY MANY thanks for the tips!

  29. Joshua permalink
    February 23, 2012

    Greatest POST in the history of the internet. WORKS! SOOO AWESOME!

  30. kammie permalink
    February 28, 2012

    Yup, the vietnamese line worked in 2 MINUTES after many calls on the english line. I did the 12117 and just waited about 2 minutes for a HUMAN to pick up. Question answered. What a releif!

    A MILLION THANKS!!!!!!!!!

  31. Jay permalink
    March 1, 2012

    I really worked and the agent was very nice, said ‘no problem’ right away.
    WOW.

  32. Jay permalink
    March 1, 2012

    IT really worked I meant, no ESL joke

  33. Joe Wade permalink
    March 16, 2012

    omg did the pin number thing and got thru right away. tried this after calling for over a month an never getting thru

  34. Sabrina. permalink
    April 2, 2012

    Are you friggen kidding me!!! Vietnamese number just worked for me on second try!!! Thank You

  35. Darin C permalink
    April 4, 2012

    I’ve gotten through with this occasionally, but I think some of the CSRs have started disconnecting anyone with a non-Vietnamese last name. Idoesn’t work nearly as well as it used. That said, after weeks of dealing with this system I think I’ve managed to figure out a decent way to get through, eventually, even on the English line.

    The way the phone system is designed, you need to be very quick and accurate, and if you’re too slow or inaccurate, it will disconnect you. This method also works because it minimizes the time you’ll spend one each try. If you have twice as many tries in an hour, you’re more likely to get through

    The first part is pretty easy and from this blog. If you hear a “Welcome to the Employment Development Department…” hit 1 (or whatever other number for a language besides english) immediately. If you hear the other introduction (“Thank you…”) you’re going to be disconnected so hang up and try again. The next part is where it gets hard. You need to fast and accurate.

    After you listen to the recorded message, you’ll start to go through the menu prompts (1 for this, 2 for that, and so on). What you need to to do get through to someone is go as quickly as possible while still entering in all the information. If you go too fast they’ll disconnect you because it just seems like you’re hitting numbers. If you go too slow you’ll get disconnected because other people will get in line before you.

    What I do is go through the menu and write down the prompts I need. For example if I need to change my address. I would hit 6 (To update your UI claim, or for other information…), 7 (To update information on your UI claim…), 2 (To update you address…), then enter my social security number as fast as possible and quickly hit 1 to confirm. Remember that you’ll need a slight pause in between the menu selections (but still go through quickly using your cheat seet of options) so that they’ll register, and then you can speed through my SSN entry and hit 1. Hopefully you’ll hear the lovely elevator music sooner or later.

    Using this method I can usually get through within about ten to twenty calls. If I take the amount of time that any reasonable person would making menu entries, I never get through. Literally. What I also do is put both my cell and landline on speakerphone, then try to get through with both since I can double the number of chances I have within the same time period. All told, by moving quickly through the menu selection and using two lines I can get in 3-4 more calls than I could taking my time on one line.

    I hope this helps someone get through, and I also hope that sooner or later this information will persuade the EDD to use a system where everyone can get in line and be called back later, like the one the CA DMV and Medicare use.

  36. cline permalink
    April 11, 2012

    all i can say is thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you…times a million. worked first time after calling the other edd number countless amounts of times with no avail. lifesaver and i couldn’t be more appreciative.

  37. April 12, 2012

    God bless all of you! I have been crying all morning trying to get a live person on the phone! If I don’t get my check when I’m suppose to my family is screwed! Bills don’t get paid and my kids don’t get what they need. I dialed the Vietnamese line, pretended it was a mistake that they transfered me there and they still helped me and I got my issue resolved. I’m super grateful for all the informative posts!

  38. nickoli permalink
    April 13, 2012

    martins comment worked wonders for me viets tranferred me asap to english line

  39. Ken permalink
    April 17, 2012

    Wow, it worked with the first try!! Amazing, after weeks of trying the English language line. And no long message about Obama extending benefits, either!

  40. Alberto Cabrera permalink
    April 26, 2012

    I tried the code 12117 and that did not help me it just wasted my time. What I would suggest is the Vietnamese hotline or possibly any other language you may know. I got someone on the phone line and an answered question in 5 minutes. They will transfer you after you say you have been looking for an English speaker.

  41. Mary permalink
    April 30, 2012

    Vietnamese line worked, had to try a few times but it worked.

  42. Liz permalink
    May 10, 2012

    This is NOT working I’ve tried it more time than the english and It hangs up after entering my ss# any advice??

  43. Beth permalink
    May 10, 2012

    Thank you SO much for this post!!! Calling to change my pin worked right away! Wish I’d found this 3 hours ago! THANKS!!!!

  44. Joe permalink
    May 14, 2012

    I just used Martin’s Vietnamese line trick to get through to CA EDD and it worked. The young lady answered in English, didn’t even question why I was calling on that line and she spoke better English than the people on the English line. Thank you!!!

  45. Jeff permalink
    May 14, 2012

    I tried to make this Viet dialing trick work. Call at least a dozen times. And it doesn’t work.
    Sorry

  46. May 14, 2012

    The vietnamese number did not work. It just kept disconnecting my call. But the 18003005616 number did work when I prompted it to change my pin # and let it repeat itself a few times that I needed to enter a valid 4 digit number. I just kept ignoring when it was telling me to enter a new pin # and after repeating itself 3 or 4 times it gave me the option to push 9 to return to the main menu or to push 0 to be connected to someone. I pushed 0, heard the wonderful music and was told it would be a 3 minute wait and got my problem solved! Thank you to whoever figured that out! It is a life saver!

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