AARRGGG!!! Problems with trying to reach a UI claims specialist in WI. (Milwaukee: insurance, find a job)

[germaine2626]

I have a vent.

I have a very important question that needs to be answered by the Unemployment Insurance office in Wisconsin. First I read the entire Handbook for Claimants, the question was not answered there. I called the numbers listed and kept calling and calling back for two 45 minute periods that first day.

Then I went online to their website. The question was not answered there. I spent a half hour searching the website to see if there was an alternative way of contacting a claims specialist (nope, just those phone numbers). So, day two, I again called UI two 45 minute periods. I would call and get the message that "they had reached the maximum number of people that could be on hold and to call back later". I would wait five minutes and call back again. I called the Milwaukee number, I called the Madison number and I called the Toll Free Number. I tried to call early in the day, I tried to call mid day and I tried to call late in the day.

Sometimes, for variety, I would hear the message that "it is very busy on Monday and Tuesday so hang up and call back another day". I heard this message on a Wednesday, on a Thursday and on a Friday over a three week period (I never tried on a Monday or Tuesday as I had alway heard that it was impossible to get through on those days). How could it be more impossible than never getting through!

After calling again, and again, and again and again (I would call two half hour to 45 minutes periods each day and sometimes a third period). I finally searched out an old email address for UI and wrote them an email. A few days later I received a response from someone (not UI) that said that "UI does not accept email inquiries". AARRGGG!!!!

I wrote some letters to UI two years ago (because I couldn't reach a claims specialist by phone) and never received a response. Later I was told by two different people at UI that letters to UI are "never answered" and "are just thrown away".

Hmmm, I have now spent approximately 20 hours over a period of three weeks trying to ask a question of a UI claims specialist.

I'm sorry for this long vent but what are people who need answers supposed to do? Are there any suggestions?

[chadman154]

what your location? maybe i can help you find a job.

[germaine2626]

Originally Posted by chadman154

what your location? maybe i can help you find a job.

Thank you for your concern. I'm from the Milwaukee area. If that is your area please send me a Private Message.

[germaine2626]

Originally Posted by germaine2626

I have a vent.

I have a very important question that needs to be answered by the Unemployment Insurance office in Wisconsin. First I read the entire Handbook for Claimants, the question was not answered there. I called the numbers listed and kept calling and calling back for two 45 minute periods that first day.

Then I went online to their website. The question was not answered there. ...

After calling again, and again, and again and again (I would call two half hour to 45 minutes periods each day and sometimes a third period). I finally searched out an old email address for UI and wrote them an email. A few days later I received a response from someone (not UI) that said that "UI does not accept email inquiries". AARRGGG!!!!
...

Hmmm, I have now spent approximately 20 hours over a period of three weeks trying to ask a question of a UI claims specialist.

I'm sorry for this long vent but what are people who need answers supposed to do? Are there any suggestions?

Well, that old email address did the trick. Apparently it was forwarded to UI and they called me back yesterday. The claim specialist was able to answer my question.

I just hope that I never have to deal with UI again, as I think that all of that annoying & upsetting calling took a few years off of my life!

[suzy_q2010]

Germaine, while you are waiting to see if Chad can help, contact your governor's office and let them know the lack of response is unacceptable. It probably boils down to not enough bodies to handle the volume of inquiries, a result of budget cuts.

Do you have the option of walking into an office and talking to someone in person?

By the way, what is your question?

Edited to add: I see our messages crossed. Notifying the governor's office might help others in the long run.

[jlawrence01]

It is always better to show up in the local office - face to face.

[JoshB]

Due to recent unfortunate circumstances I've lost my job. Allstate Insurance closed the doors in Cross Plains... Anyways I did what most people probably don't do, I called at 7:45 am. That's when they open and the hold time is literally zip. No reason why people need to wait till say 3:00 in the afternoon. By that time you can wait till the next day. Keep that in mind if you're trying to reach someone at UI. We had a benefits specialist come to Allstate to help us understand how it works, she had quite the attitude too. I've never been impressed by the UI staff. I agree the state needs to consider adding more bodies to the UI offices, heck even if it's only LTE I'd take it to have some modest income.

[germaine2626]

Originally Posted by JoshB

Due to recent unfortunate circumstances I've lost my job. Allstate Insurance closed the doors in Cross Plains... Anyways I did what most people probably don't do, I called at 7:45 am. That's when they open and the hold time is literally zip. No reason why people need to wait till say 3:00 in the afternoon. By that time you can wait till the next day. Keep that in mind if you're trying to reach someone at UI. We had a benefits specialist come to Allstate to help us understand how it works, she had quite the attitude too. I've never been impressed by the UI staff. I agree the state needs to consider adding more bodies to the UI offices, heck even if it's only LTE I'd take it to have some modest income.

I have called several days at 8:15 AM and have not been able to reach a specialist. I will try to call right at 7:45 AM the next time.

[germaine2626]

Originally Posted by suzy_q2010

Germaine, while you are waiting to see if Chad can help, contact your governor's office and let them know the lack of response is unacceptable. It probably boils down to not enough bodies to handle the volume of inquiries, a result of budget cuts.

Do you have the option of walking into an office and talking to someone in person?

By the way, what is your question?

Edited to add: I see our messages crossed. Notifying the governor's office might help others in the long run.

Originally Posted by jlawrence01
It is always better to show up in the local office - face to face.

It is my understanding that Wisconsin does not have any offices that are open to the public. Everything must be done by phone or their website..

Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions.

[JoshB]

I had to call unemployment on Jan. 2 to start my claim for my first week of unemployment. The system made me enter some data then finally got through to a person at 7:52. It does take patience. Good luck