Virginia Employment Commission

ZERO STARS - I've been trying to get in touch with a LIVE person since July 2020. I went unemployed for 3 months, never receiving a dime. All while doing my required responsibilities and trying to find a great job. In October, I found a great job - still have yet to receive any back pay. I've emailed this place, I've called all the 1-800/1-866 numbers and you literally get NOWHERE. If I can work in office, so can you - I hate this process. Get with the times and update your system, call back numbers and options are literally everywhere but with the VEC.

I need my PIN to file online. The PIN has not arrived in the mail. I tried to call but that requires a PIN... which I don't yet have. Seems I can't call and get assistance to get my PIN because I do not have my PIN that I need to get assistance. This is crazy... I can't do anything without my PIN and that has not arrived in the mail. I guess I must wait and hope it does arrive someday. This is crazy... there is no way to get assistance with this issue. I imagine many people are suffering with simple problem.

Never had problem just got to have patience and email your home office. Just got contacted 2 times in one day Thanks

Thirteen weeks I have yet to receive a single penny of PUA only to find out this week my account was suspended. Have yet to hear back from anyone at the VEC let alone get a hold of them. This is unacceptable and no wonder they got sued.

I’ve called total 58 times no answer except call back later. Called early morning and late afternoon doesn’t matter. Been calling for two weeks. Same message. Got a different number to call and was on hold for two hours no answer. Did that twice. It’s ridiculous. Update: I maintained submitting claims each week since March 13th. All claims were excepted. Haven’t received a dime. This week it’s claiming I can’t file? I’ve changed nothing. I have a email which states that I didn’t need to reapply. What a disaster. No wonder the VEC is getting sued.

I just recently got approved for UI, I was sent a pin and I filed my weekly claim with my pin. I’ve filed for two weeks now and seen nothing. I’ve been trying to get through to a live person for days to no avail. If they do answer, they cut the phone off and block your number. I can’t call the Hampton or Portsmouth office nomore coz my number was blocked. Bunch of lazy people they have working there. All they do is hide behind their desks and do what they’re told even if it violates our rights. Bunch of sheep. Now my balance has gone ffrom whatever they offered me to 0$ after I was approved and filed two weeks. Automated machine says I have 0 balance. How, this is the first ever time I’m filing for unemployment in my life. And also apparently there’s an outstanding issue on my claim, which no letter has been sent or email but yet I’m the one that has to call to find out what’s going on and even that gets nowhere. Just embarrassing really. Why are the corporations never for the people? This is an embarrassment to the nation , judging what’s going on. Shame of yall. Yall couldn’t give a damn if families die of starvation or result to non traditional ways just to feed their kids. All because you people want to hide behind your desks and not do your jobs, but getting paid . Sort it out , this is embarrassing

Poor customer service.No call back No email response.All the Poor reviews cant be wrong.

I have been trying to get an answer to one question for nearly 4 weeks It is impossible to communicate with a live person; I've sent e-mails and made numerous attempts at phone calls to no avail!! I am getting a message that that my claim cannot be processed due to an outstanding ISSUE. What is the issue and how can I rectify it! I drove to the Norfolk office today only to find it CLOSED!! PLEASE HELP

I was able to email them and get the answer u needed.

Had an issue when covid hit it took three months to get any human response and that calling every day. A year into the pandemic I called to get a issue fixed and same stuff left a message as directed by the answering machine. That was three weeks ago. If you e mail them (if they respond at all) it is very aggressive and like your a inconvenience to them. Call a different city because this one sucks.

Unemployed 10 weeks. No contact. No response. No assistance. Nothing. People are in need. Our state leaders are failing us. UPDATE: I spoke to a PERSON today on 2/9/20. My unemployment claim is STILL processing. NOTHING has been done regarding my claim. As per the person I spoke to, there is no email or phone contact of anyone who can help me.

I have never in my 35 years of life....been provided multiple phone number, emails, and live chat. And EVERY single Option is a Failure. I have been trying to simply speak to someone on the phone. Even if my problem isn’t addressed (haven’t been paid for 2 months), could I at least get a live person on the phone. It’s clear at this point that they do not want to be reached. At this point they are aware what’s going on and that people are trying to reach them. You can’t get anyone on the phones ever. No one is in the office ever. The glass is barricaded so you can’t see in it. They hide in the back...I mean really lol. You can’t make an appt without reaching a representative. So back to square 1....let’s just sweep it under the rug like nothings happening

Everytime I call I can never get a worker on the phone, and the voicemail is always full. How is this good customer service????

If you ever get in contact with these ppl handle your business get your information then tell off about themselves

I filed for unemployment on July 24 2020 and have not even talked to a Deputy about my claim which is code 20 from a previous employer who did this out of spike and the one person there could help me died of COVID 19 in October 2020 but I can’t even tell my story which is a very simple mixup, I got COVID 19 from my new job 6 weeks after working because it was a pandemic in the building that I found out through The Health Department after catching that HORRIBLE VIRUS!Well long story short I was fired because my doctor said I couldn’t go bat until my Symptoms were all clear but my job fired me so still waiting on unemployment but remember the Government has put money in place but the Unjustified lying evil stealing people that don’t work has received our money through our American government! I’m over this bull????

I have been unemployed since March when we shut down. I’ve had no issues until now, I’m trying to ensure I’m doing everything correctly as I am still out of a job. I have called and emailed daily to every single email and number I could find. I have received ZERO help, I haven’t gotten one response. I understand how overwhelmed they are right now, but there’s no reason anyone should go this long with absolutely no response!

They don't answer any calls. All I needed was my PIN so I can get a copy of my 1099-G so I can pay taxes. They are unresponsive, have very poor customer service. Unprofessional. They couldn't care less. If I can put zero stars I would.

Would help more if i could talk to someone but do to covid-19 you can't. I have questions i need answering and no one to talk too. I think to make thing's better and easier on people they should have stayed open.

This place is worthless to someone needing help with their claim the automatic phone system is not any better I sent emails two weeks ago with no response. I am seriously considering contacting Wavy tv 10

call line hangs up on you, live chat doesn't work, site design from 1997 too confusing to navigate and all their offices are closed. that's the point though. they want you to go back to work.

I've been approved, received one week of pay and have been claiming for 5 weeks I cannot reach anyone and have not received anything. I know I'm not the only one, but we need help, I have to understand why I'm not receiving money that I desperately need. I've called and called and emailed still nothing, I cannot reach anyone. Please help us.

10 weeks.. calling 20 times a day.. still no answer.. Fk these people.

I know you guys are going through it at all, but you guys need a system update badly... No call backs, poor email responses... I got a letter saying to call you guys, and when I did I was told the opposite... I'm going to send a letter, and I hope you guys give me a response.

Office is not open. There is a phone number to call that will lead you through prompts to another phone number, which leads you through another series big prompts to the first phone number!?!?????

Can not find a human to answer my question...how do I get a pin...mine never arrived...can check my account to find out anything???

I have given my name and number several times and no one has called me back. I started my initial claim a month ago and have not received any money. I understand that they are busy, but why can’t someone actually help when I finally get them on the phone? This is unprofessional and unfair to everyone. Suggestion: hire more people to increase efficiency of process and actually help people who call you.

Although this office was closed, they had helpful information readily available versus the other closed offices did not have anything.

Very unfortunate that the building is closed, but there are people in need of assistance.

I originally filed for unemployment on July 21st. Despite working in a computer related field for over 20 years, and filling out the entire form correctly, there was no email sent saying it was successful, no email saying it wasn't successful or any letter in the mail with a pin. After 10 days, I attempted to talk with a live person on the website, kept getting queues of 80-120 people ahead, then getting knocked out of queue. Then I tried the customer service number, talked with a woman in Richmond that had no information but to suggest I physically go into the Norfolk office, but of course you can't because of Covid. Then she suggested calling them but you get a voicemail message telling you to email. SO, I immediately email, but never get any response at all. 2 and half months later I spoke with a representative on Friday, Oct. 2nd, saying that my claim from July 21, 2020 did not go through after discovering on Google reviews about an unlisted calendar to talk with a live person at the VEC. No apology I had to wait 2 1/2 months to get a response. She told me to refile. I did so just after our call. Most of the time spent with me was trying to suggest I'm computer illiterate or something and didn't fill out the form all the way, despite me being clear I'd gotten to the end where you download pdfs or print them of your rights, then the notice to expect the pin letter in the mail within 7-10 business days. I submitted the claim for unemployment on 10/02/20 and haven't received a pin or benefit determination. The website says that I am monetarily ineligible. I have read on Google that this is not the case when it is listed as such but rather means the case is pending. That's a bit confusing. Even more so, I received a text message from 91908, saying "VEC: You have filed an unemployment insurance application (IU). You must file a continued, weekly claim in order to receive payment. VEC recommends you do this on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday of each week if you remain unemployed and want to be paid for the prior week." It goes on to tell me I can do so by phone or at the website, however, when I call or go online to do so, it's asking for my pin, which I haven't received via mail or any other means. So, clearly you can't file or do much of anything without the pin they require and fail to send. This is a bit disturbing, illogical, and as I've been doing weekly job searches (I was told Friday on the phone this has been waived due to Covid, but I'm doing so anyway, because I do want to get back to work!) I am striving to comply with the rules. However, this seems to be cart before the horse. I can't comply with something that requires a pin that I don't have, and the last time I emailed months ago I never got a response, then had to go to Google reviews on VEC to find out about a calendar to meet someone on the phone, 2.5 months later. I never experienced anything like this the 20 years I moved and lived in Texas. This is clearly the most overwhelmingly incompetent government administration that could exist. I highly recommend everyone consider the fact that our state is run by Democrats nearly 100%, and this is the service we get, despite the FACT that Norfolk alone collects over 1 billion more in tax revenue a year than Irving, Texas does with a nearly identical population. Residents here deserve far better...and if the Democrats in charge can't do the job, use your vote to change it. I would never wish this nightmare on anyone, and for those reading this, I wish you good luck in surviving and getting back to work.

I was approved, sent a card and pin, only to have my claims not be processed. I was told a deputy would contact me months ago and still haven't heard from them. There's people who answer the phone when you finally get through who can't give you any information on how to resolve the problem, they give you numbers for automated systems that only tell you how to file claims. This whole process screams pyramid scheme, Most of us will practically lose everything behind a pandemic we didn't create while we are being treated like we are not affected by it. its disappointing to see the lack of compassion from vec as a whole. I spend hours trying to get through to resolve a issue that would take all of five minute's to correct but nobody i talk to can even tell me what the issue is which leaves me completely helpless and oblivious to the resolution

Sign me up I’ll take their job because the clowns don’t know how to do it.

Worst unemployment office EVER. Never had this problem in NC. Filed in June got approved yet $0 have been sent. This is beyond unacceptable. Every forum will be aware of this by next week.

This is actually sad ive had an outstanding issues with these people from march well march is almost here again and haven't got a hold of anyone Virginia is the only state thats having this problem ???????? i dont know what to do any luck getting a hold of someone

In general, there asking for the money back that I got while on unemployment. I claimed for only one month ,the month of April, becasue my job was a restaurant type job and they had closed down due to the covid 19 virus. My work said I could apply for it. I got a job at a different place and stopped claiming way before I got paid from the other job. I have sent it 6 letters of appeals and got nothing back. So have fun to the people that are on unemployment. They might ask for the money back from you. UPDATE from a YEAR LATER! So they put my claim to be my last job not the one that you know closed down from covid! But the only reason I claimed was becasue I was working at the bakery at the time. I have an appointment with the appeals. But when I tried to register my phone online you know with the website they gave me. Surprise surprise it didn’t work! So I tried calling then and surprise surprise they didn’t pick up. I live in a different state now! I am married now! Maybe get back to your people not a year later. Hopefully I can get ahold of someone so I can make my hearing with the appeals office but at this point I’m gonna have to pay them back.

Not even sure why the freak they have a unemployment office. No one answers the phones and they are not willing to help you at all when you finally do get a person!! Our government at its finest avoiding the people!

Called the number said they are closed!!!! So confusing said to call the customer service number no one ever answers!!! This is ridiculous

I have been unemployed since may 8th & I’m continually filing claims and not receiving any payment I have contacted you all through may sources via phone and email and I still haven’t been contacted back. This has been my last opinion to get some help.I’m currently job seeking but I’m unable to take care of my finical needs due to the inconvenience I would appreciate if someone could help figure out what going on & why I haven’t received any payments

I can't get thru to anyone at any of the local locations. Twice I have entered D ed my weekly certification and only one shows up and I didnt receive my unemployment compensation. Poor poor poor customer service. I even emailed them with no response.

No numbers work to speak to a representative. No way to address claim problems. I applied in March and have gotten $0. Where did tbe chat option go?

Filling up for UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS since May 2020. No money, no one to talk to

Worst service ever!!!!! I have emailed this office 4times in three weeks and have yet to receive any response. Don’t try calling because you’re never going to get through to talk to anyone. I’ve called every day for three weeks and all I ever get is, everyone is busy call back.

Phone rang at least 30 times .. a lady finally answered and acted like she couldn’t hear me “hello? Hello? It is just horrible.. they are considered necessary workers and they are not doing their job! So frustrating! And the actual office isn’t open. I don’t get it? Why are they getting paid?! While we sit in frustration!!!????

All anyone needs to do is go down the line of reviews below mine and you'll read exactly what has been happening to me as well. I am not a person to write negative reviews, this being my first, however we're talking peoples live here. The automated phone systems provide no assistance and absolutely no option to speak to a representative. Since the beginning this phone system has stated my claim hasn't been processed because of a problem. Obviously someone at VEC knows what that problem is but apparently has decided contacting me for resolution is not the way to go. Not really sure why someone would begin working a person's claim and then stop, it would seem easier to finish with one claim then simply move to the next...rinse and repeat. Maybe if it were done that way it wouldn't take weeks, or months, to complete a person's claim and either get them paid or at a minimum let um know they don't qualify. But then...what do I know...

if ya'll are unemployed and think they are doing a bad job you can always apply for a job at the vec. i know nobody actually WANTS to be unemployed right? or i know they are hiring to help after this is over and they bring in internal investigations to review all the pua claims and wether everyone recieving it was actually laid off due to the pandemic which is the only reason you should have applied. so good luck to everyone when they take your taxes to pay it back lol

Joke of an agency. Takes months to hear back from them. By then your homeless

I initially received benefits and got a lump sum in back paid weeks earlier this month. And it’s been 2 weeks since. And I haven’t received any payment. I do not know what my pin is to use the automated service. Tried calling but CANNOT get through. Has anyone else had any issues with receiving payments this month?

Great service, very friendly people, fast and courtesy

If I could give negative stars they would gey 100 of them... Filed in April still hanot received a dime... Call just to be hung up on by a recording.... It's a bad situation and vec is not able to handle a damn thing.... We need help please

They finally got their stuff together and started dealing out funds, I'm content with their services. *2021 update they're doing it again. The syst6em lets me claim under the new extended legislation but no fund have been transferred.

Loud talking in there... which makes it hard to focus