Day 30 - Guest Blog - Ashley's struggle with EI
My sister Ashley recently had some struggles with EI. It was reminiscent of some of the funny struggles I've been having lately. I asked her to recant it on the blog, as I think my readers will find it amusing.
In Ashley's words:
As you may or may not know I went for surgery back in November. I had a week off work. I was told I might be able to collect EI since I don't get sick pay. So I did and to my surprise they approved me. Great! I thought extra money that I wasn't counting on in my pocket. I also thought wow that was easy (which was a lie as it turns out).
So I waited three weeks after my approval notice and still no money. I went and saw the client care representative in Embrun (he's only there on Wednesdays) He told me that the hold up was on my social insurance number my mother's maiden name was listed as Nicholls. I explained that this is her married name. When I filed I had put the correct name but their files had it as Nicholls. The client care rep said well here's what we will do. We will just pretend that the maiden name is Nicholls, so every time you fill out a report when they ask what is your mother's maiden name write down Nicholls. So he wrote in his little notes that everything was correct. He also said I should receive my money in five days.
After two weeks of not getting it, I went back. He couldn't remember who I was, so I explain the situation. He look up my file and said "hhmmm, I see what the problem is" I said “what is it?" He tells me that my reports are late. I ask what reports and he can not tell me. He says my account has been deactivated, and I must re apply. So I spend the hour and reapply. The question comes up what was your mother's last name before she got married (mother’s maiden name) so I do as I am told and put Nicholls. He said perfect keep checking online and you should get an answer soon. I checked everyday for a week. All it said was "processing Claim". Than another week goes by and I get a letter stating that my mother's maiden name is incorrect. They ask me to sign the top of my application and send it back, which I do. I wait a few weeks.
I am still checking online and seeing the same message “processing claim" Than all of sudden the message changes to "account deactivated please re-apply" So I do. A week later I get the same letter. I sign it and send it back. I still have not been paid. So I decided to go back to the client care. Once again he doesn't remember me, I explain my situation calmly. He says before he could do anything I need to reactivate my account. I am pissed off by this point but fill in my claim all the same. He tells me come back next week regardless I'm curious to see what's going to happen. So I left.
A few days later I get the same letter at both addresses, I make a copy of both and sign them and send them off. I go back to the client care. He remembers me this time and He swore a lot, he was so mad that they weren't listening to him. So he says I'm filling an urgent message. If you don't get paid by next Wednesday, come back and bring your birth certificate and we will change it as soon as possible. No money, so I go back to him. I get everything corrected so I should have no more problems. I was being asked to re-apply but I was told not to and that they were putting me on a must call list. I told them I wanted to file a complaint which they help me fill out. I was waiting for my call Thursday nothing, Friday nothing, Monday oh my god a phone call. After going through my problem, she says I'm going to go through everything with you if it is not correct please tell me and we will fix it. The very first question what is your mother's maiden name? I give the real answer and it was correct it was the same one she had on her records. Then she states my address I tell her its K4R 1E5 not 1E7. She says we found the problem. We couldn't processes anything until you verified your address. She says very proudly" YOU WILL HAVE YOUR MONEY IN TWO BUSINESS DAYS". I replied with "four months and that's all it was?" she said yeppers. I hung up with her so excited about finally getting word that I will be getting my money. Later it dawned on me. If my address was wrong how were you able to send me all those letters?
In Ashley's words:
As you may or may not know I went for surgery back in November. I had a week off work. I was told I might be able to collect EI since I don't get sick pay. So I did and to my surprise they approved me. Great! I thought extra money that I wasn't counting on in my pocket. I also thought wow that was easy (which was a lie as it turns out).
So I waited three weeks after my approval notice and still no money. I went and saw the client care representative in Embrun (he's only there on Wednesdays) He told me that the hold up was on my social insurance number my mother's maiden name was listed as Nicholls. I explained that this is her married name. When I filed I had put the correct name but their files had it as Nicholls. The client care rep said well here's what we will do. We will just pretend that the maiden name is Nicholls, so every time you fill out a report when they ask what is your mother's maiden name write down Nicholls. So he wrote in his little notes that everything was correct. He also said I should receive my money in five days.
After two weeks of not getting it, I went back. He couldn't remember who I was, so I explain the situation. He look up my file and said "hhmmm, I see what the problem is" I said “what is it?" He tells me that my reports are late. I ask what reports and he can not tell me. He says my account has been deactivated, and I must re apply. So I spend the hour and reapply. The question comes up what was your mother's last name before she got married (mother’s maiden name) so I do as I am told and put Nicholls. He said perfect keep checking online and you should get an answer soon. I checked everyday for a week. All it said was "processing Claim". Than another week goes by and I get a letter stating that my mother's maiden name is incorrect. They ask me to sign the top of my application and send it back, which I do. I wait a few weeks.
I am still checking online and seeing the same message “processing claim" Than all of sudden the message changes to "account deactivated please re-apply" So I do. A week later I get the same letter. I sign it and send it back. I still have not been paid. So I decided to go back to the client care. Once again he doesn't remember me, I explain my situation calmly. He says before he could do anything I need to reactivate my account. I am pissed off by this point but fill in my claim all the same. He tells me come back next week regardless I'm curious to see what's going to happen. So I left.
A few days later I get the same letter at both addresses, I make a copy of both and sign them and send them off. I go back to the client care. He remembers me this time and He swore a lot, he was so mad that they weren't listening to him. So he says I'm filling an urgent message. If you don't get paid by next Wednesday, come back and bring your birth certificate and we will change it as soon as possible. No money, so I go back to him. I get everything corrected so I should have no more problems. I was being asked to re-apply but I was told not to and that they were putting me on a must call list. I told them I wanted to file a complaint which they help me fill out. I was waiting for my call Thursday nothing, Friday nothing, Monday oh my god a phone call. After going through my problem, she says I'm going to go through everything with you if it is not correct please tell me and we will fix it. The very first question what is your mother's maiden name? I give the real answer and it was correct it was the same one she had on her records. Then she states my address I tell her its K4R 1E5 not 1E7. She says we found the problem. We couldn't processes anything until you verified your address. She says very proudly" YOU WILL HAVE YOUR MONEY IN TWO BUSINESS DAYS". I replied with "four months and that's all it was?" she said yeppers. I hung up with her so excited about finally getting word that I will be getting my money. Later it dawned on me. If my address was wrong how were you able to send me all those letters?
posted by Jen_n_Jake at 7:39 AM
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