We welcome you to JobBank USA and hope your job hunting experience
is a pleasant one. We hope you find our resources useful.
May 1, 2007
JACKSONVILLE, FL. -- Imagine being unemployed and trying to find out the status of your unemployment check to no avail -- that has been a reality for one Jacksonville woman for the past week.
Luella Dunlap said she called an 800 number to find out what was happening with her money, but time after time all she got was an automated phone system.
"Hang up and try your call later," is the message Dunlap said she has been hearing when she calls for information about her income.
"Ten to 15 times a day and at all different times, from the morning to late at night, and I can't seem to get an answer," Dunlap said.
She was laid off a few months ago and said she has been looking for a new job since then, but she recently learned her unemployment payments have run out.
Since Thursday, she said she has called repeatedly, hoping to get through to a real person.
"I called to find out what was going on, and it said there was a zero balance. So, I tried to call to speak to somebody," she said. "It's been doing this for days, and I'd like to have an answer."
Channel 4's Laura Mazzeo made several calls to the same 800 number on Tuesday, and each time she too got the same message -- "hang up and call back later."
Spokesman Warren May told Channel 4 the unemployment call center is in Orlando and that they're getting more calls because unemployment claims are up 18 percent so far this year.
May said they're working quickly to improve customer service for Dunlap and others out there with the same frustration.
"We realize our call center needs to be beefed up … We've increased the hours the people are working there and we've also added staff positions in critical peak load times," May said.
For more information about the unemployment call center, visit FloridaJobs.Org, call the Agency For Workforce Innovation at 850 - 245-7105 or send e-mail to comments@awi.state.fl.us.
Email This Page!