I have 2 weeks to pay back $3300 of unemployment compensation

[undeterred]

I got the "bill" today. Long story short, I lost my job in March, my employer contested my unemployment compensation after I'd been collecting it, and they won. I did everything in my power to fight it and didn't win a thing. Its apparently fairly easy for companies to get out of.

And of course I can't pay it back in 2 weeks. Its a reminder that if I lose the job I have now, I'll get nothing. Its a reminder that there is no safety net out there, that I have no health insurance, that I'm still behind on bills, and that employees have no rights.

Funny thing is, everyone I work with is also stressed out about money, and afraid of losing their job. I guess we're just supposed to be happy the corporations will have us under their roof a few hours a week.

[fizzgig]

1. two weeks?

how in the hell do they expect you to do that?

i am so sorry you're having to deal with this :hug:

[kedrys]

2. That sucks large

I hope you come out okay - that's just not fair.

[supernova]

3. Horrible

:hug: undeterred.

This is exactly the reason I have not collected unemployment. I don't want anyone saying I don't deserve my money, even when I really and clearly do.

[prolesunited]

4. Did you consult an attorney or legal aid clinic?

Can you file an appeal? Did you contact anyone about a payment plan? I'm sure you're not the only one this happened to or can't pay immediately?

[undeterred]

7. at the beginning i had a law student

thats when i should have had a real atty... I had a real atty help me write the appeal, but I lost. I felt it was pointless to appeal again, and they could make me pay court costs for filing a frivolous suit. It was vicious and personal. I am pretty sure that they will let me make a payment plan but I have so many of those I can hardly keep track. Its depressing, it feels like a lot of pressure.

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. A frightened workforce is a compliant workforce. It's what they want.

I hope that things work out!

[undeterred]

8. thanks- you're right about the compliance

one of my male co-workers was practically in tears today because they screwed up his paycheck.... for some reason they cancelled his direct deposit and sent it to a bank he doesn't use any more. So his automatic debits bounced and he got overdraft charges and had no money.. Well we are contractors but he told the customer because he was upset- and then our agency got really mad and threatened to fire him because it makes them look bad. We are never supposed to say a word about anything if there is a problem, just be pleasing little robots.

[undeterred]

6. the whole thing sucks

and theres nothing I can do but pay it, and it will take me a long time

[truedelphi]

9. This sucks. I am so sorry that it is happening.

I had a grievance filed against me here in California by the Unemployment People.

It somewhat cheered me when a neighbor let on that a similiar thing had happened to her - and that the woman in charge of all of it was a daughter of a bigtime California mob guy. (I'd already had the be-jesus spooked out of me and what not by being told that I had conspired to cheat the California government out of precious dollars and that they would see that I spent sixteen years in jail.)

I say appeal it. Those type of agencies are always cocky and often make mistakes that will be reversed in court.

[undeterred]

11. I spent weeks writing an appeal

and lost. I have no faith in the system at all any more.

[Wcross]

10. How could anyone, who had been recently unemployed, pay that?

Ok, you lose your job & have to wait for weeks until your first unemployment check arrives. Unemployment is typically half of what you made (or less) and you are supposed to have an "extra" 3300 dollars laying around?
What are they going to do if you can't come up with it? I hope you can come to terms with them. It would be a kick in the knutz for me to scrape up that kind of money that quick.

[undeterred]

12. I don't have nuts, but I can imagine.

And the thing is, its my unemployment comp, right? I mean, what's the point? Pay it back so its there for me?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

13. Call them to make payment arrangements...

Surely they must be willing to do that?

I'm so sorry... :hug: