How To Talk To A Real Live Person About Your Claim, Every Time You Call

[puppyduks]

Not sure if this is common knowledge or not but in case it could help anyone....

If you call the 800.827.1000 number during business hours to check the status on a claim or ask a question, the recorded message will tell you that all representatives are busy helping others and please try your call again later.

If you get up early in the morning and call before business hours, you can utilize the callback feature. At the prompt, select the option to leave your name and number and have a representative call you when it is your turn in line. Say your name and confirm your number and hang up. Then, KEEP YOUR PHONE HANDY until you receive a call back (I have even answered it dripping wet from the shower). It may show up as a restricted or unknown number, ANSWER THE PHONE. It will be a recorded voice telling you that there is a call for "Your Name". ACCEPT THE CALL. Then voila! Real live person. And they have almost all been super friendly, courteous and willing to help you get your concerns heard/questions answered.

They have never failed to call me back, and it is usually pretty fast, within a couple hours or so. MUCH better than waiting on hold or getting frustrated and upset by repeatedly calling in a futile effort to get through faster.

Hope this helps and that it is not simply redundant info. :)

[Mikemmlj]

Good to know, thanks.

[Berta]

I found that they do call back, usually right at the time they say they would but I hardly ever use the 800# because a real live person from VA last time I got this type of call, gave me some inaccurate info, and seemed to hardly understand how to find the current status of my claim.

Same problem with IRIS.

The inaccurate info, however ,I was able to check via the BVA.The 800 # told me I had an appeal at the BVA.

My appeal at the BVA was awarded in 2009. I had to get the General Counsel to get me the retro and that took many more months.

And one other claim I had was awarded just prior to BVA transfer in 2010.

I contacted the BVA ombudsman ,only to find, they too had gotten inaccurate info from the RO but confirmed no appeal there.

The director of my VARO looked at my PC screen Wednesday while on the phone with me, and confirmed what should there, but two other things are there that shouldn't be.

This is why some of us here call the 800# "Peggy".

Edited February 13, 2015 by Berta

[Fat]

Good information.

[Notorious Kelly]

Thanks for the tip!

[Vync]

If you do call the number and elect to wait on hold, instead of getting the call back, they usually say your estimated hold time is like 30 minutes, but most of the time I spend 2 to 3 hours on hold.

[Notorious Kelly]

Their phone menu recording of longest wait time is probably set at 30 minutes so, even if it's clear the wait is hours, the max it will ever say is 30 minutes.