Sooo…. after a month of waiting, my EI money arrived today. In the amount of 44 dollars.
Called Service Canada.
Service Canada told me that I only get 44 dollars because my work paid out my accrued vacation time when I left, so clearly I am rolling in dough and don’t need money.
I told them that I had used all my accrued vacation time and then some by the time I left, and that I’d actually had to work an extra day to pay off UNaccrued vacation paid to me.
They said my Record of Employment states otherwise.
I checked. Under the column for vacation pay owing at the end of employment, it says 548 dollars.
I was not given a check for 548 dollars, because that money wasn’t owing.
Service Canada says that’s not their problem – they have to go by what the ROE says and it says I have 548 bucks so I only get 44 from EI.
I called my employer.
The dyslexic boss wasn’t there, and the women who does the money doesn’t actually know HOW to do ROEs, so she can’t fix it for me.
Why do they leave the ROEs to the dyslexic?
So I have to wait for next week for this to be fixed.
Service Canada says that after three weeks of processing, they’ll be able to rectify the mistake and pay me the money they won’t pay me right now.
Fantastic.
If By Yes 
It’s nice that your job is still finding ways to screw you, and you don’t even work there any more. Here’s hoping they get in trouble for filing a false ROE to the government.
I know, it’s grand.
If it makes you feel any better, I’ve gone on mat leave twice as you know, and both times it was a screw-around (and my ROEs were perfect; I know, because I was the administrator, and I had to fill them out as my last task before I left work). Service Canada, sadly, are about the worst-named department in the government. In fact, I blogged about this with James: http://hmunday.blogspot.com/2008/05/service-is-four-letter-word.html
The one small mercy is that because you’re off work now, you are able to deal with this while babby is still on the inside. Because when you’re post-partum and lactating, Service Canada’s complete inability to do anything quickly will send you immediately into a storm of self-flagellation and tears.
I believe you. It’s bad enough dealing with them now as it is. Don’t forget, though, that I have to switch my medical leave to mat leave when the baby is born, so I’m sure some post-partum flagellating will ensue.
I’m going to ask a stupid question that you’ll know is coming from an American- what is EI? I think I know but I didn’t want to leave a comment reflecting that I really don’t…
It stands for Employment Insurance. It makes sense in a way, I guess… they’ve taxed my income all these years for EI, like I was paying for insurance coverage, and now I’m making a claim…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unemployment_benefits#Canada
I like how the Canadian government tries to run itself like a business. Service Canada, like our Postal System, runs a significant profit. Probably in part due to the fact that customer service – not so much their priority.
Ugh. I completely agree with Hannah. They make it way more complicated and drawn out than it ever should be. About the only thing worse than dealing with Service Canada figuring out your parental leave crap is dealing with Service Canada AND the Canadian Forces figuring out your husband’s parental leave crap at the same time. Twice the inefficiency and stupidity!
I hope it’s all resolved for you soon.
Oh gawd, I have a friend in the Navy so I know how incompetent the Canadian Forces can be…