AURORA, Colo. -- Frustration with Colorado's unemployment office appears to be mounting.

Last week, a glitch in the system meant hundreds on unemployment didn't get paid on time.

This week, the phone system is overwhelmed.

The Department of Labor said it is experiencing unprecedented volume – 4,000 to 5,000 calls a day. That means you will wait if you're trying to call.

While most don't have a problem waiting, it's not getting through at all that's so infuriating.

For Steve Seier, it became more than an annoyance.

"I probably called it 50 to 60 times (last) Monday. Another 50, 60 times on Tuesday and again Wednesday," said Seier.

Like thousands of others, Seier was recently laid off and he needed to talk to someone at Colorado's unemployment office to get paid.

He finally got fed-up, called the appeals line and the operator transferred him into the cue.

"If it hadn't been for that lady on the appeals line, whoever she was, I'd still be trying to call in that number yet today," said Seier.

Mark Cherry on the other hand is still waiting. "If you need a human being, you're going to wait three, four hours maybe," said Cherry.

And he's getting what he calls "the run-around."

"I filed for unemployment and unemployment told me to file for unemployment in Virginia," said Cherry. He moved to Denver from Virginia seven months ago

So he filed in Virginia.

"They sent me paperwork back saying that I had to file here," Cherry said.

The unemployment office told 7NEWS this is the best it can do.

"Our workload today is almost twice where we were a year ago at this time. (That) is an incredible strain on the system," said Department of Labor spokeswoman Cher Haavind.

Seier believes the service needs to change. "As far as the contact numbers and needing to talk to somebody, obviously it's horrible," she said.

The Department of Labor said your best bet is to call later in the week, and avoid calling on Mondays and Tuesdays when call volume is heaviest.

If you don't have a specific question for a representative, you can file online. You cannot file in person.

The department said it is constantly trying to improve on its service.

Because of the sheer number of calls, the Department of Labor added 23 staff members in October. It also has 10 temporary staff members helping out, including some retirees who volunteered to come back.