“The card itself is a joke,” Fishman said. Say you need to pay rent or mortgage. You must either withdraw cash at an ATM or set up a transfer to a separate bank account, which might take a day to two, viewers said. California’s unemployment debit card is more than just a sluggish inconvenience, it’s an Achilles heel. Unsuspecting applicants like Paloma Dooley received stacks of cards. “Six debit cards,” she said has she hoisted a pile of envelopes. “None of them are mine, because I’ve had mine since March.” Fraudsters tricked the EDD’s application system, got their hands on countless debit cards, and bilked the state.