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EAST WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) — Sandi Bryan gave the state her two-cents worth over the five cents they claim she owes. When the Washington state Department of Employment Security notified her that she owed money for an unemployment compensation overpayment more than six years ago, she picked up the phone. She was being threatened with court action over a nickel. Bryan said she asked the state employee who took her call on a toll-free line whether she should mail in a nickel taped to a piece of paper.
"I said, 'Do you realize for this nickel, you paid an employee to type this ... (spent) 37 cents for postage, and you want me to pay for a money order and the postage?"' she said. The response was that the money had to be paid properly. Bryan said she was overpaid when she was on unemployment for about three months more than six years ago but thought she had paid it all back. That was until she got a notice dated June 18 that demanded payment of five cents, after which "the Superior Court warrant will be satisfied immediately." Employment Security spokeswoman Kristin Alexander said the overpayment notices are sent to about 70,000 people a month with the average amount about $1,000. "Typically we do require payment to be made in whole, (but) in the case of a nickel, we would usually make an exception," Alexander said. "Had she spoken to me, I would have taken a nickel out of my purse and paid it for her." | 
