Welcome to my world Ari4u!
I had the same quantity of attemps, I even tried day and afternoon, after I started calling at 7.55am I stay calling on redial until the menu changes (you know at the beginning says we open from 8am to 6pm, but when is 7.59am that changes to we have 4 options and bla bla bla), I called before and I memorize the numbers so I didn't have to wait to listen the entire menu options. (if I am not wrong: 1 for English, then 2 if I filed already, then 2 or 3 to make an appointment)
Yes they asked you several things, at the beginning I remember they asked my zip code, and then no we don't have appt. The next attempts I got further they asked me my last name, first name I even had to spelled it, phone number!!! everything A number...agg for at the end no no appointment, call again early in the morning. The feeling was just overwhelming.
My worst case scenario was at the beginning I was trying to book in ATL and the ASC is close for further appointments, but nobody was explaining this to me and I thought that I was too late to book which then I starting asking what happen if I can't make an appointment when is not my fault!!! They said that sooner or later I will book , yeah right. Later my husband called and he ask what happen if ATL is closed then they said that I can book in another state if I want to travel, WHY NOBODY TOLD US BEFORE!!!
Then in a forum on FP appointments I read that a person book in another state! So I made a list to the several places around ATL and called again and booked for AL on August. I tried again to see if ATL is open but not is still blocked for further appts. But it worked!
My case even don't appear on the status online at the website I called yesterday about it, cause is the second time and they office made a recall so they update and that my case should appear within 30 days in the website, even he said don't worry cause nothing really changes as far as I appear in their system I should not worry. That everything goes right after my FP & bio I should have my EAD in 2 weeks. I hope that is true cause I am cutting my vains on waiting and patience is not my strenght but I am developing it soo good!
good luck,