There is no reason whatsoever to give companies unfettered access to this information.

https://employees.theworknumber.com/employee-data-freeze/

If you are applying for a job and are told your employment cannot be verified, you can provide a paystub or W2. Do not mention anything about having your data frozen. Just play dumb.

Hey all, submitted a request to freeze through the online form submission on The Work number website.

The next day I got an email asking me to submit proof of identity (dl, w-2, utility bill, etc.) Which I immediately submitted the moment I got the email around 11 am last Friday.

I have an employment verification check through the work number being done on Wednesday evening.

Since today is a federal holiday, should I be safe by then? How long did it take for you guys to see an update on your TWN report that it was frozen?

The work number by equifax is a employee data collection system by one of the most corrupt credit report agencies. Equifax who had a massive data breach a couple years back and released many peoples personal info including ssn recently fired their employees who oe by illegally checking their own system randomly without permission to do a background check. Freezing your the work number account will stop them from releasing your employement data when requested. This is not a big deal when doing background checks as you can provide paystubs instead to verify employment.

Just look at what they are doing, they collect our data without permission, use it to make new products against us so the rich keep getting richer, then make it so YOU HAVE to request them not to report it. They will still keep collecting it without your permission.

Out of principle you should freeze your data. Make twn and other similar stuff useless so these companies go out of business. Regardless if you oe.

https://employees.theworknumber.com/employee-data-freeze/

If you call. They request your employer id number which you can google. Just search company name the work number, name, address, ssn, phone number and email on file with your current employer.

Just got a new J. I've seen you guys advise on freezing the work number. I've never done that before and I'm in the background check phase right now. I had to provide employment history (name, position, contact name, contact phone, employer address, dates of employment, reason for leaving). The background check is in progress.

my q is the title

Hi All,

Are there any negatives or annoyances that go along with freezing your TWN info?

Example: If I freeze my credit and go to get a home loan I have to unfreeze or temporarily lift the freeze. That would be an annoyance, but if it took considerable time (weeks/months) to lift it could be a problem.

Edit: I'm asking if there are any annoyances or downsides to freezing the TWN since it doesn't look easy to do or undo.
Edit 2: https://employees.theworknumber.com/employee-data-freeze/

I had no idea this site existed. It has every single job you worked, job dates, termination reason, phone numbers, current address, former address, social security number. All I had to do was create an account and select my employer. It's insane and apparently can be accessed at any time by anyone.

The Work Number is a database run by Equifax (yes, that Equifax) which basically collects every bit of data there is about your employment and employment history, such as your salary, employment history, current employer, whatever.

Prospective or current employers can use this to verify salary information and see your employment history or see if you're working multiple jobs.

This is very damaging to your salary negotiation power and also prevents you from clandestinely working multiple jobs at once if you want/need to (ianal but I'm 99% sure this is not illegal in the US unless you signed a contract explicitly preventing that! The HR handbook is not legally binding!). This database is essentially the Eye of Sauron but for employers.

Freeze your report!

If anyone knows if other credit bureaus or entities doing stuff like this, please post it in the comments.

So The Work Number (Equifax) is used to verify both employment status by employment verification status as well as by government agencies to determine eligibility for benefits?

Is this true?

At least what I'm seeing on the front page here:

https://employees.theworknumber.com/employee-data-freeze

Over the last few months, I’ve seen a lot of discussion online in regards to The Work Number. While doing research on this, I created a Compendium of everything TWN related.

• Step by step instructions on how to freeze your TWN

• Reasons to give when a recruiter asks about your frozen TWN

Please, if you don't know what the TWN is, please learn about it and freeze it! Even if you aren't lying or doing overemployment. For example, they've convinced QuickBooks to sell them data on how much money your small business makes.

Over the last few months, I’ve seen a lot of discussion online in regards to The Work Number. If you haven’t heard - this is sold by Equifax, to recruiters and verification services, to provide them with your past salary information, employment history, business income, etc.

While doing research on this, I created a Compendium of everything TWN related, including:

• Where does the data come from?

• Step by step instructions on how to freeze your TWN

• Reasons to give when a recruiter asks about your frozen TWN

Please, if you don't know what the TWN is, please learn about it and freeze it! Even if you aren't lying or doing overemployment. For example, they've even convinced QuickBooks to sell them data on how much money your small business makes. This is a living document, so bookmark it, this will improve over time.

I try to understand what the work number (Equifax-talx) is. Is this a kind of creditor as well as an employee verification site? I got a blocked inquiry from them (luckily I froze my credit, so they couldn’t do a hard pull inquiry on me). I called them and the representative had no idea. I am in the process of freezing the work number account, but not sure of the consequences from freezing it.

The work number if a freeze is placed there but a company had me sign an authorization form will that allow them to view a frozen report.

I am considering freezing my TWN, but I am wondering if there are any negatives people have experienced by doing so.

I understand that people freeze it for purposes that are beneficial for OE, but I am wondering if something has happened like:

1. You freeze your TWN and then your current job finds out and says this can’t be frozen if you are going to continue working for us.

2. A job offer you have accepted tries to run a background check using your TWN and because it’s frozen they approach you about it and say they will have to rescind the offer if they cannot check your TWN.

Any other possibilities would be nice to be aware of. This is not just limited to how it would effect OE. The more I read it the TWN website the longer I am seeing how this affects your credit etc. I am just trying to play devils advocate and see what the pros and cons of freezing it would be.

YSK about Equifax’s The Work Number that tracks your work and income history as a service for employers and creditors. The Work Number shows hire dates, pay, insurance, workers comp information, termination dates, and even reasons for terminations.

Why YSK: Multiple reasons you should know this but consider how your HR can easily lie to you because of this third party service. Your employer might say something to you like “we don’t disclose that information after you leave.” regarding terminations, pay, etc.. But your employer will use The Work Number and they will disclose that information and a lot more.
You can download your Work Number report for free and opt out by emailing them.

I just started j2 this week (this Monday to be exact) and haven’t frozen my Work Number yet.

I am interviewing for J2 now. Should I freeze TWN now or after I start J2? Would freezing it before raise red flags?