When you apply for a software job in the US and go through a background check, most of your former employments are verified through The Work Number. As an employee, I'm not aware of a way to opt out of this data collection, and I assume if there is a way, it will surely make the future background check harder.
Now that they allow to look at your personal report, I went ahead, registered and requested a copy. This is just wow.
First of all, I noticed that American Express casually requests my report a few times per year. Well, I guess, if I lose my job, they will know soon! Besides Amex, the only other requests were the background checks when I actually applied for jobs, so everything else is fine.
But you know what else is there? All my fucking paychecks for all companies I used to work for here in the US. Nowhere in my employment agreements I did explicitly agree to my paycheck information to be transferred to Equifax, and yet, here we go.
Looking forward for the moment when all this data is leaked, because, you know, Equifax has some history [1].
Funnily enough, if you go to the FAQ, under the heading "Can I opt out of having my information on The Work Number?" it straight up starts with "No.", full stop and all.
Interesting, it looks like you can only get your own data, if you have an American postal address. So if you moved abroad (or never lived there), you can not get your data, even if they have it.
I'm sure there are ways around this. I'm not an American, and I was just trying to figure out whether they have data on me, because I used to work for American companies in the past.
If you worked for American companies from abroad, you probably filed W-8BEN and were considered a non-US person for all tax purposes, had no TIN and nothing was reported on you to Equifax or other credit reporting companies (e.g. Transunion or Experian).
If you filed W-9 as US person, you gave them a TIN, which in the majority of employment related cases is your SSN, and then they most likely reported your employment to Equifax.
Sure, not all good laws are given. Must take a good public campaign or maybe a big leak for the law like that to appear. I would think California will be one of the first states to adopt a law like that, similar to how they now forbid to ask about your current salary when interviewing you for a job [1].
I am a fan of Norways laws to make all tax returns public. Transparency is the best disinfectant.
Plus, now that job listings have to show pay range in many states (including California), it’s not too difficult to now figure out a likely annual payrate for someone.
Comments
When you apply for a software job in the US and go through a background check, most of your former employments are verified through The Work Number. As an employee, I'm not aware of a way to opt out of this data collection, and I assume if there is a way, it will surely make the future background check harder.
Now that they allow to look at your personal report, I went ahead, registered and requested a copy. This is just wow.
First of all, I noticed that American Express casually requests my report a few times per year. Well, I guess, if I lose my job, they will know soon! Besides Amex, the only other requests were the background checks when I actually applied for jobs, so everything else is fine.
But you know what else is there? All my fucking paychecks for all companies I used to work for here in the US. Nowhere in my employment agreements I did explicitly agree to my paycheck information to be transferred to Equifax, and yet, here we go.
Looking forward for the moment when all this data is leaked, because, you know, Equifax has some history [1].
[1]: https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds/equifax-data-breach-...
Funnily enough, if you go to the FAQ, under the heading "Can I opt out of having my information on The Work Number?" it straight up starts with "No.", full stop and all.
To be honest, at least they are not lying to you. Most big tech companies do the same and lie about it.
Interesting, it looks like you can only get your own data, if you have an American postal address. So if you moved abroad (or never lived there), you can not get your data, even if they have it.
Reason number xxx that I never plan to return permanently. The longer I'm away the more bonkers things seem there.
Oh, the form also expect you to have a US social security number and US mobile number.
There are mail-receiving companies that you can use. You can easily get your data if all you need is an American postal address.
I'm sure there are ways around this. I'm not an American, and I was just trying to figure out whether they have data on me, because I used to work for American companies in the past.
The main question is whether you have SSN or not.
If you worked for American companies from abroad, you probably filed W-8BEN and were considered a non-US person for all tax purposes, had no TIN and nothing was reported on you to Equifax or other credit reporting companies (e.g. Transunion or Experian).
If you filed W-9 as US person, you gave them a TIN, which in the majority of employment related cases is your SSN, and then they most likely reported your employment to Equifax.
Nowhere in US law does it say your employer has to keep any of that information private.
Sure, not all good laws are given. Must take a good public campaign or maybe a big leak for the law like that to appear. I would think California will be one of the first states to adopt a law like that, similar to how they now forbid to ask about your current salary when interviewing you for a job [1].
[1]: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml...
I am a fan of Norways laws to make all tax returns public. Transparency is the best disinfectant.
Plus, now that job listings have to show pay range in many states (including California), it’s not too difficult to now figure out a likely annual payrate for someone.
True. It's very funny how many employers will prevent employees discussing pay and then leak all the pay information to the panopticon.
Really? Anf if they took your paystubs, and posted them online? No problems? Nary a one?
Why is Equifax special?
Because they kind of did what you described and the reason the data never surfaced is either because it's too valuable or too worthless
Dear Equifax,
Add to my report that I said: You suuuuckkk!