The Work Number is an Equifax database of employment and income records that employers, lenders, and others use to verify jobs and pay. You can request your Employment Data Report and dispute inaccurate employment dates, income, or personal information.
The Work Number is operated by Equifax Workforce Solutions. Employers that subscribe send it payroll data, and verifiers such as prospective employers, lenders, landlords, and agencies can use it to confirm where you worked, your dates of employment, and in some cases your income.
Why errors matter
Because the data comes from payroll systems, mistakes can follow you: a job listed under the wrong employer name, wrong start or end dates, incorrect income, or another person’s records in your file. A prospective employer that sees dates that do not match your application may question your honesty. A lender or landlord may see income that does not match what you reported.
Getting your report
The Work Number provides an Employment Data Report showing the employment and income information in your file and who has accessed it. According to the company, you can request it online, by mail, or by email, and you must verify your identity. Under § 1681g of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a consumer reporting agency must disclose the information in your file when you ask.
Disputing errors
The company says you can dispute employment dates, income information, and personal information in your file. When you dispute:
- Identify each item that is wrong and explain why.
- Attach proof, such as W-2s, pay stubs, offer letters, or IRS wage transcripts.
- Keep copies of what you send and when.
Under § 1681i, the consumer reporting agency generally must reinvestigate within 30 days and correct or delete information that is inaccurate or cannot be verified. The company also says you can place a freeze on your data so verifiers cannot view it.
If an employer relied on it
If an employer rejected you based on a Work Number report, the FCRA’s notice rules for employment reports, including a copy of the report before adverse action, can apply.
If an inaccurate Work Number record cost you a job or a loan, a free case review can help you understand your options, with no fee unless we win.
Related
Sources
- The Work Number: Employment Data Report
- The Work Number: Employee Data Dispute
- CFPB: List of Consumer Reporting Companies
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681g (Cornell LII)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681i (Cornell LII)
Updated November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.