Yes, you can opt out of The Work Number. Opting out means your employment and income information will not be automatically accessible through their system for verifiers.
When you choose to opt out, The Work Number will no longer serve as the automated source for third parties—such as banks for loan applications, prospective landlords for rental agreements, or new employers for background checks—to quickly verify your employment and income details. This decision shifts the responsibility of verification from an automated system to a more traditional, manual process.
Understanding the Opt-Out Process and Its Implications
While opting out grants you more control over your data, it's important to understand the practical implications for future verification requests.
- Manual Verification Becomes Necessary: If you opt out, any verifier seeking to confirm your employment or income will need to do so manually. This means they cannot simply access your data through The Work Number's automated system.
- Directing Verifiers: You will typically be responsible for directing these verifiers to the appropriate department within your organization—often Human Resources or Payroll—to complete their requests. For instance, employees at some organizations who opt out must direct all verifiers (such as banks, potential employers, or leasing agents) to a designated internal center (e.g., a payroll or HR department, or a specific shared service center like the UCPath Center for employees within the University of California system) to complete employment and income verifications manually.
- Potential Delays: Manual verification processes can take longer than automated ones, as they often depend on staff availability and internal processing times. Verifiers might experience delays in obtaining the necessary information, which could, in turn, affect the speed of your applications (e.g., loan approvals, housing applications).
Automated vs. Manual Verification: A Comparison
To better illustrate the difference, consider the following comparison:
| Feature | Automatic Verification (The Work Number) | Manual Verification (Opted Out) |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Instant, 24/7 access for authorized verifiers. | Dependent on business hours of your employer's HR/Payroll department. |
| Process | Automated, secure digital platform. Verifiers request data directly. | Manual, requires direct contact (phone, email) with your employer's department. |
| Information Source | The Work Number's database, updated by your employer. | Your employer's internal HR or Payroll records. |
| Effort for Verifier | Low; self-service, quick data retrieval. | Higher; requires direct communication, potentially multiple attempts. |
| Effort for Employee | Minimal; typically no action needed unless a specific dispute arises. | Required to inform verifiers and direct them to the correct internal contact. |
| Speed | Fast, can expedite applications (loans, rentals, employment). | Slower, may introduce delays in application processes. |
While opting out provides privacy by removing your information from The Work Number's automated database, it shifts the burden of verification to a less convenient, manual method for both you and the verifier.
