The Work Number

Thanks for asking us here in the Community, @SRobinson14. I'd be glad to share an insight into how the Work Number works. 

The information from The Work Number is considered a consumer report under the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). That means that only Verifiers with a certified permissible purpose can obtain a consumer report from The Work Number. The Work Number credentials approve each verifier before they can request access to any of your employee’s info. 

Here's an article that will answer most of your questions about the Work Number: The Work Number® from Equifax FAQ's. 

Feel free to post again if you have additional concerns. I'm always around here to help you more. 

This is a ridiculous new "feature" from Quickbooks that compromises privacy of both me and my employees. Why am I not surprised that Intuit would once again offer a "feature" that exposes both of us to whatever next giant data leak you will have? You should have made this an OPTIONAL feature, not enabled by default. Why do I pay you people? Do mine my data? I am continually frustrated with your entire corporate culture, as if you really don't care about your customers, only how you can make more money from them. 

I use desktop payroll, and want to opt out.  I have fully updated my QB Pro 2021 and the payroll module.  When I go to update company preferences, as described in the referenced article, I find no Income & Employment section under the Company Preferences tab of HR & Benefits.  I've also checked under Payroll and Employees.  Not there either.  If I am not able to opt out by 7/31/21, will our data be automatically sent to Equifax?  I really want to opt out before Equifax has any more data on us than they already do.

(FYI, in case it's related, I'm also currently experiencing the unresolved issue many others have, where I've received notice to update certain payroll info by 7/31/21, but I'm missing the necessary "banner" in the Payroll  Center to do so.)  

Hello, Q-Buzz. 

I'd like to redirect you to our specialist, so this gets addressed securely. This may require confidential information, and they're the ones who can help us check on what we can do about it. Here's how: 

1. Go to Help, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
2. Select Contact Us.
3. Give a brief description of your issue, then select Let's talk. 
4. Choose a way to connect.

To make sure you'll get prioritize to your concern, please check the availability time of or customer support team. You can contact us every Monday to Friday from 8 AM - 6 PM. Also, phone support may be limited due to volume. 

If you need some references in the future, you can also check out our site: Help articles for QuickBooks Desktop.  

Keep me posted on how the contact goes or if there's anything else you need. I'm always around to help you out. Stay safe!

No.

I never was informed, asked or signed anything in regards to The Work Number, but Quickbooks has been giving them the amount I am paid every week along with the hours worked.  I'm assuming that they are monetizing this information at the expense of us employees.  In my opinion and considering that the make it mandatory to turn on location services on the app - this is a form of surveillance and feels very intrusive.  Especially without the knowledge or permission of the employees.  

No.

As an employee I was never informed, asked or signed anything in regards to this.  Also, in their article Get answers to questions about The Work Number® from Equifax (intuit.com), they specifically state that you do not have to inform your employees.  Considering that they make turning on location services mandatory to use the app, this sale of paycheck amounts and hours worked is very much a form of surveillance.  It is highly intrusive to see that The Work Number has since distributed this data to other companies, without my knowledge or permission.  In my opinion, it is blatantly unethical and I'm considering quitting now that I am aware of it. 

This is theft of company data, no permission was given and I have informed Intuit in the past I want no data transferred outside our company. I tried to change it and first it made me log into my intuit account and than told me I could not as I was not the primary admin, but I am. I contacted support, and eventually was told that QuickBooks support could not help me and I had to call another company. They would not comment at all on the fact the data was being stolen and in fact seem to be backing off the issue and blaming this other company. Like QuickBooks did not allow this, Right, I am sure they are getting kickbacks for allowing it.

I just found out how to turn it off in the Desktop version. Go to Edit at the top, click Preferences, click Benefits & HR, click Company Preferences, under Income and Employment Verification uncheck the box.

I am guessing this was in an update because I never signed up for Work Number, we keep getting garnishments for employees that worked for a short period over 5+ years ago. It has been ridiculous. I hope this will help us.

To inactivate in Quickbooks Online:  Go to Settings (gear in upper right corner), then to Payroll Settings.  Scroll down to Shared Data, and you will see the option to check or uncheck "Include automated income and employment verification powered by The Work Number from Equifax.