How Does Experian Employment Verification Work?

Experian checks the core data points that prove you actually worked where you claim.

• Full legal name and Social Security Number to match federal records.
• Date of birth for identity confirmation.
• Employer name, Tax ID, and address to locate the correct company (see the verification flow section).
• Job title and employment dates to confirm the tenure you reported.
• Compensation details (salary or hourly rate) when pay verification is requested.

Employers submit a verification request, Experian checks its Work Number database, and the result is returned to the employer almost instantly.

1. Employer initiates request - Through the Experian portal or API, the hiring company sends the applicant's name, Social Security number, dates of employment and the employer's Work Number ID.
2. Candidate consent captured - The hiring firm obtains the applicant's permission during the application or onboarding process; Experian does not send a separate consent link.
3. Data lookup - Experian queries the Work Number database, which stores employment‑status information that participating employers have uploaded directly. No tax forms (W‑2, 1099) are accessed.
4. Match verification - Experian compares the supplied details with the employer‑supplied record, confirming status, dates, job title and, if authorized, salary.
5. Result delivery - The verification outcome - 'employed,' 'former employee,' or 'no record' - is sent back to the requester via the same portal/API, typically within minutes and rarely taking more than a few hours.

For exact timing expectations, see the next section on how long Experian verifications usually take. Experian Work Number service

Typically, Experian delivers the employment verification result within 1 - 2 business days after a complete request is received; if the submission lacks required details or triggers a manual check, processing can extend to 3 - 5 business days, while employers who use Experian's real‑time API often see the result in seconds, and most delays stem from the employer's side rather than Experian's system, especially during peak hiring seasons.

Employer usually pays the fee for an employment verification; candidates only cover costs when they use Experian's self‑service portal or request a copy of the report.

• Standard single‑verification price: roughly $5  -  $10 per check
• Premium or rapid‑response check: about $10  -  $15 per check
• Volume contracts: per‑check rate drops to $3  -  $6 after 100 + verifications (custom pricing)
• API or integration fees: a one‑time setup charge (typically $200  -  $500) plus a monthly platform fee (around $50  -  $100)
• Self‑service candidate request: $7  -  $12 per report, billed directly to the individual

For detailed pricing, see Experian's employment verification pricing page.

Give Experian your explicit, written consent before any check. Usually you receive a PDF or secure email with a consent form; fill in your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and the employer's name, then sign and return the document, or click the 'I consent' button in Experian's online portal. Experian stores the consent for the duration of the verification and discards it afterward, meeting FCRA requirements.

Once Experian has your signed permission, the employer's request moves forward automatically; you'll see a status update in the Experian employment verification portal. If you need to withdraw consent, contact Experian's support line or email the address provided on the form; the verification stops immediately.

You must give written consent before Experian runs an employment verification, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) protects both you and the employer during that process. The FCRA requires the employer to provide a clear disclosure, obtain your signed authorization, and, if any adverse action follows, give you a pre‑adverse‑action notice and a copy of the report so you can dispute errors.

You also have the right to request a free copy of the report within 60 days of the notice and to sue for damages if the employer or Experian violates these rules. Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) overview

For example, when you fill out a job application, you'll sign a consent form that states Experian may verify your past employers. If the verification shows a discrepancy, the employer must send you a written notice explaining the finding and your right to dispute it. You can then contact Experian directly, provide proof of correct dates or titles, and request a correction. Should the employer ignore the dispute and still deny you the job, you can file a complaint with the FTC or pursue legal action for FCRA violations.

Here are seven ways to speed up your employment verification with Experian.

• Gather pay stubs, W‑2s, and a government ID before you start the request.
• Enter the employer's legal name and full address exactly as Experian expects.
• Use the same email address your employer registered with Experian for faster matching.
• Click the consent link and authorize the verification within minutes of receipt.
• Verify that the Social Security Number, start date, and end date are entered correctly.
• Select the 'expedited' processing option if your subscription allows it.
• Contact the employer's HR team to confirm they have responded to Experian's inquiry.

To fix mismatched employment details with Experian, submit a correction request with supporting documentation.

1. Gather proof - Collect pay stubs, W‑2s, or an HR letter that clearly shows the correct employer name, dates, and position.
2. Log into the portal - Use the same Experian verification account you used for the original request (see the 'real verification flow' section).
3. Start a correction - Choose 'Dispute/Update Record,' fill in the inaccurate fields, and attach the documents you gathered.
4. Confirm consent - Verify that you've authorized Experian to review the new information; this satisfies the FCRA consent requirement discussed earlier.
5. Follow up - Experian typically processes corrections within 3‑5 business days. If you haven't received an update, contact support and reference the ticket number from step 3.

Employers can also initiate a correction on behalf of an employee; see the 'If you're an employer, submit verification to Experian' section for that workflow.

Employers upload the employee's signed consent and the required data directly into Experian's Employment Verification portal, then hit submit.

• Create a secure account at the Experian Employment Verification portal.
• Enter the employee's full legal name, Social Security Number, date of birth, and the exact dates of employment you need to confirm.
• Attach the consent form (the employee must sign the FCRA‑compliant release before you submit).
• Choose the verification type (basic employment, salary, or full‑time status) and confirm the fee - Experian typically charges $5‑$15 per request, billed to the employer.
• Click 'Submit'. Experian validates the information, contacts the prior employer, and posts the result to your dashboard within 1‑3 business days (see the 'how long Experian verifications usually take' section).

Once the result appears, download the PDF report or pull it via API if your HR system is already connected (the next step will show how to integrate verification into your HR software).

Employment verification with Experian plugs into your HR stack through the company's secure partner portal or approved SDK, not a public REST API. First, collect the applicant's written consent that meets the FCRA permissible‑purpose rules; without it the integration would be illegal.

Then log into the Experian employment verification portal (Experian employment verification portal), enable the API‑style endpoint your vendor provides, and map the consent‑validated fields - usually SSN, name, DOB, and employer‑ID - into the portal's request form.

In your HR software, add a 'Verify' button that triggers the portal's webhook or SDK call, passes the vetted data, and stores the returned status (match, partial, or no‑match) directly on the candidate record. Use the portal's response codes to drive automated actions: move a fully‑matched applicant to the next interview stage, flag mismatches for manual review, or reject if no match.

Because the integration respects FCRA consent and relies on Experian's private interface, it fits cleanly between the 'real verification flow' you read earlier and the later 'get verified if you're a contractor' steps.

Contractors and gig workers get verified the same way as traditional employees - by giving Experian the documentation that proves you performed paid work.

Provide the following items in the verification request (you can attach them as PDFs or images):

• Valid tax‑ID (SSN or EIN) that matches the name on the record
• Signed contract or gig agreement showing start and end dates
• Recent 1099‑MISC, 1099‑NEC, or payment ledger confirming earnings
• Contact information for the client or platform that hired you (e.g., Upwork, Uber)

Experian checks the tax‑ID, dates, and payer details against its database; if the data align, the employment verification returns a 'match'. The process usually takes 1‑3 business days, mirroring the timing discussed in the 'how long Experian verifications usually take' section, and the cost is billed to the requesting party as outlined in 'who pays and what verification costs'.

Once verified, you can reference the result when applying for new gigs or when a platform asks for proof of work, and you'll see how to embed this step into your HR software in the next section.