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Comment by michaelochurch | Hacker News Reader

What creeps me out is that there are now salary databases that people can use to see someone's prior salary history, job titles, and (in some cases) details of separation. It shouldn't be legal for those to exist, nor for companies to use them.

I actually checked myself in one ("The Work Number") in 2012 and it had an accurate title and salary history, which I hadn't made public. Scary, creepy stuff going on. How the fuck are they able to know that?

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If you have information in The Work Number, it means your employer gave it to them. Employers do this because it allows them to outsource income verification.

I know of no way to opt out of it other than quitting. Also, while income information can only be accessed if you consent, collection agencies can get accounts that allow them to see the home address you have on file with them.

So are you saying that companies can't get income information on, say, prospective job candidates?

According to Equifax, you need to give someone a code you generate at their website in order to release their income information. They're careful not to mention their sale of data other than income information to debt collectors, though.

> How the fuck are they able to know that?

This is a good question, that I'd like to see answered too -- if anyone here knows.

On a related (only to me) note: Is there any way that I can set a watcher on your comment to notify me if there is a response to it?

I'm just guessing, but they could be using info that was obtained when a user was trying to get a loan. Typically, your info is sent to multiple lenders so you can get the best rate. Somebody could be collecting the info somewhere along the line.

It looks like it's part of Equifax, which also does credit reports -- they already have name, address, social, etc. Not sure how they would get the salary info, though, unless the company or the IRS disclosed it.

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