Relieving Date Mismatch: What to Do Next

Reviewed on: 2026-05-30.

If relieving date mismatch, collect the account, application, transaction, policy, property, employee, pension, scholarship or bill reference and send one precise written complaint to the office that can correct the record or release the money. Ask for a written reason if the request is refused or kept pending. Escalate with the same evidence bundle to HR/payroll team, finance team, EPFO or labour authority where applicable. Use RTI only for records held by a public authority: file movement, deficiency notes, dispatch records, sanction details, payment advice, inspection reports or reasons recorded on file.

Use the correct external forum. Use EPFO or the other official source linked below where it fits the subject. For consumer-service disputes, consider National Consumer Helpline and e-Daakhil. For public departments, CPGRAMS, state grievance portals and RTI may help. For high-value or time-sensitive cases, take professional advice before limitation expires.

• EPFO
• EPFO grievance portal
• CPGRAMS

• /practical-guides/
• /practical-guides/category/employment-and-payroll/
• /practical-guides/fixed-deposit-lien-not-removed-after-settlement/
• /practical-guides/hospital-refuses-medical-records-reasonable-time/
• /practical-guides/life-insurance-maturity-payment-delayed/
• /practical-guides/employer-not-giving-salary-slip/

1. Step 1: What to do when relieving date mismatches between offer letter and experience certificate? (a) Relieving date: (i) last working date (LWD) — official exit date, (ii) offer letter mentions joining date at new employer, (iii) experience certificate mentions relieving date at old employer, (b) common scenarios: (i) overlap — old employer date extends beyond new joining date, (ii) gap — relieving date earlier than joining date, (iii) wrong date — employer enters wrong LWD, (iv) notice period not served — employer gives different date, (v) absconding — employer marks different date, © rights: (i) employee has right to correct relieving date — Shops and Establishments Act, (ii) right to factual certificate — actual LWD, (iii) right to complain — Labour Commissioner, (d) authority: Employer HR + Labour Commissioner + Civil Court, (e) law: Shops and Establishments Act (state) + Industrial Employment Standing Orders Act 1946 + Contract Act 1872.

1. Step 2: Comparison table — relieving date mismatch scenarios. (a) Overlap: (i) issue: old employer date extends beyond new joining, (ii) remedy: correct relieving date with employer, (iii) timeline: 15-30 days, (iv) example: overlap; corrected; gap fixed, (b) Gap: (i) issue: relieving date earlier than joining, (ii) remedy: normal — no issue, (iii) timeline: N/A, (iv) example: gap; normal; no issue, © Wrong date: (i) issue: employer enters wrong LWD, (ii) remedy: written request + proof of LWD, (iii) timeline: 15-30 days, (iv) example: wrong; proof; corrected, (d) Notice not served: (i) issue: employer gives different date, (ii) remedy: serve notice or buyout + correct date, (iii) timeline: 15-30 days, (iv) example: not served; bought out; corrected, (e) Absconding: (i) issue: employer marks absconding date, (ii) remedy: legal notice + Labour Commissioner, (iii) timeline: 30-60 days, (iv) example: absconding; legal notice; corrected. (Note: Relieving date must match actual LWD. Overlap causes background verification issues. Correct with employer.)

1. Step 3: How to fix relieving date mismatch. (a) Step 1: Check offer letter + experience certificate — identify mismatch, (b) Step 2: Written request to old employer HR — correct date, © Step 3: Provide proof — resignation acceptance, handover, exit interview, (d) Step 4: If employer refuses — legal notice, (e) Step 5: Labour Commissioner complaint, (f) Step 6: Civil suit for correction if needed.

1. Step 5: Practical tips. (a) keep resignation acceptance + handover proof, (b) ensure no overlap — background verification issue, © correct with employer before new job BGV, (d) Labour Commissioner is free + fast, (e) Example: An employee's relieving date overlapped with new joining; requested correction; employer corrected; BGV cleared.

1. Step 6: Key provisions. (a) Shops and Establishments Act (state), (b) Industrial Employment Standing Orders Act 1946, © Contract Act 1872, (d) Labour Commissioner: complaint, (e) BGV: background verification.

See Relieving Date Mismatch and Experience Certificate Denied and How to File RTI.