Consumer complaint received 2025-02-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Was not notified of investigation status or results
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: NC

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern : I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding a breach of my protected financial aid records and other sensitive personal information. As a student borrower, my rights have been violated due to unauthorized access to my financial aid records, including but not limited to my Social Security number, banking information, and mailing address, without my consent. 
This breach has put my personal and financial security at risk. I became aware of this issue on [ date you discovered the breach ], when I was notified that unauthorized individuals had accessed my records, or when I noticed suspicious activity related to my financial aid or personal accounts. 
The specific violations I wish to bring to your attention include : XXXX. Unauthorized disclosure of my protected financial aid records to unauthorized individuals. 
XXXX. Compromise of my Social Security number, banking information, and mailing address without my consent. 
XXXX. Failure of the responsible entity to take adequate security measures to protect my sensitive data. 
This violation directly contravenes the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ( FERPA ) ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ; XXXX CFR Part XXXX ), which mandates that educational institutions receiving federal funding must protect student records from unauthorized disclosure. The U.S. Department XXXX XXXX XXXX for Civil Rights has consistently upheld that such breaches constitute serious violations, warranting immediate investigation and remedial action. 
Furthermore, I would like to bring to your attention the current members of the Department of Education responsible for overseeing compliance in this domain, including U.S. XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX and key officials within the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Their oversight is critical in ensuring adherence to federal regulations protecting student borrowers. Additionally, allowing individuals such as XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX ), XXXX XXXX ( XXXX, XXXX XXXX ), XXXX XXXX ( engineer at XXXX and XXXX ), and XXXX XXXX ( XXXX Engineer in the Office of the Secretary, former XXXX intern ) to have access to protected financial aid records violates FERPA. These individuals are not affiliated with the Department of Education or any relevant federal agency and should not have access to sensitive student data. 
I respectfully request that [ Organization Name ] conduct a thorough investigation into this matter and take appropriate actions to ensure compliance with relevant regulations. Additionally, I would like to be informed of the findings of this investigation and any corrective measures that will be implemented to prevent future occurrences. 
Thank you for your time and attention to this serious concern. I look forward to your response and to the necessary steps being taken to protect student borrowers sensitive information. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation