Consumer complaint received 2025-02-23 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MI

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to formally request your urgent investigation into a serious violation of my rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ( FERPA ), which has resulted in significant financial and personal consequences. I have identified that educational records were improperly disclosed, violating FERPA guidelines, and this breach has led to inaccuracies appearing on my credit report, including the reporting of financial loans and accounts that were opened without my consent.

The specifics of my complaint are as follows : Educational Institution Involved : DEPT OF EDUCATION/XXXX Date of Incident : XX/XX/scrub>/2025 Violation Description : `I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding the unauthorized access and breach of my educational records, financial aid data, and IRS tax information by the U.S. Department of Education ( DOE ) and the Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE ). This breach constitutes a direct violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ( FERPA ) and Title IV regulations, as well as an egregious violation of my personal privacy and financial security.

I recently discovered that my sensitive and legally protected records were accessed and potentially shared without my consent. This includes but is not limited to : 1. My academic records and personally identifiable information ( PII ). 
2. My Free Application for XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) data, including financial aid history and loan information. 
3. My IRS tax transcripts, which were obtained and used without proper authorization.

These actions violate my rights under FERPA ( 20 U.S.C. 1232g ; 34 CFR Part 99 ), which grants me the right to control access to my educational records, as well as Title IV of the Higher Education Act, which governs the use and protection of federal student aid information. Furthermore, unauthorized access to my IRS tax data raises serious concerns regarding potential identity theft, fraud, and violations of federal data security standards.

Given the severity of this breach and the direct impact on my financial security and privacy, Impact on Credit Report : The unauthorized release of my educational records has directly impacted my credit report in several ways. As a result of the data breach, financial accounts, including loans, were incorrectly listed under my name. These loans were either opened without my consent or were the result of miscommunication stemming from the breach. The entries caused a sudden, unexplained increase in my debt load, which has negatively affected my credit score and caused delays in other financial processes, such as applying for a mortgage or securing a loan for personal expenses. Additionally, these inaccurate entries have raised concerns with potential lenders, leading to rejections or unfavorable terms due to the fraudulent accounts that were mistakenly tied to my name. These errors represent a severe breach of my financial security and must be rectified immediately to prevent further damage to my credit history.

Under FERPA, it is explicitly prohibited for educational institutions to disclose students educational records without their consent, except in very specific circumstances. However, in this instance, my private information has been mishandled, leading to a data breach that directly affected my credit standing. The disclosure of this information has caused the reporting of financial loans that I did not authorize, nor did I apply for, resulting in substantial harm to my credit and personal financial status.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation