Consumer complaint received 2025-02-16 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Other personal consumer report
Issue: Identity theft protection or other monitoring services — Problem canceling credit monitoring or identify theft protection service
Company: Nelnet, Inc.
State: NJ

Complaint narrative:
I am filing this formal complaint regarding the unauthorized access, copying, and misuse of my student loan data by unauthorized personnel associated with the Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE ). This incident constitutes serious violations of FERPA ( 20 U.S.C. 1232g ; 34 CFR Part 99 ), Title IV regulations, the Privacy Act of 1974, and federal data security laws.Nature of the ViolationReports confirm that DOGE personnel, under the direction of XXXX XXXX, forcibly gained access to the Department of Educations internal systems without proper vetting. This access occurred over a weekend, with unvetted engineers obtaining direct entry to restricted databases containing personal and financial information of federal student loan borrowers.Further, DOGE personnel reportedly made unauthorized copies of student records, including : Personally Identifiable Information ( PII ) : Full names, Social Security numbers, addresses, contact details.Loan Data & Financial Aid Records : FAFSA data, repayment history, outstanding balances, and disbursement details.IRS Tax Transcripts : Sensitive tax information used to verify student loan eligibility.Violations CommittedFERPA Violations : My education records and financial aid information were accessed and copied without consent, violating my rights under FERPA.Privacy Act of 1974 Violations : The DOE permitted unauthorized individuals to handle my federally protected data without due process or consent.Title IV Violations : The unauthorized access undermines the integrity of my loan agreement and financial aid data, calling into question its legality.Federal Data Breach & Identity Theft Risk : If XXXX made copies of tax records and loan data, this poses a serious risk of identity theft and misuse of federal student aid funds.Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act ( 18 U.S.C. 1030 ) Violation : Forcing access to a federal system without authorization constitutes unauthorized access of protected computer systems.Demands for Immediate Corrective ActionGiven the severity of this data breach, I demand the following immediate actions : Immediate loan discharge and cancellation of all federal student loans linked to my breached data. The unauthorized access has tainted the validity of my loan agreement.A full federal investigation into how DOGE personnel obtained unauthorized access and made copies of restricted student data.A public disclosure of the scope of this breach, identifying what data was accessed, who accessed it, and what security measures were bypassed.An immediate report to all major credit bureaus ( XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX XXXX ) to place fraud alerts on my records due to the risk of identity theft.A full review of the DOEs security protocols and a congressional inquiry into DOGEs unauthorized access to student loan records.This breach has caused significant distress and raises serious concerns about my financial security, privacy, and the integrity of the Department of Educations loan management system. If my demands are not addressed within 30 days, I will escalate this matter by : Filing a federal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) .Requesting legal action under federal identity theft, data breach, and wire fraud statutes.Seeking a class-action lawsuit with other affected borrowers.I expect a formal written response confirming receipt of this complaint and outlining immediate corrective actions. Please direct all correspondence to the address listed above.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation