Consumer complaint received 2025-06-06 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Credit monitoring or identity theft protection services — Didn't receive services that were advertised
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to formally dispute and request the full discharge of all outstanding federal student loan debts associated with my name and Social Security number, including any data and obligations arising from my FAFSA ( Free Application for Federal Student Aid ) and associated loan agreements.

This legal request is submitted under the authority of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ( FERPA ) [ 20 U.S.C. 1232g ], the Privacy Act of 1974 [ 5 U.S.C. 552a ], and the Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations [ 34 CFR 685.206, 685.222 ]. It is based on multiple, well-documented grounds, including : Unauthorized access, misuse, and denial of access to my personal and educational information ; Deceptive, discriminatory, and misleading conduct by the institution ; Fraudulent enrollment practices and material misrepresentations ; A refusal to provide educational records in direct violation of FERPA. 



I. Violations of FERPA and the Privacy Act of XXXX  It has come to my attention that my personally identifiable information ( PII ) including educational, financial, and FAFSA-related data was accessed, used, or disclosed without my informed consent. I did not authorize the sharing or misuse of my financial aid application data with third parties or other entities beyond its original purpose. This unauthorized access is a clear breach of both FERPA and the Privacy Act. 
Additionally, I have formally requested access to my academic records, internal communications, and student file as is my right under FERPA. The institution refused to provide these records, further violating federal law and obstructing my ability to defend myself or assess the full scope of institutional misconduct.

These acts have placed me at risk of identity theft, emotional distress, and financial harm, all while breaching my federal protections.

II. Borrower Defense to Repayment Misrepresentation, Discrimination, and Fraud I am also asserting a valid Borrower Defense to Repayment due to the universitys pattern of fraudulent, misleading, and discriminatory conduct that directly led to my taking on federal student loans under false pretenses. This includes : The institution returned tuition payments for a semester while misrepresenting that I had already paid, creating confusion about my enrollment and financial standing. 


The university promised full credit transferability, which proved to be false, significantly impacting my academic progress and resulting in unnecessary financial aid dependency. 


I was subjected to racial discrimination and systemic inequity, including hostile academic advising, denial of services, and exclusion from educational opportunities. 


The institution made deceptive and misleading statements about the program, its value, and its financial aid process, all of which induced me into loan obligations I would not have otherwise accepted. 


My FERPA rights were violated when I was denied access to my educational records and communication files necessary to verify the institutions representations. 


Furthermore, the university failed to disclose existing racial disparities and discriminatory practices that materially affected my academic experience and future opportunities, and would have influenced my decision to enroll had they been properly disclosed. 
These actions constitute : Substantial misrepresentation of educational services and policies, Breach of contract and student agreement, Deceptive business practices and consumer fraud, Failure to disclose material facts, And denial of educational access based on race and status, in violation of both federal civil rights law and the XXXX XXXX framework.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation