Consumer complaint received 2025-02-13 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: SC

Complaint narrative:
According to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ( FERPA ), and 20 U.S. Code 1232g, students have the right to control access to their private educational records, including academic performance, disciplinary records, and student loan information. FERPA protects students ' privacy by restricting the release of such records without the students consent, according to 20 U.S. Code 1232g ( 1 ) ( C ) ( i ) ; 20 U.S. Code 1232g ( 4 ) ( A ) ( i ) ( ii ) ; 20 U.S. Code 1232g ( b ) ( 1 ) ( E ) ( ii ) ( II ) ; and 20 U.S. Code 1232g ( b ) ( 2 ) ( A ).

A violation occurs when such information is disclosed to unauthorized individuals or entities, which has happened in my case with XXXX XXXX receiving access to my private educational and financial records without my permission.

FERPA clearly states that educational institutions must obtain written consent from students/parents before releasing their records to third parties according to 20 U.S. Code 1232g, The disclosure of my student loan information and educational records to Elon Musk , a private citizen who is not an elected official or appropriate educational authority, or any other individual or organization without proper consent or authorization as outlined under 20 U.S. Code 1232g, directly violates my right to privacy under FERPA.

Furthermore, this violation undermines my personal security and financial privacy, leaving me vulnerable to identity theft or misuse of my educational and financial data.

In addition, the following laws have been broken as a result of this breach of data as it relates to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The List of accounts below has violated my federally protected consumer rights to privacy and confidentiality under 15 USC 1681 : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, whenever a consumer reporting agency prepares a consumer report it shall follow reasonable procedures to ensure the maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates according to 15 USC 1681 ( e ) ( b ).

According to 15 U.S.C. 1681 ( 5 ) : Treatment of inaccurate or unverifiable information, In general, after any reinvestigation under paragraph ( 1 ) of any information disputed by a consumer, an item of the information is found to be inaccurate or incomplete or can not be verified, the consumer reporting agency shall ( i ) promptly delete that item of information from the file of the consumer, or modify that item of information, as appropriate, based on the results of the reinvestigation; and ( ii ) promptly notify the furnisher of that information that the information has been modified or deleted from the file of the consumer.

Lastly, according to 15 U.S.C. 1681 ( b ), it is the purpose of this subchapter to require that consumer reporting agencies adopt reasonable procedures for meeting the needs of commerce for consumer credit, personnel, insurance, and other information in a manner which is fair and equitable to the consumer, with regard to the confidentiality, accuracy, relevancy, and proper utilization of such information in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation