Canada Student Loans Program - Privacy breach

Update on Equifax and TransUnion credit monitoring services

April 1, 2018

As of April 1, 2018, credit monitoring services from Equifax and TransUnion are no longer offered by ESDC. Credit monitoring services can be purchased at the client’s own expense.

If you had already signed up for the credit monitoring services, the notations will remain on your credit file for six years from the date you signed up.

Your credit file is now also protected, at no cost, by TransUnion Canada

June 28, 2013

HRSDC has purchased a customized package from the credit bureau TransUnion Canada, tailored specifically to this incident, and is available to everyone who may have been affected. This additional, reliable credit protection will, along with services already offered by Equifax, offer protection of personal information.

TransUnion will safeguard credit files of affected individuals with notations that information may have been compromised, and alert messages will be placed on those credit files. Through its agreement with TransUnion, HRSDC is able to offer, free of charge, this customized package to affected individuals.

Individuals who have already provided their consent for credit protection are not required to do anything as they will automatically be included to receive this service from TransUnion Canada.

For affected clients who have not yet provided their consent, they may do so by calling our toll-free line at 1-866-885-1866 (calls within North America), or 1-905-283-2897 (calls from outside North America), or 1-800-263-5883 (if you have a speech impairment and use a teletypewriter - TTY).

The notation will stay on credit files at TransUnion and Equifax for a period of six years unless affected individuals choose to have it removed. This flag will alert credit grantors that data may have been compromised, and lenders will then take additional steps to verify the person’s identity before granting credit or opening or using accounts.

At this time, HRSDC has no evidence that any of the information on the hard drive has been accessed or used for fraudulent purposes.

Additional Information is available if you wish to request this free service or if you suspect your personal information may have been compromised.

Change of hours of operation

Due to lower call volumes, as of March 4th, the hours of operation for the toll free number established by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada for individuals to verify if they are affected by this incident listed in the January 11th, 2013 news release, will be changed as follows:

• Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (EDT)

February 8, 2013

HRSDC has sent letters to all affected individuals for whom we had current contact information, in order to advise them of the incident and what steps to take to help protect their personal information. Although the technical issue is now fully resolved, less than 100 people may have received in error a letter addressed to another client as the result of a printer error. The letter did not include any personal information beyond name and address. Pre-paid envelopes have been sent to the concerned individuals so that they may return the copies of letters sent to them in error.

Your credit file can now be protected by Equifax at no cost

February 1, 2013

HRSDC has purchased a customized package from Equifax Canada, which is a unique solution tailored specifically to this incident, and is available to everyone who may have been affected. This credit protection is a reliable and appropriate strategy that will assist in preventing misuse of personal and credit information.

Equifax will safeguard credit files of affected individuals with notations that information may have been compromised and alert messages will be placed on those credit files. Through its agreement with Equifax, HRSDC is able to offer, free of charge, its customized package to affected individuals who provide their consent to receive this service by calling our toll free line at 1-866-885-1866 within North America. For calls from outside of North America, affected citizens can call 1-416-572-1113 and dial 0 to speak to an operator in order to reverse the charges. Callers with a hearing or speech impairment and who use a teletypewriter (TTY) can call at 1-800-263-5883.

The notation will stay on credit files for a period of six years unless affected individuals choose to have it removed. This flag will alert credit grantors that data may have been compromised, and lenders will then take additional steps to verify the person’s identity before granting credit or opening or using accounts.

"In taking this proactive initiative, HRSDC is adopting a proven safeguard against identity theft," said Carol Gray, President of Equifax Canada. "The system of placing notations on your credit files, which we will do through this agreement, is an industry standard in protecting the personal and credit information of Canadians. Placing alerts on your credit file can help ensure that your credit and financial well-being are sound and safeguarded."

At this time, HRSDC has no evidence that any of the information on the hard drive has been accessed or used for fraudulent purposes.

Read the new Minister's statement on this new credit protection service.

Additional Information is available if you wish to request this free service or if you suspect your personal information may have been compromised.