Elizabeth Warren warns student loan reporting errors could hurt millions of borrowers’ credit scores
Millions of Americans with federal student loans could face lasting financial consequences if inaccurate loan information appears on their credit reports, according to a group of Democratic senators led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who are demanding answers from the nation’s three largest credit reporting companies.
In letters sent to Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, the lawmakers argued that a combination of past reporting mistakes by student loan servicers and reduced federal oversight under the Trump administration could increase the risk of borrowers being harmed by inaccurate credit information. The senators are seeking detailed explanations of how the companies verify student loan data and protect consumers from reporting errors.
Warren, the ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee, led Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in writing to the CEOs of Experian, TransUnion and Equifax.
The letter asks the companies to explain what safeguards they have in place to ensure that inaccurate information from federal student loan servicers does not damage borrowers’ credit scores.
“Given that federal student loan servicers have systematically reported inaccurate data to credit reporting companies in the past, and that the dismantling of the Department of Education (ED) has vastly reduced federal oversight over servicers, we are concerned that servicers may be failing to report fully accurate data to your companies,” the lawmakers wrote.
Lawmakers warn reporting mistakes could have broad financial consequences
The senators argued that even a single reporting error can have significant consequences because student loan servicers submit more than 20 categories of information for each federal loan account.
According to the letter, inaccurate reports could lower borrowers’ credit scores, potentially affecting their ability to qualify for mortgages, rental housing, auto loans, credit cards or even employment opportunities.
The lawmakers also cited the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires credit reporting companies to maintain “reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy” of consumer information.
The letter points to earlier investigations that found errors in student loan reporting before the latest concerns emerged.
According to the senators, a 2024 congressional investigation found that credit bureaus generated incorrect credit scores for hundreds of thousands of borrowers after processing inaccurate information from student loan servicers, including instances in which certain loans were reported twice.
The lawmakers also referenced 2020 reporting problems in which servicers submitted incorrect repayment statuses for tens of thousands of borrowers, potentially affecting their access to credit.
Democrats link concerns to Department of Education staffing cuts
A central argument in the lawmakers’ letter is that recent changes within the Department of Education have reduced oversight of federal student loan servicers.
“Credit reporting companies’ histories of failing to correct this faulty credit reporting data provided by servicers, along with the Trump administration’s dismantling of servicer oversight, make it concerningly plausible that these errors may be occurring at a large scale,” Warren wrote.
The senators contend that fewer staff overseeing servicers could increase the likelihood that inaccurate borrower data reaches the major credit reporting agencies.
The lawmakers also criticized changes affecting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), arguing that borrowers now have fewer avenues to resolve reporting disputes.
They alleged that credit reporting companies are “taking advantage of this lack of oversight” following reductions at the agency.
“Without a functioning CFPB committed to holding them accountable, two of the three major credit reporting companies have been resolving drastically fewer complaints in the consumer’s favor in 2025, compared to about 20% in 2024,” Warren wrote, citing findings from a previous Senate investigation. “As a result, many borrowers have much less recourse even if they do identify an error on their credit report.”
The letter notes that Experian resolved fewer than 1% of complaints in consumers’ favor during 2025, compared with roughly 20% the previous year, according to the lawmakers.
Senators seek detailed answers from Experian, TransUnion and Equifax
The senators’ letter contains an extensive list of questions for the three credit reporting companies.
Among other topics, they asked each company to explain:
How they audit and verify data received from student loan servicers.
Whether they have identified inaccurate servicer data since January 2025.
How many borrowers may have received incorrect credit scores because of reporting errors.
Whether any errors originated within the companies’ own processing systems.
How disputes involving federal student loans have been resolved.
What safeguards exist to ensure outdated negative information is removed in accordance with federal law.
How they ensure borrowers who benefited from the Fresh Start program are not improperly reported as delinquent or in default.
The lawmakers also urged the companies to stop reporting delinquency information from any servicer that repeatedly submits inaccurate data until those problems are corrected.
Advocacy group says servicing problems continue to affect borrowers
The senators’ concerns were echoed by Protect Borrowers, a nonprofit advocacy organization that recently analyzed federal student loan servicing performance.
The group’s report concluded that servicing failures have cost borrowers “billions of dollars in unnecessary interest charges” while also misleading some borrowers about available debt relief options.
Even before staffing reductions at Federal Student Aid, Protect Borrowers senior policy adviser Chris Hicks argued that servicing performance frequently fell short.
“Student loan servicers are failing, and borrowers are paying the price,” Hicks wrote in the analysis. “Today, millions of student loan borrowers are struggling amidst the worsening affordability crisis, as the rising costs of groceries, utilities, and healthcare continue to bury families in debt.”
Hicks also highlighted the July 1 deadline affecting more than 7 million borrowers previously enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, who must transition to another repayment option following the program’s elimination.
Credit bureaus respond to the senators’ concerns
Two of the three companies named in the letter publicly responded after the inquiry became public.
TransUnion said it welcomed the opportunity to discuss its consumer protection efforts.
“We appreciate the opportunity to engage with policymakers regarding how TransUnion supports consumers. We look forward to responding.”
Equifax defended the accuracy of its reporting systems while outlining investments intended to improve data quality.
According to the company, U.S. consumer credit reports maintained a 99.81% accuracy rate in May 2026.
“As part of our commitment to accuracy, we are continuously monitoring and enhancing our processes to improve data quality in consumer credit files and making it easier for consumers to access their Equifax credit report and correct any potential errors quickly,” an Equifax spokesperson said.
“We also are working with our data furnishers to enhance the accuracy of information reported to us,” the statement continued. “And, as part of our approximately $3 billion investment in the Equifax Cloud, we are continually developing new programs that will allow us to identify potential accuracy issues and correct them before a consumer disputes information on their credit report.”
Warren continues broader scrutiny of student loan policies
The latest inquiry is part of a broader series of actions by Warren and other Senate Democrats concerning federal student loan administration.
Over the past two years, Warren has led multiple investigations and letters addressing issues including the Department of Education’s oversight of loan servicers, proposed transfers of federal student loan administration, customer service at servicing companies, repayment options, default collections and borrower protections.
Merkley’s office told The Hill that the latest letter also builds on his efforts “to enshrine the SAVE Plan in law and ensure borrowers have strong consumer protections.”
The latest exchange highlights ongoing disagreements over how federal student loan programs should be administered and monitored.
Democratic lawmakers argue that stronger oversight of both loan servicers and credit reporting companies is necessary to prevent reporting errors that could financially harm borrowers. Credit reporting agencies, meanwhile, say they continue investing in technology, data quality improvements and dispute resolution processes to maintain accurate consumer credit files while responding to policymakers’ questions.
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John Dealbreuin came from a third world country to the US with only $1,000 not knowing anyone; guided by an immigrant dream. In 12 years, he achieved his retirement number.
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