Despite the complaint ultimately being deemed unfounded, a
recent investigation by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (the
“OPC”) highlights the need to proceed
with caution when asked to disclose personal information to a
government institution.1
The Complaint
The complainant was a consumer whose personal information
(including credit history) was in the possession of Trans Union of
Canada, Inc. (“TransUnion”).
After requesting his credit information from TransUnion, the
complainant discovered that Statistics Canada had made two
inquiries to TransUnion about his file.
Shortly after Statistics Canada’s first inquiry, the
complainant received debt collection phone calls regarding unpaid
student loans. The complainant also alleged that his parents
received phone calls from the government about his student debt,
and that his parents’ phone numbers were included in
TransUnion’s file.
