Avalon Financial Website Privacy Policy
Information Collection and Use
Information Collection
Avalon Financial Corporation is the sole owner of the information
collected on www.avaloneast.com. Avalon Financial collects
information from our users at several different points on
our Web site.
Forms
In order to use this Web site to its fullest extent, a user
may complete one or more forms that will be submitted to
Avalon Financial. When filling out certain forms a user
may be required to give contact information (such as name,
phone number and email address). We use this information
to contact the user about services on our site for which
he has expressed interest. We may also require a user's
social security number to provide some credit services.
Email
When a user contacts Avalon Financial via email, information
(such as name, email, and shipping address) may be required.
This information is used for internal purposes only to provide
our customers with the best possible service. If we have
trouble processing a request, the information is used to
contact the user.
Information Use
Profile
We may store information that we collect through cookies,
log files, clear gifs, and/or third parties to create a
profile of our users for Avalon Financial Corporation's
use only. We do not share your profile with other third
parties.
Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user's computer
tied to information about the user. Usage of a cookie is
in no way linked to any personally identifiable information
while on our site.
Third Party Advertising
We currently do not have third party advertising on our
site.
Log Files
Like most standard Web site servers we use log files. This
includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type,
internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, platform
type, date/time stamp, and number of clicks to analyze trends,
administer the site, track user's movement in the aggregate,
and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use.
IP addresses, etc. are not linked to personally identifiable
information.
Clear Gifs (Web Beacons/Web Bugs)
We do not employ the use of clear gifs, web beacons or web
bugs.
Communications from the Site
Service Announcements
On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly
service related announcement. For instance, if our service
is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users
an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications,
though they can deactivate their account. However, these
communications are not promotional in nature. [Users may
opt-out of these communications. Please see our Choice and
Opt-out section.]
Customer Service
We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide
requested services and in regards to issues relating to
their account we reply via email or phone, in accordance
with the users wishes.
Sharing
Legal Disclaimer
Though we make every effort to preserve user privacy, we
may need to disclose personal information when required
by law wherein we have a good-faith belief that such action
is necessary to comply with a current judicial proceeding,
a court order or legal process served on our Web site.
Aggregate Information (non-personally identifiable)
We do not share aggregated demographic information with
our partners and advertisers.
Third Party Intermediaries
We may use an outside shipping company to ship orders, and
a credit card processing company to bill users for goods
and services. These companies do not retain, share, store
or use personally identifiable information for any secondary
purposes.
Business Transitions
In the event Avalon Financial Corporation goes through a
business transition, such as a merger, being acquired by
another company, or selling a portion of its assets, users'
personal information will, in most instances, be part of
the assets transferred. Users will be notified via prominent
notice on our Web site for 30 days prior to a change of
ownership or control of their personal information. If as
a result of the business transition, the users' personally
identifiable information will be used in a manner different
from that stated at the time of collection they will be
given choice consistent with our notification of changes
section.
Links
This Web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware
that we, Avalon Financial, is not responsible for the privacy
practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to
be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy
statements of each and every Web site that collects personally
identifiable information. This privacy statement applies
solely to information collected by this Web site.
Security
This Web site takes every precaution to protect our users'
information. When users submit sensitive information via
the Web site, their information is protected both online
and off-line.
When our application form asks users to enter sensitive
information (such as credit card number and/or social security
number), that information is encrypted and is protected
with the best encryption software in the industry - SSL.
While on a secure page, such as our application form, the
lock icon on the bottom of Web browsers such as Netscape
Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer becomes locked,
as opposed to unlocked, or open, when users are just 'surfing'.
While we use SSL encryption to protect sensitive information
online, we also do everything in our power to protect user-information
off-line. All of our users' information, not just the sensitive
information mentioned above, is restricted in our offices.
Only employees who need the information to perform a specific
job (for example, our billing clerk or a customer service
representative) are granted access to personally identifiable
information.
If users have any questions about the security at our Web
site, users can send an email to loans@avaloneast.com
Supplementation of Information
In order for this Web site to properly fulfill its obligation
to users it is necessary for us to supplement the information
we receive with information from 3rd party sources.
Credit Check
For example, to determine if users qualify for one of our
credit services, we use their name and social security number
to request a credit report. Once we determine a user's credit-worthiness,
this document is destroyed.
Correcting/Updating/Deleting/Deactivating Personal Information
If a user's personally identifiable information changes
(such as zip code, phone, email or postal address), or if
a user no longer desires our service, we provide a way to
correct, update or delete/deactivate users' personally identifiable
information. This can usually be by emailing our Customer
Support at loans@avaloneast.com
Notification of Changes
If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post
those changes to this privacy statement, the homepage, and
other places we deem appropriate so our users are always
aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and
under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it. We will
use information in accordance with the privacy policy under
which the information was collected.
If, however, we are going to use users' personally identifiable
information in a manner different from that stated at the
time of collection we will notify users via email. Users
will have a choice as to whether or not we use their information
in this different manner. However, if users have opted out
of all communication with the site, or deleted/deactivated
their account, then they will not be contacted, nor will
their personal information be used in this new manner. In
addition, if we make any material changes in our privacy
practices that do not affect user information already stored
in our database, we will post a prominent notice on our
Web site notifying users of the change. In some cases where
we post a notice we will also email users, who have opted
to receive communications from us, notifying them of the
changes in our privacy practices.
Contact Information
If users have any questions or suggestions regarding our
privacy policy, please contact us at:
Avalon Financial Corporation
1500 East Beltline Ave, Ste. 145
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Toll Free: 1-877-414-5626
Phone: 616-285-2430
Fax: 616-285-2431
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