Privacy Policy
TEXT4CARS recognizes the importance of
privacy and the sensitivity of personal information. As advisors we have an
obligation to use reasonable efforts to keep confidential all information we receive
within an advisor -client relationship. We are committed to protecting any
personal information we hold. This Privacy Policy outlines how we manage your
personal information and safeguard your privacy. If you have any questions or
concerns about your privacy, please contact us, using the contact information
at the end of this policy. Whenever you provide us with personal information,
whether in writing, over the telephone, or online, you will be referred to this
Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our Policy, please contact us at the
address given at the end of this Policy, we would be pleased to address your
concerns. Your use of TEXT4CARS website constitutes acceptance of and agreement
with this Privacy Policy, described below, including your agreement and consent
to TEXT4CARS's use of such information as described in it.
Why Does TEXT4CARS Need Personal
Information?
TEXT4CARS
provides used car classified services and products to a wide range of sellers
and buyers. If we did not collect and use your personal information we could
not provide you with our services.
We use your personal information for internal purposes. We do not share this
information outside TEXT4CARS, except with our approved sellers, who help us to
provide the product (s) you have requested. All of our approved sellers are
required to provide a level of privacy protection comparable to that provided
in this policy and are not permitted to use your information for any other
purpose, such as to market to you. We do not sell, rent or trade in personal
information.
What personal information do we collect?
"Personal
information" is any information that identifies you, or by which your
identity could be deduced. For example we collect the names, postal addresses,
telephone numbers, e-mail addresses of our sellers and buyers. Please note that
"personal information" does not include either aggregate information
that does not allow an individual to be identified, information about your
visit to our websites which is not linked to you, information about your
computer's operating system and web browser software (this technical
information is verified to ensure that our websites are optimized to serve our
customers) or, the name, title or business address or phone telephone number of
an employee of an organization.
How do we collect your personal
information?
We
collect information only by lawful and fair means and not in an unreasonably
intrusive way. Wherever possible we collect your personal information directly
from you, when creating an account or requesting a seller to contact you about
a product of interest.
Sometimes we may obtain information about you from other sources for example:
* from a government agency or registry;
* your employer, if we are acting for you, at its request;
* your lawyer or other professional advisor;
* passively by recording data on the history of your acquisition of services
from us.
Consent
In
most cases, we shall ask you to specifically consent, if we collect, use, or
disclose your personal information. Normally, we ask for your consent in
writing, but in some circumstances, we may accept your oral consent. Sometimes,
your consent may be implied through your conduct with us.
Use of Your Information
We
use your personal information to provide services to you, set up accounts and
to administer our databases.
TEXT4CARS does not disclose your personal information to any third party to
enable them to market their products and services. Your consent to our use of
your personal information can be withdrawn at any time by following the
directions at the end of this policy.
TEXT4CARS will retain your personal information for only the period of time
which is reasonable under the circumstances, generally 1 year from the date of
the final transaction on the file, and once your personal information is no
longer required for the purposes discussed above, it will be deleted.
Disclosure of your Personal Information
Under
certain circumstances, TEXT4CARS will disclose your personal information:
* when we are required or authorized by law to do so, for example if a court
issues a subpoena;
* when you have consented to the disclosure;
* when the services we are providing to you requires us give your information
to third parties your consent will be implied, unless you tell us otherwise;
* where it is necessary to establish or collect fees;
* if we engage a third party to provide administrative services to us (like
computer back-up services or archival file storage) and the third party is
bound by our privacy policy;
* if we engage expert witnesses on your behalf;
* if we retain other advisors in other jurisdictions, on your behalf;
* if the information is already publicly known.
Updating Your Information
Since
we use your personal information to provide services to you, it is important
that the information be accurate and up-to-date. Sellers can log-on to their
account and update their information.
You can also update your information by contacting us as described at the end
of this Privacy Policy so that we can make any necessary changes.
Is My Personal Information Secure?
TEXT4CARS
takes all reasonable precautions to ensure that your personal information is
kept safe from loss, unauthorized access, modification or disclosure. Among the
steps taken to protect your information are:
* premises security;
* restricted file access to personal information to only those with a need to
know;
* deploying technological safeguards like security software and firewalls to
prevent hacking or unauthorized computer access;
* internal password and security policies;
* secure disposal of personal information no longer needed; and
* screening and training of personnel.
TEXT4CARS cannot, however, guarantee that loss, misuse or unauthorized use will
never occur (e.g. that someone will overcome our security measures). If you
receive any electronic communication which purports to be from TEXT4CARS that
you have any questions or concerns about, please contact us. Spam, improper
use, and pirating of domain names and email addresses is a growing problem, so
we appreciate hearing about incidents in order that we may investigate them and
provide you the best customer service.
Access to Your Personal Information
You
may ask for access to any personal information we hold about you by contacting
us as described at the end of this Privacy Policy. Summary information is
available on request and we will attempt to respond to the request within 30
days of receipt. More detailed requests which require archive or other
retrieval costs may be subject to our normal professional and disbursement fees
and may take longer to respond to.
Correcting Errors
TEXT4CARS
attempts to ensure that personal information is accurate, complete and
up-to-date for the purposes for which it is used. If TEXT4CARS holds
information about you and you can establish that it is not accurate, complete
and up-to-date, TEXT4CARS will take reasonable steps to correct it.
Can I be Denied Access to My Personal
Information?
Your rights to access your personal information are not absolute.
We may deny access when:
* denial of access is required or authorized by law;
* information relates to existing or anticipated legal proceedings against you;
* the information was generated as a result of a formal dispute resolution
process including a court case;
* when granting you access would have an unreasonable impact on other people's
privacy, security or proprietary information;
* to protect our firm's rights and property;
* where the request is frivolous or vexatious or generates costs which are
prohibitively expensive.
If we deny your request for access to, or refuse a request to correct
information, we shall do so in writing and explain why.
TEXT4CARS does not use your Social Insurance Number as a way of identifying or
organizing the information we hold upon you and will not record it even if you
submit it.
Can I request anonymity?
Whenever
it is legal and practicable, we may offer the opportunity to deal with general
inquiries without providing your name (for example, by accessing general
information on our website).
Communicating with Us
You
should be aware that any channel of communication, such as e-mail, is not 100%
secure, and you should be aware of this when contacting us to send personal or
confidential information.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
Since
TEXT4CARS regularly reviews all of its policies and procedures, we may change
our Privacy Policy from time to time without notice. A copy of all amendments
will be on file at our offices.
Requests for Access
If
you have any questions, complaints or wish to access your personal information,
please write to our Chief Privacy Officer at:
Shortcode Inc
Bay 5 144-25th Avenue North East, Calgary, Alberta, T2E 7L6
If you are not satisfied with our response, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
can be reached at:
112 Kent Street, Ottawa Ontario, K1A 1H3
1.800.282.1376.
Web Site
For
your convenience our website may contain links to other sites, which are not
governed by this privacy policy. Our site may also be referenced on or
accessible through links contained on other sites, including sites of third
party e-procurement networks. However, we have not investigated, and are not
responsible for, the privacy practices or content of those sites. Their
policies and protections may be different than those offered by TEXT4CARS. We
encourage you to investigate and review the privacy practices of those sites
prior to use.
On our website, like most other commercial websites, we may monitor traffic
patterns, site usage and related site information in order to optimise our web
service. We may provide aggregated information to third parties, but these
statistics do not include any identifiable personal information.
When you interact with our websites, we may use a browser feature, known as a
"cookie" (which is a small computer file), to verify non-identifiable
information about visitors to our websites and measure visitor traffic
patterns. We do this to maintain the best possible websites. When you first
visit our websites, the website manager may have implemented a program that creates
a small computer file stored on your computer's hard drive. We ensure that the
minimum information required is placed in the cookie only so that we can
recognize returning website visitors. The cookie does not contain personal
information and we will not combine information in the cookie with personal
information that would enable us to identify you individually. On subsequent
visits to the website, our server communicates with your computer, reads the
cookie, recognizes and confirms that you are a returning visitor. Our server
uses this information to provide you with a "short cut" that
facilitates the quickest, most efficient and best possible website experience.
Most browser software allows you to delete cookies. You should consult your ISP
for information on how to delete cookies. This may interfere with our ability
to personalize your experience at our websites and be recognized, or may slow
down performance.