Consumer Watchdog owns and operates this internet site. This Internet Site Privacy Policy (Privacy Policy) explains how we treat all user data collected during your visit to the CONSUMER WATCHDOG Site and how we protect your personal privacy within the Consumer Watchdog Site. CONSUMER WATCHDOG may change this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any information that you submit after a change has been posted will be subject to the new provisions.
What User Data We Collect and How We Use This Information
We collect two types of user data: (1) anonymous data that is automatically collected from all visitors to the CONSUMER WATCHDOG Site; and (2) personally identifiable data that you voluntarily submit to us (described below under "Personal Data").
Anonymous Data. We automatically collect Internet Protocol addresses and domain names through our server and through cookies. (See the section on Cookies below for more information.) We also track the number and frequency of hits per page on an aggregate basis.
Personal Data. We may collect Personal Data that you voluntarily provide, such as your name and postal address, phone number, e-mail address, and similar information, when you participate in certain activities on the CONSUMER WATCHDOG Site, including (but not limited to) when you:
– participate in any activity that requires your Personal Data
– make a contribution to support CONSUMER WATCHDOG; or
– participate in one of our action alerts
If you make a donation to CONSUMER WATCHDOG from a Web site link, you will receive further information about our vendor’s privacy and security practices for CONSUMER WATCHDOG donors. Our vendor is an organization that provides a secured site for CONSUMER WATCHDOG's online donations.
Use of Cookies
CONSUMER WATCHDOG's Site may use cookies to enhance your experience while using our Site. Cookies are pieces of information that some Web sites transfer to the computer that is browsing that Web site and are used for record-keeping purposes at many Web sites. Use of cookies makes Web-surfing easier by performing certain functions such as saving your passwords, your personal preferences regarding your use of the particular Web site and to make sure you don’t see the same information repeatedly. Many consider the use of cookies to be an industry standard.
Your browser is probably set to accept cookies. However, if you would prefer not to receive cookies, you can alter the configuration of your browser to refuse cookies. If you choose to have your browser refuse cookies, it is possible that some areas of our Site will not function properly when you view them.
Cookies are alphanumeric identifiers that are transferred either to your computer's hard drive ("Long-term Cookies") or temporarily to your computer's Volatile Memory ("Session Cookies").
We presently use one Long-term Cookie to count unique visitors to the CONSUMER WATCHDOG Site.
We use Session Cookies whenever you visit the CONSUMER WATCHDOG Site. Our intent is for Session Cookies to last only as long as your session on the CONSUMER WATCHDOG Site. They should expire when the session ends and are not written onto your computer's hard drive. We also use Session Cookies in e-mail notifications you receive from CONSUMER WATCHDOG. "Text-only" e-mails will not contain any Session Cookies.
Do Not Track Policy
As of January 1st, 2014, California law (AB 370) requires websites to describe how they respond to users who have activated the do not track tool on their internet browsers. It has been and will continue to be Consumer Watchdog’s policy to respect all Do Not Track requests that are generated via the four major internet browsers (Mozilla’s Firefox, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Google’s Chrome and Apple’s Safari). Should a user have their Do Not Track tool enabled, Consumer Watchdog will not collect any data that is not given voluntarily through the use of Consumer Watchdog’s sign up, donate, take action or consumer complaint functions.
Security
We protect account information by placing it on a secure portion of our Site that is only accessible by authorized personnel. Nevertheless, despite our best efforts, no transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of such information.
Contacting the Web Site
If you have any questions, comments or concerns about this Privacy Policy, the practices of this Internet Site, or your dealings with this Site, you can contact: [email protected]
