Privacy Policy

Last Modified: 07.30.2024 

Purpose 

TechCollect, LLC (“TechCollect”), and its affiliates (collectively, “TechCollect,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), values its customers’ information, privacy, and trust. This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) applies to information collected online from users of the TechCollect website, and explains how we collect, use, and protect that information. This Policy applies to TechCollect’s collection, use, processing, storage, and transfer of information associated with TechCollect’s website, www.hardshipcalculator.com (the “Site”).  

Throughout this Policy, we refer to the term “Personal Information.” “Personal Information” means data which identifies, describes, is associated with, or could be linked to an individual, such as a name, birthdate, postal address, email address, telephone number, driver’s license number, Social Security Number or government-issued identification number, credit card number, or other unique identifiers.  

Personal Information does not include anonymous or aggregated data that can no longer be used to identify a specific person, even if combined with other data. Also, we may collect information related to businesses, companies, institutions, or other entities rather than individuals (“Business Information”). We do not consider Business Information, such as title, employer’s name, work email, work phone number, work address, and other similar business information, to be Personal Information.  

Information We Collect  

We collect information about you in four ways: directly from you, indirectly from you via your use of the Site, through cookies, and by our use of website analytics.  

Information Collected Directly From You 

When you contact us using our Site, we will collect certain Personal Information about you so that we may adequately respond to your inquiry such as your name, email address, phone number, and state of residence. Similarly, if you choose to speak to a TechCollect customer service representative via the chat function available on the Site, you may be asked to provide Personal Information so that we may address your question.  

Information Collected Indirectly From You 

When you visit our Site, we may collect information about your visit and maintain that information in our web server logs, which are records of the activities on our Site. The servers automatically capture and store the information electronically. Examples of the information we may collect include: Internet Protocol (IP) address; browser type and language; Internet Service Provider (ISP), referring and exit websites and applications; operating system; date/time stamp of activity; clickstream data; whether you are a first-time or a returning user; links you clicked on while in the Site; and your flow and navigation path through the Site. We use this information in a deidentified and aggregated fashion to help us administer the site, analyze its usage, protect the website and its content from inappropriate use, and improve your Site experience. 

There are “do not track” or similar browser choices available to internet users with respect to online web activity but given the present lack of consensus of what constitutes an informed election, appropriate trigger or breadth of scope of such choice, our Site will not operate any differently when a “do not track” signal is received. 

In some of our email messages, you will find a “click-through URL” linked to content on our Site.   We track this click-through data to help us determine interest in particular topics and measure the effectiveness of our customer communications. If you prefer not to be tracked in this way, you should not click such links in our email messages. 

Cookies

We use technologies, such as “cookies,” so we can remember certain information about you, remember your preferences, or recognize you when you return to the Site. Cookies also help us compile aggregate data about Site traffic and Site interaction so that we can improve our Site and protect our Site from fraud. 

A cookie is a text file that is stored on your computer. As text files, cookies cannot read information on your hard drive, run programs, or deliver viruses to your computer.   

Most browsers are set to accept cookies automatically. You can set your browser to decline all cookies automatically or to prompt you for a response each time a cookie is offered. If you decline cookies, you may find that you cannot access all our Site’s features. 

During your browsing session, we use “session” cookies to store information and monitor Site function. These session cookies are installed during your browsing session and are deleted when the browsing session has ended.

We also use log files when you visit our Site. Log files track IP addresses, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP) identity, referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, and number of clicks. We utilize this information in our legitimate interest in administering the Site, preventing fraud, tracking website navigation in the aggregate, and gathering broad demographic information for aggregate use. 

Web beacons, also known as clear GIFs, are often used in combination with cookies. Often transparent, these images are part of web pages, and allow us to count users who have visited certain pages and to generate statistics about how our Site are used. They are not used to access Personal Information 

Pixel tags enable us to send email messages in a format that customers can read, and they tell us whether mail has been opened. We may use this information to reduce or eliminate messages sent to you.  

Website Analytics 

We use [e.g., Google Adwords, Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager] in connection with our Site to gather data such as age, gender, and interests to provide advertising targeted to suit your interests and preferences.  

This analytics software helps us target our online ads based on information collected directly from you or by automated means, like cookies. These companies also use automated technologies to collect information when you click on our ads, which helps track and manage the effectiveness of our marketing efforts.   

You may opt out of the automated collection of information by third-party ad networks for the purpose of delivering advertisements tailored to your interests, by visiting the consumer opt-out page for the Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising at https://support.google.com/adwordspolicy/answer/1316548?hl=en and edit or opt-out your Google Display Network ad preferences at http://www.google.com/ads/preferences/   

Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager collect anonymous information that is not used to identify a user.  This information helps us better understand how visitors use our Site, detect and defend against fraud and other security risks, and present advertisements, products, and/or services of interest to you. 

To learn more about how Google Analytics or Google Tag Manager collects and processes data, please visit “How Google uses data when you use our partners’ Site or apps”, located at https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/. To learn about how to opt-out of Google Analytics, please visit http://tools.Google.com/dlpage/gaoptout/. 

Children’s Information 

Our Site is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from children under the age of 16. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with Personal Information without your consent, please contact us by using the information in the “Questions and Contact Information” section, below, and we will take steps to remove such Personal Information from our systems. 

Use of Personal Information 

We use your Personal Information to further our legitimate business interests, such as to transact business, to provide information about our company and products, and to communicate with Site visitors. We may use your Personal Information to send you requested information, to personalize content for you, to compile, analyze, and better understand user data, demographics and behavior, and to detect, investigate, and prevent activities that may violate our policies or be illegal. We may also use your Personal Information to communicate with you about products and services we believe you might find of interest and to administer marketing materials, promotions, surveys, contests and sweepstakes, in which you might participate, unless you have opted not to receive such information.

We also use the information automatically collected about you during your use of the Site, as described above, to improve the effectiveness of our website, operations, mobile experience, or marketing efforts, to prevent against fraud and theft, and otherwise to protect our Site’s visitors and our business.  

Our employees and agents may view your Personal Information to perform their jobs and address your needs. We authorize their access to your Personal Information on a need-to-know basis to provide you with our products or services, or for one of the other reasons listed in this section, and always in connection with a contractual obligation to protect the privacy of that information. 

We may also use information you provide to us to communicate with you in the future. If you do not wish to receive such communications, you may opt out (unsubscribe) as described below in the “Questions and Contact Information” section. 

Sharing Your Personal Information 

We will not sell, rent, or lease any information we collect from you to others. We will not make your Personal Information available to any unaffiliated parties, except as follows: 

To employees, contractors, agents, website vendors, and/or contractors who may use it on our behalf or in connection with their relationship with us; 
To our affiliates, service providers, and third-parties, for marketing purposes and building targeted ad campaigns, unless you have opted to not to receive such information.
To others, including law enforcement, if we believe such release is reasonably necessary to comply with law or legal process; enforce or apply the applicable TechCollect Terms of Use, if reasonably necessary to protect our operations, clients, or users; detect, prevent or otherwise address fraud, security, or technical issues; protect the rights, property, or safety of others; in a matter of public safety or Policy; or as needed in connection with the transfer of our business assets (for example, if we are acquired by another firm or if we are liquidated during bankruptcy proceedings). In the event of an insolvency, bankruptcy, or receivership, your Personal Information may also be transferred as a business asset. 

In addition, we may share aggregate, non-individual information, incapable of identifying a person, with third parties for lawful purposes. We will not disclose any of your Personal Information except when we have your permission or under special circumstances, such as when we believe in good faith that the law requires it or under circumstances described in this Policy. 

Mobile Phone Numbers:

No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All other categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.
OPT IN CONSENT: By submitting your phone number, you are authorizing to send you text messages and notifications. Message/data rates apply. Reply STOP to unsubscribe to a message sent from us.

A2P 10DLC Messaging

A2P 10DLC refers to the use of long phone numbers for Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging, including SMS and MMS, for business communications and marketing purposes. TechCollect may engage in A2P messaging for various purposes, including but not limited to:

  • Customer support and service notifications.
  • Marketing and promotional messages.
  • Transactional communications.

User Consent

Before sending A2P 10DLC messages to users, we ensure that we have obtained proper consent.

Users have the option to opt in or opt out of receiving these messages at any time. Consent may be obtained through various methods, including but not limited to websites, website forms, mobile app preferences, and other opt-in mechanisms.

Message Content

All AP 10DLC messages sent by TechCollect comply with CTIA guidelines and applicable regulations. Our messages are clear, transparent, and relevant to the user’s relationship with our business. If you have concerns about the content of our messages or wish to unsubscribe, please follow the instructions provided in the messages. 

User Rights and Choices

As a user of our services, you have certain rights and choices regarding A2P 10DLC messages, including:

  • The right to opt in or opt out of receiving A2P 10DLC messages.
  • The right to access, correct, or delete your personal data.
  • The right to file a complaint if you believe your rights have been violated.

To exercise these rights or make choices regarding A2P 10DLC messaging, please contact us at:

TechCollect Email: [email protected] 

Changes to this Section

We may update this A2P 10DLC Compliance Section to reflect changes in regulatory requirements or our business practices. Please check this section periodically for updates.

Retention 

We keep your information for no longer than is necessary for the purposes it was collected for. The length of time we retain your Personal Information is determined by operational and legal considerations. Personal Information collected for purposes related to the performance of a contract shall be retained until such contract has been fully performed. Furthermore, we may be obliged to retain Personal Information for a longer period whenever required to do so for the performance of a legal obligation or upon order of an authority. 

Security 

We take certain appropriate security measures to help protect your Personal Information from accidental loss and from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. However, we cannot guarantee that unauthorized persons will always be unable to defeat our security measures. 

Your California Privacy Rights 

If you are a California resident, you may have certain rights with respect to your Personal Information including the following rights: 

The right to know, by way of our Privacy Policy and any specific inquiries you direct to us, where Personal Information we have about you comes from, what we use that information for, whether it is being disclosed or sold, and to whom it is being disclosed or sold; 
The right to “opt-out” of TechCollect’s sale of your Personal Information to any third parties, in the event TechCollect sells data; 
The right, with some exceptions, to have your Personal Information deleted from TechCollect’s possession or control; and  
The right to receive equal service and pricing from TechCollect even if you exercise any of your privacy rights. 

California Civil Code Section 1798.83 permits users of the Site who are California residents to request certain information regarding our disclosure of Personal Information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes. To make such a request, to learn more, or if you have any questions or concerns about your California privacy rights, please visit the Privacy Notice for California Residents. 

Links to Other Websites 

You may be able to post content to third party Social Networking Sites (such as Facebook, Linked-In, Twitter, and Google+) on which we maintain a presence. If you choose to do this, we will provide information to the Social Networking Site(s), and receive information from them, in accordance with your elections. You acknowledge and agree that you are solely responsible for your use of those websites and that it is your responsibility to review the applicable terms of use and privacy policies. We are not responsible for the availability, accuracy, content, products or services of third-party Social Networking Sites. 

While you are using the Site, you may be linked or directed to other third-party websites that are beyond our control. These third-party websites may have privacy policies and terms of use which differ from ours. Please carefully review these policies. We are not responsible for any actions or policies of such third parties. 

Data Transfer 

We may maintain your Personal Information on computers and servers located outside of your state of residence. However, we only process, store, and collect data, including Personal Information, in the United States.   

Access and Consent to Use of Your Personal Information 

If you believe that the Personal Information that we have collected about you is incomplete, inaccurate, or not up to date, or if you would like to review and/or request changes or deletion of that information, please see the contact information in the “Questions and Contact Information” section. 

If you do not consent or want to withdraw your consent for us to collect, use, or disclose your Personal Information as described in this Policy, please use the contact information provided in the “Questions and Contact Information” section. In your request, please identify the Personal Information at issue and the collection, use, or disclosure you wish to stop.  

Denying or withdrawing consent may not allow us to provide you with some or all the products, services, or information you request. 

You may opt-out of receiving marketing-related emails by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any email you receive from us or emailing us at the contact information provided in the “Questions and Contact Information” section of this Policy.  

If you opt-out from receiving marketing emails or text messages, we may still need to send you communications about your account, orders, customer service inquiries, and other matters. 

If you agreed to receive future marketing communications directly from a third party through our Site, you will need to contact that party to opt-out of such communications. This process may be outlined on that party’s privacy policy. 

Changes to Privacy Policy 

From time to time, we may change this Privacy Policy and will notify you of material changes by posting the changed or modified Privacy Policy on our Site. Any changes will be effective immediately upon the posting of the revised Privacy Policy unless otherwise specified. Your continued use of our Site following the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of such changes.  

Questions and Contact Information 

If you have any questions, want to register a complaint or simply want more information, you may contact us at: 

400 Water Street, Suite 200, Rochester, MI 48307
[email protected]