At GoldenGuardian.com (“we”, “us”, “our”, or “Site”), privacy is a top priority, and we are dedicated to protecting the personal information of our website visitors and customers. We created this Privacy Notice to explain how we collect, use, and share the information that we collect from and about you.
California Notice at Collection of Personal Information: Please see “Data Collected” and “Data Use” for an overview of what information we collect, and why, and “Information for California Consumers” for information about how to exercise your privacy rights, including opting out of the sale or sharing of your personal information.
Data Collected and Data Sources
Automatically Collected Information: We collect data that your device provides when you interact with the Site or sites owned by third-parties with whom we have contractual relationships (“Media Partners”). In most cases, when you come to the Site, we will automatically gather or receive technical data which may include browser type, referrer URL, date and time of your visit, IP address, MAC address, device type, screen resolution, and OS version (“Technical Data”). Technical Data also includes “Cookie and Similar Data” described below. We (or our third-party vendors) may use tools and software (e.g., Jornaya and ActiveProspect) to monitor and record information (including screenshots and videos) about your interactions with the Site and Media Partner sites, including keystrokes, mouse movements, form field entries, and overall engagement with the Site and Media Partner sites. We may collect and use this information for compliance verification purposes.
Other Data You Provide: We collect additional data if you choose to engage with the Site or certain sites owned by our Media Partners. We refer to the information you choose to provide as “Provided Attributes.” This includes contact information that you choose to provide to us or our Media Partners (e.g., name, address, email address, telephone number) about yourself or others. For example, if you click on our advertisement located on a Media Partner’s site, that Media Partner may pass your contact information to us. Or, if you inquire about insurance opportunities, products and services, the Provided Attributes you may choose to disclose may also include age, gender, number of vehicles owned and homeowner status.
Third Party Data: In some cases, we may combine Technical Data and any Provided Attributes with Third Party Data. “Third Party Data” includes information that we receive from third parties such as credit reporting agencies and Partners (defined below). Third Party Data may also include information we use to confirm or supplement validate the data you provide (e.g., phone number, Vehicle Identification Number, outstanding loan amount). Finally, our Advertising Partners may also provide us with information about your interaction with their advertised products and services (e.g., whether you purchase their products or services). We may combine Technical Data, Provided Attributes and Third-Party Data. Please note, we will only obtain credit reporting information with your consent.
Cookie and Similar Data: When you use this Site, we may use a “cookie” or other tracking technology to recognize you or your device. These technologies act as unique identifiers and allow us to tailor this Site to your specified interests and track your activity on this Site and across devices that you use. We may use this information to deliver offers and advertisements that we believe are relevant to your interests.
We have contractual relationships with advertisers, advertising agencies and other intermediaries that have advertisers as clients (collectively, “Advertising Partners”). Our Media Partners and Advertising Partners (collectively, “Partners”) may also utilize third-party cookies and other tracking technologies like clear pixel GIFs (i.e., web beacons) to identify you. We and our Partners may use these technologies to measure responses to emails, interactions with advertisements, page views on this Site and our Partners’ websites and other similar metrics. Among other things, we use these technologies to enhance this Site, to make this Site more relevant to you, and to measure the effectiveness of our email and other advertising campaigns and those of our Partners. You can opt out of some of our and our Partners’ use of cookies and other technologies at: Google, the Network Advertising Initiative, Invite Media, and Clicktale.
Tracking Options and California Do Not Track Disclosures: Certain Sites require cookies to function efficiently. We may use cookies to deliver advertising we believe is relevant to you and to link data collected across other devices you use. You can adjust your settings to limit tracking or decline cookies, but, as a result, you may not be able to use certain features of this Site or take full advantage of all our offerings. Please refer to your device or browser settings for more information on how to delete or decline cookies and control your tracking preferences. This Site does not respond to Do Not Track signals from most browsers.
Data Use
We use the data we collect from and about you through this Site primarily to connect you with Advertising Partners who can provide you with information about the products and services you are seeking. We generally do this using Technical Data and Provided Attributes, but in certain cases (e.g., lending products) we may also use Third Party Data.
For example, we may have an auto insurance Partner who is only licensed in certain states. We may use Technical Data or Provided Attributes to determine if you are a resident of one of those states. We refer to Advertising Partner requirements generally as “segmentation” and the alignment of consumer data and our Advertising Partner segments as “matching.”
We may also use the data we collect from and about you: (i) to respond to your requests (e.g., via email, phone calls or texts); (ii) to keep you informed of our products and services (and those of our Partners); (iii) to allow you to send messages through this Site; (iv) to improve and protect our Sites and business; (v) to fulfill any purchase you make; (vi) to monitor your user experience for compliance purposes and (vii) use your data in an aggregated, non-specific format for analytic and demographic purposes. We use Technical Data to monitor this Site’s performance, analyze traffic patterns and usage, ensure that this Site and any transactions function properly, and gather demographic information about our user base as a whole. We may use automated decision-making in segmentation and matching.
Data Sharing
In addition to the primary uses described in the “Data Use” section above (i.e., sharing your data with Advertising Partners and third parties for the purpose of providing you with information about the products and services you are seeking), we may share your data as follows: (i) with other GoldenGuardian.com businesses; (ii) with service providers who assist us in compliance and verification activities (e.g., credit agencies), or provide services such as payment processing, IT, and data analysis; (iii) if you choose to send a message through, or to contribute to public areas of, this Site (e.g., message boards, blogs); and (iv) with a third party in the event of a sale or transfer of all or part of our business.
We may also disclose the data we collect from and about you to (i) comply with legal processes; (ii) to respond to lawful requests from authorities (including public and government authorities outside your state or country of residence, and including to meet national security or law enforcement requirements); (iii) to enforce our Terms of Service and this Privacy Notice; (iv) to protect our business, rights, privacy, safety, or property or that of others; and (v) as necessary under applicable law (including laws outside your state or country of residence).
Other Websites
This Site may contain links to websites that we do not own or operate. We are not responsible for the content or practices of such websites, including their practices with respect to your data. We have no responsibility or liability for such practices, and the website owner’s privacy policy governs your use of those websites. If this Site includes any mapping features, those mapping features are powered by Google, Inc. and governed by Google’s privacy policy, as amended from time to time.
Security
We have taken certain physical, technical, and administrative steps to protect the data we collect from and about Site users. We use certain reasonable security measures to help protect your personal information from accidental loss, unauthorized use, alteration, or disclosure. However, no electronic data transmission or storage of information can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. Please note that we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us. We are not responsible if you circumvent any privacy settings or security measures on our Websites. You use the Site and provide us with your data at your own risk. If we share data as detailed in this Privacy Notice with a third party we will use all reasonable efforts to ensure that they keep the information secure and that they only use the information consistent with the terms of this Privacy Notice.
Children
We do not knowingly collect, use, share, or sell the personal information of individuals under the age of 16 and this Site is not directed to individuals under 16. If you become aware that an individual under 16 has provided us with personal information, please click here to contact us. If we are made aware that we have collected personal information from an individual under age 16, we will delete this information as soon as practicable.
Choices and Access
Residents of certain states (e.g., California) may have additional rights (e.g., see “Information for California Consumers” below).
Marketing Emails: To stop receiving marketing emails from us, please click here and follow the instructions to unsubscribe. Even if you unsubscribe, we may still send administrative (i.e., non-marketing) messages. To unsubscribe from a third party’s communications, contact that third party directly or follow the instructions to unsubscribe in the applicable marketing email.
Phone Calls and Texts: To opt out of receiving telephone calls or texts from us, please click here and follow the instructions to be placed on our Do Not Call list.
Please note that we will not be able to remove your data from third parties’ databases, and you will need to contact them directly and/or use any available opt-out mechanisms.
Retention Period
In general, we will retain your data for as long as is needed to connect you with Advertising Partners who can provide you with information about the products and services you are seeking, which is typically 30-180 days. We will typically retain an archived copy of your data for six years as required or permitted by law for legal and compliance purposes.
Information for California Consumers
The California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) affords certain rights and protections to California residents with respect to their Personal Information. The CCPA defines “Personal Information” as “information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular consumer or household.” This section describes (i) the categories and sources of Personal Information that GoldenGuardian.com collects, sells or shares; (ii) the purpose for collection; (iii) the types of third parties to whom GoldenGuardian.com discloses that information; and (iv) details about how California residents can exercise their rights under the CCPA.
Categories of Data GoldenGuardian.com Collected in the Preceding 12 Months. GoldenGuardian.com collected the following CCPA categories of data: (i) identifiers, such as a name, email address, telephone number, postal address, unique personal identifier, online identifier, IP address, account name, Social Security number, driver’s license number; (ii) personal identifiers under Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.80(e), such as insurance policy number, education, employment status, bank account information, credit card or debit card number, financial information, medical information, health insurance information; (iii) protected classification characteristics under California or federal law, such as age, marital status, medical condition, gender, veteran or military status; (iv) commercial information, such as products or services obtained, or considered, or other purchasing or consuming histories or tendencies; (v) Internet or other electronic network activity, such as browsing history and search history information; (vi) geolocation data; (vii) professional or employment related history, such as consumer-reported current or past job history; (viii) inferences drawn from some of the information above (e.g., email open rates and time); and (ix) sensitive personal information, such as Social Security number, driver’s license number, medical information, and medical condition.
GoldenGuardian.com generally collects the above data as Technical Data or Provided Attributes. GoldenGuardian.com may store aggregated data as segments based upon Technical Data and Provided Attributes. GoldenGuardian.com receives each of those categories of data only as self-reported data from the consumer.
Sources of Data GoldenGuardian.com Collects.
GoldenGuardian.com collects Technical Data and Provided Attributes from consumers who visit or engage with our Sites, our call centers or other GoldenGuardian.com owned-properties (e.g., in response to emails from or on behalf of GoldenGuardian.com).
Partners and Third Parties: Consumers who visit websites our Media Partners own may be redirected to our Sites. In some cases, we may gather data directly from Media Partner websites, or Media Partners or other third parties may post data to our Sites or otherwise transfer data to us. This may occur via display ads, click listings, inquiry forms or telephonic transfers from Media Partner call centers. Our Advertising Partners may also provide us with data.
Service Providers: GoldenGuardian.com engages service providers to perform a variety of functions (e.g., verifying consumer consent, validating email addresses or phone numbers).
Authorization: We require all parties from whom we receive Personal Information, whether they are Partners, service providers or other third parties, to represent and warrant to us that they have appropriately obtained the Personal Information provided to us and have the authority to share the Personal Information with us.
Purpose for Personal Information Collection. As described above in “Data Use,” GoldenGuardian.com primarily uses the Personal Information it collects to connect consumers with Advertising Partners who can provide information about the products and services those consumers are seeking.
Categories of Third Parties with Whom GoldenGuardian.com Has Disclosed Personal Information for a Business Purpose in the Preceding 12 Months. In addition to sharing data for the primary use described in “Data Sharing,” we may share identifiers and internet activity (e.g., name, email address, telephone number, browsing history) with other GoldenGuardian.com businesses, service providers, and Third-Party websites.
GoldenGuardian.com may also disclose or sell Technical Data, Provided Attributes and Third Party Data to other GoldenGuardian.com businesses or with a third party in the event of a sale or transfer of all or part of our business.
Additionally, GoldenGuardian.com may disclose Technical Data, Provided Attributes, and Third Party Data (e.g., identifiers, personal identifiers, protected classification information, geolocation data, and inferences) with service providers who assist us in compliance and verification activities (e.g., credit agencies), or provide services such as payment processing, IT, and data analysis information.
Categories of Personal Information Sold or Shared. As described above in “Data Use” and “Data Sharing,” GoldenGuardian.com may disclose or sell Technical Data, Provided Attributes and Third Party Data, including identifiers, internet activity, personal identifiers, and protected classification characteristics (e.g., name, email address, telephone number, browsing history, education, credit information, veteran or military status, browsing history, geolocation data) to Advertising Partners who can provide the consumer with information about the products and services they are seeking. We may receive a fee for the transfer of that data or when the consumer purchases a product or service. GoldenGuardian.com does not knowingly collect, share, or sell personal information from individuals under the age of 16.
CCPA Rights. If you are a California resident you may take advantage of the following privacy rights:
Right to Know: You have the right to know what Personal Information we have collected about you, including the categories of Personal Information, the categories of sources from which the Personal Information is collected, the business or commercial purpose for collecting, selling, or sharing Personal Information, the categories of third parties to whom we disclose Personal Information, and the specific pieces of Personal Information we have collected about you.
Right to Delete: You have the right to delete Personal Information that we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions. Note that there are some reasons we will not be able to fully address your request, such as if we need to complete a transaction for you, to detect and protect against fraudulent and illegal activity, to exercise our rights, for our internal purposes, or to comply with a legal obligation.
Right to Correct: You have the right to correct inaccurate Personal Information that we may maintain about you, subject to appropriate verification.
Right to Opt-Out of the Sale or Sharing of Personal Information: You have the right to opt-out of the “sale” or “sharing” of your Personal Information, as such terms are defined in California privacy law, to third parties and to affiliated companies that do not share the same brand name. This means that, if you opt out, going forward, we will not sell or share your Personal Information with such third parties to use for their purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, unless you later direct us to do so.
How to Submit a Request. To exercise your Right to Know, Delete, Correct, or Opt-Out under the laws of California, please use our contact form to submit your request.
To take advantage of your Right to Opt-Out of the Sale or Sharing of Personal Information, please use our contact form to submit your request.
Verifying Your Identity. Because of the nature of our Sites, GoldenGuardian.com is not able to definitely verify your identity prior to responding to your Request to Know, Correct, Delete, or Opt-out. Consumers who interact with our Sites are not required to set up an account, to register, or to validate their Personal Information and GoldenGuardian.com does not maintain an ongoing relationship with consumers who provide their Personal Information. Because of these factors, GoldenGuardian.com is not able to reasonably verify the identity of any consumer based on the information provided through our Sites and through a submitted request. Therefore, it may be difficult for GoldenGuardian.com to honor Requests to Know. Instead, GoldenGuardian.com may provide in response to such requests a description of GoldenGuardian.com’s business practices regarding its handling of Personal Information, including a description of the categories of Personal Information collected, maintained, and sold.
As a California consumer, you have the right not to receive discriminatory treatment by GoldenGuardian.com for the exercise of your privacy rights under the CCPA.
Agent Requests. You may authorize someone to make a privacy rights request on your behalf (an authorized agent). Authorized agents will need to demonstrate that you’ve authorized them to act on your behalf or must demonstrate they have power of attorney pursuant to applicable probate law. GoldenGuardian.com retains the right to request confirmation directly from you confirming that the agent is authorized to make such a request, or to request additional information to confirm the agent’s identity. An authorized agent is prohibited from using a consumer’s Personal Information, or any information collected from or about the consumer, for any purpose other than to fulfill the consumer’s requests, for verification, or for fraud prevention.
Information for Virginia Consumers
The Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (“VCDPA”) affords certain rights and protections to Virginia residents with respect to their Personal Data. The VCDPA defines “Personal Data” as “any information that is linked or reasonably linkable to an identified or identifiable natural person.”
Virginia law provides Virginia residents with the rights listed below:
Right to Access: You have the right to know and see what Personal Data GoldenGuardian.com has collected about you.
Right to Correct: You have the right to request that GoldenGuardian.com correct inaccurate Personal Data.
Right to Delete: You have the right to request that we delete the Personal Data we have collected about you.
Right to Opt-Out of the Sale or Sharing of Personal Information: You have the right to opt out of “targeted advertising” or the “sale” of Personal Data (as defined under Virginia privacy law).
How to Submit a Request. To exercise your Right to Know, Delete, Correct, or Opt-Out under Virginia privacy law, please use our contact form to submit your request.
To take advantage of your Right to Opt-Out of the Sale or Sharing of Personal Information, please use our contact form to submit your request.
As a Virginia resident, you have the right not to receive discriminatory treatment by GoldenGuardian.com for the exercise of your privacy rights under the VCDPA.
Changes to this Privacy Notice
We may amend this Privacy Notice from time to time. When we do, we will post an updated version of the Privacy Notice and revise the “LAST UPDATED” date at the top. We will provide appropriate notice to you if we change the Privacy Notice in any material way. Using this Site after we make any changes means you accept those changes and the revised Privacy Notice.
GoldenGuardian.com Businesses
For purposes of this Privacy Notice, “you” or “your” means the person(s) using this Site or the products or services offered through this Site. “GoldenGuardian.com,” “us,” or “we” includes (but is not limited to) GoldenGuardian.com, and any/all other “sister” websites and entities directly associated with and/or under the GoldenGuardian.com umbrella.
Dispute Resolution
You have the right to submit feedback about this Privacy Notice, or the practices described in it, to the applicable supervisory authority in your jurisdiction of residence. For U.S. residents this includes the Federal Trade Commission and your state Attorney General.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Notice you may submit an inquiry by using our Contact Us page.