Better Business Bureau ®
 
 











BBB Online Privacy Policy


For purposes of this Privacy Policy, the terms "we," "us," "our" and "BBB" refer to Better Business Bureau Inc. and all affiliates of Better Business Bureau , Inc. "you" and "your" refers to you, as a user of the BBB website. The Privacy Policy below governs any information you provide on this site.

This Privacy Policy describes:

Overview;
Personal Information that BBB May Collect Online;
How BBB Uses Personal Information Collected Online;
How Your Information May Be Shared;
How You Can Help Us Keep Your Personal Information Accurate;
Computer Tracking and Cookies; and
Problems or Complaints with this Privacy Policy.

Overview

By using the BBB website, you expressly consent to our collection and use and disclosure of your personal information in the manner described in this Privacy Policy.

Physical, electronic and managerial procedures have been employed to safeguard the security and integrity of your personal information. Billing information is encrypted whenever transmitted or received online. Personal information is accessible only by BBB staff or volunteers designated to handle online complaints or requests. All BBB agents and contractors with access to personal information obtained on the BBB web sites are also bound to adhere to this policy. To protect the security of information supplied by businesses applying for participation in the BBBOnLine privacy program, businesses are provided user names and passwords to access their information.

Personal Information that BBB May Collect Online

The BBB collects the following types of personal information: names, postal and e-mail addresses, phone and facsimile numbers, billing information, vehicle information such as vehicle identification numbers and complaint information. The BBB may also collect business information from sole proprietorships that apply for membership and for program participation, some of which could constitute personal information, as well as personal information from individuals acting solely in their business capacity.

The BBB does not collect or maintain information from those actually known to be under the age of 13, and no part of our sites are structured to attract anyone under the age of 13.

How BBB Uses Personal Information Collected Online

Unless you consent, we will not use your personal information for any purpose other than that for which it is submitted. We use personal information to reply to inquiries, handle complaints, provide operational notices and in program record-keeping. We also process billing and business requests related to program participation.

How Your Information May Be Shared

In order to process a complaint, the BBB may send the complaint to another Better Business Bureau location where the company that is the subject of the complaint is headquartered, handle it itself, or refer the complaint to another appropriate organization for handling. For example, complaints against charities and certain automobile manufacturers are normally handled by the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) and complaints against foreign businesses will be processed by CBBB but may be handled by an appropriate foreign organization. Depending on the type of complaint, either the CBBB or the BBB will also transfer your information submitted in your complaints to the company that is the subject of the complaint. Further, when we receive a request or inquiry that must be handled by another Better Business Bureau location, we forward the request or inquiry to the appropriate Better Business Bureau location. By completing a complaint form or sending us a request or inquiry, you are authorizing us to forward your information to the appropriate Better Business Bureau location, if necessary, and also to the company that is the subject of your complaint. Without a complete submission of all requested information, the BBB will not be able to share your information and process your complaint. We never sell or rent your personal information, but may, from time to time, send you a survey or other such email requesting your feedback about BBB services. We may also contact you in the future to tell you about specials, new products, or services, or changes to this privacy policy. In addition, we may also solicit you for special giving opportunities to help support our organization. This information is only used by the BBB and is not sold, leased or otherwise provided to any third-party.

The BBB may also release personal information to appropriate governmental authorities under the following circumstances:

  • Where release is required by law (for example, a subpoena) or regulation, or is requested by a government agency conducting investigations or proceedings;
  • Where our records indicate a company may be engaged in fraudulent activity or other deceptive practices that a governmental agency should be made aware of;
  • Where warranted by a company's failure to participate in the advertising self-regulatory process or respond to an online privacy complaint, or where a company fails to honor the recommendations of the National Advertising Division, Children's Advertising Review Unit, National Advertising Review Board or of BBBOnLine's Privacy Program Review Service; or
  • Where your communication suggests possible harm to others.

How You Can Help Us Keep Your Personal Information Accurate

If your personal information changes or you would like to review the personal information we may have on file, please e-mail us with the new information or your review request at info@centraltx.bbb.org. Let us also know the department or BBB program that led to your submission of personal information so we may efficiently locate your information.

Computer Tracking and Cookies

Our web sites are not set up to track, collect or distribute personal information not entered by visitors. Our site logs do generate certain kinds of non-identifying site usage data, such as the number of hits and visits to our sites. This information is used for internal purposes by technical support staff to provide better services to the public and may also be provided to others, but again, the statistics contain no personal information and cannot be used to gather such information.

Our web sites also recognize the online site where a visitor "clicked-to-check" on the BBBOnLine seal of a BBBOnLine program participant, but we cannot identify the visitor or the visitor's address. Site information is used to confirm participation in the BBBOnLine program, and may be used to advise participants of the numbers of visitors who come to our BBBOnLine site from their sites. No personal information is collected.

A cookie is a small amount of data that is sent to your browser from a Web server and stored on your computer's hard drive. BBB uses non-identifying cookies to provide easier site navigation and access to forms. You can still use the BBB sites if your browser is set to reject cookies. Our cookies do not generate personal data, do not read personal data from your machine and are never tied to anything that could be used to identify you.

Problems or Complaints with this Privacy Policy

If you have a complaint about BBB compliance with this Privacy Policy, you may contact us at info@centraltx.bbb.org. If we are unable to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction, you may elect to proceed with BBBOnLine's Privacy Policy Review Service by completing the complaint form.