Online privacy statement

This Privacy Statement informs you of our privacy practices and of the choices you can make about the way your information is collected online and how that information is used. This statement is readily available on our home page and at the bottom of every AC Web page.

If you have questions or concerns regarding this statement, you should first contact AC using the contact information included at the end of this statement.

Sites covered by this Privacy Statement

1. Collection of personal information
2. How we use your information
3. How we share your information
4. Children’s privacy
5. Your choices and selecting your privacy preferences
6. Access to and accuracy of your information
7. Keeping your information secure
8. Changes to this statement
9. Contacting us

How AC uses automatic data collection tools:

• Cookies
• Web beacons
• Embedded web links
• AC ads on third party websites
• Information gathering tools
  

1. Sites covered by this Privacy Statement

This Privacy Statement applies to AC-owned websites and domains and the websites and domains ("AC website"), except that a privacy policy or statement posted on AC websites specific to a particular AC program or service will apply instead of this Privacy Statement.

Links to non-AC websites

The AC website may provide links to third-party websites for your convenience and information. If you access those links, you will leave the AC website. AC does not control those sites or their privacy practices, which may differ from AC's practices. We do not endorse or make any representations about third-party websites. The personal data you choose to provide to or that is collected by these third parties is not covered by the AC Privacy Statement. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any company before submitting your personal information.

2. Collection of personal information

To serve you better and understand your needs and interests, AC collects, exports, and uses personal information with adequate notice and consent, along with required filings with data protection authorities, when applicable. For example, when you order products or services, apply for instant credit, request information, subscribe to marketing or support materials, register yourself or your AC products, enter contests or participate in surveys, or apply for a job at AC, we will ask you to provide personal information to complete these transactions. The types of personal information you provide to us on these pages may include contact information such as your name, address, telephone number, and email address; financial information such as your credit card number; and other unique information such as user IDs and passwords, billing and transaction information, product and service preferences, contact preferences, educational and employment background, and job interest data. If you apply for instant credit, we will ask you to provide additional sensitive personal information such as salary, Social Security number and banking information. This information will be used by our financial services providers in determining whether to extend you credit.

If you choose to use a tell-a-friend program on our site, we will ask you for your friend’s e-mail address and automatically send your friend a one-time e-mail inviting your friend to visit the site. AC uses and stores this information only for the purpose of sending this one-time e-mail and to provide tell-a-friend message blocking, where available.

In addition to the information you provide, AC may also collect information during your visit to an AC website through our Automatic Data Collection Tools, which include Web beacons, cookies, embedded Web links, and other commonly used information-gathering tools. These tools collect certain standard information that your browser sends to our website such as your browser type and language, access times, and the address of the website from which you arrived at an AC website. An IP address is a number that is automatically assigned to your computer whenever you are surfing the Web, allowing Web servers to locate and identify your computer. Computers use IP addresses to communicate on the Internet, allowing users to browse and shop. AC may also use some of these Automatic Data Collection Tools in connection with certain emails sent from AC and therefore may collect information using these tools when you open the email or click on a link contained in the email. To learn more, read How AC uses automatic data collection tools.

3. How we use your information

The information AC collects to understand your needs and interests helps AC deliver a consistent and personalized experience. For example, AC may use your information to

• assist you in completing a transaction or order;
• communicate with you about products and services;
• provide service and support;
• update you on new services and benefits;
• provide personalized promotional offers;
• select content to be communicated to you;
• personalize some AC websites;
• allow you to participate in contests and surveys; and
• contact you for market research regarding AC products or services.

We will give you the opportunity to choose your privacy preferences regarding the communications we send (see Your choices and selecting your privacy preferences).

The testimonials posted on our Web site are only posted with the expressed permission of the individual or company who provided that testimonial.
Credit card information is used only for payment processing and fraud prevention. Credit card information and other sensitive personal information required to process a credit decision is not used for any other purpose by our financial services providers or AC and will not be kept longer than necessary for providing the services, unless you ask us to retain your credit card information for future purchases.

4. How we share your information

AC will not sell, rent or lease your personal information to others except as described in this Statement. AC shares personal information in the following ways:

AC retains service providers and suppliers to deliver complete products, services and customer solutions and to assist AC with marketing and communication initiatives. These providers and suppliers include, for example, credit card processors, providers of customer support and live-help, email service providers, automated data processors, and shipping agents. Suppliers and service providers are required by contract to keep confidential the information received on behalf of AC and may not use it for any purpose other than to carry out the services they are performing for AC.
From time to time, AC participates in marketing initiatives with other companies. As part of these initiatives, certain AC services and marketing communications are delivered at the same time as those from other companies. Some of these services and communications offer you the option to share personal information with both AC and the other companies participating in these initiatives. For example, you may receive marketing communications from AC and other companies or have the opportunity to register online for software products from multiple companies. If you choose to provide personal information only to AC, AC will not share this information with the other companies participating in that marketing initiative. If you choose to provide personal information to the other companies, that personal information will be handled according to the privacy policy of those companies.

Except as described in this Statement, AC will not share the personal information you provide to AC with non-AC third parties without your permission, unless to: (i) respond to duly authorized information requests of police and governmental authorities; (ii) comply with any law, regulation, subpoena, or court order; (iii) help prevent fraud or to enforce or protect the rights and properties of AC or its subsidiaries; or (iv) protect the personal safety of AC employees and third parties on AC property.
Circumstances may arise where, whether for strategic or other business reasons, AC decides to sell, buy, merge or otherwise reorganize businesses in some countries. Such a transaction may involve the disclosure of personal information to prospective or actual purchasers, or the receipt of it from sellers. It is AC’s practice to seek appropriate protection for information in these types of transactions.

5. Children's privacy

AC does not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 13 and does not target its websites to children under 13. We encourage parents and guardians to take an active role in their children’s online activities and interests.

6. Your choices and selecting your privacy preferences

AC gives you the choice of receiving a variety of information that complements our products and services. You can subscribe to receive certain product- and service-specific information and also choose to receive AC general communications. We give you a choice regarding delivery of AC general communications by postal mail, email and telephone.

You can make or change your choices about receiving either subscription or general communications at the data collection point or by using other methods, which are listed in the following sections. This option does not apply to communications primarily for the purpose of administering order completion, contracts, support, product safety warnings, driver updates, or other administrative and transactional notices as the primary purpose of these communications is not promotional in nature.

The email communications that you receive from AC will be provided in accordance with this statement. Some email communications may utilizeautomatic data collection tools. To learn more, read How AC uses automatic data collection tools.

Subscription communications

Subscription communications include email newsletters, software updates, etc. that may be expressly requested by you or which you consented to receive. After you request such communications, you may opt out of receiving them by using one of the following methods:

• Select the email "opt out" or "unsubscribe" link, or follow the opt-out instructions included in each subscription communication.
• Return to the Web page(s) where you originally registered your preferences and follow the opt-out instructions. Access to many AC subscriptions is available at the Subscriber’s Choice web page.
• Write to the AC Privacy Office. Be sure to provide your name, email and postal address, and specific relevant information about the AC subscriptions that you no longer wish to receive.

Please be aware that when you opt out of receiving certain subscription communications, it may affect the services you have chosen to receive from AC where accepting the communications is a condition of receiving the services.

AC general communications

AC general communications provide information about products, services, and/or support. This may include new product information, special offers, or invitations to participate in market research.

7. Access to and accuracy of your information

AC strives to keep your personal information accurately recorded. We have implemented technology, management processes and policies to help maintain data accuracy. AC provides individuals with reasonable access to personal information that they provided to AC and the reasonable ability to review and correct it or ask for anonymization, blockage, or deletion, as applicable. To protect your privacy and security, we will also take reasonable steps to verify your identity, such as requiring a password and user ID, before granting access to your data. To view and change the personal information that you directly provided to AC you can return to the Web page where you originally submitted your data and follow the instructions on that Web page, use AC Passport where enabled, or contact the AC Privacy Office.

8. Keeping your personal information secure

AC takes seriously the trust you place in us. To prevent unauthorized access or disclosure, to maintain data accuracy, and to ensure the appropriate use of the information, AC utilizes appropriate physical, technical and administrative procedures to safeguard the information we collect.
We use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption when collecting or transferring sensitive information such as credit card information. SSL encryption is designed to make the information unreadable by anyone but us. This security measure is working when you see the symbol of either an unbroken key or a closed lock (depending on your browser) at the bottom of your browser window.

Credit card numbers are used only for processing payments and are not used for other purposes. As part of real-time payment processing, AC subscribes to a fraud management service. This service gives you and AC an extra level of security to guard against credit card fraud and to protect your financial data.

9. Changes to this statement

If we change our privacy statement, we will post the revised statement here, with an updated revision date. If we make significant changes to our statement, we may also notify you by other means, such as sending an email or posting a notice on our home page.

10. Contacting us

We value your opinions. If you have comments or questions about our privacy statement, please send them to the AC Privacy Office or write to us at the following address: legal@ashburnconsulting.com

Rev. January 2008