Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy - Summary

At www.ratemaster.net, we value the privacy rights of our users and have implemented a privacy compliance framework to ensure that these rights are respected. We provide access to personal information and enable users to exercise their privacy rights.

Our privacy policy aims to keep you informed about the data we collect, how it's used, and your options regarding specific data uses. Our policy covers all individuals who use Our Services, and we've provided a summary of the key points below for your convenience. If you're a Californian resident, please refer to our California privacy notice.

We collect specific information about your usage, content interactions, websites visited, and technical details about the device and system used to access the services when you use Our Services. If you use our "click to call" service, we may collect and retain your phone number for up to three months.

We collect this information for various purposes, such as website maintenance, providing Our Services, quality improvement, statistical analysis, and payment-related matters with our business partners, including clients, vendors, and affiliates.

We respect your privacy and will not disclose your personal information unless legally required or necessary for providing Our Services. We encourage individuals to read and understand our detailed privacy policy, which has legal validity.

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: May 20, 2021

Our Privacy Policy explains how we, www.ratemaster.net ("we", "our", or "us"), collect data related to the Site and its features, including any content, offers, elements, or services we provide through the Site (which we refer to as "Our Services"). The headings in this policy are designed for easy navigation and do not carry any interpretative significance.

We have the right to make changes to this Privacy Policy at our discretion without external influence. If we make any changes, we will post the updated Privacy Policy on our website, with the latest revision date shown at the bottom. By accessing or using the Site, including any subsequent downloads or access made after the changes, you are consenting and acknowledging the updated Privacy Policy. For significant changes, we will provide appropriate notice to users, such as publishing a notification on the website, at least seven (7) days before the changes take effect. Once the notification is published, the modifications will become effective after a period of seven (7) days.

1. Terms of Use.

The Privacy Policy is an important part of the Terms of Use. Any terms not defined in the Privacy Policy will have meanings defined in the Terms.

The handling and usage of Personal Information complies with relevant data protection regulations, and it will generally be processed based on one or more of the following legal grounds:

2.1. Performance of a Contract. When you utilize Our Services, you are making a clear request for us to deliver them while adhering entirely to our established Terms of Use. To achieve this, there might be a necessity to handle specific Personal Information, such as your IP address.

2.2. Legitimate Interests. Personal Information may be utilized by Our Services for valid business reasons, which can include improving user experiences, performing analytics, deterring fraud, and ensuring security.

2.3. Legal Obligations. In specific circumstances, there may be a requirement to use personal data to fulfill regulatory or legal responsibilities, such as addressing user complaints or responding to inquiries from regulatory authorities.

2.4. Consent.On occasions, we may require your explicit consent to process and utilize your Personal Information for additional services. These services may encompass actions like subscribing to newsletters, creating a user profile, receiving personalized offers, or sharing product reviews. If we are relying on your consent as the legal basis for this processing, you have the option to revoke your consent by clicking on the provided link. After verifying your request, we will contact you as needed.

3. Information We Process.

When you use Our Services, we collect information about your interactions and usage through various methods:

3.1. Information You Provide to Us. To access specific features and services offered through Our Services, you may be required to furnish specific Personal Information. This might involve actions like creating a user profile, submitting product or service reviews, subscribing to newsletters, or receiving promotional material. We will actively and voluntarily seek your consent to collect this information. Additionally, by accepting our Privacy Policy, we may gather particular Personal Information as elaborated below.

In the context of this Privacy Policy, "Personal Information" denotes any data that can identify an individual, either independently or when combined with other data. This may encompass details such as a person's name, email address, phone number, physical address, and other contact information. Depending on the legal jurisdiction and the data's intended use, the IP address assigned to your device by your Internet service provider may also be considered Personal Information. If we receive such personal data, it will be handled with care and safeguarded. However, it will not be used for user identification purposes.

3.1.1. Third-Party Forms and Services:We provide a range of services focused on assessing and pricing various external businesses, brands, and commercial entities, referred to as "Partners," along with their products and services, known as "Products." Our Partners may occasionally offer opportunities, amenities, and offerings through an online form, which you can voluntarily complete with your consent. The details you provide in this form will facilitate your interaction with the relevant Partner, referred to as a "Lead."

If you wish to obtain more information about a Partner or Product or intend to engage in a transaction with a Partner, you can simply click on the corresponding Partner icon or tab. This action will redirect you to a Landing Page owned and operated by the Partner, which may also be accessible through other online sources. On the Landing Page, you may be asked to provide specific information, including Personal Information like your name, email address, and phone number, collectively referred to as "Landing Page Info."

Please be aware that the information you submit on the Landing Page is directly collected by the Partner responsible for it. It will be subject to their individual privacy policy and data collection practices. We strongly recommend reviewing their privacy policies to gain a better understanding of how your Personal Information will be gathered and used.

3.1.2. Contact Us.When you submit a 'Contact Us' request using different methods like an online form, email, feedback option, or reporting feature on Our Services, we may ask you to provide certain Personal Information like your name and email address. We will use this information, along with the specifics of your inquiry, to address your request and serve our valid business objectives, as outlined in sections 4 and 5 of this Privacy Policy.

3.1.3. Blogs, Newsletters, Surveys, and Promotions.Our Services offer a variety of features, including a blog forum, reviews, articles about the Services, Partners, Products, and relevant market topics. Users can also choose to subscribe to newsletters and participate in surveys and promotional activities. These activities may be administered by the service provider or third-party services engaged by the provider. Suppose you participate in any of these activities, like leaving a comment on a blog forum, signing up for a newsletter, or taking a survey. In that case, you may need to furnish Personal Information, such as your name and email address. This data will be shared with a third party and is subject to both our privacy policy and the third party's privacy policy. Please be assured that the information you provide will be used exclusively for the purpose for which it was submitted.

3.1.4. User Profile and User Reviews.We might ask you to evaluate our partners or set up a user profile for our services. Doing so will allow you to offer us additional details about yourself, which will assist us in delivering a tailored experience for you.

3.2. Information We Collect from You.Information related to your usage and interaction with Our Services is collected using the following methods:

3.2.1. Device Information: In order to ensure seamless delivery and compatibility with language, geographic location, and time zone, we collect device information. This information encompasses the type of device, its operating system and version, language and version settings, along with user agent data like browser type, version, and screen resolution.

3.2.2. Interactions and Usage:We collect user interaction and usage data to enhance and manage our Services. This data is also shared with our partners and affiliates. Our data collection includes gathering URLs that users access, both internally and externally, as well as tracking user actions during Service use, including views and clicks. Furthermore, we record the date and time of Site usage, along with the timing of clicks and page views.

3.2.3. Log Files:We obtain data from server log files and utilize tracking technologies, such as pixel tags, on our services to analyze patterns, monitor user engagement, and evaluate interactions with our services. This data includes internet protocol (IP) addresses assigned to users' devices by their internet service providers. It's important to note that we only collect IP addresses for a limited time and for specific purposes.

Initially, we use this data to determine your geographical location, including your country, region, and language, so that we can provide our services in a language that is native to you and relevant to your location. Subsequently, we employ automated mechanisms to review IP addresses and identify any that exhibit fraudulent behavior.

3.2.4. Cookies and Similar Technologies.Our Services may utilize anonymous web tracking technologies, such as "cookies," "web beacons," and "pixel tags," which can be implemented by us or third-party service providers. A cookie is a small file sent to a user's computer when they visit a website. Upon returning to the website, the cookie assists in identifying and recognizing the browser being used, enabling it to remember your preferences and pertinent details about your interactions with Our Services. You have the option to decline all cookies or receive notifications when a cookie is sent to your browser. However, doing so may affect the proper functioning of certain features or services on the Site and could limit your access to some functionalities.

When applicable, a pixel tag is a tool embedded on a website to monitor and track user activity, including email access and opening. It is frequently used in conjunction with cookies.

For more comprehensive information regarding the specific types of cookies utilized and how we employ cookies and tracking technologies on Our Services, please consult our Cookie Policy.

3.3. Information we receive from Third Parties.Our Services collaborate with third-party entities such as Partners, affiliates, and other organizations to ensure smooth operations. From these sources, we may acquire data, including an internal user identifier generated by our system for each user and a summary of your actions, such as clicks, purchases, views, form submissions, or phone calls.

Certain features of our Services allow users to access them on-demand through a click-to-call mechanism. In such instances, third-party vendors facilitate the transmission, tracking, and feedback of calls. Consequently, we may temporarily receive the telephone number used to initiate the call, without any personal information. We utilize this information solely for referrals and effective communication with our Partners. However, we do not use this information for any other purposes without obtaining your explicit consent.

You are under no obligation to furnish Personal Information while using Our Services; it is entirely optional. By opting to use our services, you implicitly consent to abide by this Privacy Policy and its information handling practices. If you disagree with these terms, kindly refrain from using Our Services.

Some services may necessitate the provision of specific personal information, but the decision to use these services is always at your discretion. If you have already provided Personal Information, you retain the right to withdraw your consent at any time. For further details on opting out and revoking your consent, please consult section 8 below.

5. Purposes for the collection of information.

We gather Personal Information, referred to as "your Information," with the aim of delivering Our Services and enhancing their quality. We utilize this information for several purposes, which include but are not limited to:

(a) Simplifying your utilization of Our Services.

(b) Enhancing the overall quality of Our Services.

(c) Monitoring referrals and advertisements.

(d) Verifying user authenticity and preventing fraudulent activities.

(e) Responding to your inquiries and various forms of communication.

(f) Validating and authenticating your access to and utilization of Our Services.

6. Sharing Your Information with Third Parties.

Personal Information is not disclosed to third parties unless under the following circumstances:

6.1. Data Storage and Security Platforms (“Data Platforms);We rely on third-party cloud and storage services, often referred to as "Data Platforms," to store and manage user information. This entails the sharing or transmission of user-provided information to third-party entities, both within and outside the United States, for storage and other data processing purposes. Notable examples of such entities include Amazon Web Services, whose privacy policy is accessible at https://aws.amazon.com/privacy/.

The Data Platforms we utilize maintain robust privacy safeguards and data security measures to adhere to applicable data protection regulations. However, it's crucial to recognize that their practices and policies are exclusively governed by their own privacy policies.

6.2. Social Media Platforms.We may share non-identifiable information with social media platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn for marketing and operational reasons. These platforms can collect your personal data independently and may merge it with the data we share, but only if you grant explicit and separate consent. Any sharing of personal data is governed by the privacy policy of the particular social media platform, over which we have no influence, authority, or insight. If you are a California resident, you retain the legal option to opt out of data sharing, as detailed in section 9 of our Privacy Notice.

6.3. Other Third Parties.We may distribute the data you furnish to third-party entities that aid us in managing our operations, including customer service representatives and providers of email or phone administration services. These entities also contribute to the analysis of user behavior and the enhancement of our services. Each of these entities maintains its own privacy policies, which we ensure they make available whenever they deliver their services. It's advisable to scrutinize these policies when third-party entities offer services directly to you. These entities may be situated anywhere globally, including the locations where their servers are based.

6.4. Enforcement.We may disclose your Personal Information to third parties when we consider it necessary or advantageous. This may be done for various reasons, including:

(a) Compliance with applicable laws, regulations, legal proceedings, or government requests.

(b) Investigation of potential breaches of our Terms of Use.

(c) Detection, prevention, or resolution of fraud or security issues.

(d) Protection of the rights, assets, or well-being of www.ratemaster.net, our affiliated entities, our users, yourself, and/or the public.

6.5. Partners and Products.If you wish to obtain more information about a specific service, you can opt to use our Online Form. By completing this form, you may share your details with a partner or product relevant to your request. This enables the partner to reach out to you and provide the information you seek. Please be aware that our partners have the authority to contact you using the information you furnish in the Online Form. We do not govern how our partners communicate with you, and each partner is accountable for its own privacy policy, which may differ from ours. Furthermore, our partners may be situated in various regions of the world.

6.6. Merger, Sale or Bankruptcy.If www.ratemaster.net or any of its affiliates is acquired or merged with a third-party entity, or if it decides to sell all or part of its assets, it may transfer or assign the Personal Information and other data it has collected or received. In such instances, the acquiring entity will be required to disclose its data practices and ensure that your rights are upheld in accordance with the laws applicable in your place of residence.

Non-personal information may be disclosed to third parties under specific circumstances and for particular types of entities. We may enlist the services of third-party entities to provide features and services either on our behalf or for their own purposes. When third-party technology, services, or features are used or accessed through our Site, these entities, such as Google Analytics and Tableau, may gather data by monitoring user interactions on our Services, including page content, clicks, movements, scrolling, and keystrokes.

Each of these third-party tools operates based on its own privacy policies and may use their own cookies to provide their services. For more information on cookies, please refer to ourCookie Policy. To find out more about Google's use of cookies please access the providedlink. To opt-out of Google Analytics, you can click on the providedlink.

This website may include links to other websites, content, or digital assets referred to as "Third Party Properties," which are not directly under our control. These Third Party Properties may encompass affiliated partner websites. If you click on these links and provide personal information on these Third-Party Properties, the data will be shared with the third party, although www.ratemaster.net and its affiliated entities may have agreements with these third parties to either receive or share back such data and Personal Information. It's important to note that we bear no responsibility for the privacy practices of these third parties or for the Third-Party Properties, Products, and their respective data collection practices. We strongly advise you to review the terms and conditions, as well as the privacy policy, of any Third-Party Property you opt to use or interact with.

8. Choices and Opt-Out.

You have the choice to determine whether you wish to provide us with your personal information for the purposes explained in this Privacy Policy. You have the authority to exercise your rights regarding your personal information, regardless of your current place of residence. This applies in pertinent situations, such as:

8.1. Cookies and Tracking Technologies.You have the option to reject or block cookies from the Site or third-party services through your web browser settings, and you can find additional information in Section 2.1.1 of this document.

8.2. If needed, we suggest that you review your Personal Information, make any required updates, or request its removal from our servers. For additional details, please refer to Section 2 of this document.

9. Your Rights.

9.1. EU Data Subject Rights.The collection, processing, and management of Personal Information follow the GDPR.

As a user located in the European Union, you have the following choices:

  • We kindly request you to initiate a request to access the Personal Information associated with your profile, which our organization currently maintains. To verify your identity, we will require specific credentials from you. If the information we possess is incorrect, incomplete, or outdated, please provide us with the necessary details to facilitate the required corrections.
  • If you wish to withdraw your consent for us to process your Personal Information, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. It's important to note that withdrawing your consent will not affect any data processing that has already occurred based on your prior consent.
  • We are initiating a formal request to either erase or restrict the availability of your Personal Information. In accordance with applicable legal provisions, if you exercise any of the rights mentioned above, you can request that third parties in possession of your Personal Information, as outlined in this Privacy Policy, adhere to the same regulations.
  • Individuals have the right to object to the processing of their Personal Information for direct marketing purposes.
  • Individuals have the option to lodge a complaint with a data protection regulatory authority.

9.2. Canada.Residents of Canada have the option to request information regarding the disclosure of their Personal Information to third parties for direct marketing purposes by sending an email to the provided address: [email protected].

9.3. Privacy Notice for California Residents.If you reside in California, there are specific circumstances in which your data may be governed by California law. This section serves as an extension to our primary privacy policy and could be pertinent to you. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) bestows distinct rights upon California residents concerning their personal data. Provided that they meet the legal criteria, California residents possess the following rights:

● Request to Know/Access: We aim to ensure that you have complete information regarding the data we have collected, used, disclosed, or obtained within the previous twelve (12) months. To exercise your right to be informed, we suggest reviewing Section 3.1 (User-provided Information), Section 3.2 (Service-collected Information), and Section 3.3 (Third-party-sourced Information). Once we receive your request and verify your identity, we will furnish you with a comprehensive report detailing the personal data gathered about you.

● Request for Deletion. You possess the right to request the deletion of your personal data from our databases. Nevertheless, there are certain exceptions to this rule, such as situations where we are required to retain your information for security, legal, or debugging purposes. If you can verify your identity, and there are no exceptional circumstances, we will proceed to remove your personal data from our databases.

● Request to Opt-Out from Sale of Personal Information: At our company, we presently do not participate in the commercial selling of personal data. However, certain cookie-related activities may be considered within this category, in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the California Consumer Privacy Act. If you are a California resident, you retain the right to opt-out of having your personal information sold to third parties. To exercise this right, locate the "do not sell my personal information" link at the bottom of our homepage and choose the relevant option. Please note that even if you opt-out, you may still receive ads tailored to a broader audience based on Our Services.

● No Discrimination: It is crucial to prevent any form of discrimination when you exercise your rights, including access to goods or services, equitable pricing, and consistent quality. We are committed to ensuring that there are no indications of disparity in terms of price, rate, tier, or quality of goods or services. Nonetheless, we may provide an alternative pricing or service arrangement that reflects the value derived from collecting your personal information.

● Handling Privacy Requests: Our organization is dedicated to delivering a transparent and comprehensive response to any consumer inquiry within 45 days of its receipt. In cases where additional time is required to fulfill the request, individuals will be informed in writing and provided with a specific timeframe, which can extend up to 45 days. It's important to note that a request may be declined if it cannot be verified or if retaining personal information is essential for tasks such as identifying security incidents, debugging, or complying with legal obligations.

● Our California Do Not Track Notice:Certain web browsers include a feature known as "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal, which permits users to indicate their preference regarding the tracking of their activities on our service or on other websites. Currently, our company's DNT signal feature is not operational. In specific instances, we may grant external entities, such as analytics tool providers, the ability to collect personal information related to a particular user's online behavior across various platforms and services, but only when the user is utilizing our services.

10. Information Security.

We prioritize data security and employ safeguards to safeguard information transmitted, processed, and stored on our website and computer systems. Our website is equipped with SSL encryption, and we regularly assess the security of our data collection and management procedures. We leverage third-party services that adhere to information security standards and certifications to protect data both during transit and at rest. Additionally, we have implemented access controls and monitoring protocols to regulate personnel access to data.

Nevertheless, despite these precautions, we cannot provide a complete assurance against unauthorized access or other security risks inherent in the global network. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that our services and servers are entirely immune to security breaches.

11. Children"s Privacy.

Our services are designed for individuals who are at least 16 years old. We have a policy in place that prohibits the collection of Personal Information from minors under the age of 16. If we inadvertently acquire Personal Information from a minor under the age of 16, we will promptly and reasonably take actions to eliminate that information. If you suspect that we possess such information, please reach out to us at [email protected].

12. Non-US Users.

Your Personal Information may be transferred to a foreign country that differs from your country of origin or residence. These countries may not provide the same degree of protection for your Personal Information as your country of residence. For instance, your data may be transferred to the United States. When we share information with third-party vendors, we implement contractual safeguards to ensure adequate protection during processing.

By utilizing our services and furnishing your Personal Information, you expressly grant consent to the utilization of your information as elucidated in this Privacy Policy, which encompasses the transfer of data to foreign jurisdictions, including the United States.

13. Commitment.

Our Services are dedicated to continually adjusting to evolving requirements and industry best practices for privacy, wherever these standards are accessible.

14. Contact Us.

Our Privacy Policy is straightforward and designed for easy comprehension. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]. Additionally, residents of the United Kingdom have the option to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) using the following web address: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/.