HOPE Privacy Policy

Last Updated October 2013
HOPE USA, Inc.

Welcome to HOPE USA, Inc. Please read our privacy policy carefully to understand how we will use the information you provide while using sites associated with HOPE USA, Inc., i.e., www.hope4usa.com and www.creditstatusnow.com. This policy may change from time to time, so please check the website each time you use it for the most current information.

This privacy policy contains information on the following subjects:

What Information we Collect from Customers
How We Collect Information
Use of Cookies and Tracking User Traffic
The General Purposes for which we Use and Disclose the Information
How to Opt-Out of Certain Uses of the Information we Collect
How We Protect Your Information

When used in this privacy policy, the terms below have the following meanings:

"Personal Contact Information" means basic account and profile information entered by or on behalf of a customer, including information entered during the course of an abandoned transaction. This type of information is used to make contact and it includes the following type of information:

  • First and Last name      (middle initial and suffix, if applicable);
  • Gender;
  • Home or Mobile Telephone      Number;
  • E-mail Address;
  • Current US Mail      Address;
  • Credit Report      Information.

"Sensitive Information"

As a customer of HOPE USA, Inc., the company may also collect the following information (in addition to personal contact information). This information is collected in order to carry out HOPE USA Inc.'s legitimate business objectives:

  • Social Security      Numbers;
  • Credit or Debit Card      Numbers, along with expiration date (if used as a form of payment);
  • Drivers' License      Numbers, along with State of issue and address on license;
  • Bank Account Numbers      (if used as form of payment);
  • Financial Account      Numbers (for purposes of making disputes and interventions);
  • Date of Birth.

"Website Information" means information collected when individuals browse the www.hope4usa.com website, such as date and time of visit, pages viewed, time spent on the site, and websites visited before viewing the HOPE4USA.com site. This information cannot be traceable to any specific person.

What Information We Collect From Customers

When you visit creditstatusnow.com (Member Site), you may provide us with three (3) different types of information: (a) personal contact information; (b) sensitive information; and (c) website use information collected on an aggregate basis by individuals browsing our website.

How We Collect Information

Personal Contact Information: We collect this information in order to contact you about your credit status, provide other relevant information from HOPE USA, Inc., or gather information from you about your use of the HOPE USA, Inc. website.

Sensitive Information: This information is only used for legitimate business purposes and is only shared with third parties to the extent necessary to fulfill those purposes. Sensitive information is encrypted before it is shared with any third party.

Website Information:

  • www.HOPE4USA.com: When you browse this      site, you are able to do so anonymously. Generally, we don't collect      personal information when you browse this site - not even your email      address. Your browser, however, does automatically tell us the type of      computer and operating system you are using.
  • creditstatusnow.com You only can access      this site if you are a customer of Creditrepair.com. In order to use this      site and protect and secure the privacy and confidentiality of its      customers, HOPE USA, Inc. needs to track usage by customer identification      number. Therefore, your use of the site constitutes consent to collection      and storage of personally identifying information.

Use of Cookies and Tracking User Traffic

Some pages on the sites associated with HOPE USA, Inc. may use "cookies" - small files that the site places on your hard drive for identification purposes. A cookie file can contain information such as a user ID to track the pages visited. These files are used for site registration and customization the next time you visit us.

Some parts of the sites may also use cookies to track user traffic patterns. HOPE USA, Inc. does this in order to determine the usefulness of our website information to our users and to see how effective our navigational structure is in helping users reach that information. Please note that cookies cannot read data off of your hard drive. Your Web browser may allow you to be notified when you are receiving a cookie, giving you the choice to accept it or not. If you prefer not to receive cookies while browsing our website, you can set your browser to warn you before accepting cookies and refuse the cookie when your browser alerts you to its presence. You can also refuse all cookies by turning them off in your browser. By not accepting cookies, some pages may not fully function and you may not be able to access certain information on the sites.

In some of our emails to you, HOPE USA, Inc. uses a "click-through URL." When you click one of these URLs, you pass through our Web server before arriving at the website that is your destination. We track "click-throughs" to help determine your interest in particular topics and measure the effectiveness of our customer communications.

HOPE USA, Inc. may use third-party advertising companies, including Google, to serve ads on its behalf. These companies may employ cookies and action tags (also known as single pixel gifs or Web beacons) to measure advertising effectiveness and to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to HOPE USA, Inc.’s website. HOPE USA, Inc. uses Analytics data and the DoubleClick cookie to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to HOPE USA Inc.’s websites.

The General Purposes for Which We Use and Disclose Information

How HOPE USA, Inc. Uses the Information

Personal Contact Information: This type of information is used to correspond with HOPE USA, Inc. and is not shared unless the customer has given permission in the HOPE USA, Inc. agreement or doing so is necessary to provide the customer needed services and fulfill HOPE USA, Inc.’s legitimate business purposes.

Sensitive Information: Sensitive information is used by HOPE USA, Inc. to provide customers with the services requested.

To save you time and make our Web services even easier to use, some areas of the HOPE USA, Inc. website allow you to create a "Member ID" using your personal information. The system saves your information and assigns you a unique HOPE USA, Inc. Customer ID. Next time you log into the customer section of our website you can simply enter your Customer ID and password - the system will automatically look up the information it needs.

Under What Circumstances HOPE USA, Inc. Shares Your Information

Personal Contact Information: Because the ability to communicate with our customers during any part of the credit recovery process is absolutely essential, your personal contact information may be shared with other HOPE USA, Inc. employees. They will protect your personal information in accordance with the HOPE USA, Inc. Privacy Policy. HOPE USA, Inc. will not share your personal contact information with other companies unless you specify otherwise or unless needed to provide services to you as explained below.

HOPE USA, Inc. works with other companies that help us provide services to you, and we may provide your personal information to these companies. For example, should we need to forward written documents to you we give shipping companies this information so they can deliver more efficiently. The information they receive is for shipping and delivery purposes only, and we require that the companies safeguard your personal information in accordance with HOPE USA, Inc.’s policies.

In addition, HOPE USA, Inc. uses your personal contact information to keep you up to date on the latest service announcements, feature updates, special offers, and other information we think you would like to hear about. From time to time, we may also use your personal information in order to contact you regarding participation in a market research survey or to find out about your use of the site, so that we can gauge customer satisfaction and improve our services further.

Sensitive Information: There may be some circumstances in which HOPE USA, Inc. shares certain sensitive information with a third-party vendor. However, when this occurs, the information is encrypted and HOPE USA, Inc. assures that it is handled in a manner consistent with this privacy policy and relevant laws. Sensitive information is only given to third party vendors when necessary to carry out the legitimate business objectives for which you retained HOPE USA, Inc.. The circumstances under which sensitive information are shared with third parties include disputes and interventions to credit bureaus and creditors as well as processing of payments.

Website Information: This information is collected in order to allow HOPE USA, Inc. to improve its website and better serve its customers. This information allows HOPE USA, Inc. to design and arrange Web pages in the most user-friendly manner and to continually improve its website to better meet the needs of its customers and prospective customers.

How to Opt Out of Certain Uses of the Information We Collect

If you wish to opt out of any e-mail services offered by HOPE USA, Inc., please email info@hope4usa.com. However, if you opt out of these services, HOPE USA, Inc. will no longer be able to provide you services.

User's may opt out of Google's use of cookies, including the Doubleclick cookie, by visiting the Google advertising opt out page. Users may opt out of Google Analytics by visiting the Google Analytics opt out page. User's may opt out of a third party advertising company's use of cookies by visiting the Network Advertising Initiative opt out page. Any information that these third parties collect via cookies and action tags is completely anonymous.

How We Protect Your Information

HOPE USA, Inc. safeguards the security of the data you send with physical, electronic, and managerial procedures. We urge you to take every precaution to protect your personal data when you are on the Internet. Change your passwords often, use a combination of letters and numbers, and make sure you use a secure browser.

Application of Encryption Technologies

HOPE USA, Inc. website uses industry-standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption on all Web pages where sensitive personal information, including social security numbers, is collected. To sign up for service, or to log into the customer section of the website, you must use an SSL-enabled browser. This protects the confidentiality of your personal and credit card or checking account information while it is transmitted over the Internet.

Evaluation of Information Protection Practices

Periodically, our operations and business practices are reviewed for compliance with corporate policies and procedures governing the security, confidentiality and quality of our information.

Employee Access, Training and Expectations

HOPE USA, Inc. corporate values, ethical standards, policies and practices are committed to the protection of customer information. In general, HOPE USA, Inc.’s business practices limit employee access to confidential information, and limit the use and disclosure of such information to authorized persons, processes and transactions.

Legally Compelled Disclosure of Information

HOPE USA, Inc. may disclose information when legally compelled to do so, in other words, when we, in good faith, believe that the law requires it or for the protection of our legal rights. Privileged information about a customer is shared only when required by a court order or with a customer's express, written permission.

Sharing Information with Outside Parties

HOPE USA, Inc. may provide aggregate information about our site visitors and related website information to our affiliates, but this information will not include sensitive information.

Our Company-Wide Commitment to Privacy

To make sure your personal information remains confidential, HOPE USA, Inc. communicates these privacy guidelines to every HOPE USA, Inc. employee, staff member, and third-party vendor.

Protection of Minors

HOPE USA, Inc. does not knowingly solicit personal information from children or send them requests for personal information.

Third-Party Website Links

HOPE USA, Inc. website may contain links to other sites. HOPE USA, Inc. does not share your personal information with those websites and is not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to learn about the privacy policies of those companies.

Changes to the Use of Personal Information

If HOPE USA, Inc. is going to use your personal information differently from that stated at the time of collection, we will try to contact you via email using the most recent information we have.

HOPE USA, Inc. Privacy Policy is subject to change at any time. We encourage you to review the privacy policy regularly for any changes.