INFORMATION COLLECTION
Standdown Tax Prep, Inc. (referred to herein as “STP”, “our”, “us” or “we”) is the sole owner of the information collected on our websites and on the replicated STP websites that we provide for use by independent contractor STP Independent Representatives (hereafter the “websites”). We collect information from STP Independent Representatives (hereafter “IR”), customers and visitors to the websites at different points on the websites.
Personally Identifiable Information
Through your use of or visits to our websites, you may be required or requested to provide personally identifiable information to us. Personally identifiable information is any piece of information which can potentially be used to uniquely identify, contact, or locate a single person including names, addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers, social security and tax identification numbers, and credit card information.
IR and Customer Registration
In order to become an IR, an applicant must provide biographical and contact information (such as name, mailing address, telephone numbers, and email address) to us. We also require an applicant’s Social Security Number or Federal Tax ID Number so that we may prepare and file necessary non-employee compensation forms for the IRS. Certain customers may be required to register in order to purchase products directly from us (“Registered Customers”). Registered Customers will be required to provide contact information (such as name, mailing address, telephone number(s), and email address) and payment information (such as credit card or checking account information). We use this information to maintain contact with IRs and Registered Customer and to process IR’s and Registered Customer’s orders.
Downline Genealogy Reports
As a network marketing company, STP provides certain information to IRs regarding the other IRs and Registered Customers enrolled in an IR’s downline marketing organization. If you enroll as an IR or Registered Customer with STP, your name, address, email address, and telephone number will be provided to your Sponsor and the 3 IRs immediately above your Sponsor. No other personally identifiable information will be shared with other IRs. Such information is made available to STP IRs subject to a confidentiality and non-disclosure covenant in the agreement that each IR enters into with STP.
Product or Service Purchases
When a customer, Registered Customer, or IR purchases products or services from us through any of our websites, the purchaser must provide us with mailing and contact information as well as payment information. This information is used for billing and payment purposes and to fill orders.
INFORMATION USE
Personally Identifiable Information
Personally identifiable information that is collected from customers, IRs and Registered Customers through IR and Customer Registration, Product or Services Purchases and/or Surveys is used as described above. STP DOES NOT share personally identifiable information except as may be necessary to process and fill an order. STP may share aggregated information from time to time with its partners, vendors or other third parties. When such aggregate information is shared by STP, no personally identifiable information is shared.
Profile Information
STP stores information that it collects through cookies, log files, clear gifs, and/or third parties to create a profile of visitors to our websites (“users”), including customers, Registered Customers, and IRs. A profile is stored information that STP keeps on individual users that details their viewing preferences. Profile information is tied to the user’s personally identifiable information to provide offers and improve the content of the site for the user. STP does [not] share profile information with other third parties. [Profile information is shared in aggregate form only.] [Profile information is shared together with personally identifiable information.]
Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on a user’s computer tied to information about the user. [Usage of a cookie is in no way linked to any personally identifiable information while on the websites.] STP uses [both] session ID cookies [and] persistent cookies. For the session ID cookie, once users close the browser, the cookie simply terminates. A persistent cookie is a small text file stored on the user’s hard drive for an extended period of time. Persistent cookies can be removed by following Internet browser help file directions.
By setting a cookie on a user’s computer, users do not have to log in a password more than once, thereby saving time while at the websites. If a user rejects the cookie, the user will still be able to use the site. The only drawback to this is that the user may need to enter his or her password every time he or she accesses the site.
Log Files
Like most standard website servers STP’s websites use log files. This includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses, etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information. [IP addresses are tied to personally identifiable information to enable our web-based service.] [We use a tracking utility that uses log files to analyze user movement.]
Clear Gifs (Web Beacons/Web Bugs)
STP employs a software technology called clear gifs (a.k.a. Web Beacons/Web Bugs), that help STP to better manage content on the websites by informing it what content is effective. Clear gifs are tiny graphics with a unique identifier, similar in function to cookies, and are used to track the online movements of users. The main difference between the two is that clear gifs are invisible on the page and are much smaller, about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. [Clear gifs are tied to users’ personally identifiable information.] [Clear gifs are not tied to users’ personally identifiable information.]
In addition, STP uses clear gifs in its HTML-based emails to let it know which emails have been opened by the recipients. This allows STP to gauge the effectiveness of certain communications and the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM US
Special Offers and Updates
STP sends all new IRs and Registered Customers a welcoming email to verify password, username, and acceptance of the IR Agreement or Customer Agreement. All IRs and Registered Customers will occasionally receive information on products, services, special deals, and a newsletter. Customers who have not registered with STP and who grant permission will also receive occasional information on products, services, special deals, and the like.
Service Announcements
On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send IRs and/or customers an email. Generally, IRs may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.
IR and Customer Service
STP communicates with IRs and Registered Customers via email, regular mail and telephone on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regards to issues relating to their STP business. STP communicates with other customers with respect to products or services purchased by such customers from STP. Such communications may be by email, regular mail or telephone.
SHARING
Legal Disclaimer
Though STP makes every effort to preserve user privacy, STP may need to disclose personal information when required by law wherein we have a good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a current judicial proceeding, a court order or legal process served on STP.
Aggregate Information (non-personally identifiable)
STP shares aggregated demographic information with our partners and advertisers. This is not linked to any personally identifiable information.
These are the instances in which we will share users’ personal information:
STP DOES NOT Share Personally Identifiable Information about users with any Third Parties.
Third Party Fulfillment
STP uses an outside shipping company to ship orders, and a credit card processing company to bill IRs for goods and services. These companies do not retain, share, store or use personally identifiable information for any secondary purposes.
Service Providers
STP partners with other third parties to provide specific services. When necessary to provide services or products to IRs, Registered Customers, and other customers, we share names and/or other contact information with service providers and vendors. Such third parties are not allowed to use personally identifiable information except for the purpose of providing these services.
Business Transitions
In the event STP goes through a business transition, such as a merger, being acquired by another company, or selling a portion of its assets, the personal information of IRs and customers will, in most instances, be part of the assets transferred. If as a result of the business transition, an IR’s or customer’s personally identifiable information will be used in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection, the IR or customer will be given choice consistent with our notification of changes section.
Choice
Users are always notified when their information is being collected by any outside parties. We do this so users can make an informed choice as to whether or not they should proceed with services that require an outside party.
Links
STP’s websites may contain links to other sites. Please be aware that STP is not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every website that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by STP websites.
Security
STP takes every precaution to protect all users’ information. When users submit sensitive information via STP’s websites, their information is protected both online and off-line.
When the IR Application, Customer Registration, and/or online order forms ask users to enter sensitive information (such as credit card number and/or social security number), that information is encrypted and is protected with the best encryption software in the industry - SSL. While on a secure page, such as the IR Application and Agreement and online order forms, the lock icon on the bottom of web browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer becomes locked, as opposed to un-locked, or open, when users are just ‘surfing’.
While STP uses SSL encryption to protect sensitive information online, the Company also does everything in our power to protect user information off-line. All user information, not just the sensitive information mentioned above, is restricted in STP’s offices. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job are granted access to personally identifiable information. ALL employees are kept up-to-date on Company security and privacy practices. Finally, the servers that store personally identifiable information are in a secure environment.
MISCELLANEOUS
Changes to this Privacy Policy
STP reserves the right to amend or change this Privacy Policy at any time at its sole discretion. It is your responsibility to periodically access this Privacy Policy by clicking on the Privacy Policy link at our home page. When material changes or amendments are made to the Privacy Policy, we will announce the same at our home page for a period of 30 days following implementation of the amended Privacy Policy.
Making Changes to Your Personally Identifiable Information
IRs and Registered Customers may update your personal information as necessary by Logging into their virtual office, which allows them to access and edit their registration account information. In addition, you may contact us at _help@StanddownTaxPrep.com to update your profile.
Protecting Children
STP is committed to the safety of our children. Persons under the age of 18 may not enroll as STP IRs or register as customers. Children under the age of 13 may not purchase products through any of our websites. We do not knowingly collect any personal information from such children at this site or any of its other sites.
Questions
Questions regarding this Privacy Policy should be directed to __help@StanddownTaxPrep.com, or by mail to Standdown Tax Prep, 4550 W Oakey Blvd., Suite H, Las Vegas, NV 89102.
Effective Date
The effective date of this Privacy Policy is July 15, 2009.
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