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Declaration of Client Privacy Rights – Putting The Client First
· As professional broker we at Gill & Schmall Agencies are committed to holding our client’s personal information in strict confidence, and we shall not disclose any such information unless authorized by our clients, required by law to do so or required to do so in conducting negotiations with our business partners on behalf of the client. Our Privacy Code builds on this commitment.
Principle #1 Gill & Schmall Agencies Are Accountable
Gill & Schmall Agencies is accountable for all personal information in its possession or custody, including any personal information disclosed to third parties for processing or other administrative function. Gill & Schmall Agencies has established policies and procedures to comply with this declaration, and has designated a privacy officer to be accountable for compliance.
Principle #2 Gill & Schmall Agencies will Identify Purposes
Gill & Schmall Agencies will identify the
purposes for which it collects personal information, before or when the
information is collected.
Gill & Schmall Agencies will make a
reasonable effort to make sure customers understand how their personal
information will be used by the brokerage and insurers.
Gill & Schmall Agencies will obtain consent from its customers before
or when it collects or uses the personal information.
A customer’s consent can be express,
implied, or given through an authorized representative.
A customer can withdraw consent at any time, with certain exceptions.
Principle #4 Gill & Schmall Agencies Limits The Collection of Personal Information
Gill & Schmall Agencies limits the amount and type of personal information it collects. Each broker will collect personal information for the purposes identified to the customer. Gill & Schmall Agencies collects personal information using policies and procedures which are fair and lawful.
Principle # 5 Gill & Schmall Agencies Limits the Use, Disclosure and Retention of Personal Information
Gill & Schmall Agencies will use or disclose personal information only for the reasons it was collected, unless a customer gives consent to use or disclose it for another reason, or it is permitted or required by law.
Under certain exceptional circumstances, Gill
& Schmall Agencies may have a legal duty or right to disclose personal
information without the customer’s knowledge or consent to protect the
interests of insurers or the public interest.
Gill & Schmall Agencies will keep personal
information only as long as necessary for the identified purposes for which it
was collected.
Principle #6 Gill & Schmall Agencies will Keep Personal Information Accurate
Gill & Schmall Agencies will keep personal information as accurate, complete and current as necessary for the identified purposes for which it was collected. Customers may, in writing, challenge the accuracy and completeness of their personal information and request that it be amended as appropriate.
Principle #7 Gill & Schmall Agencies Safeguards Client Information
Gill & Schmall Agencies protects personal information with safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.
Principle #8 Gill & Schmall Agencies makes it’s Information Policies Available to it’s Clients
Gill & Schmall Agencies is open
about the policies and procedures it uses to manage personal information.
Customers have access to information about these policies and procedures. The information will be made available in a manner that is
generally easy to understand.
Principle #9 Gill & Schmall Agencies make Personal Information Accessible
When customers make a request in writing, Gill & Schmall Agencies will within a reasonable time tell them what personal information it has, what it is being used for, and to whom it has been disclosed.
When customers request it in writing, Gill
& Schmall Agencies will give them access to their personal information.
Gill & Schmall Agencies will respond to the written request in a
timely fashion. In certain
situations, however, Gill & Schmall Agencies may not be able to give
customers access to all their personal information.
Gill & Schmall Agencies will explain the reasons for this lack of
access and any recourse the customer may have, except where prohibited by law.
Principle # 10 Gill & Schmall Agencies is Committed to Addressing Client Complaints and Concerns
Customer may challenge Gill & Schmall Agencies compliance with this declaration. Gill & Schmall Agencies has policies and procedures to receive, investigate, and respond to customers’ complaints and questions. Customers may learn about these polices and procedures by contacting the brokerage privacy officer at (204) 476-2345.