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Privacy Policy


Important Notice Concerning Our Privacy Policy: A Guide to How we Collect, Use, and Protect Customer Information

 

First Credit Finance (“FCF”) takes the privacy of personal information seriously and is committed to giving effect to relevant privacy legislation and wants you to be familiar with how we collect, use, disclose, and protect any personal information you provide to us.  This Privacy Policy describes our practices in connection with information that we collect through websites operated by us (from which you are accessing this Privacy Policy), our call centers operated by us (where you will be referred to this Privacy Policy on our websites), the software applications made available by us (for use on or through computers and mobile devices), or our social media pages that we control (from which you are accessing this Privacy Policy), through HTML-formatted email messages that we send to you (that link to this Privacy Policy), as well as through sms text messages to your cellular phone (all collectively referred to as the “Services”).  By using the Services, you agree to this Privacy Policy. The provisions of this Privacy Policy apply to former customers as well as current customers.

 

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully to understand our practices in relation to your personal data.    You can contact FCF for additional information using the “Contact Us” section of this Privacy Policy.

 

THE INFORMATION WE COLLECT

 

FCF collects general and anonymous statistical information when you browse through our websites, software applications and social media pages. This information does not identify you personally, but is simply used to enable us to evaluate the performance of these platforms, allow us to assess statistical information on the overall experience of visitors to them and improve our advertising campaigns.  If we combine or connect this general and statistical information with your personal data so that it can directly or indirectly identify you, we treat the combined data as personal data which will be used in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

 

At certain times we may ask you to provide personally identifiable information (being any information about an individual from which that person can be identified, referred to herein as “PII”) when using the Services, as described below. We may need to collect and use the information because we are either legally required to do so, it is necessary for our legitimate interests or because we need it to provide the requested goods or services to you.  If you do not provide the information when requested this may result in certain goods or services not being available to you.

 

  • Account Registration.  When you register an account through one of our Services or by contacting FCF, we will collect and process the information that you provide.  In particular, we may ask you to provide your name, address, phone number, email address, your account number, loan date, vehicle insurance carrier and policy number, and vehicle make, model, and VIN.  You are required to provide this information so that your account can be registered online.  Providing this information will also allow us to quickly and easily identify customers when contacted with any issues or communicate with you for loan servicing or collections.

 

  • Customer Service and Support.  If you schedule a service call, make a consumer enquiry, report a problem with our Services or email us through the “Contact Us” link on any of our Services, we may ask you to provide your name, address, phone number, email address, and your account number so that we can schedule your call or respond to your questions and comments.   We may also keep a record of any correspondence between us.

 

  • Payment Information.  If you obtain a vehicle loan from FCF, we may collect details of transactions that are carried out through one of our Services and any payments you make on your loan or loans.   In addition to your name, email or physical address and contact number, this may include details about payments to and from you.

 

  • Applications & Other Online Activities.  We may collect information through software applications made available by us or when you otherwise use our online Services or platforms.  We may collect information typically collected though web sites and applications, such as browser and device information, application usage data, information collected though cookies, pixel tags and other technologies, and IP addresses (refer to the section on Cookies below).  We may collect and retain your search queries on our websites.

 

  • Location Information.  If you use any of the Services, you may be sending us location information.  FCF does not store or use this information other than to provide the information or service you requested.  For example, a mobile product may use GPS data to find a nearby FCF dealership.  Location-enabled features are opt-in and you have control over your participation and can turn these services off at any time by changing the settings on your device. 

 

OFFLINE COLLECTION

 

We may collect PII (similar to the PII outlined above) from you offline.  For example when you apply for and/or obtain a vehicle loan from us, we may collect PII.  In this case, we will collect such PII as you choose to provide us.

 

HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

 

The information we maintain about your relationship helps us identify you and helps prevent unauthorized persons from accessing your information. We use your information to help administer your account. We do not disclose your information to any affiliates, non-affiliated third parties or unrelated companies except as to the administration of your personal account. We do not disclose any of your information to be used on mailing lists or telemarketing for promotional offers.

 

LINKS TO OTHER SITES

 

We may provide links to other web sites for your convenience and information. These sites may have their own privacy statements in place, which we recommend you review if you visit any linked web sites. We are not responsible for the content of linked sites or any use of such sites.

 

RETENTION OF PII

 

We will retain PII for the period necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.  If your account becomes paid, inactive or is closed for any reason, we will continue to treat and safeguard your information as described in this Privacy Policy.

 

To determine the appropriate retention period for PII, we consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the PII, the potential risk of harm from unauthorized use of disclosure of your PII, the purposes for which we process your PII and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means, and the applicable legal requirements.

 

Please contact us in accordance with the “Contact Us” section below if you want further information in relation to the retention of your PII.

 

THE PROTECTION OF YOUR PII

 

FCF is committed to protecting your privacy. We use a variety of technologies, systems and procedures to protect against unauthorized disclosure, use, alteration or destruction of the PII you provide through the Services and keep the PII you provide secure. Unfortunately, no data transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.  If you have reason to believe that your interaction with us is no longer secure, please immediately notify us in accordance with the “Contact Us” section below. Only those persons who need it to perform their job responsibilities in order to effect, administer or enforce a customer’s account are authorized to have access to customer information. We provide training and communication programs to educate our personnel about the meaning and requirements of this privacy policy. We do not disclose any non-public personal information about our customers or former customers to anyone, except as permitted by law.

 

CHOICES AND ACCESS

 

FCF wants to make sure you have easily actioned choices about how we use and/or disclose your PII in providing you with our products and services or for marketing purposes.  You may opt-out from: 

 

  • Receiving electronic communications from us:  If you no longer want to receive marketing-related emails or communications from us on a going-forward basis, you may update your email preferences at any time by clicking the link in the footer of any email we send you. You can also request to opt-out of the use of your PII by FCF for marketing purposes by contacting us at any time in accordance with the details set out in the “Contact Us” section below.

 

  • Receiving SMS mobile alert updates or notices from us: If you no longer want to receive these just reply “UNSUBSCRIBE” to any update or alert.  You can also request to opt-out of receiving these by contacting us at any time in accordance with the details set out in the “Contact Us” section below.

 

We will try to comply with your request(s) as soon as reasonably practicable.  Please note that if you opt-out of receiving marketing-related emails from us, we may still send you important administrative messages that you cannot opt-out from.

 

HOW YOU CAN ACCESS, CHANGE OR SUPPRESS YOUR PII

 

If you would like to request to access, review, correct, update, suppress/restrict or delete PII that you have previously provided to us, or if you would like to request that we transfer your PII to another company (to the extent this right to data portability is provided to you by applicable law), you may contact us at any time in accordance with the details in the “Contact Us” section below.

 

In your request, please make clear what actions you would like us to take in relation to your PII.  For your protection, we may only implement requests with respect to the PII associated with the particular email address that you use to send us your request, and we may need to contact you to verify your identity before implementing your request.  We will try to comply with your request as soon as reasonably practicable.  

 

No fee is charged to access your PII (or to exercise any other rights).  However, we may charge a reasonable fee if your requests is clearly unfounded, repetitive or excessive.  Alternatively, we may refuse to comply with your request in these circumstances.

 

Please note that we may need to retain certain information for recordkeeping purposes and/or to complete any transactions that you began prior to requesting a change or deletion, but we will advise you of this.  There may also be residual information that will remain within our databases and other records, which will not, and cannot, be removed.  If this is the case, such information will remain secure and protected.

 

COOKIES POLICY

 

Cookies are harmless text files stored on your computer/device/browser when you visit certain sites/pages. We use cookies to enhance and personalize your experience with us, for example, to allow you to include/save items in your shopping cart, and to make our site run smoothly and work best for you.  The data is completely anonymous and none of the cookies we use collect PII about you.  To make full use of the features and functions of our site, (ecommerce) including to purchase on our site, your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone needs to accept cookies. If cookies aren’t accepted by/enabled on your web browser it will mean you will only be able to browse and research and won’t be able to add products to your shopping cart and purchase them.

 

Most web browsers have cookies automatically enabled. You can manage cookies through your browser settings. These are typically in the “privacy” section of your browser settings or preferences.  In some instances you can configure your browser to notify you when you’re offered a cookie and decide whether to accept or not.

 

UPDATES TO OUR PRIVACY POLICY

 

FCF may, without prior notice to you, review and update this Privacy Policy from time to time to make sure that it remains current and reflects changes in our information practices.  We will indicate at the top of the Privacy Policy when it was most recently updated. 

 

CONTACT US

 

If you have any questions or comments regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us by email at customercare@gofcf.com or by telephone at (818) 365-6600.

 

If you would prefer to contact us by mail please write to us at:

 

Operations

First Credit Finance

16005 Sherman Way, Ste. 205

Van Nuys, CA 91406