Last Updated: July 14, 2008

RatePoint, Inc. ("RatePoint") understands that your privacy is important to you, and we want you to be fully informed and as comfortable as possible visiting the ratepoint.com website ("Site") or using the RatePoint products and/or services ("Services"). Our privacy policy ("Privacy Policy") will tell you what information we collect about you and your use of the RatePoint Site and Services, how we use that information, and how we may share it with others. It will explain how we protect that information and what choices you have about how it is used or shared. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully so that you will understand how we protect your privacy and how we may collect, use, and share information. By visiting the RatePoint Site or using the RatePoint Services, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Privacy Policy.

This Privacy Policy applies only to information collected by RatePoint and does not apply to advertisers or third parties. Be advised that if you access a third-party site from a link on the RatePoint Site or Services, any information you reveal on that site is not subject to this Privacy Policy. We encourage you to be aware when you leave the RatePoint Site and/or Services and to read the privacy policies of each and every site you visit.

If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, feel free to contact us at privacy@ratepoint.com.

Capitalized terms used in this Privacy Policy have the same meanings as set forth in the RatePoint Terms of Service unless otherwise indicated.

1. INFORMATION WE COLLECT AND HOW WE USE IT

At RatePoint we value your privacy. Our primary purpose in collecting information about you is to provide you with a safe, smooth, efficient and customized experience and to provide services and features that are most likely to meet your needs.

Information We Automatically Collect

We automatically receive, store and track certain types of information whenever you interact with the RatePoint Site or Services, regardless of whether you are a registered User. We use this information to do internal research on our Users' demographics, interests and behaviors in order to better understand, protect and serve you and the RatePoint community.

Log Files. Like many websites, we automatically gather certain non-personal information about our Site and Services traffic and store it in log files. This information may include: Internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type and version, referring/exit pages, operating system and platform, date and time, and pages viewed or searched for. We use this information to analyze trends, and to administer the Site and Services.

Cookies. A cookie is a small text file that is stored on a User's computer for record-keeping purposes. We use cookies on our Site and with our Services and we obtain certain types of information when your Web browser accesses the RatePoint Site or Services. In addition to some of the same information as gathered in the log files, the information we collect in the cookie may include a unique identifier for tracking your activity.

You may use the RatePoint Site or Services anonymously by prohibiting the use of cookies on your machine, however, your ability to use many features of our Site and Services will be limited.

We may use session cookies. A session cookie expires and is deleted from your computer when you close your browser. We use session cookies to make it easier for you to navigate our Site and to receive the greatest benefit from our Site and Services.

Information we Collect From You

During Registraion. RatePoint Business Members are required to register in order to use Services.  Each RatePoint Business Member must provide the Business Name, Business Address, Phone number, administrator’s Name, administrator’s e-mail address, and the administrator’s password.
During registration you are required to give truthful contact information (such as a valid e-mail address) in accordance with our Terms of Service.

RatePoint Users are not required to register in order to visit our Site or use many of our Services, however, if you would like to submit a review, you must first register with RatePoint by providing an e-mail address and possibly a password and/or telephone number. During registration you are required to give truthful contact information (such as a valid e-mail address) in accordance with our Terms of Service.

In addition to basic Site and Services registration data, any information that is personal in nature, such as name, address, and other personally identifiable information, is considered 'Personal Information and is provided by you to RatePoint at your option. Business information including, but not limited to Business Name, Business Address, Phone number, Business website are not considered personal information and may be used by RatePoint at our option.

Correspondence. If you send us personal correspondence, such as e-mails or letters, or if other Users or third parties send us correspondence about your activities or postings on the Site or Services, we may collect and retain such information. We reserve the right to terminate the accounts of Users who use the Site or Services in a manner inconsistent with the Terms of Service.

Business Ideas or Inventions. This Privacy Policy does not protect feedback, business information, ideas, concepts, or inventions that you submit to RatePoint by e-mail or through the Site or Services. If you want to keep business information, ideas, concepts, or inventions private or proprietary, do not send them to RatePoint. RatePoint may use any feedback, information, ideas, concepts or inventions that you provide to RatePoint for any purpose without limitation and without the need to compensate you.

Public Areas. Any Personal Information, including Content, that you post on bulletin boards, blogs, chat rooms, public question and answer forums, or other public areas and/or that you consent to share or make public ("Public Areas") through the Site or Services is not protected by this Privacy Policy and we do not control the use and disclosure of this information. Personal Information that you post to a Public Area or communicate through a Public Area may be used by third parties to contact you or to communicate this information to others, including in Public Areas of other websites. Please do not post any information in a Public Area

Advertisers. Sponsors, advertisers or other third parties may also use their own cookies when you click on their advertisement or link to their site or service, or even if an advertisement simply appears on a page that you are viewing. Some advertisers use companies other than RatePoint to serve their ads and these companies may also collect non-Personal Information through the use of cookies on our Site and/or Services. We do not control these third parties' use of cookies, or how they manage the non-Personal Information they gather through them.

Children. We are committed to protecting the privacy of children. RatePoint provides a general audience service that is not designed or intended to attract children under the age of thirteen (13). We do not collect Personal Information from any person whom we actually know is under the age of 13.

2. CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH WE SHARE INFORMATION

Personal Information. Except as set forth in this Privacy Policy or as specifically agreed to by you, RatePoint will not disclose to third parties any Personal Information you submit through our Site or Services.

Disclosure of Aggregate Information (Non-Personal Information). RatePoint may provide non-Personal Information about you to third parties that is combined with the non-Personal Information of other Users and does not allow you to be identified or contacted ("Aggregate Information"). For example, we might provide to third parties Aggregate Information regarding the number of Users of our Services and the activities they conduct while using our Services. We also may not limit the third parties' use of the Aggregate Information, except that we do require third parties to whom we disclose Aggregate Information to agree that they will not attempt to make this information personally identifiable by combining it with other databases or other sources of information.

Contributions to RatePoint. Content submitted by any User is considered public and non-confidential by RatePoint and shall not be treated as personal or proprietary information. Such Content may be aggregated by User and made available to all Users of RatePoint. RatePoint does not monitor, review or edit contributions to the Site and/or Services. Users should refrain from including any Personal Information in their Content. In no event will RatePoint be liable for disclosure of Personal Information that is included in User Content.

Legal Disclaimer. We reserve the right to disclose your Personal Information as required by law and when we believe release is appropriate to enforce or apply our Terms of Service and other agreements; in connection with an actual or proposed corporate transaction or insolvency proceeding involving all or part of the business or asset to which the information pertains; or to protect the rights, property, or safety of RatePoint, our Users, or others. This includes exchanging information with other companies and organizations for fraud protection and credit risk reduction. Obviously, however, this does not include selling, renting, sharing, or otherwise disclosing Personal Information from Users for commercial purposes in violation of the commitments set forth in this Privacy Policy. In the event that we are legally compelled to disclose your Personal Information to a third party, we will notify you unless doing so would violate the law or a court order.

3. COMMUNICATIONS FROM RATEPOINT

Special Offers and Updates. If you ask to receive information on new products and services, RatePoint, or one of our corporate affiliates, may occasionally send you e-mails with information on products, services, special promotions or newsletters or other information that we think may be of interest to you. If you decide you not wish to receive such communications, you may opt-out by changing your user preferences on the User Profile Page.

Service-Related Announcements. We will send you strictly service-related announcements when it is necessary to do so. For instance, to notify you of Site and/or Services maintenance and/or updates, we might send you an e-mail. Generally, you may not opt-out of these communications, which are not promotional in nature. If you do not wish to receive them, you have the option to deactivate your account.

Customer Service. Based upon the information you provide us, we will send you a welcoming e-mail to verify your e-mail address, and, if you provided us with a mailing address or phone number, we may contact you via mail or telephone to verify your account information. We will communicate with you in response to your inquiries, to provide the services you request, and to manage your account. We may also use your e-mail address to respond to questions from you, provide information about the Site and/or Services, invite you to participate in new services and research programs, and/or inform you of significant changes to this Privacy Policy. If your contact information is outdated or inaccurate, we may not be able to send you e-mails or notify you about changes to this Privacy Policy.

RatePoint User Profile. During the user rating process, you may create a User Member Profile. The non-Personal Information you provide in your user rating process will be viewable by any User, however, your e-mail address, password, and telephone number will not be visible to other Users. However, with your permission, this information may be shared with the RatePoint Business Member that you are rating.

RatePoint Business Member Profile. During the registration process, you may create a Business Member Profile. The non-Personal Information you provide in your Business Member profile will be viewable by any User, however, your name, e-mail address and password will not be visible to other Users.

4. ACCESS TO PERSONAL INFORMATION AND BUSINESS MEMBER PROFILE

If your Personal Information and/or Business Member Profile changes, or if you no longer desire our service, you may correct, update or delete your Personal Information and/or Business Member Profile or deactivate your account by making the appropriate changes on the related Profile Page(s).

5. SECURITY

We follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the Personal Information submitted to us, both during transmission and once we receive it. No method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure, however. Therefore, while we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

If you have any questions about RatePoint security, you can e-mail us at security@ratepoint.com.

6. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to change this Privacy Policy at any time. If you provide us with your e-mail address, we will notify you by e-mail of any material changes to this Privacy Policy that will significantly change the way we use or disclose your Personal Information. We may also make non-material changes to our Privacy Policy that generally will not affect our use of your Personal Information. Our current Privacy Policy, identified by its effective date, will be posted on the Site, and you should check it frequently for any changes. If you do not agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy or any revision thereof, please discontinue use of the RatePoint Site and/or Services immediately.

7. CONTACT US

If you have any questions or suggestions regarding our Privacy Policy, please contact us at: privacy@ratepoint.com.