AlphaCardsTM Privacy Policy
(Released at 08.00 hrs GMT on 20 November 2008)
Protecting the personal information and data of the users of AlphaCards is one of our top priorities. Our Privacy Policy sets out below why we need certain information from you when you subscribe to our site, how and why we may retain and use that information and, just as importantly, how we will not use that information. When using your personal information, we will act in accordance with current legislation and always aim to meet current applicable best practice.
Should you have any questions regarding our Privacy Policy, please contact us.
Your information and data.
When you subscribe to AlphaCards we need to know certain information from you. This includes:
1. Your name and email address, and the email address of the people to whom you are sending an ecard.
2. Your method of payment: either your credit/debit card number and details and your billing address (if you wish to pay by credit/debit card), or the details of your Paypal or other internet payment account.
3. The country where you live (which we need for our tax purposes).
4. The email address of the recipient of the ecard.
5. Your choice of password.
You have the choice to give us other information which aims to smooth the running of your account with us, but which is optional. This includes:
1. Your telephone number (in case we need to contact you by telephone).
2. Your home address (if different from the billing address).
3. Your date of birth
4. Information on your personal contacts that you may choose to store in your Address book in your Account.
In the same way as almost all other internet sites collect data, we also collect certain data on the users of the site. This data includes IP addresses, web browser type and version, activity on the site and cookie information (see below).
All this information is held securely and is only used as described in this Privacy Policy.
How we may retain and use your information and data.
We will hold your personal information on our systems for as long as your subscription lasts (12 months) and for a further 12 months thereafter and will then remove it from our systems. However, we may retain certain information for longer periods if you have broken our Acceptable Use Policy in order to protect us from further breaches and/or to comply with law. AlphaCards may also store messaging transcript data (including message content, member names, times and dates) arising from the use of this site. Where personal information is held for people who are not yet registered, but have been the recipient of an ecard, that information will be held as long as is necessary to ensure that the service is run smoothly. We will ensure that all personal information supplied is held securely, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
We will also use your data or information for the following purposes:
(a) To notify you about the ecards you have ordered (for example notification will be sent when the ecard is sent and when it is collected);
(b) To remind you about renewing your subscription;
(c) To send you other emails you may have chosen to receive from us (for example when new ecards are added to the site, birthday reminders, administrative correspondence and responding to emails from you).
(d) Together with information from other users, to improve our site or the range of ecards that are most sought after by users.
(e) To act upon any violations of our Terms and Conditions.
(f) Occasionally to request feedback from you regarding the site and our ecards.
(g) To send you other relevant information regarding AlphaCards.
We will not use your data or information:
(a) To send you spam or any form of third party advertising – your personal information will never be sold to any third party for advertising purposes.
(b) To be shared with any business partner.
Privacy and Exceptions to Confidentiality
We regard all of our ecards as private correspondence between the sender and the recipient and we will not disclose the contents of any greeting other than to the intended recipient, except under the specific situations outlined below. This policy applies to all aspects of our ecards, including your personalized messages. Under normal circumstances, we will not monitor or edit the contents of the online greetings you send. On occasion, however, we may need to view your message in connection with the technical processing of your ecard or the maintenance of our network. Also, if you ask one of our customer service representatives to help you send a greeting or to verify that an ecard was sent, that representative will be able to access all information about the ecard, including the recipient's e-mail address and the message.
However, we do reserve the right to disclose your personal information to appropriate third-parties if we are required to do so by law or we believe that such action is necessary:
(a) To comply with legal process such as a search warrant, subpoena or court order;
(b) To protect our rights and property;
(c) To investigate reports of users sending material using a false e-mail address or users sending harassing, threatening, or abusive messages;
(c) To protect against misuse or unauthorized use of our web site and/or the service we offer; or
(d) During emergencies, such as when we believe someone's physical safety is at risk.
Your IP address can be accessed by the recipients of our ecards in the header of the notification e-mail. Our ecards are neither intended nor appropriate for anonymous communications and such activity is expressly prohibited by the “Acceptable Use Policy” in our Terms and Conditions. Under certain circumstances, recipients, their legal representatives, and/or law enforcement authorities may be able to combine this with information disclosed by ISPs to determine the source of a particular communication. By using this service, you knowingly and voluntarily assume any risks associated with such disclosure.
Sale of Assets
In the event that AlphaCards Limited or its business, AlphaCards, is ever sold, merged, liquidated, reorganized, or otherwise transferred, we reserve the right to transfer our user databases together with any personally identifiable information that we may hold, to a third-party acquiring that business or company. In the event we do so, we will notify you that this has happened and you will be given the choice to have your data or personal information deleted from the site.
Cookies
During the course of any visit to AlphaCards (in the same manner as most other websites), the pages you see, along with a short text file called a 'cookie', are downloaded to your computer. Each time you visit us, our server will look up your membership number on our database using the cookie simply for the purpose of detecting that you have logged on and are authorised to send ecards and visit any member-only parts of the site. The cookie is a "session" (as opposed to "permanent") cookie, and when you exit your browser session this cookie is automatically deleted (which is why you have to log on again every time you revisit the site).
If you check the "remember me" box, our server sends your computer a cookie, so that you will not have to log on. The cookie will log you on automatically every time you come to the site.
You may always delete cookies; however you may lose any information that enables you to access the Web Site more quickly.
We may also use permanent cookies to collect information to help us to improve your use of our site and assist us to analyze the profile of our visitors.
Users 16 and under
If you are aged 16 or under, please obtain your parent/guardian's permission before you provide personal information to AlphaCards. Users aged 16 or under without this consent are not allowed to provide us with personal information.
Changes to our Privacy Policy
By subscribing to AlphaCards, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. We may at any time change the terms of this Privacy Policy by updating this page. We will always note on the Policy the last date on which the Policy was updated. Your continued use of the Site now, or following the posting of any changes to this privacy policy, will indicate acceptance by you of such changes. You may always remove your details from the site should you not agree with any change we make. We encourage you periodically to review this Privacy Policy to be kept up to date on how we are using and protecting your information.
How to remove or change your personal information
At any time, you can change choices you have previously made as to the use of your personal information. Every communication we send you will contain a clearly worded "Opt-Out" or "Unsubscribe" link allowing you to withdraw your permission for future mailings. This system is automated and must be contacted from the email address you wish to have removed. Permission changes will be processed as soon as possible after receipt.
If you are a registered subscriber, you have the ability to review and correct your personally identifiable information at any time. Simply sign into the site and click the "My Profile" link on the header of every page. There, you can change your address information, e-mail type, sign-in, and e-mail permissions. You can also revise, add, delete, or completely cancel all alerts by following the links to "Reminders" at the top of each page.
You have the right to ask for a copy of your personal data or information on payment of a small fee.
Data Security
When you place orders for purchased products, access your payment information or use “My Profile”, we use an advanced encryption technology known as Secure Socket Layer (SSL) to protect the storage and transfer of your data from unauthorized parties. While on a secure page, such as our registration form, the bottom of your web browser will indicate (for example by the use of a lock or key icon) that you are on a secure page.
Should you have any questions regarding our Privacy Policy, please contact us.