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Because your TRUST is
important to us.
Our customers trust us to protect not only their confidential information but also their
personal financial information. This trust is our most valuable asset and is critical to
customer satisfaction and our success. THAT’S WHY WE PLACE A
TOP PRIORITY ON SAFEGUARDING YOUR FINANCIAL PRIVACY. We take pride in
our record of protecting customer privacy. We remain committed to maintaining
confidentiality and being responsible in the use of our customer’s information. This
commitment is fundamental to our way of doing business. Please read further about our
approach to customer privacy.
We use a combination of safeguards to keep
customer information confidential and secure.
We train our employees to protect the
confidentiality of customer information, and we hold them accountable. We follow strict
internal policies against disclosure of customer information, except as permitted by law.
We also follow rigorous security standards, use physical safeguards and employ
technological processes such as encryption to protect customer confidentiality.
We are partners with you in protecting
your financial privacy.
You should take steps to help maintain the privacy of your personal financial information.
This includes taking care in handling account numbers and other sensitive information.
Please see our privacy tips for more information.
Some limited and responsible sharing of
information is necessary and beneficial to customers.
When mortgage companies use customer information, they do so to help serve their customers
better. |
We share some information about customers
internally or with service providers and vendors to offer the protection and services you
expect. For instance, we sometimes must use customer information to detect or prevent
fraud, such as someone trying to access a customer’s account through forgery or other
means. When reviewing loan requests, and in handling loans on an ongoing basis, we and
other lenders share borrower information internally and with credit bureaus, as allowed by
law. Sharing of credit information within the financial system is critical to sound
lending and the strength of the mortgage sector. This efficient information system also
gives consumers more credit opportunities, enables us to respond quickly to loan requests
and reduces the cost of credit.
We sometimes share customer information internally or with affiliated or outside companies
to develop or market products we believe our customers will value. If we ever choose to
share customer information with an outside company for the purpose of marketing
non-financial products or services, you will be informed beforehand and given an option to
block your information from being shared.
Finally, you should know that all mortgage companies are required to collect and share
some information to comply with federal and state laws and regulations.
We strive to ensure that the customer
information we maintain is accurate.
If you find an error in any statement or other communication we send you, please
contact us promptly so we can correct our records.
The information age is challenging all businesses to embrace technology while preserving
consumers’ trust. We are committed to continuing our tradition of safeguarding
customer information. If you have a question about our privacy policies or practices,
please call us.
YOUR PRIVACY IS
OUR PRIORITY.
See our Privacy Tips for more information on protecting your personal
information. |
Types of Information Mortgage
Clearing Corporation Collects
Non-Public Personal Information:
"Non-public personal information" is
information that is not available to the public. This information is personally
identifiable financial information that is provided by a consumer to a financial
institution which results from any transaction with the consumer, or any service performed
for the consumer, or is otherwise obtained by Mortgage Clearing Corporation.
Examples of Non-Public Personal and Confidential
Information collected by Mortgage Clearing Corporation.
Non-Public
Personal Information includes, but is not limited to the following: |
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Social Security number |
Loan information and credit
history |
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Driver's license number |
Transaction histories |
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Deposit account numbers,
balances |
Financial status, etc. |
Confidential
Information includes, but is not limited to the following: |
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Name, address, phone number |
Services solicited |
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Place of employment |
Services rendered |
Privacy
Tips for Protecting Your Financial Information
| Following are some precautions
you should take to prevent your personal financial information from getting into the wrong
hands. Don’t give out your Social Security number or personal financial
information over the phone unless you initiate the call.
Tear up receipts, bank statements, unused deposit slips and unused credit card offers
before throwing them away.
Keep an eye out for any missing mail.
Don’t mail bills from your own mailbox with the flag up. Drop them in a post box
or at the post office.
When conducting business online, be sure your browser’s padlock or key icon is
active.
Review your monthly account statements for any unauthorized checks or charges.
Order copies of your credit report once a year to check its accuracy.
Be careful to do business only with reputable companies, particularly online.
Don’t open e-mail from unknown sources. Use virus detection software.
Protect personal identification numbers (PINs) and passwords. Don’t carry them
with you; use combinations of letters and numbers for passwords and change them
periodically.
Report any suspected fraud to your bank or lending institution and the fraud units of
the three credit reporting agencies immediately. The fraud unit numbers are:
Trans Union: (800) 916-8800
Experian: (800) 301-7195
Equifax: (800) 525-6285
Beware of Identity Theft
Identity theft is a fast-growing form of fraud claiming up to 500,000 victims each year.
It happens when criminals steal personal credit information about individuals and assume
their identities by applying for credit in their names, run up huge bills and generally
wreck victims’ credit histories. |
Under law, a customer is only
liable for the first $50 of unauthorized credit card or debit card items – and many
lenders even waive that. Still, restoring one’s identity can be a tremendous
inconvenience and may take months. Banks and lending institutions use various
safeguards to protect customer information, but consumers also play an important role in
preventing identity theft. Follow the tips in this article for protecting your financial
information. If you suspect your identity has been stolen, call your bank and credit card
issuers immediately and file a police report.
You also should call the fraud units of the three credit reporting companies and
consider placing a victim statement in your credit report. The fraud unit numbers are:
Trans Union: (800) 916-8800
Experian: (800) 301-7195
Equifax: (800) 525-6285
Reducing Direct Mail and Phone Solicitations
Many consumers respond positively to direct mail or telephone solicitations that offer
valued products or services. However, some consumers would prefer not to receive such
solicitations.
The Direct Marketing Association offers services to help reduce the number of
unwanted mail and telephone solicitations. To join their mail preference service, mail
your name, home address and signature to:
Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008
To reduce unsolicited telephone calls, send your name, home address, home telephone
number and signature to:
Telephone Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014
Consumers also can "opt out" of receiving offers of pre-approved financing or
credit that are based on credit bureau pre-screening.
To op out, call (888) 5 OPT OUT. This service is offered jointly by the three credit
reporting agencies. |
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