1. Introduction
Advanced Surety & Insurance Agency ("Company," "we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and safeguard Personal Data (information that identifies, relates to, or could reasonably be linked to a specific individual) when you interact with us through our website at advancedbonding.com (the "Website"), via email, telephone, in-person meetings, or any other communication channel.
This Privacy Policy does not apply to job applicants or our employees, contractors, or agents. By using our Website or engaging with our services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be effective when posted on this page. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.
2. Sources of Personal Data
We collect Personal Data from the following sources:
- Directly from you: When you request a bond quote, submit an application, contact us through our Website, communicate with us by email or phone, or otherwise provide information to us directly.
- Automatically through technology: When you visit our Website, we may automatically collect information through cookies, web server logs, and other standard tracking technologies (see Section 7 below).
- From third parties: We may receive Personal Data from credit reporting agencies, surety company underwriters, insurance brokers, anti-fraud services, business partners, government and regulatory bodies, or other parties involved in the bonding or insurance process.
- From publicly available sources: We may collect information about you or your business from public records, professional directories, government databases, and other publicly available sources as part of the underwriting process.
3. Types of Personal Data We Collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect the following categories of Personal Data:
A. Identifiers
Name, email address, phone number, mailing address, business address, and device identifiers (such as IP address and cookie IDs).
B. Personal Records
Signatures, date of birth, Social Security number, driver's license number, bank account information, and the content and timing of communications you have with us (emails, calls, online inquiries).
C. Business and Financial Information
Company name, business type, license numbers, financial statements, bank references, credit history and credit scores, tax identification numbers, accounts receivable and payable information, bonding history, claims history, and other financial data necessary for surety bond underwriting.
D. Professional Information
Job title, professional licenses, certifications, industry affiliations, years of experience, contractor classification, and other professional qualifications relevant to bond underwriting.
E. Commercial Information
Records of bonds purchased or quoted, transaction history, products or services obtained or considered, contract information, and other purchasing or service histories.
F. Internet and Electronic Activity
Browsing history on our Website, search queries, pages accessed, links clicked, referring website, browser type and version, operating system, device type, and other information about your interactions with our Website.
G. Geolocation Data
Approximate location based on your IP address.
H. Sensitive Personal Data
In certain circumstances, we may collect sensitive information including Social Security numbers, driver's license or state identification numbers, passport numbers, and account login credentials. This information is collected only when necessary for underwriting, identity verification, or regulatory compliance purposes.
4. How We Use Your Personal Data
We use the Personal Data we collect for the following purposes:
- Bond and insurance services: Processing bond quote requests and applications; submitting applications to surety company underwriters on your behalf; issuing, renewing, and servicing bonds; processing insurance claims; verifying your identity and eligibility; and communicating with you about your bonds, policies, and account.
- Credit and underwriting: Obtaining and reviewing credit reports, financial statements, and other information necessary for surety bond underwriting evaluation, including assessment of character, capacity, and capital.
- Customer service: Responding to inquiries, requests, and complaints; providing customer support; and facilitating your relationship with us.
- Business operations: Day-to-day operation of our business; maintaining internal records including accounting, document management, and similar activities; auditing; IT security and administration; and management reporting.
- Service improvement: Improving our Website, products, and services; analyzing how our Website is used; evaluating the effectiveness of our communications; and developing new products and services.
- Legal and compliance: Complying with applicable laws, regulations, and reporting requirements; investigating potential fraud or misrepresentation; enforcing our policies and agreements; and establishing, exercising, or defending legal claims.
- Communications: Sending you information about our services, industry updates, or bond renewal reminders when you have opted in or when permitted by law. You may opt out of marketing communications at any time by contacting us.
We may use anonymized, de-identified, or aggregated information for any purpose permitted by law.
5. How We Disclose Your Personal Data
We do not sell your Personal Data for monetary consideration. We may disclose your Personal Data to the following categories of recipients and only for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy:
- Surety companies and underwriters: We share applicant and policyholder information with surety company underwriters as necessary to process bond applications, obtain quotes, issue bonds, and service existing bonds. This is a core function of our agency and is necessary to provide you with the services you request.
- Credit reporting agencies: We may share information with and obtain information from credit reporting agencies as part of the underwriting process, with your authorization.
- Service providers: We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist in operating our business, including IT providers, web hosting providers, email service providers, data analytics providers, and companies that provide business support services, provided they agree to maintain the confidentiality of such information.
- Professional consultants: We may share information with accountants, attorneys, financial advisors, and audit firms as needed for our business operations.
- Government and regulatory bodies: We may disclose information to government agencies, regulators, or law enforcement when required by law, subpoena, court order, or government regulation, or when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
- Legal proceedings: We may disclose information in connection with litigation, arbitration, mediation, or other legal proceedings, including to opposing parties, courts, and legal counsel.
- Corporate transactions: In the event of a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, bankruptcy, or similar corporate transaction, your Personal Data may be transferred to the acquiring or successor entity.
- With your consent: We may disclose your information to other parties when you have given your express consent to such disclosure.
6. Sensitive Personal Data
We only collect and use Sensitive Personal Data (such as Social Security numbers and government-issued identification numbers) for the following limited purposes:
- Performing services or providing products reasonably expected in the context of surety bond underwriting and issuance;
- Verifying your identity;
- Detecting and preventing fraud, security incidents, and illegal activity;
- Complying with legal and regulatory requirements;
- Exercising or defending legal claims.
7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our Website may use the following tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing activity:
- Cookies: Small data files placed on your device that help us improve your browsing experience, remember your preferences, and analyze Website traffic.
- Web beacons and pixels: Transparent graphics or code embedded in web pages or emails that help us measure the effectiveness of our communications and understand how visitors interact with our Website.
- Web server logs: Standard server logs that record information about Website visits, including IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, and timestamps.
We may use analytics services such as Google Analytics to help us understand how visitors use our Website. These services may use cookies and other tracking technologies to collect and analyze information. To learn how Google Analytics collects and processes data, visit Google's privacy partner page.
You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies, delete cookies, or be alerted when cookies are being sent. Please note that disabling cookies may limit some features or functionality of our Website.
At this time, we do not respond to Do Not Track ("DNT") browser signals, as there is no industry-standard protocol for their interpretation.
8. Data Security
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your Personal Data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, destruction, or loss. These measures include encryption of sensitive data in transit, access controls, secure data storage, and regular review of our security practices.
However, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your Personal Data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any account credentials or other access information.
9. Data Retention
We retain your Personal Data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Factors we consider in determining retention periods include:
- The duration of our business relationship with you;
- Whether there is an ongoing legal, contractual, or regulatory obligation that requires retention;
- Whether retention is necessary for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims;
- Applicable statutes of limitations;
- Industry standards and best practices for insurance and surety records.
When Personal Data is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it in accordance with our internal data retention policies.
10. California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)
If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), including:
- Right to Know: You may request information about the categories and specific pieces of Personal Data we have collected about you, the sources of that data, the purposes for collecting it, and the categories of third parties with whom we have shared it.
- Right to Delete: You may request that we delete Personal Data we have collected from you, subject to certain legal exceptions.
- Right to Correct: You may request that we correct inaccurate Personal Data we maintain about you.
- Right to Opt Out of Sales and Sharing: You have the right to opt out of the sale of your Personal Data or the sharing of your Personal Data for targeted advertising. As stated above, we do not sell your Personal Data for monetary consideration.
- Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Data: You may request that we limit the use and disclosure of your Sensitive Personal Data to purposes permitted under applicable law.
- Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your privacy rights.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request by collecting information such as your name, email address, and phone number. If you designate an authorized agent to make a request on your behalf, we may require the agent to provide signed written authorization and may require you to verify your identity directly with us.
11. Other State Privacy Rights
Residents of other states may have similar privacy rights under their respective state laws, including but not limited to Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Montana, and other states that have enacted comprehensive privacy legislation. If you are a resident of any such state, you may exercise your applicable rights by contacting us using the information provided in Section 15 below.
12. Third-Party Links
Our Website may contain links to external websites or online services that we do not own or control. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or data collection policies of any third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.
13. Children's Privacy
Our Website and services are not directed to individuals under the age of sixteen (16). We do not knowingly collect Personal Data from children under the age of sixteen. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected Personal Data from a child under the age of sixteen, we will take prompt steps to delete such information. If you believe we have collected information from a minor, please contact us immediately at the address provided in Section 15.
14. Insurance Industry Notices
In the normal course of business, we may collect information from you and third parties and use it to provide you with surety bond and insurance products. This may include obtaining credit reports and other financial information necessary for underwriting evaluation. We may also share your information with surety company partners, reinsurers, and regulatory bodies as required by law or as necessary to provide you with the products and services you have requested.
If you are involved in a claim or legal proceeding, we may collect and share information about the claim with surety companies, attorneys, adjusters, investigators, and other parties involved in the resolution of the claim, as permitted by law.
15. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, your Personal Data, or your privacy rights, please contact us:
Advanced Surety & Insurance Agency
Alex Lakshtanov
Phone: (818) 269-7596
Fax: (818) 827-1768
Email: [email protected]
Website: advancedbonding.com
Insurance Broker/Agent License# 0G21229
We will respond to your inquiry as promptly as practicable and in accordance with applicable law.