PRIVACY POLICY Protecting our clients' confidential information is critical to our mission, since we want to develop long-standing relationships based on integrity and respect. The information we collect is used to strengthen our services and products. We won't give your confidential information to third parties and we won't abuse your trust by gathering information about you without permission. In order to protect your privacy rights, we will: Safeguard our clients' information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Honor requests to remove your name from our telephone, e-mail, or mail solicitation lists. Strive to keep customer records current and accurate. Collect, maintain, and use client information that is necessary to provide personalized services and products that meet your specific needs. Maintain the confidentiality of client information when undertaking projects with our partners and other organizations. Honor your requests to access information held by BCShoppingGuide.com on you and your business. These measures are key to establishing BCShoppingGuide.com's identity as a dependable and transparent partner in your online network. We will follow through on these pledges with due diligence and in all parts of our business. In order to provide a measurable standard by which to judge our success in this area, BCShoppingGuide.com has adopted the following ten principles to construct our privacy policy. The Ten Principles of Privacy Accountability BCShoppingGuide.com is responsible for personal information under its control and shall designate an individual or individuals to be accountable for the organization's compliance with the following principles. Identifying Purposes The purposes for which personal information is collected shall be identified by BCShoppingGuide.com at or before the time the information is collected. Consent The knowledge and consent of the individual are required for the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information, except where inappropriate. Limiting Collection The collection of personal information shall be limited to that which is necessary for the purposes identified by BCShoppingGuide.com. Information shall be collected by fair and lawful means. Limiting Use, Disclosure, and Retention Personal information shall not be used or disclosed for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual or as required by law. Personal information shall be retained only as long as necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes. Accuracy Personal information shall be as accurate, complete, and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which it is to be used. Safeguards Personal information shall be protected by security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information. Openness BCShoppingGuide.com shall make readily available to individuals specific information about its policies and practices relating to the management of personal information. Individual Access Upon request, an individual shall be informed of the existence, use, and disclosure of his or her personal information and shall be given access to that information. An individual shall be able to challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information and have it amended as appropriate. Challenging Compliance An individual shall be able to address a challenge concerning compliance with the above principles to the designated individual or individuals accountable for BCShoppingGuide.com's compliance. Appendix A: Definitions of Terms Collection The act of gathering, acquiring, or obtaining personal information from any source, including third parties, by any means. Consent Voluntary agreement with what is being done or proposed. Consent can be either express or implied. Express consent is given explicitly, either orally or in writing. Express consent is unequivocal and does not require any inference on the part of the organization seeking consent. Implied consent arises where consent may reasonably be inferred from the action or inaction of the individual. Disclosure Making personal information available to others outside the organization. Organization A term used in the model code that includes associations, businesses, charitable organizations, clubs, government bodies, institutions, professional practices, and unions. Personal information Information about an identifiable individual that is recorded in any form. Use Refers to the treatment and handling of personal information within an organization.