Information We Collect
Michelle Smith Agency collects information to provide you with personalized insurance solutions and superior service. The information we gather includes:
- Personal Information: Name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, and contact details when you request quotes or purchase policies.
- Financial Information: Payment information, banking details, and credit history as necessary for underwriting and billing purposes.
- Health Information: Medical history and health-related data when applying for health, life, or Medicare insurance products.
- Usage Data: Information about how you interact with our website, including IP address, browser type, pages visited, and time spent on our site.
- Communication Records: Records of your correspondence with our agents, including phone calls, emails, and chat sessions.
We collect this information through forms you complete, conversations with our agents, third-party sources such as credit bureaus, and automated technologies like cookies.
How We Use Your Information
The information we collect serves several essential purposes in delivering quality insurance services to you:
- Policy Management: Processing your insurance applications, issuing policies, and managing your coverage throughout its duration.
- Underwriting: Assessing risk and determining appropriate coverage and pricing for your insurance needs.
- Claims Processing: Handling claims efficiently and ensuring you receive the benefits you're entitled to under your policy.
- Service Improvement: Analyzing usage patterns to enhance our website functionality and customer service experience.
- Communication: Sending you policy updates, renewal notices, payment reminders, and important information about your coverage.
- Compliance: Meeting legal and regulatory requirements governing the insurance industry.
- Marketing: Providing you with information about additional products and services that may benefit you, with your consent.
Sharing Your Information
We understand the sensitive nature of your personal information and limit its disclosure to circumstances that directly support your insurance needs and legal requirements:
- Insurance Carriers: Sharing necessary information with insurance companies to obtain quotes, bind coverage, and process claims on your behalf.
- Service Providers: Working with trusted third-party vendors who assist us with payment processing, data analytics, marketing services, and IT support, all bound by confidentiality agreements.
- Legal Requirements: Disclosing information when required by law, court order, subpoena, or regulatory authority.
- Business Transfers: Transferring your information in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of our business assets.
- With Your Consent: Sharing information in other situations only with your explicit permission.
Important Notice: Michelle Smith Agency does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalized service:
- Essential Cookies: Required for basic website functionality, including secure login and navigation.
- Performance Cookies: Collecting anonymous data about how visitors use our site to improve performance and user experience.
- Functionality Cookies: Remembering your preferences and settings to personalize your experience on return visits.
- Marketing Cookies: Tracking your visit across websites to deliver relevant advertisements about our services.
You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may limit your ability to use some features of our website.
Data Security
Protecting your personal information is a top priority at Michelle Smith Agency. We implement multiple layers of security measures to safeguard your data:
- Encryption: Using industry-standard SSL/TLS encryption to protect data transmitted between your device and our servers.
- Access Controls: Limiting access to personal information to authorized employees and partners who need it to perform their duties.
- Physical Security: Maintaining secure facilities with controlled access to areas where sensitive information is stored.
- Regular Audits: Conducting periodic security assessments and updates to address emerging threats.
- Employee Training: Ensuring our team understands their responsibility to protect client information and follows best practices.
While we employ robust security measures, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but remain committed to protecting your information to the best of our ability.
Your Privacy Rights
As a client or prospective client of Michelle Smith Agency, you have several rights regarding your personal information:
- Access: You may request access to the personal information we hold about you.
- Correction: You have the right to request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
- Deletion: You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal and contractual retention requirements.
- Opt-Out: You can opt out of receiving marketing communications from us at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions in our emails or contacting us directly.
- Restriction: You may request that we restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
- Portability: You have the right to receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used format.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided at the end of this policy. We will respond to your request within the timeframe required by applicable law.
Updates to This Policy
Michelle Smith Agency may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make significant changes, we will:
- Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy.
- Notify you through email or a prominent notice on our website.
- Seek your consent for material changes that affect how we use your personal information, when required by law.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your information. Your continued use of our services after any modifications indicates your acceptance of the updated policy.
