| Mercy House Privacy Policy Our Privacy PromiseMercy House is concerned about the privacy of those individuals who visit and use www.mercyhouse.com (the "Site") and Mercy House will exercise reasonable precautions to protect the privacy of users of the Site and to maintain the confidentiality of any information users of the Site provide to Mercy House. To that end, Mercy House has prepared and posted this notice to describe Mercy House’s specific privacy policies (the "Policy"). Collection of Personal Information Mercy House does not collect personal information about individuals who visit the Site, except when specifically and knowingly provided by such individuals. However, Mercy House may require some individuals to provide certain, specific personal information to access certain features of the Site and/or to receive certain services from the Site. Cookies Users of the Site should be aware that non-personal information and data may be automatically collected by the Site and Mercy House through the use of "cookies." Cookies are small text files stored on a user’s hard drive which the Site uses to recognize repeat users, facilitate users’ ongoing access to the Site and use of the site, and allow Mercy House and the Site to compile data about how users access the site. This information is used in the aggregate, meaning that information from many users is typically grouped together in a way that does not disclose the identity of any one user. For users who have registered with the Site, Mercy House may also use cookies to identify such users when they return to the Site, and to remember the user’s preferences. If users so choose, they can use cookies to avoid typing in their e-mail addresses and passwords each time they return. Cookies are not programs and perform no actions on a user’s computer. The use of cookies is common on the Internet, and Mercy House can use the aggregate information collected through cookies to improve users’ experience on the Site. For example, by showing how and when visitors use the Site, cookies help Mercy House see which areas are popular and which are not. Most browsers are initially set up to accept cookies. Users can reset their browser to refuse all cookies or indicate when a cookie is being sent. Mercy House recommends that users who have further questions visit many of the commonly available Cookie FAQs on the Internet to learn more about this topic. IP Addresses An IP address is a number automatically assigned to a computer whenever it is being used to surf the Web. Web servers automatically identify computers by their IP addresses. Mercy House may collect IP addresses for the purposes of system administration, to prepare aggregate information, and to monitor the use of the Site. When users request pages from the Site, Mercy House’s servers log the user’s IP addresses. Mercy House does not normally link IP addresses to anything personally identifiable, which means that a user’s session will be logged, but the user remains anonymous to Mercy House. Mercy House can and will use IP addresses to identify a visitor when Mercy House believes it is necessary to enforce compliance with Mercy House’s rules or terms of service or to protect Mercy House’s service, the Site, other visitors, or for other valid reasons. Use of Information Mercy House may use any personal information voluntarily provided by users of the Site to Mercy House to contact such users regarding their specific requests or activities, and Mercy House may share this information with Mercy House’s vendors as necessary to fulfill such request or to conduct such activities. Such third party vendors are contractually prohibited from using or sharing user’s personal data for any other purpose. Mercy House will not make any user’s personal identifiable information available to any individual or organization for the purpose of such individual or organization contacting the user for commercial purposes without obtaining such user’s prior permission. As distinct from personally identifiable information discussed above, Mercy House will use aggregated, statistical information it collects about users to the Site to help Mercy House understand how the Site is being used so that Mercy House can work to improve it. For example, Mercy House may study which sections of the Site are most frequently visited. From time to time, Mercy House may share this high-level, non-identifiable information with Mercy House’s vendors, contractors and partners to help them assist Mercy House in evaluating the Site and in improving the Site. Mercy House may disclose user information in special cases when Mercy House has reason to believe that disclosing this information is necessary to identify, contact or bring legal action against someone who may be causing injury to or who may be interfering with (either intentionally or unintentionally) Mercy House’s rights or property, other Site users, or anyone else that could be harmed by such activities. Mercy House may also disclose user information when it believes in good faith that the law requires it. Links on the Site The Site may include links to other web sites and other Internet addresses that are beyond Mercy House’s control. Unless indicated in this Policy, Mercy House does not share personal user information with these sites. However, users should note that Mercy House is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of these external sites (that is, any site which does not have ’mercyhouse.com’ in the URL), and these other sites may send their own cookies to users, collect data or solicit personal information. Mercy House’s Commitment to Children’s Privacy Protecting the privacy of the very young is especially important to Mercy House. The Site is not designed to attract anyone under the age of 13, is not directed at anyone under the age of 13, and it is not the intent of Mercy House to attract anyone under the age of 13. Mercy House will not collect or maintain information at the Site from any persons Mercy House knows to be under the age of 13. Mercy House further requests that any users of the Site that are under the age of 13 not disclose or provide any personal information on the Site. Opt-out Policy Registering with the Site is voluntary, and most of the Site can be browsed without registering. However, some portions of the Site may only be available to users who have registered. Should any user who previously registered wish to stop receiving the information such user previously requested when registering, any user would like to update the registration information, or any user would like to correct any personal information or remove the personal data they provided to Mercy House, should send an email to info@mercyhouse.net indicating such request. Security Statement Mercy House takes the security of personal information very seriously, and Mercy House uses all reasonable steps to keep personal information secure. However, users should be aware that despite Mercy House’s best efforts, no transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be totally secure. Effect of Future Changes to Policy Mercy House reserves the right to change this Policy at any time. However, Mercy House will not apply any new policies to a user’s personal data which was collected under an older version of the Policy without first contacting such a user at the e-mail address provided and giving the user the opportunity to refuse to allow the use of his or her data under the changed Policy. In addition, if Mercy House changes the Policy, such changes will be posted in this notice so users are aware of what information Mercy House collects, how Mercy House may use such information, and when and to whom Mercy House may disclose such information. Acceptance of Policy By using the Site, users signify their assent to this Policy. Those users who do not agree to this Policy should not use the Site. A user’s continued use of the Site following the posting of any changes to this Policy will mean that such user has accepted those changes. The effective date of this Policy is July 17, 2006. Last Updated: 12/11/2006 |