Privacy Information
Social Security Number
1. Why does Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (FPUA) want your Social Security Number?
a.
We ask for your Social Security Number when you apply for service so that we can check your credit history to determine the amount of deposit you need to pay.
b. We use your Social Security Number to confirm your identification so that someone else cannot try to open an account without your knowledge and approval.
c. We also use your Social Security Number as identifying information if we need to work with a collection agency for an unpaid balance on your account.
2. Can anyone ask for your Social Security Number from FPUA?
Yes. The Florida Public Records Law (F.S. Section 119) allows for businesses to ask for your Social Security Number, but they must first meet written requirements.
Certain businesses, such as those who bulk sale Social Security Numbers to the general public, are not allowed to have your Social Security Number from FPUA.
3. How will FPUA handle a request for your Social Security Number?
FPUA and our attorney will make sure the request meets the requirements of the law. We will not give out your Social Security Number unless we are forced to do so by law. We will protect your Social Security Number as much as the law will allow.
Records
Website Privacy Policy
A Special Note Concerning Minors: Protecting children's privacy is especially important to FPUA. FPUA is committed to complying with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) of 1998 and all other applicable laws. FPUA recommends that children ask a parent for permission before sending personal information to FPUA, or to anyone else on the internet. Accordingly, if you are under the age of 13, you are not authorized to provide FPUA with personally identifying information. FPUA appreciates your cooperation with this federally mandated requirement.
FPUA is committed to protecting consumer privacy online. We believe that greater protection of personal privacy on the web will not only protect consumers, but also increase consumer confidence and ultimately their participation in online activities. At FPUA we intend to give you as much control as possible over your personal information.
The purpose of our policy is to inform you about the types of information we gather about you when you visit our site(s), how we may use that information, whether we disclose it to anyone, and the choices you have regarding our use of, and your ability to correct, the information.
Our site(s) may contain links to other web sites, including web sites directed to children. We have no control over the privacy practices or the content of any of our business partners, advertisers, sponsors, or other sites to which we provide links from our sites. You should check the applicable privacy policy of each web site sponsor when linking to other web sites.
The FPUA Community area makes forums, webpages, and message boards available to its visitors. Please remember that any information that is disclosed in these areas becomes public information. Please exercise caution when deciding to disclose your personal information.
We reserve the right to change this policy at any time, and will post any changes to this policy as soon as they go into effect.
I. Information Which We Collect
We may request that you voluntarily supply us with personal information, including your e-mail address, postal address, home or work telephone number, and credit card number (only if you choose to purchase a product online), for purposes such as correspondence, making a purchase, or participating in online contests, surveys or games. If you choose to give us personal information via the Internet that we or our business partners may need -- to correspond with you, process an order or provide you with a subscription, for example -- it is our intent to let you know how we will use such information.
Like many other commercial sites, our site(s) may utilize a standard technology called a "cookie" to collect information about how our site is used. Cookies were designed to help a web site recognize a user's browser as a previous visitor and thus save and remember any preferences that may have been set while the user was browsing the site. A cookie cannot retrieve any other data from your hard drive, pass on a computer virus, or capture your e-mail address. Our web site(s) may use cookies to enhance your visit. Cookies can securely store a user's password, personalize home pages, identify which parts of a site have been visited or keep track of selections, such as those selected in a "shopping cart." Our cookies may collect your domain name and track your selections through our web pages. We only use "cookies" to gather the information indicated in this policy and do not use cookies to gather personal identifying information about you without your consent.
We also use cookies in connection with our community area in order to record your preferences. These cookies automatically store information pertaining to the community area you visited, in order to facilitate your experience with the community area features. No additional identifying information is stored on these cookies. You also have the option of choosing to allow us to use a cookie to store your username, or "handle," and password on your computer for use in the community area and other sites as indicated on the particular site.
We may require you to supply us with personal information during a "registration" process online prior to using certain features of our site. For example, you may be required to register to use the community areas, forums, and to access other features.
II. Use of User Information
We may perform statistical analyses of aggregate user behavior. This allows us to measure relative consumer interest in the various areas of our web sites for product development purposes. Any information we collect is used for its own internal purposes to improve the content of the web sites, to enhance users' experiences when visiting our site(s), to customize the content and/or layout of our pages, and to provide the services required by an individual user. We do not use personal identifying information for any reason that is not disclosed either in this Policy or at the time the information is requested. We never send e-mail to you unless you request a particular service, or consent to being contacted by e-mail. There are instances where you will have the opportunity to subscribe to an e-mail list that will send information about the site or our advertisers to your e-mail address, but this will be done only with your permission and consent.
III. Disclosure to Third Parties
We do not share personal identifying information with any third party without your permission. We disclose only in aggregate form our statistical analyses or demographics of users to third parties, such as advertisers or other business partners. PLEASE BE AWARE that when you voluntarily disclose personal information (such as your name, e-mail address) in certain areas (ie: personal web pages or community areas), that information may be collected by others outside the control of us and may result in unsolicited messages from others.
IV. Accuracy of User Information
In order to ensure the accuracy of personal information provided for registration, you may return to the registration form online in order to change information you have provided at any time.
V. Security of Information
We use our best efforts to ensure the security of personal information submitted by users. When collecting credit card information for online purchases, we offer secured-server transactions that encrypt your information in transit, to impede someone from intercepting it and misusing it.
VI. Use of Materials
The right to download and store or output one copy of the materials in our site(s) is granted for the user's personal use only, and materials may not be reproduced in any edited form. Any other reproduction, transmission, performance, display, or editing of these materials by any means mechanical or electronic without the express written permission of us is strictly prohibited.
