Privacy Policy
You are receiving this statement to comply with federal laws regarding the disclosure of non-public information. FHAS is committed to fully protecting and preserving the privacy of our clients. For your protection, please take a few moments to read this statement:
As part of our committment to your privacy, FHAS will only disclose the information that it must in order to serve you in the most effective manner possible. Hence, FHAS will not distribute client information to third parties, except where it is necessary to perform quality services or its clients, as described below.
This Applies To
This statement applies to those individuals who have received education and/or one-on-one counseling assistance, and with whom there is a continuing counselor/client relationship.
Information Collected
Through telephone, fax, mail, and electronic communication, personal information will be gathered, including address, social security number, telephone number, email address, and other demographic information. Through the aforementioned channels, financial information will also be collected, including information related to your debts, income, expenses, and checking/savings accounts on an as-needed basis. Please be assured that we carefully train all of our counselors to carefully protect all client information. In order to do this effectively, we will ask for information that only you should know when you contact us. No one else can call in and access your information without your written authorization. If you find, at any time, that our records contain inaccurate or incomplete records, please let us know immediately.
Internal Sharing
Information may be shared with FHAS as needed to assist with situations that may arise.
External Sharing
A necessary portion of your personal and financial information will be used to communicate with your creditors and/or lender to coordinate with them on your behalf. Information will not be sold to corporations. FHAS does not report any information to credit bureaus.
Other Applicable Laws
The practices described above are in accordance with federal privacy law. You may have other protections under applicable state laws. To the extent that these state laws apply, we will comply with them when we share information about you.
Protections for Information
Physical andelectronic files are only kept within the confines of the FHAS offices and at approved secure backup sites. Access is restricted to authorized personnel only.
Information Storage
The information you supply FHAS will remain in corporate files for as long as it is necessary to provide services, and for a reasonable period of time following the completion or termination of services.
Online Privacy
Information may be gathered when you visit the FHAS website, including Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, Uniform Resource Locator (URL) tags, and basic operating system and browser information. Electronic security is maintained through use of firewalls (which are designed to protect systems from intrusion). All information collected through the Jotforms website is encrypted upon submission and is not sold to third-party affiliates per a licensed BAA between both parties.
Notes
FHAS refers to the Family Housing Advisory Services, Inc. a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Counseling Agency. FHAS is also an agency of United Way of the Midlands.
How You Can Help Protect Your Privacy
Do not share your account information, passwords, user IDs, PINs, your SSN, code words or other confidential information with others.
Do not provide confidential information to unknown callers.
Do not provide confidential information online unless YOU initiated the contact, know the party with whom you're dealing, and can provide the information through a secure line (https://).
When conducting business over the internet, always use a secure browser & exit onlineapplications as soon as you finish using them.
If you believe you have been the victim of identity theft or fraud, please call the Social Security Administration Fraud Hotline at 800-397-0271 to report fraudulent use of your identification information.
File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by contacting the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline: 877-ID-THEFT (877-438-4338).
File a police report and retain the police report number and officer's name and badge number that took the report.
Credit Bureau Fraud Lines:
Experian: 888-397-3742
Equifax: 800-525-6285
TransUnion: 800-680-7289
I/we acknowledge that I/we received, read, and agree to Family Housing Advisory Services, Inc.'s Program Privacy Policy.