BLACKSTONE MERCHANT SERVICES PRIVACY POLICY

Effective Date: 07/25/2016

At Blackstone Merchant Services, Inc. (Blackstone), your privacy is important to us. We take great care to safeguard the ways in which any information you provide to us is collected and used. This privacy notice (the “Privacy Policy”) discloses the privacy practices for www.blackstonemerchant.com (the “Site”). This Privacy Policy does not govern our collection of information through any other web site, or by any other means, other than through the Site; nor does this Privacy Policy govern the collection of information by third parties. This Privacy Policy will notify you of the following:

• What personally identifiable information is collected from you through the Site, how it is used and with whom it may be shared.
• The choices available to you regarding the use of your information and how you can correct any inaccuracies in the information.
• The security procedures in place to protect your information.
• Future updates to the Privacy Policy.

INFORMATION COLLECTION, USE AND SHARING

Blackstone gathers two basic types of information through the Site:

• Non-Personally Identifiable Information (“NPII”) is information that is recorded about users so that it no longer reflects or references an individually identifiable user. Some examples of this type of information include the type of Internet browser you are using, the type of operating system you have configured on your device, your geographical zip code, and/or the internet service provider from which you are linked to our Site. Non-PII does not personally identify you. Blackstone primarily uses NPII for market research and to optimize our systems. For example, NPII is used to enhance Site security, to detect broad demographic trends, to assist us in providing content tailored to your interests, and to otherwise enhance your experience on this Site. This information may also be shared with third parties on an aggregate and non-personally identifiable basis. Please note that Blackstone may link Non-PII to PII about you that we have previously collected in connection to a Blackstone service. Such combined information will be treated as PII as long as it is so combined.
• Personally Identifiable Information (“PII”) is non-public information that is personally identifiable to you (such as your name, mailing address, email address, or billing information), which you provide to us. Blackstone collects PII from you when you interact with this Site as described in the sections that follow.

PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION (PII)

Cookies

Blackstone uses “cookies” on this Site. Cookies are unique identifiers which we transfer to your device to enable our systems to recognize your device and to provide features such as “Remember Me” which allows you to easily log in to our Site from your device by remembering your email address. When you choose the “Remember Me” feature, you do not have to re-enter your email address each time you wish to access our Site. You simply enter your password to log in, thus saving you time. Cookies also enable us to track and target your interests to enhance your experience on our Site and to deliver content that is specific to your interests. Most browsers provide options which allow you to prevent your browser from accepting new cookies, to notify you when you receive a new cookie, to automatically decline cookies from a specific web site, or to disable cookies altogether. Typically your browser’s Help feature can tell you how to configure these options. If you block or decline our cookies, you will not be able to take advantage of some of our Site features. As such, we recommend that you do not block or otherwise reject our cookies.

Log files and IP addresses

Blackstone uses your IP address to diagnose our server problems and to administer our Site.

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO THIRD PARTIES

Blackstone will not disclose your PII outside Blackstone and its controlled subsidiaries and affiliates without your consent, except as described in this Privacy Policy. In some cases where Blackstone services may be offered in conjunction with another company, both Blackstone and the other company may receive information collected in conjunction with these co-branded services.

Strategic Partners

From time to time, we may enter into a special relationship with another company that is not owned by or affiliated with Blackstone. We may share your name, email address and zip code with such third-party strategic partners; however, we will provide you with the opportunity to either opt into or opt out of such sharing when you set up an account and when you log in after we add a new strategic partner. Because these third parties will use your PII in accordance with their own privacy practices, you should check their web sites for information regarding their privacy practices.

DO NOT TRACK POLICY

Blackstone will not use malicious scripts or functionality that enables password phishing scams on our app. We will not use any tracking mechanisms or malware on your account or information.

FORUMS

We may make available through the Site services such as, message boards, forums, comment functionality and chat functionality, among other services (collectively referred to as “Forums”) to which you are able to post information and materials. Please note that any information you disclose through these Forums becomes public information, and may be available to visitors of the Site and to the general public. In addition, when you choose to make a posting on these Forums, certain information (for example, your screen name and your location) will be available for other users to view. We urge you to exercise discretion and caution when deciding to disclose PII, or any other information, on the Site Forums. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE USE OF ANY PII YOU VOLUNTARILY DISCLOSE THROUGH THESE SITE FORUMS.

OTHER DISCLOSURES

We may disclose your PII: (a) as permitted by law; (b) in the event of a transfer of ownership, assets, or a bankruptcy of Blackstone; (c) if we determine that disclosure of specific information is necessary to comply with the request of a law enforcement or regulatory agency, or (d) to protect the rights, or property, of Blackstone, including the enforcement of our agreements, or (e) to act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of our users or members of the public.

YOUR CHOICES

View / Edit Your Information

You may view or edit your personal information online. To view or edit your personal information online, you will be required to sign in with your registered user login credentials (email and password). Any changes you make to your account will be reflected on the Site. Opt-Out Choice You may opt-out of receiving future marketing notifications from us. If you opt-out, we will not send you future electronic marketing communications related to our products or services. Regardless of your opt-out preferences, we reserve the right to send you electronic messages, as deemed necessary, for administrative purposes. To exercise your choice to opt out:

• You may click on the “opt-out” link on the bottom of any marketing email you receive from Blackstone and make your choices as to what electronic marketing communications you wish to receive from Blackstone;
• You may contact us by sending a written request to the email or postal address provided in the “Contact Us” section of the website. Please specify clearly what electronic marketing communications you are opting-out of.

Note that changes to your opt-out request may not be effective immediately. We endeavor to comply with your request as soon as reasonably practicable.

LINKS AND THIRD PARTIES’ PRIVACY PRACTICES

This Site may contain links to other sites which are not owned or controlled by Blackstone. BLACKSTONE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PRIVACY PRACTICES OR THE CONTENT OF SUCH OTHER WEB SITES. We recommend that you review and understand the privacy policy of third party web sites arrived at from links on this Site prior to submitting any personal information. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PRIVACY POLICY DOES NOT ADDRESS THE PRIVACY OR INFORMATION PRACTICES OF ANY THIRD PARTIES.

SECURITY

Blackstone employs advanced information security technologies and procedures consistent with industry best practices to protect your personal information from unauthorized access. Wherever we collect sensitive information, such as payment card data, that information is encrypted and transmitted to us using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) software, which encrypts the information you input. We also protect your information offline. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (such as billing or customer service) are granted access to PII. The computer systems in which we store PII are kept in a secure environment.

To help prevent your personal information from being viewed by others, it is important that you protect your login password and your computer against unauthorized access. Your password helps protect your account and personal information. You are not to share or allow others to use your login password. It is your responsibility to keep your password confidential and make sure you log out before leaving the Site.

Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet or data storage system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, although we strive to protect your PII, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us through or in connection with this Site or that is stored by us. You acknowledge and agree that any information you transmit through the Site is so transmitted at your own risk. If you have reason to believe that your interaction with us is no longer secure (for example, if you feel that the security of any account you might have with us has been compromised), you must immediately notify us by contacting us at the phone number or email address provided in the Contacting Blackstone section below.

UPDATES

Our Privacy Policy may change from time to time. All updates will be posted on this Site. Any changes will become effective upon our posting of the revised Privacy Policy on this Site. We encourage you to check this page regularly. Your continued use of this Site following any changes to the Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the changes.

CONTACTING BLACKSTONE

You may direct any questions or comments regarding our Privacy Policy to:

Blackstone Website Customer Care
11600 NW 34th Street
Miami, FL 33178
Email: support@blackstoneonline.com
Phone: (305) 639-9590             

[chatbot]