Privacy Policy – National Foreclosure Settlement

Introduction to Our Privacy Promise

At National Foreclosure Settlement, privacy is not only a paramount concern, it is an ethical imperative that dictates the way we do business. As an advocate of foreclosure and mortgage fraud justice, we are all too aware of the sensitive details that accompany requests for assistance, guidance, and legal advice, and that’s why we have developed this Privacy Policy. The following paragraphs provide in detail how we gather, use, store, and secure personal information according to industry standards and applicable laws in the United States. It is the aim of our firm to provide the most accurate and otherwise useful information to homeowners, legal practitioners, and advocates, and it is equally our goal to protect the trust and confidence of our users while utilizing our site and services online.

Who We Are and the Scope of This Policy

Established in 2023, National Foreclosure Settlement is a nationwide group of former Department of Justice attorneys and experienced trial lawyers. Our website (https://nationalforeclosuresettlement.com/) acts as a central hub for foreclosure related education, legal consultations, webinar registration and community support. This Privacy Policy governs all information collected through our website and digital communications, event registrations, consultations, or otherwise by which you provide personal information to us or communicate with our organization. Your use of our services constitutes acceptance of and agreement with the privacy practices described here.

Information We Collect

We collect certain information from you in order to give you the most meaningful and relevant services and tools:

Personal Identification Information: We collect this when you provide it directly to us. This includes but is not limited to your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, and other contact information when you fill out our contact forms, register for events, subscribe to newsletters, or request consultations.
Case and Service Information: When you become a client and request foreclosure or other legal consultation services, we may ask you to provide information about your foreclosure case, property address, mortgage documents, and other case materials that you voluntarily provide to us.
Technical Data: When you visit our website, we may (either directly or through our vendors) automatically receive and record technical data from your web browser or Internet access device. This technical data may include, but is not limited to, information on your IP address, the type and version of your system or wireless router and/or browser, your system or device type, Internet access times, and the pages you view while visiting our website. We use some of this technical data for site security and improvement.
Resource Interaction Data: When you interact with certain resources such as our articles, age-based guides, webinars, or other content tools available through this website, we collect information based on where you are located. This information can include but is not limited to the resources you interact with directly (such as the specific resource you view), whether or not you choose to download these resources, whether or not you choose to submit them to someone else via telephone or email (if available), and whether or not you choose to incorporate them within specific service offerings we provide.
Communication Records: If we have been in contact with each other via email or online chat (after full compliance with any states that require express permission to contact an individual for solicitation purposes), we may retain records of email communications with us via the contact forms where available.

How We Use Your Information

Here is how we may use the information we obtain, so that we can provide you the best quality service and protect your rights:

To answer your questions and send materials or set up a consultation as you have requested
To process registration information for webinars, seminars, events and other activities
To deliver newsletters, legal alerts, invitations to events, and other communications related to the practice of foreclosure law and the National Foreclosure Settlement
To customize your experience with our services by providing you with tailored materials based on your interests and needs
To improve our website, our services and educational materials by evaluating aggregated, anonymous data regarding usage activity
To maintain the security and integrity of our website and our services
As required for compliance purposes or to resolve disputes

Legal Grounds for Processing

We process your personal information under a variety of lawful bases, including:

Your explicit consent (for example, when you ask to receive our newsletter or register for an event).
The necessity of processing for the performance of a contract (for example, providing services pursuant to your request for a legal consultation).
Compliance with a legal obligation (for example, complying with a subpoena or other lawful request from a court or government authority).
Our legitimate interests (for example, improving our services, ensuring security, and communicating important updates with users).

How Your Data is Protected

Securing the information you share with us is among our highest priorities. To that end, we have selected industry-standard security measures for our use, including:

Utilization of Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption to protect all website traffic and data transfers
Storing data in secured access controlled servers that are periodically scanned for vulnerabilities
Internal policies restricting data access to only those team members who need it to carry out their specific responsibilities
Requiring that staff be trained on best privacy practices as well as applicable privacy law compliance
Periodically monitoring for unauthorized access, data corruption/disclosure or other technical problems

While we take reasonable precautions to protect your information, no system is completely secure. Please help us by protecting your login credentials and informing us of any suspected security problems immediately at [email protected].

Cookies and Related Technology

This website uses cookies and other tracking technologies to improve the browsing experience, track analytics and administer the site. Cookies are files created by your web browser that store information about your preferences and how you use our website so we can provide a more customized experience. You may configure your web browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. If you choose to disable cookies, however, you may not be able to use some portions of our website. For more details, please see our Cookie Policy.

Third-Party Services and Data Sharing

National Foreclosure Settlement will not sell, rent or trade your personally identifiable information (including your name, email address and postal address) to third parties for their own marketing use. We may share your information with trusted vendors to operate our website, deliver communications or perform event services (such as email newsletter services or conference registration services). Vendors acting on our behalf are contractually bound to keep your information confidential and only to use it for those purposes.

We may share information you give us if we believe that we are required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (for example, a court or law enforcement agency). If we engage in a merger, acquisition or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred in that transaction, subject to notice to affected users.

Your Rights and Controls

You have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

The right to access personal data we hold about you and to receive a copy on request.
The right to request rectification of any inaccurate or incomplete information.
The right to request deletion of your personal data, subject to applicable legal requirements.
The right regarding withdrawal of consent at any time, where the processing is based on your consent to processing.
The right to opt-out of marketing communications by clicking the unsubscribe link in the email we send you or emailing us at [email protected].

We will make every effort to respond to all requests as early as practicable and in accordance with applicable law.

Retention

We will only retain your personal data for as long as it takes to achieve the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, for legal compliance, dispute resolution and use of related agreements. The retention period will vary in accordance with our purposes and the nature of the personal data. For instance:

Contact information for newsletter subscriptions: retained until you unsubscribe.
Case related documents provided in connection with a legal provision or service: retained for 7 years, unless we are requested by you to delete them before this period, due to legal and ethical requirements.
Analytics and usage data, if they are processed in unidentifiable aggregated form will be retained as needed to improve the Services.

Children’s Privacy

Our Website and Services are not meant for individuals under 18 years of age. In particular, we do not knowingly collect information from children or teens under the age of 18, and we do not wish to collect such personally identifying information. If you have any reason to believe that we may have collected personally identifying information from your child under the age of 18, please contact us at once so that we may take the necessary steps to delete such information. Email us at [email protected].

Individuals Inside and Outside of the United States

National Foreclosure Settlement is domiciled in the United States, with users across the country. If you are using the services outside of the United States, then your information may be stored and processed within the United States. By using National Foreclosure Settlement’s services, you consent to having your information transferred, processed and stored in the United States as well as how it is described in this Privacy Policy.

Newsletter and Communications Policy

Our complimentary e-newsletter will keep you up to date on the latest foreclosure developments, legal information and upcoming events. You will only receive these communications if you have indicated that you would like to hear from us in a subscribing capacity via our website or pursuant to an alternative engagement in which you have consented. Each communication includes an unsubscribe option, so that you may choose at any time not to receive further communications. We do not share your contact information with third parties for marketing purposes. If you have any questions regarding our communications or are interested in revising your preferences, please contact us at [email protected].

Links to Other Sites

As a convenience or for information, our website may contain links to other sites that are not operated or controlled by us. Such sites are not subject to this Privacy Policy and we encourage you to review the privacy policy of any site before providing us with personal information. National Foreclosure Settlement is not responsible for the content or business practices of other websites.

Data Security Incident Management

In the unlikely event of a data breach or security incident involving your personally identifiable information, National Foreclosure Settlement has a response plan in place that enables it to quickly assess the scope and impact of the breach, contain the breach, and notify affected users as required by applicable law. The team performs periodic drills and reviews its written plans and procedures for timely and appropriately responding to incidents to help contain the incident and mitigate risks.

Accessibility and Non-Discrimination

We work to make our privacy practices understandable and accessible to all, including persons with disabilities. If you would like this Privacy Policy in an alternative format or help regarding any privacy-related request, please contact us by e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (612) 578-3198. We will work with you to try to provide a reasonable accommodation on a non-discriminatory basis.

Privacy Policy Changes

In certain circumstances, we may modify this Privacy Policy to account for changes in our practices or technology, or legal requirements. We will post any material changes to this Privacy Policy on our website, and we will update the effective date of the policy at the top of the page. We recommend that you periodically consult this policy to remain aware of how we protect your information. By continuing your use after any changes in this policy, you are consenting to such changes.

Privacy Inquiries

Your privacy concerns, queries or requests for information are important to us. If you have a question regarding this Privacy Policy or your privacy please contact:

National Foreclosure Settlement
333 Washington Ave SE Ste 18, Minneapolis MN 55455

Phone: (612) 578-3198
Email: [email protected]

We also have a contact form on the website available here. Our support team endeavors to respond to all queries and resolve all issues satisfactorily and promptly.

You are Responsible for Safeguarding Your Own Information

The National Foreclosure Settlement protects your sensitive information through state-of-the-art technology and security management processes. For additional security, please protect your passwords and account credentials, do not send sensitive information over unsecure channels, and report any suspected unauthorized account activity or phishing to us at [email protected].

Exercising California Consumer Privacy Rights (the “CCPA”)

If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Once implemented, the CCPA will afford you the following rights:

You have the right to know what categories of personal information we have collected about you and how we use that personal information.
You have the right to request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
You have the right to opt out of sales of your personal information (please note, we do not sell your personal information).
You have the right not to be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights.

In order to exercise these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will authenticate your identity before processing your request and respond to your request within the time frame required by applicable law.

Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut and Other State Privacy Laws

Certain U.S. States (like Virginia, Colorado and Connecticut) have adopted privacy laws that afford their residents certain rights regarding their personal information collected in the state. If you are a resident of one of those states, you may have state law rights similar to those set forth in the CCPA, including the right to have your information provided, corrected or deleted. National Foreclosure Settlement recognizes and honors all privacy protections mandated by the states, and encourages individuals to reach out to us about their state law rights.

Legal Consultations and Data Privacy

When you submit a request for an expert legal consultation through this site, any information and/or documents that you provide in the course of such submission shall be maintained by us in the strictest confidence, subject only to our attorney-client and/or ethical obligations. The information that you submit is utilized only for the purposes of evaluating your case, advising you, and communicating with you regarding your legal matter. Your consultation information shall never be disclosed to third parties without your express permissions, except as required by law.

Managing Your Preferences

You control your privacy settings. You can update your contact information, adjust your communications preferences, and control data that you have shared with us by logging in to your account (where possible) or by contacting us at [email protected]. Our goal is to make these preference changes within 10 business days.

Requests to Transfer or Port Your Data

If you would like to receive an electronic version of your personal information and/or transmit your personal information to another company, you may submit a request to [email protected]. We will provide you with your data in a commonly used, machine readable format within 30 days after identity verification and subject to any legal restrictions.

Use of De-identified and Aggregated Data

In limited circumstances, we may aggregate or de-identify your data for research, reporting or service improvement. Aggregated data cannot be linked to you as a living individual and is used for statistical purposes (for example to understand trends, measure the effect of resources we have provided to date and for improving users’ experience). Aggregated or de-identified data is not shared with any third parties in such a way as to mean you can be re-identified.

Social Media and Community Forums

National Foreclosure Settlement maintains a presence on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to provide information and connect with the public. The information collected via social media sites is subject to those sites’ privacy policies. Be mindful of what you share, and we advise against sharing sensitive data in a public forum.

Data Protection Officer/Escalation

To help ensure accountability, and compliance with applicable laws, the National Foreclosure Settlement has appointed a Data Protection Officer (DPO) who is charged with overseeing the System’s privacy practices and handling the questions or concerns of users. To the extent you have not been able to resolve your privacy issues through our customer support personnel, the DPO is available to address those issues. Simply write the DPO directly at [email protected], with “Attention DPO” in the subject line.

Applicable Law

This Privacy Policy and any disputes about your information are governed by the laws of the United States and the State of Minnesota without regard to conflict of law principles. By using our website and services, you agree that any litigation relating to your privacy will be venued exclusively in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Filing a Complaint

You have a right to complain to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your state’s attorney general’s office if you think your privacy rights were ignored or you are not happy with our response to your request. But we hope you will first give us an opportunity by contacting us at [email protected] to try to resolve your concern directly and quickly.

Summary and Your Continued Trust

The “National Foreclosure Settlement” operates in an environment of trust, transparency and advocacy for the foreclosure victim. We will hold sacrosanct your privacy as you search for information, assistance and redress in your foreclosure process. We have prepared this Privacy Policy to honor our commitment to responsible data stewardship and compliance with the law. We appreciate the trust you place in us by using our website as your one-stop-shop for information and advocacy in foreclosure justice and welcome your feedback on ways we can improve our privacy policies, practices and controls.