Welcome to the CustomChat.com privacy policy
covering the CustomChat.com group of web sites.

CustomChat.com Privacy Policy

This policy covers information collected by the Consumer Information Organization including all the associated CustomChat.com group of web sites and services.  Products and services are purchased by consumer through the mymerchantoffice.com site operated by Cardservice International.  

Customer Information:  Information is collected at the time of a sale in order to complete the sale and deliver the products.  Customer lists are not sold or distributed to third parties.  CustomChat.com does not use customer lists to send solicitations (except for renewal notices for continuing services such as domain registrations, e-mail, or web page services).  

Credit Card Transactions:   Credit card transactions are processed by Cardservice International.  A professional payment authorization service was chosen for added security and reliability.  Only the purchase price and the credit card information provided by the customer is supplied to Cardservice International.  Information collected during transactions is maintained in their database for accounting and billing purposes.  Information from these transactions is not released to third parties. 

Information About Children:  CustomChat.com does not attempt to collect personal information from children.  If children do send personal information to CustomChat.com, the information is deleted.   Note that CustomChat.com cannot always determine that a user is a child.  CustomChat.com does not maintain databases about children.

Web Site Log Files:  Like most web sites log files are generated that show the IP Address of the visitor, date, time, and pages visited.  Aggregate reports for web site visitors are generated that do not contain personally identifiable information.   Advertising reports may be generated that show the IP addresses of visitors who clicked on ads.  This information may be sent to the advertiser to confirm the advertising fee charged.  The advertiser already has this information as a result of the user clicking on the ad.  No additional information about the visitor is supplied to the advertiser.  The log files are eventually deleted.

Cookies:  Internet 'cookies' are not used except for demonstration purposes at CustomChat.com and for the Chatalot.com Web site at http://www.chatalot.com. 

Session cookies are placed on the user's system for the demonstration pages at CustomChat.com.  These cookies remain on the user's system for the duration of the visit to the Web site and may not be retrieved when a user visits at a later time.

The web store uses 'session' cookies that expire in about 20 minutes.  They are used so a user can shop and maintain a list of items ordered in their "shopping cart" and have a total due calculated.  A user does not have to supply any personal information unless they decide to complete an order and pay via credit card.  Orders can also be printed and paid by mail or fax without entering any information.

No Third Party Downloads:  No Images, files, or cookies are downloaded from third party servers.  This means no banner networks, hidden "web bugs" (images of size 1x1 pixel used to track users).  More than 95% of affiliate and advertising requests are rejected by CustomChat.com because of this requirement.

External Linking:  The logging of clicks for external links using "redirects" is only done for advertisements. This is indicated by link to a URL such as '/redirect.asp?url= ...'  The external URL is clearly marked in the "url=" portion.   This is done to create the advertising reports described above in order to bill the advertiser.

Mailing Lists:  CustomChat.com Web sites may maintain subscription mailing lists.    Users are never added based on requesting information, making a purchase, or forgetting to uncheck some box during ordering.

In the case of Chatalot Auctions, your postal address will be shared only with the party that will be mailing you the item if you should win.

User Registration:  CustomChat.com sites only require minimal user registration of name, email address and a few survey questions for downloading the FREE demo version of the CustomChat Server software. 

Favicon.ico requests:  Some browsers initiate a favicon.ico request to a web site when a user adds a site to their "Favorites" list.  (.ico stands for "icon")  It is a small 16x16 pixel icon that replaces the standard icon used for a web page.  Favicon.ico requests are not tracked.

The restrictions on the dissemination of personal information are not subject to change.  The policy is updated occasionally but the changes will not reduce the privacy protection of visitors.  If there are changes made in the future the changes will not affect information already collected.

Tips for when reviewing privacy policies on other web sites

• Is there a privacy policy at all?  Is it easy to find?   Do they have a contact e-mail address and are questions actually answered? 
• Does the site have a link to its privacy policy where it collects personal information?
• Can you change your mind and opt-out later?
• Is the information clear or is it confusing and full of legal mumbo jumbo?
• Do sites use 'opt-in' or 'opt-out' methods for the release of personal information?  Opt-in means the user makes a choice when the information is released.  Opt-out means the information is automatically released unless the user does something to stop it.  Are information release choices automatically default to releasing the information?
• Does the site have complicated methods to opt-out and/or do they have several places that opt-out is required in an effort to 'wear you down'?
• Does the site say if they use Internet cookies?  If so, do they explain how they are used?
• Does the site explain what is done with their log files and IP Addresses it collects? 
• Does the site allow downloads and/or Internet cookies from third party web sites?  (This is often done with banner ad networks).
• Does the site attempt to collect personal information from children or adults?  Does the site claim rights to this information once it is submitted?
• Does the site say if they release information to others?
• Do sites ask for personal information (such as Mother's maiden name or a portion of the social security number) claiming they need this to set a password? 
• If information is released can you stop them from disseminating the information at a later date?  Do they provide specific instructions on how to do this?
• Note that a TRUSTe seal (see below) only covers a singular web site and not an entire company.  For instance, America Online only has a seal for www.aol.com but the member's site, and the AOL company itself, is not covered.    In addition, a seal only means a site has a policy and nothing more.  It does not assure that privacy is protected.

Warning about sites displaying TRUSTe and BBBonline seals

CustomChat.com does not participate, and does not support, activities such as TRUSTe, Privacy Partnership, or the Online Privacy Alliance.   While many of their members do offer adequate privacy protection, these organizations have failed to offer protection for consumers.  Both organizations have received complaints that some of their members have misleading privacy policies, fail to follow their own policies, and/or violate privacy laws.  Both TRUSTe and BBBonline not only failed to act on these complaints, they make it as difficult as possible to file complaints in the first place.