HSBC AUTO FINANCE
Privacy Statement
Privacy Statement for your auto credit account with
HSBC Auto Finance Inc., HSBC Auto Credit Inc.,
or HSBC Auto Accounts Inc.
Introduction - Our Commitment to You
HSBC Auto Finance Inc., HSBC Auto Credit Inc., and HSBC Auto Accounts Inc. ("HSBC") are proud to be part of a financial services organization that has been providing superior products and services for more than 150 years. We greatly appreciate the trust that you and millions of customers have placed in us, and we protect that trust by continuing to respect the privacy of all our applicants and customers even if our formal customer relationship ends.
This Privacy Statement illustrates our commitment to your privacy and explains our privacy practices to help you understand how we protect and use your information.
We may change our privacy practices at any time as permitted by law, and if we do so we will provide you with notice as required. If you have selected a credit-related insurance product, the Privacy Statement applicable to that credit insurance product is set forth at the end of this Privacy Statement.
How We Handle Information We Collect
It is important for you to know that in order to ensure that our customers get the very best service and the highest quality products, and to develop new products, HSBC collects demographic information (like your name, address, and social security number) and credit information (like information from your application, your credit report or related to your accounts with us). In addition, if you visit our website, we may collect certain information about your internet usage.
Because some of the information we gather is not publicly available, we take great care to ensure that this information is kept safe from unauthorized access, and we will not share the information in violation of any regulation or law. HSBC diligently maintains physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with applicable laws to guard your private personal information and to assist us in preventing unauthorized disclosure or access to that information.
How We Protect Your Privacy Online
To help us learn which products, services and sections of our websites interest you, and to improve your experience, we use "cookies." Cookies are small files that our web server places on your hard drive to track activity on the website during a browsing session, and across multiple sessions. We also use cookies to "remember" which online service you last logged into, so that we can pre-select that service on your next visit. The cookies we set contain no personal information. Cookies can only track activity on our website, and cannot be read by any non-HSBC websites.
We may also use online profiling to help us better understand your individual financial needs. This information does not identify you personally unless you voluntarily give us personal information while online.
We also work with other third parties to learn more about activity on our website. These vendors use "web beacons," "tracking pixels," "third party cookies" and other similar technologies to gather user demographics and usage patterns, which help us improve the effectiveness of our marketing and of our website design. These vendors do not share any personally identifiable information about you.
How We Share Information within the HSBC Family of Companies
From time to time, for general business purposes or when we think it may benefit you, we share certain information with other companies within the HSBC family of companies (our "Affiliates*"), except as prohibited by applicable law. We may also provide information to Affiliates that perform operational services related to your Account(s). These Affiliates all provide financial services, such as banking, consumer finance, insurance, mortgage, and brokerage services. Some examples include companies doing business under the names HSBC or Household. We may also share certain information with non-financial service providers that become affiliated with us in the future (such as travel, auto, or shopping clubs), except as prohibited by applicable law. The information we share might come from your application, for instance your name, address, telephone number, social security number, or e-mail address. Also, the information we share could include your transactions with us or our Affiliates (such as your account balance(s), payment history(ies), and parties to the transaction(s), your internet usage, or your credit card usage). Except for Vermont residents, the information we share could also include your assets, income, or credit report information. For Vermont residents, applicable law requires us to obtain your permission in order to share information about you with our Affiliates. Please note that we have chosen not to share your information in this way while you are a resident of Vermont.
How We Share Information with Third Parties (Non-Affilates)
Except for California and Vermont residents, we may share information with companies outside of the HSBC family of companies (i.e. Non-Affiliates) that are able to extend special offers that we feel might be of value to you. These companies may be financial services providers (such as mortgage bankers, insurance agents or a re-insurer) or they may be non-financial companies (such as retailers or marketing companies). These offers are typically for products and services that you might not otherwise hear about. The information that we may provide Non-Affiliates comes from the sources above and might include your name, address, phone number, and information about your account with us. You may tell us not to share information with non-affiliated companies in this way by completing the form below.
For California and Vermont residents, applicable law requires us to obtain your permission in order to share information about you with Non-Affiliates, and so we have chosen not to share your information in this way while you are a resident of California or Vermont.
We may also provide information to Non-Affiliates that perform operational services for your account such as, collection, fraud control and marketing. The sharing of information with these types of Non-Affiliates is permitted by law. This might include a financial company (such as an insurance service provider) or a non-financial company (such as a data processor or Internet service provider) with whom we have a service agreement. The information we may share also comes from the sources described above and might include your name, address, phone number, and account experience with us.
Finally, we provide information about you to Non-Affiliates as permitted by law. These may include credit reporting agencies and companies which provide services related to your account.
* "Affiliates" are companies that are related to us by common ownership or corporate control. Our Affiliates includes companies such as HFC®, Beneficial®, Household Insurance Group Holding Company, and HSBC companies such as HSBC Bank USA, N.A., HSBC Mortgage Corporation (USA), HSBC Credit Centers Inc., HSBC Auto Finance Inc., HSBC Bank Nevada, N.A., and Solstice Capital Group.
Your Choices to Limit Sharing
How to Opt-Out of Sharing with Our Affiliates in the HSBC Family of Companies (Except for residents of Vermont)
If you do not want us to share your credit report information with our Affiliates (unless we are permitted or required by law to do so), please let us know by simply calling us toll-free at 1-866-806-8012, or by completing the attached reply form and mailing it to P.O. Box 17904, San Diego, CA 92177. If you have previously informed us of your preference, you do not need to do so again. This request will not apply to information about your transactions or experience with us (such as account information, account usage, or payment history).
How to Opt-Out of Sharing with Other Third Parties (Non-Affiliates)
(Except for residents of California and Vermont)
If you do not want us to share your non-public information with Non-Affiliate companies (unless we are permitted or required by law to do so), please let us know by simply calling us toll-free at 1-866-806-8012, or by completing the attached reply form and mailing it to P.O. Box 17904, San Diego, CA 92177. If you have previously informed us of your preference about this account, you do not need to do so again. We will be happy to comply with your "opt-out" request, which will only apply to the HSBC account you have designated by account number on the form or by telephone.
Your Choices To Limit Marketing
- Federal law gives you the right to limit some but not all marketing from our Affiliates. Federal law also requires us to give you this notice to tell you about your choice to limit marketing from our Affiliates.
- You may limit our Affiliates in the HSBC Family of Companies, such as our credit card, insurance, and other affiliates, from marketing their products or services to you based on your personal information that we collect and share with them. This information may include your income, your account history with us, and your credit history with us.
- Your choice to limit marketing offers from our Affiliates will apply until you tell us to change your choice. If you have previously informed us of your preference, you do not need to do so again.
To limit marketing offers under this section, you must call us at 1-866-806-8012. The attached reply form may not be used for this particular opt-out choice.
Joint Accounts
For all opt-out types made available under this Privacy Statement, an opt-out request by any part on a joint account will apply to all parties on the joint account.
HOUSEHOLD INSURANCE GROUP HOLDING COMPANY **
Privacy Statement for Customers with Insurance
This paragraph applies only to customers with insurance products provided by Household Insurance Group Holding Company ("HIG"). HIG respects and protects your privacy. To administer the insurance requested by you or provided in connection with your account, HIG collects demographic information (like your name and address) and information related to insurance coverage (like information related to your account with HSBC or information related to your health). This information comes either directly from you, for instance, from your application, or it may come from HSBC, such as information about your account, or it may come from a credit report or medical information bureau report. HIG takes great care to protect the privacy of this information. For example, the only employees or companies that can access such information are those who need it to provide services in connection with your insurance. Moreover, HIG maintains physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect against unauthorized use or disclosure of that information. HIG does not disclose information about you to their respective affiliates or to third parties, except as permitted by law.
** Household Insurance Group Holding Company (also under the trade name of HSBC Insurance Services or HSBC Insurance) includes Household Insurance Group, Inc., Household Life Insurance Company, HSBC Insurance Company of Delaware (formerly known as Service General Insurance Company), First Central National Life Insurance Company of New York, Household Life Insurance Company of Delaware, BFC Insurance Agency of Nevada, HSBC Insurance Agency (USA) Inc., and such other companies Household Insurance Group Holding Company may subsequently acquire.
Opt-Out Request Form
Send to:
P.O. Box 17904
San Diego, CA 92177
By checking the appropriate box(es) below, completing the requested information, and returning this form, you are requesting that we do not share your information, except as permitted or required by law. This request applies only to the account number(s) designated below.
_____ Sharing with Our Affiliates in the HSBC Family of Companies: I do not want my credit report information shared with companies affiliated with HSBC Auto Finance. This request will not apply to the sharing of information that is permitted by law such as information about my transactions or experience with HSBC (e.g. account information, account usage, or payment history.) This request applies only to the account number designated below. (Information about Vermont residents is not shared with Affiliates.)
_____ Sharing with Non-Affiliates: I do not want my non-public personal information (e.g. name and address) shared with Non-Affiliates. I understand that this may exclude me from receiving valuable offers. This request will not apply to the sharing of information that is permitted by law. This request applies only to the account number designated below. (Information about California and Vermont residents is not shared with Non-Affiliates.)
PLEASE DO NOT SEND THIS FORM
WITH YOUR PAYMENT
Please print clearly.
Account Number
Name as it appears on your account
Address
City State Zip
( )
Phone Number
Please allow sufficient time for us to process your opt-out request.
(07/09)
