Privacy Statement
As a consumer reporting agency governed by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and applicable local, state and federal laws, Guardian Investigation and Document Services, Inc. (GIDS) is dedicated to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy covers GIDS's web site, and GIDS's policies for handling personal information provided to GIDS over the Internet by the public www.GIDSi.com. This Policy also covers personal information provided by GIDS's clients, and the applicants/employees who have given their written authorization for GIDS's clients to conduct a background investigation on them, using GIDS's online background screening system that is accessible only through an access-restricted portion of GIDS's web site. GIDS will collect, store, and use personally identifiable information only in compliance with applicable law.
Collection of Information
While browsing www.Guardian-IDS.com, you do so anonymously. GIDS collects personally identifiable information only if you choose to provide this information to us. In some instances, GIDS may collect non-personal (e.g., aggregate or demographic) data through cookies. This information is used to better understand and improve the usability, performance and effectiveness of www.GIDSi.com. Please see further information below under "Cookies." The type of personal information we may collect about you through www.Guardian-IDS.com includes, but is not limited to, the following (should you decide to provide such information to GIDS): (a) contact and identifying information (e.g., name, address, e-mail address, phone and fax numbers, employer(s), job title) in connection with your expressed interest in receiving information about, or your registering for, GIDS products, services, or newsletters; (b) your resume information and employment application information regarding GIDS job openings; and (c) all other personal information that you may voluntarily provide to us in an online form or email. Access to certain GIDS web pages and online services is not available to the general public and requires a login code with a GIDS-provided username and password. Those web pages, and the information available from those pages, are made available only to clients of GIDS. GIDS collects only information that the user voluntarily shares with GIDS. If you are using this web site to inquire into opening a background screening account with GIDS, we only collect basic company demographics and contact information. This information is used for internal purposes, such as account establishment and customer service.
How Your Information is Used
When your personal data is collected on www.Guardian-IDS.com, GIDS will inform you at that time of the purpose for the collection. GIDS will use your personal data only in the manner indicated when it is collected, unless you consent to a different use. If you have provided your personal data over this web site in connection with a background screen ordered by a GIDS client, GIDS may only use your personal data to perform a background screen for that client. GIDS will not use your data to conduct a background screening investigation to produce a consumer report unless GIDS's client provides an FCRA certification. In this certification, GIDS's client certifies to GIDS that it has a legally permissible purpose for ordering the background screen; and that it has, as required by applicable law, obtained your consent to conduct the background screen; and that it will follow proper Adverse Action procedures.
Information Sharing and Disclosure
GIDS does not sell any personal information to third parties. GIDS won’t disclose your personal information to a third party unless while performing your background screen for GIDS's client or as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy.
GIDS may disclose personal information as necessary in connection with any of the purposes for which we use personal information as described above in "How Your Information is Used."
When GIDS conducts a background screening on you, GIDS may disclose information that you submit through this web site to the GIDS client that requested a background screening investigation on you. As needed, GIDS may also disclose your information to certain third parties to conduct the background investigation (such as courts, law enforcement agencies, prior employers, educational institutions, and/or other entities that may provide or verify information about you), as well as to third-party representatives authorized by GIDS to assist in the background screening investigation. These third-party representatives include, but are not limited to, our platform provider who assists with hosting, web site support or technical assistance and court runners. GIDS transfers to these parties only the information necessary to deliver to GIDS the requested product or service. GIDS forbids these parties from using that information for any other purpose. GIDS requires that these parties maintain reasonable measures to protect the confidentiality and security of your information.
GIDS may also disclose personal information and any other pertinent information available to GIDS for any of the following purposes: (i) investigate, prevent or take action regarding actual or suspected illegal activities or fraud, situations involving potential threats to the physical safety of any person, or violations of GIDS's terms of use; (ii) respond to or defend against subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process; (iii) establish or exercise GIDS's legal rights; or (iv) otherwise comply with applicable law.
In the event of an acquisition, the information GIDS collects may be one of the assets examined or transferred as part of the transaction. GIDS will forbid another business to examine the information GIDS has collected without a confidentiality agreement, and only to the extent permitted by law. GIDS will not transfer the collected information unless the receiving party agrees to furnish privacy protections that are equal to, or exceeding, those established by this Privacy Policy.
Personal Information Disclosure: United States or Overseas
It is possible that personal information submitted to GIDS for a background screening investigation may be transferred outside of the United States in order to perform the background investigation. This information will be provided to, and managed by, GIDS’ platform provider. All personal information will be transmitted and stored in a secure manner in accordance with the terms of this Privacy Policy.
Cookies
www.Guardian-IDS.com may use the data packet technology called a "cookie" to collect information about how the website is used.
A cookie (also called HTTP cookie, web cookie, Internet cookie, or browser cookie) is a small piece of data sent from a website and stored on a user's computer by the user's web browser while the user is browsing. Cookies were designed to be a reliable mechanism for websites to remember information (such as a computer’s Internet address) or to record a user's browsing activity (including clicking particular buttons, logging in, or recording which pages were visited in the past). They can also be used to remember arbitrary pieces of information that the user previously entered into form fields such as names and addresses.
This information is used for internal purposes only. In addition, GIDS’s web site does not permit other parties to collect personally identifiable information about your online activities when you use www.Guardian-IDS.com.
If you would prefer not to receive cookies, you can configure your browser to refuse cookies. However, it is possible that some areas of www.Guardian-IDS.com will not function properly if you do so. Particularly, you may be required to accept cookies in order to complete certain actions on GIDS's web site. GIDS’ web site may not recognize “do not track” prompts transmitted by web browsers.
Security
GIDS is committed to protecting your personal information. While we cannot guarantee the security of that information, we utilize several security technologies, processes and organizational measures to help protect consumer information against loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction.
GIDS uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) data encryption when data is transmitted to our web site. GIDS has installed firewalls and additional security technologies to help prevent unauthorized access to our systems. Strict password protection protocols are used on our computers, and employees are kept up-to-date on our security and privacy policies. The servers used to store consumer information are maintained in a secured environment with rigid security measures.
Third-Party Links
www.Guardian-IDS.com may contain links to third-party web sites. Please be aware that those third-party web sites are not within our control, and they are not covered by this Privacy Policy. If you have questions or concerns about how another site uses your information, review that site's Privacy Policy.
Review/Modify Personal Information or Unsubscribe
GIDS makes every effort to protect your personal information. If you have provided your personal information to GIDS while browsing www.Guardian-IDS.com, and wish to update any personal information that you may have provided to us, please e-mail us at Service@Guardian-IDS.com.If you wish to unsubscribe from any of our newsletters or other communications for which you have registered, you may e-mail us at Service@Guardian-IDS.com.If you are a GIDS client with a registered account, you may update your account information by completing an Account Update Form. If you are a consumer for whom GIDS has processed a consumer report, then you can contact GIDS to obtain a copy of your consumer report as permitted by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, California Civil Code Section 1786.22, and/or any additional applicable state laws by emailing service@guardian-IDS.com.The Fair Credit Reporting Act Summary of Rights, and additional state notices and right can be found here.
Children Under Age 13
www.Guardian-IDS.com does not knowingly solicit or collect personally identifiable information from children under 13. However, GIDS does gather and collect information regarding the use of our www.Guardian-IDS.com. The information gathered will be personal information voluntarily supplied by the user when registering on www.Guardian-IDS.com.
If GIDS learns that any child under the age of 13 has submitted personally identifiable information online, we will take all reasonable actions to delete such information from our database and not use such information for any purpose, except as required by law.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
GIDS may revise this policy as needed. If there is a revision to this Privacy Policy, we will overwrite the previous policy with the revised version. Without your permission, GIDS will not provide less privacy protection to information collected under a previous privacy policy. We suggest that you periodically review this Privacy Policy to remain informed regarding how GIDS is protecting your information.
Contact Us
If your background check is being conducted by GIDS and you have questions or need assistance, please contact our Service department:
800-462-7019
If you would like to request a copy of your background report(s) prepared by GIDS and/or your active database files maintained on you by GIDS, or if you wish to dispute the accuracy of the information in your background report, please go to [link to consumer page] for links that will provide you with details on all of the options that are available to you.
Privacy Policy Questions
In accordance with California Civil Code § 1786.20, any questions regarding our privacy policy can be addressed by contacting GIDS at (this is not a physical address):
Guardian Investigation & Document Services, Inc
8825 North 23rd Ave
Suite 100
Phoenix AZ 85021