Privacy Policy
Effective Date: 12/16/24
Guardian Independent Operator Association (“GIOA”) values your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how GIOA (“we,” “our,” or “us”) collects, uses, and safeguards your information when you access our support services for members.
1. Information We Collect
To provide support and facilitate your membership benefits, we may collect the following information:
- Contact Information: Name, email address, and phone number.
- Membership Details: Member ID or related identifiers.
- Usage Data: Information about how you interact with GIOA services, including inquiries and requests submitted through our platform.We collect this information directly from you when you interact with our support services (e.g., via phone, email, or website forms).
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information collected for the following purposes:
- To verify your membership and provide personalized support.
- To communicate with you regarding your inquiries and requests.
- To improve our services and member experience.
- To send important updates related to GIOA membership benefits or services.
3. Sharing Your Information
GIOA does not sell or rent your personal information, including your mobile phone number, to third parties.
However, we may share your information in the following circumstances:
- Service Providers: With trusted third-party vendors who assist in delivering services (e.g., technical support, email communications). These vendors are contractually obligated to protect your information.
- Legal Compliance: When required by law or to respond to legal processes.
- Member Services: With other GIOA entities as necessary to provide membership benefits.
4. Data Security
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Despite our best efforts, no method of data transmission or storage is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
5. Your Rights
As a GIOA user, you have the following rights:
- Access and Correction: You may request access to your personal information and request corrections if the information is inaccurate.
- Opt-Out: You can opt out of receiving marketing communications at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions in our emails or contacting us directly.
- Data Deletion: You may request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal and operational requirements.To exercise these rights, contact us at help@gioa.info or call 1-855-GIOA411.
6. Retention of Information
We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or as required by law.
7. Third-Party Links
Our platform may include links to third-party websites. This Privacy Policy applies solely to information collected by GIOA, and we are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties. Please review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.
8. Updates to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any significant changes by posting the updated policy on our website with a revised effective date.
9. SMS/Text Messaging Program
GIOA does not sell, rent, or share your personal information, including your mobile phone number or text messaging opt-in data and consent, with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.
GIOA may use your mobile phone number to send you SMS text messages related to your membership and our services, including:
• Account and membership support (for example, verifying your identity and responding to questions);
• Important updates or alerts about membership benefits, programs, or services;
• Reminders related to your participation in GIOA programs; and
• Occasional news, resources, or updates about GIOA that may be of interest to you.
By providing your mobile phone number through one of our website forms (such as the interest form on the GIOA homepage), you affirmatively opt in and consent to receive these informational text messages from GIOA. The disclosure displayed adjacent to the phone number field on each form describes this consent at the point of collection. Your consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of purchase or membership.
Message frequency will vary based on your interactions with us and the services you receive. Message and data rates may apply according to your mobile carrier’s plan. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
You may opt out of SMS messages at any time by replying STOP to any message we send you. After you send STOP, we may send a final confirmation message to confirm that you have been unsubscribed. If you later wish to resume receiving messages, you may reply START or re-submit your phone number through one of our website forms. For help or more information, reply HELP to any message or contact us using the information in the “Contact Us” section of this Privacy Policy.
Mobile information will not be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties. We may share your mobile number with trusted service providers (such as our SMS platform vendor) only as strictly necessary to deliver SMS messages on our behalf, and those providers are contractually required to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and are prohibited from using it for their own marketing purposes.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:
Email: help@gioa411.com
Phone: 1-855-GIOA411
Thank you for trusting GIOA to support your membership needs.