Privacy Statement
Why a Privacy Statement
Vagabundos del Mar Boat and Travel Club (VDM) respects your individual privacy. This Privacy Statement (Statement) embodies our commitment to its protection through adherence to fair electronic information practices. This Statement puts you, the individual, in control of how your personal information is processed. You have our promise that we will not electronically process your personal information in any way that is incompatible with this Statement.
This Statement Protects Your Privacy by:
Informing you about – the types of personal information VDM collects about you through its website; how it collects that information; the general purposes for which it collects such information; the types of organizations to which it discloses the information; the choices and means by which individuals may limit its use and disclosure.
Empowering you to choose – whether and how certain personal information you provide is used (where such use is unrelated to the uses for which you originally disclosed it); and whether, and the manner in which, a third party uses certain personal information you provide (where such use is unrelated to the uses for which you originally disclosed it).
Assuring you that VDM – takes reasonable precautions to protect personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorized access disclosure, alternation or destruction; implements reasonable policies and procedures to ensure that personal information is kept only for the purposes for which it has been gathered; uses reasonable measures to ensure that we have accurately and completely recorded the personal information you have provided; and provides you reasonable access to your personal information as well as procedures for correcting or modifying that information where appropriate
In this Statement VDM is the operator of this website. VDM and its Officers, Directors, employees, agents, contractors and subcontractors are required to honor this Statement. VDM, a non-profit membership organization takes the privacy of our Members and website visitors and the security of their Personal Information very seriously. We value your trust and respect our expectation of privacy. VDM provides this Statement because you have the right to know what Personal Information we collect, how it is protected and used and the circumstances under which it may be disclosed. VDM is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of your Personal Information. This Statement outlines our Privacy Policies for club Members and visitors to our website, as well as for individuals dealing directly with our office ( 190 Main Street, Rio Vista, CA 94571) in person, by telephone 800-474-2252, fax (707-374-6843) or E-mail (info@vagabundos.com).
Applicability
This Privacy Statement applies only to www.vagabundos.com.
Definition of Terms Used in this Statement
Personally Identifiable Information is any information that identifies you, with the exception of professional information such as your business address, business telephone and facsimile numbers and business E-mail address. It also includes your credit card number.
Cookies are small text files containing unique identification numbers that your web browser software transfers from our website to your computer when you visit our site. We use cookies to help us recognize your browser, make it easier for you to use our site and to help us customize your experience. Our use of cookies is described more fully below.
A Business Partner or Agent is an entity with which VDM has an ongoing business relationship to provide data analysis, to assist in developing our website or specialized products or services or information to visitors to our site.
A Government Agency is any agency of a state or federal government responsible for administering certain programs referenced within this Statement.
How We Collect Information
Getting to Know Our Members
VDM is unique in that we are a non-profit membership organization in the business of putting Members in touch with other Members, and offering them products and services at rates that only a membership organization can provide. That requires more than simply offering information services. It also requires that we understand you, our customer, and your needs.
We get to know you primarily through the information you provide to us when applying for a new membership, by using various areas of our site, and by purchasing or using one or more of our services. The information you provide ranges from basic contact information, to payment information, and to the technical coordinates of your host servers. All of the information we request from you when purchasing our services is obligatory unless otherwise noted on the relevant form. When you purchase our services, you agree to provide and maintain accurate complete and updated information.
After you have signed up for our services, we may be in communication with you about your account, technical questions you may have about services provided by us, or any other matter relating to those services. Those communications are essential to our relationship with you and to our ability to provide you with quality services that are responsive to your needs. At the same time, those communications give us helpful insights about you, your preferences and the ways in which we might improve our services. We therefore may maintain this information for future use.
The information we receive from you or about you is stored on systems designed to prevent the loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alternation or destruction of that information. We also encrypt your transmission of sensitive information to us (e.g., credit card numbers, account passwords) in the interest of heightened privacy protection and information integrity. Transactions without our account manager and purchase flows use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption when transmitting data from your connection to our systems. You may click the lock icon within your web browser to verify the authenticity of any of our SSL certificates.
We collect personal information in the normal course of business in order to process your Membership, Insurance Policies, to complete online store transactions, Mexican Permits, and Licenses.
Throughout the Statement, we refer to information that can identify you as a specific individual, such as your name, phone number, email address, or credit card number, as Personal Information.
We do not sell, trade or give away your Personal Information to anyone.
We do not disclose your Personal Information to third parties, unless one of the following limited exceptions applies – insurance companies, government agencies and authorized VDM Administrators.
If you submit an application for an insurance product offered by us, or purchase an insurance product online, then we will disclose your personal information to our contracted insurance company to process your application and claims, if necessary. If you complete and send an application to us for Mexican Permits or Licenses, then we may disclose your Personal Information to the Mexican Government agency responsible for those items. Please be assured that these parties are only allowed to use your Personal Information to process your requested quote, application, or enrollment form and are contractually obligated to maintain strict confidentiality.
Service Providers
We may disclose your Personal Information to other companies that help us process or service your insurance application or correspond with you. For example, we may provide your Personal Information to a service provider to verify the validity or credit limit of your credit card. Please be assured that the companies we hire to process or service your insurance application or correspond with you are not allowed to use your Personal Information for their own purposes and are contractually obligated to maintain strict confidentiality.
Legal Obligations
We may disclose or report your Personal Information when we believe, in good faith, that the disclosure is required or permitted under law, for example, to cooperate with regulators or law enforcement authorities, to resolve consumer disputes, process claims, etc.
Outside of these exceptions, we will not share your Personal Information with third parties.
Becoming a Member
We begin collecting Personal Information from you when you decide to become a Member of our club. You may register with us through our website by entering your E-mail address and, if you are creating an account, choosing your password. Under our current process, you do not need a Member account to receive quote data on Mexican insurance; however, you will need to be a member (and thus have an account) before you can purchase any insurance policy. Non-members purchasing merchandise may register with us by providing certain personal or contact information (e.g., E-mail address, phone number, gender, date of birth.
Ordering Products and Services
If you purchase a product or service from us, we request certain personally identifiable information from you on our order form. You must provide contact information (such as name, E-mail and shipping address) and financial information (such as credit card number, expiration date).
We use this information for billing purposes and to fill your orders. If we have trouble processing an order, we will use this information to contact you.
Application Forms
If you download applications forms or apply online for Mexican insurance, or other products or services requiring financial information on our site, we require that you provide certain personally identifiable information, including your name, address, phone number, and credit card number. This information is necessary to process your applications and to contact you.
Surveys or Contests
Occasionally, we may provide you with the opportunity to participate in surveys or contests on our website. If you participate, we will request personally identifiable information from you. Participation in these surveys or contests is completely voluntary and you therefore have a choice whether or not to disclose this information. The requested information typically includes contact information (such as name and shipping address) and demographic information (such as zip code).
We use this information to help us better understand Member needs and to improve our services and site. We may use a third party service provider or software to conduct these surveys. That company will be prohibited from using our users’ personally identifiable information for any other purpose.
Log Files/Site Statistics
As is true of most websites, we gather certain information automatically and store it in log files. For operational and quality assurance purposes, we take note of whether and how you use the information and services that we provide, such as by recording site traffic patterns and by maintaining log files of users’ access to our site. This information includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP) referring/exit pages, operating system, date/time stamp, and clickstream data (the path you take through a website).
We use this information, which does not identify individual users, to analyze trends, to administer the site, to track user movements around the site and to gather demographic information about our user base as a whole.
IP addresses, collected when a user enters our site, is tied to personally identifiable information to insure site security – for example, an IP address can be used to identify a user attempting to break through our security barriers, so that we may take steps to suspend, remove, or prevent them from continuing with such activity. We use a third-party tracking service (Urchin Statistics) that uses cookies (log files) to track non-personally identifiable information about visitors to our site in the aggregate. Urchin tracks many items concerning user movements throughout our site, including but not limited to: browser used, referring website, time of visit, pages visited, search engine information, etc.
Cookies
A cookie is a small text file that is stored on a user’s computer for record-keeping purposes. We use cookies on this site. We do not link the information we store in cookies to any personally identifiable information you submit while on our site – they are used for statistical purposes only.
We use both session ID and persistent cookies. We use session ID cookies to make it easier for you to navigate our site. A session ID cookie expires when you close your browser. A persistent cookie remains on your hard drive for an extended period of time. You can remove persistent cookies by following directions provided in your internet browser’s “help” file if you so desire.
We set a persistent cookie to store your password so you don’t have to enter it more than once. Persistent cookies also enable us to track and target the interests of our users to enhance the experience on our site. Persistent cookies are also used in our shopping cart to store your Customer Registration information (if you so choose to use that feature), shopping cart information and billing/shipping information you provide to us in order to process your transaction.
If you reject cookies, you may still use our site, but your ability to use some areas of our site, such as shopping and ordering, will be limited.
Some of our business partners (e.g. advertisers) use cookies on our site. We have no access to or control over these cookies. See “Third Party Advertisers”.
Clear Gifs (Web Beacons/Web Bugs)
We employ a software technology called clear gifs (a.k.a. Web Beacons/Web Bugs), that help us better manage content on our site by informing us what content is effective. Clear gifs are tiny graphics with a unique identifier, similar in function to cookies, and are used to track the online movements of web users. In contrast to cookies, which are stored on a user’s computer hard drive, clear gifs are embedded invisibly on web pages and are about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. We do not tie the information gathered by clear gifs to our customers’ personally identifiable information. Information gathered is for statistical analysis of website usage by online users to help us better determine if and/or what changes are necessary to our site to enhance our user’s online experience, and to help us improve our online services.
We do not employ the use of any online advertising or marketing, therefore clear gif technology is not utilized by those types of third parties.
We also do not use clear gifs in html-based E-mails, as we do not perform online-mail marketing campaigns.
How We Put the Information You Provide to Good Use
We use information about you for purposes of monitoring and improving our internal operations and to bill you properly, administer your membership account in accordance with your agreements with us, and properly perform the services you have requested.
We also use the information we collect to monitor and improve our internal operations, as well as to improve the experience of users in our network of sites. For example, we may correlate website traffic information with data about individual users. This data helps us to determine how much our customers use parts of the site, allowing us to enhance it to fit the needs of as many of our customers as possible. We may also break down overall usage statistics according to customers’ domain names, browser types, and MIME types by reading this information from the browser string (information contained in every user’s browser).
Another example of our use of information to enhance the experience of users in our network of sites is our reliance on cookie files. We use cookie files to make it easier for users to access our site or services. A cookie file is a small data file that certain websites write to your hard drive when you visit them. A cookie file can contain information such as a user ID that the site uses to track the pages you have visited. However, the only personal information a cookie can contain is information you supply yourself. A cookie cannot read data off your hard disk or read cookie files created by other sites. We use cookies to track user traffic patterns (as described above) when you register for or purchase VDM merchandise or services. When you register, we may use a cookie to store a unique, random user ID. We use this ID to identify you anonymously in our database and to track the pages you visit on our site. When you enter login and password data, we may use a cookie to store that information on your browser’s login/password area so that you don’t have to re-enter it each time you visit our site.
If you have set your browser to warn you before accepting cookies, you will receive the warning message with each cookie. You may refuse cookies by turning them off in your browser; however, some of our sites may require a cookie for access.
Finally, we use the information we collect to direct important notices and information affecting your membership account or services, as well as to provide general information that may be of interest to you, including newsletters, surveys, and information about our service or product offerings or the offerings of our business affiliates. You may opt-out of receiving information from us simply by notifying us of your desire in accordance with the opt-out instructions contained in any information message you receive from us or contained in this statement. Note, however, that in order to fulfill our service obligations to you, we must continue sending you notices and other important information affecting your account or services.
Agents, Insurance Companies, Government Agents, Agencies and Authorized VDM Administrators
We use an outside shipping company to fulfill orders, and a credit card processing company to bill you for goods and services. These companies do not retain, share, store or use personally identifiable information for any other purposes.
If you submit an application for an insurance product offered by us, or purchase an insurance product online, then we will disclose your Personal Information to our contracted insurance company to process your statement and claim, if necessary. If you complete and send an application to us for Mexican Permits, or Licenses, we are legally required to forward to the Mexican Government a copy of all processed documents. VDM is not responsible for, and this Statement does not cover, anything the Mexican Government does with your personally identifiable information.
We may disclose your Personal Information to other companies that help us process or service your insurance application, statement or claim, or correspond with you. For example, we may provide your Personal Information to a service provider to verify the validity or credit limit of your credit card. Please be assured that the companies we use to process or service your insurance claim or correspond with you are not allowed to use your personal information for their own purposes and are contractually obligated to maintain strict confidentiality.
Newsletters
As part of our membership package, Members are automatically entered on our mailing list to receive VDM’s quarterly printed newsletter, the CHUBASCO. If you wish to subscribe to our newsletter, we will use your name and E-mail address to send the newsletter to you. Out of respect for your privacy, we provide you a way to unsubscribe. Please see the “Choice and Opt-out” section.
Service-related Announcements
We will send you strictly service-related announcements on rare occasions when it is necessary to do so.
Generally, you may not opt-out of these communications, which are not promotional in nature. If you do not wish to receive them, you have the option to deactivate your account or cancel your membership.
Customer Service
Based upon the personally identifiable information you provide us, we will send you a validation E-mail to verify your E-mail address for security purposes. If you purchase merchandise or services from our site, we will send you an electronic receipt verifying your order and transaction via E-mail. We will also communicate with you in response to your inquiries, to provide the services you request, and to manage your membership account. We will communicate with you by E-mail or telephone, in accordance with your wishes.
Supplementation of Information
In order to provide certain services to you, we may on occasion supplement the Personal Information you submitted to us with information from third party sources.
Credit Card Transactions
In compliance with the PCI Data Security Standard, we do not store or save credit card numbers or PVVs (3-digit security code on back of card). We use a third party (Authorize.net) to verify your card account status and to authorize transactions.
E-Check Transactions
We do not store or save checking account information received via our E-Check payment service.
ID Verification
We use a third party (Authorize.net) to verify your identity and address, in order to further ensure that your credit card or E-Check is being used with your permission.
Information Sharing and Disclosure
Aggregate Information (Non-personally Identifiable)
We do not share aggregated statistical demographic information about our user base with anyone or any business affiliate. This information does not identify individual users. We do not link aggregate user data with personally identifiable information.
Personally Identifiable Information
We do not share personally identifiable information with third parties other than those used to provide you with goods or services.
Legal Disclaimer
We reserve the right to disclose your personally identifiable information as required by law and when we believe that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights and/or to comply with a judicial proceeding, court order or legal process served on our website.
Choice/Opt-out
We provide you the opportunity to “opt-out” of having your personally identifiable information used for certain purposes when we ask for this information. For example, once you become a Member, if you purchase a product/service but do not wish to receive any additional membership materials from us, you can indicate your preference by contacting the VDM office via phone, postal mail or E-mail using the contact information listed below.
Information Corrections or Changes
You have the ability to correct or change certain information in our records, such as your membership address and contact information. To change your membership information, you’ll need to login to the online membership program and then effect changes as you deem necessary. Changes needing to be made to insurance policies, permits, or licenses will need to be changed by contacting VDM by our toll-free number, 800-474-2252.
You may change your membership information using the online interface at any time and as often as necessary. If you need assistance or have questions about correcting information, you can contact us via E-mail at customerservice@vagabundos.com.
Third Party Advertisers
As a non-profit membership organization, we do not employ the use of any active online advertising or marketing of third parties on our website. We do display logos for those companies whose services we utilize during the course of normal website operations and for the services we provide to our members and site visitors. Some examples are Authorize.net, ScanAlert, and GeoTrust.
Links to Other Sites
The website contains links to other sites that are not owned or controlled by VDM. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage you to be aware when you leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every website that collects personally identifiable information.
This Statement applies only to information collected by this website.
Access to Personally Identifiable Information
If your personally identifiable information changes, or if you no longer desire our service, you may correct, update, delete or deactivate it by making the change on your Member account page, by E-mailing VDM at CustomerSupport@vagabundos.com, or by contacting us by telephone or postal mail at the contact information listed below.
We are Committed to Children’s Privacy
VDM takes children’s privacy seriously and maintains compliance with the rules defined by the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA.) We do not seek to collect individually identifiable information about children under 18 years of age from our website.
Mexican Fishing Licenses and Boat Permits require that all persons, under certain circumstances (e.g., anyone in a boat in Mexican waters that carries fishing gear must have a license) and regardless of age, must have the proper FMM, License or Permit. This information will be asked for on the appropriate application that is available on our site for download. Parents or legal guardians should forward completed applications to VDM for processing by the most secure means at their disposal. E-mail is not considered a secure method. Once the Permit or License has been completed, we are legally required to forward a printed copy of each document to the Mexican government agency responsible for that particular item.
If VDM learns that a child under the age of 18 has submitted personally identifiable information online, in contravention of these measures, VDM will take all reasonable measures to delete such information from its databases and to not use such information for any purpose (except where necessary to protect the safety of the child or others as required by law).
If you would like to review any personally identifiable information that we have collected concerning your child, have this information deleted, and/or request that there be no further collection or use of your child’s information or if you have questions about these information practices, you can contact our Office using the Contact Information provided below.
California Members and Visitors
If you are a California resident, in addition to the rights set forth above, you have the right to request information from us regarding the manner in which we share certain categories of your Personal Information with third parties, for the third parties’ direct marketing purposes. California law provides that you have the right to submit a request to us at the designated address and receive the following information: the categories of information we disclosed to third parties for the third parties direct marketing purposes during the preceding calendar year; the names and addresses of third parties that received such information; and if the nature of a third party’s business cannot be reasonably determined from the third party’s name, examples of the products or services marketed.
You are entitled to receive a copy of this information in a standardized format and the information will not be specific to you individually. Our email address for such requests is info@vagabundos.com.
Business Transitions
In the event VDM goes through a business transition, such as a merger, acquisition by another company, or sale of all or a portion of its assets, your personally identifiable information will likely be among the assets transferred. You will be notified via prominent notice on our website for 30 days of such change in ownership or control of your personal information.
Changes to this Privacy Statement
If we decide to change our Statement, we will post those changes on the website homepage and other places we deem appropriate so that you are aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it.
We reserve the right to modify this Statement at any time, so please review it frequently. If we make material changes, we will notify you by E-mail or a notice on our homepage.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding our Privacy Statement, please Contact Us
Last Update: 10-19-22