Patern AL Investments, LLC, doing business as Patern Investments (“Patern Investments,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal information when you visit patern.org, submit a website form, communicate with us by email, telephone, or text message, or otherwise interact with our real-estate and property-related services (collectively, the “Services”).
By using the Services, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not submit personal information through the Services.
1. Information We Collect
Information you provide
We may collect information that you choose to provide, including:
- Contact and identifying information, such as your name, email address, telephone number, mailing address, and property address.
- Inquiry and communication information, such as the subject and content of your messages, your preferred contact method, and records of our communications.
- Property and transaction information, such as information about a property, ownership or occupancy, requested services, scheduling, and documents you voluntarily provide.
- Rental, tenant, buyer, seller, vendor, contractor, or business-relationship information when relevant to your request or an existing relationship.
- SMS consent records, such as the date, time, source, telephone number, disclosure language, and opt-in or opt-out status associated with your text-messaging choice.
Information collected automatically
When you use our website, we or our service providers may automatically collect technical and usage information, such as your Internet Protocol address, browser and device type, operating system, pages viewed, date and time of access, referring website, and interactions with the website. We may collect this information through server logs, cookies, pixels, or similar technologies, depending on the tools enabled on the website.
Information from other sources
We may receive information from service providers, transaction participants, property-related sources, public records, or other persons when permitted by law and relevant to our Services. A telephone number found in a public record, purchased list, shared list, or third-party source does not by itself provide consent to receive text messages from us.
2. How We Use Information
We may use personal information to:
- Operate, maintain, secure, and improve the website and Services.
- Respond to inquiries and provide information requested by you.
- Evaluate properties or service requests, schedule appointments, communicate updates, and support potential or completed real-estate, rental, vendor, or service transactions.
- Communicate with you by your selected method, including SMS/MMS when you have provided the appropriate consent or initiated a text conversation.
- Maintain records of consent, preferences, communications, transactions, and compliance activities.
- Detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, misuse, security incidents, or unlawful activity.
- Comply with legal obligations, enforce agreements, and protect our rights, property, safety, customers, and others.
Sensitive information. Do not send Social Security numbers, bank-login credentials, full payment-card numbers, government-identification images, medical records, or other highly sensitive information through the public website form or by ordinary SMS. If such information is necessary, ask us for an appropriate secure method.
3. SMS/MMS Privacy and Consent
If you opt in to text messaging, we may use your mobile number to send the message types described in the applicable opt-in disclosure and our SMS Terms & Conditions. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out at any time by replying STOP. For help, reply HELP or contact us using the information below.
Mobile information will not be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text-messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties. We do not sell, rent, purchase, or use shared SMS opt-in lists.
Service providers that help route, deliver, host, or support our messages may process mobile information solely on our behalf and for those operational purposes. They are not authorized by us to use your mobile information for their own marketing or promotional purposes.
SMS consent is specific to Patern Investments, the number provided, and the message types disclosed at opt-in. Consent is not transferable. Consent to receive texts is not a condition of purchasing or selling property, applying for or renting housing, entering a transaction, or receiving services.
4. How We Disclose Information
We may disclose personal information, other than SMS opt-in data and consent as restricted above, in the following circumstances:
- Service providers. To vendors that perform services for us, such as website hosting, form processing, email, analytics, security, document management, and professional support, subject to appropriate restrictions.
- Property and transaction participants. When relevant to your request or a transaction, to property managers, contractors, inspectors, title or closing professionals, attorneys, accountants, lenders, insurers, brokers, agents, vendors, or other participants.
- Legal and safety reasons. When we reasonably believe disclosure is required by law, legal process, or government request, or is appropriate to protect rights, property, safety, or security.
- Business transactions. In connection with a merger, financing, reorganization, sale of assets, or similar business transaction, subject to applicable law.
- With your direction or consent. For another purpose that we explain when you provide the information or when you direct us to make the disclosure.
If another part of this Privacy Policy could be read to permit disclosure of SMS opt-in data or consent, the restrictions in Section 3 control.
5. Cookies and Similar Technologies
We may use cookies and similar technologies that are necessary for website operation, security, form functionality, preferences, and—if enabled—measurement or analytics. You can control many cookies through your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may affect website functionality. If we deploy nonessential advertising or cross-site tracking technologies that require additional notice or choice, we will provide the controls required by applicable law.
6. Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including to respond to inquiries, support transactions or relationships, maintain business and compliance records, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and meet legal obligations. We generally retain SMS consent and opt-out records for at least four years, or longer when required by law, contract, litigation hold, or our messaging provider. Retention periods vary based on the type and sensitivity of information and the reason it was collected.
7. Data Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information. No website, electronic transmission, or storage system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for using appropriate care when sending information electronically.
8. Your Choices and Requests
- SMS: Reply STOP to opt out of text messages. You may also contact us by telephone or email. We may send one non-promotional confirmation that your opt-out was processed.
- Email marketing: Use the unsubscribe method in the email, if provided, or contact us. We may continue to send non-marketing messages related to an active request or transaction.
- Cookies: Use your browser controls and any cookie controls made available on the website.
- Access, correction, or deletion: You may contact us to request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal information. We will evaluate requests under applicable law and may need to verify your identity or retain information for legal or operational reasons.
9. Children’s Privacy
The Services are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through the website. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, please contact us so that we can review and take appropriate action.
10. Third-Party Websites and Services
The website may link to third-party websites, property-listing services, application portals, or other services. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies, not this Privacy Policy. Review those policies before providing information to a third party.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated version on this page and change the “last updated” date. Material changes will be communicated as required by applicable law. Your continued use of the Services after an update means that the updated policy applies to information collected after its effective date, subject to applicable law.
12. Contact Us
For privacy questions or requests, contact:
Patern AL Investments, LLC d/b/a Patern Investments
Attn: Privacy/SMS Compliance
PO Box 2434
Montgomery, AL 36102
Email: patricia@patern.org
Telephone: (888) 350-3388