Universal Steel America – Privacy Policy & SMS Compliance
Effective Date: January 1, 2024
Introduction
We understand the importance of your privacy and strive to take all reasonable efforts to be transparent about what information we collect. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information, including when you opt-in to receive SMS (text message) communications with us. Except as required by a court order or other lawful order, we will never sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information.
We do not sell or share any SMS consent or Personal Information to third parties or affiliates for SMS marketing purposes.
This Privacy Policy discloses the policies of https://www.universalsteelamerica.com/ (the “Website”) and its operator Universal Steel America (collectively “we” or “us”) regarding the ways in which we collect information about you, what information we collect, and what we do with that information. You can always visit this page for the most up to date version of this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy applies to all users of our products and services (“you” or “your”), including those who have used our Website.
User Consent
We obtain your consent when you provide us with Personal Information to complete a transaction or submit a form. By providing this information, you consent to its collections and use for the specified purposes only. If we require your information for any secondary purpose, such as marketing, we will obtain your expressed consent or provide you with an opportunity to decline.
You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us using the information provided in the “Removal of Information and Opting Out” section, below.
By accessing or otherwise using the Website, you agree to the terms and conditions of this Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into and forms a part of the Website’s terms of service. You expressly consent to the processing and use of your information as described herein.
Please see our “SMS Communications” section, below, which details our method of securing your separate consent through selecting a checkbox that explicitly confirms your agreement and consent to receive communications from us via SMS messages. This section also details how to “opt-out” of receiving messages from us.
Information Collection and Use
We collect two types of information from our visitors: "Personal Information" and “Anonymous Information.” You may provide us with your Personal Information when you fill out a contact form or request for quote form on our Website. Personal Information about you may include, but is not limited to, information that is personally identifiable such as your name, e-mail address, address, user ID number, credit card information and other associated non-public information. We also collect “Anonymous Information” data, which is information that is not associated with or linked to your Personal Information and does not, based on our understanding, permit the identification of individual persons.
Any of the information we collect from you may be used in one or more of the following ways:
- To improve our website – we continually strive to improve our website offerings based on the information and feedback we receive from you;
- To process transactions – Your information, whether Personal Information or Anonymous Information, will not be sold, exchanged, transferred, or given to any other company for any reason whatsoever, without your consent, other than for the express purpose of delivering the purchased product or service requested.
Anonymous Information
You do not have to provide any Personal Information to use many of the features of the Website. However, your web browser or application may automatically provide certain information about you (“Anonymous Information”), such as your IP address, which may include your geographic location, details about browser software, operating system, and device, access dates and times, and referring and exiting URLs.
We use technology to passively collect and store certain Anonymous Information, and we, or our authorized third-party representatives may use Cookies and navigational data like Uniform Resource Locators (URL) to gather Anonymous Information. Should you be directed to any other site from the Website, we are not responsible for the acts of other sites and this Privacy Policy does not apply to that site.
We use Anonymous Information, both individually and in the aggregate, to help us understand how visitors use our site and to improve our content and your experience visiting our site. We may retain this type of information indefinitely, or to the extent permissible by law.
Personal Information
Our Website contains certain features, such as contact forms, where you have the option to affirmatively provide information about yourself (“Personal Information”). You may be asked to provide Personal Information, including your name, address, company name, email address, and telephone numbers(s). You have no obligation to use these features of our Website. If you choose to provide us with Personal Information by submitting a contact form on this website, we may use that information to contact you back and to improve subsequent communications with you, if any.
When you order products or services, we may also ask you to provide us with your credit card number, expiration date and authentication codes or related information. If you do not provide certain mandatory information for a particular activity that requires it, you will not be permitted to engage in that activity.
We may offer contests, sweepstakes or other contests that will require you to sign up and provide additional Personal Information. In that case, we will collect the information provided along with your involvement in such activity. Additionally, we reserve the right to collect any other information that you voluntarily enter, including Personal Information, into any postings, comments, feedback, or forums on the Website.
We may, but are in no way obligated to, provide for referral or tell another programs that allow you to recommend the site or an article to a friend. If you choose to do so, we will ask for your referral’s name and email address. We will automatically send your friend one or more communications with either the product you have purchased or an invitation for him or her to visit the Website. The communication will allow the referral to unsubscribe from further communications. We will collect this information for the sole purpose of sending an invitation to visit the site, sending their product and tracking the success of any referral program. We will also collect your e-mail address and the full content of your e-mail, including attached files, and other information you provide. We may use and display your full name and email address to your referral. Additionally, we use your email address to contact you about the status of your referral.
We may also use your voluntarily submitted Personal Information to keep you informed of business news and events, but only if you are provided the opportunity to opt out of that type of use (see “Removal of Information and Opting Out” section, below). We will seek your affirmative consent before using your personal information for any purpose other than those described in this policy.
We may retain Personal Information collected from our Website as set forth above indefinitely, or to the extent permissible by law.
SMS Communications
SMS opt-in or phone numbers used for the purpose of SMS are not being shared. We do not sell or share your Personal Information with any third parties, except as required by law.
You will see language in our Website’s contact forms that asks for you to explicitly give consent by selecting a checkbox to confirm your consent for us to communicate with you by SMS. This opt-in process is distinct and separate from any other communication preferences you may have with us.
You have the right to access, correct, verify, change, or remove your Personal Information collected for SMS purposes.
You can opt-out of or stop SMS communications with us at any time by following the opt-out instructions provided in our SMS messages. Opting out of SMS communications will not affect your subscription to other forms of communication you may have opted into separately. To stop receiving SMS messages (including text messages) from us, simply text STOP, STOP ALL, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END or QUIT (“STOP”) to any text message we have sent you to unsubscribe. You can also opt-out of receiving SMS messages (including text messages) by sending an email to rbutler@usahouston.net. Your STOP request will become effective within 24 hours of receipt.
Terms and Conditions
- I consent to receive SMS from Universal Steel America. The message frequency will vary and message and data rates may apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel. Visit https://www.universalsteelamerica.com/privacy-policy/ for privacy policy and for Terms of Service.
- SMS Consent Communication:
The information (Phone Numbers) obtained as part of the SMS consent process will not be shared with third parties for marketing purposes.
2.1. Types of SMS Communications:
If you have consented to receive text messages from Universal Steel America, you may receive messages related to the following:
Follow-up messages
Billing inquiries
Promotions or offers (if applicable) - Message Frequency:
Message frequency may vary depending on the type of communication. For example, you may receive up to 2 SMS messages per week related to your communication.
Example:
"Message frequency may vary. You may receive up to 2 SMS messages per week regarding your appointments or account status." - Potential Fees for SMS Messaging:
Please note that standard message and data rates may apply, depending on your carrier’s pricing plan. These fees may vary if the message is sent domestically or internationally. - Opt-In Method:
You may opt-in to receive SMS messages from Universal Steel America in the following ways:
Verbally, during a conversation
By submitting an online form
By filling out a paper form
6- Opt-Out Method:
You can opt out of receiving SMS messages at any time. To do so, simply reply "STOP" to any SMS message you receive. Alternatively, you can contact us directly to request removal from our messaging list. - Help:
If you are experiencing any issues, you can reply with the keyword HELP. Or, you can get help directly from us at https://www.universalsteelamerica.com/contact-us/
Additional Options:
If you do not wish to receive SMS messages, you can choose not to check the SMS consent box on our forms. - Standard Messaging Disclosures:
Message and data rates may apply.
You can opt out at any time by texting "STOP."
For assistance, text "HELP" or visit our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions pages.
Message frequency may vary
Use of Cookies
We use “Cookies” (small data files) to improve our website’s functionality and our visitor’s experience. When a user visits our Website, a Cookie is dropped on the user. These Cookies do not identify you personally or give us access to your computer. You can disable Cookies in your browser or application settings, but doing so may result in reduced Website functionality. By visiting our Website and not disabling Cookies, you consent to our use of Cookies for the purposes described in this policy.
Use and Disclosure of Personal Information
Except as otherwise stated in this Privacy Policy, we do not sell, trade, rent, or otherwise share for marketing purposes the Personal Information that we collect with any third parties other than third parties working with us.
In general, we use Personal Information you provide to provide you access to the Website and its services, to improve the Website, tailor the features to you and to offer you additional information, opportunities, promotions and functionality from us or the specific advertisers you inquire about on the Website at your request.
Your Personal Information may be disclosed to third-party service providers who work with us to provide some of the services on the Website and to help us communicate with you. Examples include, but are not limited to, sending email, analyzing data, marketing, processing payments (including credit card payments), and providing customer service. We expect our third-party service providers not to use such information except as necessary to provide the relevant services to us.
We may also share some or all of your Personal Information (other than credit card information) with advertisers about whom you have inquired and/or purchased products from the Website. If you do not want any Personal Information shared with the advertisers, then do not click on their advertisements or purchase their products from the Website.
We also reserve the right to create Anonymous Information records from the Personal Information you provide by excluding information that we believe in good faith prevents it from being directly identified to a specific user such as your name. This would include any comments or feedback you provide us which becomes our property, and we reserve the right to use any such material with your Personal Information redacted in perpetuity for any reason we deem appropriate including, but not limited to, marketing and or improvement of the Website, without royalties or compensation to you. Any such Anonymous Information is subject to the terms of this Privacy Policy applicable to all Anonymous Information.
We may share some or all of your Personal Information with our affiliated companies that are under a common control, in which case, we will require them to honor this Privacy Policy.
If we go through a business transition such as a merger, acquisition by another company, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your Personal Information may be transferred. You acknowledge that such transfers may occur and are permitted by this Privacy Policy. The acquirer of any Personal Information through a business transfer will be subject to this Privacy Policy until revised by the acquirer pursuant to this Privacy Policy.
We reserve the right to disclose your Personal Information if we believe that such disclosure is necessary to (a) comply with relevant laws or to respond to subpoenas or warrants served on us; or (b) to protect and defend our rights or property, you, or third parties. You consent to us sharing your Personal Information under the circumstances described herein.
Use and Disclosure of Anonymous Information
This Privacy Policy does not limit our use or disclosure of any Anonymous Information in any way, and we reserve the right to use and disclose Anonymous Information to our partners, advertisers and other third parties in our absolute discretion.
The Ability of Others to View Your Information
When you use the Website, certain information you post or provide on the publicly available portions of the Website, may become publicly available and may be collected and used by others, including people outside of the control of the Website. We have no obligations with respect to any information that you post to publicly available parts of the Website.
Third Party Sites and Advertising
Some pages on our Website may contain hyperlinks to websites of third parties. We take no responsibility for third party content or websites, nor for any information you disclose to third parties by visiting their websites. This Privacy Policy does not apply to any other sites. We make no representation regarding the privacy practices of any other sites regardless whether we advertise on those sites or provide a link to those sites from our Website.
Removal of Information and Opting Out
Users seeking to opt-out of receiving promotional or marketing email communications from us may opt-out of receiving future communications by following the “unsubscribe” instructions on the emails. You may also contact us directly at rbutler@usahouston.net. This applies to promotional or marketing communications and not administrative communications we feel are necessary to provide the services on the Website.
Do Not Track Requests
We do not respond or otherwise take any action with regard to “Do Not Track” requests.
Disclaimer of Guaranty of Security
We believe we have taken reasonable steps to protect your Personal Information. No one can fully guarantee or fully eliminate all risks associated with Personal Information and we make no such guarantees.
Revisions
This Privacy Policy is subject to occasional changes at our discretion. We will post any such changes to this page and may otherwise post other alerts on the Website or communicate such changes through email. If you disagree with any such changes, please cease using the Website. Continued use following the posting of any such changes indicates your acceptance of the changes.
Minors
This Website is intended for use by those over 18 and minors under the age of 13 may not use the Website.