Garage Owner Outraged – Your Information Is Safe!

The other day we got a fax from a garage owner who wanted to give us a piece of his mind. He was quite upset. Why? He needed an ID card for an inspection, and the owner didn’t leave one with the car.

Well, our policy is pretty simple. We don’t release your information to anyone without your permission. So, in such a case, we’ll call you to make sure it’s OK. Why?

First, there are privacy laws – the Graham-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 for one, and the Pennsylvania Information Security Program Regulation for another.

Now, in all honesty, I haven’t read either of these laws word for word. I leave that to the attorneys. But I know what they say … we are legally bound to protect your information from all unauthorized access, period. I and my staff take that responsibility very seriously.

Second, identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America, perhaps the world. I’m not going to release information about you to someone else just because they call and ask for it! It doesn’t matter if they claim to be a family member, a mortgage company, a bank, a car dealer, another insurance agent … or a garage owner. For all we know, the person on the other end of the phone is a criminal. It’s unlikely, sure. But I’m not going to be the one who takes that chance, when all it takes is a simple phone call to you to make sure.

Here are only some of the other ways we protect your privacy …

• We have a written Information Security Program in compliance with state law. All employees are required to read, understand and sign off on their responsibilities for protecting your information.
• We maintain the most modern computer firewalls to stop hackers from getting into the system. PLUS … we have a consultant try to hack in to ensure the firewalls are working!
• All documents – with as little as just your name on them – get cross-cut shredded and turned into confetti!
• And, going back to the beginning of my story … we don’t release your information to anyone without your permission.

Well, this garage owner was beside himself. But don’t worry! We don’t let anyone bully us into violating your privacy. We simply call you and get your permission. Almost every one of our clients thanks us for contacting them first. They appreciate us protecting their information.

Can it be a small hassle sometimes? It can be. So, here are some tips to help you avoid the hassle…

1. Whenever possible, give current documents to third parties, so they have no need to contact us.
2. If that’s not possible, give us a quick call or e-mail in advance and let us know who you’re dealing with. That way, we can help them immediately when they contact us. This is especially important when buying a new car!
3. Make sure we have your current phone numbers, so we can get your permission pronto when needed.

Privacy laws are in place to protect YOU. Yes, sometimes they get in the way of a hassle-free life. Unfortunately, we can’t have it both ways. So, rest assured we place the privacy of your information first. The hassle of a 30-second phone call today far outweighs a stolen identity. I hope you agree.

Thanks for your business!

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