PTI PRIVACY POLICY
Personal Training Franchise Ventures, LLC
Jericho, New York USA
Your privacy is very important to us. This Privacy Policy discloses how Personal Training Franchise Ventures, LLC ("PTI") and its affiliates collect, protect, use and share personal information gathered about you, in conformance with the applicable law. All personal information is collected in a fair and non-intrusive manner, with your voluntary consent. Personal Information is not accessible to anyone outside the specific function for which it is collected. PTI respects the privacy of employees and job applicants, franchisees, development agents, Personal Training Institute® customers and other visitors to our websites who may choose to provide personal information. We recognize the need for appropriate protection and management of personal information that you provide to us. This Privacy Policy will assist you to understand what types of information we may collect, how that information may be used, and with whom the information may be shared.
In an effort to comply with the law, and our commitment to protect your personal information, we provide the following, which discloses our policies. Please note that this Privacy Policy does not govern the privacy policies and procedures of PTI's independently owned and operated Personal Training Institute® fitness centers.
What type of information do we collect?
Personal Information is any information concerning the personal or material circumstances of an identified or identifiable individual. An identifiable person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, by reference to an identification number or to one or more factors specific to his physical, physiological, mental, economic, cultural or social identity.
Personal Information shall include but is not limited to: identifying information such as name, home address, home telephone number, e-mail address, Social Security number, financial information and employment-related information such as may be found on resumes, applications, background verification information, or in employment references.
PTI takes measures to maintain the confidentiality of your Social Security number, to protect your Social Security Number from unlawful disclosure, and to limit access to your Social Security number. PTI will not make your Social Security Number available to the general public, print your Social Security Number on any card, require you to provide your Social Security number to access any products or services, transmit your Social Security number over the Internet unless the connection is secure or your Social Security Number has been encrypted, or require the transmittal of your Social Security number to access our Website without requiring additional authentication.
We will not collect Sensitive Personal Information, except to comply with Affirmative Action data requirements. Sensitive Personal Information can include but is not limited to: information pertaining to gender, disabilities and veteran status.
Cookies - Internet Users
In addition to Personal Information, we use data collection devices such as "cookies" on certain web pages to help analyze our web page flow and measure promotional effectiveness. Cookies are pieces of information a website sends to an individual's hard drive while they are viewing the website. Cookies allow the website to remember important information that will make your visit to the site more useful. We use cookies to help improve your future visits. If you do not wish to receive a cookie or if you wish to set your browser to warn you each time a cookie is being sent, or if you wish to turn off all cookies, use the options on your browser to assist you. The "Help" option on your browser may assist you in changing your cookie preferences. Please note that by turning cookies off, you will not have access to many features available on our website.
Children and Data Collection
We care about the safety of children. We will not knowingly allow anyone under 13 to provide us any personally identifying information. Children under 13 years of age are required to obtain the express permission of a parent or guardian before submitting any Personal Information about themselves (such as their names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers) over the Internet.
Our Use of Your Information
We use your Personal Information to facilitate the services you request. We have tailored our Privacy Policy to adequately inform you of the use of your Personal Information.
Collection and Use of Employee Personal Information
PTI also collects Personal Information from its employees and applicants (human resource data) in connection with administration of its Human Resources programs and functions. These programs and functions include, but are not limited to: job applications and hiring programs, compensation and benefit programs, performance appraisals, training, access to PTI facilities and computer networks, employee profiles, internal intranet employee directories, Human Resource recordkeeping, Affirmative Action data, and other employment related purposes.
It is the policy of PTI to keep all past and present employee information private from disclosure to third parties. There are certain business related exceptions and they are:
- To comply with county, state or federal agency requests;
- Inquiries from third parties with a signed authorization from the employee to release the information, except in situations where limited verbal verifications are acceptable (see below);
- Third parties with which PTI has contractual agreements to assist in administration of company sponsored benefits.
Verifications of Employment
Prospective employers, state agencies, financial institutions, and residential property managers routinely contact PTI requesting information on a former or current employee's work history and salary. All such requests of this type shall be referred to and completed on a confidential basis by the Human Resources Department or Payroll Department.
For written verification of employment requests, information will be provided on the form only when it is accompanied by an employee's signed authorization to release information. The form will be returned directly to the requesting party and filed as part of the Human Resources or Payroll Department's confidential records.
Medical Information
PTI is compliant with federal HIPAA regulations and only utilizes information related to the company sponsored healthcare plan on a "need to know" basis for administration of the healthcare plan.
Collection and Use of Customer Information
PTI will not collect customer Personal Information, unless the customer contacts PTI directly. In order to adequately address a customer's concern, their Personal Information may be shared with the area Development Agent and franchisee. Development Agents assist with franchise sales, site location, training, and provide operational assistance to franchisees. Failure to provide necessary information may prevent PTI from fully addressing any customer concerns.
Collection and Use of Franchisee and Prospective Franchisee Information
By applying to become a Personal Training Institute® franchisee, a prospective franchisee consents to the collection, use, and disclosure of Personal Information in accordance with the following terms and conditions. We collect and use Personal Information in order to assist a prospective franchisee in applying to become a Personal Training Institute® fitness center franchisee and to assist PTI in selecting franchisee candidates.
Personal Information collected from prospective franchisees include, but is not limited to: name, address, telephone number, facsimile number, email address, date of birth, citizenship, educational background, criminal background, bank account information for Electronic Funds Transfer, financial statement, litigation history, and taxpayer identification number. Failure to provide requested Personal Information may negatively impact a prospective franchisee's ability to become a franchisee. Once a prospective franchisee becomes a franchisee, they may then reference themselves by their Franchise Agreement Number. In order to better service franchisees, a franchisee's Personal Information may be shared between PTI and its affiliates, pursuant to the service contracts between them.
A franchisee and prospective franchisee's information may be shared with the Development Agent in their area. A Development Agent is an independent contractor of PTI or one of its affiliates. Development Agents assist with franchise sales, site location, training, and provide operational assistance. Development Agents also make recommendations as to whether a prospective franchisee in their territory should be granted a franchise. The Development Agent may use this information to: address a franchisee's concerns in a customer complaint, respond to a franchisee's inquires for franchise sales, and any other inquiry which may require a response.
PTI will also share Personal Information in order to service franchisee leasing needs and related administrative functions. Franchisee Personal Information may be shared during fitness centertransfers. Finally, franchisee Personal Information may be shared with the Personal Training Institute Advertising Fund ("PTIAF") in order to provide advertising services to member stores.
Finally, upon becoming a Personal Training Institute® franchisee you consent to PTI disclosing former or past franchisee contact information including Personal Information in its Disclosure Document for one (1) year after leaving the system, as required by law, unless you advise. Contact our Privacy Officer in writing, either by email or regular mail received, of your desire to not have your details or contact information disclosed, corrected or changed when you sell or transfer your Personal Training Institute® fitness center, or exit the Personal Training Institute® system (whether by termination or otherwise). To contact the Privacy Officer, please see the section provided below entitled"Contact Information".
Collection and Use of Development Agent Information
By applying to become a Personal Training Institute® Development Agent, a Development Agent applicant consents to the collection, use, and disclosure of Personal Information in accordance with the following terms and conditions. We collect and use information in order to assist you in applying, and evaluating you to become a Development Agent. Personal Information is collected to assist PTI and its affiliates in selecting Development Agent candidates and for the purpose of operating a development territory.
Personal Information collected includes, but is not limited to: name, home address, home telephone number, facsimile number, email address, date of birth, bank account information for Electronic Funds Transfer, financial statement, resume, taxpayer identification number and background checks. Once a Development Agent candidate becomes a Development Agent, they may then reference themselves by their Development Agent Number.
Failure to provide necessary information may negatively impact your ability to become a Development Agent.
Sharing of Personal Information
We may share Personal Information with our service providers, consultants and affiliates for our internal business purposes. Except as described in this Privacy Policy, PTI will not share Personal Information with a third party, unless a customer requests, consents to such disclosure, or disclosure is required or authorized by law. PTI reserves the right to disclose Personal Information to a third party if a law, regulation, search warrant, subpoena, or court order legally requires or authorizes us to do so. PTI also reserves the right to disclose and/or transfer Personal Information to a third party in the event of a proposed or actual purchase, sale, lease, merger, amalgamation or any other type of acquisition, disposal, or financing of all or any portion of PTI or of any of the business or assets or shares of PTI or a division thereof in order for a franchisee or Development Agent to continue to receive the same products and services from the third party.
As described above, PTI, its affiliates, third party service providers and Development Agents may share and exchange Personal Information in order to process franchisee and Development Agent applications, administer the Personal Training Institute® franchise system, and protect the integrity of the Personal Training Institute® franchise system and trademarks. Personal Information may be provided to a courier or freight forwarder in order to fulfill an order, which may have been requested from us.
Our Development Agents and other service providers are prohibited from using Personal Information for any purpose other than to provide assistance. Development Agents are required to protect Personal Information disclosed by us and to comply with the general privacy principles described in this Privacy Policy.
Storage, Retention and Accuracy of Personal Information
PTI insures that Personal Information is safeguarded against loss, access, use, modification, disclosure or other misuse. All reasonable steps are taken to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure of your Personal Information.
PTI will retain your Personal Information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purpose(s) for which it was collected and to comply with applicable laws, and your consent to such purpose(s) remains valid after termination of our relationship with you.
We take all reasonable steps to insure that your Personal Information is accurate, up-to-date, complete, relevant and not misleading.
PTI may store your Personal Information in its databases located in the United States and/or other countries outside of the United States. Additionally, some of our service providers may reside in the United States or other countries outside of the United States and will be subject to the laws of the local jurisdiction. As a result, in certain circumstances, the United States and other foreign governments, courts, law enforcement agencies or regulatory agencies may be entitled to access the Personal Information collected and held by PTI.
Contact Information
You may contact the Privacy Officer to access, correct or delete your Personal Information. If necessary, the Privacy Officer will contact another employee to assist in completing your requested task.
If you have any questions or complaints, please contact the Privacy Officer. The Privacy Officer can be reached by telephone at: (516) 342-9064 or 1-800-784-9675; by Facsimile at: (516) 342-9067; by email at: privacyofficer@personaltraininginstitute.com; or by mail at Personal Training Franchise Ventures, LLC, 500 North Broadway, Jericho, NY, 11753, USA. We will address your concern and attempt to resolve any problem. Download Privacy Information Request Form.
Links to Non-PTI Web Sites and Third Parties
Please note that PTI or Personal Training Institute® web sites may contain links to other web sites for your convenience and information. PTI does not control those sites or their privacy practices, which may differ from personaltraininginstitute.com. PTI's privacy policy cannot and does not apply to external Web areas. We do not endorse or make any representations about third party web sites. The personal data you choose to give to unrelated third parties is not covered by the PTI privacy policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any company or website before submitting your Personal Information. Some third parties may choose to share their personal data with PTI; that sharing is governed by that third party company's privacy policy.
Members of the European Union
If you are a resident of a Member State of the European Union and have any concerns or complaints, please first address these issues to the Privacy Officer. Personal Training Franchise Ventures, LLC is located in the United States, as are the servers that make our websites available. All matters relating to privacy issues and websites are governed by the laws of the United States and the State of New York. If the Privacy Officer does not satisfactorily address a complaint within thirty (30) days, any dispute, controversy or claim shall be settled by an arbitration administered by an arbitration agency, such as the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"). All arbitrations will be conducted in English. Judgment rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. The costs of the arbitration will be borne equally by the parties. New York, U.S.A. shall be the site of all hearings, and such hearings shall be before a single arbitrator. You may also submit complaints to the Federal Trade Commission or via telephone at (202)382-4537.
Changes to our Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to modify this privacy statement at any time, so please review it frequently. If we make material changes to this policy, we will notify you in this Privacy Policy, by email, or by means of a notice on our home page.
PTI 10/09
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