Grassroots® Privacy Policy

(Last updated: July 17, 2007)

The Company & Its Franchised Offices

Grassroots® The Inspection Specialists (hereinafter referred to as Grassroots®) is a franchise system owned by PAIRS Reporting Service Inc. (the franchisor). Through its franchised offices (the franchisees) they offer building & environmental inspection and testing services for residential & commercial properties. Each franchised office is independently owned & operated. Although a franchised office may adopt this Grassroots® Privacy Policy, each franchised office is liable and responsible for their Privacy Policy with their clients. Please ensure that you confirm with the specific independently owned & operated Grassroots® office as to what their Privacy Policy is.

Philosophy

At Grassroots®, respecting the privacy and confidentiality of our clients has always been a fundamental component of our business. To that end, we have prepared this review to assist you in understanding what this commitment means to us and what measures we have established to ensure that the information you have shared with us is held in the strictest confidence.

We have developed this policy in accordance with recently enacted legislation. Of course, we reserve the right to amend the policy as may be necessary to adhere to legislative developments that may arise. We invite you to review our policy and contact us if you have any concerns or questions with respect to the management of your personal information. You will see the date next to the document title indicating the last update. Grassroots® encourages you to review this statement for changes.

This policy relates to personal information of our clients. It does not protect business contact information, as that information is expressly exempt from the relevant legislation.

Personal information may best be defined as information that relates to an identifiable person. While not an exhaustive list, some examples of personal information include: your name, home address, phone number, Social Insurance Numbers, driver’s license numbers, banking information, credit card numbers, debit card numbers, etc.

Accountability

Under our privacy policy, Grassroots® is accountable to its clients for the manner in which it collects, uses or discloses your personal information. You may reach our privacy officer with any questions in relation to our privacy policy at info@grassroots.ca

Or mail to:
Privacy Officer
Grassroots® The Inspection Specialists
71 King Street, Suite #203,
St. Catharines, Ontario Canada
L2R 3H7

Identifying Purposes

Given the variety of services that Grassroots® offers, it is not possible to list all of the potential purposes for our collection of personal information within the confines of this policy. You can be confident that prior to our collecting your personal information we will identify and explain the purpose for such collection. Needless to say, we collect your personal information in order to enable us to provide you with appropriate professional services.

Consent

You are free to consent to our collection of your personal information or you may decline to consent. Please be aware that our ability to assist you will typically rely upon our obtaining personal information from you however. As such, by using the services of Grassroots®, you consent to the collection, use and disclosure of such information by Grassroots® as detailed in this privacy policy, or in accordance with such terms as may be explicitly explained to you at the time such information is collected.

Limiting Collection

In accordance with this privacy policy we shall limit the scope of personal information that we collect to that which is necessary to provide you with professional and appropriate services. In the event that further personal information is required we shall explain why it is being sought and ask for your further consent to such additional collection and use.

Limiting Use, Disclosure & Retention

While we hold your personal information, we shall only use it in accordance with the purpose that was discussed with you at the time it was collected. Should we identify another purpose for which your personal information may be used we will advise you of same and ask for your consent with respect to using your information for that new purpose.

While we are in possession of your personal information we may be required to disclose it to certain third parties in an effort to assist you. We shall ensure that all third parties to whom we disclose your personal information honour the requirements of this policy. Furthermore we shall advise all third parties that they are not to use your personal information for any purpose other than that to which we have agreed.

When we are no longer in need of your personal information we shall ensure that it is destroyed in an appropriate, secure manner. Please be aware that there may be legal or professional requirements that necessitate our retaining your personal information in excess of what may appear to be a reasonable time period.

Safeguarding Client Information

Under the terms of our privacy policy we have taken precautions to ensure that your personal information is secure while it is in our possession. Of course, locks and security systems protect our office space. While our computer system is also secured through appropriate software, we must advise you that no company is able to guarantee the secure transmission of information sent electronically. Once we receive such information we undertake to secure it.

Accuracy, Openness & Client Access

Grassroots® is highly reliant upon our clients to ensure that the personal information we hold is accurate. As such, we ask that you pay particular attention to providing accurate personal information when it is first collected and that you advise us of changes as they occur. Should you wish to review your personal information that is in our possession we ask that you contact our Privacy Officer. Should you disagree with any information contained in our records it shall be reviewed and appropriate action taken. If you disagree with our position with respect to amending your personal information you may file a written complaint for our consideration. In the event you are not satisfied with our position you are invited to contact the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at 1.800.282.1376.

Privacy Policy & Our Web Sites

The websites governed by the provisions and practices stated in this privacy policy are:

www.grassroots.ca
www.enviroinspections.com
www.buildinspections.com

These websites may contain links to other third parties that are not governed by this privacy policy. Our privacy policy will no longer apply once you leave these sites. We encourage you to examine the privacy polices of those sites to better determine how your information may be collected, used, shared and disclosed.

Contact Information

Grassroots® welcomes your comments regarding this privacy statement. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this privacy statement please send via email to info@grassroots.ca or mail to:

Privacy Officer
Grassroots® The Inspection Specialists
71 King Street, Suite #203,
St. Catharines, Ontario Canada
L2R 3H7

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for placing your continued confidence in Grassroots® and assure you that we shall strive to protect the personal information you have shared with us. If you have any questions relating to this privacy policy or any other aspect of our company, please feel free to contact us directly or visit our website at www.grassroots.ca.