Our commitment to privacy: Valued Merchant Services (VMS) respects the confidentiality of personal and business information. We use information to provide services, communicate with customers, support merchant accounts, maintain security, and fulfill applicable obligations.
We do not sell your personal data. We also use technical and organizational safeguards intended to protect information in our care.
1. Scope of This Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy describes the information practices of Valued Merchant Services in connection with our website at www.valuedmerchants.com , inquiries, merchant services, business relationships, recruiting activities, and communications.
It applies to information we collect when individuals or businesses interact with us online, by telephone, through electronic forms, or through other business communications.
Some products and services offered through VMS involve independent payment processors, banks, technology providers, financing providers, and other service partners.
Those organizations may have separate privacy notices, contractual obligations, and legal responsibilities governing information they collect or process.
Where a separate application, agreement, or privacy notice applies to a particular service, that document may provide additional information about the handling of personal data.
2. Information We Collect
The categories of information we collect depend on your relationship with VMS, the services requested, and how you interact with us.
Contact and Identification Information
Information may include your name, business name, job title, email address, telephone number, mailing address, and other details provided when you contact us.
Business and Merchant Account Information
When businesses request merchant services, we may collect information relevant to evaluating, establishing, administering, or supporting the requested services.
Depending on the product and provider, this may include:
- Business legal name and operating name
- Business address and contact information
- Business ownership and management details
- Industry, products, and services offered
- Estimated or historical transaction volume
- Merchant processing statements
- Business banking and funding information
- Relevant identity-verification information
- Information required for applicable underwriting
Certain merchant applications may require sensitive personal information about authorized owners or representatives. The precise requirements depend on the financial institution, processor, program, and applicable law.
Communications and Form Submissions
We collect information that you choose to provide through contact forms, emails, telephone calls, appointment requests, program inquiries, and other communications.
This can include the content of your inquiry, requested services, preferred contact method, and information relevant to resolving your question.
Recruiting and Referral Information
Individuals applying to participate in VMS sales, recruiting, lead generation, or referral programs may provide professional background, contact details, and other information relevant to their application.
Website and Device Information
When visitors interact with our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically.
Depending on the technology involved, this may include IP address, device characteristics, browser type, operating system, referring website, pages viewed, dates and times of visits, and interactions with website features.
3. How We Collect Information
VMS collects information through several sources, depending on the circumstances.
- Direct submissions: When you complete a form, send an email, call us, or provide information during a business conversation.
- Merchant applications: When you request processing, equipment, financing, or other business services.
- Business relationships: Through referrals, authorized representatives, and service providers involved in your request.
- Website technology: Through cookies, server logs, analytics, and similar tools used by our website and service providers.
- Ongoing account support: From information generated during account administration, assistance, and service communications.
In some circumstances, information may also be received from third parties involved in a merchant application, authorized referral, or existing service relationship.
4. How We Use Personal Information
We use information for legitimate business and service-related purposes, including:
- Responding to questions and requests submitted to our team.
- Evaluating merchant service applications and coordinating requested products.
- Establishing and supporting merchant accounts.
- Assisting with payment processing, funding, equipment, and account questions.
- Communicating relevant service information, account notifications, and updates.
- Supporting fraud prevention, security, identity verification, and compliance.
- Managing authorized sales, recruiting, referral, and business relationships.
- Improving website functionality, customer service, and operational efficiency.
- Maintaining business records and meeting applicable contractual or legal obligations.
- Sending promotional communications where permitted by law and subject to applicable consent requirements.
We seek to use personal information in a manner consistent with the reason it was collected, the services requested, and applicable legal requirements.
6. Payment Processing and Financial Information
Because VMS provides merchant services, certain business relationships involve financial information or information connected with payment transactions.
Merchant processing can involve multiple organizations, including processors, acquiring banks, card networks, payment gateways, and technology providers.
These parties may process information necessary to authorize payments, settle transactions, support merchant accounts, investigate disputes, detect fraud, and satisfy applicable requirements.
The collection, storage, and handling of payment-related information depend on the particular services, systems, providers, and agreements involved.
Protect your information: Please do not submit complete payment card numbers, account passwords, Social Security numbers, or other highly sensitive credentials through general website contact forms or ordinary email messages.
When sensitive information is required for an application or service, follow the designated submission process provided by VMS or the relevant financial institution.
7. Cookies, Analytics, and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality, understand visitor activity, improve performance, and maintain security.
Cookies are small data files that websites or related services may place on a visitor's device.
Depending on the services and technologies active on our website, these tools may support:
- Basic website navigation and functionality
- Security and fraud-prevention measures
- Performance and traffic measurement
- Understanding how visitors use website content
- Remembering relevant preferences
- Measuring the effectiveness of communications
Embedded content, website forms, analytics services, and other third-party tools may also use cookies or comparable technologies under their applicable privacy terms.
Managing Browser Cookies
Most browsers allow users to manage, restrict, or remove cookies through their browser settings.
However, disabling certain cookies may affect the operation of some website functions or embedded services.
Additional privacy preferences or opt-out options may be available under applicable law or through the relevant technology provider.
8. Email, Text Messages, and Telephone Communications
VMS communicates with customers, prospective merchants, business partners, and program participants through channels such as email, telephone, and text messaging.
Communications may relate to inquiries, requested appointments, applications, account assistance, training, business opportunities, or relevant service updates.
Promotional Communications
Promotional emails and text messages are subject to applicable consent and communications requirements.
You may request that we stop sending promotional communications using the instructions provided with those messages or by contacting us.
For text messages, you may reply STOP to an applicable messaging number to request an opt-out from that messaging program.
Opting out of promotional communications does not necessarily prevent VMS or relevant service providers from sending important transactional, account, security, or legally required messages.
Communication Records
Depending on the communication channel, VMS may retain records of inquiries, messages, contact preferences, and related business interactions for operational, service, or compliance purposes.
9. Information Security
VMS uses technical and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal and business information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or loss.
These measures include encryption of sensitive data in transit and at rest, together with access restrictions designed to limit information to authorized personnel.
Additional safeguards may depend on the systems, financial institutions, and technology providers involved in delivering a specific service.
Although we take information security seriously, no website, electronic transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure under every circumstance.
If you believe information associated with your relationship with VMS may have been compromised, please contact our team promptly.
10. Data Retention
VMS retains personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and for applicable legal, contractual, regulatory, and business requirements.
Retention periods may differ depending on the type of information and the relationship involved.
Relevant considerations can include:
- The duration of a merchant or business relationship
- Applicable recordkeeping requirements
- Financial institution or processor obligations
- Fraud prevention and security requirements
- Dispute resolution and legal claims
- The purpose of the original inquiry
- Applicable deletion requests and legal exceptions
When retention is no longer required, information may be deleted, anonymized, or otherwise handled according to applicable procedures and obligations.
Deletion requests may be limited where information must be retained for legitimate legal, regulatory, contractual, or security purposes.
11. Your Privacy Rights and Choices
Depending on your state of residence, your relationship with VMS, and applicable law, you may have rights concerning your personal information.
These rights may include:
- Requesting information about personal data collected or maintained.
- Requesting access to certain personal information.
- Requesting correction of inaccurate information.
- Requesting deletion of eligible information.
- Requesting information about relevant data use or disclosure.
- Opting out of certain promotional communications.
- Exercising additional rights provided under applicable state law.
How to Submit a Privacy Request
To inquire about your personal information or exercise an applicable privacy right, contact us at privacy@valuedmerchants.com .
Please provide enough information for us to understand your request and locate relevant records. Depending on the request, we may need to verify your identity or authority before responding.
We will evaluate requests under applicable law and respond within any legally required timeframe. Certain requests may be subject to statutory exceptions or other legal obligations.
State-Specific Privacy Protections
Residents of certain states, including California, may have additional rights under laws applicable to covered businesses.
These rights can depend on the nature of the business, the information involved, statutory thresholds, and applicable exemptions.
Where a state privacy law applies to VMS and a particular request, we will address the request according to that law.
You may contact our privacy team to request information about rights applicable to your circumstances.
12. Third-Party Websites and Services
Our website may contain links to independent websites, third-party software platforms, business partners, and other external resources.
Some website functionality, including embedded forms or maps, may also be provided through third-party systems.
These external services may collect or process information in accordance with their own privacy practices and terms.
VMS does not control the privacy practices of every independent third-party website. We encourage visitors to review the applicable privacy notices before submitting information to an external service.
13. Children's Privacy
Our business services and website are intended for adults and business-related audiences.
VMS does not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18 through its business service offerings.
If you believe a minor has provided personal information to VMS, please contact our privacy team so the matter can be reviewed and addressed appropriately.
14. Updates to This Privacy Policy
We may revise this Privacy Policy as our services, technologies, information practices, or applicable legal requirements change.
Updates will be reflected on this page along with a revised effective or last-updated date.
Where appropriate or legally required, we may provide additional notice of material changes.
We encourage visitors to review this policy periodically to stay informed about our privacy practices.
15. Contact Valued Merchant Services
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, our information practices, or a privacy-related request, please contact us.
Valued Merchant Services
Privacy Inquiries
privacy@valuedmerchants.com
General Customer Support
support@valuedmerchants.com
Telephone
800-531-8575
Corporate Headquarters
3293 Chasewood Drive
Idaho Falls, ID 83406
We appreciate the trust that merchants, representatives, partners, and website visitors place in Valued Merchant Services. Protecting information and communicating clearly about its use remain important parts of that relationship.