Privacy Policy

1. Information we collect

Information you give us

• Franchise inquiries. When you use Check My Area or another franchise form: ZIP code, first and last name, email address and mobile number, plus anything else you choose to tell us.
• ATM placement inquiries. When you request a quote or contact our placement team: your name, business or location name and address, email address, telephone number, comments and your text-message preference.
• Franchise candidate information. If you continue in our franchise process, we may ask for information about your background, business experience, available capital and net worth, and, with your authorization, details needed for background or credit checks.
• Communications. The content of emails, text messages and calls with us, newsletter sign-ups, survey answers and any request you make under this policy. We may record calls for quality and training; we tell you at the start of a recorded call.

Information collected automatically

• Device and browser type, operating system, language and screen settings.
• IP address and the approximate location (city or region) derived from it.
• Pages viewed, links clicked, time on page, referring page or advertisement, and the date and time of your visit.

We collect this information with cookies and similar technologies. Our Cookie Policy explains them and how to control them.

Information from other sources

• Advertising platforms, such as campaign and lead-form data from Google or social networks when you respond to an ACFN advertisement.
• Franchise portals, brokers and consultants who refer you to us at your request.
• Franchisees and business partners who refer a business location to our placement program.
• Public sources such as business listings and state corporate records, and service providers who help us verify contact details.

Information we do not collect through the Sites

We do not collect payment card numbers or PINs through the Sites. Cash withdrawals and other transactions at ACFN ATMs are processed by ATM networks and payment processors under their own privacy terms.

2. How we use information

We use personal information to:

• Answer your questions and tell you whether franchise territory is available near the ZIP code you enter.
• Run our franchise sales process: schedule calls, deliver our Franchise Disclosure Document, evaluate candidates and keep the records franchise laws require.
• Assess locations, prepare quotes, and install, service and support ATMs and related products for host businesses.
• Send you information, newsletters and offers by email, phone or text message, with your consent where the law requires it.
• Operate, secure, debug and improve the Sites, and prevent spam, fraud and misuse.
• Measure how the Sites and our advertising perform, and show you relevant ACFN advertising.
• Comply with law, respond to lawful requests, enforce our terms, and protect the rights and safety of ACFN, our franchisees, customers and others.
• Carry out a merger, financing, acquisition or other corporate transaction.

We may also create de-identified or aggregated information that does not identify you. We keep it in de-identified form and do not attempt to re-identify it.

3. Calls, texts and email

If you give us your phone number and agree on one of our forms, you consent to receive calls and text messages from ACFN at that number about the franchise opportunity or ATM placement you asked about. These may include messages sent with automated technology and prerecorded messages. Consent is not a condition of buying any product or service. Message and data rates may apply. Our Text Message Terms explain how text messages work and how to stop them; you can reply STOP at any time.

Every marketing email includes an unsubscribe link. After you unsubscribe we may still send messages about an active inquiry, application or agreement.

We do not share mobile numbers or text-message opt-in data and consent with third parties for their own marketing purposes.

4. How we disclose information

We disclose personal information only as described here:

• Service providers that host the Sites, run our customer relationship and lead systems, send email and text messages, provide analytics, or support IT and security. They may use the information only to provide services to us.
• ACFN franchisees. If you ask to speak with current franchisees during your evaluation, we share your name and contact details with them. If your business requests ATM placement, we share the location details with the ACFN franchisee or operator who will own or service the machine there.
• Brokers and referral sources who introduced you to us, to confirm the referral and its status.
• Professional advisers such as lawyers, accountants and auditors.
• Advertising and analytics partners, through cookies and similar technologies, as described in our Cookie Policy.
• Legal and safety recipients, when we believe disclosure is required by law, subpoena or court order, or is needed to protect rights, property or safety.
• A buyer or successor in connection with a merger, financing, acquisition, reorganization or sale of assets.
• Anyone else with your consent or at your direction.

We do not sell personal information for money. Some state laws treat the use of advertising cookies as a “sale” or “sharing” even when no money changes hands; you can opt out at any time on our Your Privacy Choices page.

5. Cookies, analytics and advertising

We and our partners use cookies, pixels and similar technologies to keep the Sites working, remember your choices, understand how visitors use the Sites, and measure and personalize ACFN advertising. Optional analytics and advertising cookies stay off until you turn them on in Manage Cookies, and you can change that choice at any time.

Global Privacy Control and Do Not Track. We treat a Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal from your browser as a request to opt out of the sale and sharing of personal information collected through that browser. Because there is no common standard for “Do Not Track” signals, we do not respond to them separately.

6. How long we keep information

We keep personal information only as long as it is reasonably necessary for the purposes in this policy, taking into account the nature of the information, whether you have an active relationship with us, and our legal, tax, accounting and franchise-disclosure obligations. As a general guide:

• Inquiries that do not lead to a relationship: up to three years after our last contact with you.
• Franchise candidate files, including Franchise Disclosure Document receipts: for the period franchise laws require, generally up to seven years after the sales process ends.
• ATM placement customers: for the term of the placement agreement and up to seven years afterward.
• Opt-out and do-not-contact records: as long as needed to honor your choice.

7. Security

We use administrative, technical and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information, including encrypted connections to the Sites and access controls on our lead and customer systems. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. Please do not send sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers or bank details, through a website form or by unencrypted email.

8. Your privacy rights

Depending on where you live, including California and other states with comprehensive privacy laws, you may have the right to:

• Know and access the personal information we hold about you and how we use and disclose it, and receive a copy in a portable format.
• Correct inaccurate personal information.
• Delete personal information we collected from you, subject to legal exceptions.
• Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information and of targeted advertising.
• Limit the use of sensitive personal information. We use sensitive information only for the purposes permitted by law, such as evaluating a franchise application you submit, so this right does not currently apply to our practices.
• Not be discriminated against for exercising any of these rights.

How to make a request

Use the form on our Your Privacy Choices page, email privacy@acfn-solutions.com, or call us toll-free at (888) 444-2236. We will ask you for information, such as your name, email address and phone number, so we can match you against our records and verify your identity. We respond within 45 days, or tell you within that period if we need up to 45 more. Opt-out requests are processed within 15 business days.

You may use an authorized agent to make a request for you. We will ask the agent for proof of permission and may ask you to confirm your identity directly with us.

Appeals

If we decline your request, we will explain why. Where your state provides a right to appeal, you can email privacy@acfn-solutions.com with the subject line “Privacy Appeal” within 60 days of our decision. We will respond within the time your state's law requires. If you are not satisfied, you may contact your state attorney general.

Other state notices

California “Shine the Light.” We do not disclose personal information to third parties for their own direct marketing purposes.

Nevada. We do not sell covered information as Nevada law defines that term. You may still submit an opt-out request by emailing us.

9. California notice at collection

The table below describes the categories of personal information we have collected in the past 12 months, why we collect them, and to whom we disclose them. Sources are described in section 1, and how long we keep each category is described in section 6.

We do not knowingly sell or share the personal information of anyone under 16.

10. Children

The Sites are intended for adults evaluating a business investment or service for their business. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has given us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

11. Visitors from Canada and other countries

ACFN is based in the United States and the Sites are intended for visitors in the United States and Canada. Information is stored and processed in the United States, where it may be accessible to courts and authorities under U.S. law. If you live in Canada, you may ask to access or correct your personal information, or withdraw consent to optional uses, by contacting us as described below.

12. Third-party sites and content

The Sites may link to or embed content from other companies, such as video players, maps and social networks. Those companies may collect information under their own privacy policies, which we do not control. Please review them before you provide information.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The effective date at the top shows when it was last revised. If we make material changes, we will post a notice on the Sites or contact you, as the law requires.