PRIVACY POLICY

This Privacy Policy describes Melendrez Law, PLLC’s (“the Firm”) policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information about you when you visit the Firm’s website or use the Firm’s platform at https://www.melendrezlawpllc.com/, or otherwise interact with us concerning your actual or potential tax refund (collectively, “Services”). “Personal information” is non-public information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked to an individual. When you use the Firm’s Services, you agree to the Firm’s collection, use, and disclosure of personal information about you as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not provide us with personal information the Firm requests, the Firm may not be able to provide you with the Firm’s Services or your experience when using those Services may be impaired.

Scope

The Firm’s Services and this privacy policy are intended for U.S. companies and their owners/employees acting in their professional capacity. The Firm’s Services and this privacy policy are not intended for individuals in their personal capacity. If you are an employee of one of the Firm’s customers, please do not submit any of your nonbusiness-related personal information to us. Similarly, this website is not intended for children. The Firm does not knowingly sell or share the personal information of consumers under 16 years of age.

What Personal Information The Firm Collects, How, and Why

The personal information the Firm collects generally includes: (1) information needed to provide the Services (e.g., processing, or evaluating eligibility for, a tax refund or evaluating potential means for you to access your tax refund sooner); and (2) information that assists us in providing, improving, and marketing the Firm’s Services. In the last 12 months, the Firm has collected the following personal information from the sources, and for the purposes, described below.

For purposes of the above chart:

  • when the Firm collects personal information directly from you, this includes, for example, when you input the information into a form you provide the Firm, enable one of the Firm’s many integrations, or upload documents to the Firm;

  • the Firm’s marketing partners include third-party data sellers, lead generators, joint marketing partners, and digital advertising partners (e.g., Google, Meta, other social media platforms); and

  • providing the Firm’s Services includes, for example, filing for a tax refund on your company’s behalf, facilitating providing you access to your tax refund sooner, and/or maintaining the website.

In addition to the above personal information, the Firm also collects anonymous, de-identified, and/or aggregate data that is not linked to a particular individual. the Firm’s use or disclosure of such information is outside the scope of this privacy policy. The Firm only maintains and uses such data in a way that does not identify a particular individual, and the Firm will not attempt to re-identify it, except to test the Firm’s de-identification process and ensure it cannot be associated with any individual.

Personal Information the Firm Discloses and Why

The below chart summarizes how the Firm has disclosed personal information in the last 12 months, and why.

The Firm may also disclose the above personal information in the event of a corporate transaction (e.g., a sale, merger, financing), as requested by you, or for legal purposes.

Selling/Sharing

Although the Firm does not disclose your personal information for any monetary consideration, the Firm’s use and disclosure of the categories above (i.e., identifiers and contact information, categories of personal information described in Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.80(e), Internet or other electronic network activity information, professional or employment-related information, and inferences drawn from such information) to marketing partners within the last 12 months, could fall within California’s definitions of “selling” or “sharing.” “Sharing” is referred to as “targeted advertising” in some states.

To the extent the Firm uses your personal information across non-Firm businesses, websites, and applications for targeted advertising purposes, you may opt-out of such use (“opt-out of selling/sharing”). To do so, you may email your request to Cory@melendrezlawpllc.com, complete this form, or use an opt-out preference signal, such as the Global Privacy Control (GPC) on browsers and/or browser extensions that support such a signal. To download and use a browser supporting the GPC browser signal, click here: https://globalprivacycontrol.org/orgs. If you choose to use the GPC signal, you will need to turn it on for each supported browser or browser extension you use.

Your decision will not alter the number of advertisements you see, only whether those advertisements are tailored to you.

The Firm does not use or disclose your sensitive personal information for any purposes other than those permitted by law (e.g., as necessary to file for your refund or for legal compliance purposes), and the Firm does not disclose personal information with third parties for those third parties’ direct marketing purposes.

Digital Technologies

The Firm and its marketing partners use various online tracking technologies such as pixels, web beacons, session replay technology, social sharing widgets, software developer kits, third-party libraries, cookies, and other similar online tracking technologies (collectively, “online tracking technologies”) to gather information when you interact with the Firm’s websites, app(s), and email communications, as well as when you interact with other websites, apps, or advertisements.

The Firm uses online tracking technologies to maintain the Firm’s Services (e.g., improving security, fixing bugs), improve your experience (e.g., preventing website crashes, saving your preferences), and guide the Firm’s marketing efforts (e.g., generating leads and tailoring the Firm’s marketing efforts). When you visit certain websites (including the Firm’s website), the online tracking technologies may collect identifiers (e.g., your Internet Protocol address or other online identifier), categories of personal information described in Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.80(e), Internet or other electronic network activity information, and inferences about you. The Firm’s partners (e.g., social media networks) may also supplement this data with information about your professional or employment-related information (e.g., job title) and other demographics. The Firm’s marketing partners disclose such information to us, and where the Firm collects such information, the Firm discloses it to them, for marketing purposes (e.g., targeting advertisements so individuals view more relevant ads).

Among other cookies, the Firm uses Google Analytics. You can learn more about how those cookies work by visiting “How Google Uses Data When You Use the Firm’s Partners' Sites or Apps,” located at www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/. If you prefer not to have the benefits of cookies, your internet browser or other third party software on your workstation can be adjusted to treat cookies indifferent ways. Depending upon the type of browser you are using, you might be able to configure your browser: (i) to prompt you to accept or reject cookies on an individual basis; or (ii) to prevent your browser from accepting any cookies at all. You should refer to the supplier or manufacturer of your web browser for specific details about cookie security. For general information about how to manage cookies, visit www.allaboutcookies.org/manage-cookies/ (please note that this website is not connected to us and the Firm is not responsible for its content). Rejecting cookies might affect your ability to perform certain transactions on the Firm’s Website and the Firm’s ability to recognize your browser from one visit to the next.

For more information about your choices with regard to interest based advertising, you may wish to visit the Digital Advertising Alliance’s Consumer information page: http://www.aboutads.info/consumers/.

Communication Preferences

Please see below for additional options available to you.

Email. To stop receiving promotional emails, click the “unsubscribe” link in any of the Firm’s marketing emails.

Direct Mail. To stop receiving promotional postal mail, email the Firm at Cory@Melendrezlawpllc.com or write to the Firm at: Melendrez Law, PLLC, 450 Alaskan Way South #2009 Seattle, WA 98104

How Long the Firm Keeps Your Personal Information

The Firm will not retain your personal information for longer than reasonably necessary for the purpose(s) the Firm collected it. The retention period depends on criteria such as the nature of the Firm’s relationship with you, whether the Firm filed for a tax refund for you, when you last interacted with us, the type of personal information at issue, and legal considerations.

How the Firm Protects Your Personal Information

Although no website, app, platform, or business is 100 percent secure, the security and confidentiality of your personal information is important to the Firm. The Firm does take administrative, technical, and physical measures to protect the information you provide to us.

Your Choices

In addition to the choices described above, the Firm provides you with the:

  • ability to know what personal information the Firm has collected about you, including the categories of personal information, categories of sources from which the Firm collected the personal information, the purpose for the Firm’s collection, selling, or sharing of your personal information, the categories of third parties to whom the Firm discloses personal information

  • ability to access the specific pieces of personal information the Firm has collected about you;

  • ability to correct inaccurate personal information that the Firm maintains about you;

  • ability to delete personal information the Firm has collected from you, subject to exceptions (like the Firm’s legally required recordkeeping);

  • ability to opt-out of the sale or sharing of your personal information; and

  • ability to not receive discriminatory treatment for exercising your privacy choices.

How to Submit a Request to Know, Access, Correct, or Delete

If you would like to submit a request to know, access, correct, or delete your personal information, you or your authorized agent may complete this webform or email your request to Cory@melendrezlawpllc.com.

Once you submit your request, the Firm will take commercially reasonable steps to verify your identity (e.g., via asking you to provide us with information matching the information in the Firm’s files about you (e.g., your email address and phone number)). If you are an authorized agent submitting a request on behalf of another individual, the Firm will also verify that you have authority to act for the data subject (e.g., a signed authorization).

Once the Firm has verified your request, the Firm will make good faith efforts to evaluate and act on your request, but there may be circumstances in which the Firm might not grant your request (e.g., if you submit a request to delete that would violate the Firm’s recordkeeping obligations). If the Firm denies your request, the Firm will tell you why and provide you information regarding your ability to appeal that decision, if any.

Links to Third-Party Websites

The Firm’s website contains links to third party websites, applications, or materials and integrations to enhance the Services and your experience. These items may have their own privacy policies, or no policies at all. You should seek and review these third party’s policies before providing them information. The Firm does not guarantee and is not responsible for the privacy or security of these other websites, apps, or integrations, including the accuracy, completeness or reliability of their information.

Contact The Firm

If you have any questions or comments about this privacy policy, please contact the Firm via email at Cory@melendrezlawpllc.com or write to the Firm at: Melendrez Law, PLLC, 450 Alaskan Way South #2009 Seattle, WA 98104

Privacy Policy Updates

This privacy policy replaces all previous privacy policies and cannot be modified orally. The Firm may amend this privacy policy at any time in the Firm’s sole discretion. Please re-visit this page periodically to stay aware of any changes. If the Firm modifies this privacy policy, the Firm will post the updated privacy policy to the Firm’s website and update the effective date below. Your continued use of the Firm’s website after a revised privacy policy becomes effective indicates that you have read, understood and agreed to the revised privacy policy.

Effective Date

This Privacy Policy is effective and was last updated on August 31, 2023.