Policies & Disclosures

If you have any questions about the policies stated below, please feel free to contact us.

Privacy

Pettus Investigations, LLC (Pettus) is aware of the sensitivity associated with the use of public records and personal identification information. We strongly believe in preserving the right of privacy for individuals in our society, and take great care in all of our agreements, policies and practices to reflect that belief. At the same time, Pettus recognizes that the flow of public information is essential for prudent and legitimate decision-making for both the private and public sectors. Accordingly, our policy is to provide access to information where its use is valid and appropriate for business reasons, guided by compliance with the law and respecting the rights of the individual.

Website

Visitors to Pettus‘ website are not monitored for personal identification. You may visit the public portions of our website without providing any personal identification information, with the exception of any personal information you may choose to provide if you voluntarily contact us or make an inquiry. Pettus may collect statistical information or monitor trends based on your visit, but this information is limited to non-personal identification information. This information is used to improve our site and make it more useful for the needs of our clients.

In addition, Pettus may provide links to a number of other websites, but is not responsible for the practices and policies of other websites outside of its control.

Types and Sources of Data

Pettus provides clients with a broad range of information to meet their specific requirements. In most cases, the data provided by Pettus is assembled and updated by third parties. It may include a variety of individually identifiable information including, but not limited to, name and address, property holdings, criminal records and financial data. This information is generally obtained; (i) via direct connection to governmental entities, (ii) via third party companies who access, collect and re-distribute public record information and (iii) through other third party sources who compile and distribute access to databases of information from a variety of sources which may or may not include public record information. In most cases, Pettus cannot control or modify the content of the databases offered. If necessary, Pettus will put individuals or users in contact directly with the source or entity that provided the information.

Personal & Accuracy of Information Disclosure

Personal information provided to Pettus for an investigation may at times be transferred outside the United States in order to perform the necessary component of the investigation. All personal information will be transmitted and stored in a secure manner in accordance with the terms of the Privacy Policy stated above.

Furthermore, Pettus takes reasonable steps to assure the accuracy of the information provided by our service. However, there is a possibility that data may be improperly reported or transcribed. In the event a person about whom information has been provided to a client by Pettus believes any or all of that information to be inaccurate, then that person should contact Pettus Investigations, LLC in writing, via regular or electronic mail, stating the nature of the alleged error(s) and the database in which the alleged error is thought to reside. A valid signature must accompany the complaint.

Upon receipt of this information, Pettus will:

  • provide the person the name and address of the party responsible for the content of the subject database,
  • inform the individual to contact that entity to determine what steps are necessary to correct the alleged error and
  • forward the person’s original letter to the responsible data provider

Because Pettus does not assemble or otherwise control the content of most databases, it cannot:

  • assure the individual that an alleged error will be corrected,
  • verify the accuracy or inaccuracy of the information reported to it by the individual nor,
  • post any notices, alerts, warnings etc., other than those that exist of a general nature in the Joe Purcell Company Services Agreement, stating that any or all of the information about a particular individual has been alleged to be inaccurate.

Pettus will provide information and assistance whenever possible to assist individuals in tracking down the source of inaccurate information.

Limitations on Use

Some data providers who furnish access to information via Pettus may have policies that allow an individual to limit or redact their individually identifiable information from the databases they offer for sale. Federal and/or state laws may, under certain circumstances, allow a person to limit or redact their individually identifiable information from databases offered for resale. In yet other cases, these same federal and state laws may not allow such limitation or redaction.

Any person who has been the subject of an inquiry via Pettus who desires to have their individually identifiable information limited or redacted, should contact Pettus Investigations, LLC via regular or electronic mail indicating the name of the entity accessing their information, the nature of the information accessed and requesting the name and address of the applicable data provider(s). Through compliance, Pettus will provide the name and address of the source of the information to the person making the request.

Pettus, however, cannot assure that any given data provider incorporates a policy to allow a person to limit or redact individually identifiable information or that the individual’s information will be limited or redacted once a request is made to the data provider. Further, Pettus cannot advise the person of the applicability of any federal or state law to their request. Finally, because Pettus does not control the content of databases to which it provides access, it cannot assure the individual that their individually identifiable information will in fact be limited or redacted nor can it post any notices, alerts, warnings, etc., stating that the individual has requested their information be limited or redacted.

Security and Accountability

Pettus uses reasonable methods via its Engagement Letter and other customer documentation forms and procedures to assure that entities accessing its network are doing so for legitimate business and other permissible purposes. Pettus continuously informs its clients that the use of information provided to them is subject to a variety of laws. At the same time, clients are informed of their responsibility regarding the appropriate use of the information they access.

In the event a person believes individually identifiable information obtained by Pettus has been used improperly, that person should contact Pettus Investigations, LLC via mail, electronic mail or telephone and inform them of the name of the customer and the alleged misuse. Pettus will investigate to the full extent of its ability, the allegations of misuse.

Pettus reserves the right, pursuant to its Engagement Letter, among other things, to terminate a client’s access to its network, or any applicable parts thereof, in the event a pattern of confirmed, willful misuse of information is documented.

Fair Credit Reporting Act

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a Federal Act that was created to protect consumers from the potential misuse of information. Data available to Pettus may or may not be subject to the provisions of the FCRA. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the user to assure, among other things, that applicable releases are obtained from the subject before information is accessed and that appropriate notices are provided to the subject if the information obtained via the service influences, in whole or in part, any adverse action that may be taken. In accordance with their respective agreements with Pettus, the providers of data supplied to Joe Purcell Company are instructed to comply fully with the applicable provisions of the FCRA or take other reasonable steps as may be appropriate.