PILLAR TO POST HOME INSPECTORS, INC.™
CANADA PRIVACY POLICY
Privacy Policy Last Updated: January 2025
Pillar to Post Inc. doing business as Pillar to Post Home Inspectors (“we,” or “us,” or “our”) cares about your privacy and recognizes the importance of protecting your Personal Information. This Privacy Policy describes the kind of information we may collect during your visit to our website located at https://pillartopost.com (the “Website”), use of our mobile applications (such as Pillar to Post “EZBook”), and during any other interactions you may have with us online or offline in connection with our business (collectively, the “Services”). The Privacy Policy also describes how we use, protect, disclose, and otherwise process your Personal Information in order to provide the Services, and your options with respect to such processing. We may also collect Personal Information for the purposes of processing any applications for employment with us.
We may modify this Privacy Policy at any time. If we make changes, we will notify you by revising the date at the top of this Privacy Policy. We will provide you with advanced notice by the email or telephone number which we have on file or through a notice on our Website if we make any material changes to how we collect, use or disclose your Personal Information. If you continue to access or use our Website after receiving the notice of changes, you acknowledge your acceptance of the updated Policy.
Personal Information
We collect, use and disclose various types of Personal Information. For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, “Personal Information” means any information about an identifiable individual. It does not include de-identified or aggregate information or certain publicly available information.
Your Consent
BY PROVIDING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION TO US OR ACCESSING OR USING THE SERVICES, YOU ARE CONSENTING TO THE COLLECTION, USE AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION AS SET OUT IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. IN ADDITION, WE MAY PROVIDE YOU WITH REAL-TIME DISCLOSURES OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PERSONAL INFORMATION HANDLING PRACTICES OF SPECIFIC PARTS OF OUR SERVICES. SUCH NOTICES MAY SUPPLEMENT THIS PRIVACY POLICY OR PROVIDE YOU WITH ADDITIONAL CHOICES ABOUT HOW WE PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION.
We will collect, use, disclose, and otherwise process your Personal Information in accordance with this Privacy Policy, applicable privacy laws, and/or the consent that you provide, whether explicit or implied.
Form of Consent
When we collect, use or disclose your Personal Information, we will generally obtain your consent. Most of the time, we will obtain your consent before or at the same time we collect your Personal Information. In some instances, however, we may seek your consent after we have collected your Personal Information if we wish to make an additional use or disclosure of your Personal Information where we do not already have your consent for that new use or disclosure.
Depending on the circumstances, your consent may be express or implied. Express consent would arise if you specifically consented to a particular use or other processing of your Personal Information. Express consent can be given orally, electronically or in writing.
Implied consent can be inferred from the circumstances and, in particular, where the uses, disclosures, or other processing activities are readily apparent at the time we collect the Personal Information and reasonable in the circumstances. For example, if you send us an email requesting certain information, we will use the email address in your email to send you the requested information without asking you if we can use the email address for that purpose, your consent will be implied in those circumstances. As well, we will assume your consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your Personal Information for a particular purpose if you voluntarily provide the information for that purpose.
This Privacy Policy also describes certain instances in which we may collect, use, disclose, and otherwise process your Personal Information. By providing Personal Information in connection with the Services, we will assume that you have consented to the collection, use and disclosure of Personal Information in accordance with the terms set out in this Privacy Policy unless you inform us otherwise. For greater certainty, if you do not consent to certain collection, use and disclosure of your Personal Information, it may limit the manner in which you can make use of the Services and to otherwise interact with us.
Certain Personal Information We Collect, From Where We Collect It, Why We Collect It, and With Whom We Share It
The following chart describes certain categories of Personal Information we may collect about you and, for each category, where and why we collect it, and the categories of entities with which we may share your Personal Information. By providing Personal Information to us, we will assume that you have consented to the collection, use and disclosure of Personal Information for the purposes outlined in the following chart unless you inform us otherwise.
DLC Note: Canadian privacy legislation sets forth transparency requirements with respect to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information.
Accordingly, it is important that the privacy policy set out an accurate, complete and current statement regarding personal information practices.
Privacy regulators in Canada expect organizations to set out a detailed notice identifying specific personal information collection practices and the specific data elements collected in connection therewith.
We would recommend revising Pillar to Post's "collection" and "use" sections highlighted herein to ensure that it is being sufficiently specific about what personal information is collected for what purposes. For example: list the specific categories of PI collected through the online quote form and explain why that PI is being collected/how it will be used/disclosed.
E.g.: "When you [insert activity of user] on our Website, we will collect your name, telephone number, email address and specific details about your property in order to [insert purpose for collection]."
Categories of Personal Information | Categories of Sources | Purpose(s) for Collection of Personal Information | Categories of Third Parties with Which Personal Information is Shared for a Business Purpose |
We collect Personal Identifiers – such as name, postal address, email address, emergency contact information, or other similar identifiers | Franchise Business Owners, and Consumers | We collect this information to assist with the provision of other products and services, to respond to consumer inquiries as well as for marketing, security, HR and recruiting processes. | We share this information with other service provider partners in connection with the operation of our business. |
We collect Sensitive Information – such as gender, age, disability status, pregnancy status, citizenship, medical condition or mental disability | Employees | We collect these personal identifiers for Human Resources functions. | We share this information with service provider partners for HR functions. |
We collect Professional or Employment Information – such as past employers, work history, skills, educational background and references | Job Applicants, Employees, Recruiting Agencies, Individuals who submit Franchise Applications | We collect this information for Human Resources functions, including recruiting and evaluation of applications. | We share this information with service provider partners for HR functions. |
We collect Commercial Information – such as records of personal property, products or services purchased, obtained or considered, or other purchasing or consuming histories or tendencies | Franchise Business Owners, Individuals interacting with our website | We collect this information for providing products and services, and Internet Marketing. | We share this information with franchisees and other service providers for marketing research. |
We collect Internet or other electronic network activity information, including browsing and search history | Individuals interacting with our website, and Employees | We collect this information for security processes. | We do not share this information with others. |
We collect Education Information | Franchise Applicants, job applicants, employees, recruiting agencies and referral sources | We collect this information for the evaluation of a franchise application, as well as certain human resources functions. | We share this information with service provider partners for HR functions. |
We collect Audio Information | Individuals who call our customer service line | We collect this information for quality assurance and training. | We do not share this information with others. |
Franchises
Pillar to Post Home Inspectors’ Services are provided through independently-owned and operated franchises. In that regard, we provide a number of services to support our franchises. As such, a franchise may provide your Personal Information to us to enable us to assist that franchise with its operations and, as such, we may use your Personal Information in order to provide that assistance. Some instances where a franchise may provide your Personal Information to us are set out in the chart above.
Service Providers
We may engage certain service providers located in Canada and the United States. Those service providers may provide services to us, such as MoveEasy, to assist us in providing the Services. Other service providers may provide services directly to you at our request. As such, it may be necessary to disclose your Personal Information to these service providers. Some instances where we may provide your Personal Information to a service provider are set out in the chart above.
We will take steps to ensure that these service providers only use and disclose your Personal Information as necessary to provide the Services and that they will adhere to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
Storage and Processing Information Outside Canada
Certain of our affiliated companies are located in the United States. As such, we may transmit your Personal Information to our affiliated companies and to third party service providers who are located outside of Canada to assist us in the operation of our business. By providing Personal Information to us, you are consenting to the delivery and the storage, processing and handling of your Personal Information outside of Canada. Please note that many governments around the world can require that organizations under their jurisdiction deliver information, including Personal Information, that is in the control of that organization to the government.
Marketing
With respect to each of the categories of Personal Information we collect as noted in the chart above, we may use your Personal Information to market products and services that we think may be of interest to you, including our own products and services as well as those of our affiliates and other third parties.
Additional Information Regarding Our Collection, Use and Sharing of Personal Information
Privacy law permits or requires the collection, use and disclosure of Personal Information without the knowledge or consent of the individual in certain circumstances. We reserve the right to collect, use and disclose your Personal Information in these circumstances without your knowledge or consent, including in one or more of the following circumstances:
- In order to comply with and/or enforce our legal rights and obligations: We and our Canadian and US service providers may provide your Personal Information in response to a search warrant, to other legally valid inquiry or order, or to another organization for the purposes of investigating a breach of an agreement or contravention of law, detecting, suppressing or preventing fraud, or as otherwise may be required or permitted by applicable Canadian, US or other law or legal process, which may include lawful access by US or other foreign courts, law enforcement or other government authorities. Your Personal Information may also be disclosed where necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims and to investigate or prevent actual or suspected loss or harm to persons or property.
- In the context of a merger, bankruptcy or corporate reorganization: We may disclose and transfer your Personal Information to a subsequent owner, co-owner, or operator of Pillar to Post, or in connection with a merger, consolidation, restructuring, the sale of all or substantially all of our interests and/or assets (i.e., a bankruptcy proceeding), or other corporate change. We will notify you with any choices you may have regarding your Personal Information when we are engaged in a merger, bankruptcy, or corporate reorganization.
- Where we believe in good faith that an applicable law requires it; ; to detect and protect against any technical or security vulnerabilities; to respond to an emergency; or otherwise protect the rights, property, safety, or security of our business, third parties, visitors to our Website and mobile apps, or the public.
We may monitor your use of our Website and mobile applications to ensure the proper use and operation of the same and your compliance with any terms of use related to our Website and mobile applications or other related agreements and in connection with the protection of the security and safety of our business, computer systems, software, Personal Information and other data.
We may also share Personal Information with any person to whom we transfer any of our rights or obligations under any agreement, or in connection with a sale, merger or consolidation of our business or other transfer of our assets, whether voluntarily or by operation of law, or who is otherwise deemed to be our successor or transferee.
Our Use of Cookies and Analytics
We and our third-party service providers may send text files (e.g., “cookies” or other cached files) or images to your web browser. Such text files and images are used for technical convenience to store information on your computer. For instance, we may use a cookie to store form information that you have entered so that you do not have to enter such information again. We may use information stored in such text files and images to customize your experience on this Website and to monitor use of this Website, including site traffic, to determine information about your devices and internet connection, including your IP address, operation system and browser type; to convey useful information about your interests; and to personalize any future visits you make to our Website. This helps us to improve our Website and to deliver a better and more personalized service, including by enabling us to:
- Estimate our audience size and usage patterns;
- Store information about your preferences, allowing us to customize our Website according to your individual interests;
- Speed up your searches; and
- Recognize you when you return to our Website.
You may set your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie. Many web browsers also allow you to block cookies. If you block cookies, you may not be able to access certain parts of this Website. You can disable cookies from your computer system by following the instructions on your browser or at www.youradchoices.ca/choices/.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to evaluate the use of our Website. Google Analytics uses cookies and other identifiers to collect information, such as how often users visit the Website, what pages they visit, when they do so, and what other websites they visited prior to visiting our Website. Google Analytics may collect your IP address, data related to the device/browser you are using, and other information about your use of our Website. Google Analytics provides us with statistical information about the use of our Website. We use this information to understand our visitors and to improve the Website. We cannot associate any of this information with any particular visitor.
Google Analytics collects information on your activities on our website and may associate it with other information that they may have collected and they may use all of this information for their own business purposes. See https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites for more information on Google’s privacy practices with respect to websites that use Google services.
Do Not Track
“Do Not Track” is a privacy preference that users can set in certain web browsers. We do not comply with automated browser signals regarding tracking mechanisms, which may include "do not track" instructions.
Links to Third Party Websites and Social Media Platforms
The Website may present links to other websites. We provide links to third party websites as a convenience to users and these links are not intended as an endorsement of, or referral to such linked websites. You should be aware that operators of linked websites may also collect your Personal Information and information generated through the use of cookies when you link to their websites. Pillar to Post is not responsible for how such third parties collect, use or disclose your Personal Information, so it is important to review their privacy policies and terms of use before providing them with your Personal Information.
Personal Information of Minors
Our products and services are not directed to minors under the age of 13 and we do not knowingly collect or sell the Personal Information of minors under 16.
How We Keep Your Personal Information Secure
We implement and maintain reasonable security safeguards appropriate to the nature and sensitivity of the Personal Information that we collect, use, retain, transfer or otherwise process. Our reasonable security program is implemented and maintained in accordance with applicable law and relevant standards. However, there is no perfect security, and reasonable security is a process that involves risk management rather than risk elimination. While we are committed to developing, implementing, maintaining, monitoring and updating a reasonable information security program, no such program can be perfect; in other words, all risk cannot reasonably be eliminated. Data security incidents and breaches can occur due to vulnerabilities, criminal exploits or other factors that cannot reasonably be prevented. Accordingly, while our reasonable security program is designed to manage data security risks and thus help prevent data security incidents and breaches, it cannot be assumed that the occurrence of any given incident or breach results from our failure to implement and maintain reasonable security.
Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected.
We may also retain your personal information otherwise as permitted or required by applicable law, including for purposes of satisfying any legal, regulatory, accounting, or reporting requirements.
Under some circumstances we may de-identify or anonymize your personal information so that it can no longer be associated with you. We may use de-identified or such anonymous data for any legitimate business purpose without further notice to you or your consent, including by aggregating it with other data.
We delete information securely as soon as reasonably practical after a valid deletion request, or after the end of the retention period described above.
Personal Information of Others
You may not provide to us any Personal Information of others unless you have the consent of those individuals or you are otherwise permitted by law to provide us with their Personal Information.
Requests for Access to Personal Information
You have the right to request access to, or correction of the Personal Information we have in our custody and control. Upon your written request we will provide you with:
- access to your Personal Information (if any) under our custody or control;
- information about the purposes for which your Personal Information under our custody or control has been and is being used by us; and
- the names of persons to whom, and the circumstances in which, your Personal Information has been and is being disclosed by us.
All requests may be subject to reasonable fees and disbursements. Where appropriate to do so, we may require advance payment of a deposit or the entire costs of responding to a request for access to Personal Information.
Requests Must be in Writing
We require that all requests for access be in writing and be signed by the requestor. We require sufficient information and detail from the requestor in order to verify their identity, properly locate the information and respond to the request.
Limits on Individual Rights to Information
An individual's ability to access his or her Personal Information under our control is not absolute. For example, we may not disclose Personal Information where:
- the disclosure could reasonably be expected to threaten the safety or physical or mental health of an individual;
- the disclosure would reveal Personal Information about another individual;
- the disclosure of the information would reveal confidential commercial information; or
- the Personal Information was collected by us in connection with an investigation or legal proceeding.
Requests for Correction of Personal Information
On request by you, we will correct errors or omissions in your Personal Information or update it where that information is in our custody or control. We require that all such requests be in writing and signed by you. We may require sufficient information and detail from the individual in question in order to verify their identity, properly locate the information and respond.
If you make such a request, we will either:
- correct or update the Personal Information and, if reasonable to do so, send correction notifications to any third party to whom we disclosed the incorrect information; or
- decide not to correct the Personal Information but we will retain a record that a correction was requested but not made.
Corrections or amendments will rarely, if ever, be made to opinions, including expert or professional opinions, as opposed to factual information, which may be corrected if in error.
Our Commitment to Honouring Your Rights
If you exercise any of your rights described in this Privacy Policy, we will continue to treat you fairly.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We will review and update this Privacy Policy as required to keep current with rules and regulations, new technologies and security standards and changes to our business and privacy practices. We will post the updated Privacy Policy to the Website and we will update the Privacy Policy modification date set out at the top of the Privacy Policy. In certain cases, and if the changes are material, we will post notice of the changed Privacy Policy on our Website and we may notify you by email if we have your email address.
Accessibility
We strive to provide individuals with disabilities equal access to our products and services, including through an accessible website. If you have questions, comments, or encounter any difficulty in using our site, please contact accessibility@pillartopost.com or call us at 1-833-777-7910
Contact Us
If there are any questions regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices or to request a copy of this Privacy Policy in another format you may contact us using the information below.
1-855-935-1936