Privacy policy & legal notices

We take protecting your personal privacy extremely seriously. This page describes ConsumerFinance.gov policies and procedures on the collection, use, and disclosure of your information.

You can also visit our Privacy Office page to view the Bureau’s privacy documentation, including Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) and System of Records Notices (SORNs).

What information is collected?

Traffic statistics

We use Google Analytics to see how visitors are using consumerfinance.gov. Google Analytics reports traffic patterns anonymously. No personally identifiable information is collected for this purpose.

Like many websites, we use “persistent cookie” technology. Persistent cookies are small text files that this website places on your computer so that it can remember you when you show up again later—like cookie crumbs. None of these cookies store any of your personal information. We use persistent cookies to enhance your experience on this website while also protecting your privacy.

Most Internet browsers automatically accept persistent cookies. Although persistent cookies help us create a better experience for you, most of this website will also work without them. If you don’t want to accept cookies, you can change your browser’s options to not accept them or to prompt you before accepting them. Here’s how to disable cookies.

Personal information

Some parts of our website let you voluntarily provide personal information, such as your name or e-mail address. For example, you can provide us with your contact information to sign up for e-mail alerts or to post comments to our blog. We do not collect this information when you visit our website unless you choose to provide it to us. When you provide it to us, we only use it for the purposes of communicating with you and/or furthering our consumer protection activities.

The CFPB does not send emails that ask you directly to respond to a complaint against your company, or to submit your own personal information.

Storing and protecting your information

If you choose to provide your personal information, it will be stored and protected appropriately. You can learn more about how we retain and protect your information in our System of Records Notice and accompanying Privacy Impact Assessment.

What information is shared?

Sometimes, we share personal information that you provide to our website, both within the CFPB and outside of it. We have posted a System of Records Notice that provides details about how we may do this. In particular, this Notice describes what information we share, with whom, and for what purposes.

Within the CFPB

We may use your information to contact you if you identify yourself in an e-mail, comment, or other communication and provide us with your contact information.

Our contractors may view and use your information when operating consumerfinance.gov, or systems that collect data through the website, on our behalf.

With other government agencies

We work with other government agencies to investigate complaints, coordinate law enforcement investigations, cooperate with oversight investigations, or further consumer protection activities. In some cases, we are required or authorized by law to share personal information with other agencies. When we do so, we ensure appropriate protections are in place.

Outside the federal government

If you provide comments in response to a request – by commenting on our blog, for example – we may make your comments available to the public either in a publication or by posting that information on our website. We may also make public the username or alias associated with your comments.

In addition, we may disclose information in response to court orders, subpoenas, Freedom of Information Act requests, Congressional requests, and as otherwise required by law.

Please note that separate privacy policies apply when you submit comments to the CFPB’s blog and file complaints with the CFPB. You should refer to these policies as they may differ from those described above.

External links and social media

This website includes links to other websites. When you click a link to an outside website, the privacy and security policies of that website apply. Non-federal websites do not necessarily operate under the same laws, regulations, and policies as federal websites.

Regardless of content that we link to from consumerfinance.gov or our social media accounts, we do not endorse any commercial product, service, process, or enterprise. We link to other websites and refer to commercial products or enterprises solely for your convenience and education. We cannot assume any responsibility for the content or operation of other websites.

Monitoring and protecting consumerfinance.gov

We monitor use of consumerfinance.gov to keep the website secure and available to all users. We employ software that monitors network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage to the website. Part of this process involves collecting non-identifying information about you, such as your internet protocol address, the day and time you access our website, and the address that linked you directly to our website (if you arrived here by clicking a link on another website). By using consumerfinance.gov you expressly consent to such monitoring. If our monitoring reveals evidence of possible abuse or criminal activity, we may provide such evidence to appropriate law enforcement officials. Unauthorized attempts to upload information and/or change information on this website is strictly prohibited and may be punishable by law, including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 1001, 1030.

Legal notices

Copyright

No copyright may be claimed for any work on this website that was created by a federal employee in the course of his or her duties. Images and text appearing on this website are in the public domain and may be freely copied, unless otherwise noted. Credit is requested. If copyrighted material appears on the website, or is reached through a link on this website, the copyright holder must be consulted before the material may be reproduced.

Liability

The government also assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process described or depicted on this website. Finally, the government does not represent that the use of any such information, apparatus, product, or process would not infringe privately owned rights.

Questions? Call 202-435-7220 or e-mail us at privacy@consumerfinance.gov.