SMS Data Collection and Usage in Privacy Policy

1. SMS Data We Collect

When you opt in to receive SMS communications from Alive Financial Group Inc.,, we may collect the following information related to your SMS communications:

• Mobile Phone Number: Used to send SMS messages to you and for communication purposes.
• Message Content: We may collect the content of SMS messages you send to us or receive from us for customer support purposes or to fulfill your service requests.
• Message Metadata: Includes information such as timestamps, message frequency, and message status (e.g., delivered, undelivered).
• User Interaction Data: Data regarding your interaction with our SMS communications, including whether you opened the message, replied, or clicked on any links (if applicable).

2. How We Use SMS Data

The data we collect from SMS communications is used for the following purposes:

• Transactional Communications: We use your mobile number to send important account-related messages, such as policy updates, payment reminders, claim notifications, and other essential information related to your life insurance policy. These messages are transactional and are necessary for managing your account.
• Marketing Communications: If you have opted in to receive marketing messages, we may use your mobile number to send promotional offers, product updates, and special promotions related to life insurance products and services. You can opt out of receiving marketing messages at any time by replying “STOP” to any SMS message.
• Customer Support: We may use SMS to respond to your customer service inquiries, provide assistance with your account, address claims, or answer policy-related questions.
• Improving Services: We may analyze SMS message interactions to improve our services, including tracking user preferences, optimizing message effectiveness, and ensuring the quality of customer communications.

3. Sharing and Disclosure of SMS Data

We may share your SMS-related data in the following situations:

• Service Providers: We may share your data with third-party service providers who assist us in sending SMS messages, processing customer service requests, or managing our communications platform. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the purposes specified by us.
• Legal Compliance: We may disclose your SMS-related data if required by law or to comply with a legal process, such as a subpoena, court order, or government investigation.
• Business Transfers: If we merge with or are acquired by another company, your SMS data may be transferred as part of the transaction. You will be notified of any changes to the way your data is handled through an updated Privacy Policy.

4. SMS Data Retention

We retain your SMS-related data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined above, or as required by law or regulation. If you opt out of marketing communications, we will stop sending you promotional messages but may continue retaining your data for record-keeping, legal compliance, and transactional purposes (e.g., to process any future policy updates or claims).

5. Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect the security of your personal information, including SMS data. We implement industry-standard security measures to protect against unauthorized access, alteration, or destruction of your SMS-related data. However, please note that no method of data transmission over the internet or mobile network is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. User Rights Regarding SMS Data

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights concerning the data we collect from you, including SMS data. These rights may include:

• Access: You can request access to the SMS data we have collected about you.
• Correction: You can request corrections to any inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Deletion: You can request the deletion of your SMS data, subject to applicable laws and retention requirements.
• Opt-Out: You can opt out of receiving further marketing SMS messages at any time by replying “STOP” to any SMS message you receive from us. Opting out of marketing messages will not affect transactional messages, which are necessary for managing your account.
• Withdrawal of Consent: If you have given us consent to send you marketing SMS messages, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time, which will stop further marketing communications. Please note that opting out of marketing messages does not affect your receipt of transactional messages.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at 912-600-3677 or email us at [email protected].

7. Third-Party Analytics

We may use third-party services to track and analyze how you interact with our SMS messages (e.g., open rates, response rates, etc.). These third parties may collect and process information related to your interactions with our SMS messages, such as your mobile number, the date and time of your interaction, and other engagement data. These third-party providers are responsible for their own privacy practices, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies.

8. Consent to Receive SMS

By providing us with your mobile phone number and opting in to receive SMS messages, you consent to the collection and use of your mobile number and other related data as described in this Privacy Policy. You may withdraw your consent at any time by opting out of marketing messages or contacting us directly.

Third-Party SMS Providers

1. Third-Party SMS Providers We Use

To facilitate SMS communication, we partner with the following third-party service providers to send and manage SMS messages related to your account, marketing promotions, transactional alerts, and other notifications:

• Twilio, Inc.
  Twilio provides cloud communications and SMS messaging services, enabling us to send and receive SMS messages. They process your mobile phone number and the content of the messages sent via their platform.
• Plivo, Inc.
  Plivo is another SMS service provider we use to deliver messages to your mobile phone. They support both transactional and marketing SMS alerts and notifications securely and reliably.
• Sinch AB
  Sinch helps us manage large volumes of SMS messages, providing a platform to send both transactional and promotional messages to users in a compliant and effective way.

2. Why We Use Third-Party SMS Providers

We utilize third-party SMS providers to ensure that our communications with you are reliable, efficient, and compliant with applicable regulations, including the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) guidelines, and 10DLC regulations. These third-party providers offer advanced technology, security, and scalability, allowing us to:

• Ensure Message Delivery: These providers have infrastructure designed to send SMS messages at scale, helping us deliver timely messages related to your life insurance policy, promotional offers, reminders, and more.
• Maintain Compliance: Our third-party providers ensure that SMS communications comply with all relevant regulations, including TCPA, CTIA, and 10DLC guidelines. They assist in properly handling opt-ins, opt-outs, message frequency disclosures, and other compliance requirements.
• Optimize Message Delivery: These providers ensure our messages are delivered quickly and securely, even under high volumes, while minimizing the risk of message filtering or blocking by mobile carriers.
• Support Transactional and Marketing Messages: We rely on third-party providers to send transactional messages (e.g., payment reminders, policy updates, claim notifications) and marketing messages (e.g., special offers, promotions, product updates) to users who have explicitly opted in.

3. Data Security and Privacy with Third-Party SMS Providers

Our third-party SMS providers are contractually required to protect your personal information and adhere to applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and other relevant privacy laws. These providers are committed to securing your data and using it only for the purpose of sending SMS messages related to our services. Specifically:

• Data Encryption: Your personal information, including your mobile phone number and the content of messages, is encrypted during transmission to prevent unauthorized access.
• Limited Data Use: Our providers are prohibited from using your data for any purpose other than sending SMS messages on our behalf.
• Compliance with Legal Obligations: Our third-party providers are obligated to comply with all relevant legal frameworks and regulations governing SMS communications and data privacy.

4. Third-Party SMS Providers and Data Retention

The third-party SMS providers we work with may retain your mobile phone number and message metadata for a period necessary to fulfill the service, comply with legal requirements, or for legitimate business purposes. However, they will not retain or use this data beyond the purposes outlined in their agreements with us.

You can request information about how long your data is retained by contacting us at 912-600-3677 or email us at [email protected]. In accordance with applicable laws, you may also request that we delete your data, subject to any legal or regulatory retention requirements.

5. Opt-Out and Data Control

• Opt-Out: If you wish to opt out of receiving marketing SMS communications, you can reply “STOP” to any SMS message. After opting out, you will no longer receive marketing messages from us, but you may continue to receive necessary transactional messages, such as policy updates or claim notifications.
• Opt-In Process: By submitting your mobile phone number and opting in to receive SMS communications, you consent to receiving both transactional and marketing messages. This opt-in will be documented to ensure compliance with TCPA and 10DLC regulations.
• Managing Your Preferences: For further information on managing your data preferences or to request changes to your opt-in status, please refer to our Privacy Policy or contact our customer support team at 912-600-3677 or email us at [email protected].

6. Third-Party SMS Provider Registration for 10DLC

All third-party SMS providers we work with are registered under the 10DLC system to send A2P (Application-to-Person) messages on our behalf. This ensures compliance with carrier requirements for A2P messaging and minimizes the risk of message filtering or blocking. Each provider’s registration includes the appropriate use case for sending both transactional and marketing messages.

Consent Tied to Website Opt-In Process

How We Obtain Your Consent
When you provide your mobile phone number through our website and opt-in to receive SMS communications, you are providing Alive Financial Group Inc. with your express consent to receive SMS messages from us. This may include marketing messages, policy updates, or other important notifications about your life insurance account.

Purpose of SMS Communication
The SMS communications may serve the following purposes:

• Transactional Messages: These include policy-related messages, such as updates, reminders, or alerts regarding your life insurance policy.
• Marketing Messages: These may include promotions, special offers, new product announcements, and other marketing content.

Opt-In Process
You opt-in to receive SMS communications by providing your mobile phone number during the registration or sign-up process on our website and agreeing to receive text messages. This process is designed to ensure express consent in compliance with TCPA and 10DLC regulations.

Message Frequency and Carrier Fees
The frequency of SMS messages may vary based on your interactions with us. You can expect to receive up to 5-7 messages per month.
Standard message and data rates may apply, as determined by your mobile carrier. Please check your mobile service plan for details.

Voluntary Consent
Your consent to receive SMS messages is voluntary and is not a condition of purchasing any products or services from Alive Financial Group Inc. If you choose not to provide consent, you can still use our website and services without receiving SMS messages.

3. Managing Consent and Preferences

Opt-Out of SMS Marketing
You can opt-out of receiving marketing SMS messages at any time by replying “STOP” to any SMS message you receive from us. Once you opt out, you will no longer receive promotional SMS messages. However, you may still receive essential transactional messages related to your life insurance policy, such as payment reminders, policy updates, or claims notifications.

Withdrawing Consent
You can withdraw your consent to receive SMS communications at any time, either by replying “STOP” to any SMS message or by contacting us directly at 912-600-3677 or email us at [email protected]. Withdrawal of consent will not affect the legality of any processing carried out before the withdrawal.

4. Combining Consent and Data Collection (In Website Form)

If you’re collecting consent via a website form for SMS communication, the opt-in box must be clear and the user must actively check the box (i.e., no pre-checked boxes) to provide consent. Here’s an example of what this could look like:

Receive SMS Updates
By checking this box, you consent to receive SMS text messages from Alive Financial Group Inc. regarding your life insurance policy, product updates, and marketing offers.

• Message Frequency: You may receive up to 5-7 messages per month.
• Carrier Fees: Standard message and data rates may apply.
• Opt-Out: You may opt out anytime by replying “STOP” to any SMS you receive.

Opt-Out Instructions in Privacy Policy

Opt-Out and Data Control

Your Control Over SMS Communications: You have the right to control the SMS communications you receive from Alive Financial Group Inc.. You can opt out of receiving marketing-related SMS messages at any time, but you will continue to receive transactional messages necessary for managing your account and policy.

• Opt-Out Process:
  To stop receiving marketing-related SMS communications, reply “STOP” to any SMS message you receive from Alive Financial Group Inc.. After opting out, you will no longer receive marketing messages, but you may still receive essential transactional messages, such as updates regarding your policy, payment reminders, and claim status.
• Help Information:
  If you need assistance or want to manage your SMS preferences, reply “HELP” to any SMS you receive. You will receive instructions on how to proceed with updating your preferences or how to contact customer support.
• Impact on Transactional Communications:
  Please note that opting out of marketing communications will not affect the receipt of transactional messages that are necessary for your account management and service-related needs.

For more information on how to manage your data preferences or if you wish to exercise any other rights regarding your personal data, please refer to our full Privacy Policy or contact us directly at 912-600-3677 or email us at [email protected].

All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties. We will not share your opt-in to an SMS campaign with any third party  for purposes unrelated to providing you with the services of that 
campaign. We may share your Personal Data, including your SMS opt-in or consent status, with third parties that help us provide our messaging services, including but not limited to platform providers, phone companies, and any other vendors who assist us in the delivery of text 
messages.