Privacy Policy & Legal Notices

Overview

Privacy is of great concern to most users of the Internet, and is a critical part of an enjoyable and satisfactory user experience. Franklin Advantage is acutely aware and sensitive to the privacy concerns of visitors and applicants. Franklin Advantage will collect personal information from users. This is done to authenticate the user's identity and assist the user in the application and tracking of a loan, thereby providing trust and integrity throughout the mortgage process. Any questions regarding this Privacy Statement can be directed to info@f-advantage.com.

Note: Franklin Advantage's web site contains links to other web sites. Franklin Advantage makes no representations with respect to the privacy practices, privacy statements or otherwise regarding such other web sites.

Information Gathered

Franklin Advantage does not collect any personal information from a visitor to its web site without explicitly requesting that the visitor provide it. If a visitor is just browsing Franklin Advantage's web site, Franklin Advantage does not gather any personal information about the visitor whatsoever. There are two ways in which a visitor may explicitly provide and consent to Franklin Advantage's collection of personal information.

Forms and Emails

Franklin Advantage uses forms and email links throughout its web site to provide visitors with the opportunity to ask questions and submit comments and suggestions. Additionally, visitors may request that Franklin Advantage contact him or her via phone or email to provide additional information about our products and services. In order to do so, Franklin Advantage may request additional personal information from the visitor that is relevant or necessary to satisfy the request.

Loan Applications

During the application process for a mortgage loan, Franklin Advantage requests certain information from the applicant(s). In order to qualify an applicant for a mortgage loan, Franklin Advantage may require name, address, social security number, telephone numbers, e-mail address, and information regarding employment, income, expenses and assets. Additional information may be requested to assist the applicant in preparing the loan application. All information requested and provided during the course of applying for a mortgage loan will be secured to the highest extent. Please refer to Franklin Advantage's Security Policy for details regarding the type of security measures taken.

Use of Information

Franklin Advantage will not use any information provided by a visitor to our site or any of the information gathered through third parties in conjunction with the processing of an applicant's loan application for any purpose other than primary purpose of providing a mortgage loan. Applicants should be aware that when any real estate transaction is closed and the deed of trust is recorded with the county recorder, that information is made public through the County Recorder's Office of the county recording the deed.

Responses and Updates

Franklin Advantage will not use any information provided by a visitor to our site or any of the information gathered through third parties in conjunction with the processing of an applicant's loan application for any purpose other than primary purpose of providing a mortgage loan. Applicants should be aware that when any real estate transaction is closed and the deed of trust is recorded with the county recorder, that information is made public through the County Recorder's Office of the county recording the deed.


When Franklin Advantage responds to e-mails and other inquiries that it receives, we may retain such correspondence in order to improve our services, web site and for other disclosed purposes.

Loan Application

Once a loan application has been submitted to Franklin Advantage, the same information requested and provided during the Application process will be used to order a credit report on all applicants named. A third party credit-reporting agency will be used to provide this information to Franklin Advantage. Credit report information will always be safeguarded and will not be accessible via Franklin Advantage's web site.

Underwriting

Information gathered on the Franklin Advantage web site may be used to underwrite the applicant's loan. Again, this information will not be accessible via the Franklin Advantage web site and will be secured at all times.

Loan Closing and Funding

Franklin Advantage will continue to use the same information provided by the applicant on the Franklin Advantage web site to close and fund the applicant's loan. This process will entail providing such information in all or part to title companies and approved investors to whom Franklin Advantage may sell your loan.

Assistance in the Use of the Franklin Advantage Web Site

Franklin Advantage utilizes the IP addresses of visitors and applicants to help diagnose server problems and to administer the Franklin Advantage web site. An IP address is used to help identify the applicant and eliminate the need for redundant data entry. Our site uses cookies to keep track of the applicant's progress through the loan application process. Cookies are also used to save the applicant's password.

Security

Franklin Advantage has several layers of security in place to protect from the loss, misuse and alteration of information received via its website. Access to personal information is restricted and made available only to authorized staff and approved vendors.

Additionally, we utilize Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology to insure that personal information transmitted to or from Franklin Advantage cannot be viewed by unauthorized parties. SSL server authentication allows the visitor's browser to confirm a server's identity and the authenticity of its certificate and public ID.

During an SSL secured connection, all information is encrypted and becomes a list of unrecognizable numbers. The Franklin Advantage servers and the applicant's browser understand the mathematical formulas, called algorithms, which turn a secured online session into this scrambled numeric code and back again to meaningful information. SSL can also detect information tampering, which will indicate if data has been altered during transmittal.

This secured connection can be achieved with current versions of most commonly utilized browsers, including but not limited to Internet Explorer, Firefox and AOL. Generally, the browser will display a latched lock, key or other symbol to indicate that a secure session is taking place.

Choice/Opt-Out

Franklin Advantage is legally required to keep all submitted loan applications for a period of no less than three years. Additionally, we are required to keep all closed loan files for a period of no less than five years. If you have entered information on our web site that you would like to be deleted from our database, please contact info@f-advantage.com. However, please be advised that due to regulatory requirements we may not able to accommodate requests to delete submitted loan applications or closed loan information.