Privacy notice
Nelnet wants you to understand how we collect, protect and use your personal information and the choices you have about how that information is used. This notice covers all of the information handling practices for the Nelnet companies listed at the end of this notice.
Online Information
We at Nelnet are committed to providing you a useful and enjoyable online experience, and to protecting your personal information during your visit. When you access a Nelnet Web site, you can be sure that your information is protected by the latest security and authentication techniques. We may collect information from your visit, in order to personalize and improve upon your experience with us, but all information we collect is treated as confidential.
To access student loan account information and send email via our Web site, you will need a browser that supports the use of Secure Sockets Layer (Netscape 4.0 or greater, MS Internet Explorer 5.0 or greater, etc). This encryption technology helps ensure the authenticity of your online sessions and secures data being transmitted over the public Internet.
If you are using Netscape Navigator, your session is secured if a key appears in the lower left corner of your screen; when the session is not secure, the key will appear broken. Internet Explorer displays a lock icon in a locked position on the status bar when you enter a secure site. When you leave a secure Web site, Internet Explorer displays a lock in an unlocked position on the status bar. If the page you are viewing uses frames, you may not see the key or lock, but can simply right-click anywhere in the frame and select "Properties". If the Web site address (URL) starts with "https" the "s" indicates a secure site or area of the site.
When you enter a Nelnet Web site, you will pass through our security "firewall" and we identify the Internet Protocol (IP) address of you computer or handheld device, The IP address won't identify you personally, but it will let us identify the device you're using and we store IP addresses in case we need to track a connection for security purposes.
Nelnet Web sites use cookies in several applications for navigational purposes. A cookie is a small text file placed on your hard drive (with your permission) by a Web page server. Accepting a cookie from a Nelnet Web site does not give Nelnet access to your computer of any personal information about you. Also, the type of cookies we use don't get stored permanently in your computer - they expire immediately after you close your browser and are deleted. You can also set up your Web browser to inform you when cookies are set or to prevent cookies from being set.
If you supply us with your email address we may let you know by email about other products and services and product enhancements that may be of interest to you. You will have the opportunity to tell us you don't want ot receive future messages with each message you receive. If you send us an email question or comment, we will use your email address to reply to you and we will temporarily store your email address, your message and our reply for quality assurance or to satisfy applicable laws and regulations. When we collect your email address this way, we won't use it for marketing our products and services unless you have given us permission. If you are not comfortable that your email system is secure, you can always contact Customer Service by telephone.
We don't knowingly collect, maintain or use personal information from our Web sites about children under age 13. If we find out we have collected such information we will take all reasonable measures to delete that information from our system as soon as possible. We are not responsible for the collection and use of information by companies or individuals unaffiliated with us whose Web sites may contain links to ours, including vendors where you may shop.
Please note that when you shop with a vendor who is linked to a Nelnet Web site, even though you may have started your visit at the Nelnet site, and even though Nelnet pages may still appear, your transactions are completed with a separate organization, not with Nelnet. We don't share your personal information with them, but information you choose to share with them will fall under their privacy policies, which we encourage you to review. We carefully select other organizations in an effort to give you the value and excellent customer service you expect from Nelnet.
Information we collect and why
In order to provide you with products and services, we collect information about you from different sources:
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Information you provide to us on forms (such as applications), in writing, by
telephone or through one of our Web sites.
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Information collected from your transactions with us or others, such as account
activity.
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Information from unaffiliated third parties such as credit histories from
credit reporting agencies.
Information safeguarding practices
Nelnet understands the trust you have placed in us and is committed to the security and privacy of your personal information.
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Our authorized employees, agents and contractors receive only the information
about you they need to perform their required work.
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We comply with federally recognized safeguard standards including: intrusion
monitoring, Secure Socket Layer, firewall monitoring, security audits, and
system inspections. We safeguard data with password encryption technology.
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Companies that assist us in delivering our products and services are also
required to protect your information and use it only for the services we ask
them to perform.
Information sharing within the Nelnet affiliated companies
Nelnet may share information within our affiliated companies in order to better understand and provide solutions for your educational and financial needs. This enables us to selectively contact you about products, services and promotions that we believe will be of interest to you.
We may share all the information we have collected about you with our affiliated companies. If you prefer we not share third party consumer report information collected about you with our affiliated companies, you may instruct us not to do so by submitting to us a completed Nelnet Privacy Option form and checking option number 1. We may continue to share other information about you within these affiliated companies as required or permitted by law.
Information sharing with service providers and others outside the Nelnet affiliated companies
To the extent required or permitted by law, Nelnet may share the personal
information we have collected with service providers and limited unaffiliated
third parties for the following reasons:
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To service your account and provide you with products and services you've
requested.
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To marketing providers that assist us in communicating additional products,
services and special offers to you.
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To comply with a legal requirement, such as a law, regulation, court order,
subpoena or search warrant, or in the course of a legal proceeding.
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In response to your consent or request.
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To report to a credit bureau.
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In the case of student loans, to report to a guaranty agency, school, or the
U.S. Department of Education.
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We may disclose information about you to outside sources that offer educational
and financial products, services, or opportunities. Examples of these parties
include (but are not limited to): colleges and universities, scholarship search
groups, insurance providers, security companies, and credit organizations. If
you prefer we not share information collected about you with limited third
parties offering educational and financial products and services, you may
instruct us not to do so by submitting to us a completed
Nelnet Privacy Option form and checking option number 2.
Joint accounts
Nelnet will accept opt-outs from individuals or joint account holders who may make privacy choices for each other.
Vermont residents
Nelnet will automatically manage accounts with Vermont addresses as if the account holder has selected both opt out choices described above, unless we receive your consent to share information. You may provide your consent by submitting to us a completed Nelnet Privacy Option form and check option number 3.
California residents
Nelnet will automatically handle accounts with California addresses as if the account holder has selected not to have information shared with limited third parties offering educational and financial products, services and opportunities unless we receive your consent to share information with these limited third parties. You may provide your consent by submitting to us a completed Nelnet Privacy Option form and check option number 3.
Information about this policy
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This policy is effective January 15, 2007.
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This policy applies to current and former customers.
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In the event of material policy changes to this policy, a new privacy notice
will be sent to you.
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This policy is available at www.nelnet.net.
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This policy does not apply if Nelnet services but does not own your student
loan. Your lender's privacy policy will apply in that situation. As your loan
servicer, Nelnet complies with your lender's privacy policy.
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If you previously sent us a request not to share your information, your request
is still being honored; it is not necessary for you to submit another request.
If you wish to revoke your prior request and give permission for Nelnet to
begin sharing your information among the Nelnet Companies, with our affiliated
companies, and with the unaffiliated third parties described in this Privacy
Policy, submit to us a completed Nelnet Privacy Option form and check option number 3.
You and your personally identifiable information
You are encouraged to take steps to protect your privacy by keeping passwords and personal identification numbers confidential, never disclosing personal information to unknown callers, and ensuring your Internet use is secured and protected from unauthorized access or use. If you believe you are a victim of identify theft:
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Call the Federal Social Security Administration fraud hotline: 800.269.0271
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File a police report with your local authorities, note the report number and
officer's name
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Call the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft hotline: 877.IDTHEFT
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Contact the major national credit reporting agencies:
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Experian 888.397.3742
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Equifax 800.525.6285
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Trans Union 800.680.7289
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Innovis 800.540.2505
Nelnet companies covered by this policy
The Nelnet Inc. privacy policy covers the following companies as well as subsidiary special purpose entities:
| Nelnet, Inc. |
SLAAA Acquisition Corporation |
| National Education Loan Network, Inc. |
Petersons Nelnet LLC |
| Nelnet Guarantee Solutions, LLC |
LoanStar Funding Group, Inc. |
| EMT Corporation |
Nelnet Education Loan Funding, Inc. |
| EFS Finance Co. |
College Bound Loans, Inc. |
| MELMAC, Inc. |
National Education Loan of New England,
Inc./NESLA |
| Chela Education Funding, Inc. |
|
This list may change at any time without notice. Please visit
www.nelnet.net to review the most current list of Nelnet companies
covered under this policy.
