Privacy Policy

Credit Restoration Institute ("CRI," "we," "us") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, HUD-approved housing counseling agency. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share and protect information when you visit our websites, submit our forms (including our partner referral form), communicate with us by phone, email or text message, or take part in our counseling and education services.

1. Information We Collect

• Information you give us: name, phone number, email address, mailing address, and details you share about your credit, housing or financial goals.
• Referral information: when a lender, real estate professional or other partner refers a client, we receive the client's name, phone number, email address and goals, along with the referring partner's name, company and email address.
• Counseling information: when you become a counseling participant, we may collect household, income, credit report and other financial information needed to provide HUD-approved housing counseling, as you authorize.
• Automatic information: basic technical data such as browser type, device, pages visited and cookies, used to operate and improve our websites and forms.

2. How We Use Information

• To contact you or a referred client about our services, schedule consultations and respond to questions.
• To provide housing counseling, credit education, homebuyer education and related services.
• To send appointment reminders, program updates and educational information by email, phone or text message.
• To let a referring partner know the status of a referral, when the client has agreed to that.
• To meet reporting, recordkeeping and quality requirements of HUD and other funders and regulators.
• To operate, secure and improve our websites and systems.

3. How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only as follows:

• Service providers that help us operate (for example, our customer relationship management, email, text messaging, scheduling and credit-monitoring platforms), who may use it only to provide services to us.
• Referring partners, limited to referral status, when you have authorized it.
• HUD, funders and auditors, as required for program compliance and reporting.
• Legal requirements: when required by law, subpoena or court order, or to protect the rights, safety and property of CRI, our clients or others.

4. Text Messaging (SMS) Privacy

If you provide a mobile number, you may receive text messages from CRI about your referral, appointments and our services. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out at any time or HELP for help.

No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties, except service providers that deliver our messages.

5. Your Choices

• Opt out of text messages by replying STOP.
• Unsubscribe from emails using the link in any email.
• Ask to review, correct or delete your information by contacting us below. Some records must be kept to meet HUD and legal retention requirements.

6. Data Security and Retention

We use reasonable administrative, technical and physical safeguards to protect information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure. We keep information as long as needed to provide services and to meet legal, HUD and funder recordkeeping requirements.

7. Children's Privacy

Our services are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

8. Third-Party Links

Our websites may link to other sites, such as credit-monitoring providers or partner agencies. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The effective date above shows when it was last changed.

10. Contact Us

Credit Restoration Institute
31 N. Providence Road, North Chesterfield, VA 23235
Phone: (804) 823-9601
Email: [email protected]