Privacy Policy

Surety First Insurance Services, Inc.

Effective Date: November 2, 2025 Last Updated: November 2, 2025

Surety First Insurance Services, Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our,” or “Surety First”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website www.suretyfirst.com (the “Website”), use our mobile applications, submit quote requests, apply for insurance or surety products, or otherwise interact with our services (collectively, the “Services”).

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using our Services, you consent to the practices described herein.

1. Scope & Applicability

This Privacy Policy applies to all information collected through:

www.suretyfirst.com, www.californiacontractorbonds.com and any subdomains;
Quote forms, applications, and client portals;
Email, phone, text, or in-person interactions;
Third-party platforms we use (e.g., DocuSign, payment processors).

It does not apply to information collected by third-party websites, applications, or services—even if linked from our Website.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information in three ways:

You provide it directly
Automatically through technology
From third parties

2.1 Information You Provide

Category	Examples
Personal Identifiers	Name, business name, address, phone, email, SSN/TIN, driver’s license
Business & Financial Data	Revenue, payroll, contracts, bank accounts, credit card info
Insurance Application Data	Loss history, claims, prior coverage, employee counts, subcontractor details
Credit & Background Data	Credit reports (soft pull), criminal history (if required by carrier)
Indemnitor/Guarantor Info	Spouse name, personal assets, net worth
Communications	Emails, recorded calls, voicemails, chat logs

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

Type	Purpose
Device & Usage Data	IP address, browser type, OS, pages viewed, time spent
Cookies & Tracking	Session cookies, analytics (Google Analytics), marketing pixels
Log Files	Access times, referring URLs, error logs

2.3 Information from Third Parties

Credit Bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) – for soft credit pulls
Insurance Carriers & MGAs – prior policy data, claims history
Public Records – liens, judgments, business filings
Referral Partners – leads with pre-filled data

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

Purpose	Legal Basis
Provide Quotes & Bind Coverage	Contract performance
Underwrite & Submit Applications	Contract & legitimate interest
Process Payments	Contract
Communicate with You (quotes, renewals, claims)	Contract & consent
Comply with Law (licensing, anti-fraud, tax)	Legal obligation
Prevent Fraud & Misrepresentation	Legitimate interest
Improve Website & Services	Legitimate interest
Marketing & Remarketing (with consent)	Consent

4. Disclosure of Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share it only with:

Recipient	Purpose
Insurance Carriers & Sureties	Underwriting, policy issuance, claims
Reinsurers & Auditors	Risk assessment, compliance
Payment Processors	ACH, credit card transactions (PCI-compliant)
Credit Bureaus	Soft credit inquiries
Service Providers	Hosting, email (e.g., AWS, Mailchimp), analytics, DocuSign
Legal & Regulatory Authorities	Subpoenas, fraud investigations, DOI inquiries
Successors in Business Transfer	Merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

All third parties are contractually required to protect your data.

5. Soft Credit Pulls (Surety & High-Limit Policies)

For surety bonds, workers’ compensation, or general liability over certain limits:

We or the Carrier perform a soft credit inquiry.
This does NOT affect your credit score.
It does NOT appear on credit reports issued to lenders.
You authorize this pull when submitting a quote request for applicable products.

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard safeguards:

Encryption: SSL/TLS for data in transit; AES-256 at rest
Access Controls: Role-based access, multi-factor authentication
Firewalls & Monitoring: Intrusion detection, regular penetration testing
PCI DSS Compliance: For payment data
Employee Training: Annual privacy and security training

No system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your information only as long as necessary:

Data Type	Retention Period
Quote Requests (no policy)	As applicable by law
Active Policies/Bonds	As applicable by law
Cancelled/Denied Applications	As applicable by law
Claims Files	As applicable by law
Accounting Records	As applicable by law
Website Logs	As applicable by law

After retention periods, data is securely deleted or anonymized.

8. Your Privacy Rights (CCPA & State Laws)

Residents of California, Nevada, and other applicable states have rights:

Right	Description
Right to Know	Request details on data collected/used in past 12 months
Right to Access	Receive a copy of your personal data
Right to Delete	Request deletion (subject to exceptions)
Right to Opt-Out of Sale	We do not sell data – this right does not apply
Right to Non-Discrimination	No denial of service for exercising rights

To exercise rights: Email [email protected] or call (949) 555-1234. We verify identity before responding (usually within 45 days).

9. Children’s Privacy (COPPA)

Our Services are not directed to individuals under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from children. If discovered, we delete it immediately.

10. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Type	Purpose	Opt-Out
Essential Cookies	Login, form submission	Cannot disable
Analytics (Google Analytics)	Site performance	Google Opt-Out
Marketing Pixels	Remarketing (with consent)	Manage in browser settings

You can control cookies via browser settings. Disabling may limit functionality.

11. Do-Not-Track Signals

We do not respond to browser Do-Not-Track signals at this time.

12. International Data Transfers

Data may be processed in the United States. By using our Services, you consent to transfer to and processing in the U.S.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy. Changes are posted on www.suretyfirst.com/privacy with a new “Last Updated” date. Material changes will be emailed to active clients.

Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

14. Contact Us