Privacy Policy

Pinnacle Investigations Corporation is a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) that prepares Consumer Reports for authorized employers under the provisions of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. Pinnacle only collects applicant data pursuant to written Authorization and Disclosure under the FCRA and only disseminates consumer reports to employers as directed in the written authorization at the direction and authorization of the consumer. Pinnacle maintains strict policies and procedures in all aspects of its operation to protect the privacy of consumers.

NOTE: Pinnacle does not send U.S. applicant information outside of the U.S. for processing. Once data leaves the U.S., the data is beyond the reach of U.S. privacy laws and there are no meaningful privacy protections. Pinnacle believes that firms that send data outside the U.S. put applicants and employers at great risk. In some countries, it is a well known fact that U.S. identities are stolen and used for identity theft. As a practical matter, someone in the U.S. has no ability to hire a lawyer in a foreign country to pursue legal action or contact a foreign police authority to have action taken. The only exception is where Pinnacle is asked to perform an international verification and the information resides outside of the U.S. Even in that situation, Pinnacle goes to great lengths to protect applicant data by going directly to the school or employer. If it is necessary to utilize a researcher in a foreign country, Pinnacle only releases information that is considered necessary.

Pinnacle strongly advises all employers to ask a screening firm if they send data outside of the U.S. and to seriously consider the dangers to their hiring processes and to their applicants.

1. This web site collects personally identifiable information online from individuals in the following ways:
   A potential customer has the opportunity to e-mail this site in order to obtain information about our services. Any information given to this site is completely in the control of the third party who chooses to do so.
    
2. This site does not engage in any passive information gathering techniques.
    
3. No information provided to this site is ever released, utilized or shared with anyone else, including, but not limited to, third parties or affiliates.
    
4. Pinnacle’s online system is only available to Pinnacle customers and is utilized as a means for Pinnacle to receive orders from authorized employers and to transmit information to and from authorized users. However, all such usage is strictly between Pinnacle and business entities whose legitimate need for the information and permissible purpose has been verified pursuant to section 607(a) of the FCRA which states: (a) Every consumer reporting agency shall maintain reasonable procedures designed to avoid violations of section 605 [§ 1681c] and to limit the furnishing of consumer reports to the purposes listed under section 604 [§ 1681b] of this title. These procedures shall require that prospective users of the information identify themselves, certify the purposes for which the information is sought, and certify that the information will be used for no other purpose. Every consumer reporting agency shall make a reasonable effort to verify the identity of a new prospective user and the uses certified by such prospective user prior to furnishing such user a consumer report. No consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report to any person if it has reasonable grounds for believing that the consumer report will not be used for a purpose listed in section 604.
    
5. All data on the Pinnacle system is protected by secure access. Viewing of information is restricted to the users and customers with authorization to have it, with state of the art security, including 128-bit SSL encryption and strong password protection. Physical security of servers is state of the art and has undergone auditing by third parties, including the Nuclear Energy Institute. The Privacy and Integrity of all information is fully protected. All employees who have access to any information from this site have signed privacy agreements and are regularly trained in privacy practices and procedures. Pinnacle maintains a Written Information Security Policy (WISP) in conformity with Massachusetts requirements under 201 CMR 17.00: STANDARDS FOR THE PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION OF RESIDENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
    
6. Information is retained pursuant to the FCRA for a minimum of six (6) years. The method for a consumer to opt-out of Pinnacle obtaining information is to not consent to a pre-employment background screening with a prospective or current employer. Once a consumer has consented to such a screening, Pinnacle must retain information on file for US residents for the six (6) year period.
    
7. Any consumer may exercise their right to inspect any data about them and to object to any data pursuant to the FCRA and applicable state law. See a Summary of Your Rights Under the FCRA prepared by the Federal Trade Commission. Also see your right to request a copy of your data under the FACT Act.
    
8. Any questions or concerns about Privacy should be directed to admin@pinnacleprof.com. Pinnacle will make all reasonable efforts to address a consumer's concerns. If the matter cannot be resolved by Pinnacle, then a consumer has additional rights. See Summary of Your Rights Under the FCRA.
    
9. Upon request, a consumer may also obtain a copy of this Pinnacle Investigations Privacy Policy privacy statement or ask questions by mail by sending a request to: Chief Operations Officer, Pinnacle Investigations, 920 N. Argonne Rd. Suite 200, Spokane Valley, WA 99212.
    
10. In the event Pinnacle destroys any information provided by employers, applicants, or third parties during the course of its work, the destruction is accomplished in accordance with the approved document disposal rules formulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
     
11. Pinnacle reserves the right to modify or change its privacy policy. All such changes will be posted on this page.

PERSONAL INFORMATION DISCLOSURE: UNITED STATES OR OVERSEAS

Pinnacle Investigations Corporation opposes the “offshoring” of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of consumers – such as names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers (SSNs) – sent overseas outside of the United States and its territories and beyond the protection of U.S. Privacy laws. Pinnacle’s mission is to protect the PII of consumers, which is best done by keeping all such information in the United States.

Pinnacle belongs to ConcernedCRA's a group of Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs) dedicated to protecting consumer privacy. Pinnacle has adopted the policy of ConcenredCRA’s and operates as follows:

1. Domestic Background Screening: Where a CRA (background screening firm) is providing background screening services for consumers in the United States based upon information available in the U.S., a firm displaying the ConcenredCRA seal certifies that it does not send data outside the U. S. or its territories for processing or preparation of a background check report or for any other reason. All work is done in the U.S.
    
2. International Screening: Where there is an international background check for verification of employment, education, or a professional degree, or for a criminal record check, some information may have to go offshore by necessity since the information being sought is offshore. However, firms displaying the ConcenredCRA seal have taken measures to protect personal and confidential data.
    
3. Where a CRA utilizes a third party service to perform domestic or international services in connection with providing background reports, firms that adopted this standard have made reasonable inquires to ensure that any provider is also following the ConcenredCRA standard.

If you have any questions about this policy, or any other aspect of the Pinnacle privacy policy, you may contact the Pinnacle Chief Operating Officer by any of the following means:

E-mail: support@pinnacleprof.com Address: 920 N. Argonne Rd. Ste. 200, Spokane Valley, WA 99212 Phone: 800-955-5306

HOW CONSUMERS DISPUTE INFORMATION IN A CONSUMER REPORT
If consumers are the subject of a consumer report prepared by Pinnacle Investigations and find incorrect or incomplete information, they have the right under federal law to dispute it. Consumers may contact Pinnacle by calling 800-955-5306 and asking to speak with a Dispute Resolution Specialist. The following link will take consumers to the document A Summary of Your Rights Under the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.