Privacy Policy
At John Ray & Sons, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring a safe online experience. This Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions outline how we handle your information when you visit our website, www.johnray.com (the “Site”), and use our services. John Ray & Sons (“the Company,” “we,” “us,” “ours”) values your trust and wants you to understand our practices regarding data collection and usage. We do not rent or sell your personal information to third parties, and we provide you with choices regarding our marketing communications. If you have any questions or concerns about your personal data, please don’t hesitate to contact our office.
Privacy for Website Visitors
For those who browse our Site without registering, we want to assure you that we do not automatically collect personal information. We respect your anonymity and do not actively seek personal details from your computer. However, like most websites, we do gather anonymous technical data. This includes your IP address, referring websites, browser type, and workstation details. This information helps us understand how visitors find us online, the types of devices used to access our Site, and allows us to improve our website’s performance and compatibility across different platforms. This data is purely statistical and helps us enhance your browsing experience and optimize our website for all users.
Privacy for Registered Users and Customers
For users who choose to register on our Site, creating a personalized experience and potentially becoming customers of John Ray & Sons, we collect certain personal information. A “registered user” is someone who has completed our online registration form to access personalized features and resources. This is often the case for our valued home heating fuel and service customers.
When you register, we may collect personally identifiable information such as your name, billing and shipping addresses, email address, phone numbers (mobile and home), and payment information, including credit card or bank debit card details, expiration dates, and security codes. Please be assured that your credit card information is solely used for processing transactions with us and is not stored permanently on our Site for security reasons.
Providing this personal information is necessary to become a registered user and access all features of the Site. We use this information for internal purposes such as research, advertising, and marketing, which may include sending you information about our products and services, as well as offers from other companies that we believe may be of interest to you. As a John Ray & Sons customer, whether you interact with us online or through other channels, we apply similar privacy safeguards to all collected information.
To enhance customer service and for training purposes, we may record phone calls with prospective and current customers, always ensuring we obtain your consent before recording any call. In the course of our regular business operations, John Ray & Sons collects various types of customer information, including:
- Routine transaction details like fuel deliveries, service history, and payment records.
- Credit information obtained from credit bureaus.
- Billing, service, and delivery addresses, along with contact details.
- Information about your heating system and related equipment.
- Other details relevant to providing you with efficient fuel and service delivery.
This information may be collected through our Website, via physical forms, or in person. As a registered user, you have the right to access the personal information we hold about you, regardless of whether it was collected online or through other interactions with John Ray & Sons.
Opting Out of Marketing Communications
We respect your choices regarding marketing communications. You have the right to opt out of receiving marketing and educational materials from us at any time. To do so, please contact us via phone or email, providing your registration details or account number so we can efficiently process your request. While you can opt out of marketing communications, we believe in providing valuable information. Our marketing materials may include helpful tips on heating and cooling efficiency or advice on managing your account with John Ray & Sons, aiming to provide value beyond just promotional content.
Sharing Your Information
John Ray & Sons understands the importance of keeping your personal information confidential. We only disclose your personally identifiable information to third parties in limited circumstances:
- Service Providers: We may share information with trusted service providers who assist us in areas such as marketing, website operation, advertising, and professional services (legal and financial advisors). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the services they provide to us.
- With Your Consent: We will disclose your information to other third parties if you have given us explicit permission to do so.
- Legal Obligations: We may be required to disclose personal information to comply with legal processes, such as subpoenas or government inquiries, in cases involving suspected illegal activities like credit card theft, fraud, identity theft, or other criminal investigations. We will always comply with relevant legal procedures in such situations.
- Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of company assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity as part of the business assets.
We may also share aggregated, non-personally identifiable information with third parties for various purposes, such as website analytics or industry benchmarking. This type of information does not identify you personally.
Cookies and Website Technology
Our Site utilizes cookies to enhance your browsing experience and enable certain features. Cookies are small text files stored on your computer when you visit a website. While cookies are not essential for browsing all pages of our Site, they are necessary for certain functionalities. Cookies help us recognize you when you return to our Site, maintaining your session and preferences without requiring you to re-enter login details each time.
You have the option to manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers, like Microsoft Internet Explorer, allow you to block cookies. However, please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain parts of our Site. In general, we use cookies to uniquely identify user sessions and improve website functionality.
Website Usage Tracking: We employ website traffic analysis software to generate reports that help us understand website usage patterns and improve user experience. These reports analyze website visits in an anonymized manner, without identifying individual users personally.
Secure Data Transmission: To protect sensitive information transmitted through our Site, we use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption technology. SSL is a widely recognized standard for securing online communications, similar to the technology used by banks and financial institutions. This encryption technology protects your data as it travels between your browser and our servers. Once your personal information is stored on our servers, we maintain a combination of operational, procedural, and physical security measures to protect it from unauthorized access and misuse. For added security, not all customer account data is accessible directly through the Site.
Email Communication: We prioritize your security and will not transmit sensitive account details via email. We remind you that email is not a secure communication method and should not be used for sharing private information with us, especially sensitive details like account numbers or passwords.
Keeping Your Information Accurate
We are committed to maintaining the accuracy of your personal information and provide you with tools to update it. You can update and verify the information you provided through our Website online. For other customer information collected through our business interactions outside of the website, you can update it by contacting our office directly. Keeping your information up-to-date helps us provide you with the best possible service.
Security Measures
John Ray & Sons takes data security seriously and implements measures to protect the integrity, security, and privacy of your personal information. We use industry-standard encryption methods to secure your credit card and bank account details. When you register online, you create a unique login for account authentication. You are responsible for choosing a strong, confidential password to access your online account. Please keep your password secure and do not share it with anyone. You are accountable for all transactions made using your login credentials, and any activity under your password will be considered authorized by you. If you suspect unauthorized access to your login or password, please contact our customer service immediately. In case of a suspected security breach affecting your account, we may post a notice on our Website or attempt to contact you directly via email, postal address, or phone. We only collect personal information that is reasonably necessary to provide you with our products and services. Access to your personal information is restricted to employees who require it to serve you effectively.
Privacy on External Websites
Our website may contain links to external websites that we believe may be useful to you. However, please remember that when you navigate to these external sites, you are subject to their individual privacy policies, which may differ from ours. We encourage you to carefully review the privacy policies of any website you visit.
Legal Notice: Terms & Conditions of Website Use
Welcome to the John Ray & Sons website, www.johnray.com. By accessing and using this Site, and by purchasing products and services from John Ray & Sons through this Site, you agree to be bound by the following Terms of Use (“Terms”). Please read these Terms carefully. If you do not agree with any of these Terms, please do not use this Site.
John Ray & Sons reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time without prior notification. Changes will be posted on this page, and your continued use of the Site after any changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. We recommend reviewing these Terms periodically for updates.
Limited Use License
John Ray & Sons grants you a limited, non-exclusive, revocable license to access and use this Site for personal use. You are prohibited from modifying the Site or any portion of it without explicit written consent from John Ray & Sons. All content on this Site, including its visual appearance, text, images, logos, buttons, icons, software, and other elements (“Content”), is the exclusive property of John Ray & Sons and is protected by international copyright laws and treaties. By using this Site, you agree to comply with all applicable copyright laws and prevent any unauthorized copying of the Content. The Site may only be used for lawful purposes. You agree not to:
- Modify or delete information posted by others on the Site.
- Transmit, distribute, erase, or store material that violates any law or regulation, infringes upon privacy or publicity rights, or is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, libelous, vulgar, obscene, or otherwise objectionable.
- Post sexually explicit content.
- Use any software, device, or routine to disrupt or attempt to disrupt the proper functioning of this Site or any activity conducted on this Site.
Disclaimer of Warranties
JOHN RAY & SONS TAKES REASONABLE EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION ON THIS SITE. HOWEVER, THE SITE AND ITS CONTENT MAY CONTAIN INACCURACIES, OUTDATED INFORMATION, BROKEN LINKS, OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. WE DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR RELIABILITY OF ANY CONTENT, ADVICE, OPINION, STATEMENT, OR OTHER INFORMATION DISPLAYED OR DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE SITE. THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION PROVIDED BY OTHER USERS IS BEYOND OUR CONTROL. THIS SITE AND ALL ITS CONTENTS ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS, WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THESE EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
Links to Other Websites and Third-Party Content
For your convenience, this Site may provide links to websites operated by third parties. If you use these links, you will leave our Site. John Ray & Sons is not responsible for the content, security, or privacy practices of these linked websites. Visiting linked sites is at your own risk, and it is your responsibility to take precautions against viruses or other harmful elements. A link to a non-John Ray & Sons website does not imply endorsement or responsibility for the content or use of that website.
Linking to This Site: You may not create a link to this Site without prior written consent from John Ray & Sons. Even with approval, we have no control over the internet, including websites linked to or from our Site. John Ray & Sons reserves the right to revoke linking consent at any time at its sole discretion.
User-Provided Information
Any personally identifiable information collected by John Ray & Sons or provided by you to the Site is protected by our Privacy Policy. By providing information or material to us through this Site, you grant John Ray & Sons an unrestricted, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free license to use such information for any business purpose. This information is not considered confidential. Therefore, please do not send confidential information to us. By using this Site, you warrant that you will not provide any information that is defamatory, threatening, obscene, harassing, or otherwise unlawful.
Indemnification
BY USING THIS SITE, YOU AGREE TO INDEMNIFY, DEFEND, AND HOLD HARMLESS JOHN RAY & SONS FROM ANY CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LOSSES, LIABILITIES, AND ALL COSTS AND EXPENSES OF DEFENSE, INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES, ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM YOUR USE OF (OR INABILITY TO USE) THE SITE, ITS CONTENT, MATERIALS, OR FUNCTIONS, OR ANY LINKED WEBSITE, UNLESS SUCH CLAIMS, DAMAGES, ETC., ARE PROVEN TO BE DIRECTLY AND SOLELY CAUSED BY THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR INTENTIONAL MISCONDUCT OF JOHN RAY & SONS.
Governing Law and Jurisdiction
This Site is managed by John Ray & Sons from its offices in Connecticut, USA. These Terms of Use are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any legal claim related to this Site or its use shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state courts in Connecticut, USA.
Effective Date: September 1, 2008
