Meade & Associates, Inc. Privacy Policy
Effective Date: May 13, 2026
Meade & Associates, Inc. (“Meade,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and security of all personal, financial, and health‑related information entrusted to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, safeguard, and retain information when you interact with our website at https://www.meadeandassociates.com/ or when we perform collection services on behalf of our creditor clients.
By using our website or services, you acknowledge and agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
1. Information We Collect
When you visit our website, we may collect personal information provided by creditors, collection partners, or directly by you, including:
Name
Address
Phone number
Email address
Social Security number (full or partial, depending on creditor data)
Account numbers and reference numbers
Original and current creditor information
Balance and payment history
Payment information (bank account, routing number, credit card number, expiration date, and security code)
Health‑related or medical billing information when collecting medical debt
We collect only the information necessary to authenticate your identity, process payments, and perform debt‑collection services.
2. How We Receive Consumer Data (Furnishers)
Meade receives consumer account information from creditor clients, including banks, lenders, medical providers, and debt purchasers (“Furnishers”). Furnishers may also authorize third‑party collection companies to provide data to us.
We do not own this data. Furnishers determine what information they maintain and provide. Meade cannot guarantee the accuracy of data furnished to us.
To access your account online, you must authenticate your identity by providing verification criteria such as:
Last four digits of your Social Security number
The phone number you were contacted at
Your creditor‑provided reference number
This ensures only authorized individuals can view account information.
3. Payment Information
When you make a payment through our secure portal, you must provide standard payment details. In some cases, payment information may be stored temporarily in our secure database solely to transmit it to your creditor or authorized collection partner.
We do not share payment information with any third party except those necessary to complete your transaction.
4. How We Use Your Information
Meade uses collected information for legitimate business purposes, including:
Performing debt‑collection services
Authenticating user identity
Processing payments
Communicating with consumers
Providing account notices and updates
Improving website functionality and user experience
Product and software development
Internal auditing and analytics
Responding to legal requests
Enforcing our Terms of Use
Complying with federal, state, and local laws
We do not sell, rent, or use consumer information for unrelated marketing purposes.
5. Confidentiality & Non‑Disclosure
Meade maintains strict confidentiality over all consumer and client information. We will not disclose account information, business records, financial data, strategic materials, or patient‑related records to any third party except:
When necessary to perform contracted collection services
When required to process payments
When authorized by the consumer
When required by law
Meade complies with all federal, state, and local laws governing confidentiality, including FDCPA, HIPAA, and GLBA.
6. FDCPA Compliance
As a third‑party debt collector, Meade complies with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). This includes:
Prohibiting disclosure of debt information to unauthorized third parties
Communicating respectfully and within permitted hours
Providing required notices and validation information
Maintaining secure systems to prevent unauthorized access to consumer data
7. HIPAA Compliance (Medical Debt Accounts)
For medical‑related accounts, Meade acts as a Business Associate under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). We therefore:
Protect all Protected Health Information (PHI)
Use PHI only for permitted collection‑related activities
Implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards
Restrict PHI access to authorized personnel
Execute Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) with covered entities
Report any PHI breach as required by HIPAA regulations
8. GLBA Compliance (Financial Information)
Because we process financial information, Meade complies with the Gramm‑Leach‑Bliley Act (GLBA), including:
Safeguarding sensitive financial data
Limiting disclosure to authorized parties
Maintaining secure transmission and storage systems
9. Cookies
We may use cookies to identify unique visitors and maintain session integrity. Cookies are encrypted and deleted when you close your browser.
10. Third‑Party Websites and Services
Our website may contain links to third‑party sites. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies. Meade is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of external websites.
If you request services or products from third‑party providers, you authorize Meade to share only the information necessary to fulfill your request.
11. Emails and Notifications
If you provide your email address, you may receive account‑related notifications. You may opt out at any time by contacting info@meadeandassociates.com. Opting out may prevent you from receiving reduced‑offer notifications or account updates.
12. Public Forums
If Meade provides access to blogs, chat rooms, or forums, any information you submit may be visible to others. Meade is not responsible for information you choose to disclose in public areas.
13. Disclosure Required by Law
Meade may disclose information when necessary to:
Enforce our rights
Respond to subpoenas or legal processes
Prevent fraud or illegal activity
Comply with applicable laws or regulations
Provide user data back to the Furnisher who owns the account
14. Consumer Privacy Rights
Depending on applicable laws, consumers may have rights including:
Access to personal information
Request corrections
Request deletion (where legally permitted)
Request limitations on certain uses
Obtain debt validation information
To submit a privacy request, contact us using the information below.
15. Data Retention
We retain information only as long as necessary to:
Fulfill collection obligations
Comply with legal requirements
Maintain accurate business records
After retention periods expire, data is securely destroyed.
16. Security Measures
Meade uses industry‑standard security practices, including:
Encryption of sensitive data
Secure servers and restricted access
Multi‑level authentication
Firewalls and intrusion detection
Regular security monitoring and testing
Incident‑response procedures
While we safeguard your information, these protections do not extend to third‑party websites.
17. Breach Notification
If a data breach occurs involving personal, financial, or health information, Meade will notify affected individuals as required by federal and state law, including HIPAA and Ohio breach‑notification statutes.
18. Children’s Privacy
Our services are not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from minors.
19. Contact Us
Meade & Associates, Inc.
737 Enterprise Drive Lewis Center, OH 43035
Email: info@meadeandassociates.com
Phone: 1-(800) 686-3233