PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

 

In accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, adopted by the United States Federal Government and that of New Jersey, Amerival agrees to the sections in said document with regard to confidentiality. The Confidentiality section is within the Ethics Section of USPAP.

Amerival and its participants who are legally bound to USPAP will to the best of their ability and assumed knowledge of the confidential nature of any verbiage or documents protect the confidential nature of the appraiser / consultant - client relationship.

All participants with Amerival are directed to act in good faith with regard to the legitimate interests of the client in the use of confidential information and in the communication of assignment results. The participants will when aware of the need of confidentiality comply with all confidentiality and privacy laws and regulations applicable in an assignment*.

* Pursuant to the passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999, numerous agencies have adopted new privacy regulations. Such regulations are focused on the protection of information provided by consumers to those involved in financial activities found to be closely related to banking or usual in connection with the transaction of banking.  These activities have been deemed to include appraising real or personal property.  (Quotations are from the Federal Trade Commission, Privacy of Consumer Financial Information; Final Rule, 16 CFR Part 313.)

The participants with Amerival will not knowingly disclose confidential information or assignment results prepared for a client to anyone other than the client and persons specifically authorized in writing to Amerival by the client; state enforcement agencies and such third parties as may be authorized by due process of law; and, a duly authorized professional peer review committee except when such disclosure to a committee would violate applicable law or regulation. It is unethical for a member of a duly authorized professional peer review committee to disclose confidential information presented to the committee.

When all confidential elements of information are removed through redaction or the process of aggregation, client authorization is not required for the disclosure of the remaining information, as modified.

All clients must be aware that any information supplied any participant of Amerival must advise inwriting and in advance of beginning any efforts on behalf of the client of materials considered private and / or confidential. Clients must be aware that for successful data collection it is most often necessary to advise a person considering providing necessary information for a report being prepared to be aware of the property address. If this is considered by any client a confidential piece of information, Amerival must be advised in writing prior to beginning efforts on the assignment.