Disclaimer and Web Privacy Policy

 We at the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) are committed to the protection of your personal information.  This privacy policy explains how we at AHAM collect and use, and protect your privacy and personal data.

AHAM’s GDPR Statement 

As many of our members are aware, a new privacy law is in effect in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) called the General Data Protection Regulation, or the GDPR.  The GDPR expands privacy rights granted to individuals in the EU and the EEA.  The GDPR applies to some of the membership activities of AHAM, even though we are headquartered in the United States.  We have revised and updated this privacy policy to help our members better understand how AHAM collects, uses, shares, and protects their personal data and to tell how members how they can exercise their rights under the GDPR.  Please review this updated privacy policy.

What personal data do we collect?

We collect, use, store and transfer different kinds of personal data about our members (“you”) as described in this privacy policy.  

We may collect any of the following:

  • First name, last name, user name or other similar identifier
  • Billing address, delivery address, email address, telephone number
  • Bank account and payment details
  • Details about payment from you and other details of services you have purchased from AHAM
  • Internet protocol (IP) address, your log-in data, browser type and version, time zone settings and location, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system and platform, and other technology on the devices you use to access the AHAM website, products, and services
  • Information about how you use the AHAM website
  • Information about preferences in receiving marketing from AHAM and your communication preferences

How do we obtain your personal data?

We collect information from you in the course of your use of the AHAM website, products and services.   For example, we collect information from you when you enroll as a member.  We collect information from you when you contact or communicate with us (including through the website, by email, or otherwise).  We also collect your personal data while monitoring the AHAM website, products and services.   We gather information about you when you provide it to us, or interact with us directly, for instance engaging with our staff or registering for an event.  We may also in certain cases collect or receive information about you from other sources, such as from an administrative user in your organization in order to create a member account for you.

How do we use the personal data we collect?

AHAM collects personal data for the following principal purposes.  We have also set out below the legal basis (as required by the GDPR) that we rely on to justify this use of your personal data.

Purpose

Legal Basis

To provide the AHAM website to you

For our legitimate business purposes (i.e., the provision of the AHAM website) and, depending on the circumstances, to perform a contract between you and us

To determine membership eligibility and enroll a member in AHAM;

For our legitimate business purposes (i.e., the provision of the AHAM website and member services) and, depending on the circumstances, to deliver AHAM member services to our members

To register individuals for AHAM events (i.e. annual meeting, online educational courses, conferences, etc.);

For our legitimate business purposes (i.e., the provision of the AHAM website and member services, including events) and, depending on the circumstances, to deliver AHAM member services to our members

To provide you with member benefits, products or services that you have requested and related information about those products and services;

For our legitimate business purposes (i.e., the provision of the AHAM website and member services) and, depending on the circumstances, to deliver AHAM member services to our members

To communicate with you and to respond to questions that you have raised with us;

For our legitimate business purposes (i.e., the provision of the AHAM website and services)

To develop membership directories for AHAM;

For our legitimate business purposes (i.e., the provision of the AHAM website and member services)

To administer and improve the AHAM website;

For our legitimate business purposes (i.e., the provision of the AHAM website and member services, as well as to improve and ensure the security of those products and services)

We may request your consent in circumstances where a legal justification over and above legitimate interests is required by applicable law (e.g., in relation to our use of certain cookies)

To process your payment for AHAM services, products and events;

For our legitimate business purposes (i.e., the provision of the AHAM website and services)

To administer and provide you with the benefits of AHAM membership;

For our legitimate business purposes (i.e., the provision of the AHAM website and services)

To send you, or for our third party partners to send you, information about products, services and events that may be of interest to you based on your preferences;

For our legitimate business purposes (i.e., the provision of the AHAM website and member services)

We may request your consent in circumstances where a legal justification over and above legitimate interests is required by applicable law

To administer surveys;

For our legitimate business purposes (i.e., the provision of the AHAM website and member services)

We may request your consent in circumstances where a legal justification over and above legitimate interests is required by applicable law

To prevent and detect fraud; and

For our legitimate business purposes and for compliance with legal obligations to which we are subject

To protect and enforce our legal rights.

For our legitimate business purposes and for compliance with legal obligations to which we are subject

How does AHAM share your personal data?

AHAM may share your personal data with third parties engaged with AHAM in providing the AHAM website, products and services to you or to carry out one or more of the purposes described above.  These service providers are prohibited from using your personal data for any purpose other than to provide this assistance and are contractually required to protect personal data disclosed by AHAM and to comply with the general privacy principles described in this privacy policy.  For example, we share your personal data with service providers, contractors and sub-contractors to help us provide the AHAM website, products, events and services.  We may use a service provider to process payment information, manage our events, provide analytics, or use third party software to manage our customer relationship management system. 

With the permission of attendees at events, we may provide attendee registration lists

(including name, title, and company) to other attendees of events.

If you choose not to provide AHAM with your personal data, you may still visit most of the AHAM website.  However, you will be unable to access certain options, offers and services, and you will be unable to take advantage of certain AHAM benefits or membership.

Your rights, including removing, correcting, or updating personal data

If you change your mind on how AHAM discloses or uses your personal data, or wish to access, correct, or update personal data (such as your address), we will do our best to correct, update, or remove the personal data you give us.

THE BELOW TABLE APPLIES TO INDIVIDUALS LOCATED IN THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) AND EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA (EEA) ONLY: You have certain rights pursuant to the GDPR with respect to your personal data. The rights may only apply in certain circumstances and are subject to certain exemptions. Please see the table below for a summary of your rights and who to contact to exercise them.

Summary of your rights

Who to contact

Right of access to your personal data

You have the right to receive a copy of your personal Data that we hold about you, subject to certain exemptions.

We may require further information in order to respond to your request (for instance, evidence of your identity and information to enable us to locate the specific personal information you require).

[email protected] or 202.872.5955 x325

Right to rectify your personal data

You have the right to ask us to correct your personal information that we hold where it is incorrect or incomplete.

You may correct your information by going directly to “My Account” (you must be logged in).

Non-members or members may at any time revise this information or question it by directly contacting our Membership Department at [email protected] or by calling 202.872.5955 x325.

Right to erasure of your personal data:

You have the right to ask that your personal data be deleted in certain circumstances. For example (i) where your personal data is no longer necessary in relation to the purposes for which they were collected or otherwise used; (ii) if you withdraw your consent and there is no other legal ground for which we rely on for the continued use of your personal data; (iii) if you object to the use of your personal data (as set out below); (iv) if we have used your personal data unlawfully; or (v) if your personal data needs to be erased to comply with a legal obligation.

You may effectuate this right at any time by contacting our Membership Department at [email protected] or by calling 202.872.5955 x325.

Right to restrict the use of your personal data

You have the right to suspend our use of your personal data in certain circumstances. For example (i) where you think your personal information is inaccurate and only for such period to enable us to verify the accuracy of your personal data; (ii) the use of your personal data is unlawful and you oppose the erasure of your personal data and request that it is suspended instead; (iii) we no longer need your personal data, but your personal data is required by you for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims; or (iv) you have objected to the use of your personal data and we are verifying whether our grounds for the use of your personal data override your objection.

You may effectuate this right at any time by contacting our Membership Department at [email protected] or by calling 202.872.5955 x325.

Right to data portability

You have the right to obtain your personal data in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format and for it to be transferred to another organization, where it is technically feasible. The right only applies where the use of your personal data is based on your consent or for the performance of a contract, and when the use of your personal data is carried out by automated (i.e. electronic) means.

You may effectuate this right at any time by contacting our Membership Department at [email protected] or by calling 202.872.5955 x325.

Right to object to the use of your personal data

You have the right to object to the use of your personal data in certain circumstances. For example (i) where you have grounds relating to your particular situation and we use your personal data for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party); and (ii) if you object to the use of your personal data for direct marketing purposes.

You may effectuate this right at any time by contacting our Membership Department at [email protected] or by calling 202.872.5955 x325.

Right to withdraw consent

You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time where we rely on consent to use your personal data.

You may effectuate this right at any time by contacting our Membership Department at [email protected] or by calling 202.872.5955 x325.

Right to complain to the relevant data protection authority

You have the right to complain to the relevant data protection authority where you think we have not used your personal data in accordance with data protection law.

Find your National Data Protection Authority online.


How long will AHAM keep your personal data?

AHAM will keep your personal data for the period of time that you are a member of AHAM and for a specified number of years after your parent organization cancels its membership.

Links to other websites

AHAM’s website may contain links to other sites which we believe may be of interest to our members.   These sites are not controlled by AHAM and AHAM is not responsible for any content contained on any such website.  We are not responsible for the privacy practices employed by other sites, and the privacy practices employed by such sites may not be the same as AHAM’s practices.   As with our website, you should become familiar with any external party’s privacy policy before visiting and/or providing any personal data through any such site.

Is my personal data secure?

AHAM has instituted appropriate security measures to protect your personal data from being accidentally lost, used, or accessed in an unauthorized way, altered or disclosed.  We limit access to your personal data to only those employees, agents or contractors and other third parties who have a business need as described in this privacy policy.

Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the Internet is not completely secure.   We have taken what we believe to be commercially appropriate measures, but cannot guarantee the security of information transmitted over the Internet.

Does the AHAM website use cookies?

The AHAM website uses cookies to make site navigation simple. Non-identifiable analytics data on browsing are also collected.

How to contact AHAM

Should you have any questions, concerns, or a complaint about this privacy policy, please contact AHAM at [email protected] or via mail at 1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 402, Washington, DC 20036 USA. 

We will acknowledge receipt of any complaint and will endeavor to provide you with a written response within 30 days or receipt of your compliant.  There may be instances where this is not possible due to the contents of the complaint.  In such circumstances, we will respond to your complaint in a reasonable and practical time.

You are entitled to make an anonymous complaint or inquiry in relation to this Privacy Policy or your privacy rights; however, we may require you to identify yourself if required by law or it is impracticable for us to deal with your matter otherwise.