Privacy policy

Who we are

This policy applies to ratesandamort.com (the "Site"), operated by RatesAndAmort ("we," "us"). If you have questions, contact us at [email protected].

Calculator inputs stay on your device

All calculations on the Site run locally in your web browser. The balances, interest rates, payment amounts, debt names and other values you enter are not transmitted to us or stored on our servers. When you use a "copy link" feature, your inputs are placed in the page address (URL) on your device so you can share the scenario; they are only sent anywhere if you choose to share or open that link.

Information collected automatically

Log files

Like most websites, the Site and its hosting and content delivery provider automatically record standard log information when you visit. This can include your IP address, browser type and version, device type, referring page, pages requested, date and time of the request, and approximate location derived from the IP address. We use log data to operate, secure and troubleshoot the Site and to understand aggregate usage. Log data is not used to identify you personally.

Analytics

We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors use the Site, such as which pages are popular and how people arrive. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to collect information such as pages viewed, time on page, device and browser information, and approximate location. We do not send calculator inputs to Google Analytics. You can learn how Google uses this data at How Google uses information from sites that use its services, and you can opt out with the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.

Information you send us

If you contact us by email or through the contact form, we receive the information you choose to provide, such as your name, email address and message. We use it only to respond and keep a record of the conversation. Please do not send account numbers or other sensitive financial information.

Cookies and similar technologies

Cookies are small text files stored by your browser. The Site itself does not need cookies to work. Cookies may be set by the third-party services described in this policy: analytics and, where enabled, advertising. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings; doing so will not prevent the calculators from working.

Advertising and third-party vendors

We may display advertising served by Google AdSense and other third-party ad vendors. These companies may use cookies, web beacons and similar technologies to serve and measure ads. Specifically:

• Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this website or other websites.
• Google's use of advertising cookies, including the DoubleClick cookie (also known as the DART cookie), enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to this Site and/or other sites on the Internet.
• You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ads Settings (My Ad Center). You can also opt out of some third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalized advertising at aboutads.info and, in the EU, youronlinechoices.eu.
• If you opt out of personalized advertising, you may still see ads, but they will be based on general factors such as the page content rather than your browsing history.

For more information, see Google's advertising policies. Advertisers and ad networks have their own privacy policies, and we do not control the cookies they use. Ads are labeled and are never part of calculator results.

Your cookie choices

When you first visit, a notice explains our use of analytics and advertising cookies. They are enabled by default. You can switch analytics or advertising off at any time with Cookie preferences in the footer of every page. Your choice is stored in your browser's local storage, and we use Google Consent Mode so Google's tags respect it. Turning analytics off also removes existing Google Analytics cookies set by this Site.

If your browser sends a Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal, we treat it as an opt-out of personalized advertising unless you choose otherwise in Cookie preferences.

Consent for visitors in the EEA, UK and Switzerland

Where required by law, consent for personalized advertising is requested through a Google-certified consent management message before such cookies are used. You can change or withdraw your consent at any time. If you decline, only non-personalized or limited ads may be shown where available.

How we use information

• To operate, maintain and secure the Site.
• To understand aggregate usage and improve our calculators and articles.
• To respond to messages and requests.
• To display advertising that helps keep the Site free.
• To comply with legal obligations.

We do not sell personal information for money. We do not build profiles of individual visitors.

Your rights under the GDPR and UK GDPR

If you are in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, our legal bases for processing are your consent (analytics and personalized advertising cookies), our legitimate interests (operating and securing the Site, responding to messages) and legal obligations. You have the right to access, correct or delete your personal data, to restrict or object to processing, to data portability, and to withdraw consent at any time. You may also lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. To exercise these rights, email [email protected].

Your rights under US state privacy laws (including the CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a resident of California or another US state with a consumer privacy law, you may have the right to know what personal information is collected, to access and delete it, to correct it, and to opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising. The use of advertising cookies by our ad partners may be considered "sharing" under these laws. You can opt out by using the opt-out links in the advertising section above, by adjusting your cookie settings, or by enabling the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal in your browser, which we treat as a valid opt-out request where required. We will not discriminate against you for exercising these rights. To make a request, email [email protected]. We may need to verify your request.

Categories of information collected in the past 12 months: identifiers (such as IP address and cookie identifiers), internet activity (pages viewed and interactions), approximate geolocation, and any information you send us directly. Sources: you, your browser, and our analytics and advertising partners. We retain information only as long as needed for the purposes above.

Do Not Track

Browsers' "Do Not Track" signals have no common industry standard, so the Site does not respond to them. We do honor the Global Privacy Control signal as described above.

Children's privacy

The Site is intended for adults and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

Security and international transfers

The Site is served over HTTPS. Our service providers may process information in the United States, Canada and other countries, which may have different data protection rules than your own. Where required, appropriate safeguards are used for such transfers.

Third-party links

Our articles link to outside sources such as government agencies and news publications. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The "last updated" date at the top shows when it last changed. Material changes will be highlighted on this page.

Contact

Privacy questions and requests: [email protected]. General questions: contact page.