Use of cookies
When the user visits or interacts with our sites, services, applications, tools, or messaging systems, Utility|Pay or its authorized service providers may use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies for advertising purposes and to store information that can help the user have a safer and faster user experience.
This page is designed to help the user understand more about these technologies and how they are used on our sites, services, applications, and tools. Below are some key points to keep in mind regarding the use of such technologies. Our complete cookie usage policy is provided below.
The cookies and similar technologies we use are necessary for the operation of our services, to improve our performance, provide additional features, or enable us to send the user personalized and targeted advertising messages. Utility|Pay uses cookies and similar technologies that remain on the user's device only as long as the browser remains active (session cookies) and cookies and similar technologies that remain on the user's device for a longer period (persistent cookies). The user has the option to block, delete, or disable such cookies if the device allows it. The user can manage cookies and preferences in the device or browser settings.
Where possible, security measures are applied to prevent unauthorized access to Utility|Pay's cookies and similar technologies. A unique identifier ensures that only Utility|Pay and/or our authorized service providers can access cookie data.
Service providers are companies that assist Utility|Pay in various aspects of our business, such as site operation, services, applications, advertising, and tools. Authorized service providers enable us to present the user with advertising messages that may be of interest on Utility|Pay services and elsewhere on the web. These service providers may, in turn, place cookies on the user's device through Utility|Pay services (third-party cookies). They may also gather information to identify the user's device, such as IP address or other unique device identifiers.
What are Cookies, Web Beacons, and Similar Technologies?
Like most websites, Utility|Pay uses small data files that are stored on computers, tablets, mobiles, or other user devices (referred to as "devices") to record certain information whenever the user visits or interacts with Utility|Pay sites, services, applications, messages, and tools.
The names and specific types of cookies, web beacons, and other similar technologies may change over time. To help the user better understand these rules and the use of such technologies by Utility|Pay, below are some terms with their definitions.
Cookies: Small text files (usually made up of letters and numbers) that are stored in the user's browser or device memory when visiting a site or viewing a message. Cookies allow a site to recognize a particular device or browser. There are different types of cookies:
- - Session cookies expire at the end of the browser session and allow Utility|Pay to link user actions during that specific session;
- - Persistent cookies, on the other hand, remain stored on the user's device even after the end of the browser session and allow remembering preferences or actions across multiple sites;
- - First-party cookies are set by the site being visited;
- - Third-party cookies are set by a third-party site different from the site being visited;
Cookies can be disabled or removed using the tools available in most browsers. Preferences regarding cookies must be set separately for each browser used, as each of them offers specific functionalities and options.
Web Beacons: Small images (also known as "pixel tags" or "clear GIFs") that may be present on our sites, services, applications, messaging systems, and tools, which usually work with cookies to identify our users and their habits.
Similar Technologies: Technologies that store information in the browser or device using locally shared objects or local storage systems, such as flash cookies, HTML 5 cookies, and other software methods for web applications. These technologies can work on all browsers used by the user and, in some cases, may not be fully managed by the browser, requiring direct management through installed applications or the device. Utility|Pay does not use such information storage technologies to tailor advertising to the user's profile on its own and outside sites.
The terms "cookies" and "similar technologies" may be used interchangeably in Utility|Pay's rules in reference to all technologies used to store data in the user's browser or device or technologies that collect data or allow user identification as described above.
Why We Use Cookies
Cookies and similar technologies used by us are necessary for the operation of our services, to improve our performance, provide additional features, or enable us to send the user personalized and targeted advertising messages. We use both session and persistent cookies and similar technologies.
Generally, these technologies allow sites, services, applications, and tools to store relevant information in the used browser or device and subsequently read it to identify the user on Utility|Pay servers and internal systems. When possible, cookies and similar technologies are protected so that only Utility|Pay and/or authorized service providers can interpret them by assigning them a unique identifier intended for Utility|Pay's interpretation only.
The uses of these technologies fall into the following general categories:
- Essential. The use of cookies, web beacons, or other similar technologies is necessary for the operation of sites, services, applications, and tools. This includes technologies that allow the user to access the required sites, services, applications, and tools to identify irregular activities on the site, prevent fraudulent activities, improve security, or enable the use of other functions such as carts, saved searches, or similar functions;
- Performance-related use. Utility|Pay may use cookies, web beacons, or other similar technologies to assess the performance of its sites, applications, services, and tools, also as part of analysis procedures to understand how visitors use the sites, determine if the user interacts with messaging systems, understand if the user views an element or link, or improve the content of Utility|Pay's sites;
- Functionality-related use. Utility|Pay may use cookies, web beacons, or other similar technologies that allow offering advanced features during access or use of Utility|Pay sites, services, applications, or tools. This may include identifying the user when accessing Utility|Pay sites or storing preferences, interests, or items already viewed to allow Utility|Pay to improve the presentation of content on its sites;
- Advertising and Message Customization-related use. Utility|Pay may use first-party or third-party cookies and web beacons to offer content, including advertising relevant to the user's interests, on its own sites or third-party sites. This includes the use of specific technologies to understand if content or advertising messages are considered useful by the user, such as when selecting an advertisement.
The personal data we collect and store through the use of these technologies for categories 2 to 4 above are based on the user's consent, obtained through clear communication on our website during the first visit. This consent can be withdrawn through browser settings as indicated below.
For specific information on how to modify cookie settings on the following browsers, click the respective link below:
- Firefox
- Chrome
- Safari
- iOS
Use of these technologies by authorized third-party service providers
Utility|Pay may collaborate with third-party companies, generally known as service providers, which are authorized to use third-party cookies, web beacons, or similar technologies to store data on Utility|Pay sites or in Utility|Pay services, applications, and tools with the consent of Utility|Pay. These service providers allow Utility|Pay to offer the user a faster and safer experience.
They may also use the described technologies to help us provide our content and advertising, and compile analysis and statistics of the sites anonymously. Service providers are not allowed to acquire user's personal data on Utility|Pay sites or in Utility|Pay services, applications, or tools for their own purposes. Service providers enter into confidentiality agreements with Utility|Pay and are subject to other legal limitations on the use or collection of user's personal data. Third-party cookies are subject to the privacy policies of third parties.
Except for the use of such technologies by our service providers or authorized third parties, Utility|Pay does not allow the insertion of third-party content on its own sites, such as ads, member communications, comments, reviews, and so on, to include or use cookies, web beacons, local storage, or similar technologies for tracking or acquiring user's personal data. If it is believed that an ad or other third-party content may collect personal data or use tracking technologies on one of our sites, please email spoof@utilitypay.net.
Networks and advertising exchanges operated by authorized third parties for interest-based advertising
Utility|Pay may use third parties, such as networks and advertising exchanges, to present ads to the user. Such third-party networks and advertising exchanges may be third-party cookies, web beacons, or similar third-party technologies used to collect information related to access to the Utility|Pay site and other sites. They may also acquire the user's device identifier, IP address, and advertising identifier (IDFA). This information may be used to provide the user with targeted advertising on Utility|Pay sites or on other sites. Third-party cookies are governed by the privacy policies of these third parties.
For more information on third-party advertising cookies and interest-based advertising and how to opt-out of this practice from companies participating in industry self-regulation, visit the following sites for your country: