1. Information We Collect
When you utilize the AltFTool Student Loan Refinancing comparison engine, we collect information necessary to match your refinancing scenario with participating lenders and private finance partners.
- Contact Information: Email address, name, and general geographic location.
- Loan Profile Details: Estimated total loan balance, loan distribution (federal vs. private), degree level, and repayment timeline preferences.
- Self-Reported Credit Tier: Credit range estimates (e.g. Excellent 740+, Good 680–739) provided voluntarily to filter preliminary rate brackets.
- Technical Telemetry: Anonymized device telemetry, browser type, referrer URLs, and interaction timestamps.
2. How We Use Refinancing Inquiries
Information collected through AltFTool is used exclusively to provide transparent rate estimations, deliver market alerts, and facilitate connections with licensed lenders:
- Generating estimated monthly payments and APR ranges based on your loan profile.
- Routing pre-qualification inquiries to authorized partner lenders upon your explicit consent.
- Dispatching student loan interest rate drop notices and refinancing deadline reminders.
- Preventing fraudulent inquiries and maintaining cybersecurity integrity.
3. Soft Inquiries & Credit Score Protection
Zero Score Impact: Checking preliminary student loan refinance rates on AltFTool uses a soft credit check or self-reported criteria that does NOT impact your FICO® or credit score.
A formal hard credit inquiry is only initiated when you choose to proceed to a partner lender's external underwriting portal and authorize a full loan application.
4. Communications & Notifications
By submitting your email, you consent to receive educational rate summaries and periodic market updates from AltFTool. You can opt out at any time by clicking the “Unsubscribe” link included in every email footer or by contacting privacy@altftool.com.
5. Your Privacy Rights (CCPA / GDPR / CPRA)
Borrowers residing in California, Virginia, the EU, or jurisdictions with active consumer data protection frameworks enjoy statutory rights:
- Right to Know / Access: Request a complete copy of all personal inquiry data collected.
- Right to Deletion: Request permanent erasure of your contact details and inquiry records.
- Right to Opt-Out: Direct AltFTool to refrain from sharing data with third-party service providers.
6. Data Retention & Contact
We retain borrower inquiry records only as long as required to fulfill educational comparison services and satisfy regulatory audit standards. For privacy inquiries, please contact:
AltFTool Privacy Office
Email: compliance@altftool.com
Subject: Student Loan Refinance Privacy Inquiry