These Terms and Conditions apply to all client engagements, correspondence and consultations of Hudson Intelligence LLC.
They also apply to the information provided by through our websites, reports, and other media.
In general, these the Terms affirm:
Our investigations will be conducted in an ethical and lawful manner and for a legally permissible purpose.
We will provide a clear accounting of fees and expenses in itemized billing statements; and at the conclusion of every case, we return any unearned portions of our clients' retainers.
Clients can cancel an investigation at any time.
Please read this agreement carefully. It contains important information about your rights and obligations.
GLBA Compliance
When conducting comprehensive asset searches, we obtain information on individual and business financial accounts in a legal and ethical manner.
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), 15 U.S.C. § 6801 et. seq., requires U.S. financial institutions to take steps to safeguard and protect nonpublic private information of their customers from improper or inadvertent disclosure. A key provision of the Act is to prohibit “pretexting” of individuals or financial institutions to obtain bank account information. This means it is illegal to impersonate an account-holder or a representative of a financial institution, or to make false statements to a bank customer or to a bank, to access protected bank account information.
Hudson and its employees strictly adhere to the terms of GLBA in conducting asset investigations and account searches. We do not engage in pretexting to obtain bank, brokerage or mutual fund account information.
FCRA Notice
The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., as amended, was enacted to promote the accuracy, fairness, and privacy of information in the files of consumer reporting agencies. There are many types of consumer reporting agencies, including credit bureaus (Equifax, Transunion, Equifax and Innovis) and specialty agencies that resell information about consumers’ check-writing histories, medical payment records, tenant history, and other credit-related activity. Consumer reporting agencies typically provide information to help their customers evaluate applicants for credit, insurance, housing or employment.
Hudson Intelligence is not a “consumer reporting agency” as defined under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), and the information obtained during our investigations is not collected or provided, in whole or in part, for the purpose of furnishing “consumer reports,” as defined by the FCRA.
Moreover, any information provided by Hudson Intelligence – whether in writing or otherwise – does not constitute a “consumer report” as defined under the FCRA, even if that information pertains to an individual’s credit-worthiness, credit standing, or credit capacity.
Clients are expressly prohibited from using information obtained from Hudson Intelligence to determine an individual’s suitability for: (1) Employment; (2) Insurance; (3) Personal Credit; (4) Education; or (5) Housing.
Financial and Legal Advice
Hudson Intelligence is not an investment advisor, accounting firm, or law firm, and does not provide any investment, financial, accounting or legal advice. Our investigative reports may contain references and information pertaining to specific statutes; for example, we may provide additional context and case citations if the subject of a fraud investigation has been convicted of violating federal securities laws. Our reports may also contain financial figures and general financial insights. For guidance on legal, accounting or investment issues, you should contact a licensed professional in those fields to discuss the matter further.
Representations and Warranties
For compliance purposes, we may request additional records from clients to document the nature and purpose of any investigation conducted by Hudson Intelligence on their behalf. Such records could include a copy of the client’s civil complaint or judgment against the subject of an investigation. By engaging our firm, you agree to provide those records, upon request, at any time before, during and/or after an investigation.
As a client or prospective client, you represent and warrant that your use of Hudson Intelligence and any information obtained and provided by our firm will comply with all applicable laws, including the FCRA, and will not violate the rights of any third party.
You further warrant that there are no injunctions or court orders in effect that prohibit any agent acting on your behalf from investigating, surveilling, or contacting the subject of the investigation.
You must be 18 years of age or older to retain Hudson Intelligence and obtain our services. By using our website and contacting our firm, you affirm that you are 18 years of age or older.
Billing Policies for Cases on Retainer
Most investigations by Hudson Intelligence are conducted on a retainer basis. A written proposal and retainer agreement will be provided to the client prior to retention of our firm, outlining these billing policies.
Retainer fees will be billed to the payment method specified by you upon retaining our firm. Retainer fees are billed on a one-time basis, and your payment information will not be used by us to process any subsequent payments except under your explicit instructions.
Our time and expenses are billed on an hourly basis against the funds on retainer. While conducting an investigation, we would not exceed the agreed-upon budget under any circumstances without approval.
Upon completion, we provide a billing statement itemizing all expenses. Any remaining balance from the retainer is then returned to the client.
Refunds for Cases on Retainer
If you paid a retainer by credit card, any applicable refund (partial or full) of those funds will applied to the payment card used to make the original payment. We will send you a copy of the refund receipt by email as soon as it is processed on our end. Our credit card processor submits refund requests to your bank immediately. You will see the refund as a credit on your account approximately 3 to 10 business days later, depending upon the policies of your bank.
If you paid a retainer by check, money order or bank wire, any applicable refund of those funds will be made in a business check and sent to you by U.S. Mail. You will receive notification by email once the refund check has been mailed.
Cancellation of Cases on Retainer
If you retain our firm to conduct an investigation and subsequently determine those services are no longer needed, please send written notification by email to the lead investigator who is handling your case. You can also notify us at contact@asset.expert.
You may cancel an investigation on retainer at any time. Upon receipt of your notification we will cease all efforts in the investigation.
A final billing statement will be prepared, itemizing all time and expenses incurred as of that date. The retainer will be used to pay those costs; and the remaining funds on retainer will be refunded.
Billing Policies, Refunds and Cancellation for Flat-Fee Cases
Certain casework is conducted by Hudson Intelligence on a flat-fee basis, rather than a retainer basis. These include preliminary assessments for cryptocurrency investigations.
Flat-fee cases will be clearly identified as such in our written proposal to the client.
Prepayment of the fee is required to initiate the investigation.
Flat fees are non-refundable.
A billing statement will be provided for client’s reference upon completion of the assignment.
Changes in Terms
We may revise and update these Terms from time to time. If you are a current or past client, we may attempt to inform you of any material changes by notification to the email address you have provided. Otherwise, you may view the most recent Terms on the Hudson Intelligence websites (www.hudsonintel.com and www.asset.expert).
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about these Terms or wish to contact us for any other reason, please click here to contact us.