The EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) comes into force across the European Union on 25th May 2018 and brings with it the most significant changes to data protection law in two decades. Based on privacy by design and taking a risk-based approach, the GDPR has been designed to meet the requirements of the digital age.

The 21st Century brings with it broader use of technology, new definitions of what constitutes personal data, and a vast increase in cross-border processing. The new Regulation aims to standardize data protection laws and processing across the EU; affording individuals stronger, more consistent rights to access and control their personal information.

Enhnaced Payment Systems, LLC (“Enhanced”, "EPS", “We”, “Our”, “Us”) is committed to ensuring the security and protection of the personal information that we process and to providing a compliant and consistent approach to data protection. We have always had a robust and effective data protection program in place that complies with existing law and abides by data protection principles. However, we recognize our obligations in updating and expanding this program to meet the demands of the GDPR.

EPS is dedicated to safeguarding the personal information under our control and in developing a data protection program that is effective, fit for purpose, and demonstrates an understanding of the new Regulation. Our preparation and objectives for GDPR compliance have been summarized in this statement and include the development and implementation of new data protection roles, policies, procedures, controls, and measures to ensure maximum and ongoing compliance.

Information Audit – carrying out a company-wide information audit to identify and assess what personal information we hold, where it comes from, how and why it is processed, and if and to whom it is disclosed.

Policies & Procedures – implemented new data protection policies and procedures to meet the requirements and standards of the GDPR and any relevant data protection laws, including: –

Data Protection – our main policy and procedure document for data protection has been overhauled to meet the standards and requirements of the GDPR. Accountability and governance measures are in place to ensure that we understand and adequately disseminate and evidence our obligations and responsibilities; with a dedicated focus on privacy by design and the rights of individuals.

Data Retention & Erasure – we have updated our retention policy and schedule to ensure that we meet the ‘data minimization’ and ‘storage limitation’ principles and that personal information is stored, archived, and destroyed compliantly and ethically. We have dedicated erasure procedures in place to meet the new ‘Right to Erasure’ obligation and are aware of when this and other data subject’s rights apply; along with any exemptions, response timeframes, and notification responsibilities.

Data Breaches – our breach procedures ensure that we have safeguards and measures in place to identify, assess, investigate, and report any personal data breach at the earliest possible time. Our procedures are robust and have been disseminated to all employees, making them aware of the reporting lines and steps to follow.

International Data Transfers & Third-Party Disclosures – where EPS stores or transfers personal information outside the EU, we have robust procedures and safeguarding measures in place to secure, encrypt and maintain the integrity of the data. Our procedures include a continual review of the countries with sufficient adequacy decisions, as well as provisions for binding corporate rules; standard data protection clauses, or approved codes of conduct for those countries without. We carry out strict due diligence checks with all recipients of personal data to assess and verify that they have appropriate safeguards in place to protect the information, ensure enforceable data subject rights, and have effective legal remedies for data subjects where applicable.

Subject Access Request (SAR) – we have revised our SAR procedures to accommodate the revised 30-day timeframe for providing the requested information and for making this provision free of charge. Our new procedures detail how to verify the data subject, what steps to take for processing an access request, what exemptions apply, and a suite of response templates to ensure that communications with data subjects are compliant, consistent, and adequate.

Legal Basis for Processing – we have reviewed all processing activities to identify the legal basis for processing and ensure that each basis is appropriate for the activity it relates. Where applicable, we also maintain records of our processing activities, ensuring that our obligations under Article 30 of the GDPR are met.

Privacy Notice/Policy – we have revised our Privacy Notice(s) to comply with the GDPR, ensuring that all individuals whose personal information we process have been informed of why we need it, how it is used, what their rights are, who the information is disclosed to and what safeguarding measures are in place to protect their information.

Obtaining Consent – have revised our consent mechanisms for obtaining personal data, ensuring that individuals understand what they are providing, why and how we use it, and giving clear, defined ways to consent to us processing their information. We have developed stringent processes for recording consent, making sure that we can evidence an affirmative opt-in, along with time and date records; and an easy-to-see and accessible way to withdraw consent at any time.

Direct Marketing – we have revised the wording and processes for direct marketing, including clear opt-in mechanisms for marketing subscriptions; a clear notice and method for opting out, and providing unsubscribe features on all subsequent marketing materials.

Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) – where we process personal information that is considered high risk, involves large-scale processing, or includes special category/criminal conviction data; we have developed stringent procedures and assessment templates for carrying out impact assessments that comply fully with the GDPR’s Article 35 requirements. We have implemented documentation processes that record each assessment, allow us to rate the risk posed by the processing activity, and implement mitigating measures to reduce the risk posed to the data subject(s).

Processor Agreements – where we use any third party to process personal information on our behalf (i.e. Payroll, Recruitment, Hosting, etc…), we have drafted compliant Processor Agreements and due diligence procedures for ensuring that they (as well as we), meet and understand their/our GDPR obligations. These measures include initial and ongoing reviews of the service provided, the necessity of the processing activity, the technical and organizational measures in place, and compliance with the GDPR.

Special Categories Data – EPS does not require special categories of data to provide services, however, if we obtain and process any special category information, we will do so in complete compliance with the Article 9 requirements and have high-level encryptions and protections on all such data. Special category data is only processed where necessary and is only processed where we have first identified the appropriate Article 9(2) basis or the Data Protection Bill Schedule 1 condition. Where we rely on consent for processing, this is explicit and is verified by a signature, with the right to modify or remove consent being clearly signposted.

In addition to the policies and procedures mentioned above that ensure individuals can enforce their data protection rights, we provide a process to request information EPS processes about them and to request information about: –

EPS takes the privacy and security of individuals and their personal information very seriously and takes every reasonable measure and precaution to protect and secure the personal data that we process. We have robust information security policies and procedures in place to protect personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction and have several layers of security measures, including but not limited to: –

EPS has appointed a data privacy team to develop and implement our roadmap for complying with the new data protection Regulation. The team is responsible for promoting awareness of the GDPR across the organization, assessing our GDPR readiness, identifying any gap areas, and implementing new policies, procedures, and measures.

EPS understands that continuous employee awareness and understanding is vital to continued compliance with the GDPR and we have involved our employees in our preparation plans. Additionally, we have implemented training, which has been provided to all employees and forms part of our induction and annual training program.

Contact Us

ATTN: Privacy Dept.

Enhnaced Payment Systems, LLC

8501 W Higgins Rd, Suite 250

Chicago IL, 60631