What Tribute Technology may collect and share — a plain-language explainer for families

Being asked to use Tribute Technology for a service? It's reasonable to wonder what information you're handing over and where it might end up. This is a plain-language summary of what Tribute Technology describes in its privacy notice - not legal advice, and not a facility-specific rulebook. Before you sign up or submit anything, confirm whether your facility or service provider actually uses Tribute Technology and which product you're being directed to.

Here are the main categories of personal information Tribute Technology says it may collect when you use its services or interact with the company. I've included their wording, then translated what it typically means in everyday terms.

Tribute says it may collect basic contact information, like your name, phone number, mailing address, and email address. This is the kind of information you typically provide when you create an account, place an order, or need updates about a service.

If you make a purchase or payment through a Tribute service, Tribute says it may collect payment-related details. That can include your billing address and credit card details, which are commonly needed to process a transaction and handle issues like refunds or payment disputes.

Tribute also says it may collect account information, such as a username and password, along with transaction history. In plain terms, that’s the information tied to your login and a record of what you did through the service (for example, past orders or other activity that counts as a transaction).

Anything you submit through the service can become part of what's collected. Tribute says this includes communications (like questions you send in), your marketing preferences, and user-generated content such as photos and videos. If you upload or type it into a Tribute-powered page, assume it may be stored and used as part of providing the service.

The other half of the privacy question: who else might receive your information? Tribute's privacy notice describes several types of recipients, depending on what you're doing and which service you're using.

Tribute says it may share your information with its

Tribute also discloses information to third-party service providers and professional advisors that support its business. Examples include website development and hosting, payment processing, marketing management, service optimization, vendors that fulfill orders for funeral-related items (like flowers), and data analytics. Professional advisors - attorneys and accountants - are also mentioned.

One thing families often look for: does this company sell data? Tribute states it does not sell personal information and does not share personal information with third parties for those third parties' direct marketing purposes.

How long does Tribute keep your information? The company says it retains personal information no longer than reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes it was collected for, or to comply with the law. It also lists specific reasons data may be kept longer: preventing fraud, facilitating an investigation, defending against legal claims, or exercising legal rights.

Tribute says its services aren't directed to children and that it doesn't knowingly collect information from anyone under 16. If a minor is helping a family manage arrangements, have an adult handle the account and submissions so the information stays under the right person's control.

Tribute Technology's privacy policy was last updated on January 28, 2025. Update dates matter - categories of data, sharing practices, and retention language can change over time.

If you're supporting someone who is incarcerated, you're often juggling time pressure and a lot of paperwork. The simplest way to protect yourself: slow down for a minute before creating accounts, uploading photos, or entering payment details. Confirm you're using the right vendor, read the privacy notice on the service you're actually using, and only provide what's needed for the task at hand. Remember that "sharing" can include the client organization and outside vendors that help run the service - not just the company name you see on the screen.

• ✓ Confirm whether your facility or service provider is actually using Tribute Technology for the service you’re trying to access.
• ✓ Before you sign up, note that Tribute says it may collect contact info like your name, phone number, mailing address, and email.
• ✓ If you’re paying, expect collection of payment-related details like billing address and credit card details.
• ✓ If you create an account, assume account information like username/password and transaction history may be collected.
• ✓ Be cautious with what you upload or type: Tribute says communications can include questions you submit, marketing preferences, and user-generated content like photos and videos.
• ✓ Review who information may be shared with: Tribute says it may share with its Clients in connection with those clients providing services to you.
• ✓ Look for third-party involvement: Tribute says it may disclose data to service providers (like hosting, payment processing, marketing, vendors fulfilling funeral-related items such as flowers, and data analytics) and to professional advisors.
• ✓ If selling/marketing is your main worry, note that Tribute states it does not sell personal information or share it for third parties’ direct marketing.
• ✓ Think about retention: Tribute says it keeps personal information no longer than reasonably necessary for the purpose collected, or for legal/fraud/investigation/legal-claims/legal-rights reasons.
• ✓ If a teen is helping, remember Tribute says it doesn’t knowingly collect or maintain information from people under 16 and the services aren’t directed to children.
• ✓ Check the “last updated” date (Tribute’s policy lists January 28, 2025) so you know which version you’re relying on.