Smoothquill
Legal · Investigator Referral

Acceptable Use Policy

Smoothquill LLC · Last updated July 14, 2026

This policy sets out how you may — and may not — use Smoothquill's investigator referral service and any information obtained through it. It supplements our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. By using the service, you agree to these rules.

The core rule: You must have a lawful, permissible purpose for every request, and you must use any information you receive only for that purpose and within the law. If you're not sure whether your purpose is permissible, it probably needs review before you proceed.

Permissible purpose

Investigative services and the data behind them are regulated by laws including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). By submitting a request, you represent that you have a lawful, permissible purpose — for example, legitimate personal safety concerns, locating a person for a lawful reason, due diligence, fraud prevention, litigation support, or service of process.

Prohibited uses

You may not use the service, or any information obtained through it, to:

  • Stalk, harass, intimidate, threaten, or cause harm to any person;
  • Commit fraud, identity theft, or any other crime;
  • Unlawfully discriminate against any person;
  • Make decisions about employment, credit, housing, insurance, or other purposes governed by the FCRA, unless the work is performed by a properly authorized consumer reporting agency (Smoothquill is not one, and does not provide consumer reports);
  • Contact, locate, or surveil a person in violation of a protective order, restraining order, or other court order;
  • Obtain or use protected personal information (such as driver or financial data) without a purpose permitted under the applicable law;
  • Violate any person's legal rights, or any local, state, or federal law.

Your certifications

When you submit a request, you certify that:

  • The information you provide is accurate;
  • You have a lawful, permissible purpose for the request;
  • You will not use the service or any results for a prohibited purpose listed above;
  • You will comply with all applicable laws, including GLBA, DPPA, and FCRA.

Independent investigator's own rules

The licensed investigator you engage may require additional certifications, documentation of permissible purpose, or a separate engagement agreement before performing any work. Those requirements apply in addition to this policy.

Enforcement

We may decline, pause, or refuse to route any request, and may decline to work with anyone, at our discretion — particularly where a request appears to lack a permissible purpose or to risk unlawful use. Investigators may likewise decline any matter. Misuse may be reported to appropriate authorities where required or appropriate.

Changes

We may update this policy. The "Last updated" date reflects the current version.

Contact

Questions? Email privacy@smoothquill.com.

Note: This document is provided for general information and does not constitute legal advice. It may be updated from time to time; the effective date above reflects the current version.