This Privacy Policy explains how Review Friends ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you use our website at reviewfriends.org and our review exchange platform (collectively, the "Service"). By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy.
1. Information We Collect
Account Information
When you create an account, we collect the following personal information:
- Full name
- Email address
- Password (stored in encrypted form)
- Review platform profile links (such as Google, Facebook, Yelp, Trustpilot, and other supported platforms)
- Business name and details you provide
Usage Data
We automatically collect certain information when you access and use the Service, including:
- IP address and approximate location
- Browser type and version
- Device type and operating system
- Pages visited and features used within the platform
- Date and time of access
- Referring website or source
- Review request and submission activity
Cookies and Tracking
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to maintain your session, remember your preferences, and understand how the Service is used. You can control cookie settings through your browser, though disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain features.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Create and manage your account
- Process review requests and credit transactions
- Verify that reviews are posted correctly on the target platforms
- Communicate with you about your account, transactions, and platform updates
- Provide customer support and respond to your inquiries
- Improve the Service, including performance, features, and user experience
- Detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, or security issues
- Send you service-related notices and, with your consent, promotional communications
- Comply with legal obligations
3. Information Sharing
We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following circumstances:
- Service Providers: We share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate the platform, process payments, send communications, and analyze usage. These providers are bound by confidentiality agreements and are only permitted to use your information to perform services on our behalf.
- Platform Activity: When you participate in review exchanges, limited profile information (such as your review platform profiles) may be visible to other users as necessary for the exchange process.
- Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
- Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or control of your personal information.
4. Data Security
We take the security of your personal information seriously. We implement industry-standard technical and organizational measures to protect your data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include encryption of data in transit and at rest, secure password hashing, regular security assessments, and access controls.
While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we are committed to maintaining and improving our security practices.
5. Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
- Correction: You can request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
- Deletion: You can request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain exceptions (such as legal retention requirements).
- Portability: You can request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
- Objection: You can object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
- Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on your consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at support@reviewfriends.org. We will respond to your request within 30 days.
6. Cookies
Our Service uses the following types of cookies:
- Essential Cookies: Required for the Service to function properly. These include session cookies that keep you logged in and security cookies that help protect your account.
- Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with the Service by collecting information about pages visited, time spent on the site, and other usage metrics. This data is aggregated and anonymized.
- Preference Cookies: Store your settings and preferences to provide a more personalized experience on return visits.
You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. Please note that blocking essential cookies may prevent you from using certain features of the Service.
7. Third-Party Services
The Service may integrate with or link to third-party services, including payment processors, analytics providers, and review platforms. These third-party services have their own privacy policies, and we encourage you to review them. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of any third-party services.
When you connect your review platform profiles to Review Friends, we access only the information necessary to facilitate the review exchange process. We do not access or store your login credentials for any third-party review platform.
8. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with the Service. If you close your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within 90 days, unless we are required to retain it for legal, accounting, or compliance purposes.
Usage data and analytics may be retained in anonymized or aggregated form for longer periods to help us improve the Service.
9. Children's Privacy
The Service is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe that a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at support@reviewfriends.org.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. If we make significant changes, we will notify you by email or through a notice on the Service.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.
11. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:
- Email: support@reviewfriends.org
- Website: reviewfriends.org/contact