Privacy Policy
1. Information We Collect
Account and contact information
We may collect names, email addresses, phone numbers, passwords in hashed form, account role, and related login/account information.
Homeowner and project information
We may collect project titles, descriptions, service categories, ZIP codes, photos, quotes received or accepted, reviews, and communications relating to projects.
Professional profile and verification information
We may collect business names, service areas, services offered, experience, profile photos or work photos, and credential information. When verification is enabled, we may also collect identity, insurance, license, business, or similar documents. Some verification information may be sensitive personal information under applicable law.
Communications and reviews
We may collect messages sent through the Platform, support communications, reviews, ratings, and reports about users or projects.
Device and usage information
Our servers and service providers may collect IP address, browser/device type, timestamps, pages or features used, security logs, and similar technical information needed to operate and protect the Platform.
2. How We Use Information
We use personal information to create and maintain accounts; match project opportunities by service area and category; display relevant profiles and project information; enable quotes, messages, reviews, and dashboards; process professional memberships; verify credentials; prevent fraud and abuse; secure and troubleshoot the Platform; provide support; comply with law; enforce agreements; and improve Platform features.
We may use aggregated or de-identified information for analytics and business planning where permitted by law.
3. How Information Is Disclosed
We may disclose information:
- Between marketplace users when needed to present profiles, projects, quotes, reviews, accepted jobs, or communications.
- To service providers that support hosting, databases, security, email or communications, file storage, analytics, payment processing, and other business operations, subject to appropriate contractual or legal safeguards where required.
- For legal and safety reasons when reasonably necessary to comply with law, respond to valid process, investigate fraud or security issues, protect rights or safety, or enforce our agreements.
- In a business transaction involving a merger, financing, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, subject to applicable law.
We do not sell personal information for money. If our practices later involve “selling” or “sharing” personal information as those terms are defined by applicable California privacy law, we will provide any required notice and opt-out method.
4. Membership Payments and Stripe
Professional membership payments are processed by Stripe or another disclosed payment processor. Payment processors may collect payment-card, billing, authentication, fraud-prevention, and transaction information directly under their own privacy terms. The Proper Handyman generally receives subscription and transaction metadata needed to manage memberships rather than full payment-card numbers.
5. Retention and Security
We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, including providing accounts and marketplace features, maintaining records, resolving disputes, enforcing agreements, preventing fraud, and meeting legal obligations. Retention periods may vary by information type and legal requirement.
We use administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information. No online service or storage system can guarantee absolute security. Users are responsible for protecting account credentials and promptly reporting suspected unauthorized access.
Verification documents should be stored outside the publicly accessible website and made available only to authorized personnel and systems that require access for verification or legal purposes.
6. California Privacy Rights
Depending on which California privacy laws apply to The Proper Handyman and your information, California residents may have rights to request access to categories or specific pieces of personal information, deletion, correction, information about disclosures, and—where applicable—opt out of sale or sharing or limit certain uses of sensitive personal information.
We will not unlawfully discriminate against a user for exercising an applicable privacy right. We may need to verify identity before completing a request and may deny or limit a request where an exception applies.
To submit a privacy request, use the privacy/support contact method published on the Platform. An authorized agent may submit a request where permitted by law, subject to verification requirements.
7. Children and Third-Party Services
The Platform is intended for adults and is not directed to children under 18. We do not knowingly allow children under 18 to create marketplace accounts.
The Platform may link to or use third-party services, such as Stripe. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies, and this Privacy Policy does not control third-party websites or services.
8. Changes and Contact
We may update this Privacy Policy as the Platform changes. We will update the effective date and provide additional notice for material changes when required by law.
For privacy questions or requests, contact The Proper Handyman through the privacy/support method published on the Platform.