Privacy Policy

Effective date: 1st May 2024

1. Introduction

Serviceify ("the Company," "we," "us") is committed to protecting the privacy of our users. This Privacy Policy (the "Policy") outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your Personal Information when you use our platform (the "Platform"), associated services (collectively the "Services"), and any of our related platforms, including Serviceify Pro. This policy applies regardless of how you access the Services, including through our website, mobile applications on iOS and Android, or other digital platforms.

Serviceify offers a core platform connecting individuals and businesses seeking services with skilled professionals. For service providers, we offer Serviceify Pro, a premium service with enhanced features and tools.

2. Definitions

• "Personal Information": Any information that directly or indirectly identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked with a particular individual or household.
• "Processing": Any operation or set of operations performed upon Personal Information, whether by automated means or not, including collection, recording, organization, structuring, storage, adaptation, alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination, or otherwise making available, erasure, or destruction.
• "Data Controller": Serviceify acts as the Data Controller for most Personal Information collected, determining the means and purposes of Processing.
• "Data Processor": Where Serviceify engages third-party service providers to process Personal Information (e.g., secure payment platforms), these third parties may act as Data Processors under our instructions.

3. Types of Information Collected

• Account Information: Name, email address, and other information you provide when creating and maintaining an account.
• Usage Information: IP address, device type and identifiers, browser information, operating system, platform usage patterns, and dates/times of access.
• Service-Specific Information: Details related to the types of services sought or offered through the Platform, including project descriptions, pricing information, and other details relevant to facilitating service agreements.
• Communications: If your Platform use involves direct communication between users, we may collect the content of those communications to the extent necessary to facilitate the Services or address disputes.

4. How Information is Collected

• Directly from Users: When you provide information during registration, profile updates, service transactions, or communications.
• Automated Collection: Through cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies used to analyze Platform usage trends and improve functionality.
• Third-Party Sources: In limited circumstances, and only with your explicit consent when required, we may obtain Personal Information from third parties (e.g., identity verification services, social media platforms if login is enabled).

5. Purposes of Data Collection

We Process Personal Information for the following purposes:

• Operating the Platform: Providing core functionalities, connecting Service Seekers and Providers, and facilitating communication.
• Service Improvement: Analytics of usage patterns to optimize platform features and user experience.
• Security: Detecting and preventing fraud, abuse, or other threats to the integrity of the Platform.
• Legal Compliance: Fulfilling obligations under applicable laws, such as responding to legal requests or reporting suspected illegal activity.
• Marketing: With your explicit consent, we may use Personal Information to personalize offers and send promotional communications. You can withdraw consent at any time.

6. Legal Basis for Data Processing

Our Processing of Personal Information is based on the following legal grounds, depending on the specific data and the context:

• Consent: Where required by law, we rely on your freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous consent before Processing Personal Information.
• Contract Performance: Necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations towards users of the Services.
• Legitimate Interests: Where our legitimate business interests justify Processing, provided they do not outweigh your fundamental rights and freedoms.
• Legal Obligations: Compliance with legal or regulatory requirements.

7. Data Sharing

We may share your Personal Information in the following limited circumstances:

• Internal Operations: We may share information within Serviceify among personnel who need it to provide the Services, improve our platform, or fulfill administrative functions.
• Third-Party Service Providers: We may engage third-party companies or individuals to assist with specific aspects of our Services, such as cloud hosting, data analytics, or marketing. We only share necessary information and ensure these providers have appropriate data protection measures in place.
• Payment Processing: Serviceify does not handle payment transactions. For Serviceify Pro Membership only, we utilize Stripe (www.stripe.com) for subscription management. Users are encouraged to review Stripe's privacy policy to understand how their information is handled. Please note, Serviceify does not collect or store payment card details or other sensitive financial information.
• Technical Infrastructure: We use Google Services to support the technical backend of our website and mobile applications. This may involve the processing of some Personal Information as necessary to provide a reliable and secure platform experience.

8. Data Security

Serviceify is committed to safeguarding your Personal Information. We implement and maintain reasonable technical and organizational security measures designed to protect your Personal Information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or misuse. These measures include:

• Technical: We encrypt passwords, both in transit (when being sent over the internet) and at rest (when stored on our systems).
• Organizational: Employee training on data privacy and security principles, restricted access based on job functions, incident response plans, and breach notification procedures in compliance with applicable laws.

Since we partner with Stripe, a leading payment processor with strong security measures, to collect payments for Serviceify Pro. For details on Stripe's security practices, please refer to their website (www.stripe.com).

Please note that no security measures are perfect or impenetrable. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your Personal Information.

9. Data Retention

We retain Personal Information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Policy, or as required to comply with legal obligations. Factors determining retention periods include:

• The ongoing need to provide the Services and maintain your account.
• Legal or regulatory requirements (e.g., financial record-keeping, tax obligations).
• The need to preserve evidence or defend potential legal claims.

You may request the deletion of your Personal Information (see User Rights below), subject to permissible exceptions outlined in applicable laws.

10. International Data Transfers

If our service providers or technical infrastructure are located outside of Canada, this may necessitate international data transfers. We take steps to ensure your Personal Information remains adequately protected when transferred internationally, including:

• Contractual Safeguards: We implement appropriate contractual safeguards with our international service providers to ensure they maintain standards of data protection equivalent to those required within Canada.
• Privacy Shield Frameworks: Where applicable, we may rely on Privacy Shield frameworks (such as the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield) for data transfers to specific countries.

11. User Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your Personal Information:

• Access: The right to request confirmation of whether we hold your Personal Information and to obtain a copy, along with details about the Processing.
• Correction: The right to request rectification of inaccurate or incomplete Personal Information about you.
• Deletion (Right to be Forgotten): The right to request erasure of your Personal Information, subject to legal or regulatory exceptions.
• Restriction of Processing: The right to request temporary or permanent restriction of certain Processing activities.
• Data Portability: The right to receive your Personal Information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format, and to request its transmission to another Data Controller (where applicable).
• Objection: The right to object to certain Processing, particularly direct marketing, or Processing based on 'legitimate interests'.
• Complaint Mechanisms: The right to lodge a complaint with us or a relevant data protection authority if you have concerns about our handling of your Personal Information.

To exercise your rights, please contact Ghaith Darwish. We will respond to requests in accordance with applicable laws and may require verification of your identity.

12. Automated Decision-Making

Serviceify may utilize automated decision-making tools for certain purposes. These tools process your Personal Information to produce decisions without human intervention. You have the right to:

• Obtain further information on the logic involved in the automated process.
• Express your point of view and request human review of the decision.
• Challenge a decision you believe to be inaccurate or unfair.

13. Children's Privacy

Our Services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from children below this age. If we become aware we have inadvertently collected Personal Information from a child, we will take steps to delete this information promptly, except where retention is legally required. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with Personal Information, please contact us.

14. Privacy Policy Updates

Serviceify may modify this Privacy Policy from time to time. Significant changes will be communicated to you via prominent notice on our website, email, or other methods as appropriate. Continued use of our Services following changes confirms your acknowledgment of the updated Policy.

15. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or complaints about our Privacy Policy or practices, please contact our designated Privacy Officer at:

GHAITH DARWISH
Contact@serviceify.ca
Windsor, ON, Canada