Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

OurLocalRI.com ("we," "us," "our," or "Company") operates the OurLocalRI.com website and application. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use our services.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Services. By accessing or using OurLocalRI.com, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by all the provisions of this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

• Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, and password.
• Business Information: Business owners provide business name, address, phone, website, category, hours, photos, and descriptions.
• Contact Information: When you contact us, we collect your name, email, phone number, and message content.
• Review Information: Users can submit reviews including name, email, rating, and comments about businesses.
• Payment Information: When subscribing to paid plans, payment details are processed securely through Stripe. We do not store full credit card numbers.

Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifier.
• Usage Information: Pages visited, time spent, clicks, searches, and interactions with businesses.
• Location Information: General location data based on IP address (not precise GPS).
• Cookies: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information for:

• Creating and maintaining your account
• Processing transactions and sending related confirmations
• Providing customer support and responding to inquiries
• Sending administrative updates and security alerts
• Marketing communications (with your consent)
• Improving and personalizing our Services
• Detecting and preventing fraud and abuse
• Complying with legal obligations
• Analyzing usage patterns and trends

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

Publicly Available Information

Business listings, reviews, and public business information are displayed on our website and app for anyone to view. This includes business names, addresses, phone numbers, websites, photos, hours, and reviews.

Third-Party Service Providers

We share information with service providers who assist us, including:

• Stripe for payment processing
• Email services for communications
• Analytics providers
• Cloud hosting providers

Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. This includes:

• HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
• Secure password storage with encryption
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and authentication protocols

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to provide our Services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this Policy. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by contacting us.

Some information may be retained longer if required by law or for legitimate business purposes, such as dispute resolution.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Access and Correction

You can access and update your account information by logging into your account. Business owners can update their business listing information anytime.

Marketing Communications

You can opt out of promotional emails by clicking the unsubscribe link in any marketing message or by adjusting your account preferences.

Cookies

You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect certain features of our Services.

Account Deletion

You may request deletion of your account and associated personal information by contacting us. Please note that some information may be retained for legal or operational reasons.

8. Third-Party Links

Our Services may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

9. Children's Privacy

OurLocalRI.com is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected such information, we will take steps to delete it promptly.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our Services following such changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, our privacy practices, or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us at: