Privacy Policy

Introduction

TheHandyHack ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our neighborhood helper marketplace platform. By using our service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

Information We Collect

Personal Information

• Name, email address, and phone number
• Profile information and biography
• Location and neighborhood information
• Payment information (processed securely through Stripe)
• Stripe collects identity and payout details during provider onboarding; we store account identifiers and onboarding status.
• The versions of the terms and privacy notice acknowledged at signup, with acceptance timestamps and age confirmation.

Usage Information

• Job postings, responses, and communications
• Payment-resolution selections, private reports, supporting evidence, and administrator decisions
• Reviews and ratings
• Platform usage patterns and preferences
• Device information and IP address

How We Use Your Information

• Connect customers with local handymen
• Process payments and transactions
• Verify email ownership and support Stripe payout onboarding
• Send notifications about job updates
• Improve our platform and services
• Provide customer support
• Investigate reported jobs, reduce retaliation risk, and administer payment resolutions
• Comply with legal obligations

Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• With other users: Profile information visible to facilitate connections
• With service providers: Stripe for payments and payout onboarding, Resend for email, Neon for database hosting, and Cloudinary for uploaded images. Address searches are sent to OpenStreetMap Nominatim.
• For safety: With law enforcement when required by law
• During job resolution: Authorized administrators may review shared job messages, transaction records, selections, and privately submitted reports. We may withhold report details initially when reasonably necessary for safety or retaliation concerns, but cannot promise permanent confidentiality.
• Business transfers: In case of merger or acquisition

Data Security

We use password hashing and access controls to protect account data. Stripe processes card details; we store payment identifiers, amounts, and transaction status, but not full card numbers. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access and update your personal information
• Request deletion of your account and data
• Opt out of marketing communications
• Request a copy of your data
• File a complaint with supervisory authorities

Cookies and Tracking

We use strictly necessary cookies to maintain your session and provide core functionality. Non-essential cookies (functional, analytics, and marketing) are off by default and only activate after you opt in through our cookie banner. We currently do not sell personal information or run advertising trackers.

You choose what we save: click “Cookie settings” in the footer at any time to change your preferences. See our Cookie Policy for the complete list of cookies by category.

Your California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CCPA/CPRA) grants you the following rights:

• Right to know: Request the categories and specific pieces of personal information we collect, use, disclose, and “share” about you.
• Right to delete: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal retention exceptions (see “Data Retention” below).
• Right to correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information.
• Right to portability: Receive your personal information in a portable, readily usable format.
• Right to opt out of sale/sharing: Opt out of the “sale” or “sharing” of your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.
• Right to limit sensitive personal information: Limit the use of sensitive personal information (such as precise location or account credentials) to the purposes permitted by law.
• Right to non-retaliation: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of these rights.

To exercise any of these rights, email privacy@thehandyhack.com. We will verify your request and respond within the timeframes required by law (generally 45 days). You may use an authorized agent to submit a request, subject to verification.

Data Retention

We keep personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy:

• Account information: Until you request deletion; after deletion, records are anonymized so work-related messages can remain available as fraud evidence.
• Transaction and payment records: Retained as required by tax and accounting laws.
• Dispute and safety records: Retained as needed for legal claims, fraud prevention, and platform safety.
• Cookie consent choices: Stored for 6 months, or until you change or clear them.

Children's Privacy

Our service is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any significant changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. Continued use of our service constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: