Privacy Policy

Introduction

EstimateGenie ("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 service estimate platform at estimategenie.net (the "Service").

Please read this privacy policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access the Service.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide to Us

We collect information that you voluntarily provide when using our Service:

• Job Details: Service category, job description, location, photos, and other details you provide to generate estimates
• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number (only if you choose to connect with vendors)
• Account Information: Username, password, and profile information (only if you create an account)
• Communications: Messages you send to us or vendors through the platform
• Feedback: Ratings, reviews, and other feedback you provide

Information Automatically Collected

When you access our Service, we automatically collect certain information:

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages viewed, time spent, clicks, navigation paths, search queries
• Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address (for pricing calculations)
• Cookies and Tracking: Session cookies, analytics cookies, preference cookies

Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from:

• VendorNet: Vendor profiles, ratings, and service area information
• Analytics Providers: Aggregated usage statistics and performance metrics
• Payment Processors: Transaction information (if you purchase premium features)

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide Estimates: Generate accurate price ranges based on your job details
• Connect You with Vendors: Match you with qualified vendors in your area
• Improve Our Service: Analyze usage patterns and optimize estimate accuracy
• Communicate with You: Send estimate copies, vendor matches, and service updates
• Ensure Security: Detect fraud, prevent abuse, and protect user safety
• Comply with Legal Obligations: Respond to legal requests and enforce our terms
• Personalize Experience: Remember your preferences and recent estimates

How We Share Your Information

With Your Consent

We share your job details and contact information with vendors only when you explicitly choose to connect with them. You control which vendors receive your information.

With Service Providers

We share information with third-party service providers who help us operate our Service:

• Hosting Providers: Cloudflare, Vercel (infrastructure and CDN)
• Analytics Services: Plausible Analytics (privacy-focused analytics)
• Email Services: SendGrid (transactional emails)
• Payment Processors: Stripe (payment processing for premium features)

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for specified purposes.

With VendorNet

EstimateGenie is operated by VendorNet. We share information between EstimateGenie and VendorNet to provide integrated services, improve vendor matching, and enhance estimate accuracy.

For Legal Reasons

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to:

• Valid legal processes (subpoenas, court orders, warrants)
• Requests from law enforcement or government agencies
• Protection of our rights, property, or safety
• Prevention of fraud or illegal activity

Business Transfers

If EstimateGenie is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred. We will notify you before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

We Do NOT Sell Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. Your job details and contact information are never sold to advertisers or data brokers.

Data Retention

We retain your information for different periods depending on the type:

• Estimates Without Account: 90 days, then automatically deleted
• Account Information: Until you delete your account, then 30 days
• Photos: 90 days, then automatically deleted
• Usage Analytics: Aggregated data retained indefinitely (anonymized)
• Legal Compliance: As required by law (typically 7 years for financial records)

Your Privacy Rights

Access and Portability

You have the right to:

• Access your personal information
• Request a copy of your data in a portable format
• Know what information we have about you

Correction and Deletion

You have the right to:

• Correct inaccurate information
• Delete your account and associated data
• Request deletion of specific estimates or photos

Opt-Out Rights

You have the right to:

• Opt out of marketing emails (unsubscribe link in every email)
• Disable cookies (may affect functionality)
• Decline vendor connections (use estimates without contacting vendors)

California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act:

• Right to know what personal information is collected
• Right to know if personal information is sold or disclosed
• Right to opt out of the sale of personal information (we don't sell)
• Right to deletion of personal information
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights

European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation:

• Right to access your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing
• Right to withdraw consent

Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days. You may need to verify your identity before we process your request.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: All data transmitted using HTTPS/TLS encryption
• Storage Security: Data encrypted at rest using industry-standard encryption
• Access Controls: Limited employee access on a need-to-know basis
• Regular Audits: Security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Incident Response: Procedures for detecting and responding to breaches

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

Children's Privacy

EstimateGenie is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected].

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for the Service to function (session management, security)
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how you use the Service (Plausible Analytics)
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect the functionality of the Service. Most browsers allow you to:

• View and delete cookies
• Block third-party cookies
• Block all cookies (not recommended)
• Clear cookies when you close your browser

Do Not Track

We honor Do Not Track (DNT) signals. When DNT is enabled in your browser, we do not track your activity across other websites.

Third-Party Links

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites (vendor websites, VendorNet, etc.). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these websites. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing any information.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. By using our Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and other countries where we operate.

For European users, we ensure adequate protection through:

• Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission
• Privacy Shield certification (where applicable)
• Other legally approved transfer mechanisms

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy on this page
• Updating the "Last updated" date at the top
• Sending an email notification (for material changes)
• Displaying a prominent notice on our Service

Your continued use of the Service after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Mail: EstimateGenie Privacy Team, c/o VendorNet, [Address]
• Phone: [Phone Number]

For data protection inquiries from European users, you may also contact our Data Protection Officer at [email protected].

Supervisory Authority

If you are in the European Economic Area and believe we have not adequately addressed your privacy concerns, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection supervisory authority.