Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

WashMates ("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 laundry pickup and delivery service.

We comply with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable provincial privacy laws in Canada. By using our services, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

Personal Information

When you create an account or use our services, we collect:

• Name, email address, and phone number
• Pickup and delivery addresses
• Payment information (processed securely through Stripe)
• Order history and preferences

Usage Information

We automatically collect certain information when you use our service:

• Device information (type, operating system)
• IP address and general location
• Service usage patterns and interactions

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide and manage our laundry services
• Process payments securely
• Communicate order updates and customer support
• Improve our services and user experience
• Comply with legal obligations

4. Information Sharing and Third-Party Services

We share your information only as necessary:

• With WashMates: Your name, pickup/delivery address, and order details are shared with assigned WashMates to complete your order
• Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights

Third-Party Service Providers

We use the following trusted third-party services. Under PIPEDA, we remain accountable for your data even when shared with these providers:

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit (HTTPS/TLS)
• Secure database access controls
• Regular security audits
• Payment processing through PCI-compliant Stripe

6. Your Privacy Rights Under PIPEDA

Under Canadian privacy law (PIPEDA), you have the following rights:

• Right to Access: You can request a copy of all personal information we hold about you
• Right to Correction: You can request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to Deletion: You can request deletion of your account and personal information (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Right to Withdraw Consent: You can withdraw consent for marketing communications or optional data processing at any time
• Right to File a Complaint: You can file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you believe we have violated PIPEDA
• Right to Data Portability: You can request your data in a portable format

7. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, analyze usage, and improve our services. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy:

• Active Accounts: Data retained while your account is active and for 7 years after account closure (for legal/tax purposes as required by Canadian law)
• Order Records: Retained for 7 years to comply with Canadian tax and accounting requirements
• Payment Data: We do not store payment card information; Stripe retains payment records according to their retention policy and PCI-DSS requirements
• Marketing Consent: Retained until you withdraw consent or unsubscribe
• Delivery Photos: Retained for 90 days after order completion for verification purposes, then deleted unless needed for dispute resolution

You may request early deletion of your data by exercising your right to deletion (see Section 6), subject to legal retention requirements.

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect information from children.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of significant changes via email or through our service. Continued use of our service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, including PIPEDA. Any disputes will be resolved in the courts of Ontario, Canada.

12. Contact Us

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