Privacy Policy

Last Updated: March 01, 2021

Thank you for using HelpBuddie!

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy describes how HelpBuddie, Inc. a Delaware, USA Company will gather, use, and maintain your personal information. It will also explain your legal rights to control our use of that information.

By using the HelpBuddie Platform, you confirm that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions & Disclaimer (together referred to herein as the “Agreement”). The Agreement governs the use of the HelpBuddie Platform. HelpBuddie will gather, use, and maintain information consistent with the Agreement.

2. General Terms

In this Privacy Policy:

• HelpBuddie, Inc. may be referred to as "HelpBuddie," “we,” “our” or “us.”

• We call a user of the HelpBuddie Platform a “User,” or collectively, the “Users.”

• "You" and "You're '' refer to an individual User of the HelpBuddie Platform.

• The community platform that we offer at our website (www.helpbuddie.com) Including any subdomains thereof and mobile apps (iOS and Android) is referred to as the “Site.”

• The platform and related services provided by HelpBuddie, the Site and mobile applications (whether on iOS or Android), including without limitation information provided by HelpBuddie to potential and actual Users in relation to the services, together are called the “HelpBuddie Platform.”

  
  

3. Users Outside Of The U.S.

3(a) Important Information for Users Outside of the U.S. - Transfer of Data

We primarily store data about you, including personal information, on servers located and operated within the United States. If you reside or are located outside of the U.S., we may send and store your personal information (also commonly referred to as personal data) to the U.S. in order to provide and operate the HelpBuddie Platform. By accepting the terms of this Privacy Policy, you acknowledge the transfer to and processing of your personal information on servers located in the U.S. and other countries. If your personal information is transferred from the European economic area to HelpBuddie located in the U.S., please see the EU-US Privacy Shield section below. Our collection and use of the personal information of U.S. Users in accordance with the U.S. laws related to privacy and use of personal data and information, including what is determined to be “personal data and/or information,” are different and may be less protective than those afforded to EU Users under the GDPR.

3(b) EU-US Privacy Shield

HelpBuddie's commitment to comply with the Privacy Shield Principles

HelpBuddie is committed to compliance with the EU-US Privacy Shield (as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce) regarding the collection, use, and retention of personal information from European Union member countries. HelpBuddie has self-certified that it adheres to each of the Privacy Shield Principles:

• Notice, Choice, Accountability for Onward Transfer, Security, Data Integrity and Purpose Limitation, Access, Recourse, Enforcement, and Liability

If there is any conflict between the terms of this Privacy Policy and the Privacy Shield Principles, the Privacy Shield Principles shall govern. To learn more about the Privacy Shield program, and to view our certification, please visit www.privacyshield.gov.

Accountability for onward transfers

The Privacy Shield Principles describe HelpBuddie’s responsibility for personal data that it receives from EU residents under the Privacy Shield and subsequently transfers to a third party processor. In particular, if third-party agents that process personal data on HelpBuddie’s behalf do so in a manner inconsistent with the Privacy Shield Principles, HelpBuddie will remain responsible and liable unless it can prove that it is not responsible for the event giving rise to the damage.

Right of access

You have a legal right to request a copy of the personal information that we have about you. You also have a right to correct, amend or delete such personal information where it is inaccurate or has been processed in violation of the Privacy Shield Principles.

Resolution of disputes and complaint mechanism

In compliance with the Privacy Shield Principles, HelpBuddie commits to resolve complaints about your privacy and our collection or use of your personal information. If European Union citizens have any queries related to the processing of your personal information under the Privacy Shield framework, we encourage you to contact us directly in the first instance at hello@helpbuddie.com, HelpBuddie, Inc. 860 Bryant Ave, New Hyde Park, NY-11040, USA, For any complaints that cannot be resolved with HelpBuddie directly, we have agreed to cooperate with JAMS. If you are unsatisfied with the resolution of your complaint, you may contact JAMS at https://www.jamsadr.com/eu-us-privacy-shield for further information and assistance. These recourse mechanisms are available at no cost to you.

Binding arbitration

As further explained in the Privacy Shield Principles, a binding arbitration option will also be made available to you in order to address residual complaints regarding HelpBuddie’s Privacy Shield certification not resolved by any other means

Enforcement

HelpBuddie is subject to the investigatory and enforcement powers of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Disclosure of EU personal data to public authorities and law enforcement agencies

HelpBuddie may be required to share your personal information in response to lawful requests by public authorities.

3(c) EU users and our lawful bases for using your data

Data protection law in Europe contains a number of "lawful bases," which are legal justifications for allowing organizations like us to have your personal information in the first place. We have been careful to ensure we have a lawful basis for using all EU user data. Our lawful bases include:

• Performing the contract we have with you: In certain circumstances, we need your personal data to comply with our contractual obligation to deliver access to the HelpBuddie Platform. For example, if you are a Client looking for a Tasker to carry out work at your home or office, we need your address so we can share details to Service Providers in the approximate area and tell the Tasker you choose where s/he needs to go.

• Legal compliance: Sometimes the law says we need to collect and use your data. For example, we might pass on details of people involved in fraud or other criminal activity to law enforcement.

• Legitimate interests: this is a technical term in data protection law which really means we have a good and fair reason to use your data and we do so in ways which do not materially impact your interests and rights. We sometimes require your data to pursue our legitimate interests in a manner that might reasonably be expected as part of running our business. For example, we will send you promotional communications about our service, subject to your legal rights to opt-out. We also analyze how Users interact with our Site and the HelpBuddie Platform so we can understand better what elements of the design are working well and which are not working so well. This allows us to develop and improve the quality of the online experience we offer all our Users.

  
  

4. Information Received By HelpBuddie

Personal Information HelpBuddie collects certain information such as your name, address, approximate geographic location of your computer or mobile device, telephone number. We do require that you furnish this information when you register with us as a Tasker or a Client because we need the information in order to provide the HelpBuddie Platform. When you register your account, and through communications transmitted through our Site and your use of the HelpBuddie mobile application, we collect information including your name, address, phone number, and email address. You also may choose to send HelpBuddie personal information in an email message containing inquiries about the HelpBuddie Platform. 

Cookies and Other Technologies. When you visit websites on the Internet, your browser may automatically transmit information to the websites you visit throughout every visit, including ours. In a similar way, when you use our mobile applications, we will access and use mobile device IDs to recognize your device. Like many websites, we use “Cookies” and equivalent techniques through our mobile applications to collect information. A cookie is a small data file that we transfer to your computer’s hard disk.

We utilize persistent cookies that only HelpBuddie can read and use, and access mobile device IDs:

• to save your login information for future logins to the HelpBuddie Platform;

• to assist in processing items during checkout;

• to hold session information; and

• to track user preferences.

• We utilize session ID cookies and similar technologies:

• to enable certain features of the HelpBuddie Platform;

• to better understand how you interact with the Site and the HelpBuddie Platform;

• to monitor usage by our users and web traffic routing on the HelpBuddie Platform;

• to track the number of entries in HelpBuddie promotions, sweepstakes and contests; and

• to identify visited areas of the HelpBuddie Platform.

Unlike persistent cookies, session cookies are deleted from your computer when you log off from the HelpBuddie Platform and then close your browser.

Third-party advertisers on the Site may also place or read cookies on your browser, and we may use Flash Cookies (or local shared objects) to store your preferences or display content based upon what you view on the Site to personalize your visit.

You can instruct your browser, by changing its options, to stop accepting cookies or to prompt you before accepting a cookie from the websites you visit. If you do not accept cookies, however, you will not be able to use all portions or all functionalities of the HelpBuddie Platform.

Social Media and Digital Advertising cookies and widgets

DoubleClick: Google's Doubleclick retargeting cookie lets us serve personalized ads to you when you're browsing other websites and social media platforms. You can control ad personalization on Google and partner websites here: https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads?hl=en-GB&gl=uk

Device Information. When you visit and interact with the HelpBuddie Platform or the Site, HelpBuddie may collect certain information automatically, including, but not limited to, the type of computer or mobile device you use, your mobile device’s unique device ID, the IP address of your computer or mobile device, your operating system, the type of Internet browser(s) you use, and information about the way you use the HelpBuddie Platform (“Device Information”). We may use Device Information to monitor the regions from which Users navigate the Site or the HelpBuddie Platform and for security and fraud prevention purposes. 

Location Information. When you visit the HelpBuddie Platform via a mobile application, we use GPS technology (or other similar technology) to determine your current location in order to determine the city you are located in and display a location map to improve service for our Users. We will not share your current location obtained in this manner with other Users. If you do not want us to use your location for the purposes set forth above, you should turn off the location services for the mobile application located in your account settings or in your mobile phone settings and/or within the mobile application.

5. HelpBuddie's Use of Personal Information

HelpBuddie uses Personal Information (Including Identity Information and Financial Information) for the following purposes:

• To operate and make available the HelpBuddie Platform. We use your data to connect you with other Users in order to enable the posting of, completion of, and payment for Tasks;

• For billing and fraud prevention, on the basis of our legitimate interests in ensuring a safe and secure environment in which Clients and Service Providers can meet and conduct business;

• To conduct identification, authentication, and background checks on Users, in order to advance our legitimate interests in ensuring the safety of our Users;

• To analyze Site usage as necessary for our legitimate interest in improving the HelpBuddie Platform to grow our business;

• To contact you and deliver (via email, SMS, push notifications, or otherwise) administrative notices, marketing notifications, offers and communications relevant to your use of the HelpBuddie Platform as necessary for our legitimate interests in proper communication and engagement with our Users and in promoting our business;

• To provide you with customer support in order to fulfill our contracts with Users;

• For internal market research, troubleshooting problems, and detecting and protecting against error, fraud or other criminal activity for our legitimate interests in ensuring a safe and secure environment in which Users can meet;

• To assist Users in the resolution of complaints and disputes between them, as necessary for our legitimate interests in facilitating good relations among Users;

• To enforce our Terms of Service in our legitimate interests in ensuring our rights are complied with; and,

• As otherwise set forth in this Privacy Policy.

Analytics and Market Research. HelpBuddie may analyze your information and web navigational data based on your interests, and may use the analysis from this information in a way that doesn’t reveal a name, email address or other "real-world" identity (“Market Analysis”) in order to market the HelpBuddie Platform, improve the likelihood of a sale to a group of potential Users, and increase the likelihood that a group's experience with the HelpBuddie Platform is relevant to its interests as a whole, as necessary for our legitimate interests in providing an engaging and relevant experience, promoting our services, and growing our business.

Google Analytics: we use Google Analytics, a web analytics service. Google Analytics uses cookies to help HelpBuddie analyze how visitors use the Site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the Site and the HelpBuddie Platform (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by a Google server in the United States. Google uses this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the Site, compiling reports on Site activity for Site operators, and providing Site operators with other services relating to Site activity and internet usage. You can prevent the storage of data relating to your use of the Site and created via the cookie (including your IP address) by Google, as well as the processing of this data by Google, by downloading and installing a browser plug-in available at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en

Cell Phone Numbers. HelpBuddie may use your cell phone number to call or send recurring text messages to you, using an autodialer or prerecorded voice, in order to provide you notifications about Tasks, for marketing purposes (with your consent where required by law), and to administer the HelpBuddie Platform. If you would like more information about our policy, or to opt out, please review below or Section 8 of our Terms and Conditions, or visit https://www.helpbuddie.com/terms You may be liable for standard SMS and per-minute charges by your mobile carrier. HelpBuddie may also message you via “Push” messaging, which you can opt-out of on your mobile device. Data rates may apply.

Financial Information. We use Financial Information solely as authorized by you in order to operate the HelpBuddie Platform and, in particular, to ensure that Service Providers are paid by Clients. We do this as necessary for our legitimate interests in providing our platform and services. To keep your financial data secure, we do not store full credit card information on our servers. We have contracted with a third party to process your payment card information.

6. With Whom Does HelpBuddie Share Information?

We only share the information we collect about you as described in this Privacy Policy or as described at the time of collection or sharing, including as follows:

Third Party Agents. To operate the HelpBuddie Platform, including processing your transactions, we may share your information with our agents, representatives, contractors and service providers (“Agents”) so they can provide us with support services as follows:

• Email origination,

• Identity/background check requirements in relation to Service Providers 

• Fraud detection

• Receipt or support services,

• Customer relationship management services,

• Financial transaction fulfillment (In which we are currently supported by PayPal who process your information in accordance with their own privacy policy here: https://paypal.com/privacy) and

• To otherwise help us provide the HelpBuddie Platform, including all of the things described in the preceding section.

Other Users. HelpBuddie facilitates contact between Clients and Service Providers and reserves the right to share a Client’s contact information (e.g. mobile number and postal address) with a Service Provider and vice versa, or with their legal or other representative, in order to facilitate the resolution of a dispute related to or arising from an interaction between two or more Users of the platform. This exchange of information is a mandatory part of the HelpBuddie Platform.

Legal Obligations. HelpBuddie may disclose personal information or User Generated Content, including location data or communication data, to a third party if required to do so by law enforcement or pursuant to a court order, warrant or subpoena. HelpBuddie reserves the right to disclose personal information from both private and public areas of the Site and the HelpBuddie Platform in the absence of a court order, warrant or subpoena if we are given reason to believe, in our sole discretion, that someone is causing injury to or interfering with the rights of Users, the general public, or HelpBuddie or its partners, parents or affiliates.

It is our policy to provide notice to Users before producing their information in response to law enforcement requests unless (i) we are prohibited by law or court order from doing so, (ii) we have reason to believe the User’s account has been compromised such that the notice would go to the wrong person, or notice would otherwise be counter productive or would create a risk to safety, or (iii) it is an emergency request and prior notice would be impractical (in which case we may provide notice after the fact).

Business Affiliates. Finally, HelpBuddie reserves the right to transfer, sell and/or distribute all information collected through the HelpBuddie Platform to an affiliate, subsidiary, or third party in the event of any reorganization, merger, sale, joint venture, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or part of our business, assets or stock. We will require the new entity to follow this Privacy Policy with respect to your personal information, as and to the extent required by applicable law.

7. Choice/Opt-Out

You may opt-out of receiving communications from us and our partners, remove your information from our database, choose to not receive future communications related to the HelpBuddie Platform, or cancel your account.

8. HelpBuddie's Information Retention Policy

We retain personal data for as long as you are a User in order to meet our contractual obligations to you, and for such a longer period as may be in our legitimate interests and to comply with our legal obligations. We may also retain aggregate information beyond this time for research purposes and to help us develop and improve our services. You cannot be identified from aggregate information retained or used for these purposes.

Your rights:

You have the right under certain circumstances:

• to be provided with a copy of your personal information held by us;

• to request the rectification or erasure of your personal information held by us;

• to request that we restrict the processing of your personal information (while we verify or investigate your concerns with this information, for example);

• to object to the further processing of your personal information, including the right to object to marketing as mentioned in the Choice/Opt-Out section above; and

• to request that your provided personal data be provided to you in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format.

Where the processing of your personal information by us is based on consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent without detriment at any time. You can also change your marketing preferences at any time as described in the Choice/ Opt-Out section above.

9. User Generated Content

Service Providers who have provided HelpBuddie with any business documents, photographs, details, etc. hereby consent to our use of these materials as User Generated Content in accordance with the Terms and Conditions.

10. HelpBuddie’s Security of Collected Information

Your HelpBuddie account is password-protected so that only you and authorized HelpBuddie staff have access to your account information. In order to maintain this protection, do not give your password to anyone. Also, if you share a computer, you should sign out of your HelpBuddie account and close the browser window before someone else logs on. This will help protect your information entered on public terminals from disclosure to third parties.

HelpBuddie takes reasonable precautions to ensure that your information is secure on its system by backing up data in separate backup drives and using public key access encryption and firewalls on both our main and backup servers. HelpBuddie has staff dedicated to maintaining this Privacy Policy and other privacy initiatives, periodically reviewing security, and making sure that every HelpBuddie employee is aware of our security practices. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, HelpBuddie cannot guarantee the security of any information you transmit to us, and you do so at your own risk. While HelpBuddie will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure the security of all credit card and all other Personal Information, we expressly disclaim any liability for any unauthorized access to or use of our secure servers and/or any and all Personal Information and/or Financial Information stored therein, and you agree to hold HelpBuddie harmless for any damages that may result therefrom. If you have any further questions on this issue, please refer to the Terms and conditions.

HelpBuddie expressly disclaims any liability that may arise should any other individuals obtain the information you submit to the HelpBuddie Platform.

11. How Can Users Update Their Information?

You can update your Personal Information at any time by logging in and clicking on the “Edit Profile” tab. There you can view, update and correct your account information.

Our databases automatically update any Personal Information you edit in your profile. Information transmitted through HelpBuddie remains in our databases and becomes the property of HelpBuddie upon submission.

12. Notification of Changes

HelpBuddie's Privacy Policy is periodically reviewed and enhanced as necessary. This Privacy Policy might change as HelpBuddie updates and expands the HelpBuddie Platform. HelpBuddie will endeavor to notify you of any material changes by email. HelpBuddie also encourages you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. If you do not understand any of the terms or conditions of any of HelpBuddie's policies, feel free to contact us at hello@helpbudie.com

13. Children’s Privacy and Note to Parents and Guardians

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years of age. The HelpBuddie Platform is not directed to children under the age of 13 and children under 13 are not permitted to use the HelpBuddie Platform. If we become aware that we have unknowingly collected personal information from a child under the age of 13, we will delete or disable such information. If you are a parent or guardian of a child under the age of 13, and you believe that your child has provided us with personal information, please let us know at hello@helpbudie.com

14. Your California Privacy Rights

California’s “Shine the Light” law permits customers in California to request certain details about how certain types of their information is shared with third parties and, in some cases, affiliates, for those third parties’ and affiliates’ own direct marketing purposes. Under the law, a business should either provide California customers certain information upon request, or permit California customers to opt in to, or opt out of, this type of sharing.

HelpBuddie may share personal information as defined by California’s “Shine the Light '' law with third parties or affiliates for such third parties’ or affiliates’ own direct marketing purposes. California residents may obtain information about our compliance with this law by sending us a written request at hello@helpbudie.com. Requests must include “California Privacy Rights Request '' in the first line of the description and include your name, street address, city, state, and zip code. Please note that HelpBuddie is not required to respond to requests made by means other than through the provided email address or mail address.

15. Contacting Us?

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of the Site, your dealings with the HelpBuddie Platform, or if you have technical problems, you may contact us at hello@helpbudie.com

HelpBuddie Team