BIZCONEKT PRIVACY POLICY

Last Updated: May 21, 2025

1. INTRODUCTION

Bizconekt ("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 website, mobile application, and related services (collectively, the "Platform").

We serve two primary user groups—Businesses and Consumers—and collect different information from each. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully to understand our practices regarding your personal information.

2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

2.1 Business User Information

If you represent a business on our Platform, we collect:

Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, physical address, business type, and login credentials
Business Details: Business name, address, phone number, website URL, hours of operation, services offered, pricing information, and business description
Payment Information: Credit card details, billing address, and transaction history (processed securely through our payment processors)
Marketing Content: Photos, videos, special offers, event information, and promotional materials you upload
Communications: Messages exchanged with consumers or our support team
Analytics Data: User interactions with your business listing, including views, clicks, calls, and appointment requests

2.2 Consumer Information

If you use our Platform as a consumer, we collect:

Account Information: Name, email address, and login credentials (if you create an account)
Profile Information: Profile photo, preferences, and saved businesses
Location Data: Approximate or precise location (with permission) to show nearby businesses
User Content: Reviews, ratings, photos, comments, and messages you submit
Browsing Activity: Searches, viewed businesses, clicks, and engagement with content
Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers

2.3 Information Collected Automatically

We automatically collect certain information when you visit our Platform, including:

Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent, clicks, and features used
Technical Data: IP address, device type, operating system, browser information, and mobile network information
Location Information: General location based on IP address or more precise location if permitted
Cookies and Similar Technologies: Information collected through cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies (see our Cookie Policy section)

2.4 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

Social media platforms when you connect them to your Bizconekt account
Business verification services
Publicly available sources
Marketing and analytics partners

3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

3.1 Business User Information

We use business information to:

Create and maintain your business listing
Process payments and provide transactional notifications
Connect you with potential customers
Provide analytics about your listing performance
Improve our Platform and develop new features
Send service updates and promotional communications
Verify business information for accuracy
Respond to your support requests
Ensure compliance with our Terms and applicable laws

3.2 Consumer Information

We use consumer information to:

Provide personalized search results based on location and preferences
Enable you to save favorite businesses and receive updates
Facilitate communication with businesses
Process appointment requests and bookings
Display your reviews and ratings
Send service updates and relevant notifications
Improve our Platform and personalize your experience
Respond to your support requests
Ensure platform integrity and safety

3.3 Legal Bases for Processing (for EEA, UK, and similar territories)

We process your information based on the following legal grounds:

Performance of a Contract: When necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations to you
Legitimate Interests: When we have a legitimate business interest that doesn't override your rights
Consent: When you have expressly consented to the processing
Legal Obligation: When we need to comply with legal requirements

4. HOW WE SHARE YOUR INFORMATION

Unlike some competitors, we are committed to responsible data sharing practices. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

4.1 Business and Consumer Interactions

When a consumer contacts a business through our Platform, we share necessary contact information to facilitate the interaction.

When a consumer reviews a business, the review and consumer's public profile information are visible on the business listing.

4.2 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third parties who provide services on our behalf, including:

Payment processors
Cloud storage providers
Email and communication service providers
Analytics providers
Customer support tools
Business verification services

All service providers are contractually obligated to use your information only for providing their services to us and in compliance with applicable privacy laws.

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, governmental request, court order, or to:

Protect our legal rights, privacy, safety, or property
Protect users of our Platform or the public
Prevent fraud or illegal activity

4.4 Business Transfers

If Bizconekt is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email and/or prominent notice on our Platform of any change in ownership or uses of your information.

4.5 With Your Consent

We may share your information for other purposes with your explicit consent.

4.6 What We DON'T Do With Your Data

Unlike some other platforms, we DO NOT:

Sell your personal information to third parties
Share your information with competitors
Use deceptive practices to collect more data than necessary
Hide legitimate reviews based on whether a business pays us
Filter content unfairly to pressure businesses into paid services

5. DATA RETENTION

We retain your information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. The criteria used to determine our retention periods include:

The length of time we have an ongoing relationship with you
Whether there is a legal obligation to retain the data
Whether retention is advisable in light of our legal position (such as for statutes of limitations, litigation, or regulatory investigations)

When we no longer need to use your information, we will either delete it or anonymize it so it can no longer be associated with you.

6. YOUR RIGHTS AND CHOICES

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

6.1 Access and Control

You may:

Access, correct, or update your account information through your Bizconekt account settings
Request access to the personal information we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate information
Request deletion of your information (subject to certain exceptions)
Request restriction of processing or object to certain processing activities
Request portability of your information
Opt-out of marketing communications

6.2 Specific Regional Rights

California Residents: Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), you have specific rights regarding your personal information, including:

Right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
Right to delete personal information held by businesses
Right to opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information
Right to non-discrimination for exercising your CCPA rights

European Economic Area, UK, and Similar Territories: Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and similar laws, you have certain rights including:

Right to access information held about you
Right to rectification of inaccurate information
Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
Right to restriction of processing
Right to data portability
Right to object to processing
Rights related to automated decision-making and profiling

6.3 Exercising Your Rights

To exercise your rights, please:

Use the privacy controls in your account settings
Contact us at privacy@bizconekt.com
Complete our privacy rights request form [link]

We will respond to your request within the timeframe required by applicable law (typically 30 days).

7. DATA SECURITY

We implement reasonable and appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

Encryption of sensitive information
Secure network configurations
Regular security assessments
Employee training and access controls
Secure development practices

However, no electronic transmission or storage system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information.

8. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS

Bizconekt is based in the United States, and your information may be processed and stored in the United States or other countries where our service providers maintain facilities. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your country.

If we transfer personal information from the European Economic Area, UK, or Switzerland to countries not deemed to provide an adequate level of data protection, we use mechanisms such as:

Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission
Other appropriate safeguards as required by applicable law

9. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

Our Platform is not directed to children under the age of 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 16, we will promptly delete that information.

If you believe we might have information from or about a child under 16, please contact us immediately.

10. COOKIES AND SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES

10.1 What We Use

We use cookies, web beacons, pixels, and similar technologies to:

Keep you logged in to your account
Remember your preferences
Understand how you use our Platform
Measure the effectiveness of promotions
Provide analytics and performance monitoring
Deliver content tailored to your interests

10.2 Your Cookie Choices

You can manage cookies through your browser settings to:

Accept or reject cookies
Delete cookies periodically
Be notified when cookies are being sent

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings preferences. However, refusing cookies may impact your ability to use certain features of our Platform.

10.3 Do Not Track

Some browsers have a "Do Not Track" feature that signals websites not to track your online activity. Due to the lack of a common understanding of how to interpret these signals, our Platform does not currently respond to Do Not Track signals. However, you can use the range of other tools we provide to control data collection and use.

11. THIRD-PARTY LINKS AND SERVICES

Our Platform may contain links to third-party websites and services that are not owned or controlled by Bizconekt. This Privacy Policy applies only to our Platform. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the privacy practices of any third-party sites or services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

12. PRIVACY POLICY UPDATES

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. The updated version will be indicated by an updated "Last Updated" date. If we make material changes to this Privacy Policy, we will notify you by email (if we have your email address) or by means of a notice on our Platform prior to the changes becoming effective.

13. CONTACT US

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

Bizconekt Privacy Team
[Street Address]
Bismarck, ND [ZIP]
Email: privacy@bizconekt.com
Phone: [Contact Phone]

For data subjects in the EEA, UK, or similar territories who wish to raise a concern about our use of your information (without prejudice to any other rights you may have), you have the right to do so with your local data protection authority.