Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Massage Connect ("we," "us," "our," or "Company") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and otherwise process information about you in connection with our websites, mobile applications, and other online services that link to this Privacy Policy (collectively, the "Service"), as well as offline services and interactions.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect information you provide directly, such as when you create an account, complete your profile, communicate with us, or make a booking. This includes:

• Name and contact information (email address, phone number)
• Professional information (qualifications, certifications, experience)
• Location and address information
• Profile pictures and gallery images
• Booking and payment information
• Communication history with other users
• Feedback and reviews

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use our Service, we automatically collect certain information, including:

• Device information (device type, operating system, unique identifiers)
• Usage information (pages visited, time spent, actions taken)
• Location information (if permitted)
• IP address and browsing data
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third parties, including:

• Payment processors
• Social media platforms (if you connect your account)
• Analytics providers
• Publicly available sources

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

• Providing and improving our Service
• Creating and managing your account
• Processing bookings and payments
• Communicating with you about your account and our Service
• Sending promotional materials and newsletters (with your consent)
• Conducting analytics and understanding usage patterns
• Detecting and preventing fraud and abuse
• Complying with legal obligations
• Enforcing our Terms of Service and other agreements

4. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• Between Users: Your profile information is shared with clients to facilitate bookings. Clients will see your name, qualifications, services, rates, and gallery images.
• Service Providers: We share information with third-party service providers who assist us in operating our Service (payment processors, email services, analytics providers).
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law or to protect our legal rights.
• Business Transfers: If Massage Connect is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
• With Your Consent: We share information with third parties when you give us explicit consent.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

• Access: You have the right to access your personal information
• Correction: You can request that we correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: You may request deletion of your information, subject to certain exceptions
• Opt-Out: You can opt out of marketing communications
• Data Portability: You may request a copy of your data in a portable format

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the contact information provided below.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, pixels, and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our Service and hold certain information. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or alert you when a cookie is being sent. However, if you disable cookies, some features of our Service may become inaccessible or not function properly.

8. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our Service and fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy. When you request deletion of your account, we will retain only the minimum information necessary to comply with legal obligations.

10. Third-Party Links

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites and services that are not operated by Massage Connect. This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party websites, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services before providing them with your information.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from your home country. By using our Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside your country of residence.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated Privacy Policy on our website and updating the "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the Service following the posting of revised Privacy Policy means that you accept and agree to the changes.

13. Contact Us

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

Email: support@massageconnect.co.za
Website: www.massageconnect.co.za
Mailing Address: Massage Connect, South Africa

14. South Africa POPIA Compliance

Massage Connect is committed to complying with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa. We ensure that personal information is:

• Processed lawfully, fairly, and in a transparent manner
• Collected for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes
• Adequate, relevant, and not excessive relative to the purposes
• Accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date
• Kept in a form which permits identification of data subjects for no longer than necessary
• Protected against unlawful processing and accidental loss, destruction, or damage