Effective Date: May 28, 2025
This Privacy Policy describes how FreeBecause.com ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and discloses information about you when you access and use our mobile applications (for Android and iOS), website, and any related services (collectively, the "Service").
By using the Service, you agree to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the practices described in this Privacy Policy, please do not use the Service.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information directly from you when you provide it to us, automatically as you use the Service, and sometimes from third-party sources.
Information You Provide Directly to Us:
Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your:
Full Name
Email Address
Password (encrypted)
Date of Birth (DOB)
Zip Code (and optionally City/State)
Affiliation Status (e.g., Student, Veteran - where you self-identify)
Communications: When you communicate with us (e.g., customer support inquiries, feedback), we collect the content of your communications and our responses.
Provider Information (If you onboard paying partners via Admin Portal): If you are a business or individual providing Offers through our Service, we collect information related to your business (e.g., business name, contact person, business email, physical address, offer details, payment information if applicable for future paid features).
Information We Collect Automatically:
Usage Information: We collect information about your activity on the Service, such as the Offers you view, Offers you click on, search queries, features you use, and the dates and times of your visits.
Device Information: We may collect information about the device you use to access the Service, including hardware model, operating system and version, unique device identifiers, mobile network information, and crash data.
Location Information: We collect your precise geographical location (if you grant permission) to match you with local Offers. Even if you do not grant precise location permission, we may infer your approximate location from your IP address or your provided Zip Code.
Log Data: Our servers automatically record information that your browser or mobile app sends whenever you visit or use our Service. This may include your IP address, browser type, referring/exit pages, and dates/times of access.
Cookies and Similar Technologies: We and our third-party service providers use cookies and similar tracking technologies (e.g., web beacons, pixels) to collect information, understand user activity, and personalize your experience.
Information from Third-Party Sources:
We do not currently directly integrate with third-party data sources for user profile enrichment for the MVP, but we will eventually use third-party analytics (like Google Analytics, Firebase Analytics), as they may provide us with aggregated, anonymized data about user behavior.
Implementing social media logins (e.g., "Sign in with Google/Apple"), we would receive basic profile information from those services as per their policies and your privacy settings.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:
To Provide and Maintain the Service: To operate, deliver, and improve the functionality of FreeBecause.com, including creating your account, enabling logins, and managing your preferences.
To Match You with Offers: Your Date of Birth, Zip Code, and Affiliation Status are specifically used by our matching engine to identify and present you with relevant, personalized Offers from Third-Party Providers.
To Communicate with You:
To send you personalized Offer alerts via email or in-app notifications.
To send you service-related announcements, updates, and administrative messages.
To respond to your inquiries and provide customer support.
To Improve and Personalize the Service: To understand how users interact with our Service, analyze trends, and customize your experience (e.g., recommending offers you might like).
For Analytics and Research: To monitor and analyze usage and activity trends, and for research purposes to understand user behavior and preferences (often in an aggregated and anonymized form).
For Security and Fraud Prevention: To detect, prevent, and address technical issues, fraud, or other illegal activities.
To Enforce our Terms: To enforce our Terms & Conditions and other policies.
3. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:
With Third-Party Providers (Limited Data for Redemption):
Crucially: For the MVP, we do not directly share your Name, Email, DOB, or other profile details with Third-Party Providers like Applebee's.
We facilitate the connection by alerting you to publicly available Offers. Redemption of these Offers will follow the Third-Party Provider's own procedures, which may require you to present information directly to them (e.g., showing ID for DOB verification, providing a coupon code). Your interaction and data sharing at the point of redemption are with the Third-Party Provider directly, not with FreeBecause.com.
With Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party vendors, consultants, and other service providers who perform services on our behalf and require access to your information to do so (e.g., hosting providers like Firebase, analytics providers, email delivery services). These service providers are authorized to use your personal information only as necessary to provide these services to us.
For Legal Reasons: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court order or government agency request).
Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, bankruptcy, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity.
Aggregated or Anonymized Data: We may share aggregated or anonymized information that cannot reasonably be used to identify you, with third parties for analytics, research, or marketing purposes.
4. Data Security
We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, and disclosure. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information.
5. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you the Service, or as required by law. If you request account deletion, we will delete your personal information as required by applicable laws and our data retention policies.
6. Your Choices and Rights
Account Information: You can review and update your account information (e.g., Name, Email, Zip Code, Affiliation) by logging into your account settings in the app.
Location Information: You can enable or disable precise location services for our app through your device settings. If you disable precise location, some location-based features may not function correctly.
Email Communications: You can opt-out of receiving promotional emails from us by following the unsubscribe instructions provided in those emails. You cannot opt-out of service-related emails.
Do Not Track: FreeBecause.com does not currently respond to "Do Not Track" signals.
Data Rights (e.g., GDPR, CCPA): Depending on your jurisdiction (e.g., EU, California), you may have specific rights regarding your personal data, including the right to access, rectify, delete, restrict processing, object to processing, or data portability. Please contact us at mmccoymcnoc@gmail.com to exercise these rights. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable law.
7. Children's Privacy
Our Service is not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at mmccoymcnoc@gmail.com , and we will take steps to delete such information from our systems.
8. International Data Transfers (If Applicable)
If you store data on servers outside your users' countries (e.g., Firebase servers in the US for EU users), you must include a section on international data transfers. This would cover mechanisms like Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs). This is a complex area your lawyer will need to advise on.
9. 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 and updating the "Effective Date" at the top. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Your continued use of the Service after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Privacy Policy.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at: mmccoymcnoc@gmail.com