Last updated: January 2025

1. Information We Collect

Texas Trade Market collects information you provide directly when using our platform:

• Account Information: Email address, phone number, and account type (homeowner or contractor)
• Profile Information: For contractors: business name, address, license numbers, service areas, and insurance documentation
• Job Information: Project descriptions, photos, budget ranges, and location (ZIP code)
• Communications: Messages exchanged between homeowners and contractors through our platform
• Reviews: Ratings, written feedback, and photos submitted after job completion

2. Automatically Collected Information

• IP address (stored for fraud detection and security purposes)
• Device information and browser fingerprints (used to detect duplicate accounts and prevent fraud)
• Browser type and operating system
• Usage patterns and interaction with our platform
• Timestamps of account activities

3. How We Use Your Information

• To facilitate connections between homeowners and contractors
• To verify contractor credentials and business information
• To process and display reviews
• To administer the credits program
• To detect and prevent fraud
• To communicate important updates about our service
• To improve our platform and user experience

4. Information Sharing

We share information only in the following circumstances:

• Between Users: Homeowners and contractors can see each other's relevant profile information when connected through a job request
• Public Reviews: Reviews are visible to all platform users
• Service Providers: We share information with vendors who assist in operating our platform, including:
  • Stripe, Inc. (payment processing) - processes contractor subscription payments
  • Resend (email delivery) - sends transactional emails
  • Vercel (hosting) - hosts our platform
• Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

5. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. Legal acceptance records and audit logs are retained permanently for compliance purposes. You may request deletion of your account by contacting us.

6. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your information, including:

• Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS)
• Secure password storage
• Access controls for employee access to data
• Regular security assessments

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your personal information
• Correct inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your account
• Opt out of marketing communications

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use essential cookies for authentication and session management. Our payment processor (Stripe) may set cookies to process payments securely. We do not use advertising cookies or sell data to advertisers.

9. Children's Privacy

Our service is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect information from children.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify users of material changes via email or platform notification.

11. Contact Us

For privacy-related questions or requests, contact us at:

Email: legal@texastrademarket.com
Address: Houston, TX