Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

HostelPadi ("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 platform.

2. Information We Collect

Personal Information

• Account Information: Full name, email address, phone number
• Payment Information: Mobile money details, transaction records
• Profile Information: Student status, university information
• Communication Data: Messages with landlords, support requests

Automatically Collected Information

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, device type
• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent
• Location Data: General location for hostel recommendations

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

• Service Provision: To provide access to hostel listings and landlord contacts
• Payment Processing: To process your 50 GHS access fee securely
• Communication: To send important updates and support responses
• Platform Improvement: To enhance user experience and develop new features
• Security: To protect against fraud and unauthorized access
• Legal Compliance: To meet legal obligations and enforce our terms

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We Share Information With:

• Landlords: Your name and contact information when you express interest in their property
• Payment Processors: Paystack for secure payment processing
• Service Providers: Hosting, analytics, and customer support services

We Do Not:

• Sell your personal information to third parties
• Share your information for marketing purposes without consent
• Disclose sensitive information unnecessarily

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: Data transmitted between your device and our servers is encrypted
• Secure Storage: User data is stored in secure Firebase databases
• Access Controls: Limited access to personal information within our organization
• Payment Security: Payment processing through PCI-compliant Paystack

While we take reasonable precautions, no internet transmission is 100% secure.

6. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide services to you
• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes
• Enforce our agreements

You may request account deletion at any time by contacting support.

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal information
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Objection: Object to certain processing activities
• Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service

To exercise these rights, contact us at support@hostelpadi.com

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and login status
• Analyze platform usage and performance
• Provide personalized content
• Prevent fraudulent activities

You can control cookies through your browser settings, but this may affect platform functionality.

9. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services:

• Paystack: For payment processing
• Firebase: For data storage and authentication
• Render: For hosting our backend services

These services have their own privacy policies governing data handling.

10. Children's Privacy

HostelPadi is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information may be processed in countries other than Ghana, including the United States, where our service providers are located. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for these transfers.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of significant changes by:

• Posting the new policy on our platform
• Sending email notifications to registered users
• Updating the "Last updated" date

13. Contact Us