At VerifyAdviser (“we,” “us,” “our,” or “VerifyAdviser”), your privacy is a critical component of the trust you place in us. This Privacy Policy explains in detail how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website verifyadviser.com (the “Site”) and use our services.
By accessing or using our Site, you consent to the data practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the Site.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information to provide, improve, and secure our services. This includes:
A. Information You Provide Directly:
- Account Data: If you create an account, we collect your name, email address, and a hashed password.
- Contact Data: When you use our contact form, report a correction, or subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message.
- User Contributions: Voluntary information you submit, such as comments on articles or forum posts (which are moderated).
- Verification Requests: If you are a business entity requesting verification, we collect business contact details, documentation, and payment information (processed via a secure third-party processor).
B. Information Collected Automatically:
- Usage Data: We collect data about your interaction with the Site via logs and analytics tools. This includes your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, links clicked, dates/times of visits, and time spent on pages.
- Device Information: Data about the device you use, including device ID, model, operating system, and network information.
- Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies. For a complete breakdown, please see our Cookie Policy (linked below).
C. Information from Third Parties:
- We may receive limited information from partners (e.g., social media platforms if you log in via those services) or from publicly available sources to supplement our verification processes. We do not purchase marketing lists.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the collected information for lawful purposes, including:
- Service Delivery & Operations: To operate, maintain, and provide the features and functionality of the Site; to process your requests and transactions.
- Verification & Analysis: As part of our core mission to verify information, anonymized and aggregated data may be used in our analysis. Personal data is never used in a published verification report.
- Communication: To send you administrative emails (e.g., account verification, policy changes), respond to your inquiries, and send you newsletters (if opted-in). You can opt-out of marketing communications at any time.
- Improvement & Personalization: To understand how users interact with our Site, diagnose technical problems, and personalize your experience (e.g., remembering preferences).
- Security & Fraud Prevention: To monitor and protect the security of our Site, detect and prevent fraudulent activity, and comply with legal obligations.
- Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or enforceable governmental requests.
3. Legal Basis for Processing (For EEA/UK Users)
If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom (UK), we process your personal data under the following legal bases:
- Consent: Where you have given clear consent (e.g., for newsletters).
- Contractual Necessity: To fulfill our contractual obligations to you (e.g., providing account access).
- Legitimate Interests: For our legitimate business interests (e.g., site security, analytics, improvement), provided these interests are not overridden by your rights.
- Legal Obligation: To comply with the law.
4. How We Share Your Information
We do not and will not sell your personal data. We only share information in the following limited circumstances:
- With Your Consent: When you direct us to share it.
- Service Providers: We engage trusted third-party vendors to perform functions like hosting, data analysis, payment processing, email delivery, and customer service. These providers access data only to perform tasks on our behalf under strict confidentiality agreements.
- Legal Requirements: If required by law, subpoena, or legal process, or to protect the rights, property, and safety of VerifyAdviser, our users, or the public.
- Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, where user information may be transferred as a business asset. You will be notified via email and a prominent site notice of any change in ownership or uses of your information.
5. Data Security
We implement robust administrative, technical, and physical security measures designed to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. These include encryption (SSL/TLS), access controls, secure data storage, and regular security assessments. However, no electronic transmission or storage method is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law (e.g., tax, accounting, legal obligations). When we no longer need to process your information, we will delete or anonymize it.
7. Your Privacy Rights & Choices
Depending on your location, you may have rights regarding your personal data:
- Access & Portability: Request a copy of the data we hold about you.
- Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data under certain conditions.
- Restriction/Objection: Object to our processing or request restriction.
- Opt-Out of Marketing: Unsubscribe from our marketing emails via the link in every email.
- Cookie Controls: Manage cookie preferences via our Cookie Settings tool or your browser.
To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@verifyadviser.com. We will respond within 30 days and may need to verify your identity. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
8. International Data Transfers
We operate globally and may transfer your information to countries other than your own, including the United States. We ensure such transfers are governed by appropriate safeguards, such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission.
9. Children’s Privacy
Our Site is not intended for individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn we have such information, we will delete it promptly.
10. Third-Party Links
Our Site may contain links to other websites not operated by us. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party sites. We strongly advise you to review their privacy policies.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. We will notify you of material changes by posting the new policy on the Site with an updated “Last Updated” date and, where appropriate, via email notification.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact our Data Protection Officer (DPO) at:
VerifyAdviser Data Protection Officer
Email: privacy@verifyadviser.com