Privacy Policy

Information We Collect

We collect email addresses, names, phone numbers, and property/business addresses for account verification, transaction processing, and service notifications.

How We Use Email Addresses

Email addresses are used exclusively for:

• Account verification and activation
• Password reset notifications
• Transaction confirmations and updates
• Buyer-seller connection notifications
• Important service announcements

Email Communication Preferences

Users can opt-out of non-essential communications by contacting support@instatrademarket.com. Transactional emails (verification, password reset, transaction updates) cannot be disabled as they are essential for service operation.

Data Storage and Security

Personal data is securely stored using Amazon Web Services (AWS) with industry-standard encryption. We use AWS Cognito for authentication, DynamoDB for data storage, and S3 for secure file storage.

Third-Party Services

We use the following services to operate our platform:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS) - Hosting, database, storage, email delivery
• Amazon SES/Pinpoint - Email delivery and management
• Amazon WorkMail - Professional email communication
• Stripe - Secure payment processing
• AWS Location Service - Address geocoding

Payment Information

Payment card information is processed securely through Stripe. We never store your complete card details on our servers.

Contact Information

For privacy questions or concerns:

Email: support@instatrademarket.com

Phone: (650) 680-7213

Address: 56 W 39th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your account and data
• Export your data
• Opt-out of non-essential communications

Account Deletion:

• You can delete your account at any time through Settings → Danger Zone
• Deletion is immediate and permanent - all data is removed from our systems
• We delete: account information, projects, listings, transaction history, photos, and all personal data
• Deleted data cannot be recovered
• Some data may be retained for legal compliance (e.g., financial records for tax purposes) for required periods
• After deletion, your email address can be used to create a new account

Photo Storage and Privacy

Project Photos:

• Photos uploaded to projects are stored securely in AWS S3 with encryption
• Photos are private and hidden from professionals until they unlock your lead
• After unlock, photos are visible only to professionals who paid to unlock
• Photos are deleted when you delete your account or when projects are removed
• We do not use your photos for marketing or any purpose other than displaying them to unlocked professionals
• Photo metadata (EXIF data) may be stripped for privacy protection

Referral Program Data

Referral Credits and Tracking:

• We track referral relationships to award credits (who referred whom)
• Referral codes are unique identifiers linked to your account
• We store: referrer ID, referred user ID, credit amounts, and transaction dates
• Referral data is used only for credit calculation and fraud prevention
• Credits balance is stored in your account and visible on your dashboard
• Referral data is deleted when you delete your account

Email Notification Preferences

Email Controls:

• Professionals can control 4 types of email notifications through Settings
• Your email preferences are stored and respected for all communications
• Preference changes take effect immediately
• We track email delivery, opens, and bounces for service quality
• Transactional emails (verification, password reset) cannot be disabled for security
• Email preferences are deleted when you delete your account

Remote Services Data

Remote Work Preferences:

• We store your preference for offering remote/online services
• This preference determines which projects you see (local vs remote)
• Remote service settings are stored in your professional profile
• No additional personal data is collected for remote services
• Remote work agreements and communications are between users only

Compliance

This privacy policy complies with:

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
• CAN-SPAM Act
• AWS Acceptable Use Policy

Bounce and Complaint Handling

We maintain strict email quality standards with automated bounce and complaint handling through AWS CloudWatch and Lambda functions. Bounce rates are kept below 5% and complaint rates below 0.1%.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.