Privacy Policy

1. Data We Collect

We collect personal data only to the extent necessary to operate the alt.style marketplace. The categories of data we may collect include:

1.1 Account & Profile Data

• Identity: Full name, display name, date of birth (to verify you are 18+)
• Contact: Email address, phone number
• Profile: Profile photograph, bio, social media handles
• Stylist-specific: Portfolio images, videos, specialty tags, certifications, availability schedule, service pricing

1.2 Payment & Transaction Data

• Booking amounts, transaction IDs, and timestamps
• Bank account or UPI details (for stylist payouts — stored securely by our payment processor, Razorpay)
• We do not store full card numbers or CVV codes on our servers

1.3 Location Data

• City / region you specify on your profile or search query
• Approximate device location (if you grant permission) to surface nearby stylists

1.4 Communications Data

• Messages sent through our in-platform messaging system
• Support tickets and emails sent to hello@alt.style
• Reviews and ratings you submit

1.5 Technical & Usage Data

• IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Pages visited, features used, time on site, referral URLs
• Crash reports and error logs
• Cookie identifiers (see Section 7)

1.6 Analytics Data

We use anonymised or aggregated analytics (e.g., Google Analytics) to understand how users interact with the platform. Where analytics tools process personal data, they do so subject to appropriate data processing agreements.

2. How We Use Your Data

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

• Service delivery: Creating and managing your account, facilitating bookings between clients and stylists, processing payments, and sending booking confirmations and receipts.
• Matching: Surfacing relevant stylists based on your location, style preferences, and service type.
• Communications: Sending transactional emails (booking confirmations, receipts, reminders), platform updates, and — with your explicit consent — promotional or marketing emails.
• Trust & safety: Verifying stylist credentials, moderating content, detecting fraud, and enforcing our Terms of Service.
• Improving AI systems: With your explicit consent only, anonymised usage patterns may be used to improve recommendation and search algorithms. You can withdraw this consent at any time from your account settings.
• Legal obligations: Complying with applicable Indian law, responding to lawful government requests, and resolving disputes.
• Customer support: Responding to enquiries and resolving issues.

3. Legal Basis Under DPDP Act 2023

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) requires us to process personal data on a lawful basis. Our bases are:

• Consent: You give us free, specific, informed, and unambiguous consent when you register, accept our terms, or opt in to marketing communications. You may withdraw consent at any time by contacting us or updating your preferences.
• Contract performance: Processing is necessary to fulfil our obligations to you under the booking contract (e.g., processing payments, coordinating appointments).
• Legitimate uses permitted by law: Safety of minors, compliance with court orders, employment and legal claims, disaster management, and public interest as defined under Section 7 of the DPDP Act.

We do not process special categories of sensitive personal data (e.g., health data, biometric data) unless required and with explicit consent.

4. Data Sharing & Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to any third party for their commercial purposes. We may share your data only in the following circumstances:

4.1 Between Platform Users

When a booking is confirmed, the client's name, contact details (for appointment coordination), and the stylist's profile information are shared with each other to facilitate the appointment.

4.2 Service Providers (Data Processors)

• Razorpay: Our payment gateway processes payments and payouts. Razorpay is bound by their own Privacy Policy and RBI regulations.
• Email service provider: Transactional and marketing emails are delivered via a third-party ESP. Your email address and name are shared solely to send messages on our behalf.
• Cloud hosting: Our infrastructure is hosted on servers with data stored within India or in jurisdictions that comply with DPDP cross-border transfer requirements.
• Analytics: Aggregated or anonymised analytics data may be processed by third-party analytics tools.

All third-party data processors are bound by contractual data processing agreements that restrict them from using your data for any purpose other than providing services to us.

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose personal data if required to do so by law, court order, or lawful request from a government authority, or where we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, the safety of users, or the public.

5. Data Retention

• Booking records: Retained for 3 years after the booking date for legal, tax, and dispute resolution purposes.
• Stylist & client profiles: Retained until the account is deleted by the user, or for a maximum of 2 years of account inactivity, whichever is sooner.
• Payment data: Transaction metadata retained for 7 years in compliance with Indian financial regulations.
• Support correspondence: Retained for 2 years after issue resolution.
• Analytics data: Aggregated analytics data with no personal identifiers may be retained indefinitely.

After the applicable retention period, personal data is securely deleted or anonymised.

6. Your Rights

Under the DPDP Act 2023, you have the following rights as a Data Principal:

• Right to access: You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to correction: You may request that inaccurate or incomplete personal data be corrected or completed.
• Right to erasure: You may request deletion of your personal data, subject to our legal retention obligations.
• Right to withdraw consent: Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time. This will not affect the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal.
• Right to grievance redressal: You have the right to have your grievances heard and resolved in a timely manner (see Section 9).
• Right to nominate: You may nominate another individual to exercise your rights in the event of your death or incapacity.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at hello@alt.style. We will respond within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before processing the request.

7. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website. A cookie is a small text file stored on your device.

7.1 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential cookies: Required for the platform to function (e.g., session authentication, shopping cart). These cannot be disabled.
• Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors use the site (e.g., Google Analytics). These are set only with your consent.
• Preference cookies: Remember your settings and preferences for a better experience.
• Marketing cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements. These are only set with your explicit consent.

7.2 Managing Cookies

You may control cookies through your browser settings or through our cookie consent banner when you first visit the site. Disabling essential cookies may impair platform functionality. For more information, see allaboutcookies.org.

8. Children's Privacy

alt.style is intended for users who are 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal data from persons under 18. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately at hello@alt.style and we will delete the information promptly.

9. Grievance Officer

In accordance with the Information Technology Act 2000, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, and the DPDP Act 2023, the details of our Grievance Officer are:

• Designation: Privacy & Grievance Officer
• Name: Privacy Team, alt.style
• Email: hello@alt.style
• Address: Pune, Maharashtra, India
• Response time: Within 30 days of receiving a complaint

You may also lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Board of India if you are not satisfied with our response, once the Board is constituted under the DPDP Act.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you by email (if you have an account) or by posting a prominent notice on the platform before the change becomes effective. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Your continued use of alt.style after a change constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

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If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at hello@alt.style.
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