Privacy Policy of PalMate Connect
This Privacy Policy explains how PalMate Connect (“PalMate,” “we,” “our,” or “us”)
collects, uses, shares, and safeguards personal information when you use our services.
This Policy is intended to help you understand the types of information we process, the
purposes for which we use it, and the rights available to you. Please read this Policy
carefully. By creating an account or otherwise providing us with your personal
information, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and consented to this
Policy.
1. Information We Collect
We collect personal and technical information to provide and improve our services,
ensure safety and comply with legal requirements. The information we collect falls into
the following categories:
-
- Personal Information You Provide: When you create an account, book a
PalMate, or communicate with us, you may provide details such as your full
name, email address, phone number, gender, billing information (processed
securely through third-party payment providers), and any profile information you
choose to include.
- Verification and Safety Information: To help maintain trust and safety on our
platform, you may be asked to provide identification documents, verification data,
or background check information. This may include sensitive information
processed by trusted third-party providers strictly for safety, fraud prevention, and
compliance purposes.
- Usage and Technical Data: When you interact with our platform, we
automatically collect certain technical data, such as your Internet Protocol (IP)
address, device identifiers, browser type and version, operating system, access
times, and the pages you visit. We may also use cookies and similar
technologies to understand usage patterns, improve performance, and provide
personalized features.
- Location Data: PalMate Connect collects location data in the background to
enable accurate matching, appointment tracking, and safety features — even
when the app is closed or not in use. This data allows users to:
- View nearby companions (PalMates) and connect with matches based on
proximity.
- Enable real-time tracking during active appointments to ensure user safety.
- Improve scheduling accuracy and route suggestions.
Location data is never shared or sold to third parties and is used solely to support
these in-app features. If you enable location-based features, we may collect and
process your approximate location to enable matching, provide real-time tracking,
and support in-app safety tools. You may disable location services at any time in
your device settings, but certain features may not function properly without them.
- Optional Information: You may also choose to provide additional content or
materials, such as reviews, feedback, or profile updates, which we treat with the
same level of protection as your other personal data.
We only collect information that is reasonably necessary to deliver our services,
maintain user safety and comply with our legal and regulatory obligations.
- Location Information: We may collect your device’s location data (precise or approximate) in order to enable features such as nearby user discovery, in-app safety tools, location-based matching, and general region verification. You will be asked to grant location permission before any location data is collected. If you allow background location access, PalMate Connect may collect location data even when the app is closed or not actively in use (for example, to update your location visibility, improve match relevance, or support trust and safety features). You may disable or change location permissions at any time via your device settings. Disabling location services may limit or prevent certain features of the app, such as nearby PalMate suggestions or real-time safety tools. Location data is used solely to provide and improve the Service and is not sold or rented to third parties for advertising or marketing purposes. If you have any questions about how location information is collected, used or stored, please contact us at privacy@palmatellc.com.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes, always in line with
applicable data protection laws and only where we have a valid legal basis (such as
your consent, our contractual obligations, legal compliance, or our legitimate interests):
-
- Service Delivery: To operate, maintain, and provide the core functions of
PalMate Connect, including account creation, booking, payments, and
communication between users.
- Improvement & Personalization: To analyze usage patterns, improve
performance, develop new features, and personalize your experience on the
platform.
- Safety & Trust: To verify identities, conduct background checks (where
applicable), enable reviews, and provide safety tools such as location sharing
and emergency alerts.
- Payments & Subscriptions: To process transactions securely, manage billing
cycles, handle refunds or credits, and prevent fraudulent or unauthorized
payments.
- Legal & Compliance: To comply with applicable laws and regulations, respond
to lawful requests from authorities, and enforce our Terms of Service.
- Communication & Marketing: To send important account updates, notify you of
changes to our services or policies, and, with your consent where required, send
you promotional messages or offers. You can opt out of marketing
communications at any time.
- Security & Fraud Prevention: To detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, abuse, or
other harmful activity that could compromise the safety of users or the integrity of
the platform.
3. Sharing of Information
We share your information only in limited circumstances and always in accordance with
applicable U.S. and EU (GDPR) laws:
-
- Service Providers: We share information with trusted third-party service providers
who perform functions on our behalf, such as payment processors, hosting
providers, customer support tools, analytics services, identity verification
partners, and mapping or messaging platforms. These providers are contractually
obligated to use your data only as necessary to deliver their services to us and
not for their own purposes.
- Legal and Regulatory Disclosures: We may disclose information if required to
do so by law, regulation, or legal process, or if we reasonably believe such
disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, ensure user safety, or comply with a
lawful request from authorities.
- Business Transactions: In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or
sale of assets, your personal data may be transferred to the acquiring entity. If
this occurs, we will provide notice and ensure that your rights under this Privacy
Policy continue to be respected.
- No Sale of Personal Data: We do not sell personal data to third parties. Where
applicable law (such as the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the
CPRA) distinguishes between “selling” and “sharing” personal data, we also confirm
that we do not share your data for cross-context behavioral advertising.
- International Transfers: If your information is transferred outside the United
States or the European Union, we will take appropriate steps to ensure that
adequate safeguards are in place, such as standard contractual clauses
approved by the European Commission.
4. Data Security
We implement a range of technical and organizational measures designed to protect
your personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or
destruction. These measures include encryption of data in transit and at rest, secure
servers, restricted access controls, and regular monitoring of our systems for
vulnerabilities. While we take commercially reasonable steps to safeguard your
information, no method of storage or transmission over the Internet is completely
secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute protection.
In addition to our own safeguards, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality
of your login credentials and for promptly notifying us of any unauthorized use of your
account. Where required by law, we will notify you and the appropriate authorities in the
event of a data breach that affects your personal information.
5. Data Breach Notification
We take the security of your personal information seriously. In the event of a data
breach that is likely to result in a risk to your rights or freedoms, we will notify you
without undue delay and, where required, notify the appropriate regulatory authorities
within the timeframes prescribed by law. Such notice will describe the nature of the
breach, the categories of information affected, the steps we are taking to address the
situation, and guidance on how you can protect yourself.
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes
for which it was collected, including to provide services, comply with legal and
regulatory obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. In general,
account-related data is retained while your account remains active. If you choose to
close your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within a
reasonable period, unless retention is required by law.
Background check and identity verification data may be stored by third-party providers
in accordance with their own legal and compliance requirements. Where such data is
processed on our behalf, we require those providers to apply appropriate safeguards
and limit retention to what is legally necessary.
In some cases, we may retain aggregated or anonymized data that no longer identifies
you, for purposes such as analytics, service improvement, or business reporting.
7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to improve your experience on our
platform, understand how the Service is used, and deliver personalized features and
content. Some cookies are necessary for the Service to function, while others are used
for analytics or marketing. You can manage or disable cookies through your browser or
device settings. Where required by law, we will request your consent before using non
essential cookies.
8. Your Choices and Rights
You have several options for managing your personal information and controlling how
we use it:
-
- Account Management: You may update or delete your account at any time
through your account settings. Please note that we may retain certain information
as required by law or for legitimate business purposes (such as fraud prevention
or dispute resolution).
- Marketing Preferences: You may opt out of receiving marketing emails at any
time by following the unsubscribe link in the message or updating your
preferences in your account.
- Location Services: You may disable location sharing through your device settings,
though this may limit certain features such as matching and safety tools.
- Privacy Rights (California and EU Users): Depending on your location, you
may have additional rights under laws such as the GDPR or the California
Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). These may include the right to:
a) Request a copy of your personal information (access).
b) Request correction of inaccurate information.
c) Request deletion of your data, subject to legal and contractual limitations.
d) Request restriction of or object to certain types of processing.
e) Request a portable copy of your data in a structured, commonly used
format.
f) Opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information for targeted
advertising.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@palmatellc.com. We may
need to verify your identity before processing your request, and we will respond within
a reasonable timeframe.
9. Children’s Privacy
Our services are intended for adults and are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18, and individuals under 18 are not permitted to create accounts or use PalMate Connect. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a minor, we will promptly delete it and, where appropriate, take steps to disable the related account.
10. International Users
If you access our services from outside the United States, please note that your
personal information will be transferred to and processed in the United States. U.S. data
protection and privacy laws may not provide the same level of protection as those in
your home country.
To address this, we apply appropriate safeguards where required by law, including the
use of Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission or other
legally recognized mechanisms, to ensure your information remains protected when
transferred internationally.
Regardless of where your data is processed, the rights described in this Privacy Policy
such as the ability to access, correct, delete, or restrict processing of your personal data
remains available to you.
11. Updates to this Privacy Policy
We may revise or update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our
practices, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we make updates,
we will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of the Policy.
If we make material changes that significantly affect your rights or how we use your
personal information, we will provide advance notice of at least 30 days by email, in-app
message, or other reasonable means. If you do not agree to the updated Policy, you
may close your account and discontinue use of the Service before the changes take
effect. Continued use of the Service after the effective date of any update constitutes
your acceptance of the revised Policy.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our
handling of your personal information, you can contact us at:
PalMate LLC
Email: privacy@palmatellc.com
Address: 9355 John W. Elliott Dr., Suite 25508, Frisco, TX 75034, USA