Privacy Policy

At distressed.ae, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us:

• Account Information: Name, email address, and password
• Profile Information: User role (buyer/seller), verification documents
• Property Listings: Property details, images, documents, seller contact information
• Payment Information: Billing details processed through our secure payment provider (we do not store full credit card numbers)
• Communications: Messages sent through our platform, support inquiries, feedback

1.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you access our platform, we automatically collect:

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages viewed, features used, search queries, time spent on platform
• Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: For authentication, preferences, and analytics

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

2.1 Service Delivery

• Create and manage your account
• Process credit purchases and property unlocks
• Facilitate communication between buyers and sellers
• Display property listings and search results
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries

2.2 Platform Improvement

• Analyze usage patterns to improve features and user experience
• Develop new features and services
• Conduct research and analytics
• Personalize content and recommendations

2.3 Security and Fraud Prevention

• Verify user identities and prevent fraudulent activities
• Detect and prevent security threats
• Monitor compliance with our Terms of Service
• Protect the rights and safety of our users

2.4 Communications

• Send transactional emails (account notifications, purchase confirmations)
• Provide important platform updates and service announcements
• Send marketing communications (with your consent, and you can opt-out anytime)

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We share your information only in the following circumstances:

3.1 Between Platform Users

• When a buyer unlocks a property, we share the seller's contact information and full property details
• Buyers' contact information is shared with sellers when properties are unlocked

3.2 Service Providers

We share information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf:

• Payment processing (Stripe)
• Cloud hosting and storage (Google Cloud, Firebase)
• Analytics services (Google Analytics)
• Email delivery services
• Customer support tools

3.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law or to:

• Comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government requests
• Enforce our Terms of Service and other agreements
• Protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users
• Investigate and prevent fraud or security issues

3.4 Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred. We will provide notice before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

4. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication with Firebase
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and monitoring
• Secure payment processing through PCI-compliant providers

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide our services and maintain your account
• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes and enforce agreements
• For legitimate business purposes

After account deletion, we may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes. Anonymized data may be retained indefinitely for analytics.

6. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

6.1 Access and Portability

• Request a copy of your personal information
• Export your data in a machine-readable format

6.2 Correction and Updates

• Update your account information through your profile settings
• Request correction of inaccurate information

6.3 Deletion

• Request deletion of your account and personal information
• Note: We may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate purposes

6.4 Marketing Communications

• Opt-out of marketing emails by clicking the unsubscribe link
• Manage email preferences in your account settings

6.5 Cookies

• Control cookies through your browser settings
• Note: Disabling cookies may affect platform functionality

7. International Data Transfers

Our services are hosted on servers located in various regions. By using our platform, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside of the UAE. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for such transfers.

8. Children's Privacy

Our platform is not intended for users under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child, we will take steps to delete such information.

9. Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We will notify you of material changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on this page with a new "Last updated" date
• Sending an email notification to registered users
• Displaying a prominent notice on our platform

Your continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Email: privacy@distressed.ae

Data Protection Officer: dpo@distressed.ae

Address: Dubai, United Arab Emirates