Tellacity

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: September 6, 2025

1. Scope of This Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how Tellacity ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, processes, and discloses your information in connection with your access to and use of Tellacity's website, mobile applications, and other online products and services (collectively, the "Services").

This policy applies to all users of our Services, including consumers who write reviews and businesses who use our platform to manage their reputation and collect feedback. By using our Services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. Information We Collect

We collect various types of information to provide and improve our Services, including:

  • Information you provide to us: This includes personal identifiers (like name, email address, phone number), account credentials, profile information (e.g., username, display name, avatar, bio, country), payment information (e.g., billing address, payment method details if you subscribe to a paid service), and content you submit (reviews, comments, business claims, messages).
  • Information we collect automatically: When you use our Services, we automatically collect certain information, such as IP address, device information (device ID, operating system, browser type), usage data (pages viewed, features used, time spent on pages), referral URLs, and location data (derived from your IP address).
  • Review and Proof Information: When you submit a review, we collect the content of your review, your rating, date of experience, and any optional proof of purchase you provide (e.g., receipts, order references, invoices).
  • Information from third-party sources: We may receive information about you from third-party services, such as social media platforms if you choose to connect through them, or from business partners.

3. How Reviews Are Stored and Displayed (Verified vs. Unverified)

To enhance trust and transparency, we categorize reviews based on their verification status:

  • Unverified Reviews: Reviews submitted without acceptable proof of purchase are publicly displayed as "Unverified." While they contribute to a business's overall rating, they are clearly marked to indicate their lack of proof.
  • Verified Reviews: Reviews submitted with acceptable proof (e.g., a receipt, order confirmation, or invoice) are marked as "Verified." These reviews typically carry more weight and credibility. The proof itself is handled as described in Section 4.

4. Handling of Proof of Purchase & Receipts

Your proof of purchase documents are handled with strict privacy and security measures:

  • Secure Storage: All uploaded receipts, invoices, or other proof documents are stored in a private, encrypted, and access-controlled storage system. They are not publicly accessible, nor are they visible to business owners.
  • Limited Access: Access to these documents is strictly limited to authorized Tellacity moderation personnel for the sole purpose of verifying the authenticity of your review.
  • No Sharing with Businesses: We do not share your proof of purchase documents directly with the businesses you review. We may inform the business that a review has been verified based on submitted proof, but the document itself remains confidential.
  • Data Retention: Proof documents are retained only as long as necessary for verification, dispute resolution, and audit purposes, in accordance with our data retention policies and legal obligations.

5. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

  • To provide and maintain our Services: This includes operating the platform, processing reviews, facilitating business claims, and managing user accounts.
  • To improve and personalize our Services: We use data to understand usage patterns, develop new features, and enhance the user experience.
  • For security and fraud prevention: We monitor activity to detect and prevent fraudulent reviews, unauthorized access, and other malicious activities.
  • To communicate with you: We use your contact information to send you transactional emails (e.g., account notifications, login links), service updates, and, if you opt-in, marketing communications.
  • For legal compliance: We process data to comply with legal obligations, enforce our Terms of Service, and resolve disputes.
  • For analytics and research: We analyze user behavior to understand market trends, measure the effectiveness of our campaigns, and make data-driven decisions.

6. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

For users in the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK, we rely on the following legal bases for processing your personal data:

  • Performance of a contract: When processing is necessary to provide the Services you request, such as publishing your review or managing your business account.
  • Legitimate interests: For activities like improving our Services, preventing fraud, ensuring platform integrity, and marketing (where not requiring consent), provided our interests do not override your data protection rights.
  • Consent: Where required by law, we will obtain your explicit consent for certain processing activities, such as sending marketing communications. You have the right to withdraw consent at any time.
  • Legal obligations: When processing is necessary to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies (like web beacons and pixels) to track activity on our Services and hold certain information. These technologies are used for various purposes, including:

  • Essential cookies: Necessary for the operation of our Services (e.g., to keep you logged in).
  • Analytical/performance cookies: To analyze how users interact with our Services, identify areas for improvement, and measure the effectiveness of our content.
  • Functionality cookies: To remember your preferences and personalize your experience.
  • Advertising/targeting cookies: Used by us and our advertising partners to deliver relevant advertisements to you.

You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings or via our cookie consent banner. Please refer to our Cookie Policy for more details.

8. Disclosure of Your Information

We may share your information with third parties in the following situations:

  • With businesses you review: When you write a review, your display name, review content, rating, and date of experience are publicly displayed and visible to the business. Your email and full name are NOT shared unless explicitly consented to (e.g., for direct communication from the business).
  • With service providers: We engage third-party companies and individuals to facilitate our Services, perform service-related functions (e.g., hosting, analytics, email delivery, payment processing), or assist us in analyzing how our Services are used.
  • For legal reasons: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court order or government agency).
  • For security purposes: To protect the rights, property, or safety of Tellacity, our users, or the public.
  • Business transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your personal data may be transferred to a new entity.
  • With your consent: We may share your information for any other purpose with your explicit consent.

9. International Data Transfers

Tellacity operates globally. Your information, including personal data, may be transferred to - and maintained on - computers located outside of your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ from those of your jurisdiction.

If you are located outside of the jurisdiction where our servers are located (e.g., EEA/UK users), please note that we transfer personal data to countries that may not have the same data protection laws as your country. We take all reasonable steps to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy, including implementing appropriate safeguards like standard contractual clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission, where applicable.

10. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law (such as tax, accounting, or other legal requirements). When we no longer need your personal data, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

11. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on your location and applicable laws, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Right to access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to rectification: You can request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
  • Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten"): You can request that we delete your personal data under certain conditions.
  • Right to restrict processing: You can request that we restrict the processing of your personal data under certain conditions.
  • Right to object to processing: You can object to our processing of your personal data under certain conditions.
  • Right to data portability: You can request that we transfer the data we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions.
  • Right to withdraw consent: If we are relying on your consent to process your personal data, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time.
  • Right to complain to a supervisory authority: You have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection authority in your country.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 17, or manage your preferences directly from your account settings.

12. Children's Privacy

Our Services are not intended for use by individuals under the age of 18 ("Children"). We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 18. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your Child has provided us with Personal Data, please contact us. If we become aware that we have collected Personal Data from children without verification of parental consent, we take steps to remove that information from our servers.

13. Platform Integrity and Moderation

To maintain a fair and trustworthy platform, we actively moderate content and may use data to:

  • Identify and remove fraudulent or abusive reviews.
  • Investigate complaints or disputes about reviews.
  • Ensure compliance with our Content Guidelines and Terms of Service.
  • Improve our moderation processes and algorithms.

14. Security of Your Information

The security of your personal data is important to us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. We implement a variety of security measures, including encryption, access controls, and regular security audits, to protect your data.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

16. Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of South Africa, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

17. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, your data, or want to exercise your data protection rights, please contact us via our contact form or by email at privacy@tellacity.com.