Privacy Policy

1. Introduction and Scope

TidyQuest ("we," "us," or "our") operates a light-duty junk removal and outdoor clean-up service in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you use our website at tidyquest.ca and our related services.

This policy is governed by British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA, SBC 2003, c.63), Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) for cross-border data transfers, and Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) for electronic communications.

2. Privacy Officer

In accordance with PIPA s.4(3) and s.4(5), we have designated a person responsible for our compliance with privacy legislation:

3. Personal Information We Collect

3.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you submit a quest request through our website, we collect:

• Contact information: Name (required), email address (required), phone number (optional)
• Location information: Street address (required), map pin GPS coordinates (required)
• Service information: Staging location description, item descriptions, eligibility confirmations
• Visual information: Photos of items or property that you upload (optional)

3.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, our hosting infrastructure automatically collects:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Pages visited and time spent
• Referring website URL

We use Google Maps for location pinning, which may collect interaction data according to Google's Privacy Policy.

4. How We Use Your Information

Under PIPA s.14, we only use your personal information for the purposes identified at or before collection:

• Providing quotes: To assess your junk removal or clean-up needs and provide an accurate quote
• Service delivery: To communicate with you about scheduling and to navigate to your pickup location
• Payment processing: To process deposits and final payments for completed services
• Business records: To maintain records for tax, legal, and accounting purposes
• Service improvement: To improve our website and services based on usage patterns

5. How We Share Your Information

We share your personal information with the following third parties to provide our services:

5.1 Cross-Border Transfers

Your personal information may be stored and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate. When your information is in another country, it is subject to the laws of that country, which may differ from Canadian privacy laws (e.g., U.S. CLOUD Act). We take contractual and technical measures to ensure your information receives equivalent protection regardless of where it is processed. TidyQuest remains accountable for your data under PIPA s.34.

5.2 Legal Disclosures

We may disclose your personal information if required by law, court order, or government authority, or to protect our legal rights or the safety of others.

6. Your Consent

Under PIPA s.6-8, we obtain your consent before collecting, using, or disclosing your personal information. When you submit a quest request, the purposes (obtaining a junk removal quote and service delivery) are obvious and you voluntarily provide your information, which constitutes implied consent under PIPA s.8(1).

Withdrawing Consent: You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting our Privacy Officer. Please note that withdrawing consent may affect our ability to provide services to you. We will inform you of the implications of withdrawal.

7. Data Retention

In accordance with PIPA s.35, we retain personal information as follows:

• Quote requests that do not proceed: 90 days, then deleted
• Completed service records: Minimum 1 year per PIPA s.35(1), up to 7 years for tax and legal compliance (CRA requirements)
• Photos: Deleted within 30 days of service completion or quote expiry, unless needed for a dispute
• Payment records: 7 years (CRA requirement)
• Technical logs: Per hosting provider retention policies (typically 30 days)

When retention is no longer necessary, we securely delete or de-identify your personal information.

8. Security Safeguards

Under PIPA s.34, we protect your personal information with security measures proportional to its sensitivity. Given the combination of address, GPS coordinates, and photos we collect, we implement the following safeguards:

• Encryption in transit: All data transmitted via HTTPS/TLS encryption
• Encryption at rest: Database and file storage encrypted
• Access controls: Limited access to customer data on a need-to-know basis
• Secure infrastructure: Industry-standard cloud hosting with security certifications
• Regular review: Ongoing assessment of security practices

9. Your Rights: Access and Correction

Under PIPA s.23-24, you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you, how it has been used, and who it has been disclosed to
• Correction: Request correction of any inaccurate personal information

How to make a request: Email our Privacy Officer at privacy@tidyquest.ca with your request. Please include enough information to verify your identity.

Response time: We will respond within 30 days per PIPA s.29. If we need additional time due to complexity, we will notify you.

Fees: Access is generally provided free of charge. If a fee is required for extensive requests, we will provide a written estimate in advance per PIPA.

10. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses minimal cookies and similar technologies:

• Essential cookies: Required for website functionality (authentication, form submissions)
• Theme preference: Stored in localStorage to remember your dark/light mode preference
• Google Maps: May set cookies for map functionality per Google's policies

We do not currently use third-party analytics or advertising trackers. If this changes, we will update this policy and implement appropriate consent mechanisms.

11. Electronic Communications (CASL)

In compliance with Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL):

• Transactional emails: You will receive emails related to your quote request, service scheduling, and payment confirmations. These are sent based on implied consent from your inquiry.
• Marketing emails: We do not currently send marketing emails. If we do in the future, we will only send them with your express consent and provide an unsubscribe option in every message.

To unsubscribe from non-essential communications, contact our Privacy Officer or use any unsubscribe link provided in our emails.

12. Complaints

If you have a privacy concern or complaint about how we handle your personal information:

1. Contact us first: Email our Privacy Officer at privacy@tidyquest.ca. We take all complaints seriously and will investigate and respond.
2. Escalate if needed: If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (OIPC).

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

For material changes that significantly affect how we use your personal information, we will make reasonable efforts to notify affected individuals directly.

14. Contact Us

For questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact: