Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Adviseo ("Adviseo", "we", "our", or "us") values your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, store, protect, and otherwise process your personal information when you access or use the Adviseo platform, including our website, applications, products, and related services (collectively, the "Platform").

Adviseo is owned and operated by Bandana Jha.

By creating an account, accessing the Platform, or using any of our services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, you should discontinue using the Platform.

2. Scope of this Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to all users of the Platform, including:

• Visitors
• Clients (Seekers)
• Experts
• Applicants applying to become Experts

This Privacy Policy applies whenever you:

• visit our website;
• create an account;
• apply as an Expert;
• book or provide consultations;
• communicate with us;
• upload documents or files;
• contact customer support; or
• otherwise interact with the Platform.

This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party websites, services, or applications that are not owned or controlled by Adviseo, even if they are linked from our Platform.

3. Information We Collect

The information we collect depends on how you use the Platform. Generally, we collect the following categories of information.

3.1 Information You Provide

When you create an account, apply as an Expert, make a booking, contact support, or otherwise interact with the Platform, you may provide information including:

• your name;
• email address;
• profile photograph;
• professional biography;
• consultation categories;
• qualifications;
• work experience;
• certifications;
• portfolio information;
• LinkedIn profile;
• uploaded documents;
• files shared during consultations;
• messages submitted to customer support; and
• any other information you voluntarily provide.

Experts may also provide additional information necessary for verification or payout purposes.

3.2 Account Information

When you register using Clerk Authentication, we may receive information such as:

• your name;
• email address;
• profile image (where available);
• authentication identifiers; and
• account status information.

Passwords and authentication credentials are managed by our authentication provider and are not accessible to Adviseo.

3.3 Consultation Information

When consultations occur through the Platform, we may collect information necessary to operate the service, including:

• booking information;
• consultation schedules;
• consultation duration;
• participant identifiers;
• consultation status;
• billing information; and
• technical session information.

Adviseo does not record consultations by default.

3.4 Files Shared During Consultations

Users may voluntarily upload files during consultations.

Such files are shared only with participants involved in the consultation.

Once another participant downloads a file, Adviseo cannot guarantee its deletion from that participant's device.

3.5 Payment Information

Payments are processed by third-party payment service providers.

Adviseo does not store complete debit card, credit card, banking, or other sensitive payment credentials.

However, we may receive information including:

• payment status;
• payment amount;
• transaction identifiers;
• invoices;
• refunds;
• billing history; and
• payment verification information.

3.6 Automatically Collected Information

When you use the Platform, certain technical information may be collected automatically, including:

• IP address;
• browser type;
• operating system;
• device type;
• device identifiers;
• pages visited;
• referral URLs;
• session information;
• crash reports;
• diagnostic information;
• usage statistics; and
• other technical information necessary to operate and improve the Platform.

3.7 Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• authenticate users;
• maintain secure login sessions;
• remember user preferences;
• improve website performance;
• analyze Platform usage;
• detect fraud;
• enhance security; and
• provide essential Platform functionality.

Most browsers allow you to manage or disable cookies. However, disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the Platform.

4. How We Use Your Information

Adviseo uses personal information only to the extent reasonably necessary to operate, maintain, improve, and secure the Platform.

Depending on how you use the Platform, we may use your information to:

• create and manage your account;
• authenticate your identity;
• verify Expert applications;
• display your public Expert profile;
• facilitate consultation bookings;
• enable video consultations;
• process payments, refunds, and payouts;
• generate invoices and transaction records;
• provide customer support;
• respond to enquiries and complaints;
• investigate suspected fraud or misuse;
• maintain Platform security;
• improve Platform performance and user experience;
• develop new products and features;
• comply with legal obligations;
• enforce our Terms of Service, Expert Agreement, and other Platform policies; and
• communicate important operational information relating to your account.

We do not use your personal information for automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects without appropriate safeguards where required by applicable law.

5. Legal Basis for Processing

Where applicable law requires a legal basis for processing personal information, Adviseo may process your information on one or more of the following grounds:

• to provide the services you request;
• to perform our contractual obligations;
• with your consent;
• to comply with applicable legal obligations;
• to protect the vital interests of users or others; and
• for our legitimate interests in operating, improving, securing, and administering the Platform, provided those interests do not override your rights where applicable.

The legal basis relied upon may vary depending on the nature of the information and how it is processed.

6. How We Share Your Information

Adviseo does not sell your personal information.

We share information only where reasonably necessary to operate the Platform or where required by applicable law.

Depending on the circumstances, information may be shared with:

• the Client or Expert participating in a consultation;
• third-party authentication providers;
• third-party payment service providers;
• video communication providers;
• cloud hosting providers;
• analytics providers;
• error monitoring providers;
• email delivery providers;
• customer support service providers;
• professional advisers;
• auditors;
• law enforcement agencies;
• courts;
• regulators; or
• other authorities where required by law.

Whenever reasonably practicable, we share only the minimum information necessary for the relevant purpose.

7. Third-Party Services

Adviseo relies on carefully selected third-party service providers to operate various aspects of the Platform.

These providers may process personal information on our behalf in accordance with their own privacy policies and applicable laws.

Examples include providers responsible for:

• user authentication;
• cloud infrastructure;
• video consultations;
• payment processing;
• email delivery;
• analytics;
• error monitoring;
• security; and
• Platform operations.

Our current service providers include technologies such as:

• Clerk (authentication);
• LiveKit (video consultations);
• PostHog (analytics);
• Sentry (error monitoring); and
• Resend (transactional email delivery).

We may add, replace, or remove third-party providers from time to time as the Platform evolves.

8. Cookies & Similar Technologies

Adviseo uses cookies and similar technologies to provide a secure and reliable user experience.

Cookies may be used to:

• authenticate users;
• maintain secure sessions;
• remember user preferences;
• improve Platform performance;
• understand how users interact with the Platform;
• detect fraud;
• improve security; and
• support essential Platform functionality.

Some cookies are necessary for the Platform to function correctly. Other cookies help us understand how users interact with the Platform so that we can improve our services.

Most web browsers allow users to manage, restrict, or disable cookies through their browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may prevent some features of the Platform from functioning properly.

9. International Data Transfers

Our service providers may process information using infrastructure located in different countries.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, Adviseo takes reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate safeguards are implemented where required by applicable law.

By using the Platform, you acknowledge that your information may be processed in jurisdictions other than your own, subject to appropriate legal protections.

10. Data Retention

Adviseo retains personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to:

• provide the Platform and its services;
• maintain user accounts;
• process consultations, payments, and payouts;
• comply with legal and regulatory obligations;
• investigate fraud, abuse, or policy violations;
• resolve disputes;
• enforce our agreements; or
• satisfy legitimate business and operational requirements.

The length of time we retain information depends on the type of information and the purpose for which it was collected.

When personal information is no longer required, we may securely delete, anonymize, or otherwise dispose of it in accordance with applicable law and our internal retention practices.

Certain information may continue to be retained after an account is deleted where retention is necessary to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, detect fraud, enforce our agreements, or protect the rights, property, or safety of Adviseo, its users, or others.

11. Data Security

Adviseo takes the security of personal information seriously.

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, misuse, loss, or destruction.

These measures may include:

• encrypted communication where appropriate;
• secure authentication systems;
• access controls;
• monitoring and logging;
• infrastructure security measures;
• regular software updates; and
• other industry-standard security practices.

Despite these safeguards, no method of electronic transmission or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Accordingly, while we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their account credentials and for taking reasonable precautions to protect their own devices and accounts.

12. Your Privacy Rights

Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to:

• access the personal information we hold about you;
• request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information;
• request deletion of your personal information;
• request restriction of certain processing activities;
• object to certain processing activities where permitted by law;
• request a copy of your personal information where applicable; and
• withdraw consent where processing is based upon your consent.

The availability of these rights may depend upon your jurisdiction and applicable law.

Adviseo will consider and respond to requests in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

13. Account Deletion & Data Requests

You may request deletion of your Adviseo account and applicable personal information by contacting us using the contact details provided in this Privacy Policy.

Before processing certain requests, we may require reasonable verification of your identity to protect the security of your account and personal information.

Deletion of an account does not necessarily result in the immediate deletion of all associated information.

Certain information may be retained where necessary to:

• comply with applicable law;
• maintain financial and transaction records;
• investigate fraud or abuse;
• resolve disputes;
• enforce our legal agreements; or
• protect the rights, property, or safety of Adviseo, its users, or others.

Where reasonably possible, information that no longer needs to identify an individual may instead be anonymized.

14. Children's Privacy

Adviseo is intended for individuals who are legally capable of using the Platform under applicable law.

Individuals under the age of eighteen (18) may use the Platform only with the consent of a parent or legal guardian where required by applicable law.

Experts must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children in violation of applicable law.

If you believe that personal information has been collected from a child in circumstances where such collection is not permitted, please contact us so that appropriate action can be taken.

15. Changes to this Privacy Policy

Adviseo may modify, update, or replace this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in:

• the Platform;
• our business practices;
• applicable laws;
• regulatory requirements;
• security practices; or
• our services.

Where reasonably practicable, we will notify users of material changes through the Platform, email, or other appropriate means.

The updated Privacy Policy becomes effective upon publication unless otherwise stated.

Your continued use of the Platform after the updated Privacy Policy becomes effective constitutes your acknowledgment of the revised Privacy Policy.

16. Contact Information

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, your personal information, or how Adviseo processes data, you may contact us using the details below.

Legal Owner & Operator

Bandana Jha

Platform

Adviseo

Support & General Enquiries

helloadviseo@gmail.com

Privacy Enquiries

adviseohq@gmail.com

Privacy Requests

Requests relating to:

• access to personal information;
• correction of personal information;
• deletion requests;
• privacy complaints; or
• other privacy-related enquiries,

may be submitted using the contact details provided above.

We will make reasonable efforts to respond to privacy-related requests in accordance with applicable law.