Effective Date: Feb 14, 2025
Thank you for using the Lincolnton Tourism App (“the App,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect your personal information when you use the Lincolnton Tourism App and any related services. It also outlines your rights and choices regarding your information. By using or accessing the App, you agree to this Privacy Policy.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Personal Information You Provide
● Account Registration: When you create an account, we may collect your name, email address, password (hashed), and optional profile details like phone number or address. ● Event & Transaction Data: If you purchase event tickets or redeem coupons, we may collect payment-related details (handled securely by a third-party payment processor) and transaction history.
● User-Generated Content: If you upload photos, post comments, or provide reviews through the App, we collect that content as part of your profile and community engagement.
1.2 Location Data
● GPS/Geolocation: We collect location data (with your consent) for features like check-ins, badge progress, and nearby event recommendations. You can opt out via your device settings or within the App at any time, though some features may be limited.
1.3 Cookies & Other Tracking Technologies
● Usage Data: Like many mobile apps and websites, we use cookies or similar technologies to gather App analytics (e.g., which pages or screens you view, your in-App activity duration).
● Third-Party Tools: We may utilize third-party analytics services to better understand user behavior, improve our services, and troubleshoot technical issues.
We only collect the data necessary to provide core functionality, analytics, and user experience improvements.
2. How We Use Your Information
2.1 Service Delivery
● Account Management: To create and maintain your user profile, facilitate logins, and provide customer support.
● Event Recommendations & Alerts: To show you relevant events, deals, and notifications based on your profile, interests, and, with consent, location.
2.2 Personalization & Engagement
● Check-Ins & Badges: To log visits at participating businesses or landmarks and track progress toward achievements.
● User Experience Improvements: We use aggregated analytics to refine our interface, reduce errors, and introduce new features.
2.3 Transaction Processing
● Payments & Refunds: For in-App ticket sales or event registrations, we partner with secure, PCI-DSS-compliant payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal). We do not store full card details ourselves.
2.4 Marketing & Promotions
● Push Notifications & Email Campaigns: With your consent, we may send promotional messages about upcoming events, special offers, or new App features. You can opt out at any time via settings.
3. Information Sharing & Disclosure
3.1 Service Providers
● Third-Party Vendors: We share relevant data with service providers who help us run core operations (e.g., payment processors, analytics platforms, cloud hosting). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data.
3.2 Legal Compliance
● Required Disclosures: We may disclose information where required by law, subpoena, or other legal process, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, investigate fraud, or respond to a government request.
3.3 Business Transfers
● Corporate Transactions: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, user information may be transferred. We will notify you if your data becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
4. Your Rights & Choices
4.1 Account Controls
● Profile Updates: You can view or edit your profile information at any time in the App’s “My Profile” section.
● Deletion Requests: You may request deletion of your personal data by contacting us.. We will comply unless we need to retain certain data for legal or legitimate business reasons.
4.2 Location Permissions
● Opt-Out: You can withdraw location-sharing permissions via your device settings. This may limit certain location-based features (e.g., check-ins, geofenced notifications).
4.3 Communication Preferences
● Notifications: You can control how often you receive push notifications or emails by adjusting your preferences in the App settings or following the unsubscribe instructions in emails.
5. Data Security & Retention
5.1 Security Measures
● Encryption: We use industry-standard security measures such as HTTPS (TLS 1.2+) for data transmission, and encrypted databases for data storage.
● Restricted Access: Only authorized personnel and service providers with legitimate business needs can access user data.
5.2 Retention Periods
● Data Retention: We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, or resolve disputes. We adopt reasonable security measures and regularly review the data we retain, deleting or anonymizing information when no longer needed.
6. International Users
Although the Lincolnton Tourism App is primarily intended for use within Lincolnton, North Carolina, users from other regions may still choose to use it. If you do, be aware that your data may be stored and processed in the United States or in other jurisdictions that may have different data protection laws.
7. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Any significant updates will be communicated through an in-App notification, email, or a prominent notice on our website. The “Effective Date” at the top will always indicate when the latest changes were made.