Privacy Policy

1. Overview

Vetted.bb ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of everyone who uses our Platform. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and store it, and what rights you have over your data.

By using Vetted.bb you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform.

2. Information We Collect

We collect only the information necessary to operate and improve the Platform. This includes:

Account information

• Your name and email address, provided at registration
• Your account role (client or freelancer)
• Your password, stored in hashed form (we never store plain-text passwords)

Freelancer profile information

• Full name, trade or profession, location, and biography
• Hourly rate (used internally to calculate a price range indicator; the exact rate is never shown publicly)
• Skills and availability status
• Company name (optional)
• Profile photo, uploaded voluntarily
• Services you choose to list on your profile

Messages

• Messages sent through the Platform's contact form, including sender name, email address, subject, and message body

Reviews

• Reviews you write about freelancers or clients, including ratings, written comments, and the reviewer's display name

Usage information

• Standard server logs may capture IP addresses and browser information for security and diagnostic purposes. We do not use this data for advertising or tracking.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To operate the Platform: displaying freelancer profiles, facilitating contact between clients and freelancers, and showing reviews.
• To manage your account: authenticating you when you log in, sending password reset and email confirmation links.
• To enable communication: routing contact form messages to the intended freelancer's inbox on the Platform.
• To improve the Platform: understanding how users interact with the site so we can fix issues and add useful features.
• To ensure safety and compliance: detecting and preventing fraud, abuse, or violations of our Terms of Service.

We do not sell your personal information. We do not use your data for targeted advertising.

4. Who We Share Your Information With

We share your information only with the third-party service providers necessary to run the Platform. These are:

We do not share your information with any other third parties, advertisers, or data brokers. We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to a valid legal request from authorities in Barbados.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with the Platform's services.

If you delete your account, we will delete your personal profile data within a reasonable period. Some information may be retained for longer where required by law, for fraud prevention, or to resolve disputes. Reviews you have written may remain visible on the Platform in anonymised form after account deletion.

Messages sent through the Platform are retained to allow freelancers to access their inbox history. You may contact us to request deletion of specific messages.

6. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: You may update your profile information at any time through your account dashboard. For other corrections, contact us directly.
• Deletion: You may request deletion of your account and associated personal data. We will action this within a reasonable timeframe, subject to any legal obligations to retain certain records.
• Portability: You may request an export of your personal data in a common machine-readable format.
• Objection: You may object to certain uses of your data. Where we rely on legitimate interest as a legal basis, you have the right to object and we will consider your request.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@vetted.bb. We will respond within 30 days.

7. Cookies

Vetted.bb uses session cookies to keep you logged in while you use the Platform. These are strictly necessary for the service to function and are not used for tracking or advertising purposes.

We do not use third-party analytics cookies, advertising cookies, or any other non-essential cookies. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but doing so will prevent you from staying logged in.

8. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, disclosure, or destruction. These include encrypted connections (HTTPS), hashed password storage, and access controls on our database infrastructure provided by Supabase.

No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Children's Privacy

Vetted.bb is not intended for use by anyone under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a minor, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

10. Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of Barbados. Any disputes relating to your privacy rights under this policy shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Barbados.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

12. Contact Us

For any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us at: