Guard-Tec Privacy Policy

Guard-Tec Privacy Policy

Last Updated: February 07, 2023

At Guard-Tec our mission is to improve people’s lives with the world’s best security network platform, by providing a platform to help you get your security needs at your finger’s tips. To do that, we need to collect, use, and share some of your personal information. This Privacy Policy is meant to help you understand how Guard-Tec does that and how to exercise the choices and rights you have in your information.

Guard-Tec’s privacy homepage provides additional information about our commitment to respecting your personal information, including ways for you to access and delete that information.

1.    The Scope of This Policy

2.    The Information We Collect

3.    How We Use Your Information

4.    How We Share Your Information

5.    How We Store and Protect Your Information

6.    Your Rights And Choices Regarding Your Data

7.    Children’s Data

8.    Links to Third-Party Websites

9.    Changes to This Privacy Policy

10. Contact Us

The Scope of This Policy

This policy applies to all Guard-Tec users, including Clients / Users and Services Providers (including Services Providers applicants), and to all Guard-Tec platforms and services, including our applications, websites, technology, facilities, and other services (collectively, the “Guard-Tec Platform”). This policy applies only to personal information, not to aggregate information or information that does not identify you. Please remember that your use of the Guard-Tec Platform is also subject to our Terms of Service. Certain elements of the Guard-Tec Platform may operate under separate or additional terms or practices different from or in addition to those described in this policy; in those cases, you will be provided separate notice and information relevant to your use of those parts of the Guard-Tec Platform.

For users in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and Virginia: Additional information regarding Guard-Tec’s privacy practices under state-specific privacy laws is available here.

The Information We Collect

When you use the Guard-Tec Platform, we collect the information you provide, usage information, and information about your device. We also collect information about you from other sources like service providers, and optional programs in which you participate, which we may combine with other information we have about you. Here are the types of information we collect about you:

A. Information You Provide to Us

Account Registration. When you create an account with Guard-Tec, we collect the information you provide us, such as your name, email address, phone number, birth date, profile photo, and payment information. You may choose to share additional info with us for your Client / User profile, like saved addresses (e.g., home or work), and set up other preferences (such as your preferred pronouns). We may ask that you provide additional information related to the identity of your account, such as documents related to identification (e.g., driver’s license), a profile picture, or “selfie” imagery. If you choose to engage in additional offerings on the Guard-Tec Platform (e.g., services for your vehicle or linking to other accounts), you may provide us additional information relevant to those offerings.

Services Provider Information. If you apply to be a Services Provider, we will collect the information you provide in your application, including your name, email address, phone number, birth date, profile photo, physical address, government identification number (such as social security number), driver’s license information, vehicle information, and car and liability insurance information CPL information, First Aid / CPR information. We collect the payment information you provide us, including your bank routing numbers, and tax information. Depending on where you want to provide services, we may also ask for additional business license or permit information or other information to manage services, driving and programs relevant to that location. We may need additional information from you at some point after you become a Services Provider, including information to confirm your identity (like “selfie” imagery).

Ratings and Feedback. When you rate and provide feedback about the Guard-Tec Platform (including about Client / Users or Services Providers), we collect all of the information you provide in your feedback.

Communications. When you contact us or we contact you, including through surveys or research projects, we collect any information that you provide, including the contents of the messages or attachments you send us.

B. Information We Collect When You Use the Guard-Tec Platform

Venue Location Information. Great services start with good request description an easy and accurate venue location and description. The Guard-Tec Platform collects location information (including GPS and WiFi data, IP address, and Bluetooth data) differently depending on your Guard-Tec app settings and device permissions as well as whether you are using the platform as a Client / User or Services Provider:

• Client / Users: We collect your device’s precise location when you open and use the Guard-Tec app, including while the app is running in the background from the time you request services until services request ends. Guard-Tec also tracks the precise location of our Services Providers at all times.
• Services Providers: We collect your device’s precise location when you open and use the app, including while the app is running in the background. We also collect precise location for a limited time after you exit online mode in order to detect any incidents, and continue collecting it until a reported or detected incident is no longer active. If you choose to install a Guard-Tec Platform device in or on your vehicle (e.g., a Guard-Tec dashboard device or tablet), that device may collect precise location information when turned on.

Usage Information. We collect information about your use of the Guard-Tec Platform, for all services, including transport information like the date, time, destination, distance, route, payment, and whether you used a promotional or referral code. We also collect information about your interactions with the Guard-Tec Platform like our apps and websites, including the pages and content you view and the dates and times of your use. We may also infer information from your use of or information you provide us in your interactions with the Guard-Tec Platform.

Device Information. We collect information about the devices you use to access the Guard-Tec Platform, including device model, IP address, type of browser, version of operating system, identity of carrier and manufacturer, radio type (such as 4G), preferences and settings (such as preferred language), application installations, device identifiers, advertising identifiers, and push notification tokens. If you are a Services Provider, we also collect mobile sensor data from your device (such as speed, direction, height, acceleration, deceleration, and other technical data). If you have installed a Guard-Tec Platform device in your vehicle (e.g., a Guard-Tec dashboard device or tablet), that device may similarly collect sensor data and other information like location, as described when you choose and set up such devices.

Communications Between Client / Users and Services Providers. We work with a third party to facilitate phone calls and text messages between Client / Users and Services Providers without sharing either party’s actual phone number with the other. But while we use a third party to provide the communication service, we collect information about these communications and Guard-Tec Platform chat communications, including the participants’ phone numbers, the date and time, and the contents of SMS and chat messages. For security purposes, we may also monitor or record the contents of phone calls made through the Guard-Tec Platform, but we will always let you know we are about to do so before the call begins.

Address Book Contacts. You may set your device permissions to grant Guard-Tec access to your contact lists and direct Guard-Tec to access your contact list, for example to help you refer friends to Guard-Tec. If you choose to do this, we will access the names and contact information of the people in your address book.

Calendar Information. You may set your device permissions or otherwise grant Guard-Tec access to your chosen calendar and direct Guard-Tec to access calendar information, for example to help you get alerts to schedule a Services Provider for your upcoming services. If you choose to do this, we will access and store information available in your calendar to use in providing you these optional features.

Cookies, Analytics, and Third-Party Technologies. We collect information through the use of “cookies”, tracking pixels, data analytics tools like Google Analytics, SDKs, and other third-party technologies to understand how you navigate through the Guard-Tec Platform and interact with Guard-Tec advertisements, to make your Guard-Tec experience safer, to learn what content is popular, to improve your site experience, to serve you better ads on other sites, and to save your preferences. Cookies are small text files that web servers place on your device; they are designed to store basic information and to help websites and apps recognize your browser. We may use both session cookies and persistent cookies. A session cookie disappears after you close your browser. A persistent cookie remains after you close your browser and may be accessed every time you use the Guard-Tec Platform.

C. Information We Collect From Other Sources

Service Providers and Other Parties. Service providers and other parties provide us with information needed for core aspects of the Guard-Tec Platform, as well as for additional services, programs, loyalty benefits, and promotions that can enhance your Guard-Tec experience. These service providers and other parties include background check providers, insurance partners, financial service providers, marketing providers, and other businesses. We obtain the following information about you from these parties:

• Information to make the Guard-Tec Platform safer, like background check information or identity verification information;
• Information about your participation in third-party programs that provide things like insurance coverage and financial instruments, such as insurance, payment, transaction, and fraud detection information;
• Information to operationalize loyalty and promotional/marketing programs or applications, services, or features you choose to connect or link to your Guard-Tec account, such as information about your use of such programs, applications, services, or features; and
• Information about you provided by specific services, such as vehicle, demographic and market segment information.

Enterprise and Corporate Programs. If you use Guard-Tec through your employer or other organization that participates in one of our Guard-Tec Business enterprise programs, we will collect information about you from those parties, such as your name and contact information. If an organization has utilized Guard-Tec to fulfill your requested services, we may receive information like your name services address from the organization in order to fulfill the services request.

Executive Protection / Concierge Service. Sometimes another business or entity may order you a Guard-Tec Services Provider. If an organization has ordered a Services Provider for you using the Executive Protection / Concierge service, they will provide us your contact information and the pickup and drop-off location for your services.

Referral Programs. Friends help friends use the Guard-Tec Platform. If someone refers you to Guard-Tec, we will collect information about you from that referral including your name and contact information.

Other Users and Sources. Other users or public or third-party sources such as law enforcement, insurers, media, or pedestrians may provide us information about you, for example as part of an investigation into an incident or to provide you support.

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

• Provide the Guard-Tec Platform;
• Maintain the security and safety of the Guard-Tec Platform and its users;
• Build and maintain the Guard-Tec community;
• Provide customer support;
• Improve the Guard-Tec Platform; and
• Respond to legal proceedings and obligations.

Providing the Guard-Tec Platform. We use your personal information to provide an intuitive, useful, efficient, and worthwhile experience on our platform. To do this, we use your personal information to:

• Verify your identity and maintain your account, settings, and preferences;
• Connect you to your Services Provider and track their progress;
• Provide various Guard-Tec Platform offerings to you, such as third-party promotional advertisements that may be personalized to you;
• Calculate prices and process payments;
• Allow Client / Users and Services Providers to connect regarding their services and to choose to share their location with others;
• Communicate with you about your use of the Guard-Tec Platform and experience;
• Collect feedback regarding your experience;
• Facilitate additional services and programs with third parties; and
• Operate contests, sweepstakes, and other promotions.

Maintaining the Security and Safety of the Guard-Tec Platform and its Users / Clients using the Concierge Service. Providing you a secure and safe experience Services Providers our platform, both at your location and on our apps. To do this, we use your personal information to:

• Authenticate and verify users;
• Verify that Services Providers and their vehicles meet safety requirements;
• Investigate and resolve incidents, accidents, and insurance claims;
• Encourage safe driving behavior and avoid unsafe activities;
• Find and prevent fraud; and
• Block and remove unsafe or fraudulent users from the Guard-Tec Platform.

Building and Maintaining the Guard-Tec Community. Guard-Tec works to be a positive part of the community. We use your personal information to:

• Communicate with you about events, promotions, elections, and campaigns;
• Personalize and provide content, experiences, communications, and targeted advertising to promote and grow the Guard-Tec Platform; and
• Help facilitate donations you choose to make through the Guard-Tec Platform.

Providing Customer Support. We work hard to provide the best experience possible, including supporting you when you need it. To do this, we use your personal information to:

• Investigate and assist you in resolving questions or issues you have regarding the Guard-Tec Platform; and
• Provide you support or respond to you.

Improving the Guard-Tec Platform. We are always working to improve your experience and provide you with new and helpful features. To do this, we use your personal information to:

• Perform research, testing, and analysis;
• Develop new products, features, partnerships, and services;
• Prevent, find, and resolve software or hardware bugs and issues; and
• Monitor and improve our operations and processes, including security practices, algorithms, and other modeling.

Responding to Legal Proceedings and Requirements. Sometimes the law, government entities, or other regulatory bodies impose demands and obligations on us with respect to the services we seek to provide. In such a circumstance, we may use your personal information to respond to those demands or obligations.

How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information to third parties for money -- no one can buy the personal information we collect from and about you and we do not act as a data broker. However, we may need to share your personal information with other users, third parties, and service providers to make the Guard-Tec Platform work and to deliver relevant personalized ads to you on and off the Guard-Tec Platform. Some of these disclosures may constitute “sharing” or “selling” of personal information under certain U.S. state privacy laws, which we describe in more detail here. This section otherwise explains when and why we share your information.

A. Sharing Between Guard-Tec Users

Client / Users and Services Providers.

Client / User information shared with Services Provider: As part of surfacing the services request and enabling the services, we share with the Services Provider the Client / User’s location or destination, location, name, profile photo, rating, Client / User statistics (like approximate number of Services Provider and years as a Client / User), and information the Client / User includes in their Client / User profile (like preferred pronouns) as well as any additional services the Client / User inputs into the Guard-Tec app. Once the services is finished, we also eventually share the Client / User’s rating and feedback with the Services Provider. (We remove the Client / User’s identity associated with ratings and feedback when we share it with Services Providers, but a Services Provider may be able to identify the Client / User that provided the rating or feedback.)

Services Provider information shared with Client / User: Upon a Services Provider accepting a services request, we will share with the Client / User the Services Provider’s name, profile photo, preferred pronouns, rating, real-time location, and if needed the vehicle make, model, color, and license plate, as well as other information in the Services Provider’s Guard-Tec profile, such as information Services Providers choose to add (like professional experience and background) and Services Provider statistics (like approximate number of Services Provider and years as a Services Provider).

Although we help Client / Users and Services Providers communicate with one another to arrange their services, we do not share your actual phone number or other contact information with other users when enabling this. If you report a lost or found item to us, we will seek to connect you with the relevant Client / User or Services Provider, which may include sharing actual contact information with your consent.

Services Requested or Paid for by Others. Some services request may be requested or paid for by others. If you take one of these services request using your Guard-Tec Business Profile account; a pass, code or coupon; a subsidized program (e.g., transit or government); a corporate credit card linked to another account; or another user or entity otherwise requests or pays for the services (or portion of the services) for you, we may share some or all of your services details with that other party, including your identity (e.g., name, phone number), the date, time, charge, rating given, region of services, and location of your services.

Linked Accounts and Sharing Upon Your Request. If you use the Guard-Tec Platform as part of a Guard-Tec business or Family account linked with others or if you direct us to share your information with trusted contacts, we will then share with those parties’ information about your use of the Guard-Tec Platform, such as the live location of your services.

Referral Programs. If you refer someone to the Guard-Tec Platform, we will let them know that you generated the referral. If another user referred you, we may share information about your use of the Guard-Tec Platform with that user. For example, a referral source may receive a bonus when you join the Guard-Tec Platform or complete a certain number of Services Provider and would receive such information.

B. Sharing with Service Providers to Provide the Guard-Tec Platform, and Other Parties

Depending on whether you’re a Client / User or a Services Provider, Guard-Tec may share the following categories of your personal information to provide you with a variety of the Guard-Tec Platform’s features and services:

• Personal identifiers, such as your name, address, email address, phone number, date of birth, government identification number (such as social security number), CPL information, First Aid / CPR Information, driver’s license information, vehicle information, and car insurance information;
• Financial information, such as bank routing numbers, tax information, and any other payment information you provide us;
• Commercial information, such as ride information, Services Provider/Client / User statistics and feedback, and Services Provider/Client / User transaction history;
• Internet or other electronic network activity information, such as your IP address, type of browser, version of operating system, carrier and/or manufacturer, device identifiers, and mobile advertising identifiers;
• Location data; and
• This and other information you may direct us to share with other parties, such as when you choose to link your Guard-Tec account with a separate travel rewards program or when you choose to engage with an offering from another company through the Guard-Tec Platform, such as a vehicle service.

We disclose those categories of personal information to these other parties and service providers to fulfill the following purposes:

• Maintaining and servicing your Guard-Tec account;
• Processing or fulfilling Services Provider or other offerings of the Guard-Tec Platform;
• Providing you customer service;
• Processing transactions and payments;
• Processing Services Provider applications;
• Verifying the identity of users;
• Detecting and preventing fraud and unsafe activity;
• Processing insurance claims;
• Providing Services Provider loyalty and promotional programs;
• Providing marketing and advertising services to Guard-Tec, including to provide targeted and cross-contextual behavioral advertising personalized to you;
• Providing financing;
• Providing requested emergency services;
• Providing analytics services to Guard-Tec; and
• Undertaking research to develop and improve the Guard-Tec Platform.

C. For Legal Reasons and to Protect the Guard-Tec Platform

We may share your personal information in response to a legal obligation, or if we have determined that sharing your personal information is reasonably necessary or appropriate to:

• Comply with any applicable federal, state, or local law or regulation, civil, criminal or regulatory inquiry, investigation or legal process, enforceable governmental request, or requirement as condition to operate (e.g., operating permit, license or agreement);
• Respond to legal process (such as a search warrant, subpoena, summons, or court order);
• Enforce our Terms of Service;
• Cooperate with law enforcement agencies concerning conduct or activity that we reasonably and in good faith believe may violate federal, state, or local law; or
• Exercise or defend legal claims, protect against harm to our rights, property, interests, or safety or the rights, property, interests, or safety of you, third parties, or the public as required or permitted by law.

D. In Connection with Sale or Merger

We may share your personal information while negotiating or in relation to a change of corporate control such as a restructuring, merger, or sale of our assets.

E. Upon Your Further Direction

With your permission or upon your direction, we may disclose your personal information to interact with a third party or for other purposes.

How We Store and Protect Your Information

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide you and our other users the Guard-Tec Platform. This means we keep your profile information for as long as you maintain an account. We retain transactional information such as Services Provider and payments for at least seven years to ensure we can perform legitimate business functions, such as accounting for tax obligations. We also retain your information as necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes and enforce our terms and policies. If you request account deletion, we will delete your information as set forth in the “Deleting Your Account” section below.

We take reasonable and appropriate measures designed to protect your personal information. But no security measures can be 100% effective, and we cannot guarantee the security of your information, including against unauthorized intrusions or acts by third parties.

Your Rights And Choices Regarding Your Data

As explained more below and on our privacy homepage, Guard-Tec provides ways for you to access and delete your personal information as well as exercise applicable data rights that give you certain control over your personal information.

A. All Users

Email Subscriptions. You can always unsubscribe from our commercial or promotional emails by clicking unsubscribe in those messages. We will still send you transactional and relational emails about your use of the Guard-Tec Platform.

Push Notifications. You can opt out of receiving push notifications through your device settings. Please note that opting out of receiving push notifications may impact your use of the Guard-Tec Platform (such as receiving a notification that your ride has arrived).

Profile Information. You can review and edit certain account information you have chosen to add to your profile by logging in to your account settings and profile.

Location Information. You can prevent your device from sharing location information through your device’s system settings. But if you do, this may impact Guard-Tec’s ability to provide you our full range of features and services. You may also control some elements of sharing your location with Guard-Tec in your Guard-Tec account settings.

Cookie Tracking. You can modify your cookie settings on your browser. You may also further control your cookie setting here.

Accessing Your Information. If you would like to access your personal information, please visit our privacy homepage. You can also see information we have about you by logging into your account and viewing things like your profile, settings, and preferences (like preferred pronouns and address shortcuts such as home and work), services history, or payment information. In addition, you may have some information included in things we have sent to you, such as services receipts.

Deleting Your Account. If you would like to delete your Guard-Tec account, please visit our privacy homepage. In some cases, we will be unable to delete your account, such as if there is an issue with your account related to trust, safety, or fraud. When we delete your account, we may retain certain information for legitimate business purposes or to comply with legal or regulatory obligations. For example, we may retain your information to resolve open insurance claims, or we may be obligated to retain your information as part of an open legal claim. When we retain such data, we do so in ways designed to prevent its use for other purposes.

B. State-Specific Rights

Some states such as California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and Virginia provide specific rights like the state regarding personal information. To see more information about these rights and how to exercise them, see here.

Children’s Data

Guard-Tec is not directed to children, and we don’t knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 16. If we find out that a child under 16 has given us personal information, we will take steps to delete that information. If you believe that a child under the age of 13 has given us personal information, please contact us at our Help Center.

Links to Third-Party Websites

The Guard-Tec Platform may contain links or references to third-party websites, products, or services. Those third parties may have privacy policies that differ from ours. We are not responsible for those third parties and their websites, products or services, and we recommend that you review their policies. Please contact those parties directly if you have any questions about their privacy policies.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy from time to time as the Guard-Tec Platform changes and privacy law evolves. If we update it, we will do so online, and if we make material changes, we will let you know through the Guard-Tec Platform or by some other method of communication like email. When you use Guard-Tec, you are agreeing to the most recent terms of this policy.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about your privacy or anything in this policy, including if you need to access this policy in an alternative format, we encourage you to contact us.