Privacy Policy — URateMee

URateMee ("we", "us", or "our") operates the URateMee platform (the "Service"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our Service. Please read this policy carefully. By using the Service you agree to the practices described below.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information you provide

Account data — name, email address, password (hashed), profile photo, and phone number when you register.
RateMe data — business name, address, category, images, and other details you submit when creating or claiming a business listing.
Reviews & ratings — written reviews, star ratings, and dimension scores you submit.
Communications — messages you send to support or through the platform.

1.2 Information collected automatically

Usage data — pages visited, search queries, clicks, and time spent.
Device & log data — IP address, browser type, operating system, and referring URLs.
Cookies — session cookies for authentication and preference cookies for theme selection. See Section 7 for details.

1.3 Third-party sign-in

If you sign in with Google or Facebook we receive your name, email, and profile photo from those providers. We do not receive or store your social-media passwords.

2. How We Use Your Information

Provide, operate, and improve the Service.
Authenticate your identity and secure your account.
Send transactional emails (e.g., email verification, password reset, review notifications).
Display ratings, reviews, and business listings to other users.
Analyse usage patterns to improve platform quality.
Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service.

We do not sell your personal data to third parties.

3. Data Sharing

We may share your information with:

Service providers — cloud hosting, email delivery, push notification, and analytics vendors who process data on our behalf under strict confidentiality agreements.
Law enforcement — when required by applicable law, court order, or governmental authority.
Business transfers — in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, in which case users will be notified.

4. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. Reviews and ratings are retained to maintain the integrity of the platform. You may request deletion of your account by contacting support; we will delete your personal data within 30 days unless retention is required by law.

5. Security

We employ industry-standard security measures including TLS encryption in transit, bcrypt password hashing, and access controls. No method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction you may have the right to:

Access the personal data we hold about you.
Correct inaccurate data.
Request deletion of your data.
Object to or restrict certain processing.
Data portability (receive a copy of your data in a structured format).

To exercise any of these rights please contact us at privacy@yourateme.com.

7. Cookies

We use the following cookies:

yrm-session — strictly necessary authentication session cookie. Cannot be disabled.
yrm-theme — stores your light/dark theme preference.
yrm-cookie-consent — records your cookie consent choice.

We do not currently use third-party advertising cookies. You can withdraw analytics consent at any time via the cookie banner.

8. Children

The Service is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or a prominent notice on the platform. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

10. Contact

Questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy? Contact us:
privacy@yourateme.com