1. Introduction

TalkNTrade ("we," "us," "our," or "the Platform") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application (the "App") and related services (collectively, the "Services").

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully before using the App. By registering or using TalkNTrade, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

2. About TalkNTrade

TalkNTrade is a hyperlocal classifieds platform that allows users to list, discover, and inquire about second-hand or new products in their local area.

TalkNTrade is a service provider only:

• We do not buy, sell, own, ship, or take possession of any product listed on the platform
• All listings are created by users for other users
• All negotiations and transactions happen directly between users
• TalkNTrade is not a party to any deal, exchange, or dispute between users
• Users are solely responsible for the products they list and the transactions they conduct through the platform.

3. Information We Collect

3.1 Information You Provide Directly

Account Registration

• Phone Number (Required): Used for secure OTP-based authentication
• Name (Required): Displayed on your public profile and listings
• Email Address (Optional): For account support and notifications
• Profile Photo (Optional): Displayed on your profile, stored on our servers
• Bio (Optional): Short description visible to other users

Location Information

• Precise Location (GPS): Latitude and longitude — collected only when you grant location permission — used to show nearby listings
• Approximate Location: Pincode, district, and state — entered manually or auto-detected

Product Listings

• Title & Description: Publicly visible listing details
• Photos: Stored on our servers
• Price: Set by you, visible to all users
• Pincode: Location of product availability

Business Profile (Optional)

• Business name, category, hours, and address
• Business logo and cover photo
• Business documents (e.g., GST number if applicable)

3.2 Chat & Messaging

TalkNTrade's messaging system is designed for user privacy:

• Messages are stored locally on your device — your chat history is kept on your own phone, not on our servers
• We store only message metadata on our servers: sender ID, receiver ID, timestamps, and delivery/read status — used only for message delivery and notification purposes
• We do NOT read, access, or analyse the content of your private messages
• Chat media (photos) are temporarily stored on Cloudflare for delivery and are automatically and permanently deleted from our servers within 30 days of being sent
• Once media is deleted from our servers, it is no longer retrievable from us. Any copies saved to your device remain in your own device storage and are your responsibility

Important: If you uninstall the app or clear app data, your local chat history may be lost permanently. We do not maintain a backup of message content on our servers.

3.3 Contacts (Optional)

• If you choose to sync your phone contacts, we use them only to identify which of your contacts are already registered on TalkNTrade
• This matching is done to help you connect with people you already know
• We do not permanently store your full contact list on our servers

3.4 Device & Notification Data

• FCM Token: Used solely to send push notifications to your device
• Device type: Android/iOS (for app compatibility)
• App version

3.5 Automatically Collected Data

• Last Seen / Online Status: Timestamp of your last app activity
• Product View Count: Number of times your listings were viewed
• Search Queries: What you search for (used to improve discovery)
• IP Address: Logged for security and fraud prevention
• Crash Reports & Error Logs: Aggregated technical logs for debugging (no personal data)

4. How We Use Your Information

4.1 Core Platform Services

• Authenticating your account via OTP
• Displaying nearby listings based on your location
• Enabling real-time chat between users
• Delivering push notifications for messages and platform activity
• Showing product updates/stories from your contacts

4.2 Platform Management

• Granting and tracking monthly free listing quotas
• Activating paid topup features after successful payment
• Auto-expiring listings after 30 days via scheduled system jobs
• Detecting spam, bots, and policy violations

4.3 Payment Processing

• Facilitating payments via Razorpay for paid plan topups
• Storing transaction records: Order ID, payment status, plan purchased, amount, and timestamps
• Generating payment receipts and maintaining transaction history
• Complying with Indian GST and financial regulations

4.4 Analytics & Improvement

• Aggregated, anonymised data used to understand platform performance
• No individual user is identified in analytics reports

4.5 Legal & Safety

• Complying with Indian law
• Responding to court orders or government requests
• Supporting dispute resolution when escalated to us by users

5. Information Sharing & Disclosure

5.1 Publicly Visible to Other Users

Information	Visible?
Name & Profile Photo	✅ Yes
Bio	✅ Yes
Product Listings (title, photos, price, pincode)	✅ Yes
Approximate Location (district/pincode)	✅ Yes
Online / Last Seen Status	✅ Yes
Phone Number	✅ Visible on your product listings and to users who have your number saved in their contacts
Precise GPS Coordinates	❌ Never shared
Private Messages	❌ Never shared

Note: By posting a product listing on TalkNTrade, you consent to your phone number being visible to other users as part of your seller contact information. You may remove a listing at any time to stop this visibility.

5.2 With Service Providers

We share data with trusted providers only to operate our platform:

Provider	Purpose	Data Shared
Firebase (Google)	OTP Authentication & Push Notifications	Phone number, FCM token
Cloudflare	Chat media delivery (auto-deleted in 30 days)	Chat photos, videos, voice files
Razorpay	Payment processing	Name, phone, email, transaction amount

All providers are contractually bound to protect your data and may not use it for their own purposes.

5.3 We Never:

• ❌ Sell your personal data to any third party
• ❌ Read or monitor your private chat messages
• ❌ Share your precise GPS location with other users
• ❌ Use your data for targeted advertising (currently)

5.4 Legal Disclosures

We may disclose information when legally required by:

• Indian courts (orders, warrants, summons)
• Law enforcement and cybercrime agencies
• Tax authorities (GST, income tax)
• Regulatory bodies (MeitY, TRAI, RBI)

We will notify you of such requests unless prohibited by law.

5.5 Business Transfer

If TalkNTrade is acquired, merged, or restructured, your data may transfer to the successor entity. You will be notified at least 30 days in advance.

6. Chat Media Storage Policy (Cloudflare)

Detail	Policy
Storage Provider	Cloudflare
What is stored	Photos, videos, and voice messages sent in chat
Retention Period	Auto-deleted 30 days after upload
Access	Recipients only, via secure time-limited URLs
After 30 days	Permanently deleted from our servers — not recoverable
Device copies	If saved to device, the copy remains on your device — outside our control
Message text	Stored locally on device only; we store delivery metadata only

7. Data Security

7.1 Technical Safeguards

• HTTPS/TLS: All data encrypted in transit
• JWT Tokens: Secure session management with expiry
• Bcrypt Hashing: Sensitive identifiers are hashed before storage
• Rate Limiting: Protection against brute-force and automated attacks
• Security Headers: Applied across all API routes
• HMAC Verification: All payment transactions verified to prevent tampering

7.2 Payment Security

• Razorpay is PCI DSS Level 1 certified
• We never store card numbers, UPI IDs, or net banking credentials
• HMAC signature verification on every transaction

7.3 Data Breach Response

In case of a security breach affecting your data:

• Affected users notified within 72 hours
• Nature of breach, impact, and mitigation steps will be communicated
• Regulatory authorities informed as required by law

8. Your Rights & Choices

8.1 Access Your Data

View your profile, listings, and transaction history anytime:

• Settings > My Profile
• Settings > My Listings
• Settings > Transaction History

8.2 Edit or Correct Data

Update at any time via Settings > Edit Profile:

• Name, email, bio
• Location / pincode
• Profile photo

8.3 Delete Your Account

You have the right to request permanent deletion of your account:

• How to request: Settings > Account > Delete Account, or email iamoriginalshahidshaikh@gmail.com
• What gets deleted: Profile, listings, contacts, chat metadata
• What is retained: Transaction records (5-year retention — Indian GST compliance)
• Chat messages: Deleted from our servers; local device copies remain on your device
• Processing time: Within 30 days of request

Note: Deletion is permanent and irreversible

8.4 Opt Out of Notifications

• Push Notifications: Device Settings > Apps > TalkNTrade > Notifications
• Marketing communications: Email iamoriginalshahidshaikh@gmail.com with subject "Unsubscribe"

8.5 Location Control

• Precise GPS: Revoke in Device Settings > Apps > TalkNTrade > Permissions > Location
• Manual location: You can always set your pincode manually without GPS
• Disabling GPS may reduce relevance of nearby product discovery

9. Data Retention

Data Type	Retention Period	Reason
User profile	While account is active	Service delivery
Product listings	30 days (auto-expire)	Platform rules
Chat message metadata	While account is active	Delivery tracking
Chat media (Cloudflare)	30 days from upload date	Auto-deletion policy
Transaction records	5 years	Indian GST / tax law
Backup data	Up to 90 days	System recovery
Crash & error logs	30 days	Debugging

Accounts inactive for 12 consecutive months will receive a deletion notice before removal.

10. Children's Privacy

TalkNTrade is intended for users 18 years and older. We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors.

If you believe a minor is using our platform, contact us at iamoriginalshahidshaikh@gmail.com with the relevant phone number, and we will deactivate the account promptly.

11. Third-Party Links

Our App may contain links to third-party websites or payment portals. TalkNTrade is not responsible for the privacy practices of those services. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before sharing any information.

12. Compliance with Indian Laws

This Privacy Policy is designed to comply with:

• Information Technology Act, 2000
• IT (Amendment) Act, 2008
• IT (SPDI) Rules, 2011 — Sensitive Personal Data or Information Rules
• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA)
• Consumer Protection Act, 2019
• Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act — transaction records retained for 5 years

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may revise this policy from time to time. When we make significant changes:

• The "Last Updated" date at the top will reflect the change
• You will be notified via in-app notification or email before changes take effect
• Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy

To request previous versions of this policy, email: iamoriginalshahidshaikh@gmail.com

14. Contact & Grievance Redressal

General Support

Email: iamoriginalshahidshaikh@gmail.com
Response Time: Within 24–48 hours (business days)

Data Protection Officer

Email: iamoriginalshahidshaikh@gmail.com
Address: A/202, Al Gadheer Palace, Thane - Maharashtra, India

Grievance Officer

(As required under IT Rules 2011)

Name: MOHAMMED SHAHID SHAIKH
Email: iamoriginalshahidshaikh@gmail.com
Phone: +91 75062 72273
Address: A/202, Al Gadheer Palace, Thane - Maharashtra, India
Response Time: Within 35 days of receiving the complaint