Privacy Policy

Effective Date: April 5, 2026

Here Massage ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our massage therapy booking platform and services.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information

When you book a massage service, we collect:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and service location address
• Account Information: Username, password (encrypted), and communication preferences
• Health Information: Medical history, health conditions, injuries, allergies, and pregnancy status (required for safe massage services)
• Emergency Contact: Name, relationship, and phone number
• Payment Information: Credit card details (processed securely through Stripe; we do not store full card numbers)

1.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages viewed, time spent on pages, click patterns, and referral sources
• Location Data: General location based on IP address (used for service area verification)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide Services: Schedule appointments, match you with qualified therapists, and deliver massage services
• Communication: Send booking confirmations, appointment reminders, updates, and service notifications via email and/or SMS based on your preferences
• Safety & Quality: Share relevant health information with your assigned therapist to ensure safe and appropriate massage techniques
• Payment Processing: Process payments, manage memberships, and handle refunds
• Customer Support: Respond to inquiries, resolve issues, and provide assistance
• Service Improvement: Analyze usage patterns, gather feedback, and enhance our platform
• Legal Compliance: Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

3.1 With Massage Therapists

We share necessary information with your assigned therapist, including:

• Your name, phone number, and service address
• Relevant health information and special requests
• Appointment details and service preferences

Note on therapist status: Massage therapists who provide services through Here Massage are independent contractors, not employees. While they are bound by contractual confidentiality obligations and professional licensing requirements, Here Massage is not liable for the independent actions of therapists outside the scope of their service delivery.

3.2 With Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our business:

• Payment Processing: Stripe (for secure payment transactions)
• Communications: Twilio (for SMS notifications), Email service providers (for email notifications)
• Hosting & Infrastructure: Web hosting and database services

3.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law or to:

• Comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government requests
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of Here Massage, our users, or the public
• Prevent fraud, security issues, or technical problems
• Enforce our Terms of Service

3.4 We Do NOT Sell Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

4. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: All data transmitted between your browser and our servers is encrypted using SSL/TLS
• Secure Storage: Passwords are hashed using bcrypt; payment details are tokenized by Stripe
• Access Controls: Limited employee access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
• Regular Monitoring: Continuous security monitoring and updates

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Your Rights and Choices

5.1 Access and Update

You have the right to:

• Access your personal information through your account dashboard
• Update or correct inaccurate information
• Request a copy of your data

5.2 Communication Preferences

You can control how we contact you:

• Choose to receive notifications via Email Only, SMS Only, or Both
• Opt out of promotional communications (booking confirmations and essential service messages will still be sent)
• Update preferences in your account settings or by contacting us

5.3 SMS Communications

If you provide your phone number and explicitly opt in during booking or account actions, Here Massage may send you SMS messages related to your appointments and account activity. These messages may include appointment confirmations, appointment reminders, service-related notifications, and account verification or password reset messages.

Message frequency varies based on your activity. Message and data rates may apply. You can opt out at any time by replying STOP. For assistance, reply HELP or contact us through our website.

SMS consent is not shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing purposes.

5.4 Account Deletion

You may request deletion of your account and associated data by contacting us. Please note:

• We may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes (e.g., financial records, dispute resolution)
• Deletion is irreversible and will cancel any active memberships or future appointments

6. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide services and maintain your account
• Comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax records for 7 years)
• Resolve disputes and enforce agreements

After you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within 90 days, except where retention is legally required.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience on our platform:

• Essential Cookies: Required for site functionality, such as session management, login persistence, and CSRF protection
• Preference Cookies: Remember your choices (e.g., preferred therapist, location details) to streamline future bookings

We do not currently use third-party analytics or advertising cookies. If this changes in the future, we will update this policy and provide appropriate notice.

8. State-Specific Privacy Rights

Depending on your state of residence, you may have additional rights regarding your personal information:

• California Residents (CCPA/CPRA): You have the right to know what personal information we collect, request its deletion, and opt out of any sale of personal information. We do not sell personal information.
• Illinois Residents: We comply with the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act. We do not collect biometric data.
• Other States: Various states have enacted consumer privacy laws that may grant you additional rights. Contact us to exercise any applicable rights.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in the Contact section below.

9. Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach that compromises your personal information, we will notify affected users as required by applicable law. We will also take immediate steps to investigate the breach, mitigate any harm, and prevent future occurrences.

10. Health Information

While Here Massage is not classified as a HIPAA-covered entity, we apply HIPAA-inspired safeguards to treat your health information with the highest level of confidentiality:

• Health information is only shared with your assigned therapist and our administrative staff as necessary
• We use secure systems to store and transmit health data
• Therapists are bound by professional confidentiality obligations

11. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If a parent or guardian becomes aware that their child has provided us with information without consent, please contact us immediately.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Effective Date." Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us:

Email: privacy@here-massage.com

By using Here Massage services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and agree to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described herein.