Data protection and Privacy Policy

At www.travel-pal.org ("Travel-Pal") we consider the privacy of our visitors to be extremely important.

This Data and Privacy Policy (Privacy Policy) governs the way Travel-Pal.org collects, uses, maintains and discloses information collected from users (known as "Users") of our website and mobile site (collectively known as "Sites"). This Privacy Policy applies to the Sites and all products and services offered by Travel-Pal.org.

This Privacy Policy applies to your Personal Data when you visit the Sites or use our Services and does not apply to other online websites or services which we do not own including externals links/Websites of other users of the Sites.

You can visit our Site without disclosing any personal identifiable information about you.

Personal data

Travel-Pal.org collects information/Personal Data about you when you register for an account, provide information on your profile, add photos, update your profile, ask for customer support or subscribe to the newsletter.

When you register to use our Services by creating an Account, we will collect Personal Data as necessary to offer and fulfil the Services.

We will collect personal identification information from Users only if they voluntarily submit such information to us. Users can always refuse to supply personal identification information, but this may prevent them from engaging in certain activities related to the Sites.

We use your email address to confirm your opening of an Account, to send you a Welcome email, a gentle reminder to complete the registration process and other important notices regarding your Account. Generally, users cannot opt out of these communications, but they will be primarily informational in nature and integral to the use of our Services rather than promotional.

Why Do We Retain Personal Data?

We retain Personal Data for the least amount of time necessary to fulfill our legal or regulatory obligations and for our business purposes. We may retain Personal Data for longer periods than required by law if it is in our legitimate business interests and not prohibited by law. If your Account is closed, we reserve our ability to retain and access the data for our legitimate business interests or so long as required to comply with applicable laws. We will continue to use and disclose such Personal data in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Non-personal identification information

We may collect non-personal identification information about Users devices whenever they interact with our Sites. Such information may include hardware model, operating system version, unique device identifiers, mobile network information and how User devices interact with our Sites.

Information about User location may be collected each time you access or use our Sites when you allow this information to be collected. Location-based services can be controlled by altering the settings of your Internet browser or mobile device. However, this may mean that certain parts of our Sites will not operate properly.

Like many other websites, Travel-Pal.org makes use of log files. The information inside log files includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP), date/time stamp and referring/exit pages. This information is used to administer the Sites, track User movement around the Sites, and gather demographic information. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.

Travel-Pal.org uses web browser cookies to enhance User experience, to store information about User preferences, to record User-specific information on which pages Users access, for User's host or Travel-Pal.org lists and to understand usage. Many web browsers are set to accept cookies by default. You can choose to set your browser to not allow browser cookies, however doing so may cause parts of our Sites to not operate properly.

How we use collected information

Travel-Pal.org may collect and utilize Users personal information for the following purposes:

To improve customer service: Information you provide helps us respond to your customer service requests and support needs more efficiently.

To personalize User experience: We may use anonymous or aggregated information to understand how Users as a group utilize the services and resources provided on our Sites.

To manage risk, resolve disputes, and troubleshoot problems

To improve our Sites: We may use feedback you provide to improve our products and services.

To send periodic emails: We may use your email address to communicate with you about services, technical announcements, security alerts, updates and to send support messages. If Users decide to opt-in to our mailing list, they will receive emails that may include Travel-Pal.org news, updates, related product or service information, etc. If at any time Users would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails, they may do so by contacting us via our Sites.

To protect the safety of Travel-Pal.org Users and confirm Users identities. To keep the site safe and to mediate disputes we are able to monitor messages sent through our system, but we do not routinely monitor messages. We do apply certain automated filters to prevent abuse of our system. Messages are never shared to third parties.

To display Travel-Pal.org volunteer's names to registered hosts.

To show Travel-Pal.org volunteer's general position on a map if they have allowed location-based services through their browser or device. This map is only available to registered Users of the Sites.

How we process the information

We may process your Personal Data for the following reasons To operate the Site and provide the Services, including to:

Authenticate your access to an Account

Communicate with you about your Account, the Site, the Services

To manage our business needs, such as monitoring, analyzing, and improving the Services and the Sites’ performance and functionality.

To manage risk and protect the Site and the Services from fraud and misuse by verifying your identity and helping to detect and prevent fraud and abuse of the Site and Services.

To comply with our obligations and to enforce the terms of our Site and Services, including to comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

For our legitimate interests, including to:

Enforce the terms of our Site and Services.

Manage our everyday business needs, such as monitoring, analyzing; obtain aggregated statistical data about how, when, and why Users visit our Site and use our Services.

How we protect your information

We adopt appropriate data collection, storage and processing practices and security measures to protect against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure or destruction of your personal information, username, password, and data stored on our Sites.

Sensitive and private data exchange between the Sites and their Users happens over a SSL secured communication channel and is encrypted and protected with digital signatures.

Sharing your personal information

We do not sell, trade, or rent users personal identification information to others. We may share information with search engines so that the content you provide in feedback can be indexed.

We may use information about you to safeguard the security of our Sites, to protect Travel-Pal.org and our Users or the public from illegal activities or harm. Also, if we are of the opinion that disclosure is reasonably necessary to adhere to any regulation, legal process, applicable law or requests originating from governments and to administer our "Terms and Conditions"

We may disclose information about you, your account in the event we undergo re-organization or are sold to a third party, in which case you agree that any personal information we hold about you may be transferred to the re-organized entity or third party for the purposes and subject to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

We may share information about you with other parties for business purposes or as permitted or required by law, including:

If we are required to do so to comply with a law, legal process or regulations.

To law enforcement authorities or other government officials, or other third parties pursuant to a subpoena, a court order or other legal process or requirements.

If we believe, in our sole discretion, that the disclosure of Personal Data is necessary or appropriate to prevent physical harm or financial loss or in connection with an investigation of suspected or actual illegal activity.

In case of payment disputes, claims, chargebacks we may be required to disclose information about you as requested to do so by payment providers and other authorities or parties.

To help assess and manage risk and prevent fraud against us, our Users and fraud involving our Site or use of our Services to parties that we plan to merge with or be acquired by; and to support our audit, compliance, and corporate governance functions.

What Privacy Choices Are Available To You?

You have choices when it comes to the privacy practices and communications described in this Privacy Policy.

Choices Relating to the Personal Data We Collect:

Personal Data

You may decline to provide Personal Data when it is requested, but certain Services or all of the Services may be unavailable to you.

Location and other device-level information. The device you use to access the Sites or Services may collect information about you, including Geolocation Information and User usage data that we may then collect and use. For information about your ability to restrict the collection and use of such information, please use the settings available in your device.

You can choose to opt out of our 'Meetup' function as well as your location being visible to hosts. You can do this via the Privacy Setting page in your Account.

Geo-location Information

When you use some features of Travel-Pal.org, we may collect information about your location as determined through data such as your IP address or mobile device's GPS to offer you an improved user experience. Most browsers or mobile devices allow you to control or disable the use of location services. You can control what information is shown regarding your location in your privacy settings.

Choices Relating to Our Use of Your Personal Data

Finding and connecting with others. If available, you may manage your preferences for finding and connecting with others from your account.

Choices Relating to Your Registration and Account Information

If you have an Account, you can review your Personal Data by logging into your Account. For any updates to personal data, you can contact us on support@Travel-Pal.org.info. Please contact us if you have questions about your Account information or other Personal Data.

Choices Relating to Communication

Notices, Alerts and Updates from Us:

Marketing: We may send you marketing content about our Sites, Services, products. You may opt out of these marketing communications we send by contacting us via our Sites. You can contact us via email: privacy@Travel-Pal.org.info

Can Children Use Our Services?

The Site and Services are not directed to children under the age of 18. We ask all users registering for an account to expressly warrant that they are an adult over 18 years old.

We do not knowingly collect information, including Personal Data, from any individuals under the age of 18. Contact us if you believe that we have mistakenly or unintentionally collected information from an individual under the age of 18.

Closing an Account

You can close an account by contacting us at support@Travel-Pal.org.info. If you close an account we will mark it in our database as closed but we may keep your account information to deter fraud - This is for instance necessary in order to deter fraud, by ensuring that persons who try to commit fraud will not be able to avoid detection simply by closing their account and opening a new account.

However, if you close your account, your personally identifiable information will not be used by us for any further purposes, nor sold or shared with third parties, except as necessary to prevent fraud and assist law enforcement authorities, or as required by law After 30 days period account is automatically remove from our records if you deactivate your account.

Your privacy preferences

Privacy Options: You can change your privacy settings and set the information you share with others by logging into your profile and selecting your "Privacy options" (located in "My account - Privacy settings")

Account Info: You can update your profile or deactivate your account whenever you wish by logging in and choosing to edit your profile. N.B. Even after deactivating your account, certain information may be retained when required by law and to protect Travel-Pal.org Users safety.

Changes to this Data Protection Privacy Policy

Travel-Pal.org has the discretion to update this Data Protection Privacy Policy at any time. When we do, we will revise the "last edited" date at the bottom of this page. We encourage Users to frequently check this page for any changes to stay informed about how we are helping to protect the personal information we collect. You acknowledge and agree that it is your responsibility to review this privacy policy periodically and become aware of modifications.