Privacy Policy - StudyGuru

1. Introduction

StudyGuru ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our online tutoring platform.

2. Information We Collect

Personal Information

We may collect personal information that you provide directly to us, including:

Name, email address, and contact information
Account credentials and profile information
Payment information (processed securely through Stripe)
Educational background and qualifications (for tutors)
Identity verification documents (for tutors)

Usage Information

We automatically collect certain information when you use our service:

Session data and booking history
Device information and IP address
Browser type and operating system
Pages visited and time spent on our platform

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Provide and maintain our tutoring platform
Process payments and manage bookings
Verify tutor qualifications and conduct background checks
Communicate with you about your account and sessions
Improve our services and user experience
Comply with legal obligations
Prevent fraud and ensure platform security

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

With Other Users

Basic profile information is shared between tutors and students/parents
Session history and progress reports may be shared with relevant parties

With Service Providers

Payment processors (Stripe) for secure payment handling
Cloud hosting services (Firebase/Google Cloud) for data storage
Email services for communications
Background check providers for tutor verification

For Legal Reasons

We may disclose information when required by law or to protect the safety of our users.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations. When we no longer need your information, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

7. Your Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Union, you have the following rights:

Access: Request copies of your personal data

Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate data

Erasure: Request deletion of your data

Portability: Request transfer of your data

Objection: Object to processing of your data

Restriction: Request restriction of processing

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information below.

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on our platform. You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences, though this may affect functionality.

9. Children's Privacy

Our service is designed to be used by students of all ages under parental supervision. For users under 16, we require parental consent and provide additional privacy protections in accordance with GDPR requirements.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be processed in countries outside the European Economic Area. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable law.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "last updated" date.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Email: privacy@studyguru.co.uk

Address: [Your Business Address]

Phone: [Your Phone Number]

For GDPR-related inquiries, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in the UK.