1. Introduction
Welcome to ChikakuMarket ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services.
By accessing or using ChikakuMarket, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you disagree with any part of this policy, please do not access the site.
2. Information We Collect
Personal Information
We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:
- Register an account
- List an item for sale
- Make a purchase
- Contact our support team
- Participate in surveys or promotions
Information Includes:
- Name and contact details: Full name, email address, phone number
- University information: Student ID, university name, campus location
- Verification documents: Ghana Card, Student ID (securely stored)
- Transaction information: Purchase history, payment details (processed securely)
- Profile information: Profile picture, biography, ratings
Automatically Collected Information
We automatically collect certain information when you visit our website:
- Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system
- Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent, links clicked
- Location Data: General location (city-level) for service optimization
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for various purposes:
Create and manage your account, process transactions, and enable campus meetups
Authenticate student status through Ghana Card and Student ID verification
Facilitate messaging between buyers and sellers for item inquiries
Provide updates about transactions, security alerts, and marketplace news
Analyze usage patterns to enhance user experience and develop new features
4. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information:
Our Security Measures:
- Encryption: All data transmitted is encrypted using SSL/TLS protocols
- Secure Storage: Sensitive information is stored in encrypted databases
- Access Control: Strict access controls limit who can view your information
- Regular Audits: Security audits conducted regularly to identify vulnerabilities
- Escrow Protection: Payment information protected through escrow services
Despite our safeguards, no system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information.
5. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell your personal information. We may share information in the following circumstances:
With Other Users
When you transact on ChikakuMarket, certain information is shared with other users:
- Your name and university (for buyer/seller identification)
- Item listings you create
- Ratings and reviews you provide
With Service Providers
We may engage third-party companies to:
- Process payments (Paystack, Mobile Money providers)
- Send email notifications
- Analyze website usage
- Provide customer support
Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities.
6. Your Privacy Rights
You have the following rights regarding your personal information:
Your Rights Include:
- Access: Request copies of your personal data
- Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
- Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data
- Objection: Object to processing of your personal data
- Data Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service
- Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time
To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@chikakumarket.com. We will respond within 30 days.
7. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary:
- Account Information: Retained while your account is active
- Transaction Records: 5 years for tax and legal compliance
- Inactive Accounts: Deleted after 2 years of inactivity
- Verification Documents: Securely deleted after verification completion
8. Children's Privacy
ChikakuMarket is designed for university students and individuals above 18 years. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 18. If we discover that a child under 18 has provided us with personal information, we will delete it immediately.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. You are advised to review this policy periodically for any changes.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:
Email: privacy@chikakumarket.com
Address: ChikakuMarket Privacy Team, Accra, Ghana
Phone: +233 123 456 789 (Mon-Fri, 9AM-5PM GMT)