Privacy Policy - Tamarindo Guide

Tamarindo Guide · tamarindoguide.com

Effective Date: January 1, 2024

Welcome to TamarindoGuide.com. This website is owned and operated by AB Digital, a company based in Austin, Texas. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your choices. We keep this policy in plain language so it is easy to understand.

By using TamarindoGuide.com, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the website.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide to Us

Account registration: When you create an account to claim or manage a business listing, you can sign in using Google Login or Facebook Login. When you do, we receive your name, email address, and profile picture from your Google or Facebook account. We use this information to create and manage your account on our website. We do not post to your social media accounts or access your contacts.
Business listing submissions: When you submit or update a listing, we collect business details such as business name, address, phone number, website, hours of operation, description, and photos.
Newsletter signup: When you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your name and email address. Our newsletter is managed through Brevo (formerly Sendinblue), which stores your subscriber information on our behalf.
Contact form: When you contact us through the website, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message.
Comments and reviews: When you post a comment or review on a business page, we collect the content you submit along with your display name.

Information Collected Automatically

Analytics data: We use Google Analytics (via Google Tag Manager) to collect information about how visitors use the website. This includes pages visited, time on site, referring website, browser type, device type, and general geographic location. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect this data. This information is aggregated and does not personally identify you.
Facebook Pixel: We use the Meta (Facebook) Pixel to measure the effectiveness of our advertising on Facebook and Instagram. The Pixel collects data about your activity on our website, such as pages viewed and actions taken. This data is sent to Meta and may be used to show you relevant ads on Facebook and Instagram. The Pixel uses cookies and similar tracking technologies.
Cookies: Our website uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — to enable core website functionality, remember your login session, and support the analytics and advertising tools described above.
Server logs: Our web hosting provider, WP Engine, automatically records standard server log information, including your IP address, browser type, and the pages you request.

2. How We Use Your Information

Below is a summary of each type of data we process and the specific purpose for processing it:

Account data (name, email, profile picture received via Google Login or Facebook Login): We use this data to create your account, authenticate your identity when you log in, and allow you to manage your business listings. Without this data, we cannot provide you with an account.
Business listing data (business name, address, phone, website, hours, description, photos): We use this data to publish and display your business listing in the public directory. This is the core service of the website.
Newsletter subscriber data (name, email address): We use this data to send you our email newsletter. We process this data through Brevo, our email delivery provider. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Contact form data (name, email, message content): We use this data to read and respond to your inquiry. We do not use contact form data for marketing purposes.
Comments and reviews (display name, content): We use this data to publish user-generated feedback on business listing pages.
Google Analytics data (pages visited, time on site, browser type, device type, general location): We use this data to understand how visitors use the website so we can improve the experience. This data is aggregated and does not personally identify you.
Meta (Facebook) Pixel data (pages viewed, actions taken on the website): We use this data to measure the effectiveness of our advertising on Facebook and Instagram, and to deliver relevant ads to website visitors on those platforms. This data is sent to Meta for processing.
Cookies: We use essential cookies to keep you logged in and maintain website functionality. We use analytics cookies (Google Analytics) to measure traffic. We use advertising cookies (Meta Pixel) to track ad performance. See Section 5 for more detail.
Server log data (IP address, browser type, pages requested): Our hosting provider WP Engine collects this data automatically to operate and secure the web server. We may use this data to detect and prevent spam, abuse, or unauthorized access.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information in the following limited circumstances:

Business listing content: Information you submit as part of a business listing (business name, address, phone number, website, hours, photos, and description) is published publicly on the website. This is the core function of the directory.
Service providers: We use third-party services to operate the website, including WP Engine (hosting), Brevo (email delivery), and Google (analytics and authentication). These providers may process data on our behalf but are not permitted to use it for their own purposes beyond what their own privacy policies describe.
Analytics and advertising partners: As described above, Google Analytics and the Meta (Facebook) Pixel collect data about website usage. These tools are governed by their own privacy policies.
Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required to do so by law or in response to a valid legal request.

4. Third-Party Services

Our website uses the following third-party services that may collect or process data:

Google Analytics — Website analytics and traffic measurement. Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
Google Tag Manager — Tag management for analytics and tracking scripts.
Google Search Console — Search performance monitoring. This tool helps us understand how the site appears in Google search results. It does not collect data from website visitors directly.
Google Login (OAuth) — Account authentication. When you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email, and profile picture. Google’s privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
Facebook Login (OAuth) — Account authentication. When you sign in with Facebook, we receive your name, email, and profile picture. Meta’s privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy
Meta (Facebook) Pixel — Advertising measurement and retargeting. Privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) — Email newsletter delivery and subscriber management. Privacy policy: https://www.brevo.com/legal/privacypolicy
WP Engine — Website hosting. Privacy policy: https://wpengine.com/legal/privacy
WordPress — Content management system. Our site runs on WordPress with user registration and form functionality.

Each of these services has its own privacy policy that governs how it handles data. We encourage you to review them.

5. Cookies

Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device to remember information about your visit. TamarindoGuide.com uses cookies for:

Essential cookies: Required for the website to function, such as keeping you logged in to your account.
Analytics cookies: Used by Google Analytics to understand website traffic patterns.
Advertising cookies: Used by the Meta (Facebook) Pixel to measure ad performance and deliver relevant ads.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. However, blocking essential cookies may prevent parts of the website from working correctly.

6. Your Rights and Choices

You have the right to access, correct, and delete your personal data. These rights apply to all users of TamarindoGuide.com, regardless of where you are located.

Account information: You can update your account information by logging in to your account. You can also request changes by contacting us.
Newsletter: You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email we send you.
Cookies: You can manage or block cookies through your browser settings. Note that blocking essential cookies may prevent parts of the website from working correctly.
Facebook advertising: You can manage your ad preferences through your Facebook account settings. You can also opt out of interest-based advertising through the Digital Advertising Alliance at https://optout.aboutads.info.
Google advertising: You can manage your Google ad personalization settings at https://adssettings.google.com.

7. How to Request Data Deletion

Any user can request that we delete the personal data we hold about them. This right applies to everyone, whether or not you have an account on TamarindoGuide.com. Below are the steps for each type of user.

If You Have an Account (Registered via Google Login or Facebook Login)

You can request deletion of your account and all associated personal data by submitting a request through our contact form at tamarindoguide.com/contact. In your message, please include the email address associated with your account and state that you are requesting account and data deletion. We will delete your account data, including your name, email address, and profile picture, within 30 days of receiving your request. We will confirm the deletion by email.

Note: If you submitted a business listing, the listing content (business name, address, phone number, hours, etc.) may remain on the website as part of the public directory, since this information describes a business rather than your personal data. If you also want the listing removed, please state this in your deletion request.

If You Do Not Have an Account (Website Visitors)

If you do not have an account but have visited TamarindoGuide.com, data about your visit may have been collected automatically through Google Analytics, the Meta (Facebook) Pixel, cookies, and server logs. You can request deletion of any personal data we may hold about you by submitting a request through our contact form at tamarindoguide.com/contact. In your message, please describe the data you would like deleted (for example, newsletter subscription data, or data associated with a specific email address).

For data collected by third-party services, you can also request deletion directly from those providers:

Facebook / Meta: You can remove the connection between your Facebook account and our app, and request deletion of data Meta holds about your activity, through your Facebook Settings > Apps and Websites. You can also visit https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/deletion for data deletion requests.
Google: You can manage and delete data Google has collected through your Google Account settings at https://myaccount.google.com/data-and-privacy.
Brevo (newsletter): If you subscribed to our newsletter, you can unsubscribe using the link in any email, or contact us to have your subscriber data removed from Brevo.

If You Submitted a Comment or Review

You can request deletion of any comments or reviews you posted on business listing pages by contacting us through our contact form at tamarindoguide.com/contact. Please include the business name and the approximate date of the comment so we can locate it. We will remove the content within 30 days.

Deletion Timeline and Confirmation

We will process all deletion requests within 30 days. Once your data has been deleted, we will send a confirmation to the email address you provided in your request. If we need additional information to verify your identity or locate your data, we will contact you.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy. Specifically:

Account data is retained for as long as your account is active. Once you request deletion, we delete it within 30 days.
Newsletter subscriber data is retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion.
Contact form messages are retained for up to 12 months to allow us to follow up if needed, then deleted.
Business listing content remains on the website for as long as the listing is active, since it serves the public directory. You can request removal of a listing at any time.
Analytics and advertising data (Google Analytics, Meta Pixel) is retained according to the data retention policies of those third-party services. Google Analytics data is retained for 14 months by default. Meta retains Pixel data according to its own data policy.
Server logs are retained by WP Engine according to their standard retention schedule.

If we are required to retain certain data by law, we will do so for the legally required period and then delete it.

9. Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. However, no website or internet transmission is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

10. Children’s Privacy

TamarindoGuide.com is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will delete it promptly.

11. International Users

TamarindoGuide.com is operated from the United States. If you are accessing the website from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States. By using the website, you consent to this transfer.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the website after changes are posted means you accept the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact us through our website contact page at tamarindoguide.com/contact.

Thanks for being part of the Tamarindo Guide community — where locals and visitors connect to the best of Tamarindo.