Privacy Policy

Technology assistance can sometimes involve personal information, so we want you to understand what information we collect, why we collect it, and how we handle it.

Information We May Collect

Depending on how you interact with GranPal, we may collect information such as:

• Your name
• Home or service address
• Phone number
• Email address
• Preferred way to contact you
• Appointment information
• Services you request
• General information about the technology you use
• Types of devices you own
• Internet or email provider information
• Technology questions, challenges, and goals
• Notes related to previous GranPal visits
• An authorized family member or other contact, if you choose to provide one
• Information about who is responsible for payment
• Membership information
• Communications you send to us

Our website may also automatically receive basic technical information commonly collected by websites, such as browser type, device type, IP address, pages visited, referral information, and general website usage information.

Why We Collect Information

We may use your information to:

• Respond to your questions
• Determine whether GranPal is a good fit for your needs
• Recommend an appropriate service
• Schedule and manage appointments
• Provide the services you request
• Remember relevant information about your technology setup
• Provide continuity between visits
• Communicate with you about appointments
• Process payments
• Manage a GranPal membership
• Communicate with an authorized family contact
• Maintain business and accounting records
• Improve our services and website
• Protect GranPal and our clients from fraud, misuse, or security concerns
• Comply with legal obligations

Information We Don’t Want You to Send Us

Please do not send highly sensitive information through our website contact forms, ordinary email, or text messages unless we specifically tell you it is necessary and provide an appropriate way to do so.

This includes:

• Passwords
• PIN numbers
• One-time security codes
• Social Security numbers
• Full credit or debit card numbers
• Bank-account passwords
• Copies of sensitive identity documents unless specifically required

During an appointment, there may be times when you need to enter sensitive information into your own device or an official website. Whenever practical, we will ask you to enter that information yourself.

Passwords

GranPal does not maintain a general database of client passwords.

If you need help with passwords or a password manager, we can help you create a safer and easier system while keeping control of your credentials with you.

If temporary access to an account is necessary to complete work you have requested, we will use reasonable care and avoid retaining the credential whenever practical.

Payment Information

GranPal uses third-party payment-processing services to process payments and, when authorized, maintain a payment method for future charges.

Your payment provider may collect and securely maintain payment-card information according to its own privacy and security practices.

GranPal does not intend to maintain full payment-card numbers in ordinary client files, notes, email, or text messages.

Information We Encounter During a House Call

Providing technology assistance is different from operating an ordinary website.

While helping you, we may incidentally see information displayed on your computer, phone, tablet, television, email account, photo library, files, online accounts, or other devices.

We do not consider access to your device permission to browse through your personal information.

We will make reasonable efforts to access only the information necessary to perform the work you have requested.

If something private appears while we are working, we will treat it respectfully and confidentially.

Family Members and Trusted Contacts

You may choose to identify an adult child, caregiver, family member, or other trusted person who can communicate with GranPal.

We may record their name and contact information along with the type of communication you have authorized.

We will not routinely share details about your accounts, devices, communications, or services with another person without your permission.

If someone else pays for your GranPal services, that does not automatically authorize us to disclose all of your personal information to that person.

You may change or withdraw permission to communicate with a family contact by contacting GranPal.

How We Share Information

GranPal does not sell your personal information.

We may share limited information when reasonably necessary with companies that help us operate the business, such as providers of:

• Payment processing
• Appointment scheduling
• Website hosting
• Email or communications
• Business software
• Accounting or recordkeeping
• Cloud storage or security services

These providers receive information only as appropriate for the services they perform for us and operate under their own privacy and security obligations.

We may also disclose information when required by law, legal process, or when reasonably necessary to protect the safety, security, or rights of GranPal, a client, or another person.

Third-Party Websites and Services

GranPal may help clients use websites, apps, devices, and services operated by other organizations.

Those companies have their own privacy practices.

Information that you enter directly into a bank, healthcare provider, government website, email service, retailer, device manufacturer, or other third-party service is generally governed by that organization’s privacy policy rather than GranPal’s Privacy Policy.

Cookies and Website Analytics

MyGranPal.com may use cookies and similar technologies needed for the website to function and to help us understand how people use the site.

Depending on the services enabled on our website, third-party website, analytics, scheduling, advertising, or embedded-content providers may also use cookies or similar technologies.

You can control many cookies through your browser settings.

If GranPal materially changes the website technologies it uses, we may update this Privacy Policy accordingly.

Communications

If you provide your phone number or email address, GranPal may use it to respond to you and communicate about inquiries, appointments, services, billing, or your relationship with GranPal.

We will not sell your phone number or email address.

If we send optional marketing communications, you may ask us to stop sending them.

How Long We Keep Information

We retain client information only for as long as reasonably necessary for legitimate business purposes, including providing continuing service, maintaining business and tax records, resolving questions, preventing fraud, and complying with applicable law.

Information that is no longer reasonably needed may be deleted or securely disposed of.

Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate for a small service business to protect the personal information entrusted to us.

However, no website, computer, email system, cloud service, or method of electronic storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

One of the ways we reduce risk is by trying not to collect or retain highly sensitive information when we don’t need it.

Children

GranPal’s website and services are intended for adults and are not directed toward children under 13.

We do not knowingly use our website to collect personal information directly from children under 13.

Your Information

You may contact us if you would like to:

• Ask what personal information we maintain about you
• Correct inaccurate contact information
• Update an authorized family contact
• Withdraw permission for us to communicate with a family contact
• Ask us to delete information that we are not required or reasonably necessary to retain
• Ask a question about how your information is handled

We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling a request involving personal information.

Changes to This Policy

Our services and technology may change over time.

If our privacy practices materially change, we will update this Privacy Policy and revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.

Contact Us

Questions about your privacy are welcome.

GranPal
Email: Hello@MyGranPal.com
Website: MyGranPal.com

If you ever aren’t sure whether you should share a particular piece of information with us, please ask first.