Privacy Policy

The following Privacy Statement sets forth the policies for, the collection and use of personally identifiable information (“Information”) by BuddySystems, Inc. (“BuddySystems,” “us,” “we,” or “our”). This Statement governs the operation of the website located at buddytexts.com and any related subdomains (“Site”), and BuddySystems’ online customer management, marketing, personalization, and analytics software presently offered or available (the “Services”), which includes, but is not limited to, using BuddySystems’ marketing software to retrieve customer information from SMS or MMS text messages and online forms, websites and similar opt-ins, viewing data available from the messages, and using BuddySystems’ marketing platform to send messages to end customers via SMS or MMS text messages.

We act as a service provider to organizations (“Customers”) who want to communicate with individual consumers (“Consumers”) through our Services. BuddySystems takes its obligations regarding privacy very seriously, and it wants to ensure Customers are fully informed about the Information they are providing. By using the Services, you consent to the processing of your information as set forth in this Privacy Policy, now and as amended by us. “Personally Identifiable Information” refers to information that can identify an individual such as, but is not limited to, a name, phone number, or email address. To take advantage of our Services, our Customers share with us information about their individual Consumers, including Personally Identifiable Information. Please address your questions about this Site, Services, or Privacy Statement to support@buddytexts.com.

Information We Collect

In providing the Services on behalf of our Customers, we collect and obtain information about Consumers to, among other services, deliver commercial text messages to Consumers’ mobile phones. We may also collect personal data for our own business purposes in connection with our business, such as business contact details of potential customers or job applicants’ resumes.

We collect personal information on the Site to facilitate the features offered to you during your use of the Services. Customers must register an account on the Site prior to having access to any of the features. To register an account on the Site, we may require name, email, phone number, and business address information, as well as sensitive financial information including credit card numbers to process the registration. Where applicable, we also collect third party personal information if the registered administrator is different from the initiator of the registration for the service. By registering for the service, the platform exists for Customers to enter third party personal information into their account for the purpose of using the Services, this information may include, but is not limited to cellular phone numbers, associated names, and email addresses. None of this personal information is used for any promotional purposes, or shared with third parties for their promotional purposes by BuddySystems.

BuddySystems may also collect non-personally identifiable information from Customers via “cookies” (small text files placed by BuddySystems on user computers), single-pixel GIF image files (also called “Web beacons”), Web server log analysis and other similar technological means. We also receive website navigational information such as IP address and referring URL when our Site is visited. Such information may be used to track site trends and enhance the user experience, and may be shared with third parties in aggregated, non personally identifiable form. To the extent third parties may place advertising on the Site, such third parties may use cookies, or other technological means within the advertising to collect and use non-personally identifiable information. BuddySystems is not responsible for information collected by third parties in this manner, nor for the collection or use of Information by other sites to which the Site is linked.

How we Collect Information

We may collect information directly from individuals, from third party vendors, data brokers, or business partners, and from recruiters for job candidates. We collect information you provide when you use the Services or otherwise communicate with us. If you are a Customer, we will collect the information you provide when you register for and use the Services. If you are a Consumer, the information you provide can include: information you provide via the Services, such as your name, email address, phone number, preference, and any required consents; your messaging history and any information included in your messages with Customers via the Services; and information you provide our customer support team.

Customers may provide us with information about their Consumers through the Services or offline for inclusion in the Services. Such information may include name, email address, and telephone number. Our Customers are responsible for providing notice and obtaining appropriate consents necessary for us to process this information.

We may receive information about you from third-party sources other than our Customers such as advertisers, partners, and other third parties we work with. We may combine this information with other information we received about you through the Services.

Our Use of Information

BuddySystems may share, transfer, or disclose information collected in connection with the Site in the following ways:

To provide requested information and products to users via the Site.
Third party service providers in connection with the operation of the Sites who provide services to us, such as analytics, web site management, information technology, and other similar service providers.
Legal Requirements may require us to disclose your information as we believe to be necessary or appropriate to: (i) comply with applicable law and legal processes; (ii) respond to requests from public and government authorities, including public and government authorities outside your country of residence; (iii) enforce our Terms of Use; (iv) protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property, and/or that of our affiliates, you or others; and (v) allow us to pursue available remedies or limit the damages that we may sustain.
We may use your data to create aggregate or statistical information that does not directly identify a specific person, and we may share that information. For example, we may share anonymous and aggregated reports and information on user demographics and traffic patterns with third parties.
We reserve the right to transfer your information to service providers, advisors, potential transactional partners, or other third parties in connection with the consideration, negotiation, or completion of a corporate transaction in which we are acquired by or merged with another company or we sell, liquidate, or transfer all or a portion of our assets.
When you make payments for access to the Services, you may need to provide financial account information, such as your credit card number, to our third-party service providers. We do not collect or store such information, though we may receive information about completed transactions that does not include credit card account numbers.
No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.

Security

BuddySystems uses industry accepted electronic and physical standards of security to reduce the risk of improper access to or manipulation of information during transmission and storage. While we take every precaution to ensure safety, no method of security is completely effective and we encourage you to employ discretion when submitting your information. We expressly disclaim any and all liability in connection with unintentional disclosure.

Children’s Privacy

This Site is not intended for users under the age of 18, nor does BuddySystems knowingly collect, maintain or use Personal Information from children under the age of 13, and no part of the Services is directed to children under the age of 13. If you learn that your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, you may alert us at the contact information listed below. If we learn that we have collected any personal information from children under 13, we will promptly take steps to delete such information and terminate the child’s account.

Information Retention

We will retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purpose(s) for which the information was collected, depending on the purpose(s) for which the information was collected, the nature of the information, any contractual relationship that may govern the retention of the data, and our legal or regulatory obligations. We will then destroy the personal information or anonymize the information, in accordance with applicable law.

Links to Third Party Content and Websites

We may provide links to websites and other third-party content that is not owned or operated by BuddySystems. The websites and third-party content to which we link may have separate privacy notices or policies. BuddySystems is not responsible for the privacy practices of any entity that it does not own or control.

Opting Out Choice

You may request that we delete your personal information. We may reject your request, as permitted by applicable law. BuddySystems service offerings include acting as a service provider for our Customers in providing an “opt-out” platform for their recipients [Consumers]. At any time, recipients [Consumers] may discontinue receiving SMS offers by sending the SMS message “STOP” to the applicable phone number. Opting out from a particular Customer’s offers will not apply to any communications from other Customers. All information provided to BuddySystems’ Customers is owned by said Customer and subject to their privacy statement. We expressly disclaim all liability in connection with our Customers’ privacy practices.

California Privacy Rights

California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA) grants California consumers data privacy rights and control over their personal information, including the right to know, the right to delete, and the right to opt-out of the sale of personal information that businesses collect, as well as additional protections for minors. if you are a California resident, you have the following rights: 1) Right to request disclosure of our data collection and sales practices, 2) Right to request a copy of personal information we’ve collected about you during the 12 months prior to your request, 3) Right to request that your personal information be deleted, 4) Right to request that your personal information not be sold to third parties, and 5) Right not to be discriminated against because you exercise any of the above rights.

You may only make a personal information request under the CCPA twice in a 12-month period. If you make a request, we will need to collect information from you so that we can verify your identity. We will respond within 45 days of receiving your personal information request.

Changes to our Privacy Policy

BuddySystems reserves the right to revise and update this Privacy Policy at any time. Any such revisions will be effective on the date of posting to the Site, and will apply to all information collected by BuddySystems both prior to, and following the effective date. Your use of the Site following any such revisions will be deemed your acceptance of such revisions. Users should periodically visit this page to review the current policies with regard to Information. Should we make a material change to the manner in which we collect, use or store information collected on our Site, we shall notify you via email.

Contacting Us

If you have any questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, our privacy practices or if you would like to exercise your rights and choices, please contact us at: support@buddytexts.com