Privacy Policy

Welcome to Otzoo — a Real-Time Local Truth Platform that connects users with local shops, services, home help, and properties in their area. Otzoo also operates the Otzoo Growth Partner Program, which allows individuals to earn commissions by referring businesses to the platform.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you use our Android application, including all features such as business listings, subscriptions, and the Growth Partner Program.

By downloading, installing, or using the Otzoo application, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the application.

We collect the following categories of information to provide and improve our services:

Account Information:

• Full name and email address (via Google Sign-In)
• Phone number (for business registration and account verification)
• Profile photo (optional, from Google account)
• City and state (for localised search features)

Business Listing Information:

• Business name, category, address, and contact details
• Business photos and description
• Operating hours and services offered
• Subscription plan details

Growth Partner Information (if you apply):

• Full name, phone number, email address, city, state
• Identity documents (Aadhaar/PAN for India; equivalent government-issued ID for other countries)
• Bank account details (account number, IFSC code, bank name) for payout processing
• Referral activity, commission records, and payout history

Technical and Usage Data:

• Device model, OS version, app version
• IP address and approximate location (country/city level)
• App usage patterns and feature interactions
• Crash reports and error logs

Payment Information:

• Payment transaction IDs (processed by Razorpay — we do not store card or UPI credentials)
• Subscription plan purchased and date of purchase
• Payout details for Growth Partners (UTR numbers, bank reference)

Your information is used solely for the following purposes:

• Creating and managing your Otzoo account
• Displaying relevant local shops, services, and properties near you
• Enabling business owners to create, manage, and promote their listings
• Processing subscription payments and maintaining subscription records
• Verifying Growth Partner applications and managing the Growth Partner Program
• Calculating and processing Growth Partner commission payouts to registered bank accounts
• Sending transactional notifications (payment confirmations, payout alerts, application status updates)
• Sending service-related communications (app updates, policy changes)
• Investigating disputes, fraud, and violations of our Terms of Service
• Complying with legal obligations under applicable Indian law
• Improving the app through anonymised analytics and crash reports

The Otzoo Growth Partner Program requires additional sensitive data to facilitate commission payouts. By applying to the program, you expressly consent to the following:

• Your identity documents (Aadhaar, PAN, or equivalent) are collected solely for KYC verification purposes as required under applicable financial regulations
• Your bank account details are stored securely and used only for processing commission payouts to your registered account
• Your referral activity, earnings, and payout records are maintained for accounting, audit, and dispute resolution purposes
• Otzoo reserves the right to share your KYC and financial data with regulatory authorities if required by law
• Your identity and bank documents are stored in encrypted form on Supabase servers and are accessible only to authorised Otzoo administrators
• Commission records are retained for a minimum of 7 years as required under Indian financial regulations

Otzoo uses your device location to display nearby shops, services, and properties. Location access is required for core features of the application to function correctly.

• Location is accessed only while you are actively using the app — we do not track location in the background
• Your precise location coordinates are stored only when you actively post a Signal (Help, Update, or Deal) and are used solely to display that Signal to nearby users within your selected radius. Passive browsing does not store your location. — only city/area level data is retained
• You may deny location permission; basic app features will remain accessible
• Location data is never used for advertising profiling or sold to third parties

Otzoo uses the following third-party services to operate the application. Each has its own Privacy Policy which we recommend reviewing:

• Google Sign-In — Secure authentication. Google Privacy Policy applies.
• Supabase — Database, file storage, and backend services. Data stored on Supabase EU/US servers with encryption at rest.
• Razorpay — Payment processing for subscriptions and Growth Partner payouts (PCI-DSS compliant). We never store card, UPI, or net banking credentials.
• Google AdMob — Advertisement display on the free tier. AdMob may collect device identifiers for ad personalisation.
• Firebase (Google) — Push notifications for app alerts and partner notifications.

Otzoo is not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party services. We select partners who maintain industry-standard security practices.

We implement robust technical and organisational measures to protect your data:

• All data transmission is encrypted using SSL/TLS protocols
• Authentication is handled via Google OAuth 2.0 — passwords are never stored by Otzoo
• Database access is governed by Row-Level Security (RLS) policies — users can only access their own data
• Growth Partner documents are stored in a private, access-controlled Supabase Storage bucket
• Admin access to sensitive data is restricted to verified Otzoo team members only
• Payment processing is fully delegated to Razorpay — no financial credentials are stored on Otzoo servers

We do not sell your personal data. We may disclose data only in the following limited circumstances:

• To authorised service providers (Razorpay, Supabase, Firebase, Google) strictly for operating the app — governed by data processing agreements
• To regulatory or law enforcement authorities when required by applicable Indian law, court order, or legal process
• To protect the rights, safety, and property of Otzoo, its users, or the public
• In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets — you will be notified before your data is transferred

Business listing information you publish on Otzoo is publicly visible to other app users — this is the intended purpose of the listing feature.

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information in your profile
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated personal data. Note: Financial and commission records for Growth Partners are retained for the legally required period even after account deletion.
• Portability: Request your data in a portable format
• Objection: Opt out of non-essential communications
• Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw consent for optional data processing at any time

Otzoo displays advertisements via Google AdMob on the free tier. Paid subscribers and Growth Partners may see reduced or no advertisements based on their plan.

• AdMob may use device identifiers and usage data for personalised ad targeting
• You can opt out of personalised ads via your device settings (Google Settings → Ads → Opt out of Ads Personalisation)
• Otzoo does not allow advertisers to access your personal data directly
• Otzoo products are not influenced by advertiser relationships — ad placement does not affect listing rankings

We retain your data for the following periods:

• Account data: Until you delete your account, plus 90 days for backup purposes
• Business listing data: Until the listing is deleted or the account is closed
• Payment transaction records: 7 years as required under Indian financial regulations
• Growth Partner commission and payout records: 7 years as required under applicable tax and financial laws
• KYC documents (Aadhaar, PAN, etc.): For the duration of the Growth Partner relationship plus 7 years
• Activity logs and audit trails: 2 years for security and dispute resolution purposes

Otzoo is not intended for persons under 18 years of age. The Growth Partner Program requires applicants to be at least 18 years old. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe a minor has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately and we will delete such data.

Otzoo is operated from India and serves users in multiple countries. By using the app, international users consent to their data being processed and stored in accordance with Indian data protection laws and Supabase's data processing terms. We make reasonable efforts to ensure your data is handled in compliance with applicable local laws in your country.

Payment processing and Growth Partner payouts are currently available only in India (processed via Razorpay in INR). International users may use the app's listing and discovery features.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will notify you through the app or via email at least 7 days before the changes take effect. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page will always reflect the most recent revision.

Continued use of Otzoo after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.