Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

PBC Languages ("we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share your information when you use our website, platform, and services (collectively, the "Service").

By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

• Account Information: Name, email address, password, timezone, and preferred language when you register.
• Profile Information: Profile photo, bio, and language learning preferences you choose to provide.
• Payment Information: Billing details processed securely through Stripe. We do not store your full credit card number on our servers.
• Usage Data: Session bookings, attendance records, curriculum progress, and interactions with the platform.
• Communication Data: Messages you send through our contact forms or support channels.
• Technical Data: IP address, browser type, device information, and cookies for platform functionality and analytics.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

• To create and manage your account and provide access to our services.
• To process payments, manage subscriptions, and handle credit transactions.
• To schedule and facilitate language learning sessions between students and teachers.
• To send transactional emails including booking confirmations, reminders, and session feedback requests.
• To improve our platform, personalise your experience, and develop new features.
• To communicate important updates about our services, policies, or terms.
• To comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service.

4. Data Sharing & Third Parties

We do not sell your personal data. We may share your information with the following third parties only as necessary to provide our services:

• Stripe: For secure payment processing and subscription management.
• Email Service Providers: To deliver transactional and service-related emails.
• Hosting Providers: Our platform is hosted on Microsoft Azure, which processes data in accordance with industry security standards.
• Analytics Tools: To understand how our platform is used and to improve the user experience.

All third-party providers are contractually obligated to handle your data securely and only for the purposes we specify.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services. If you close your account, we will delete or anonymise your personal data within 90 days, except where retention is required by law or for legitimate business purposes such as resolving disputes or enforcing agreements.

Payment records may be retained for up to 7 years in accordance with tax and accounting regulations.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmitted between your browser and our servers.
• Secure password hashing and storage.
• Regular security reviews and updates to our infrastructure.
• Restricted access to personal data on a need-to-know basis among our team.

While we strive to protect your data, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. We encourage you to use a strong password and keep your account credentials confidential.

7. Cookies & Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you signed in and remember your language preferences.
• Understand how you use our platform and improve functionality.
• Provide a personalised experience across sessions.

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our Service.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Rectification: Request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal retention requirements.
• Portability: Request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Objection: Object to certain types of data processing, such as direct marketing.
• Withdrawal of Consent: Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@pbclanguages.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

9. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

10. International Data Transfers

Your data may be processed in countries outside your country of residence, including within the European Economic Area (EEA). Where data is transferred outside the EEA, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. If we make material changes, we will notify you by email or by posting a prominent notice on our platform before the changes take effect.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your data.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: info@pbclanguages.com