Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

Haulmate is an independent app built for college students. If you have any questions about this policy, you can reach us at haulmatesupport@gmail.com.

2. What Information We Collect

We collect only what's needed to run the app:

• Account information — your name and email address, provided when you sign up via Google or email/password.
• Profile information — your display name, school (UMBC or UMD), and Venmo username if you choose to add one. All optional except your name.
• Group and item data — the groups you create or join, the items you add, and your claimed items. This data is shared with your group members.
• Activity logs — a record of actions inside groups (e.g. "Josh added Mini Fridge") visible to your group members.
• Device and usage data — Firebase and Google Analytics may automatically collect anonymized usage data including device type, operating system, and general usage patterns. We use this to understand how people use the app and improve it.

We do not collect your location, contacts, payment information, or any sensitive personal data.

3. How We Use Your Information

• To create and manage your account
• To sync your groups and items in real time with your roommates
• To display your name and Venmo username to your group members for settle-up purposes
• To send you password reset emails if you request one
• To understand how the app is being used so we can improve it

We do not use your information for advertising. We do not sell your data. Ever.

4. Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

Haulmate participates in the Amazon Associates Program. When you click a product link in the app and make a purchase on Amazon, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This is how we keep the app free. We only link to products relevant to your packing list — we are never paid to promote specific items.

5. Who Can See Your Data

• Your group members can see your display name, items you've added, items you've claimed, your Venmo username (if provided), and your activity in the group.
• Anyone with your invite link can see a read-only preview of your group name, member count, item list, and planned total before they sign in. This is intentional — it lets potential roommates see the group before committing to join.
• We can access your data as the app operator, only for support and maintenance purposes.
• Third parties — we use Firebase (Google) to store your data. Google's privacy policy applies to their infrastructure. We do not share your data with any other third parties.

6. Data Retention

Your data is stored in Firebase Firestore for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account or contact us to request deletion, we will remove your personal data within 30 days. Group data (items, activity logs) may be retained in anonymized form if other members remain in the group.

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Correct inaccurate data — you can update your profile at any time in the app
• Delete your account and associated data by contacting us
• Export your group's item list using the Export feature in the app
• Opt out of analytics by using the app in a private/incognito browser window

To exercise any of these rights, email us at haulmatesupport@gmail.com.

8. Children's Privacy

Haulmate is intended for college students aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If you believe a minor has created an account, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

9. Security

We use Firebase's security rules to ensure only authorized users can access group data. All data is transmitted over HTTPS. That said, no system is 100% secure — please use a strong, unique password and keep your account credentials private.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy as the app grows. We'll update the "Last updated" date at the top and, for significant changes, notify users via the app. Continued use of Haulmate after a policy update means you accept the new terms.