Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

ChairHop Inc. ("ChairHop," "we," "us," or "our") is based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. We operate the ChairHop platform, which connects clients with independent hair and beauty professionals.

This Privacy Policy covers how we handle personal information collected through our website, app, and any related services (collectively, the "Platform"). It applies to both clients and stylists.

2. What We Collect and Why

When you create an account

• Your name, email address, phone number, and password — so we can create and secure your account.
• Your profile photo (optional) — to personalize your profile.

When you book or manage appointments

• Appointment details, service preferences, and booking history — to make bookings work.
• Messages you send through the Platform — to facilitate communication between clients and stylists.

When you make a payment

Payment details are handled by Square. We only see limited transaction info like the last four digits of your card and the amount charged. We never store your full card number.

If you're a stylist

• Business name and address, professional credentials, service listings, portfolio photos, and availability.
• Banking information for payouts — stored and managed by Square, not by us.

Automatically, when you use the Platform

• Device type, browser, and operating system — for security and compatibility.
• IP address and approximate location — for fraud prevention.
• Log data like pages visited and session duration — to improve performance.
• Cookies and session tokens — to keep you logged in. See Section 7.

One thing we don't collect

We don't intentionally collect sensitive information like government ID numbers, health records, or biometric data. If a client chooses to share a health condition or allergy with a stylist through the Platform, we treat that information as confidential and use it only for that appointment.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Run the Platform — create accounts, facilitate bookings, process payments, send confirmations and reminders.
• Keep things secure — detect fraud, prevent unauthorized access, investigate suspicious activity.
• Improve ChairHop — understand how people use the Platform so we can make it better.
• Communicate with you — send transactional messages you need (like booking confirmations) and, with your permission, marketing messages about new features or offers.
• Comply with the law — meet our legal obligations in Canada and the US.

We do not use your data for advertising. We don't serve targeted ads, share your data with ad networks, or build advertising profiles.

4. Who We Share Your Information With

We share your information only when we need to in order to run the Platform.

We also share information when the law requires it — for example, in response to a court order or legal process. And if ChairHop is ever acquired or merged with another company, your information may transfer as part of that deal. We'll notify you if that happens.

We never sell your information, share it with advertisers, or give it to data brokers.

5. What Clients and Stylists Share with Each Other

When you book an appointment, we share your name and contact details with the stylist so they can prepare for and manage your booking. Stylist profiles — including their name, services, photos, and availability — are visible to anyone browsing the Platform.

Any messages you send through the Platform are visible to the person you're messaging. Keep that in mind when sharing sensitive information.

6. How We Protect Your Information

We use industry-standard security measures including:

• Encryption for data in transit and at rest
• Encrypted storage for sensitive credentials
• Access controls so only people who need your data can see it

No system is 100% secure. If you think your account has been compromised, contact us at admin@chair-hop.com immediately.

7. Cookies

We use cookies and session tokens to keep you logged in, remember your settings, and understand how the Platform is being used. We don't use advertising cookies or tracking pixels.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Turning them off may affect some Platform functionality.

8. How Long We Keep Your Information

We keep your information for as long as your account is active or as long as we need it.

We may keep data longer if required by law or if there's an active legal matter.

9. Your Privacy Rights

Everyone

Regardless of where you live, you can:

• Ask to see what personal information we have about you
• Ask us to correct inaccurate information
• Ask us to delete your information (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time

Canadian users (PIPEDA and Quebec's Law 25)

If you're in Canada, you also have the right to:

• Request your data in a portable format (JSON or CSV) — email us with "Data Portability Request" in the subject line
• Ask for human review if an automated system makes a significant decision about you
• File a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (priv.gc.ca) or, if you're in Quebec, with the Commission d'accès à l'information (cai.gouv.qc.ca)

US users (state privacy laws)

Depending on the state you live in, you may have additional rights under state privacy laws. These may include the right to know what data we collect, the right to delete it, the right to opt out of the sale of your data (we don't sell data, but this right still applies), and the right not to be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights.

California residents: this policy serves as our notice at collection under the CCPA. We do not sell or share personal information as defined by the CCPA. You can submit a rights request by emailing admin@chair-hop.com.

How to submit a request

Email admin@chair-hop.com with "Privacy Rights Request" in the subject line. We'll respond within 30 days. We may ask you to verify your identity first.

10. Data Outside Canada

ChairHop is based in Canada, but some of our service providers — including Square, Cloudinary, and Heroku — may store or process your data in the United States. US privacy laws are different from Canadian ones.

When your data crosses the border, we protect it through contracts with our service providers that require them to keep your data safe to a standard comparable to Canadian law. We only share what's necessary for each service.

11. HOPPS, Our AI Assistant

HOPPS is a built-in AI assistant that helps you navigate ChairHop and answers general questions. It's powered by a third-party AI provider. The text you send to HOPPS may be processed by that provider and may be used to improve their AI models, in accordance with their terms.

HOPPS doesn't make any decisions about your account — it only provides information. If you want a human to review something, contact us directly at admin@chair-hop.com.

12. Children

ChairHop is not for anyone under 18. We don't knowingly collect information from minors. If you think a minor has signed up, let us know at admin@chair-hop.com and we'll delete the account.

13. If There's Ever a Breach

If something goes wrong and your personal information is compromised in a way that creates real risk of harm, we'll notify you as quickly as possible. We'll also notify the appropriate regulators as required by law — the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in Canada and, for Quebec residents, the Commission d'accès à l'information.

14. Things Outside Our Control

If a natural disaster, cyberattack, government action, or other event outside our control prevents us from handling your data the way we normally would, we'll do our best to minimize the impact and get back to normal as quickly as possible. We'll notify you if required by law.

15. Updates to This Policy

We'll update this policy when things change — new features, new legal requirements, or new ways we use data. When we make significant changes, we'll let you know by email or by posting a notice in the app. The date at the top of this page always reflects the most recent update.

16. Questions?

Our Privacy Officer handles all privacy-related questions and requests.

• Email: admin@chair-hop.com
• Mail: ChairHop Inc., Attn: Privacy Officer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Phone: 1 (437) 333-0271

We'll acknowledge your message within 5 business days and get back to you fully within 30 days.