PRIVACY POLICY
Effective Date: 1 July 2023
This Privacy Policy governs the manner in which The Independent Expat collects, uses, maintains, and discloses information collected from users (each, a "User") of the www.theindependentexpat.com website ("Site"). This privacy policy applies to the Site and all products and services offered by The Independent Expat.
1. Personal Identification Information
We receive, collect, and store any information you enter on our Site or provide us in any way. In addition, we may collect personal identification information from Users in various ways, including, but not limited to, when Users visit our site, register on the site, fill out a form, and in connection with other activities, services, features, or resources we make available on our Site. We may use software tools to measure and collect session information, including page response times, length of visits to certain pages, page interaction information, and methods used to browse away from the page. We also collect personally identifiable information (including name, email, password, and communications); payment details (including credit card information), comments, feedback, product reviews, recommendations, and personal profile. Users may, however, visit our Site anonymously. We will collect personal identification information from Users only if they voluntarily submit such information to us. Users can always refuse to supply personal identification information, except that it may prevent them from engaging in certain Site-related activities.
2. Non-Personal Identification Information
We may collect non-personal identification information about Users whenever they interact with our Site. Non-personal identification information may include the browser name, the type of computer, and technical information about Users means of connection to our Site, such as the operating system and the Internet service providers utilized and other similar information.
3. Web Browser Cookies
Our Site may use "cookies" to enhance the User experience. The User's web browser places cookies on their hard drive for record-keeping purposes and sometimes to track information about them. Users may choose to set their web browser to refuse cookies or to alert them when cookies are being sent. If they do so, note that some parts of the Site may not function properly. Our Site may contain links to other websites that are not operated by us. This Privacy Policy does not address the privacy policy and other practices of any third parties, including any third party operating any website or service that may be accessible via a link on the Site. We strongly advise you to review the privacy policy of every site you visit. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.
​
To learn more about how we use these and your choices in relation to these tracking technologies, please refer to our Cookie Policy.
4. How We Use Collected Information
The Independent Expat website is hosted on the Wix.com platform. Wix.com provides us with the online platform that allows us to sell our products and services to you. Your data may be stored through Wix.com’s data storage, databases, and the general Wix.com applications. They store your data on secure servers behind a firewall. The Site, therefore, may collect and use Users' personal information for the following purposes:
-
To improve customer service: The information you provide helps us respond to your customer service requests and support needs more efficiently.
-
To personalize user experience: We may use information in the aggregate to understand how our Users as a group use the services and resources provided on our Site.
-
To improve our Site: We may use feedback you provide to improve our products and services.
-
To send periodic emails: We may use the email address to respond to their inquiries, questions, and/or other requests and to be able to contact our Visitors and Users with general or personalized service-related notices and promotional messages.
-
To provide and operate the Services.
-
To create aggregated statistical data and other aggregated and/or inferred Non-personal Information, which we or our business partners may use to provide and improve our respective services;
-
To comply with any applicable laws and regulations.
5. How We Communicate With Our Site Visitors
​We may contact you to notify you regarding your account, to troubleshoot problems with your account, to resolve a dispute, to collect fees or monies owed, to poll your opinions through surveys or questionnaires, to send updates about our company, or as otherwise necessary to contact you to enforce our User Agreement, applicable national laws, and any agreement we may have with you. For these purposes, we may contact you via email, telephone, text messages, and postal mail.
6. How We Protect Your Information
As your data may be stored through Wix.com’s data storage, databases, and the general Wix.com applications, they store your data on secure servers behind a firewall.
All direct payment gateways offered by Wix.com and used by our company adhere to the standards set by PCI-DSS as managed by the PCI Security Standards Council, which is a joint effort of brands like Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. PCI-DSS requirements help ensure the secure handling of credit card information by our store and its service providers.
7. Sharing Your Personal Information
We do not sell, trade, or rent Users' personal identification information to others. We may share generic aggregated demographic information not linked to any personal identification information regarding visitors and users with our business partners, trusted affiliates, and advertisers for the purposes outlined above.
8. How Can Site Visitors/Users Withdraw Their Consent?
If you don’t want us to process your data anymore, please contact us here.
9. Changes To This Privacy Policy
The Independent Expat has the discretion to update this Privacy Policy at any time. When we do, we will revise the updated date at the bottom of this page. We encourage Users to frequently check this page for any changes to stay informed about how we are helping to protect the personal information we collect. You acknowledge and agree that it is your responsibility to review this privacy policy periodically and become aware of modifications.
10. Your Acceptance of These Terms
By using this Site, you signify your acceptance of this policy. If you do not agree to this policy, please do not use our Site. Your continued use of the Site will be deemed your acceptance of those changes.
11. Contacting Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this site, please contact us here.