Privacy Policy

1. Scope and Application

This Privacy Policy explains how Bigeul collects, uses, discloses, retains, and protects personal information when an individual uses the Bigeul website, customer application, Professional application, search tools, company profiles, reviews, Request a Call feature, account tools, or customer support (collectively, the Platform).

This Policy applies to personal information collected from Bigeul customers and Professionals. Personal information means information about an identifiable individual, as described in PIPEDA and applicable privacy law.

2. Accountability

Bigeul will designate a Privacy Officer who is accountable for Bigeul’s compliance with this Policy and applicable privacy law. Before public launch, Bigeul will publish the Privacy Officer’s contact information and maintain internal procedures for privacy inquiries, complaints, and information handling.

3. Information Bigeul May Collect

Depending on how you use Bigeul, we may collect your first and last name, date of birth, email address, telephone number, account credentials, account information, address, company name, company email, website, logo, fields of work, operating areas, warranty information, work photographs, and documents submitted for certificates, licences, insurance, or verification.

We may also collect customer review ratings, review text, review replies, a reviewer’s email address, Request a Call details (including name, telephone number, address, selected Professional, and request date and time), communications with Bigeul, and information submitted through forms, surveys, feedback, or future applications.

When the Platform is fully operational, Bigeul may also collect limited technical information such as device type, browser type, IP address, log information, cookies or similar technologies, and security information needed to operate, secure, improve, and measure the Platform. If Bigeul later implements payment processing, SMS, call tracking, email delivery, app notifications, advertising measurement, or analytics, this Policy will be updated before those services are used.

4. Purposes for Collection and Use

Bigeul collects and uses personal information to create and manage accounts; create, manage, verify, and display Professional profiles; match customers with relevant Professionals; process and display reviews and replies; send customer contact requests to selected Professionals; review certificates and eligibility requirements; provide support; protect the Platform and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents; maintain records; enforce agreements; comply with legal obligations; improve the Platform; and administer future billing, invoices, receipts, or payment services where separately disclosed and authorized.

Bigeul identifies the purpose for collecting information before or when it is collected and will not use or disclose information for a new purpose without the consent required by law.

5. Information Shared with Professionals

When a customer submits Request a Call, Bigeul shares the customer’s first name, last name, telephone number, address, and request details with the selected Professional so the Professional can respond. Professionals are independent businesses and are responsible for their own privacy practices.

Professional Terms require Professionals to use customer-request information only to respond to the request and provide related services, to protect it, and not to sell it or use it for unrelated marketing without lawful consent.

6. Information Visible to the Public

Professional information may be publicly visible in Bigeul search results or profiles, including company name and logo, fields or services offered, operating areas, customer contact option, warranty information, Bigeul Score and review count, customer reviews and Professional replies, and work photographs selected for display.

After review and approval, Bigeul displays the ECRA/ESA electrical contractor licence number for Ontario electrical contractor services. Bigeul does not display other credential or registration numbers on public search cards; an approved service may show a Bigeul verified badge. Regulators may publish information independently in their own registers. A change to an approved credential returns it to review. Where applicable to towing services, Bigeul may also display the verified maximum-rate summary supplied for the approved profile.

Customer review text, star ratings, and public review conversations may be visible on the relevant Professional profile. A customer’s review email address is not displayed publicly.

7. Disclosure to Service Providers and Other Third Parties

Bigeul may use service providers to host the Platform, store data, provide email, support, security, analytics, messaging, payment processing, or other operational services. Providers receive only information reasonably necessary to perform their service and must protect it under appropriate contractual or legal obligations.

Bigeul may disclose information where required or permitted by law; to protect the safety, rights, property, or security of Bigeul, its users, or others; to investigate fraud or misuse; or in connection with a business transaction such as a merger, financing, or sale, subject to applicable law.

8. Consent and Choices

By providing personal information and using the Platform, you consent to collection, use, and disclosure as described in this Policy, subject to applicable law. Certain information is required for Platform features. For example, a customer must provide contact information for Request a Call, and a Professional must provide account and profile information to create a profile.

You may withdraw consent where permitted by law, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice. Withdrawal may affect Bigeul’s ability to provide an account, profile, Request a Call, or other feature.

9. Retention and Account Deletion

Bigeul retains personal information only as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy and to meet legal, tax, accounting, fraud-prevention, dispute-resolution, security, and agreement-enforcement obligations. Bigeul’s retention procedures will be finalized before launch and will include secure deletion, erasure, or anonymization when information is no longer required.

When an account holder permanently deletes an account, Bigeul removes the account and public profile from the Platform. Before deletion, the account holder may provide a reason. Bigeul keeps a limited internal deletion-feedback record so authorized Super Admins, and the assigned Customer / Pro Service administrator where applicable, can understand the reason and improve the Platform. Bigeul does not keep the full deleted account in this feedback area.

10. Safeguards

Bigeul will maintain physical, organisational, and technological safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information it holds. These include access controls, role-based permissions, secure account practices, security monitoring, encryption in transit, and data-protection requirements for service providers. No online system can guarantee absolute security.

11. Access, Correction, and Complaints

You may request information about the personal information Bigeul holds about you, request access to it, or ask for correction of inaccurate or incomplete information, subject to legal limits. Before launch, Bigeul will publish Privacy Officer contact details for these requests and privacy complaints. Bigeul will respond within the timeframes required by applicable law.

12. Security Breaches

Bigeul will maintain a breach-response process. Where required by PIPEDA or other applicable law, Bigeul will report a breach of security safeguards to the appropriate privacy authority, notify affected individuals as soon as feasible, and keep required breach records.

13. International Processing

Bigeul and service providers may store or process personal information in Canada or other countries. Information processed outside your province or country may be subject to the laws of those locations. Before public launch, Bigeul will identify actual hosting and relevant service-provider locations as required by applicable law.

14. Children

The Platform is not directed to children under 18. Bigeul does not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18. If Bigeul learns that it has collected such information without appropriate authorization, it will take reasonable steps to delete it and terminate any associated account.

15. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Bigeul may use cookies, local storage, and similar technologies to operate, secure, and improve the Platform. These may include strictly necessary technologies for security and session management, functional technologies that remember preferences, and analytics technologies that help Bigeul understand Platform use. Before public launch, Bigeul will identify any analytics or advertising providers and update this Policy where required.

16. Changes to This Policy

Bigeul may update this Policy as the Platform evolves. If a change is material, Bigeul will provide notice as required by law. The effective date and Privacy Officer contact details will be added before public launch.