Privacy Policy
Last Updated: April 14, 2025
Fifsee ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you use our website, mobile application, or any related services (collectively, the "Services"). Our Services connect buyers, sellers, tenants, landlords, real estate professionals, and vacation home seekers (Travelers and Hosts) globally.
By using our Services, you agree to the collection and use of your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our Services. We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, and we will notify you of significant changes by posting the updated policy on our website and, where applicable, via email. Your continued use of the Services after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information to provide and improve our Services, facilitate real estate transactions, and comply with legal obligations. The types of information we collect include:
1.1 Information You Provide:
• Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, and, if applicable, phone number, professional details (e.g., real estate license number for professionals).
• Property Listings: If you list a property (for sale, rent, or vacation home), we collect details such as property address, description, photos, pricing, availability, and any house rules or terms.
• Transaction Information: For vacation home bookings, we collect booking details, including dates, payment amounts, and Traveler preferences. We also collect withholding tax information from Travelers, which is remitted to Hosts.
• Communications: If you contact us or communicate with other Users through our platform (e.g., inquiries, offers, or messages), we collect the content of those communications.
1.2 Information We Collect Automatically:
• Usage Data: We collect information about your interactions with the Services, such as pages viewed, searches performed, listings clicked, and time spent on the platform.
• Device Information: We collect details about the device you use to access our Services, including IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers.
• Location Data: With your consent, we may collect your approximate location to provide location-based services, such as showing nearby properties. You can disable location access through your device settings.
1.3 Information from Third Parties:
• Payment Processors: For vacation home bookings, we use Stripe to process payments. Stripe may collect payment information (e.g., credit card details) directly from you, and we receive confirmation of payment and related transaction details (e.g., Application Fee and withholding taxes).
• Third-Party Integrations: If you connect your Fifsee account with third-party services (e.g., social media for login), we may receive information such as your profile name or email address, depending on the permissions you grant.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to provide, improve, and personalize our Services, as well as to comply with legal obligations. Specifically, we use your information to:
• Facilitate account creation and authentication.
• Display property listings and connect Users (e.g., buyers with sellers, Travelers with Hosts).
• Process vacation home bookings, including collecting Application Fees from Travelers and Hosts, collecting withholding taxes from Travelers, and remitting payments (including taxes) to Hosts.
• Enable communication between Users, such as sending inquiries, offers, or booking confirmations.
• Send you payment receipts (e.g., Travelers payments to Hosts). Provide customer support and respond to your inquiries.
• Analyze usage patterns to improve our Services, fix bugs, and develop new features.
• We may send you updates, promotional materials, or notifications (e.g., new listings, booking reminders), which you can opt out of at any time.
• Comply with legal obligations, or responding to lawful requests from authorities.
3. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. However, we may share your information in the following circumstances:
3.1 With Other Users:
• When you list a property, your contact information (e.g., email and Fifsee ID) may be shared with interested Users (e.g., buyers, tenants, or Travelers) to facilitate communication.
• For vacation home bookings, Travelers’ booking details (e.g., dates, preferences) are shared with Hosts, and Hosts’ property details and terms are shared with Travelers.
3.2 With Service Providers:
• We use third-party service providers to support our Services, such as Stripe for payment processing, cloud hosting providers, and analytics tools. These providers have access to your information only to perform their functions and are contractually obligated to protect your data.
• For vacation home bookings, Stripe processes payment information, including Application Fees and withholding taxes, on our behalf. We share necessary transaction details with Stripe to complete these payments.
3.3 For Legal Reasons:
• We may disclose your information if required by law, such as in response to a subpoena, court order, or other legal process.
• We may share your information to protect the rights, property, or safety of Fifsee, our Users, or the public, including to detect or prevent fraud.
3.4 Business Transfers:
• If Fifsee is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or control of your personal information.
4. Vacation Homes: Payment and Tax Information
For vacation home bookings, Fifsee collects an Application Fee from both Travelers and Hosts. Additionally:
• We use Stripe to collect payments from Travelers, including withholding taxes, which are remitted to Hosts along with the booking payment (minus the Application Fee).
• Hosts are responsible for reporting and paying all applicable taxes on the money they receive, including the withholding taxes remitted by Fifsee.
• We may share transaction details (e.g., payment amounts, tax amounts) with Stripe to process payments and with Hosts to facilitate bookings. We do not store your full payment information (e.g., credit card numbers) on our servers; this is handled securely by Stripe.
5. Your Rights and Choices
5.1 Access and Update: You can access and update your account information at any time through your account settings.
5.2 Opt-Out of Marketing: You can opt out of receiving promotional emails by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in our emails or by contacting us directly.
5.3 Location Data: You can disable location tracking through your device settings, though this may limit certain features (e.g., finding nearby properties).
5.4 Account Deletion: You have the right to delete your account at any time via Fifsee App with your login details, under settings navigation. You may also request deletion of your account by contacting us at sri@fifsee.com. We will delete your personal information, except for data we are required to retain for legal or operational purposes (e.g., transaction records for tax compliance).
5.5 EU/EEA Residents (GDPR Rights):
If you are located in the European Union or European Economic Area, you have the following rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):
• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Erasure: Request deletion of your data, subject to legal retention requirements.
• Restriction: Request that we limit the processing of your data.
• Portability: Request a copy of your data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
• Objection: Object to processing of your data for certain purposes, such as marketing.
• To exercise these rights, please contact us at support@fifsee.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days, as required by GDPR.
6. Data Security
We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. For example:
• We use encryption (e.g., SSL/TLS) to secure data transmission.
• Payment information for vacation home bookings is processed securely through Stripe and is not stored on our servers.
• Access to your data is restricted to authorized personnel who need it to perform their duties.
However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information. You are responsible for keeping your account credentials confidential and using strong passwords.
7. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, comply with legal obligations, or resolve disputes. For example:
• Account information is retained as long as your account is active or as needed to provide Services.
• Transaction records, including vacation home booking details and tax information, may be retained for up to 7 years to comply with tax and accounting regulations in jurisdictions like the U.S. and EU.
• If you request account deletion, we will delete your data within 30 days, except for information we are legally required to retain.
8. International Data Transfers
Fifsee operates globally, and your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own, including the United States, where our servers and headquarters are located. These countries may have different data protection laws than your jurisdiction.
For Users in the EU/EEA:
• We comply with GDPR requirements for international data transfers. When transferring your data outside the EEA, we use Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission to ensure an adequate level of protection.
• By using our Services, you consent to the transfer of your data to the United States and other jurisdictions where we operate, subject to these safeguards.
9. Geographic-Specific Privacy Considerations
We comply with privacy laws in the jurisdictions where we operate, including but not limited to:
9.1 United States:
• We comply with applicable state privacy laws, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). California residents have the right to request access to, deletion of, and information about the sharing of their personal information. To exercise these rights, contact us via www.fifsee.com.
• For vacation home bookings, we collect and remit withholding taxes to Hosts, but we do not share your payment information with any parties other than Stripe for processing.
9.2 European Union:
• As noted in Section 5.5, we comply with GDPR for EU/EEA residents. We act as a data controller for the personal information we collect, and our legal basis for processing includes:
• Contractual necessity (e.g., to provide Services like facilitating bookings).
• Consent (e.g., for location data or marketing emails).
• Legitimate interests (e.g., to improve our Services or prevent fraud).
• You can lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority (e.g., the Information Commissioner’s Office in the UK) if you believe we have not handled your data appropriately.
9.3 Other Jurisdictions:
• In jurisdictions like Turkey, where data protection laws require explicit consent for certain processing activities, we ensure that consent is obtained where necessary (e.g., for marketing communications).
• In Angola, where privacy laws may be less developed, we apply the same high standards of data protection as in other regions to ensure consistency and safeguard your information.
10. Children’s Privacy
Our Services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we become aware that a child under 18 has provided us with personal information, we will take steps to delete it immediately. If you believe a child under 18 has provided us with their information, please contact us via www.fifsee.com
11. Third-Party Links and Services
Our Services may contain links to third-party websites or services, such as Stripe for payment processing or external real estate resources. These third parties have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for their practices. We encourage you to review their policies before providing any personal information.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:
Fifsee Support
Email: sri@fifsee.com
Phone: +1-442-222-8336
Address: 254 Chapman Rd Ste 209 Newark, DE, 19702-5422 United States
For EU/EEA residents, you may also contact our Data Protection Officer via www.fifsee.com
Key Features and Notes
• Vacation Homes (Section 4): The policy explicitly addresses the handling of payment and tax information for vacation home bookings, including the use of Stripe, collection of Application Fees, and remittance of withholding taxes to Hosts. It clarifies that Hosts are responsible for their tax obligations, reducing Fifsee’s liability.
• GDPR Compliance (Sections 5.5 and 8): The policy includes detailed GDPR provisions for EU/EEA users, such as data subject rights, legal bases for processing, and international data transfer safeguards (e.g., Standard Contractual Clauses).
• U.S. Compliance (Section 9.1): The policy addresses compliance with the CCPA for California residents, ensuring Fifsee meets U.S. privacy requirements.
• Global Considerations (Section 9.3): The policy references privacy practices in Turkey and Angola, ensuring compliance with local laws while maintaining a high standard of data protection globally.
• Geographic Exclusions: As requested, the policy does not mention China, North Korea, Russia, or other regions where Fifsee does not operate, focusing instead on jurisdictions where the app is available.
• Security and Transparency: The policy emphasizes data security measures (e.g., encryption, secure payment processing via Stripe, Apple Pay and GPay) and provides clear information on data retention, user rights, and international transfers.