1. Introduction
Smartbee LLC ("we", "us", "our", "Company") operates LeaveTip, a digital tipping platform. We are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our Service.
Key Principle: We collect minimal data necessary to operate the Service.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide
- Email Address (Optional): For tip receipts and claim confirmations. You can use the Service without providing an email.
- Bank Account Information: Collected by Plaid (our third-party bank verification provider) when claiming tips. For registered users only, we store reference tokens (not actual account or routing numbers) to enable faster future payouts. Non-registered users' bank connections are not stored.
2.2 Payment Information
- Credit/Debit Card Details: Processed directly by Stripe, Inc. We NEVER see or store your card information.
- Transaction IDs: We store Stripe payment intent IDs to track tip status.
2.3 Automatically Collected Information
- IP Address: For security, fraud prevention, and rate limiting.
- Device Information: Browser type, operating system (for compatibility).
- Usage Data: Pages visited, actions taken (for analytics and improvement).
- Cookies: For admin authentication and session management.
3. How We Use Your Information
- To provide the Service: Process tips, send claim codes, facilitate payouts
- To communicate: Send receipts, claim confirmations, refund notifications (if email provided)
- For security: Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access
- For compliance: Meet legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service
- To improve: Analyze usage patterns to enhance the Service
We do NOT use your information for marketing or advertising.
4. Information Sharing
We share your information ONLY in these limited circumstances:
4.1 Service Providers
- Stripe, Inc.: Payment processing (subject to Stripe's Privacy Policy)
- Plaid, Inc.: Bank account verification (subject to Plaid's Privacy Policy)
- Resend: Email delivery (if you provide an email)
- Sentry: Error monitoring (anonymized data only)
- Vercel: Hosting and infrastructure
4.2 Legal Requirements
We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government request.
4.3 Business Transfers
If Smartbee LLC is acquired or merged, your information may be transferred to the new owner.
We do NOT sell, rent, or trade your personal information.
5. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures:
- Encryption: All data transmitted via HTTPS (SSL/TLS)
- Database Security: Encrypted at rest, access-controlled
- PCI DSS Compliance: We use Stripe to avoid handling card data
- Rate Limiting: Prevents brute-force attacks
- Audit Logs: Track all claim attempts for security review
Note: No system is 100% secure. Use the Service at your own risk.
6. Data Retention
- Tip Records: Retained for 7 years (IRS tax requirements)
- Claim Logs: Retained for 3 years (fraud prevention)
- Email Addresses: Deleted 90 days after last transaction (if not claimed)
- IP Addresses: Retained for 90 days (security purposes)
7. Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:
7.1 All Users
- Access: Request a copy of your data
- Correction: Update inaccurate information
- Deletion: Request deletion (subject to legal retention requirements)
7.2 GDPR Rights (EU/UK Users)
- Right to data portability
- Right to restrict processing
- Right to object to processing
- Right to withdraw consent
7.3 CCPA Rights (California Users)
- Know what personal information is collected
- Know if personal information is sold or disclosed (we do NOT sell)
- Opt-out of sale (not applicable - we don't sell data)
- Non-discrimination for exercising rights
To exercise your rights, contact us at: privacy@leavetip.app
8. Cookies
We use cookies for:
- Admin Authentication: Secure login sessions (HTTP-only, 7-day expiry)
- Analytics: Understand how users interact with the Service (anonymized)
You can disable cookies in your browser, but this may limit functionality (e.g., admin access).
9. Third-Party Links
Our Service may link to third-party websites (e.g., Stripe, Plaid). We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Review their privacy policies before providing information.
10. Children's Privacy
LeaveTip is not intended for users under 18. We do not knowingly collect information from minors. If we discover we have collected data from a minor, we will delete it promptly.
11. International Users
Smartbee LLC operates LeaveTip from the United States. If you access the Service from outside the U.S., your information may be transferred to and stored in the U.S., which may have different data protection laws than your country.
12. Changes to Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Continued use of the Service constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
13. Contact Us
For privacy-related questions or to exercise your rights, contact Smartbee LLC at:
Smartbee LLC
Texas Limited Liability Company
Operating LeaveTip
Summary: We collect minimal data (optional email, payment info via Stripe/Plaid, IP addresses for security). We do NOT sell your data. You have rights to access, correct, and delete your information.