How we handle your info at the shop
Look, we get it - nobody actually reads these things, but we're gonna keep it real with you anyway. At Valorynth Dominion Auto Repair, we're not just serious about fixing your European performance machines, we're also pretty serious about keeping your personal stuff safe.
This policy lays out what info we collect when you bring your ride in, book an appointment, or just browse our site. We're based in North Vancouver, BC, so Canadian privacy laws (PIPEDA) apply here, and we follow 'em to the letter.
Bottom line? We collect what we need to fix your car and run our business, we don't sell it to random companies, and we keep it locked down tight. If you've got questions after reading this, just give us a shout at service@valorynthdominion.info or call (604) 555-7823.
When you bring your car in or book online, we'll need the basics - your name, phone number, email, and maybe your address if we're ordering parts or need to send documents. Pretty standard stuff.
Obviously, we need to know what you're driving. That means VIN numbers, make, model, year, mileage, service history - basically everything that helps us diagnose issues and keep track of what we've done to your ride over time.
When you pay for services, we collect payment card details (though our payment processor handles the heavy lifting here), billing addresses, and invoice records. We keep this stuff for accounting and warranty purposes.
Our website collects some technical stuff automatically - IP addresses, browser types, pages you visit, how long you hang around. Nothing creepy, just standard web analytics to help us improve the site.
Sometimes we'll take photos of your vehicle or specific parts during diagnostics or repairs. These help document condition, show you what's going on under the hood, and protect both of us if there's ever a dispute about pre-existing damage.
We're not collecting data just for the fun of it. Here's what we actually do with your info:
We won't use your personal information for anything that's not related to providing you service or running our business properly. We're mechanics, not data brokers.
We don't sell your data. Period. But we do have to share some information with certain parties to actually get your vehicle serviced:
When we order parts for your BMW, Porsche, or whatever European beast you're driving, we need to share vehicle details (and sometimes your contact info) with suppliers and manufacturers. This is especially true for warranty work.
Your credit card info goes through secure payment processors. We don't actually store full card numbers on our systems - that's all handled by PCI-compliant third parties.
Modern cars are basically computers on wheels. Sometimes we need to share vehicle data with diagnostic software providers or access manufacturer databases to properly service your ride.
If we're legally required to disclose information (court orders, government investigations, safety recalls), we'll comply with the law. We'll try to notify you first unless we're prohibited from doing so.
If we ever sell the business or merge with another shop (not planning on it, but you never know), customer records would be part of that transfer. Any new owner would still be bound by this privacy policy.
That's it. We don't share your info with random marketing companies, data brokers, or anyone else who's not directly involved in servicing your vehicle or running our shop.
We take data security seriously - just like we take torque specs seriously. Here's how we keep your information locked down:
That said, no security system is 100% bulletproof. We do our best to protect your information, but we can't guarantee absolute security. If we ever experience a data breach that affects your personal information, we'll notify you in accordance with Canadian privacy laws.
Yeah, we use cookies - but not the chocolate chip kind (though we should probably have those in the waiting room). Here's the deal:
They're tiny text files that get stored on your device when you visit our website. They help us remember your preferences, keep you logged in, and track how people use our site.
You can disable cookies in your browser settings if you want. Just know that some parts of the website might not work as smoothly. Most browsers let you block third-party cookies while still allowing first-party ones (ours).
We don't use tracking pixels or other sneaky stuff to follow you around the internet. What happens on our site stays on our site.
Under Canadian privacy laws (PIPEDA), you've got some rights when it comes to your personal information. Here's what you can do:
You can request a copy of all the personal data we have on file for you. We'll provide it within 30 days (usually faster).
If something in our records is wrong - misspelled name, old phone number, incorrect vehicle info - just let us know and we'll fix it ASAP.
You can ask us to delete your personal information. We'll do it unless we're legally required to keep it (like for tax records or warranty documentation). Some stuff we gotta keep for a minimum period.
Don't want our promotional emails? No problem. Every marketing email we send has an unsubscribe link at the bottom. Click it and you're off the list. We might still need to contact you about your actual service appointments though.
If we're processing your information based on consent (like for marketing), you can withdraw that consent anytime. Won't affect the services we've already provided or information we need to keep for legal reasons.
If you think we've mishandled your personal information, you can complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. We'd rather you talk to us first though - we're reasonable people and we'll work to make it right.
To exercise any of these rights, just reach out to us at service@valorynthdominion.info or call (604) 555-7823. We'll verify your identity (gotta make sure it's actually you) and handle your request promptly.
Our website might include links to other sites - parts suppliers, manufacturer resources, industry publications, that kind of thing. Once you click through to another site, this privacy policy doesn't apply anymore.
We're not responsible for the privacy practices of external websites. Some of these third-party sites might have their own tracking, data collection, or privacy policies. We recommend reading their policies before sharing any personal information.
If we're linking to something, it's usually because we think it's useful or relevant to European performance vehicle owners - not because we're getting kickbacks or endorsing their data practices. Do your own homework when you leave our site.
Our services are for vehicle owners and adults who can enter into service contracts. We don't knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18 years old.
If you're under 18 and your parent or guardian is bringing in their vehicle, any information we collect belongs to them, not you. (Though if you're a young car enthusiast who's just browsing our site to learn about European performance vehicles, that's cool - just don't submit any personal information through our forms.)
If we somehow discover we've collected information from someone under 18 without parental consent, we'll delete it right away. If you're a parent and you think your kid has provided us with personal information, contact us and we'll sort it out.
Privacy laws change, our business practices evolve, and sometimes we just realize we could explain things better. When we update this privacy policy, we'll change the "Last Updated" date at the top of the page.
For minor changes (typos, clarifications, small updates), we'll just update the policy and that'll be that. For major changes that significantly affect how we handle your information, we'll try to notify you directly - either by email or by posting a