FixNear — Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 11, 2026  |  Effective from launch date

FixNear (operated by Tach3, India) is a marketplace mobile app that connects users with nearby home service providers (electrician, plumber, carpenter, AC technician, etc.). This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, who we share it with, how long we keep it, and your rights regarding your personal information.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Account Information

• Name, mobile number, email address (provided during signup)
• Mobile OTP for authentication (verified via Firebase Authentication)
• Profile photo (optional, uploaded by the user)

1.2 Service Provider KYC (for Provider accounts only)

• Aadhaar number (only the last 4 digits are stored; the full number is discarded after verification)
• Bank account details (for payouts via Razorpay)
• UPI ID
• Service categories offered by the provider

1.3 Location Data (LOCATION Permission Disclosure)

Types of location access:

• Foreground location (all users): Collected only when the app is open, to find nearby service providers, show real-time service ETA, calculate route/distance, and display live tracking during an active booking.
• Background location (service providers only, optional): Collected when the FixNear provider app is closed, so the provider continues to receive new booking requests based on their current location (similar to Uber / Ola / Swiggy driver apps). This is strictly optional; providers who decline background location can still use the app in foreground mode.

How location data is used:

• Match user bookings with the closest available and qualified service provider
• Show real-time provider location on the user's live-tracking screen during active service
• Compute distance and estimated arrival time (ETA)
• Verify service delivery at the correct address (fraud prevention)

Location minimization commitment: We collect the minimum location data required to deliver the requested service. Location is fetched only when needed for booking-matching or active tracking. We do NOT continuously log a user's location history, do NOT sell location data, and do NOT share location with advertisers or third-party marketing networks.

Location data retention: Real-time GPS coordinates from active bookings are retained for 24 hours after the booking completes (for dispute resolution) and are then permanently deleted. Address strings (city / pin code / geocoded label) that are part of the booking record are retained for 24 months as part of booking history.

Location data sharing: Location is shared only with:

• The matched service provider — so they can reach the user's address
• Google Maps / Google Cloud APIs — for reverse geocoding, routing, and maps rendering (subject to Google's Privacy Policy)
• Never sold, rented, or shared with advertisers

User control over location:

• Location permission is requested with a clear pre-permission prompt explaining the reason before the OS dialog appears
• You can revoke location permission any time from System Settings → Apps → FixNear → Permissions → Location
• Providers can toggle "Go Online / Go Offline" inside the app to control when background location is captured
• Denying background location does not break the app — you can still use it in foreground mode

1.4 Camera & Photos

• Aadhaar card image capture during KYC verification (provider only)
• Job completion photos (optional, uploaded by provider to prove service delivery)
• Profile picture upload (optional)
• Photos are accessed via the Android system Photo Picker (Android 13+) — no broad media access permission is requested

1.5 Device Information

• Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) push token — required to send booking notifications
• Device model and Android version — used only for crash diagnostics and support

1.6 Payment Information

• Payment transactions are processed entirely by Razorpay (PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant). FixNear does NOT store card numbers, CVV, or full bank account details on its servers. Only the transaction reference ID and payment status are recorded.

2. How We Use Your Data

• Match user bookings with the nearest available qualified service provider
• Process payments and disburse provider earnings via Razorpay
• Verify service provider identity (KYC) for user safety
• Send booking status notifications (assignment, ETA, arrival, completion)
• Provide customer support (chat history retained for 6 months)
• Improve service quality via anonymized, aggregated usage analytics

3. Data Sharing

FixNear does NOT sell your personal data. We share limited information only with the following categories of third parties, each strictly for the purpose described:

• Razorpay — payment processing (transaction amount, contact number, order ID)
• Google Firebase — OTP authentication (mobile number) and FCM push notifications (device token, notification payload)
• Google Maps / Google Cloud APIs — geolocation resolution, routing, geocoding, maps rendering
• Cloudinary — image hosting (profile picture, KYC documents, job photos)
• MongoDB Atlas — encrypted database storage (India region)
• Law enforcement — only if legally compelled by an order from Indian judicial or investigative authorities

None of the above partners are permitted to use the shared data for their own marketing purposes.

4. Data Retention

• Account profile data: until user requests account deletion
• Booking history (address, service, price, provider): 24 months
• Real-time GPS location logs: 24 hours after booking completion, then deleted
• Chat messages between user and provider: 6 months
• Payment records (transaction ID, amount, status): 7 years (as required by Indian income tax law)
• KYC documents (Aadhaar last 4 digits + verification status): retained as required by RBI / Prevention of Money Laundering Act

5. Your Rights

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data at any time
• Correction: Update incorrect information from your Profile screen inside the app
• Deletion: Request account deletion by emailing support (details below) or visiting our Account Deletion page
• Opt-out of notifications: Via in-app Settings or Android system permission controls
• Withdraw location permission: Via System Settings → Apps → FixNear → Permissions → Location. This will disable location-dependent features (nearest-provider matching, live tracking) but the app will continue to work in a limited mode.

6. Account Deletion

To delete your FixNear account and all associated data, send an email to support@fixnear.org.in with the subject line "Delete My Account" from your registered email or mobile number. We will process the request within 7 business days. Certain payment records may be retained as required by Indian tax law even after account deletion.

7. Children's Privacy

FixNear is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. If we discover that a minor has provided information, we will delete it promptly.

8. Security

• All API traffic is encrypted in transit using HTTPS (TLS 1.2 or higher)
• User passwords are hashed with bcrypt (never stored in plaintext)
• Session tokens use JWT with automatic expiry
• OTP verification is delegated to Firebase Authentication
• Payment data is tokenized by Razorpay — FixNear never handles raw card numbers
• Backend data at rest is encrypted by MongoDB Atlas (AES-256)

9. Background Location — Additional Disclosure

Applies to service-provider accounts only.

With explicit permission (a dedicated Android system dialog), FixNear may access the provider's location even when the app is closed or running in the background. This permission is used SOLELY to:

• Receive new booking requests routed based on the provider's current location when the app is not open
• Continue live-location tracking on the user's tracking screen during an active booking, if the provider minimises the app while on the way

The provider may revoke this permission any time from Android System Settings without losing access to other app features. Background location is never sold and never shared with third-party advertisers.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy occasionally to reflect changes in law, technology, or our practices. Material changes will be communicated via in-app banner or push notification. Continued use of FixNear after a change constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of India. Disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Gurugram, Haryana, India.