Privacy Policy

Look, We Get It

Nobody really enjoys reading these things, but we're gonna be straight with you about how Astral Rift Forge Architecture handles your info. We're architects, not data miners - your privacy actually matters to us. This policy breaks down what we collect, why we need it, and how we keep it safe when you're working with us or just browsing around our site.

What Info We're Actually Collecting

When you reach out to us or become a client, here's what we typically need:

• Contact Details: Your name, email, phone number - pretty standard stuff so we can actually get back to you about your project.
• Project Information: Details about what you're looking to build or design. Site locations, your vision, budget ranges - the stuff we need to make your architectural dreams happen.
• Property Details: If we're designing something for you, we'll need info about the site, existing structures, lot dimensions - can't design in a vacuum, y'know?
• Financial Info: Payment details for our services, though we don't store credit card numbers on our end - that's handled through secure payment processors.
• Technical Data: When you visit our site, we collect basic stuff like IP addresses, browser types, and which pages you check out. Helps us keep things running smooth.

Why We Need This Stuff

We're not hoarding your data for fun - there's actual reasons behind it:

• To provide our architectural and design services (kinda the whole point)
• Keep you updated on your project's progress and milestones
• Handle contracts, invoices, and the business side of things
• Meet legal requirements and building code documentation
• Make our website better and fix issues when they pop up
• Send you updates about our services if you've opted in (and you can opt out anytime)

How We're Protecting Your Info

Security's a big deal for us. Here's how we keep things locked down:

We use encrypted connections (that's the HTTPS you see in your browser), secure servers, and limit who on our team can access sensitive client data. Only folks who genuinely need it for your project can see it. We also backup everything regularly and have disaster recovery plans in place - learned that lesson the hard way years ago.

That said, nothing's 100% foolproof online, but we're doing everything reasonable to keep your stuff safe.

Who We Share With (Spoiler: Not Many People)

We're not in the business of selling your info. Period. But sometimes we gotta share with:

• Project Partners: Engineers, contractors, consultants who're working on your project with us - they need relevant info to do their part.
• Service Providers: Cloud storage, email services, payment processors - the tech tools that keep us running.
• Legal Requirements: If the law says we gotta hand something over, we will - but only what's legally required.
• Municipal Authorities: Building permits, planning applications - that stuff needs to go to the city.

Cookies & Tracking Stuff

Yeah, we use cookies - not the chocolate chip kind, unfortunately. These little files help us remember your preferences and understand how people use our site. We use:

• Essential Cookies: Keep the site working properly - can't really turn these off.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us see what's popular and what needs work on the site.
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings so you don't have to keep selecting them.

You can adjust your browser settings to block cookies if you want, but some features might not work as smoothly.

Your Rights & Control

It's your data, so you've got rights. Under Canadian privacy laws (PIPEDA and all that), you can:

• Ask to see what personal info we've got on you
• Request corrections if something's wrong or outdated
• Ask us to delete your data (with some exceptions for legal or contractual obligations)
• Opt out of marketing emails anytime - there's an unsubscribe link at the bottom
• Get a copy of your data in a readable format
• Lodge a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner if you think we've messed up

Just shoot us an email at info@astralriftforge.info and we'll sort it out.

How Long We Keep Your Stuff

We don't hang onto your info forever. Here's the general timeline:

• Active Projects: We keep everything while we're working together and for the duration of any warranties.
• Completed Projects: We retain project files for 7 years after completion - that's standard in architecture for liability and reference purposes.
• Inquiry Data: If you reached out but didn't move forward, we'll keep your contact info for about 2 years in case you change your mind.
• Financial Records: Tax laws require us to keep these for 7 years minimum.

Third-Party Links

Sometimes we link to other websites - suppliers, partners, inspiration galleries, whatever. Once you click through to their site, we can't control what they do with your info. They've got their own privacy policies, so give those a read if you're concerned.

Kids' Privacy

Our services aren't aimed at anyone under 18. We don't knowingly collect info from minors. If you're a parent and think your kid's given us their info, let us know and we'll delete it right away.

Changes to This Policy

Privacy laws evolve, our practices might change - so we'll update this policy when needed. We'll post the new version here with an updated date at the top. If it's a major change, we'll send an email to our active clients. Otherwise, checking back here occasionally isn't a bad idea.

Questions? Just Ask

If something's unclear or you've got concerns about how we handle your data, don't hesitate to reach out. We're architects, not lawyers, so we'll do our best to explain things in plain language.