1. Introduction
ChefMatch LLC (“ChefMatch,” “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, and related services (the “Platform”).
By using the Platform, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the Platform.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide
- Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, and account credentials when you register.
- Profile Information: For chefs — bio, headline, cuisine specialties, service area, certifications, and profile photos. For customers — household size, preferred grocery store, and address.
- Dietary Information: Allergies, intolerances, dietary preferences, restrictions, and custom notes provided through dietary profiles.
- Payment Information: Payment card details and billing information, processed and stored securely by Stripe (our payment processor). ChefMatch does not directly store credit card numbers.
- Communications: Messages exchanged through the Platform’s messaging system and any correspondence with our support team.
- Reviews: Ratings and written reviews you submit about chefs or services.
- Booking Details: Service dates, times, special requests, guest counts, and grocery receipts.
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
- Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and screen resolution.
- Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, click patterns, and session duration.
- Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address or, with your permission, precise location from your device for chef search and distance calculations.
- Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to maintain sessions, remember preferences, and analyze usage patterns.
2.3 Information from Third Parties
- Authentication Provider: We receive basic profile information (name, email, profile photo) from our authentication provider when you sign up or sign in.
- Background Check Provider: For chef applicants, we receive background check results from our screening partner.
- Payment Processor: We receive transaction status and limited payment information from Stripe.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Provide, maintain, and improve the Platform and its features
- Match customers with chefs based on location, cuisine preferences, and dietary needs
- Process payments, refunds, and chef payouts
- Send transactional notifications (booking confirmations, payment receipts, service updates)
- Send promotional communications (you can opt out at any time)
- Facilitate communication between customers and chefs
- Conduct background checks on chef applicants for safety purposes
- Resolve disputes between customers and chefs
- Prevent fraud and enforce our Terms of Service
- Analyze usage patterns to improve user experience and Platform performance
- Comply with legal obligations and respond to legal process
4. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We share information only in the following circumstances:
4.1 Between Users
When you book a chef, relevant information is shared between customer and chef to facilitate the service: name, contact details, address (for customers), dietary requirements, and booking details. Chef profiles (name, bio, ratings, cuisine types) are publicly visible on the Platform.
4.2 Service Providers
We share information with third-party service providers who assist in operating the Platform:
- Stripe: Payment processing, chef payouts, and tax calculation
- Clerk: Authentication and identity management
- Brevo: Transactional and promotional email delivery
- Checkr: Background check screening for chef applicants
- Stream: In-app messaging infrastructure
- PostHog: Product analytics (anonymized usage data)
- Vercel: Website hosting and infrastructure
- Neon: Database hosting
These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and may only use it to provide services to us.
4.3 Legal Requirements
We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
4.4 Business Transfers
If ChefMatch 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.
5. Data Security
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information, including:
- Encryption of data in transit (TLS/SSL)
- Encryption of sensitive data at rest (tax information, background check identifiers)
- Secure payment processing through PCI-DSS compliant providers
- Access controls limiting employee access to personal information
- Regular security reviews
No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. After account deletion, we may retain certain information as required by law (e.g., tax records, financial transaction records) or for legitimate business purposes (e.g., fraud prevention, dispute resolution).
Booking and payment records are retained for a minimum of 7 years for tax and legal compliance purposes.
7. Your Rights and Choices
You have the right to:
- Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
- Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information through your account settings or by contacting us.
- Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated personal information, subject to legal retention requirements.
- Notification Preferences: Manage your email, SMS, push, and in-app notification preferences through your account settings.
- Unsubscribe: Opt out of promotional emails by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email or updating your notification preferences.
- Cookies: Manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect Platform functionality.
To exercise these rights, contact us at support@chefmatch.co. We will respond within 30 days.
8. Children’s Privacy
The Platform is not intended for children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 18, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.
9. Washington State Privacy Rights
Washington state residents may have additional privacy rights under the Washington My Health My Data Act and other applicable state laws. If applicable, you may exercise these rights by contacting us at the address below.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via email or a prominent notice on the Platform. The “Last updated” date at the top reflects the most recent revision.
11. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, contact us at:
ChefMatch LLC
Email: support@chefmatch.co
Seattle, WA