Privacy Policy
Last updated: 1 April 2026
Dear Darj is a free community initiative by apxdgtl, built to bring the Hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong together in one living directory. It is meant to stay open, useful, and free of charge for normal use, with no listing fee, no subscription fee, and no paywall for browsing or contributing basic entries.
1. What this policy covers
This Privacy Policy explains what information Dear Darj collects, how it is used, where it is stored, and the choices available to you.
2. Information Dear Darj collects
Dear Darj may collect:
account details such as name, email, phone number, and profile information,
listing content such as titles, descriptions, handles, categories, locations, links, images, and service items,
ownership and editing data tied to your account,
consent records from signup, including accepted-at time, consent version, IP address, and user agent,
technical information needed to run the service, such as authentication and request metadata,
information you choose to send through forms, uploads, or contact features.
3. How Dear Darj uses your information
Dear Darj uses collected information to:
create and manage accounts,
display and manage listings,
reserve and maintain handles,
process uploads and service items,
record consent and basic audit history,
protect the platform from misuse,
improve the site and its features,
keep the directory organised and searchable.
4. Public information
Some information is meant to be public. This includes listings, handles, business names, service descriptions, photos, categories, locations, and any other content you choose to publish as part of the directory. Public content can be seen by other visitors and may be shared or indexed as part of the normal operation of the site.
5. Signup consent log
When you tick the consent checkbox during signup, Dear Darj stores a consent record containing the acceptance time, version, IP address, and user agent. This is used to keep a basic proof of agreement and to support account and trust management.
6. Storage of information
Dear Darj uses Cloud-based storage systems for its data. Public and account-related information may be stored in databases, while uploaded files may be stored in cloud storage. Some media uploads may also carry ownership metadata so they can be linked back to the correct account or listing.
7. Sharing of information
Dear Darj does not sell personal data. Information may be shared only in these situations:
when it is made public by you through a listing,
when required to operate the site and its storage or authentication systems,
when needed to protect the platform, investigate misuse, or comply with law,
when you explicitly ask for a feature that requires sharing or public display.
8. Cookies and sign-in data
Dear Darj may use sign-in tokens, session data, or similar browser mechanisms to keep you logged in and make the service work correctly. Depending on your browser and sign-in method, some data may be stored locally for authentication and convenience.
9. Retention
Dear Darj keeps data for as long as it is needed to operate the service, maintain listings, and preserve legitimate records such as signup consent. If you delete your account or request removal, some public content may still remain in backups or logs for a reasonable period, unless the law requires otherwise.
10. Security
Dear Darj takes reasonable steps to keep data safe, but no online system is perfectly secure. You should use a strong password where applicable and avoid sharing access with people you do not trust.
11. Your choices and rights
You can:
update your listings where editing is available,
request removal of your account or content,
ask for corrections if something is wrong,
stop using the service at any time.
If you want a listing removed, that request will be reviewed against the platform’s moderation and operational needs.
12. Third-party services and links
Dear Darj may use third-party services to host, store, or serve parts of the platform. It may also include links to external sites. Those sites have their own policies, and Dear Darj is not responsible for how they collect or use data.
13. Children’s privacy
Dear Darj is not intended for use by young children without adult supervision. If you believe a child has submitted personal information without permission, contact the site for review and possible removal.
14. Changes to this policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time. When that happens, the updated version will be posted on the site with a new effective date. Continued use of Dear Darj means you accept the updated policy.
15. Contact
For privacy requests, corrections, or removal questions, contact apxdgtl through the official Dear Darj contact channels or the apxdgtl website.
