This Privacy Policy explains how UstadWork collects, uses, stores, and shares information when you browse the platform, create an account, post jobs, publish gigs, send messages, fund orders, or request withdrawals. By using UstadWork, you agree to the practices described on this page.

1. Information We Collect

• Account details such as your name, username, email address, profile photo, country, and role.
• Marketplace data such as gigs, jobs, proposals, contracts, order messages, reviews, disputes, and support requests.
• Payment and payout records such as funded orders, transaction references, wallet activity, payout methods, and withdrawal requests.
• Verification and compliance data if you submit identity documents, banking details, or tax-related information.
• Technical and usage data such as IP address, browser type, device information, cookies, session activity, and fraud-risk signals.

2. How We Use Your Information

• To create and operate your account and marketplace profile.
• To match clients and freelancers, process contracts, and operate order workflows.
• To support payment collection, escrow tracking, refunds, withdrawals, and fraud monitoring.
• To review disputes, enforce platform rules, and maintain trust and safety.
• To communicate about account notices, security alerts, policy changes, support, and important service updates.
• To improve the platform through analytics, debugging, performance review, and feature development.

3. Sharing of Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information with service providers who help us operate UstadWork, including payment processors, hosting providers, infrastructure vendors, email providers, analytics tools, and identity or fraud-review partners. We may also disclose information when required by law, to respond to valid legal requests, to enforce our policies, or to protect users, the platform, and the public from fraud, abuse, or security threats.

4. Payment and Compliance Partners

When you fund an order or request a payout, relevant information may be shared with approved payment and compliance partners. These partners may apply their own security, verification, and legal requirements. Their handling of payment-specific data is also governed by their own terms and privacy notices.

5. Messages, Profiles, and Marketplace Visibility

Certain information is visible to other users as part of the marketplace experience. For example, your profile details, public reviews, gig or job content, and some activity related to your participation on the platform may be visible to clients, freelancers, or staff. Private order messages and compliance information are not published publicly, but they may be reviewed by authorized staff for support, fraud review, or dispute handling.

6. Data Retention

We keep information for as long as it is reasonably necessary to operate the service, maintain business and legal records, investigate abuse, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and comply with financial, tax, anti-fraud, and regulatory obligations. Some records may be retained even after an account is closed where required for legal or operational reasons.

7. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards, including access controls, logging, and security monitoring. No system is completely secure, so you should also use a strong password, protect your devices, and notify us quickly if you suspect unauthorized access.

8. Your Choices

• You can update much of your account and profile information from your account settings.
• You can stop using the platform at any time, subject to open orders, disputes, payment obligations, and legal retention requirements.
• You may request account-related support or data-action requests where applicable under law and platform rules.

9. Cookies and Analytics

We use cookies and similar technologies to keep you signed in, remember preferences, improve performance, understand traffic, and support security features. You can control cookies through your browser settings, but some parts of the platform may not function properly if essential cookies are disabled.

10. International Access

UstadWork may be accessed from different countries. By using the platform, you understand that your information may be processed in locations where our service providers operate, subject to applicable law and contractual safeguards where relevant.

11. Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will publish the updated version on this page and revise the date above. Continued use of the platform after an update means you accept the revised policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this policy, contact us at ustadworkofficial@gmail.com.