Privacy Policy

EmpowerSecure LLC ("EmpowerSecure," "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 visit our websites, use our services, interact with our AI-powered tools, or communicate with us via email, text message (SMS/MMS), or phone.

This policy applies to all websites and services operated by EmpowerSecure, including empowersecure.net, shield.empowersecure.net, and client websites we build and manage on behalf of our clients (such as contractor and small business websites with chatbot and contact form functionality).

By using our services, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our services.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Contact information: Name, email address, phone number, mailing address
• Business information: Company name, job title, industry, service needs
• Communications: Messages submitted through contact forms, email, phone calls, SMS/MMS messages, and AI chatbot conversations
• Account information: Login credentials for client dashboards and portals
• Payment information: Billing details provided during payment processing (handled by our third-party payment processor, Stripe; we do not store credit card numbers on our servers)
• Project information: Details about your project scope, budget range, timeline, property address, and service preferences

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Device and browser data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage data: Pages visited, time spent, referring URLs, click patterns
• Chatbot interaction data: Conversation transcripts with our AI chatbot, timestamps, session identifiers
• SMS/MMS metadata: Message delivery status, timestamps, opt-in/opt-out status

1.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from third-party services we use, including analytics providers, payment processors, and communication platforms, solely to provide and improve our services.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Service delivery: To provide, maintain, and improve our consulting, automation, and technology services
• Communications: To respond to inquiries, send appointment confirmations, project updates, and service-related notifications via email, SMS/MMS, or phone
• Lead management: To connect you with the appropriate service provider or contractor when you submit an inquiry through our websites or chatbot
• SMS/MMS messaging: To send you text messages related to your inquiry, appointment reminders, and follow-up communications (only with your express consent; see Section 5)
• Payment processing: To process payments and send invoices for services rendered
• Security and compliance: To protect against fraud, unauthorized access, and legal liability
• Analytics: To understand how our services are used and to improve user experience
• Legal obligations: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes

3. AI-Powered Tools and Chatbot

Our websites may feature an AI-powered chatbot designed to answer questions and help connect you with the right service provider. Please be aware of the following:

• AI disclosure: Our chatbot is powered by artificial intelligence. It is not a human. The chatbot will identify itself as an AI assistant at the start of each conversation.
• Data collection: Information you share with the chatbot (including your name, phone number, email, and project details) may be collected, stored, and used to connect you with a service provider and for follow-up communications.
• Conversation logging: Chatbot conversations may be recorded and stored for quality assurance, service improvement, and lead management purposes.
• Limitations: The chatbot may provide general information but does not give legal, financial, or professional advice. It does not provide binding price quotes, warranties, or guarantees. All pricing and service commitments are made by a human representative.
• AI accuracy: While we strive for accuracy, AI-generated responses may contain errors. A human team member will review your inquiry and follow up directly.
• Third-party AI: Our chatbot is powered by Anthropic's Claude AI. Your conversation data is processed by Anthropic in accordance with their privacy practices. Anthropic does not use your conversations to train their models when accessed via their API.

4. SMS/MMS and Phone Communications (TCPA Compliance)

4.1 Consent

We send SMS/MMS messages only to individuals who have provided express consent. You may provide consent by:

• Submitting your phone number through a website contact form that includes SMS consent disclosure
• Voluntarily providing your phone number during an AI chatbot conversation after being informed that you may receive text messages
• Verbally consenting during a phone call or in-person meeting
• Providing written consent via a service agreement or contract

SMS consent is separate from any other form of consent (such as email consent) and cannot be required as a condition of purchasing goods or services.

4.2 Types of Messages

If you consent, you may receive:

• Inquiry confirmations and follow-up messages related to your project
• Appointment reminders and scheduling notifications
• Service updates and project status notifications

Message frequency varies based on your interactions. Typically 1-5 messages per inquiry. Message and data rates may apply depending on your mobile carrier and plan.

4.3 Opt-Out

You may opt out of SMS/MMS messages at any time by:

• Replying STOP to any message from us
• Emailing us at [email protected] with "UNSUBSCRIBE SMS" in the subject line
• Calling us at (540) 569-9282

Upon receiving your opt-out request, we will honor it promptly and send a single confirmation message. You will not receive further messages unless you re-consent.

4.4 No Sharing of Phone Numbers

Your phone number will never be sold, rented, or shared with third parties for their marketing purposes. We do not share phone numbers with lead generators, data brokers, or any third party for promotional purposes. Phone numbers are used solely for the purposes described in this policy and shared only with our service providers (such as our SMS platform, Twilio) as necessary to deliver messages.

5. Data Sharing and Third-Party Service Providers

We do not sell your personal information. We share your information only in the following circumstances:

5.1 Service Providers

We use the following third-party service providers to operate our business:

• Twilio — SMS/MMS messaging delivery (Twilio Privacy Policy)
• Stripe — Payment processing (Stripe Privacy Policy)
• Anthropic — AI chatbot processing (Anthropic Privacy Policy)
• Cloudflare — Website hosting, security, and DNS (Cloudflare Privacy Policy)
• Proton Mail — Encrypted email communications

These providers access your data only as necessary to perform their services and are contractually obligated to protect your information.

5.2 Client Service Providers

When you submit an inquiry through a client website we manage (such as a contractor's website), your contact information and project details are shared with that specific client/contractor so they can respond to your inquiry. We do not share your information with any other clients or third parties.

5.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, subpoena, court order, or government request, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.

6. Payment Processing

Payment transactions are processed by Stripe. When you make a payment, your payment card information is submitted directly to Stripe through their secure, PCI DSS-compliant payment form. We do not receive, store, or have access to your full credit card number. We receive only a transaction confirmation, the last four digits of your card, and billing details necessary for record-keeping and invoicing.

7. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information, including:

• HTTPS/TLS encryption for all data in transit
• Encrypted storage for sensitive credentials and API keys
• Access controls limiting data access to authorized personnel
• Regular security monitoring and vulnerability assessments
• Secure authentication for client dashboards and administrative systems

No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. If we become aware of a data breach affecting your personal information, we will notify you and applicable authorities as required by law.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law. Specific retention periods include:

• Lead and inquiry data: Retained for up to 3 years after your last interaction, unless you request deletion sooner
• Client project data: Retained for the duration of the client relationship plus 5 years for legal and tax purposes
• SMS consent records: Retained for 5 years after consent or opt-out, as required by TCPA regulations
• Chatbot conversation logs: Retained for up to 1 year for quality assurance
• Payment records: Retained for 7 years as required by tax law

You may request deletion of your personal data at any time (see Section 9).

9. Your Privacy Rights

9.1 All Users

Regardless of your location, you have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Opt out of SMS/MMS communications at any time
• Opt out of marketing emails at any time

9.2 Virginia Residents (VCDPA)

If you are a Virginia resident, you have additional rights under the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA):

• Right to confirm whether we are processing your personal data
• Right to access your personal data
• Right to correct inaccuracies in your personal data
• Right to delete your personal data
• Right to obtain a portable copy of your data
• Right to opt out of the processing of your data for targeted advertising, sale, or profiling

We do not sell personal data. We do not process personal data for targeted advertising or profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects.

To exercise your rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within 45 days. If we deny your request, you have the right to appeal by contacting us at the same address.

9.3 California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):

• Right to know what personal information is collected and how it is used
• Right to delete personal information
• Right to correct inaccurate personal information
• Right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information
• Right to limit the use of sensitive personal information
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

We do not sell or share your personal information as those terms are defined under the CCPA/CPRA. To exercise your rights, contact us at [email protected] or call (540) 569-9282. We will verify your identity before processing your request and respond within 45 days.

10. Children's Privacy (COPPA)

Our services are not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected] and we will promptly delete such information.

11. Email Communications (CAN-SPAM)

We may send you emails related to your inquiry, project, or service. You may opt out of marketing emails at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any email or by contacting us at [email protected]. We will honor your request within 10 business days. Note that transactional emails (such as invoices, appointment confirmations, and security notices) are not subject to opt-out.

12. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our websites may use cookies and similar technologies for essential site functionality, security (such as Cloudflare bot protection), and basic analytics. We do not use cookies for behavioral advertising or cross-site tracking. You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences.

13. Sensitive Personal Data

We do not intentionally collect sensitive personal data, including Social Security numbers, genetic or biometric data, health information, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, citizenship or immigration status, or precise geolocation data. If we become aware that sensitive data has been inadvertently collected, we will delete it promptly.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We will post the updated policy on this page with a revised "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Material changes will be communicated through our website or via email.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: