Privacy Policy

# Privacy Policy

**Effective Date: August 27, 2026**

This Privacy Policy explains how Hamlets Scroll (“Hamlets Scroll,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, stores, and shares information when you use our websites, local Scrolls, directories, calendars, accounts, and related services (collectively, the “Services”).

## 1. Information We Collect

### Information You Provide

We may collect information you provide when you:

* Create or manage an account.
* Complete a user profile.
* Submit or manage a business or organization listing.
* Submit an event, special, review, comment, photograph, or other content.
* Save or follow a listing or event.
* Contact us through a Contact & Support form.
* Request a password reset or other account assistance.

This information may include your name, username, email address, profile information, business information, location information, photographs, messages, and other information you choose to submit.

### Information Collected Automatically

When you access the Services, our website and service providers may automatically collect technical information, including:

* IP address.
* Browser and device type.
* Operating system.
* Referring and visited pages.
* Login activity.
* Date and time of access.
* Cookie and session information.
* Security and error logs.

We use this information to operate the Services, maintain security, prevent fraud and spam, troubleshoot problems, and understand website performance.

## 2. Public Information

Information submitted to public areas may be visible to anyone, including people without an account.

Public information may include:

* Usernames and selected profile information.
* Business and organization listings.
* Addresses and contact information included in listings.
* Events, specials, photographs, and logos.
* Reviews and comments.

Do not submit private or sensitive information to a public profile, listing, review, comment, or event.

## 3. Business Listings, Events, and Location Information

When you submit a business listing or event, we may collect the business name, category, description, address, ZIP code, telephone number, website, photographs, hours, event details, and other information needed to publish and manage the submission.

Location information entered into a listing, search, or form may be used to display relevant businesses, events, or local content. If an embedded map or location provider is used, that provider may receive technical and location-related information under its own privacy policy.

## 4. Contact & Support Forms

When you submit a Contact & Support form, we collect the information entered into the form, such as your name, email address, subject, and message.

Support messages may be transmitted through our website email provider and delivered to our support mailbox. Do not submit passwords, payment-card information, Social Security numbers, medical records, or other highly sensitive information through a support form.

We use support information to respond to requests, investigate problems, maintain records, and protect the Services.

## 5. Comments, Reviews, and Media

If comments or reviews are enabled, we may collect the information shown in the submission form along with the visitor’s IP address and browser information to assist with moderation and spam detection.

If you use Gravatar, an anonymized value generated from your email address may be provided to the Gravatar service. Gravatar is operated by Automattic and is governed by Automattic’s privacy policy. After approval, a profile image associated with Gravatar may be publicly visible alongside your content.

Images uploaded to the Services may contain embedded location data, including EXIF GPS information. Remove location data before uploading an image if you do not want it available to others.

## 6. How We Use Information

We may use collected information to:

* Create, authenticate, and manage accounts.
* Publish and manage listings, events, profiles, reviews, and other submissions.
* Provide directory, calendar, search, and location features.
* Send registration, password-reset, listing-status, moderation, security, and support messages.
* Respond to questions and support requests.
* Review and moderate submitted content.
* Detect spam, fraud, abuse, and security threats.
* Maintain, troubleshoot, and improve the Services.
* Enforce our Terms and Conditions.
* Comply with legal obligations and valid legal requests.

## 7. Email Communications

We use email to send transactional and service-related messages, including account confirmation, password recovery, listing submission, listing approval, moderation, and support notifications.

Transactional email may be processed by Brevo or another email-delivery provider. Support messages may be delivered and stored through Microsoft 365 or another business email provider.

We do not use transactional emails as permission to send unrelated marketing messages. Where marketing emails are offered, applicable unsubscribe controls will be provided.

## 8. Cookies

The Services use cookies and similar technologies to operate account, login, security, preference, and website features.

Cookies may be used to:

* Determine whether your browser accepts cookies.
* Maintain your logged-in session.
* Remember login or display preferences.
* Protect forms and accounts.
* Prevent spam and fraudulent activity.
* Support embedded content and third-party features.

Temporary cookies may be deleted when you close your browser. Login and preference cookies may remain longer, particularly if you select “Remember Me.” Logging out removes applicable login-session cookies.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Blocking essential cookies may prevent login, account, directory, or other website features from working correctly.

## 9. Embedded Content and Third-Party Services

Pages may include maps, videos, images, social content, forms, or other material provided by third parties. Embedded content may behave as though you visited the third-party website directly.

Third-party providers may collect technical information, use cookies, and monitor interactions according to their own privacy policies. Hamlets Scroll does not control the privacy practices of those providers.

The Services may rely on third parties for:

* Website hosting and backups.
* Transactional email delivery.
* Business email.
* Maps and location features.
* Spam detection and security.
* Embedded media.
* Payment processing if paid services are offered.

We share information with service providers only as reasonably necessary to provide, secure, and support the Services.

## 10. Password Resets and Security

If you request a password reset, information associated with the request, which may include your IP address, may be included in or associated with the reset process.

We may retain login attempts, IP addresses, security events, and related technical records to prevent unauthorized access, investigate abuse, and protect users and the Services.

## 11. How Long We Retain Information

We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary to:

* Maintain an active account.
* Publish and manage submitted content.
* Provide requested services and support.
* Maintain security and prevent abuse.
* Resolve disputes.
* Maintain appropriate business records.
* Comply with legal obligations.

Comments, reviews, listings, events, and associated metadata may be retained while published and for a reasonable period afterward.

Account holders may edit certain profile information through their account. Some records may remain in backups, security logs, moderation records, or legal records after information is deleted from public view.

## 12. Your Choices and Rights

Depending on your relationship with Hamlets Scroll and applicable law, you may request that we:

* Provide access to personal information associated with you.
* Correct inaccurate personal information.
* Delete eligible personal information.
* Provide an export of information you submitted.
* Close your account.
* Review content associated with your account.

Some information may be retained when reasonably necessary for security, fraud prevention, administrative records, legal compliance, dispute resolution, or the protection of legal rights.

Submit privacy requests through the Contact & Support page. We may need to verify your identity before completing a request.

## 13. Sale of Personal Information

Hamlets Scroll does not sell personal information for money.

Paid listings, promoted content, sponsorships, or advertising do not give a business ownership of users’ personal account information.

## 14. Children’s Privacy

The Services are not directed to children under 13, and children under 13 may not create an account or submit personal information through the Services.

If we learn that personal information was collected from a child under 13 without appropriate authorization, we will take reasonable steps to delete it. A parent or legal guardian may report a concern through the Contact & Support page.

## 15. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative and technical measures intended to protect personal information. However, no website, email system, or method of electronic storage can be guaranteed completely secure.

You are responsible for using a strong password, protecting your login credentials, and notifying us if you suspect unauthorized account access.

## 16. External Links

The Services may link to websites operated by businesses, organizations, event providers, or other third parties. Hamlets Scroll is not responsible for the content, security, or privacy practices of external websites.

Review the privacy policies of third-party websites before providing personal information to them.

## 17. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as the Services, technology, or legal requirements change. The updated policy will be posted with a revised effective date.

Material changes may also be communicated through the website or account-related notices when appropriate.

## 18. Contact Us

Questions, privacy requests, or concerns about this Privacy Policy may be submitted through the Contact & Support page.