Privacy and Policies

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING PRIVACY POLICY CAREFULLY

Thank you for using UoSwap, a marketplace designed to connect university and college students for the buying, selling, and trading of textbooks and campus essentials. At UoSwap, we are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you access or use our Services.

1. Scope and Consent

By using UoSwap, you consent to the collection, use, disclosure, and retention of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. This policy applies to the UoSwap website, mobile applications (iOS and Android), and all related services (collectively referred to as “Services”). We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Substantial changes will be communicated via in-app announcements and, where required, through a terms acceptance prompt. Your continued use of UoSwap constitutes acceptance of these updates.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Account Creation: Full name, university or college email address, password, year of study, program, institution, and optional profile picture.
• Listings: Details about textbooks and essentials listed for sale or trade, including title, description, condition, price, category, images, and associated course codes or ISBN (via barcode scanning).
• Messaging: Content of in-app chat messages exchanged with other users.
• Support Requests: Any additional details provided during communication with our support team.

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

• Device Information: Operating system, device model, app version, and unique device identifiers for functionality, updates, and push notifications.
• Usage Data: Frequency and duration of app usage, interactions with features, search queries, and browsing activity within the app.
• Analytics: Anonymized usage statistics to help us improve app performance and user experience.

2.3 Third-Party Services

• Search queries are processed through third-party providers to deliver fast, relevant results.
• Payment information is processed securely by a PCI-compliant payment provider. UoSwap does not store credit card or banking details on its servers.
• Push notifications are delivered through a third-party messaging service.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information collected for the following purposes:

• Enabling secure access to your account and facilitating transactions between users.
• Verifying your identity through institutional email verification and displaying verified badges.
• Customizing your experience with personalized recommendations, favorites, and targeted features.
• Facilitating in-app messaging between buyers and sellers.
• Indexing your listings for search discoverability.
• Sending push notifications for new messages, updates, and relevant activity.
• Improving our Services based on user feedback and usage data.
• Investigating and addressing fraudulent activities, policy violations, or technical issues.
• Enforcing our Terms and Conditions, including compliance with force-update requirements.

4. Information Sharing

4.1 We Share Information With

• Other UoSwap Users: Your name, profile picture, institution, program, verified status, seller rating, and listing details are visible to other users to facilitate transactions.
• Service Providers: Third-party providers assisting with payment processing, search indexing, data storage, authentication, and analytics.
• Legal Obligations: If required by law, court order, or government request.

4.2 We Do Not Sell Your Information

UoSwap will never sell or rent your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

5. Marketplace and Listing Policy

UoSwap operates on a freemium model:

• Textbooks – Free Tier: Students receive 5 free textbook uploads per semester.
• Textbooks – Premium Access: After using your 5 free uploads, a one-time payment of $9.99 unlocks unlimited textbook uploads for 30 days. This is not a recurring subscription.
• Essentials: Listing essentials (electronics, furniture, clothing, academic supplies, transportation, sports, entertainment, tickets, and miscellaneous items) is completely free with no upload limits.

6. Data Protection and Security

We implement comprehensive security measures including:

• Secure user authentication and session management.
• Institutional email verification for all new accounts.
• PCI-compliant payment processing.
• Server-side security rules to restrict unauthorized data access.
• Encrypted data storage and transmission.
• Regular security audits and updates.
• Automated abuse prevention mechanisms.

7. In-App Features and Privacy

• Chat messages are stored securely with access restricted to conversation participants.
• Listing images are stored securely and removed when a listing is deleted.
• Profile information visibility can be customized by users.
• Push notifications can be managed through your device settings.
• Favorites and saved items are private and visible only to you.
• Seller ratings are visible to other users to promote trust and transparency.

8. User Rights

You have the right to:

• Access and Rectify: Review and correct your personal information through your profile settings.
• Delete: Request the deletion of your account and associated data directly within the app under Settings, or by contacting us.

To exercise these rights, contact us at studentservice@uoswap.ca.

9. Data Retention

Your data is retained while your account is active. Upon account deletion, your personal data is deleted promptly. Some data, including transaction records, chat messages, and anonymized listing data, may be retained for legal compliance and analytics purposes.

10. Cross-Border Data Transfers

Your data may be processed and stored on servers located outside your jurisdiction. Regardless of location, we implement appropriate security measures to ensure your data remains protected in accordance with this policy.

11. Children’s Privacy

UoSwap is intended exclusively for use by university and college students. All new registrations require a valid institutional email address for verification. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of 16 or from individuals who are not enrolled in post-secondary education. If we become aware that we have collected data from such an individual, we will take steps to delete it promptly.

12. Content Standards and Safety

UoSwap maintains strict safety standards:

• User verification through valid university or college email.
• Zero tolerance for any form of exploitation, abuse, or inappropriate content.
• Content monitoring and reporting mechanisms.
• Immediate investigation of all safety concerns.
• Mandatory reporting of any CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) to relevant authorities.
• Cooperation with law enforcement and regulatory bodies.
• Immediate removal of any content that violates our standards and permanent account termination for violators.

To report safety concerns or violations, email studentservice@uoswap.ca. All reports are treated confidentially and investigated promptly.

13. In-Person Meetings and Transactions

• UoSwap is not responsible for any issues, disputes, or incidents that occur during in-person meetings between buyers and sellers.
• Users are solely responsible for their personal safety when arranging in-person meetings.
• We strongly recommend meeting in public, well-lit places on campus during daylight hours.
• Users are responsible for verifying the condition and authenticity of items before completing any transaction.
• UoSwap does not guarantee, endorse, or take responsibility for any transactions between users.

14. Sales and Refund Policy

• All sales conducted between users are final.
• UoSwap does not process refunds for premium listing purchases or user-to-user transactions.
• Users are responsible for verifying all details before making any payments.
• Disputes between users must be resolved directly between the parties involved.

15. Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or complaints regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

• Email: studentservice@uoswap.ca

This Privacy Policy was last updated on February 7, 2026.