Introduction

Your privacy is important to Collars Inc. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our platform. It also describes your rights and choices regarding your information. By using Collars, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Use of mobile numbers and SMS consent

We may request your mobile phone number to enable additional communication methods (such as SMS/text messaging):

• We will use your mobile number only for purposes you’ve consented to, such as sending verification codes, job alerts, or updates via text message.
• No Third-Party Marketing: We do not share or sell your phone number to third parties for their marketing or promotional use.
• SMS Opt-In/Opt-Out: If you opt in to receive SMS messages, you can opt out at any time. To stop receiving texts, you may reply “STOP” to any SMS from us or adjust your notification settings in your account profile. Standard messaging rates may apply for any SMS we send or you send (according to your mobile plan).
• We will not disclose any text messaging opt-in data or consent information to external parties. Your consent to receive SMS is voluntary and can be withdrawn at any time without affecting your use of the platform.

Information we collect

When you use Collars, we collect information to provide and improve our services:

• Personal Information: This includes information you provide to us, such as your name, contact details (email address, phone number), profile details, resume or work history, and payment or billing information (if you subscribe to a paid plan).
• Usage Data: We collect data about how you use the platform – for example, the pages or profiles you view, search queries, dates and times of logins, and other actions on the site or app. We also collect technical data like your IP address, device type, browser type, and operating system.
• Location Data: If you enable location services, we may collect your approximate location to show relevant job listings or candidates in your area.
• Cookies & Tracking: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience (see Cookies and Tracking Technologies below for more details).

How we use your information

Collars uses the collected information for various purposes:

• To Provide Services: We use your personal information to create and manage your account, facilitate connections between trade professionals and employers, and enable core platform features (such as applying to jobs or     contacting candidates).
• Customization: We may use profile and usage data to personalize your experience, such as recommending jobs you might be interested in or suggesting candidates for an open position. This may involve data analytics and profiling to better match users with opportunities.
• Communication: Your contact information (like email or mobile number) is used to send you service-related notifications, account updates, newsletters or marketing communications (if you have opted in), and to respond to your inquiries or support requests.
• Payments: If you subscribe to a paid service, we use financial information (e.g., credit card details) to process your subscription payments. We do not store full payment card information on our own servers; payments are handled through secure third-party payment processors.
• Security and Fraud Prevention: We may process information to monitor for suspicious activity, verify accounts, and promote safety on the platform. This includes using certain data to prevent fraud, spam, or other misuse.
• Legal Compliance: Some information may be used to comply with legal obligations, such as keeping records for tax purposes or responding to lawful requests by authorities.

Data protection and security

Collars takes security measures seriously to protect your personal information:

• We implement industry-standard safeguards such as encryption (e.g., HTTPS for data in transit), secure servers, and access controls to protect data from unauthorized access or disclosure.
• No Third-Party Marketing: We do not share or sell your phone number to third parties for their marketing or promotional use.
• SMS Opt-In/Opt-Out: If you opt in to receive SMS messages, you can opt out at any time. To stop receiving texts, you may reply “STOP” to any SMS from us or adjust your notification settings in your account profile. Standard messaging rates may apply for any SMS we send or you send (according to your mobile plan).
• We will not disclose any text messaging opt-in data or consent information to external parties. Your consent to receive SMS is voluntary and can be withdrawn at any time without affecting your use of the platform.

Sharing your information

We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes. We only share your information in the following circumstances:

• With Your Consent: We may share or disclose your information if you explicitly ask us to or provide consent (for example, if you opt in to a feature where your profile is shared with a partner company).
• Service Providers: We use trusted third-party service providers to help us operate and improve Collars (e.g., cloud hosting services, payment processors, analytics providers, customer support tools). These providers may process your data only for purposes of providing services to us and are bound by confidentiality obligations.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., for law enforcement or national security). If possible and lawful, we will notify you of such disclosures.
• Business Transfers: If Collars Inc., is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, or sale of all or part of our business, your information may be transferred to the parties involved in the transaction as part of that process. In such cases, we will ensure the recipient of the data commits to respecting your personal information in a manner consistent with this Privacy Policy.
• Aggregate or De-Identified Data: We may share information that has been aggregated or anonymized (so it cannot reasonably identify you) for business purposes, research, or marketing. For instance, we might publish trends about the trades job market using aggregated data, which does not contain personal details.

(Please note: Any mobile phone information, including your number and SMS opt-in data, is not shared with third parties for marketing or promotional purposes, as stated above.)

Your Rights and Choices

You have control over your personal information and how it is used:

• Access and Update: You can access and update much of your personal profile and account information by logging into your account settings. It’s important that the information we hold is accurate and up to date; we encourage you to correct any inaccuracies.
• Data Deletion: You may request deletion of your personal data. If you wish to delete your account or personal information, you can do so through the account settings or by contacting us. We will delete your data unless we are required to keep it for legal reasons or legitimate business purposes (for example, records of transactions may be retained for accounting purposes).
• Withdraw Consent: If we are processing your personal data based on your consent (for example, for receiving marketing emails or SMS alerts), you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. You can unsubscribe from marketing emails via the provided link or change your communication preferences in your profile settings.
• Business Transfers: If Collars Inc., is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, or sale of all or part of our business, your information may be transferred to the parties involved in the transaction as part of that process. In such cases, we will ensure the recipient of the data commits to respecting your personal information in a manner consistent with this Privacy Policy.
• Opt-Out of Marketing: If you no longer want to receive marketing communications, you can opt out as described above. Even if you opt out of marketing, we may still send you essential transactional or account communications (such as password reset emails, subscription renewal notices, or customer support responses).
• Additional Rights for EU/UKUsers: If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom, you have additional data protection rights under the GDPR and UK data protection laws. These include the right to object to certain processing or to request that we restrict processing of your data, and the right to data portability (to receive a copy of your personal data in a commonly used format). You also have the right not to be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing in certain cases (see Automated Decision-Making below), and the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority in your country if you believe your data rights have been violated. We will respect all such rights to the extent required by applicable law.

SMS data and mobile Information

(This section provides additional detail about how we handle mobile numbers and SMS data, to ensure transparency and compliance with telecommunications guidelines.)

• Collars may collect your mobile number and your preferences regarding SMS communications when you provide to us (for example, when signing up or in your profile settings).
• We will provide a link to this Privacy Policy or otherwise notify you of our data practices at the point where we collect your phone number, so you understand how it will be used.
• No Mobile Sharing: Your mobile phone number, any information related to your SMS communications with us, and your consent status (opt-in/opt-out) will not be shared with third parties for marketing, advertising, or any purpose outside of providing our services.
• We use your mobile number exclusively to send you content you’ve agreed to receive (like job alerts or verification codes). If we use a subcontractor (such as an SMS gateway service) to send these messages, that subcontractor is not permitted to use your number for any purpose other than delivering our messages and is bound by confidentiality.
• You can opt out of SMS at any time by replying “STOP” to a message or changing your settings, as noted above. Once you opt out, we will no longer send you SMS unless you opt in again.

Cookies and tracking technologies

Collars uses cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to improve and customize your experience:

• What Are Cookies: Cookies are small text files stored on your device by your web browser. They allow us to recognize your browser and remember certain information. For example, we use cookies to keep you logged in, remember your preferences, and gather analytics about how users navigate the platform.
• Types of Cookies: We use both session cookies (which expire when you close your browser) and persistent cookies (which remain on your device for a set period or until deleted). Some cookies are essential for the website to function (for example, to authenticate users). Other cookies are optional and help us improve the site (like analytics cookies that track usage patterns, or personalization cookies that remember your settings).
• Third-Party Cookies: We may allow certain third-party service providers, like Google Analytics, to set cookies or similar technologies on the platform to help us understand how you are using Collars and to assist us with advertising (such as showing our ads on other websites you visit). These third parties may collect information about your online activities over time and across different websites when you use our platform.
• Your Choices: You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse new cookies or remove existing ones. However, please note that if you disable cookies, some features of Collars may not function properly (for example, you might need to log in each time or some personalized features might be unavailable).
• Do Not Track: Our platform does not respond to “Do Not Track” signals from web browsers. However, we limit our use of tracking to the purposes described above. You can also opt out of certain third-party tracking by using browser plugins or setting your preferences directly with those third-party services (for example, Google Analytics offers an opt-out mechanism).

Automated Decision-Making and Profiling

Collars may use automated processing of data to help provide our services, but we do so in a responsible manner:

• Profiling: We may analyze user data (such as skills, location, and activity on the platform) to profile users in order to make the service more useful – for example, to rank candidates for a job opening or to suggest jobs that align with a user’s profile. This profiling helps us personalize the platform for you and is generally automated.
• Automated Decisions: In general, Collars does not make any final decisions about hiring or employment outcomes purely by automated means. Any hiring decision is made by the employers, and any job application decision is made by the job seeker. Our automated tools may screen or highlight certain listings (for instance, flagging a profile as a potential match), but a human is always involved in the final decision-making process on those matters. We do not have any automated system that denies you access to the platform or a job opportunity without some form of human review.
• Your Rights: You have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing (including profiling) that significantly affects you. Collars respects this right. If we ever engage in fully automated decision-making that has a legal or similarly significant effect, we will do so only as allowed by law (for example, with your explicit consent, or if necessary for the service with appropriate safeguards). In such cases, we will inform you and give you the opportunity to request human intervention or to contest the decision. Our goal is to maintain transparency and fairness in any automated processes we use.

International Data Transfers and Global Privacy Compliance

Collars Inc., is based in the United States, but we may process data of users from around the world. Personal information collected from users outside the U.S. (for example, in the EEA or UK) may be transferred to and stored on servers in the United States or other countries where Collars or its service providers operate. These countries might have data protection laws that are different from those in your home country.

• Data Transfer Safeguards: Whenever we transfer personal data out of regions like the European Union (EU) or United Kingdom, we take steps to ensure your data is protected. For instance, we may use standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission to legally transfer data to the U.S., or rely on other mechanisms provided by data protection law. This means that, contractually, the recipients of your data must protect it according to standards equivalent to EU/UK law.
• Compliance with GDPR and Other Laws: For individuals in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or other regions with data protection laws, Collars complies with all applicable requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the UK Data Protection Act, and similar laws. We only process your personal data when we have a lawful basis to do so – such as your consent, a contract with you (e.g., to provide our services), our legitimate business interests, or a legal obligation. We uphold the privacy rights described in this Policy (like access, correction, deletion, etc.) for users in these regions, and the additional rights under those laws as noted above. If you have questions about how we handle your data internationally, you can contact us using the information below.
• International Users: If you are using Collars from outside of the United States, you consent to the collection, transfer, and processing of your personal data in and to the U.S. and other countries as described in this Privacy Policy. We will handle your information as described here, regardless of the country it comes from, but please be aware that local laws may provide additional rights or requirements. We strive to respect those where applicable.

Updates to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or other factors. When we update the policy, we will change the “Last Updated” date at the top of this document. For significant changes, we may provide a more prominent notice (such as a website banner or an email notification). We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information. Your continued use of Collars after any changes to this policy constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

Contact information

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

Collars Inc. - Legal & Privacy Team
Email: legal@collars.io
Address: 814 Central Ave, Roselle, IL 60172

We will do our best to answer your questions and address any issues promptly. Your trust is important to us, and we are committed to protecting your rights and privacy.